dazed

Hi everyone, I have noticed my IS250 auto seems very reluctant to accelerate when cold or even change up to 6th.I imagine this is programed to behave in this way so as not to thrash a cold engine and cause possible damage. When up to temperature it goes really well.

That's deliberate and perfectly normal with any automatic, so don't worry.

By the way I am getting an average of 32mpg totally on urban driving with climate on and seat heating ect, very pleased. Recent trip to France over 1000 miles returned 38mpg, even more pleased.

I'm really impressed with the economy too. My 250SE has been averaging 35mpg on my drive to and from work recently (80% motorway, 20% urban) - and that's despite some really cold starts.

Does anyone know where the sensor is for the autolights?

It's on the dashboard, close to the windscreen on the right hand side of the car. It sounds like yours might be broken, or else there's are problem with the switch on your stalk.

I have wondered occasionally whether there is a menu setting to control the sensitivity of the sensor.

Yes there is, but it's a dealer only setting.

Does anyone know where the sensor is for the autolights?

It's on the dashboard, close to the windscreen on the right hand side of the car. It sounds like yours might be broken, or else there's are problem with the switch on your stalk.

Does the auto box in the IS 250 'learn' your driving style only during the first 1000 miles?

I hope not! I'd expect it to be continuously adjusting itself based on how you're driving.

I can configure the door locking on my IS250 SE using a combination of Shift level position (P and N) and pressing the driver's door lock switch for 5 seconds. It's all explained on pages 47 and 48 of the manual.

The auto door locking feature when the car reaches about 12mph is now enabled by default on new ISs. I live out in the sticks and found it unecessary, so I disabled it.

No I pay the dealer to do it at every service. Has anyone actually had to top them up between the normal servicing? I've never over the last 8 years of Lexus ownership.

I know Japanese reliability is legendary, but your faith in their technology has amazed even me!

That was probably Barrel Bob's Audi you were parked next to.

LOL, i'm just wondering if its meant to rust like that or should i mention it to lexus when i take it in for a service?

My bonnet catches have always been well greased which probably helps to limit corrosion. Perhaps you should apply some.

Yesterday while driving on a dual carriage at around 50mph i noticed a strange noise that sounded like its coming from my driver side front wheel. It sounded a bit like something scraping against the wheel or tyre. In the past I used to have a Toyota Corolla 04 Model which used to have a problem of wheels making that kind of noise when break dust gets stuck in between the pads and the disc.

In the begining it sounded just like the problem I used to get on my corolla. But then when i came to slower road, i opened my window and as I was driving the noise sounded very much like something is stuck on the wheel like a plastic shopping bag or something and it was getting dragged with the wheel or was trapped inside. But the noise wasnt constant it would happen somethings. When i went home i had a look at my wheels (as much i can see in the dark) but it seemed all clear and I couldnt find anything stuck to the wheels. I looked under the car but couldnt see anything.

On my way to work this morning, the noise was still there and it was intermittent and mainly appeared when i was going over rough surfaces and stuff. I dont understand what it could be.

Has anyone else experienced any similar issues with the IS 250? Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks

Sticking brake pads perhaps?

Can you make the problem come and go by touching the brakes?

Can everyone with IS 250 SE Auto hear their engine from inside when idle stuck in traffic etc.? When i say hear the engine I dont mean as in very noisy but just hear the engine noise generally?

You can just about hear it in most situations. Obviously it's quite noticable while the engine is still cold, but once it's warmed up, other ambient noise (aircon, radio, wife, street noise, other traffic etc.) will determine how 'loud' you perceive the engine to be.

Hi all, this is my first post – but I have been reading the forum lots and I wondered if you could help / advise me please.

I test drove, last Sat, the IS220d (base model) – had it all day from Lexus Coventry and was really impressed with it – the torque was unreal when you drop down a gear – and I understand fully the issue surrounding the 6th gear ratio when cruising on a motorway. It was so easy to drive and rather quiet on the road for a diesel. I was going to buy one but something happened on the very next day, Sunday, which put a spanner in the works.

Last Sunday I had an IS250 SE-L auto for the day, again from Lexus Coventry (who could not do enough for me) and was blown away by the refinement of the 6-speed auto box. The engine, although did not pull as quickly as dropping a gear in the diesel, was sublime. The smoothness of the gauto ear change and quietness of the engine made the drive superb. Yes all the toys on it were nice – but I am more interested in the engine.

I will probably do about 10,000 – 12,000 miles per year in whichever one I decide to get (yes will get one of them). I am going to get a used one with a few thousand miles on the clock but less than 12 months old and around the £22k mark.

For the sports I do, I have a big Volvo V70 auto petrol (the wife will have this one) – so the lexus would be a second car.

I will probably do about 50% motorway and 50% A/B roads and am now unsure whether to get the 220d Diesel or 250 Petrol. I would appreciate your time if, between us, I could come to a solid conclusion on which one to get as I am itching to get one of them.

Dave

Take a look at the Petrol or Diesel? thread.

I was initially interested in the 220d, but then drove the 250 auto. My mind was made up in an instant!

The 250 auto has an amazing engine and gearbox. It's even pretty economical for a v6 2.5 litre auto.

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.

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......

Back on topic. I've driven both (220d and 250 auto) and I'd pick the petrol everytime.

IMHO they're poles apart - totally different cars really.

The diesel is a competent performer (and probably won't let you down), but it isn't particularly refined or economical by modern standards. The gearbox is also pretty rough and slow to shift, especially the first couple of gears.

The petrol on the otherhand is very refined and quiet. The auto gearbox is wonderfully smooth - you have a job to detect the gear shifts, partly because the engine is so quiet. It's also remarkably efficient for a V6 petrol auto - I was getting about 36mpg on a mix of driving with a slight bias towards dual carriageway cruising.

As a private buyer I'd opt for the petrol (and sacrifice the MM option to keep the price under control!) without any hesitation.

If I was adamant that I wanted to go down the diesel route I'd probably opt for a BMW 320d which IMHO has a more refined engine, slicker gearbox and better fuel economy.

but do you know how close he is to the truth?

New beemer 120d has this feature (swithing off the engine on lights) and all people who drove it had to switch it off, it was so bad.

Is this how BMW have managed to magically reduce their quoted CO2 emmissions by 20% or so this year?

I thought it all sounded too good to be true.

Between now and then I'm hoping for a drop in the oil price coupled with the resolving of the banking crisis will boost to the FTSE by a 1000 points before my trackers run out of track. Not much chance, unfortunately.

I'm afraid that's unlikely. Changes to Level 3 reporting (how banks value their intangibles) at the end of this week is going to mean a wretched time for the markets for a good few months yet.

I fear we've only seen the tip of this iceberg so far. My brother works in banking and securitising debt (selling it on to the markets) is nigh on impossible at the moment according to him. This is going to make personal loans and mortgages more expensive next year, even if interest rates come down.

Sorry to wander off topic.

Back on topic. I might be tempted to try and do a deal on a Lexus before the end of the month.

I occassionally browse the Lexus UK website to salivate at the nearly new cars and dream. However, today I've noticed quite a few cars that have a little asterisk on them inviting you to submit offers!

Obviously, I'd expect to haggle in any case, but I was a little surprised to see it so openly encouraged for such a prestige marque.

Is this a sign of harder times for dealers as the credit crunch tightens?

I'm guessing that despite Lexus owners being better off than most people, most of their cars are still purchased on credit.

Not tried SACD yet but mine wouldn't play a dual layer disc (single sided, 8.5gb DVD) at all. Didn't want to know...

Oh dear, that's not good. Most DVDs I come across are dual layer.

I'm not being funny or anything, but why would anyone actually want to play DVDs in a car (on the screen in the front console)? Am I missing something?

Evening all (at least it is at the time of writing)

I wonder if I might ask a simple question. Has anybody out there tried to play a dual-sided disc in the Mark Levinson DVD player in their IS250?

The player hasn't recognised the SACD layer of those hybrid CD/SACD discs that I've tried, although DVD-A and dts-CD have played splendidly with tremendous results.

I was musing upon buying one or two dual discs, but I don't want to waste my money if they won't play in the car. Hell, it's the best sound system I've got!

Thanks in anticipation of your collected experience...

Any reasonably modern (last 5 years) should be able to play dual layer DVDs no problem. Hybrid CD/SACD wouldn't play unless the drive is SACD compatible and carries the SACD logo (highly likely in any car IMHO).

Dual sided discs (very rare these days) should play, but of course you'll have to flip them over half way through (I can't imagine a car player would have two sets of lasers)

I have noticed that sometimes when the transmission is still not upto temp some of gear changes are noticable,is this normal?

I can't speak for Lexus, but every automatic I've ever driven has always been a bit on the sluggish side when shifting up when cold, so yes, noticing the gear changes when cold is probably perfectly normal.

Just out of interest, does the IS250 automatic have a conventional torque converter based transmission, or is it something fancier, like the DSG system. Just curious, as it seems to have remarkable performance AND economy for an automatic.

51!! I'd say the computer was broke, mind you, if you can get 60k out of a set of tyres?!?!? Anything is possible. Can you let me know what lottery numbers you're going for this week :D

Yeah, I must admit I am wary of trip computers - I prefer to work it out myself. Initially it was reporting in the high 30s/low 40s, but once I got the revs down the figure rose rapidly. Of course, it meant more downshifting when I wanted power, and what with Lexus not having the quickest gear change, it was hard work.

On the otherhand the Mark Levinson system was great and the seats excellent. The engine was also very quiet for a diesel once I was cruising in 5th and 6th and the general handling of the car felt very good.

However, at tickover the engine was quite noisy and first and second gear a bit rough and clunky (although this improved as I got familiar it).

As for the lottery, don't ask. I can't ever remember winning anything in my life. :D

Hi, this is my first post.

I'm about to buy either a Lexus 220d SE or a BMW 320d SE. I guess I probably won't go far wrong whichever one I finally opt for. My head says BMW (cheaper running costs, good engine/gearbox), but my heart says Lexus (better spec, more exclusive, helpful dealers, Japanese reliability).

I always used to aspire to a BMW, but just lately it seems like everyone and his dog has got one.

Hopefully my heart will win the argument and I won't subsequently regret going down the Lexus route.

BTW. My current car is a dull, but utterly reliable Honda Accord. 100K miles from new (2001) and apart from routine servicing, the only other expenses I've had are 4 new tyres and front brake pads at 60K miles and a new aircon radiator after a stone went through the original one. As you can probably tell, I don't drive cars particularly hard!

I've heard a lot of complaints about fuel economy on the 220d. When I took one out for a test drive I managed to average 51mpg (trip computer) on a mix of roads around the Cambridge area. Not as good as certain other cars, but better than the official figures quoted by Lexus.

I hope make other posts on this excellent forum in the future.