Exiled

With no trade in complications you are in a very strong position and I understand your reasoning regarding being ripped off. Study very carefully the advice given so far, I don't think you will get any better. Some of the chaps on here really do know what they are talking about. The only subject I feel qualified to comment on is the Superguarding of the car, I've had it and it's a waste of money. As Steve says, old spec models don't have autolock and there is a bit less leg room in the back and yes you are correct, all cars do come with fitted mats. If you end up with 10% discount I think you've done fine. One other point which may or may not matter to you. Do you want to have the car looked after by the dealer most convenient to get to. If you go elsewhere and save a few bob will you feel embarassed asking your local guy to sort out any problems when you have'nt bought the car from him?

Warn 0%, (bottom left hand corner). What's that all about?

Well done Fred, good response.

Harry, for Fred's benefit could the "kangaroo" effect be called spluttering? Fred, Jamboo is as honest as the day is long and only tells it as he finds it. He's trying to be helpful. Like him, I'm not interested in being a member of a fan club, praise where it's due and also criticism where it's due. I am also going through the selection process but don't fancy a 220d based on what I've read on this forum. If you get a bit of spare time I would suggest you scroll back through the threads, you'll learn quite a lot about the merits of the different models. If the 250Auto is a possible buy for you I would suggest you have a drive in one.

Eureka. There were a couple in a Brooke Bond advert that were quiet intelligent and there's always the half-time cuppa to take into consideration.

If you're still in doubt take them both out for a run again. If you're not in doubt take them both out for a run again, you'll be even more convinced.

Ah, don't know about that, been away for a few days, not seen a paper. One possible problem springs to mind, are there enough Englishmen playing the game bearing in mind his system of squad rotation?

C'mon somebody, help him. I don't know!

That wise sage Jimmy Armfield's back summarising on Five Live after recovering (hopefully) from cancer. Don't know anyone who talks more sense and understands the game better. He should be involved in the decision imo.

I'll do it for £300,000 a year and a new 250 SE-L Auto. MUST BE THE AUTO, could be a sticking point if they insist on a manual. Martin O'Neill doesn't want it. Apparently when they interviewed him previously they thought he was abrasive. I don't know who they'll end up with, like you say, it's a poison chalice, just look at Graham(do I not like that)Taylor he's a gibbering idiot, before he got the England job he was only an idiot!

Exiled mentioned something about putting the music up to determine vibration, how exactly do i determine using this method? thanks Sorry Ahmed, didn't mean to confuse you.

Tried to psyche myself down before they kicked off, reckoned I couldn't be bothered but when Beckham put the ball across to Crouch for the equaliser I was up in the air, nearly spilt my ovaltine, very very disappointing. Fair play to Crouch, I thought he worked his socks off. Every time they play you think this will be the night when they all click, but no, it never happens. No right really to expect anything better when you look at the last dozen or so games. If the back four of Neville, Ferdinand, Terry and Cole had been together for the whole time I think we would have just about scraped through. Micah Richards may one day become a brilliant player, positionally last night he was all over the place, he's still green. There can be no such excuses for Wayne Bridge, a disaster, can't defend, he was regularly on the wrong side of their winger. In midfield no change, Gerrard and Lampard the golden boys, can't play together, anyone who's sat through the last umpteen games watching them know that. We've got to find a Paul Scholes type player (not easy) who can hold the ball and lay it off, he needs supporting by a Barry/Hargreaves type who sit behind and give him the ball. All you need upfront then is a big un and a little un who each score thirty goals a season and we might have a chance. Martin O'Neill for manager please, can't understand why he didn't get it last time, think it was something to do with not wearing a tie at the interview.

Welcome, someone will come along soon to help you, Im sure. In the meantime starman, you're not Christiano Ronaldo are you?

Having read lots of topics on the forum, your dealer isn't performing very well especially as this is your third Lexus. From the same dealer?? I wouldn't be a happy man. As a prospective purchaser I've been told by the forum not to worry too much about follow up service and sorting out problems, as it is very good. Got one query, thought adaptive cruise was an option on the SE-L, it is according to my brochure, can it be used like the normal cruise, flick it on at whatever speed you're doing and forget the radar?

Cheers Exiled. Glad to hear that my findings chimed with someone else. I did the test drives back to back and covered near identical routes. The MM option would really have been a bit of an indulgence in any case as I always know where I'm going and the basic audio system is good enough for my old ears! I also thought that the central arm rest made access to the 220d gear stick slightly awkward. I'm sure I'd have got used to it, but it did strike me as slightly less ergonomic than other cars I've driven recently. I suspect the 36mpg was better than most will achieve (particularly those who live in urban areas). But in my case , it's definitely better than the 32mpg that I currently average with my trusty old 2 litre auto Accord. I'm sold on the 250 auto and if necessary I'll wait a few months and save the extra money that I'll probably need. As they say, good things come to those who wait...... Uncanny, I'm on old sod who never goes anywhere new and like you probably going a bit deaf to boot! With regard to "ergonomics" I find a cup of Horlicks at bedtime helps.

That's a great perk, did the "Gold Member" title enable you to give anyone a bit of sparkle or gain you any other favours whilst in Amsterdam? Confidentially of course.

Dazed, it could have been me writing that. Had 30mins in a 220d and the same time in a 250 auto last Saturday. IMO you have got it absolutely spot on, including MM, couldn't comment on the 36mpg though as I didn't check. They've offered me one for the day so I'm going to try and arrange my own group test of a car a day for 3 days.

Have a bit of patience with me on this one Jamboo, I'm hoping to learn something. If, as you say, the C200k 4 cylinder is so good what's the point of a C230, V6, 2.5 litre. In basic form it costs £2265 more. Surely the V6 version will be quieter, smoother and more sophisticated all round, it's half as big again with 2 extra cylinders. Lots of cars can match the performance figures of an IS 250 and the C230 but isn't it the way in which they achieve it that's the criteria.

We've all got wives like that, the solution to the problem is to get her really really hot before she gets in the car!

It's frustrating ahmed, most cars at some stage develop the odd rattle. If Tel's advice doesn't work, get your mate to drive, have a pull at this and a push at that, if that doesn't find it then turn up the music or get a pair of earplugs. Alternatively go and see your uncle Lex.

Glad you're a happy man Steve, look forward to the next review, you could always do it mile by mile.

Jamboo, you've got me confused, have you had a bad week? You say having driven the C220 CDi it's no real contest in your book, in favour of which one? In the Auto Express test, perhaps farce would be a better word, the comparison is between an IS250 SE-L Auto and a Merc C200K Auto, a 2.5 litre V6 and a 1800cc supercharged 4 cylinder, engines with vastly different characteristics. I doubt the tester has driven the cars, he says "both of these saloons make most sense as diesels", the Merc maybe, but the Lexus? He goes on to say both are well equipped and the Merc is considerably cheaper, who's payroll is he on? The Merc in question does not have leather, heated seats, parking sensors, memory seats, a 6 cd changer, floor mats, HID, I-AFS etc, etc.. It has a billious coloured wood substitute compared to walnut in the Lexus. This so called journalist is doing his readers no favours with blatant bias, Audi, Merc and BMW will be happy though, that's probably what's important to him. Like you say,"wallop the Lexus".

Correction: It's supercharged 4 cylinder 1800cc

If anyone gets a minute have a look at it. There is one comment in the piece," both of these saloons make better sense as diesels". It's a turbocharged 1800cc against a 2.5 V6, got my thoughts, be interested in your's.

dunclane, you're a genius. Countless threads on complaints about the consumption of the 220d and you've come up with the solution, get the company to pay! Well Done!