krosfyah

Im doing a lot of town driving and want to have my IS200 change up to second/third earlier than it does, without taking the revs quite so high. I dont like to use snow mode, as it feels like you are limiting the cars torque when doing this, but i want to have the car change up sooner/at lower revs a la what snow mode effectively does when you activate it. I am kind of confused having read various posts on here about ECU resets, as some say it makes no difference to economy and others say it takes a few tanks of fuel before the ECU "learns" your driving style. If anyone can qualify that resetting the ECU makes changes to gear ratios on an auto, i would be very keen to hear about it. Thanks

Not hot hot - just nice and warm. Warm enough to feel it, but not too warm that i would want to move my foot away. It takes a few mins from start up - once the engine has warmed up. This is when i'm not blowing warm air out of any vent. I guess this isn't a design feature then?

On my auto, when riding with my left leg on the leg rest, i notice the console is warm - i don't know if it's warm because of the driveshaft or engine, or because there is warm air being circulated as a comfort feature to keep my leg warm while it's on the rest. Anyone know the definitive answer to this one?

Different Lex dealers have different prices. Best bet is to tell them exactly what you need/want doing, and call around a few for comparisons. Cambelt is 6 years of 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. Some earlier models were recommended to have it changed at 60k but then the 6 year/100k was introduced. Anyway 9 years means you should look at getting it done. Wind noise to me isn't an issue (2001, 65k on clock) so not sure about that. Geometry on wheels is a well known issue - look round the forums - i'm taking mine to Wheels in Motion which many people have used on here - all rate them very highly by all accounts Not sure about your gear knob - i have an auto

I'm gutted - i just bought my March 31st 2001 2 weeks ago! Resale value will plummet as well as the fact that had i waited 2 weeks (i didn't NEED the car right then and there) i probably could have got another several hundred knocked off the price. But you know what - I SAY F**K EM! I work damned hard, i pay more than i (personall think I) should to own this car, but the pleasure it gives me is worth it all. All it means is i go out on the booze a 2 or 3 times less a year to budget away the extra cost of tax. If you put it like that, it doesnt feel as bad - and plus it's probably healthier for us too! Nothing good ever comes easy, as they say.

Yes.

Man talk about bad timing - i bought my March 31st 2001 registered SE 2 weeks ago - if i'd known this 1st March 01 tax hike was in store i probably would have gone for a 2000 car. Oh well hindsight is a wonderful thing. And to the poster who said the post 1st March 01 - 06 cars will be £210, i don't know where you got this figure from, but as far as i can tell, ALL post 1st March 2001 IS's will be £400. Edited to add - actually, according to this, i think you are right: Car tax chart It would seem that Band G (£400/year) is only for those cars registered AFTER 23/3/06 - is this right? That means us March 01 through to 22nd March 06 owners still only have to pay £210 (i.e. we fall into band F). Can any owner who has a car registered in this bracket please comment? Thanks

Strange...according to the VED site, we are Band G - which is £300/year. Now im confused - i thought i would be looking at a £400/year bill, rising to £415 with the new budget?

It is true. Small price to pay in the grand scheme of things really. I just taxed, insured, MOTed and serviced mi IS300 and didn't get much change from £1200. I certainly didn't purchase a Lexus thinking it would be cheap to run! Thats not bad - im looking at that being my tax and insurance bill alone on my standard IS200SE :tsktsk: :shutit: Still, its a lovely car and i dont begrudge the cost :winky:

Am i right in thinking a years tax for a Lex is currently £400? I thought it was less than that, oh well its the price we have to pay i guess! Apparently we are looking at an increase to £415 from what i have seen of the Budget BBC News Car Tax Budget report

From my understanding, without a master key you are pretty stuffed mate, if you want a 3 button key. Technically - the 3 button key is a master key. The 2 button key is the sub/valet key. You can programme a 2 button key from a master but not the other way around (from my understanding). £600 for ECU flash and a master key doesnt sound too bad - Lexus Oxford told me it would be over £900 for the ECU flash alone, then keys on top!

Key Programming

I just bought this from ebay. Blank key I've got the programming instructions. I have found a local locksmith with a laser cutter who will cut it for £9.50. Total cost, about £50 - Lexus wanted £150

Thanks i thought this might be the case...i've called Tony and he is busy setting up the new workshop but i'm provisionally going within the next few weeks

Took the car out on the motorway for the first time today. It was seriously windy today, but even still, wow, some SCARY moments when the car was seriously pushed sideways, like serious heavy crosswind action. Had to really couteract this movement with the wheel. I generally have a very light steer when im driving (which im loving as i poodle around town) but it makes the car feel somewhat light on it's "feet" when im doing 70mph or so. The only thing i can compare it to is when there is serious crosswind and you pass by a huge lorry - the difference in the wind buffeting a car when this happens is immediate and stark. This is exactly what i was getting today, yet i was just driving, no one was passing me. Does anyone else suffer from this? It was very very intense at moments, enough to make me think there might be a problem. As mentioned, it was VERY windy today, but even so, i've driven for years in a small Fiat Punto and i've never experienced anything like this. I would have through the Lex with the wider wheelbase and heavier mass would have been "rooted" and protected better than my old roller skate of a car. Thoughts?

seconded...what was the reply??

Thought as much, cheers guys

My arse is loving the heated seats, but does anyone find after about 5 mins or so they seem to "go off" or go cold? It takes about 1 min to get warm, then you can really feel it for about 4-5mins, then it just sort of feels like its only just on. Is it some kind of self regulating thing to stop it overheating? Anyone else get this?

When im stationary on a flat road with no upward gradient, like most autos, my car pulls away slightly. I haven't owned autos before, although i've driven some when hiring them. Will i cause damage (i imagine premature front pad wear) by keeping my foot permanently on the brake pedal while stopped. Could it cause engine wear too? If the engine is engaged to the point where the car pulls off at 1mph, which is more or less what happens when im in Drive, and im constantly braking to stop moving, is that stressing the engine? Stupid questions, but i've never owned an auto before. Thanks

If anyone can tell me what the point in turning it off is, i'd be interested to know. I gather it's safer to have it on?

Possible reson for carrying two keys: If your car is cold, start the engine, lock all the doors via door switch, then unlock just drivers door and exit. Lock driver's door with second key and leave the car warming up. Does require two keys and ive done it once or twice. but i only got one master and one valet with the car, so this requires ALL my keys! If your worried in any way. Blank key cases are under £10 on ebay, a decent locksmith will cut it for about £10, and the transponders go for £10-30 on ebay, and can be reprogrammed by your car (you must have a master key, method earlier in this thread i think). Loss off all master keys will set you back around £2000 according to Lexus (new ECU and everything) im sure it's possible for half that, but thats still a massive wedge for a lost key! Please can you provide links to blank keys and transponders on ebay - i've been looking but can only find keys, not actual transponders. For everyones info - i called 2 Lexus dealers. First one said "it would be about £150 for a new master" when i asked how much. Second one wanted my VIN number. ASked why, he said it depends on the vehicle but keys would be in the region of £75-£140. Was then quoted £140 for a key cut to match the ones i have, or they could charge me £75 for a key cut to the original locks of the car, which would be done in Germany and shipped over. He said this is a cheaper option but it relies on the locks being the originals. I have my master key metal tag thing and he said he would check to see if this is what the car was originally registered with, and if it was, it's pretty certain its a match. He also said loss of master key is £900 for a new ECM, plus the cost of the new keys!

I only have 1 key with the boot release button (my master). My other key is the valet. Thats why i believe im missing my other master key. Sounds like you should call Lexus and find out - but in all likelihood if you have 2 keys with a boot release button on each, it sounds like you have 2 master keys.

Thats the valet key. The master one is the one with the boot release. (valet key so called because you can throw it to the valet to park your car and he cant unlock the boot or the glove box with it, which is only possible via the master).

Thanks for that - but what i seem to be getting the impression here, is that the electronic gubbins (transponder) is only able to be replicated through the master key being presented to the dealer. As i only have 1 master key (which is the one with the boot release button) am i right to think that if i lose this, i would not be able to get another key cut for my car, as the valet key (the one without the boot release) does not thave the master key transponder which allows copies to be cut? Thanks if anyone can clear this up for me.

When car was new, it had 3 keys Yes of you lose the master you will be royally screwed This is one thing i don't get - the manual clearly shows 1 master, 1 valet and 1 key number tag. Even though this is clearly shown in the manual, would my car have 100% come with 2 master keys? Its a 2001 SE, if that makes any difference. How annoying - im going to have to lose a nice auto boot function unless i spend £200 for a new master key then :shutit: