philthy

Best thing to do is do a search on the IS220d. There's plenty of stuff on here about it. Good and bad. The best advice I could offer is take advantage of the 48hr test drives being offered and use it as you would if it were yours and that includes loading it up for the family trip abroad as the space isn't brilliant. Also check out the dealership, some have been found wanting big time. Good luck.

I got the invite your friends letter despite having got shot of my IS220d a few months ago. I noted the letter said to tell them of your Lexus experience so I did. They won't be turning up for a test drive after hearing it.

I don't know if it's down to weight, gearing or what, but the IS220 engine works far better in the Toyota models it was designed for. Even the RAV 4 D runs better. I can't see the survey result being blighted by the IS250 so I would agree the IS220 has done a lot of damage for Lexus. That and the shoddy dealerships attitudes towards customers.

Congratulations. If you get a good one, it's great little car for what it is and the best looking compacexec. If you get a bad one, you'll wish you'd gone for the IS250 or something else. It's an infamous car on and off here for a number of reasons that you can read about in numerous threads on here along with tales of joy from other owners of the 220. I hope it works out for you. Good luck with your purchase.

out I would dearly love to swap my '06 220d SE MM with 32k for a 250 Auto SE (no MM) of similar age & mileage, but don't feel inclined to fork out too much cash in addition. Does anyone know what the likelihood of a dealer doing it on a cost to change in the region of £1-2k ? I wouldn't hold out too much hope. I found out last week that the Lexus dealer offered £9k for my 56 plate 220d. I got £12k dead on my deal using an independant to offload the car when I bought the S80 and was offered £12,500 against a new Rav 4 by Toyota. If Lexus are offering that kind of money on the 220s they're either struggling to shift them or trying to shaft the customer big time. Your local dealer might be different though. Mine are not to be trusted in my experience.

Car sals are down >23% in Oct compard to last. Now is probably a good time to do it - there are a plethora of nearly new exdemo's and management cars everywhere and November is normally a very quiet month....which means you get a huge choice... Porsche - history has shown that brands like Porsche will not get hit-overall-so they might offer you a crap deal. Audi too are seeing a sales bonanza - so again you might struggle on an A5 which is in demand... the longer you leave it, the less interested dealrs will be in taking a Lexus...which they have to pass on again through the trade...so you will be offered £500-1000 less than CAP to cover any losses they incur, unless they can pre-sell (which many can and do). Like I've said - best to go to a dealer (any make) who have Lexus within group... Good luck Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately it doesn't ideally suit me to sell just now and like you said the cars i'm interested in dont seem to be coming down in price too much. Someone said to me that it would be better to trade in my car around March or September, something to do with the new reg etc coming out, dont know if any truth to it though? However i may hold off just a little while longer, surely better deals on the A5 will be available since it only came out this year. May just pay a visit to the Audi garage and see what they say?? I'd say March/Sept were the wrost times to trade in as every man and his dog will be shopping for a new plate car. With a shed load of trade ins hitting the market it will hit the price of your trade in. November to January and June July are the optimum times for me. The first because the new plate period has gone and Christmas is approaching or gone. Punters have their minds on spending money on other things. The second because again the new plate novelty has gone and summer holidays/kids off school and need entertaining time arrives.

Subaru are doing the same. Buy a Forrester or something and get a free Impreza.

I am not 100% sure, but I think the manual states that for the first 1,500 miles don't rev the engine too high. Check the manual again, it is mentioned somewhere. It's more important to not let the engine labour. You'll find that difficult unless you keep towards the peak revs band. All engones these days are bench tested anyway so there shouldn't be a problem driving normally after about a 100 miles to let the swarf clear out. Certainly with bikes the best results are by riding hard form day one.

When I purchased my old IS220d I queeried the radio frequency for the remote and what would stop anyone with another fob getting into your car. The alarming news, (no pun intended), was there are only two frequencies as far as they knew. A thief with a fob therefore potentially has access to any IS out there until the battery dies down. The staff weren't concerned at this prospect so I assume there must be some safeguard against random access. The immobiliser must have a random access code for start up associated with the cars specific fob making it useless for starting someone else's car, but it will always remain active for your car. You need a new lock and key set as far as I can see unless Lexus can access the systems brain to lock out the stolen fob.

If you're set on an IS then go for the IS250 auto every time over the IS220d. I'd definitely recommend a long weekend test drive in it and everything else before you buy though.

I got £12k for my base IS220 a couple of months ago. I was lucky as I have good connections with the dealership I bought my replacement from. I was shown the book, which indicated the diesel IS is shedding pounds rapidly. (Couldn't say what is happening with the 250.) Down £700 in the last period before I got rid. That and with the fact the economy has taken a sharp downturn, I reckon your offer is a reasonable one. I warned at the time anyone looking to part ex should be prepared for a big shock. Lexus is a funny manufacturer in that they aspire to make quality cars but it's aimed at people who are used to buying German or Swedish. The vast majority of them stick with what they know. That for me makes taking on a Lexus as a part ex a risk if you want to shift it at similar figures to the other marques as your customer base is going to be smaller. Especially when the other marques can offer a decent diesel engine range. The bad news stories with the IS220 can't have helped resale values either. All in it leaves you with a dilema; take the hit now accepting that all cars have lost money or hang on and take it further down the line when your car is going to be older and your new one isn't going to be any cheaper. Good luck.

No - I really do like the car, and it all looks fine - just wanted opinions and advice - I think I've got it now though! :winky: Seems like it's best avoided - certainly at that price. Perhaps if the dealer knocked some serious money off it might be worthwhile, but hed want to be selling it at what - 75% of book value? how much would you have to pay for a car like this in good condition in NI :) To me it wouldn't matter what he knocked off the price. It's a cat D write off and always will be no matter how pretty anyone makes it look. If I was aware a car was a cat D write off I'd walk away fast. I wouldn't risk either my family or myself in one or my finances. There's a better car around the corner and I'm sure deep down you know it. Just be patient and wait for it. Don't be tempted with this car at all and at any price.

Telling people how bad they are, once or twice, yes you have the right to do that. Ramming your opinions down other people's throat ad nauseum - that's just sour grapes. Do you feel you didn't make your point well enough, the first time or the second time or even the tenth time? You're right, its not called the Lexus Fan Club. It's actually called the Lexus Owner's Club. What should that tell us? That we can expect to get detailed reviews on the Volvo S80 and the BMW 525d ad infinitum? I don't think so. Hang on it's a balance. You tell them how good they are adnauseum we tell them how bad they are. Nothing wrong with that. If you don't want to read how we are getting on with our replacements then don't read or post on the other threads. Some people want to know if we made the right choice to leave Lexus. The comments posted above are hardly contributing to debate or constructive are they?

Some of you are clearly not as happy with your cars as you make out to be having such a hard time with those of us that have left Lexus and wish to pass on our experience. Just as you have every right to tell people how good you think Lexus are, we have the right to tell people how bad we think they are. Doesn't make us right but neither does it make you right. It's an opinion and that is what forums are based on. It'd be called a Lexus fan club if it was nothing but back slapping. Welshman congratulations on your new car.

If you call a 142kg not very different although I wouldn't want to be physically carrying it anywhere. The manual S80 D5 does have better quoted figures: Urban 34 Extra urban 53.3 Combined 44.1 CO2 169 As said though, fuel efficiency wasn't a concern.

in uk the is 220 weighs 1560kg with the volvo 110kg more,not enough to make a significant consumption difference. 1560 is the weight of the base model, but luxury model (SE-L ?) weights 1660 as Finlex wrote. The D5 is also a 2.4 five cylinder transverse 20 valve engine putting out more horses, which probably partway accounts for the poorer fuel consumption. That and my enjoyment of the right boot. :) It's quoted figures for the greartronic are: BHP 185 Torque 400nm 0-60 8.5 secs top speed 140mph drag co-efficient 0.29 Urban 28.8 Combined 38.7 Extra urban 48.7 CO2 193 Min kerb weight 1702kg (actual kerb weight dependent on spec) The mpg wasn't an issue for me other than any claim for the IS220d to be a class leader when it clearly isn't.

Today the advantage of split fold rear seats came into their own. Three rear alloys, one front and a large bike lift that I was able to fit in the back easily and with room to spare. I'd have needed to hire a van if I still had the IS. MPG in stop start traffic is averaging 26 to 29 mpg.

Did the first motorway run in the S80 today. Quite heavy traffic but fairly consistent 75 - 80 mph with stop start once arrived at the village, I got a return of 41mpg both ways. Before I hit the stop start stuff I had an indicated 46mpg. I only achieved that figure on a run in the IS220d if I stuck to 56mph. The IS is better in stop start traffic, but the S80 does weigh a damn sight more. The auto box takes the pain away from all that clutch work too.

Was it D5 with geartronic? Most of the rentals have auto boxes. I'm very pleased with mine and the service contiues to put our local Lexus dealer to shame. The hands free kit in the Lexus wasn't compatible with our upgraded phones, but Sturgess were willing to get it taken out and will fit it to my daughters Punto for free if we want. Couldn't see you know who doing that.

I think Volvo are one of those manufacturers who make a range to suit various pockets. The C30 is aimed at the lower budget end, although still nicely built, it is a mass production, (by Volvo standards), car. The S40/V50 similarly so. The S60 is no more, but the new XC60 is aimed squarly at the RX. The S80 is aimed at the 5 series, Audi A6 and compares very well in terms of build quality, trim levels, ride etc but doesn't come near the performance or economy of the 3.0 diesel. The XC90 is aimed at the X5 etc and for me is the better car.

I'm not comparing new cars Matus as I'd never buy one. I prefer to let someone else take the taxmans hit. I paid just over £17k for a base model IS220 on a 56 plate in Feb of 2008. I got £12500 for it as a part ex. For the same £17k I could have bought a 07 plate S80 D5 SE RTi. £26k new in Sept 08. Admittedly a huge hit by the tax man in depreciation, but in my eyes a more suitable car for my needs with just as many gadgets and a few more with a superb geartronic box. I've paid £18k now for a 08 S80 to the same spec yet the 08 used IS220s on the local forecourt are down even lower. Maybe it's different on the continent. With the Volvo I feel like the car will last me at least the seven years I would usually hang on to a car. (It'll actually be going in two and half for a XC60 D5.) With the Lexus I never felt that confident, but my view was tainted by the dealer experience.

Fully agree with the reccomendation to do a long test drive. IF you're coming from a compacexec you won't notice the small cabin space as much as I did coming from a big luxury exec. Not the IS fault but mine for thinking I could cope with the reduced space. ALso my mpg is all town driving. On a run I did achieve around 45mpg doing 56mph for the journey.

It's compared because of the price Matus, but sadly, at least for me, doesn't come near. Each to their own though.

If all you're after is a good looking diesel with rear wheel drive go get one. I had one and was dissapointed as you'll find on many a thread. The thing with the latest IS shape is it is the best looking compac exec out there and it makes you want to make it fit your criteria. When you've paid your cash it's too late to decide it doesn't actually fit your needs. It's then that you realise that the fuel economy isn't as good as claimed. (I regulalrly managed 32mpg around town but had to drive very sedately to achieve it and that isn't easy with a rear wheel drive car.) The 1st gear ratio on non sport models is downright dangerous unless you want to add a bit of clutch slip or just shut your eyes. 6th gear is useless unless you're doing well in excess of the national limits. I think you'll find the boot space isn't as good as your 3 series and similar limitations on carrying adults in the rear. Don't even try putting child seats in the rear. It has plenty of gadgets, but so do most cars these days. Issues wise mine had the 5th injector recall and a noisy cab with noise from the gearbox/clutch. No problems with my upholstery but others have. One thing I will admit missing is the keyless entry and ignition. It's helpful not to have to fumble in your pockets for the key. If I was in market for an IS again, I have to say it would be the 250 auto that got my money. It's a completely different car to the diesel. I'll never buy another Lexus but that's more to do with local dealerships than the product.

At last, a happy philthy. I didn't know what an S80 looked like so have been on the Volvo website. It just highlights how peoples tastes differ. I think it looks okay, and only okay until you see it from the rear where it looks jelly mould-ish. I think from that view it is one of the ugliest cars around. I'm not wanting to be derogatory and I'm sure won't take the comments as such, you've got a broad back and like me you probably don't give a monkeys what people think as long as you're happy. You've really gone on a bit too much about you're IS and upset a FEW people but if they were as happy as they say they are I don't think they would have risen to the bait and responded as if if were a personal insult. One thing for sure though they are driving a car that certainly looks a lot better than yours, but that's only my opinion which to me is the only one that counts. It doesn't worry me in the slightest. I've always said the IS is the best looking compact exec. The S80 is a like it or hate looking car but it's a big luxury exec designed for comfort and space. In the black metallic with chrome trim I think it looks the dogs danglies. Others will think it looks pooh. I also like the look of the 5 series, which again isn't to everyone's tastes. I do draw the line at a Porche Cayenne though. I agree that some perhaps wouldn't be so upset if all was rosy with their cars. I know I won't miss the IS220d one iota but others would. I've no problem with that. A car is a tool, but commonly the second largest purchase we are likely to make in our lives. Getting it right is important. I got it wrong when I chose an IS and have paid for it financially. If I made just one person aware of the mistakes I made it's worth it. However, in order to avoid upsetting a certan few, I have opted to call it more or less quits and be happy sitting smug in my car.