SAD

I've come from a rear wheel drive mazda rx-8 and that felt glued to the road (apart from in snow!) How do you find the Lexus then? - I have never driven such a dog in the winter (25 year driving history and advanced driver)

This happens with my 2007 IS220 and I have winter tyres on it!! Watch out for the ice and snow (that's if you can get it to move :megaangry: ). Being rear wheel drive its not too good - I have two large bags of builders sand in my boot to give it some weight in the back. I have had my car for nearly 3 years but am seriously thinking of getting rid of it - will not have a rear wheel drive again dgman - also had this done when I had my winter tyres put on

This happens with my 2007 IS220 and I have winter tyres on it!! Watch out for the ice and snow (that's if you can get it to move :megaangry: ). Being rear wheel drive its not too good - I have two large bags of builders sand in my boot to give it some weight in the back. I have had my car for nearly 3 years but am seriously thinking of getting rid of it - will not have a rear wheel drive again

When this happened to me in June, I was asked by Lexus Bolton if I lived anywhere near some one with electronic gates or doors - the answer was no. They couldnt give any other explaination but said it was a common fault. I was also told not to keep my fob near to my mobile phone. I was told by Lexus how to reset it (although it is on something like page 352 of the manual!!)and that I had to drive around for at least 6 minutes?? to allow the radio codes to reset themselves?. I was also advised to change the batteries in my fob (I bought 3 batteries just in case!!) I must admit since June I have had no issues with the key fob and getting in/started (I have had issues- getting up an icy incline with the dreaded rear wheel drive!! despite having winter tyres on - pants!!). Perhaps your car will just sort itself out like mine!!

You might want to look at this :- http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=73129&pid=770238&st=0entry770238

Thanks for your post - its interesting for me, a) because I learn such a lot, B) opinions help me to form some idea of what to look for (I have been looking at Hondas!!) All my knowledge re winter tyres (fitted to the Lexus on 8th October) mostly came from this forum

Shirley, you need two builders in there as well :) Steve - That was really funny and made me laugh out loud - I am pretty stressed with the Lexus and that cheered me up!! Anyone know where can I buy a "couple of builders" ??!!

itarumaa - thats very interesting information - I think I had the wrong weather for my european winter tyres, too much ice = the road really was like glass - I wonder if they will be better on snow?? Will have to wait and see. Thank you for the post it makes a lot of sense

They are big bags and I didnt put them in the boot because I couldn't lift them - I actually saw the suspension lower!!

This sounds a little suspect, I hope you don't mind me asking. Are the tyres winter tyres, do they have the sipes across the tread and show the snow flake symbol? Also are the tyres fitted the correct way around? Winter tyres should enable you to drive on almost anything in winter. Knitware - thanks for the post I dont mind your questions atall On the way to my "Phd in tyres", I have been out to check the tyres and they all have the snow flake symbol (so they have passed the nationally agreed standard for Winter Tyres) and having researched "sipes" have checked them all (and against my neighbours tyres)and they are across the tread. I am not sure how I check whether the tyres have been fitted the correct way round?? but they were put on my National Tyres so I blinkin hope they are I now have two bags of building sand in the boot!! Currently researcing which fwd I will swap the Lexus for!!

Now have two bags of builders sand in the boot!! - dont know what that will do to my MPG!! anyway will try anything - Thanks for the tip - I was told to put weight in the boot by the tyre people too!!

Got winter tyres on my car (IS200) and its still absolutely useless - I am gutted, having spent over £600 on proper winter tyres (I ordered in August so got a good price before the prices started going up as it got colder!!) My side road is on a slight incline to the main road- couldnt get up the road this morning slipping all over the place (it was however pure sheet ice - no chance of any grip as it had just rained on already present ice) volvo and VW passed me with apparent ease as did a mini, only one car had to slide back and I couldnt see what that was!!. I am selling the Lexus and before anyone comments, I am a female advanced driver and my other vehicle is a 7 and a half ton Ford Iveco!

That statement is complete and utter nonsense. I can only assume you're trolling this thread. DAZED - Couldn't agree more with your comment - I am not the only one that Allan1 seems to have upset. I hope the MODERATOR takes note!!

Allan1 - I take great offence to your post which is not only ignorant but based on NO FACTS 1) I was giving an opinion as asked by the original OP which I am entitled to do as I actually drive and own the model in question 2) I am an ADVANCED DRIVER - so wind your neck in 3) My winter tyres are PIRELLI SOTOZEROS - wind your neck in further. 4) I have driven for more than 25 years! DON'T POST IF YOU CAN'T DO SO IN A GENTLEMANLY MANNER WITHOUT INSULTS

I only woke up to the idea of winter tyres because the IS220 is useless!!!!!!

I bought an is220 because I thought it was a strong looking car and I had lusted after the marque for a while. (I had a Toyota before and my then other half had and still has a toyota) I didn't know about any of the issues with the vehicle before I bought it as I did not know about this forum. After 2 and a half years I have become quite disallusioned with it. 1)The diesel engine is not that efficient. I do mostly town driving but average only 34-36 miles per gallon. It is also particularily noisey 2)It is sluggish and recently I have noticed its not driving so well esp over the last couple of months. I keep looking for the fault codes to pop up (hopefully not!!) 3)The is220 is a dog in winter. It's rear wheel drive and will go no where. Its quite close to the ground being low slung. The traction control is useless and I think its quite dangerous in the snow and ice. I have recently purchased a set of winter tyres for the first time in my 25 year driving career at a cost of £600. I considered changing the Lexus before this and if the winter tyres dont make a difference then its going. 4)The key fob has locked me out of my car before now - not only could I not get in it, the keyless push button start would'nt work either. This seriously inconvenienced me and the AA man said that it was a known fault (the radio codes has somewhat magically undone themselves and I had to go through a right rigmarole to get them to reset - the only time I have genuinely wished for a key!!). When I phoned Lexus they knew exactly what was wrong. 5)Sixth gear is useless 6)The paint work is very very soft - just look at it and it will scratch 7) I hate the fact that the heating/air conditioning has a mind of its own - I will just be merrily driving along and the window gets blasted with the a/c (and I there never appears to me to be a reason why - e.g windows not misted) 8) I always go with Lexus servcing - and its expensive. Had two so far - one at £400 and one at £250 - had to pick myself up off the floor!! 9) Tyres are expensive and for some reason I have gone through 3 - relaced at a cost of £150 each (summer tyres) 10) That means since I got the IS220 I have spent over £1600 in service and tyres alone - I could have bought another car for that!! On the otherhand :- 1)I like the fact that you can enter the car without having the keys to hand - useful for me as I have a large handbag!! 2)I love the heated seats esp in the winter 3)I like the fold in wing mirrors 4) I like my interior as its beige leather and gives a really bright feeling to the inside although as I have a horse I think I should have gone for black!! So in general - yes I still like the vehicle, do I love it - no. Will I change it, probably in the near future - but not for a another Lexus

I cant say that I noticed much difference but we didnt have much here just a smattering which hasnt lasted long. However I still had trepidation and drown slowly because I dont trust the car atall!!

I dont have an LS but an IS220, absolutely rubbish in last years snow. From this forum I have fitted Pirelli Sottozeros - first year with winter tyres (I was thinking of changing my car!!!). If they dont make some kind of difference I will be getting rid of the Lexus!!!

I've had mine "trollied" (now have a couple of lines right down one side of my car) dont know whether deliberately (I was asked if I wanted my car washed and said no!! - the car washer had his cleaning stuff in a trolley) or by some numpty old geezer/gal trying to get a trolley between two cars The garage says it "may" polish out. I am usually so careful in a car park finding an end space, or parking at the end of the car park and walking, under lights, under CCTV, folding in my wing mirrors etc miffed I am :tsktsk:

Thats a lovely picture!! Just how my is220 looked - and that wouldn't budge either!!! I have put winter tyres on this year but looking at your picture is a good reminder of how awful it was - think I should have bought a snow plough Never mind - however if the tyres dont give a substantial improvement I am getting rid of the Lexus!!

For the first time in my driving career (25 years)I have fitted winter tyres to my vehicle (is220d) after reading many posts and advice on this forum. As John N says without winter tyres. "a useless chunk of metal" which is what my Lexus was last winter. I was soooo disappointed in it. If I dont see a significant improvement when the cold weather comes my Lexus is history!!!!

I couldnt care less about the theory - anything has got to be better than my Lexus in the snow last winter - the absolute pits. I am putting on winter tyres despite what's going on in this thread!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not surprised - that would have been dangerous (mixing tyres) - should have had 4 winter tyres on or not atall. I have learnt many many thing from this forum!!

I know this is after the event but have the police entertained the fact that your car keys could have been lifted through a letter box by the "hook and cane" method. Do you remember placing them back in the house (think carefully), can you say this for sure? - were the keys then left close to the front door in a position where they could have been lifted by a magnetic device on the end of a cane (pole or similar?) - if so then this is a burglary and the insurance should cover the cost of replacement locks (both to the car and the house - if your house keys went too). In this instance there would be no signs of a forced entry and getting away with a £30,000 grand car is much more lucrative than a few electrical items!! The likelihood of someone just indescriminently finding your keys on the drive and having your car away is much less than the hook and cane burglaries which are rife throughout the UK, esp where there are nice cars on the drive. Good luck whatever - to have your car stolen is a distressing event whatever the circumstances

Knitware - I cannot tell you how much I detest snow and how much I think it ruines peoples routine - so I hope your prediction is far out!! I have ordered the sottozeros and have arranged to have them fitted the weekend our horses come in (8th October)as the weather always dips as soon as they are stabled