Do Not Sell My Personal Information Jump to content


Local Yokel

Members
  • Posts

    51
  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Profiles

Forums

Events

Store

Gallery

Tutorials

Lexus Owners Club

Gold Membership Discounts

Lexus Owners Club Video

News & Articles

Everything posted by Local Yokel

  1. I have just been quoted £216 for an interim service - this seems quite high when compared to the cost of £270 for a full service. When you compare what is actually included with the interim service, I cannot see how Lexus justify this cost. Bearing in mind that the Lexus IS was designed to have LOWER running costs than the competitive products from Germany, my Audi A6 was a lot cheaper to both run and service!!! I am looking to get my car serviced in the Basingstoke area....can anyone recommend a more competive garage than Lexus Bracknell???
  2. Wonder if they are going to do an -F version???
  3. If this is the way we are going at Lexus, possibly with an all Hybrid Line-Up, then we will have to get used to it. Personally I like the CT200h and think it is a step in the right direction for Lexus and I did like the concept interior very much, but suspect that much of this won't make the final model unfortunately. What this will also do is to bring in a new range of customers to our brand and that is always very much welcome, especially given the huge explosion in the range of German cars that are now or will be currenlty available. Good for Lexus, keep developing these models and you just may steal an edge on the other luxury brands out there. We are certainly going to be considering one of these as a second car when it becomes available later 2010/early 2011 providing we like what we see and the test drives prove beneficial, then one will be added to our family car list! And I for one, can't wait to try it.
  4. I have had two Dyson vacs - a DC05 (twin cylinder looking one) and and original DC01. They worked well until the filters clogged up and they cost a fortune to replace but the real reason we scrapped them both is that they fell apart...the plastics are not particularly good and the handle broke off the DC05. That was probably 5 - 6 years ago. Bought a Miele Solution HEPA S718 and it has been brilliant. Much better build quality, is much lighter in weight and the suction is fine...so it uses bags (cheap on Ebay)...never a problem with it, nothing has broken and have only need to replace filter once in 7 years! I'd like to support UK engineering but quality and reliability just isn't there...which is why I drive a Lexus!
  5. 989167...... How long do you reckon this is going to take?
  6. As a matter of interest, should you not then get the headlights realigned once you have fitted the HID kits, as the focal lengths of the new bulbs surely would be different? Just a thought for those who are contemplating this mod, as I once failed an MOT after I had fitted replacement High Intensity lamps into the vehicle as both headlights were way out of alignment when they checked the beams!
  7. Hi Ahmed24, If you can get the p/ns I need, this would be most helpful indeed and I can order up the parts in advance. Unfortunately my wife is using the car at the moment and she is away working in London, so I am unable to obtain the numbers myself!!! If you or anyone else can provide me with these, I will be able to get the parts on order at least. Thanks again for your kind help.
  8. Thanks for the feedback on this ahmed24. I have had some quotes for a complete mirror unit today which vary between £217 and £254 plus VAT. So the integral indicator and clear plastic cover are removable therefore replaceable then? It sounds simple enough to do. Do you have any idea of what the part numbers would be for the items or would these be printed/embossed on the parts that are already fitted??? I assume that the indicator repeat LED's must have a connection inside the mirror housing for me to replace this then, otherwise I would have to remove the door card to get to the connectors as per most car designs. Thanks for your help with this.
  9. Unfortunately I have just had someone drive past my car whilst travelling slowly along a two-way stretch of road and despite me pulling right over to the LHS, the idiot (in an BMW X3)manged to drive by as fast as possible smashing into my drivers door mirror, popping out the glass and smashing the indicator part......unsurprisingly he did not stop although the cars following did to offer help! :tsktsk: No one got his full reg no. though so the full cost of the repair is going to be down to me. A couple of questions..... Has anyone out there replaced an IS220 drivers door mirror? If so... How easy is it to strip down the drivers door panel to get to the wing mirror fixing points? Where is the best place/most cost effective place to purchase a drivers door mirror? Can the integral indicator and clear plastic cover be replaced, rather than the whole mirror, as it is this part that has been damaged? Your feedback/thoughts will be most appreciated on this. Cheers
  10. I concur. Nothing wrong whatsoever with the IS220D, The vast majority of people I have spoken to who own them, love them. I have no issues with the car mechnically (apart from being a bit 'fidgety' in the ride quality), it is a good car. If I had read all the bad reports on the IS, I could have been disuaded from buying one, but I made my own decision based upon an extended test drive over one week and thought I would give it a go. Remember, forums are often a sounding board for many to air their gripes (I have too about servicing prices) but that is what forums are like! Just pick the bits that are relvant to you and don't worry about the rest!
  11. Blimey...didn't realise you all felt so passionate about it! 10K is an 'Interim Service', basically an oil change and a check over....taking the car off the forecourt has already depreciated the 2nd user value by some considerable margin anyway. Thats life. The car drives beautifully, with absolutely no problems whatsoever and mechanically, it is as sound as any car I would expect from Toyota/Lotus! I had a new MR2 T-Bar way back on an E-Plate. Never saw a main dealership apart from when I picked it up. Never had a problem in 80,000 of hard driving! Not one recall, not one fault! Local garage servicing only...not one service interval missed and it was bought off me buy an avid Toyota fan who was absolutely chuffed to bits with the condition of it - he said it was one of the best kept, best serviced MR2's he had ever seen and bit my hand off to buy it! I have had countless new cars since and most I have had serviced at 'non-franchised' dealers. Diesel engines are so reliable anyway and I will keep the car for no more than two years, so why waste all the money going to a 'main dealer'? Yippee..a few bottles of wine, a valet. Great I can do that myself and do a better job and buy a crate of wine with the money saved! This will annoy many Lexus officiandos but lets get real here....it is only a car and mechanically, the same as millions of others on the road....just a different badge on the bonnet and backside!
  12. Very simply its down to cost - nearest main dealer is 35 miles away and charges £350 for an interim service. The Nat Auto centre is Lexus aproved and does an interim service for £130....after all its, just a oil and filter change and a general check over the car operation, according to the Lexus Interim service schedule. How can they (Lexus) justify £350 plus VAT of course? I have a full print out of what was done, chose the oil to go into the car and the car was vacuumed and washed for me too - oh, and the centre is only 11 miles away. It made financial sense. When the first major service is due, then this will be done a Lexus MDC.
  13. I can't understand the problems.......I have been running my 220D SE-I since new in March 2009. Have clocked up 11,600 miles and not a single problem of any significance. Regularly getting 48-50MPG, no rattles or squeaks from the interior, everything works electrically and mechanically. Just runs very well indeed. All I do is check the oil, water, tyre pressures etc. If I have a gripe, it is only one and that it is the quality of the paint. Its rubbish in comparison to the german products. Next time, I;ll buy a ligter colour rather than Windsor Blue so this won't be a problem. Other than this, I will be buying another and probably a new LF-Ch for the missus!
  14. I have just had my first 10,000 service (interim) and I was a bit shocked to have a report back from the garage (Nati*&^%^&*ide Au&*^%$ntre) that they advised that my wheels need balancing and alignment checked/redone!!! Apparently they have seen signs of wear since they last saw my car. :o Well thats odd, as they haven't seen my car before and the wear on the tyres is nothing unusual for a car that has done this mileage, which has mostly been on motorways! The wear is even across the tread surface. I am not one for 'wheel spinning' or driving like a maniac round corners and the like, so I cannot understand why they are saying this? Is it just a ploy to drum up more business? They even sent me a reminder and included a £10 off voucher if I go in the next week to get it done! Realistically, I cannot see any way the alignment of the wheels would have gone out over this mileage and as I have driven all of them, I would have know if I had run up a kerb or hit a boulder to disloge the tracking! Is this another case of 'He's got a Lexus so lets extract some more money'.....??? Discuss.
  15. Is there a part number for these that I can quote as my nearest dealers parts counter are not the brightest bulbs in the box, if you know what I mean.....it is difficult for them to understand anything I ask for! Cheers
  16. An old trick to remove scratches in glass or plastic is to use BRASSO POLISH or AUTOSOL CHROME CLEANER....I have used this to remove scratches off watch glasses, instrument clusters, uPVC frames, sunglasses etc etc. Works a treat!
  17. Lexus Swindon are quoting £201.50 for 10K Interim service on an IS 220D
  18. Has anyone used one of the national independant servicing companies to do their Lexus servicing? The first service (10K Miles) I have been quoted £201.50 (inc VAT) by a main Lexus dealer - the independant national Pr%^≥ Car Serving has quoted £161 (inc VAT) and they offer a collect and return service as well. My nearest Main Dealer is 25 miles away, which is lost business time for me. Can anyone give me any feedback as to potentail downfalls with this - what about dealer stamps in the log book- will this effect the warranty? Thanks
  19. Thanks for all the really helpful advice....I will be purchasing the appropriate items either my mail order or from my local supplier this weekend and will look forward to better results in due course! Cheers for the advice. Localyokel
  20. Can I pick your brains with this question? What is the best type of cloth to apply polish to my Lexus? I have previously used 'Mutton' cloth from halfords to apply and another couple of clean pieces to clean off. The trouble is using Autoglym SRP and Mutton cloth doesn't half create a lot of dust which gets into all the openings on the bodywork and is a 'mare to clean off! Especially with the Dark Blue paint of my car (especially where stone chips have marked the surface, I end up with lots of white spots!) So what's the solution and where can I but alternative cloths? Cheers everyone. :)
  21. Guess I fall into the 'older' category now at 46...but hey, I have had all the usual germanic stuff and this IS220D is a breath of fresh air, has much more kudos IMO and is just sets you apart from everyone else drivining the aforementioned machinery. Sure, the Audi/Bwm/VW product is good, but the Lexus feels like it has some 'soul' to it rather than just operate as robotic, efficient, same as everyone else machine! It is interesting the reactions I now get when the usual reps ask me what car I drive, expecting the german answer and I tell them I have a Lexus! The feedback is priceless!
  22. Hi Flashback. I am a relative 'newbie' too! I picked mine up in March 2009 as well and am pretty much well happy with it, having put on about 6000 so far. The issues I have noticed so far, which are only minor ones after all, are:- 1) The paintwork seems very soft and despite doing everything I can to keep well back from cars on the motorways and fast A-roads, I have already quite a few paint chips on the bonnet, wings and front valance. I spoke to a body shop friend of mine about this and he says its just the type of water-based paints the manaufacturers use these days and there isn't a lot you can do about it. (Perhaps this is why Lexus include a bottle of touch up paint in the glovebox?). 2) When you close the bootlid, it just catches on the top of the bumper and has already started to wear the paint on both corners where the boot closes....a known defect I think? 3) My dash has started to rattle and I cannot fathom where it is coming from...it is really irritating at around 60mph in 5th so I have to turn the music up! 4) 6th gear ratio is nigh on useless except the motorway and even then it just doesn't give the flexibility of drive in high traffic congested situations. 5) I too have the same problem of water dripping onto the drivers seat when I open the door after it has been raining! Other than these points, the car is superb and I am very pleased with it indeed. It makes a change to the usual German cars I have bought in the past and the rarity value is also a major point! How are you getting on with yours now?
  23. Is it just me or is the paint applied to the Lexus very thin??? I have covered 4500 miles now and seem to have an awful lot of marks already on the paint work, around the front of the car and side wings. Now don't get me wrong. I am fully aware of stone chipping caused by following too close to vehicles but I simply have not been doing this, as I am a great beilever in safety, stopping distances and all that, but most importantly, want to protect my paintwork! I believe the Windsor Blue paintwork is incredibly thin and soft too, being marked very easily indeed. Is this down to the fact that modern, water based paints are not up to the job that their oil or lead based paints were? Is this a common problem amongst IS owners or is it more prevalent across the range???
  24. Mine is a new 2009 MY IS220D SE-I. Audio sounds absolutely fabulous with 13 speakers fitted. 3 in each door and a bass driver in the rear parcel shelf. There is NO centre speaker and I feel that one is not needed. The controls on my audio allow me to change the listening bias position to driver, front passengers, rear passengers or all. This seems to work well and their is a good range of control for bass, middle and treble as well as faders for front and rear speakers too. For a standard system, it is well speccd up.
  25. ECU remapping makes a considerable difference and will affect both economy and performance, especially with engines fitted with a Turbo. I have had two cars 'chipped' in the past, a VW Golf 1.8T and also an Audi A6 2.5TDi. My experinces from both are as follows:- 1. The MPG will stay similar IF you drive sensibly but as you are more than likely to drive that bit quicker as the engine becomes less constrained, expect to see a reduction in fuel consumption directly proportional to how heavy your right foot is! 2. You WILL get a much smoother drive as the standard maps used in ECU's have to cover a variety of driving styles so is really a compromise set up for everyone. The car is very controllable, safe and tolerant, the engine revs and fuelling is restricted and all-in-all, it is designed to give 'joe average' a pleasing experince with reasonable performance, fuel emissions and economy. Remapping WILL take away these standard settings and introduce new parameters to make the engine perform more effectively which will affect the MPG with different driving styles. The whole experience is as though 200kgs have been taken out of the car. It should feel more nimble and free-revving and more exciting to drive. 3. The downsides? It could affect your warranty as the ECU will add additional strain to the components by virtue of the reprogramming that encourages this and if any problem occurs as a result, don't be surprised if the dealers want nothing to do with it. That said, I declared to the dealers that my cars had been chipped and they were not that bothered at all and just carried on with the servicing (if fact the mechanics were all too keen to test out the cars!) Also, with insurance, you should declare the car has been chipped otherwise it will invalidate your cover. I have always used Adrian Flux specaillist car insurance in the past for my mofdified cars and they were excellent regarding this. My Golf was lifted from 150bhp at flywheel as standard to over 250bhp with ECU remap, upgraded turbo and injectors etc etc. Expect 20-25% increase in power with an ECU remap on Petrol Turbo cars and 15-20% on Oil burners. Non turbo cars it varies between 5-15% depending on fuelling and carburation systems. Chaning the exhaust to a performance smooth bore stainless steel system also helps as they allow the engine to breath more efficiently. There are many chip tuners out there but in my experience, go to someone who has experince at tuning the car that you drive and can talk to owners who have had the work done. I don't know if I can say this here but Superchips are excellent. Both my Golf and A6 were tuned using their software and the results were well worthwhile, putting a smile on my face everytime I got behind the wheel! Some offer a download capability via the OBD port, others offer a control unit that plugs in allowing you to switch between performance, economy, standard and valet modes. Chip tuning boxes and ECU reprograms do make a difference but if you are looking for ultimate performance, a lot more than this needs to be done to make the car truly great.
×
×
  • Create New...