DJP

Cancelling a credit agreement is only possible under the cooling off period under the Consumer Credit Act. Typically this is 30 days days from signing up - avoid the hard sale basically. Once this has expired then paying the credit off early is termed early settlement and will not affect your credit rating, although to be a stickler for accuracy if you have been in arrears during the term of the agreement you may already have a late payment or default lodged. Re the legal cover mentioned, no policy will give you free advice on this. This cover is principally designed to help you recover losses and costs against a third party relating to a car insurance claim.

A PCP is just another hire purchase type arrangement, and you have every right to early settle it as with an other form of lending. This does not affect your credit rating at all. On the wear and tear issue I have just come out of a 4 month argument with Merc finance on handing back a CLK. They wanted £800 which was nonsense and have now settled for £125. In future I will be very careful when handing back and take plenty of pics as evidence of good condition. I have also crossed Merc off my list for the future.

Yes, touching the screen alters the mode, I found it a bit confusing and was concentrating on it so much I nearly stacked it (joke). Does the voice thing work?

i just thot the accoding to TEL this new DVD offers nav entry on the move and also this revised park assist that he mentions. The IS hasnt got any self-parking features like the LS, so the only thing that could be is the when on reverse on the screen it displays those green/yellow/red lines to say roughly where the car will end up if the steering wheel is positioned at a certain angle. But then that could be what i have already, (and im presuming your screen also shows you what i've just said?) but i dont think mine has voice guidance for that function... I do have the display as you rightly mention, but have never realy taken much notice of it. I like the camera but (so far) haven't needed any other help in parking. I might give it a go and see if the voice thing works. I must admit I have only tried to use it a coule of times and turned the climate off instead of the audio!! Off out shortly so will report back!

I am not sure about the serial number or whether it is software or firmware, but what I can definately confirm is that the new disc DOES allow input entry on the move. This was the main reason for me upgrading. I have the MM but no park assist so don't know about the second point. Cheers. wat yr is ur car? and u havent got a rear view camera? Mine is an 07 plate. I do have the camera but assume this is something different to the park assist. Am I missing something?

I am afraid that the nannies that put it together still need you to agree to whatever is says on the screen!

I am not sure about the serial number or whether it is software or firmware, but what I can definately confirm is that the new disc DOES allow input entry on the move. This was the main reason for me upgrading. I have the MM but no park assist so don't know about the second point. Cheers.

As I mentioned in an earlier post is only lets you do a partial postcode search. I don't know what version of the software a 55 plate uses. Maybe contact a Lexus main dealer and see what they can do for you. Sorry I can't be of more help.

Thanks, I may try this. It sounds easy but you have no idea of my lack of ability in things manual.

I think I will try it and take the hint re running a few tanks. Resetting the ECU is a strange language to me, I don't even know how to open the bonnet. Is it a button you press or does it involve something more tehnical?

Excellent post, made me laugh! A chap was admiring my car yesterday (the Polish boys had just given it the hand job) and he asked what fuel I use. Funnily enough I had just seen the earlier posts in this thread, I hadn't even thought about it and have always just stuck in the normal unleaded. He raved anout the V Power (apparantly Clarkson believes in the stuff too?) so I am going to give that a try. I am not bothered about mpg but anything that improves performance and is easy to implement gets my vote.

I assume she's the ex, as she caught you with the bint in the yellow thong. Or maybe she is the ex and you caught her with the fat bloke with a savage hair problem. Your call!

Some good advice offered. I get my wife to clear the snow away and defrost the car.

My upgrade was £114 including installation at Lexus Croydon. The only tangible difference is the unfreezing of the screen enabling the system to be used on the move. Worth the money just for that! I didn't try and do it myself A) because they did it for free and B) me and screwdrivers etc don't go together. Happy New Year.

As for audio, does it let you browse mp3 folders/cd track list while on the move? Regret I don't know. I plugged the i phone in and via the aux button could listen to my music but there didn't seem to be any other functionality.

As far as I can tell yes, but as a relative newbie I may have missed some other subtle updates.

I got in touch with my dealer as soon as I knew there was an updated sat nav DVD coming out. I was contacted on Friday and had it fitted - I am not good with screw drivers etc. (Not sure the chap was over impressed when he opened the boot to access the tool kit that is in there, apparantly, and found half a ton of golf clubs!!) I was charged £114 inv VAT, which is a discounted price. I am sure roads that I have never heard of and will never use have been updated, but for me the biggest improvement is the ability to use the thing whilst driving. As far as I can tell the postcode search is still not as good as a Tom Tom, i.e. it is only partial, and you still have to agree not to break the law when starting up. The only other thing is not being able to telephone out to a number unless it is a speed dial. Has anyone else updated and have other improvements to mention? Only been an owner for three months or so but love the car - and this forum.

OK thanks - I think I will have to do the same, one by one The iphone is superb but not when it comes to Bluetooth. You do need to input each contact one by one. Not ideal but not the end of the world either. I've just had an e mail form my dealer offering me the updated sat nav package for £144.35 inc VAT and he is trying to get me a discount. I've said yes of course as I am an "early adopter" aka "idiot". Will advise when done if worth reporting on.

I've had my 07 250 SE + MM Auto for nearly three months and in my opinion it is a truly excellent car. It combines luxury with perfromance, and all the toys us boys love. Passengers love the rear view camera and I am looking forward to updating the sat nav DVD. Mine is black and after the hand wash boys have done their job the car looks the dogs. Happy days!

With the vector based graphic systems, the quality of the images will never get pixelated no matter how big the screen or the resolution. On the other hand Raster based ones like TomTom use sets of images as maps. These images use high compression like JPEG and can be visible at times and can appear very badly pixelated Thank you for taking the time to reply, you learn something every day - and with the complexity of the Lexus sat nav I will need to keep the car and live to be 100!

I've used tomtom for a long time and seriously prefer Toyota's Nav Software (Specially this latest Generation one that comes on the IS). It is much more acurate and wont tell you to make silly manoeuvres. It just requires a little getting used to and once you are used to it, its really amazing. And the most important thing is that the graphics in the Nav is Vector based graphics as apposed to TomToms Raster graphics. I am gradually getting used to it and agree it has much more functionality than a Tom Tom etc. You've competely lost me on the Vector v Raster though!

This is my first reply so hope it works! The problem with your post is that whilst looking for helpful info, quite rightly, you will receive opinions based on individual experience and preferences. At the end opf the day, take all the info on board and then decide what is important to you. I purchased an 07 IS250 Auto SE + Multimedia package about 6 weeks ago and am delighted. I was in a Merc CLK 320 and prior to that a Saab 9 5 Griffin. I have done the Jap sports and Jag's etc. I have reached the conclusion that I like comfort with elegance and performance - pretty much in that order. Having said that, the 250 is no slouch, but you need to put your foot down. Using the flappies is a bit of fun, but you can use the gearshift to move through the gears. It can be as boring or as fun as you like - but it will not match the performance of many out there. I didn't even consider a Lexus until I had looked a 3/5 series BMW's - the price did not warrant the extra power and the comfort and toys were not in the same league as the Lexus IMHO. The only Audi I liked was the new 5 series, and this was too new and expensive. I did my research before buying and think the auto is definately the way forward. The MM package is great - the rear camera takes some gettng used to but is good - and never fails to impressive the passengers. Playing a DVD is great the sound system superb, and the picture quality excellent. The picture only comes on when the car is stationary and the hand brake (foot operated) applied. I believe there is a hiden menu you can access to change this and other things but I am not ready to take this challange on yet! Th Sat Nav is more complicated than a Tom Tom but won't fall off the windscreen. Beware the speed cameras though! Value for money undoubted, but I am in an 07 car so think any niggles may have been overcome. If this is helpful please let me know, happy to post again or answer any other questions.

Sounds like you've got the route recording feature switched on. If I remember correctly you need to press "map view" and then "stop recording" then "delete". I'm just learning how to use it too; I've had my 250 for two weeks now and I'm still learning new stuff. It feels like I'm cramming for a exam or something! Thanks very much, this has resolved it for me. Happy driving!

Purchased my first Lexus a month or so ago, '07 250 SE MM Auto, replacing a Merc CLK320. Already realising what a good decision I have made. Looked at BMW 5's, Lexus is better styled and equipped so am very pleased. Biggest challange apart from the voice commands is mastering the sat nav - not very user friendly. I have got the basics worked out and am sure I will not need half the functionality, but one thing that is bugging me - loads of little dots on the routes that I use most often. Thought maybe traffic related or indicating where I have stopped but I don't think either of these are correct. It's minor and irrelevant in the overall scheme of things but I want an answer!! Any of you experienced Lexus owners able to enlighten a newbie? Cheers.