japthree

Any major concerns or it's been a good visit?

I take it that "08" is a private plate? However, in 2009 "08" won't look that good? What about "250" instead? How much does a reg like this typically cost btw?

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/prod...95/mirrors.html Just wondering if anyone has used these and help for example on the motorway when changing lanes? Seen extra mirrors on lorries and such vehicles but very rarely on cars. Might look a bit geeky/nerdy having them on both driver and passenger side mirrors however. Obviously if it helps reducing the blind spot area then it makes driving safer... my instructor once recommended them to me but you don't see cars with them on? However, on the new IS you definitely wouldn't need them due to those large mirrors.

You bought it? Isn't WHS more like a library - people just have a 'free read'! :-)

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/spyshots...mw_3series.html Make your own judgement on the 3-series revision - I like the indicator lights on the wing mirrors. Maybe Nov 2009 for a facelift - that will be 4 years since Nov 2005?

Is it true if I put some weight (maybe supermarket shopping or heavier) in the boot it can help the ISs handling as the rear end won't slide about as much?

Recently there was a discussion in the letters page of Auto Express mag and someone said that the position of the pump on the gauge indicates the driver or passenger side of the fuel tank cap. As it is with the right hand drive ISs this is correct! - but not sure whether it still stands for left hand drive ISs?

Suppose you can only be a good judge if you've had many cars! If yes, please why?

Other than cost there's actually some pros of having non-leather seats? Don't get so hot and cold in extreme temperatures; less chance of slipping around when going round a bend too fast; anything else? Just on my mind! I suppose having a mix of both gives you the best of both worlds!

It is recommended to switch off the air-con to conserve fuel; if you set the climate control temp to the lowest/coldest setting (16) with A/C off it doesn't feel as 'cold' and doesn't really help in hot weather? So what's the trade-off? A/C off or on?

since u r in preston, drury lane at oldham and tdi north at warrington are the closest I know of that have been recommended by tony @ wim Would anyone prefer one over the other - TDI North (Warrington) or Drury Lane (Oldham)? Prices differ? Noticed LOC mentioned on the Drury Lane site. http://www.drurylaneservices.com/geometry.htm

In "Winter Driving Tips" page 180 of the Owner's manual states not to use the parking brake (for manual or auto) when parking in case the parking mechanism might freeze so it can't be absolutely necessary in normal conditions (and not just for autos!).... btw, this can't be just for Lexuses and/or ISs but good practice for all cars?!?

For auto only, it says you should keep it depressed until driving off. Many times I've never done this and noticed no difference whatsoever. What's the importance please?

On an auto when parking is it good to apply the handbrake as well as shifting into P or safe not to bother?

It can be stated that the 2nd gen IS has (virtually) no likeness to the 1st gen IS whether in the exterior or interior? Do you think the 2nd gen IS should have 'carried over' some of the features of the 1st gen IS e.g. the swiss-watch speedo? If you sat in one and then the other you wouldn't have thought they are 'related'!? Also, what's the biggest differences or things an IS200 owner would find when first driving an IS250/220, when expecting some inter-relation between the models. Please comment - I'm interested in your views! :-)

... Curious - but is the IS200/300 better than the current 3-series (E90) in any way? If you've driven both please can you comment? Always thought the current 3-series "head on" is very IS200 - same sort of headlight shape for instance...? I'm a layman when it comes to the engines but the IS' is a straight-six and the 320i/d is a 4-cylinder one (as opposed to the E46 old 3- series 320i which was a straight-six) so does this mean the IS' engine is better, smoother, etc?

1st gen IS I like black or graphite or even red but platinum ice doesn't look right IMHO. But for the 2nd gen IS the platinum ice looks really NICE and the black doesn't stand out as much! Must be my eyes or something to do with the exterior design? Comments? Any site where it gives you the most popular purchase colours for the ISs?

I've wondered about this and this was a radio phone-in topic too - but is it really necessary to swap your address details with the person you've had an accident with? What's happens if you've damaged his brand new Bentley and he comes to your house for 'revenge'?

http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/knowledge...mp;id=1&c=5 IS200: Tracking settings Author: Colin Barber FRONT Caster Min = 5 deg 16', Max = 6 deg 16' Camber Min = -0 deg 51', Max = 0 deg 9' Toe Min = -0 deg 6', Max = 0 deg 18' SAI = 9 deg 16' REAR Camber Min = -0 deg 53', Max = 0 deg 7' Toe Min = 0 deg, Max = 0 deg 24' My tyres need to be changed anyway so can't I take the above info as a printout and ask ATS Euromaster / my local garage to do the tracking according to the info? Would they agree? Would it be just the same as Tony doing it? If not, why not please?

Just wondering typically - btw on mine it's come on when the needle was (quite) above the "E" i.e. unexpectedly...

JD Power 2007 Executive Car table There appears to be some "anomalies" in the JD Power Survey 2007 because if you compare the 3-series versus the IS200 you would expect the 3-series to be better or at least equal in certain categories: Interior Quality: 1 mark against 2 marks (thought IS200 is a bit plastic "fantastic"?) Performance: 1 mark against 2 marks (surely 3-series is just as good?) Vehicle interior: 1 mark against 3 marks (how can the 3-series have a big difference?) Vehicle exterior: 1 mark against 3 marks (surely a 3-series owner can't rate his car so low?) Now since the survey is based on the cars YOU drive then a 3-series owner is being very honest! Of course it could be that some anti-BMW people have done the survey and lowered the results! But similarly for the Auto Express Driver Power 2008 survey (19 March 2008 issue) the old IS beats the old 3-series in: These two could be expect by Lexus to beat BMW: Comfort: 5th versus 50th Ease of Driving: 6th versus 50th But these especially handling - this can't be right! Braking: 13th versus 45th Ride Quality: 10th versus 49th Handling: 15th versus 21st!!!!! How can a BMW driver say his car doesn't handle that well? The thing is the Lexus IS beats the 3-series in these customer satisfaction surveys year after year but when Auto Express, Autocar, Whatcar?, etc compare them always the 3-series beats the IS as the better car overall. Incidentally Lexus won the Driver Power 2008 survey as best dealer again! Watch out for the JD Power 2008 results in the new Whatcar? out on Thursday 8th May. Will Lexus be the number one manufacturer yet again? You betcha!

Was watching this car review show yesterday and noticed it was a new episode for 2008 feat the M3 Cabriolet - however for the first two months at least this year the station was showing old episodes from 2007 so I thought it had been discontinued. Anyone know when the new 2008 series started please?

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpr...de_lottery.html Here's the article (without the table of manufacturers) which appeared on the website yesterday.

I parked in a car park which was sloping downwards a little and when I was getting out an Audi was waiting for me so he could get in my place - I was struggling to be gentle and slow but actually to make the car MOVE! It was lurching backwards! He must have been laughing his head after at the time I was taking...looking like a learner or something. Wish I had been in a manual at that time.

I've edited my message above as it was misleading. Page 17 actually states in the article's table that Lexus has NO postcode recognition for its IS (which is clearly wrong!) and that BMW has 5-digit postcode entry for its 3-series. Now my friend who has a 2005 3-Series (E90) with Professional Navigation his sat-nav doesn't have any postcode entry (it's greyed out on the screen) so unless the current 2008 versions have newer software/etc this is in error too! Auto Express' journalist needs to do his homework before printing such stuff!