dkan

Those are not bad figures for a 2.5 Auto, I think I gonna get one....but as they are more expensive than the 220d, I'll have to wait a few more months...hopeful around christmas when the forecourts are quiet, and when i can get the best deal. But I;m not sure I can wait that long :(....I want one now :)

Having wanting to love the IS220d, after a test drive, I found it very disappointed and can not justify spending 20k + on a car i don't like driving. I love everything else about the Lexus IS (looks, equiptment, brand,etc), and now considering the IS250. It's not ideal as i do a lot of miles for work, and was trying to save money thru reduce road tax and fuel consumption with the IS220d. However, you can't put money on love as they say, for all those IS250 owners, what type of MPG are you getting, I'm sure the official figures are way off, so wanted figures from the real world. Are the autos really more economical than the manuals ? I plan to use the car for work, so roughly about 15k miles a year, mostly motorway. But I do have local work sometimes, so would like info on both motorway driving and town. I've just sold my car, and will need to replace it soon, or should I hang on till nov/dec. I've been told nov/dec is very quiet for car sales so should be able to haggle more as a cash buyer. Plus the spec I want IS250 SE-L MM Auto and used prices are only just within my price range. Many thanks David

Having thought about it tonight , i am thinking by reading this site and so many reviews which highlight the 220d's problems, during the test drive I may have been concentrating on these issues rather than actually driving the car. Plus I drive a Celica at the moment, and the gear change, handling is very precise and sharp being a sports couple....and Lexus more a comfy cruiser. Maybe I should arrange a longer drive.....in both the beemer and the Lexus. I don't have another other cars in my wanted list :( , well not in my budget anyways.

Well, just back from the Lexus test drive , and in short very very disappointed with how the car drove. The service was top class, as was the look of the car (interior, exterior,layout etc). Problem started as soon as I drove it. The engine is noisy...much noiser that the BMW, the gear change felt clumsy and very cluncky, at times i felt like i was driving a truck, and the gearing is really bad...I really didn't know which gear to use, it was all over the place. I was hoping and convincing myself i would love this car...but the drive was so disappointing, i was really gutted. I was expecting a really refined car, as this is what you expect from a Lexus.....but the press is right..it's not that good. I'm considering a petrol version now, but fuel economy is a concern with the miles a rack during the year..... :( Back to the drawing board.

Thanks for the advice so far....well i took the 320d out today. It was a horrible brown colour, in SE trim and to be honest...not that impressed. From a prestige marque, i was expecting to feel special...the salesman and dealership were top class...but i thought the car was too basic. I sat in it thinking my wife's Avensis feels more upmarket....it could have been a Vectra with a different badge. I have to admit, the engine is fantasic....quiet, lots of pull, but the car was noiser than I would have expected with road and wind noise...I could be sensitive to this, as that was one of the things I wanted to concertrate on whilst on the test drive. Driving experience is hard to gage, it handles well..but no better than my Celica. I was expecting to be a great car, since all the press rave on about it...but feel somewhat let down as it didn;t make me feel special. I really like the engine though...it was about 30min drive, motorway and country roads....oh well...Lexus next...hope i like it.

Hi All, I'm in the market for a car, the ones on my list are the Lexus IS220d SE-L, Lexus IS250 SE-L, or a BMW 320d SE. I've been reading the forums and the more i read the more concerned i get, there seems to be lots of problems with the new IS. Starting Problems Rattles Poor Gearing Road Noise Don't get me wrong, I love Jap cars, our whole family drives Toyota's at the moment, Yaris, Corolla, Avensis and Celica. The problem I find with all of them is road noise, which I cannot bear. I've been doing 3 hours trips in my Celica...and the pain it causing my ears has made me sell it. We always bought Jap cause of reliablity, but seems like the IS needs lots of visits to dealer for repairs. Can you let me have some honest opinions on your cars, would you by diesel or petrol ? Would you even buy the IS having owned it now. I've always had my mind sent on the Lexus, I think they look stunning. But reading reviews and forums has put doubts in my head, which is why the I'm considering the 320d now. I've booked a couple of test drives for this week, BMW tomorrow, Lexus Thursday....I need a comfortable car, quiet, reasonable to maintain(service,fuel,tax,etc)...performance and handling would be nice, but not top of my list. I've been thinking about this for weeks. Please help