ColinBarber

Your machine probably didn't have the virus, it was being attacked by a machine that had it. Microsoft update fixes the problem

I guess a problem with your ISP then. This worm is affecting many customers and ISPs at the moment and it will get worse tomorrow. The symantec test only checks if your machine has the virus. You machine can still be attacked which the test will not detect. You need to install the Microsoft patch to stop machines from being affected by an attack.

Microsoft sites are all working fine. If your machine is infected or is being attacked then you may not be able to connect.

Make sure you use it for 5 minutes every week to keep the system working correctly. I would have thought a re-fill should be covered under Lexus warranty? Shoudn't need doing in the first three years.

My wife drives though B)

The problem with virus checkers is that they work on virus definations to detect the virus. When a new one comes out they don't know about it and you get infected. The WebShield Appliances wouldn't have stopped this worm. Your firewall should be blocking all ports coming in which would have stopped this. However there are other ways it could have got in (users with notebooks, bringing in CDs etc). A bit late now but the only way to have stopped this was to patch all your machines when Microsoft announced the vulnerability in July. Once they announce a security problem then viruses and worms get written to take advantage of a known problem so these should be actioned asap.

From tomorrow machine that have the virus will try and attack windowsupdate.microsoft.com. Depending on how many machines you have and the size of your Internet connect it may fill your pipe. Have a look at: http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcen...aster.worm.html http://vil.nai.com/vil/content/v_100547.htm http://www.microsoft.com/security/incident/blast.asp Claire, do you work for NAI?

I guess your brake disc may be warped. A garage should be able to test this with a dial guage and tell you if it is within the limits or not.

All ISs have them in the UK, 200 and 300 models. In fact the whole of the Lexus range have washers in the UK. Any model in Europe with HIDs require them by law.

Many of the Bridgestone tyres have these rims protectors, called Rim guard http://www.bridgestone-eu.com/articles.asp?ID=523

I guess the European emmision laws reduce our power and the fact that economy is more important over here than in the US so the engine is slightly de-tuned. Taking into account the low power fuel we must be 10bhp down on the US models. However with the large different in 0-60 times there must be some other differences - lower gearing maybe? Even worse for the 4.3 V8. They have 300bhp in the US, we only get 279!

The warranty is only 4 year in the UK, extended from 3 years because of all the problems.

Few standard units that are better, The Lexus GS, RX, LS and SC spring to mind :P

The US has: option of 5-speed manual or e-shift auto. 3bhp more power (with rubbish fuel) 0-60 7.3s for auto, 6.8s for manual - compared to UK 8.2s

Seems dealers are now being told :) Was it a new car you brought or used?

The speedo is normally designed to read over for UK cars. I have the workshop manual for a MKII UK MR2 and in the procedure for testing the speedo it states that a 70 mph if the speedo actually reads 70 it need to be replaced! Cannot remember the exact figure but I think it needs to read 71-79. The fuel computer should be more accurate, I would have thought it wouldn't use GPS but the wheel sensors for the speed calculations. However even tyre wear will cause difference, at 100mph the difference between 8mm and 2mm of tread will cause 2-3 mph difference.

Insurance is a little more for a GS over a IS but not much. The GS is a bigger car and is auto so it does use more fuel than the IS, however because the IS is so poor it's size there is not much in it. I average around 25mpg in my GS which is mainly small journeys within town, on a run between 28-32. When I drive the IS I get around 27 town and 33 on a run.

Loz, Do you have sat nav on your car. If so you can see how accurate your speedo is. At 80mph on my car if I turn on cruise control and reset the average speed on the trip computer I get a speed reading of 76mph.

GS300 has worse official stats than either the IS200 manual or auto. In practise it seems the GS300 is better than the IS200 auto, but not the manual. The GS430 (SE or Sport) is the fastest model in the range, however the US ones are even faster. Why do they get 300bhp and 0-60 times 0.5s quicker? Same thing with the GS300/IS300.

I think it's mainly down to the fitters. Many don't know how to use the equipment properly and most don't give a monkey about your car. If you watch them balancing they never put on the weights exactly where the machine tells them. I would also imagine that a lot of the machines don't accurately balance wheels anymore due to the amount of abuse they have received over the years.

I tested a couple of MKIs before I got the MKII and yes the MKII is better, quiter with less creaks and clicks. I still find the MKII creaks too much when you press any of the trim parts or hit a bump but I guess I am very fussy. Most people does notice, including the sales people. However I have been in 5 or 6 different MKIIs (one month old to 5 years old) and they all do it.

For 1000bhp look at the PHR Race Shortblock Assembly section to see what needs doing: http://www.powerhouseracing.com/supratt_eng.shtml

Getting the wheels balanced on the car may help. Do places still do this? The only problem with this is if you take the wheel off you need to make sure the wheel goes back in the same position on the hub otherwise the balance will go out.

On the GS there are 3 positions for the rods at each side to change the tension. Don't know if there is the same thing on the IS. My wifes IS Sport only opens an inch when released, which is a good thing when it's raining :D

15% to 25% is what I have heard. Autos have the biggest loss as do rear wheel drive cars. Some rolloing roads guess the transmission loss and try to give you the engine bhp but it's not totally accurate. On a manual gearbox they can take it out of gear whilst running to measure most of the loss. Best to use a rolling road to compare before/after a mod, not to give an accurate bhp measurement.