LexIS200Sport

Some pics of my IS200 Sport during the summer:

Isle of Wight

Nordschleife

The Swiss Alps

grom has been around for a while - there are many threads in the audio section.

I know, i found many threads that were useful, but none of them mentioned Bluetooth or android capabilities, im guessing this is a new addition?

You need to try harder mate :)

Have a look at this link: http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=73244&st=15#entry758774

I wrote a whole post about installing the GROM unit with Bluetooth, and pairing it with my phone. I'm using a Galaxy S2 with Android Jellybean and it works fine

very nicely put, matt :)

I think it's a bit early to tell mate, don't know if the iphone5 has began delivery in the UK to be honest. I'm afraid you may end up being the guinea pig to try it out! :P

Otherwise, you can always get the Bluetooth add-on for the Grom unit, and connect your phone through that. It offers the same controls through the headunit, and the sound quality is not bad

I'm in, and you've got PM :)

Try AM Autotech in Durrington (postcode SP4 8DS)

I used them for my BMW though, back when I was living in Salisbury, and highly recommend them. Very clean workshop

Would be keen on this too. Keep us posted Gozza, and thanks for taking the initiative! :)

From what I can tell, it made a difference in snow. Avoids one wheel spinning freely and the car not going anywhere.

Hi Tony,

I do apologise for bumping up a really old thread.

But I was wondering if you ever identified the cause of this "steering wheel off-center to the right" problem?

looks nice!!

not sure on the USB Charge cable thingy, but the Grom unit does charge the iPod everytime it is connected, even if the car is switched off. Infact, it can drain the Battery if left connected for about a week without starting the car!

More info here: http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=73244

Also, how is everyone keeping their car spotless these days with the hosepipe ban? I haven't washed mine since the ban to be honest, and can't bring myself to take it to the commercial car wash, especially after seeing the lads using the same freakin brush to clean the wheels and the bodywork in one go

Please have a look at this thread about front lower arm bush replacement:

http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=73496

Please have a look at this thread about front lower arm bush replacement:

http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=73496

I replace my front shocks with KYB ones, sourced from Fensport

Awesome! Does the health check only apply to the current IS, or cars still under warranty?

didn't mean to bump an old thread, but I ran into an updated list for 2012, from MSN. Not sure how true it is, but here we go:

http://cars.uk.msn.com/features/most-vandalised-cars-in-the-uk-2012

Hi Steve, this sounds interesting and I'm very keen.

Keep us posted :)

sorry to hear that you're selling your car mate, but good luck with the sale

welcome to the club. your photography skills is really good!

Basically the IS200 is not an economical car compared with similar 4-cylinder cars. It inherently can't be.

6 cylinder engines have more bearings contributing friction & when one cylinder fires has to lug around the friction of five others. This is slightly made up for by a smaller dead-zone between each firing etc.

That's interesting. Does this mean that the 4-pot Altezza is more economical than the IS200? Both have the same chassis and engine sizes, which got me wondering

Same here, grew up on cars with no power steering so dry steering was difficult.... When I was learning take my LGV test many years ago, the instructor had a bamboo cane to rap your knuckles for trying to dry steer... Cars done over 51k miles still on the front tyres it left the factiory with... estimate they'll want changing in 5k or so

you mean the front tyres on your IS200 has lasted 51k miles? That's very very impressive for an IS200!

Right, my IS200 is 11 years old and just ticked over 100,000 miles last night ( )

Anyways, I've had this car for a year, and had zero issues with interiors squeaks and rattles. I had problems with knocking noise from front wheels (car was 90,000 miles at this point), but it was solved by replacing the front lower suspension bushes and ball joints.

There is "some" whine from the manual gearbox, and it is noticible mostly in 1st and 2nd gear. Engine noise suppression is pretty good; it is barely audible when you're driving sensibly, but pass 4000rpm and it has a nice burble to it :)

Ride is very good overall, handling is superb. I feel that road noise really depends on what tyres you have; on summer tyres (17" Falken FK452 with 5mm thread), the road noise is a bit high on the really rough surfaces on the motorway. On winter tyres (16" Continental also with 5mm thread), the noise is noticably reduced over that same road surface.

The best way for you to decide is to test drive one. Hope that helps!

yea £85 sound about right.

I regularly get 31mpg on mine, which amounts to 400+ miles to a tank. But my commute rarely involves stop-start traffic; mostly slowing down for roundabouts. So it really depends on your driving style and traffic situation.

But in my opinion, what the IS200 lacks for in fuel economy, it makes up for me in refinement and fewer visits to the mechanic. So fill up and keep smiling :)

This is my first winter with the IS200 Sport, and I had already installed winter tyres on it about a month ago. So I have never tested the car in snow with summer tyres.

Anyways, the highlight for me was the ability to overtake a Ford Fiesta on an uphill road. I was rolling along behind the Fiesta, on a country road, and all was easy and well until we were ascending a hill. The Fiesta came to a gradual halt, with its front wheels just rotating freely in snow. And as I was running a little late for a date on Saturday evening, I promply indicated, shifted down a gear, and overtook :P

Here are pics of my car and the winter tyres in question: