japthree

Cars like the M3, IS-F, 350Z, Subaru Impreza including the Celica all have it, as expected, ... and so does the 'humble' IS200/300. What other 'humble/modest' cars have it? Lexus ought to have carried over something to the IS250, be it the bonnet bulge or sports-style watch speedo.

... is it worth the bother swapping the 21"/ 18" I got fitted with 22" / 19" ? I've used them as it's been raining; but not sure if they will replace them. Just more coverage of the windscreen right? I can stand outside the car and seen how much screen is missing with them on? There's no actual size in the owner's manual but Halfords did say 22" / 19" are the ones!

is this regardless of having your IS' geometry adjusted to WIM magic settings and regardless of the extra weight/passengers? The IS200 owner's manual p. 233 recommends for less than 100 mph (all of us!) that for up to 4 occupants 33 psi front and rear; and for up to full capacity weight 33 psi front and 35 psi rear.

You might have seen this on Tv and car shows, any good or waste of £££? http://www.selkin.co.uk/site/site/home/hom...mp;t=p&i=77

Maybe cos I used to the IS, the 3-series was bit chunky and clunky and feels heavy - whereas the IS really is light, nippy and feels agile; kept reaching over to the passenger side for the hand brake, steering was bit better I suppose but I haven't been to WIM yet! The view over the bonnet is better than the 3-series -the IS dips down more sharply. The IS ' engine is smoother and creamier than the 4-cylinder 320i I drove. I heard the last generation 3-series (E46) the 320i was a 6-cylinder.... It's like eating Galaxy chocolate rather than Dairy Milk! When you pull up the hand brake it's very mechanical sounding whereas the IS' is not; if that makes sense! Don't like the offset gas pedal - do BMW do this as it helps driving or what? The indicator tick-tick on the E90 is a bit too 'tick tick sounding' like a grandfather clock - the IS' is more subtle... BTW, on the E90 auto do you shift into DS and then M1, M2, M3 similar to the IS' L, 2, 3? Sorry for this amateurish review - I'm not that good at reviewing!

When the passenger door is open - the red light inside the door is not coming on nor does the "open door warning light'' appear on the dash. Further, as you can guess, the interior light (with its switch in the "DOOR" position) does not come on when this door is open. Can I fix it myself? - what's the problem? Help pls! (All other doors behave as they should).

A friend-mechanic is offering under £10 (including fitting) for "no-name in particular" new ones (21" and 18") which are a bit shorter than DJ Wozza's - does SIZE (an extra inch-girls!) matter? What's the deal with these Bosch ones - Halfords were offering £28+; surely wipers are wipers? I have rain-x treatment on the windows so that should be a big help? Did you know VINEGAR is supposed to be good for cleaning the blades (and for glass windows)?

Please recommend and also any which are really bad or misleading, if any.

Just wondering... is the placement of the road tax disc in the bottom passenger corner of the windscreen a legal requirement or simply it should be able to be read through the windscreen? Also this MOT reminder sticker you now get after your MOT test - most cars seem to have it in the top passenger corner of the screen if you use yours! Is there a 'recommended' position for it?

I presume the IS-F and possibly the facelifted 3-series is at the current British Motor Show in London? Have you been - any tips what to take or wear for instance? You need a good strong (plastic) bag to carry all those free brochures!

Wipers on my IS need replacing - please advise see http://www.halfords.co.uk

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpr...s_facelift.html http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/...-Series/233851/ What do you think is going to be new in the IS250's facelift if Lexus decide to keep up (maybe that's the wrong word!) with the 3-series?

Borrowed off a friend: 1) fits the IS' rear view mirror - just as the ISs mirror base is much thicker than its clips extending out - but on a motorway it would scare the life out of me IF is suddenly dropped off - same goes with sat nav (TomToms) in particular with the A/C cold air directed on the windscreen! 2) if you want the sun visor down you have to remove the Vision Pro as it's so wide and then re-fit it - hassle! Never seen it in any of the mags or Halfords so I'm not convinced but you CAN see the kids in the back but I would still check my blind spot with my head over the shoulder than solely rely on this. Anyone used/seen this device or something similar?

http://www.performancecarmagazine.co.uk/se...longtermerID=11 http://www.performancecarmagazine.co.uk/se...longtermerID=16 Technology? On the 2005 Lexus IS-350 there was a great feature that allowed you to program the NAV system while driving. You hit Menu, Volume, then tap the top left and top bottom corners of the touch screen twice and you got a hidden menu system that allowed you to override the NAV protection system. Unfortunately word got out and Lexus took that away. Now, in order to do that you have to rip the console out and either cut a wire or use a harness kit. No way am I taking the NAV system out. I've heard too many horror stories of the system not working after that type of operation. If anybody came come up with an easter egg that allows disabling of the NAV driving thing please let me know. I'll be eternally grateful and so will a whole slew of IS owners! In fact the first person to come up with a successful way to do this (via the NAV screen, similar to the way it used to work) gets a free one-year subscription to Performance Car magazine or a GT1 Vehicle Performance timer. There are a lot of easter eggs out there that work on all the IS models, so if you want to find out about those let us know and I'll post info in my next column. ====== Really easter eggs on my IS200 even without sat nav? - maybe I should be asking on the IS200/300 forum but most of you guys read this forum too! P.S. new nice mag btw - alternative to evo!

I presume the spinning brushes they have in automatic car washes don't scratch the car and these handwash places don't intentionally want to scratch your car by using an old sponge with grit or something - so does anyone here never ever use a third party service but instead does it himself ALWAYS? What about these jet washes in garages where you pay via coins/token and then you wash the car - the brushes might be old and scratchy - best to soak the car with shampoo/foam and use your own sponge? Is the 'standard' car sponge you get in Halfords/etc safe to use - or there's some newer type of microfibre cloth which is safer? This is important if you have a brand new car with zero scratches!

Looking for best value for money one, bear in mind Lexus is the most reliable brand, especially the IS, hence do I REALLY need to join - how many ISs do you see on the motorway hard shoulder?!?! Any do special discounts on Lexus because of their reliability - surely Lexus and Breakdown services is an oxymoron?

Check out July 2008 edition of the above mag, out every 3rd Thursday of the month so got until the 17th July. I think this is a new-ish car mag only been out for a few issues, any info?

Appears to be more of an aesthetic dial to me, to fit in with the "Sports Chronographic Watch" theme and the intervals on it are too big to get a precise reading to the nearest MPG? What's the best way to drive to get a reading? Is the IS200/300 the only car ever to have such a speedo?

I know there is loads of "easter eggs" for the IS250/220 but any others for the 1st gen IS? Dunno if this is particularly safe to do: http://www.eeggs.com/items/47121.html Lexus IS Car - Lexus Is Wheespin Start the car with the parking brake on. Then foot brake twice (keep the foot brake down), then parking brake twice (keep it down )and repeat till skid light is on the dash. It will reset when you restart the car. You can now wheelspin the car.

In comparing these options for purely the driving experience (not interested in the visual exterior and interior improvements of the Sport - although I think the metal drilled pedals on the Sport are bit OTT IMHO!) in what ways do the SE and Sport differ - I read that as expected that the Sport is a firmer ride so the SE might be better for you; does the Sport's LSD really make a difference in driving fun/handling/etc (never driven a Sport so wouldn't know)? Also the auto transmission has been 'criticised' for being only a 4-speed (i.e. sluggish and not very sporty) - do you agree? Something which the IS250 has rectified with the 6-speed auto box and ironically is recommended over the manual! On a positive note the auto box has been praised in reviews in that it is unusual -- you have to shift to the right and down and not just straight down - do you like this!?!? I'm not sure how unusual - I'm sure other auto Toyotas might have a similar style box as well as other manufacturers? (...From a visual experience, incidentally, auto boxes look more modern than a manual?...)

Since I dislike the wood trim but would like the gadgets of the SE-L, I would be forced to buy the IS250 Sport (which initially was manual transmission only?)? Is this a good spec then: IS250 Sport Auto + MM, Mesa Red, grey leather interior I think I'll wait for 2 years until Lexus beef up the spec even more with some new gadget/etc.

As the IS is loaded as standard with kit - is there anything you've found really useful (e.g. seat heater) which if as an option you wouldn't have never thought of getting. In 1999 e.g. a E46 BMW 3-series came standard with a cassette deck; the IS had that AND a 6 in-dash (as opposed to in the boot) disc CD! (.... the IS250 is even better for this question!)

Does anyone recommend these please? The guy on QVC today mentioned that the mirror is 14 inches wide, measured mine (my IS that is! :-)) and it's 10 inches so will 4 inches make a difference? http://www.qvcuk.com/ukqic/qvcapp.aspx/mai...ame.item.553682 Vision Pro Set of 2 Wide-Angle Rearview Mirror Get the big picture with this wide-angle rearview mirror! Its convex shape helps eliminate the blind spots associated with standard mirrors. You can see your children in the back seat without having to turn around, and see cyclists or motorcyclists coming from behind. The gold-plated anti-glare surface absorbs and diffuses the harsh headlights of vehicles behind you to keep your vision clear. The spring-loaded clips allow simple and quick attachment to most existing rearview mirrors. There are two mirrors in this pack - ideal if you have a second car!

Suppose I go to WIM and then later go too fast over a pothole or speed hump - might that not knock the settings off a bit and I'm back to square one?

Would that mean that Drury Lane would give identical results to going to see Tony if Tony recommends them and uses those magic settings? In theory, yes....? If the work done is the same then the rational choice is the nearer one.