SAD

Desmond

Thanks for the reply. I am so jealous that you are retired and dont do a lot of miles!!. I have a horse and each winter rise at 5am to see to her so need a reliable vehicle (which the Lexus is supposed to be)

I take your point about driving in the "old days" and being thorough although my grandad who never took a test was a terrible driver!!.

Your lucky to have driven a Wolseley but the Marina's were not known for being very safe (in fact my step-father had a serious accident in one!)

Cars are so much more complex these days what with ABS/traction control etc and the Lexus is not such a common vehicle (as opposed to say a Ford etc). I must admit when I bought it it didnt occur to me that the rear wheel drive would give me so much of a headache.

By the way I have plumped for Pirelli Sottozero winter tyres - and a bag of sand in the boot!!!

Hi SAD

Thanks for the hint on the tyres. Did you get them through the dealer & what have you done about storage of the summer tyres? Some poster have said they can get them stored for a fee and I'd have to investigate that.

You are right about the Marina by the way. It was lethal in the wet. In snow though it was quite good as long as there was weight in the back. The Wolseley was lovely but it was on its last legs when I bought it. It only managed one winter. I went through all the usual cars in those days but by far the best in snow and ice was a Hillman Imp, as long as you could get it started!

Hi Desmond

Got them through a big tyre company - just over £600 fitted & balanced (I had to order them which the trye company says is better as come the winter they run out of winter tyres!!) and the summer tyres stored (did you know that tyres have to be stored a certain way up??). Storage is a reasonable £7.50 per tyre for six months. I was going to change my car but winter tyres seems a good option and about £7000 cheaper

We have a set of Pirelli Sottozero winter tyres on a spare set of IS250 17" rims that go on the IS200 Sport when the temperature drops below 7 degrees or less on a regular basis. Last winter I actually drove past a Landrover Freelander that was stuck on an icy hill here in rural Gloucestershire. The Freelander must have been on summer tyres and the look on its drivers face as I sailed past would have been worth a picture .

I lived in Norway for a couple of years and before I could drive there it was the policy of my Company to put us through the same skidpan and winter driving courses that the Norwegians do, so I know how to drive on ice and snow, but really there's no substitute for using the right tyre for the conditions.

As the winter rims and tyres will not fit the IS-F it stays in the garage throughout the winter until conditions are such that it is safe to drive. 417 bhp driving through summer tyres is a recipe for disaster when the temperatures drop .

Tango

That's good to know, thank you for the post - It was one of the members on here who posted a video of his Lexus being driven in them in the snow that pointed me in the direction of the pirelli's.

I have done skidpan driving myself but it was some time ago now.

I have learned so much about tyres these past couple of weeks, I am turning into a bore . They had better make a difference otherwise the Lexus is history!!!!

Last winter was my first with the Lexus and to be honest it wasn't too much of a problem as I rarely go long journeys in snow but the car did everything OK even with normal tyres. The diesel will move off quite happily without even touching the accelerator and as long as you are careful the car will go where you want it to. In fact I found it better than the Avensis in winter conditions. The biggest problem isn't the Lexus but the way other people drive! I'm far more scared of being clobbered by them than I am of hitting anything or getting stuck.

There are generations now who have never had to make their way to work in a rear wheel drive like a cart spring Marina so they simply don't have the feel for it - you drive through the seat of your pants in snow and ice.

Desmond I have to totally disagree!

My ex husband is an advanced driver and has a Toyota Avensis. I am also a trained driver for my job and have the Lexus IS220d.

Last winter in that terrible snow, my Lexus wouldnt grip a thing - even with my ex driving it whilst the Avensis was much much better - in fact I used it for three days because I couldnt get the Lexus to move. There are many on this forum who had exactly the same problem. It's nothing to do with driving - if it wont move through 12 inches of snow it wont move.

I am taking advice which I have partly gained from here and fitting winter tyres to my Lexus - it will make me AND the car safer

Hi SAD!

I wouldn't argue with you about the merits of winter tyres, certainly they will make a big difference and anyone needing to do decent mileage in thick snow will benefit. Wise decision! :)

Personally I don't do a lot of miles now I'm retired and my winter motoring is mainly short urban stuff but I do live at the wrong end of a half mile straight, untreated, dead end which I have to go down every time I go out. None of my Avensises coped terribly well with this especially if it was icy on top. Maybe this is due to the light body, I don't know, but the grip was poor and back end had a mind of its own. Braking was a lottery.

The Lexus was a lot more stable on ice (I didn't try it in more than 6" of snow though!) as I just let it drive itself down the street. The bloke across the road in his Subaru did it better but the one with the Focus struggled and the one with the BMW 320 gave up the ghost. His motor was stuck outside my house for over a week. :P It was my first winter with the Lexus and I'm just saying it was rather better than I expected from reading reports on here.

I wouldn't cast aspersions on drivers though, just pointing out that those who have grown up on FWD and instructors who tell them to use brakes and not the gears to slow the car are maybe at a disadvantage. Times were admittedly different but I commuted from Huddersfield to Harrogate in the late 60s/early 70s in a Wolseley 1500 and a Marina van, in snow similar to last winter, up hill and down dale. We all did it and people seemed to have more idea about how to keep a car moving because they were taught how to do it and had to do it. The only 4WD was a Land Rover (or Range Rover for the posh). A lot of family cars and nearly all commercials were still RWD.

I'm thinking about winter tyres too though. :D

Desmond

Thanks for the reply. I am so jealous that you are retired and dont do a lot of miles!!. I have a horse and each winter rise at 5am to see to her so need a reliable vehicle (which the Lexus is supposed to be)

I take your point about driving in the "old days" and being thorough although my grandad who never took a test was a terrible driver!!.

Your lucky to have driven a Wolseley but the Marina's were not known for being very safe (in fact my step-father had a serious accident in one!)

Cars are so much more complex these days what with ABS/traction control etc and the Lexus is not such a common vehicle (as opposed to say a Ford etc). I must admit when I bought it it didnt occur to me that the rear wheel drive would give me so much of a headache.

By the way I have plumped for Pirelli Sottozero winter tyres - and a bag of sand in the boot!!!

Last winter was my first with the Lexus and to be honest it wasn't too much of a problem as I rarely go long journeys in snow but the car did everything OK even with normal tyres. The diesel will move off quite happily without even touching the accelerator and as long as you are careful the car will go where you want it to. In fact I found it better than the Avensis in winter conditions. The biggest problem isn't the Lexus but the way other people drive! I'm far more scared of being clobbered by them than I am of hitting anything or getting stuck.

There are generations now who have never had to make their way to work in a rear wheel drive like a cart spring Marina so they simply don't have the feel for it - you drive through the seat of your pants in snow and ice.

Desmond I have to totally disagree!

My ex husband is an advanced driver and has a Toyota Avensis. I am also a trained driver for my job and have the Lexus IS220d.

Last winter in that terrible snow, my Lexus wouldnt grip a thing - even with my ex driving it whilst the Avensis was much much better - in fact I used it for three days because I couldnt get the Lexus to move. There are many on this forum who had exactly the same problem. It's nothing to do with driving - if it wont move through 12 inches of snow it wont move.

I am taking advice which I have partly gained from here and fitting winter tyres to my Lexus - it will make me AND the car safer

I have tried everything including the weights over both rear wheels and my suggestion is " get a bus pass"

Are you saying that winter tyres make no difference?

So as we all know snow will no doubt fall, and cause havoc, salt will run dry and no one will be prepared. This is my first time driving the Lexus in the snow, and RWD for that matter. I'm looking to invest in some weights in the boot, some snow socks, shovel and grit ;) I'm not planning to put winter tyres on and my run to work is around 20miles fairly flat and only the odd hill. Does this sound enough preparation, I know your probably say get a bus pass but I will at a last resort, use the train. Rather do this now before its too late tough to get hold of them and they hike the prices.

See recent thread http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=74371

I have been persuaded to fit winter tyres - wont drive my rear wheel drive IS220d in the snow again - it was an absolute nightmare!!

The main reasons I suggest buying another cheapo car for winter extremes is that in the UK, the models I suggest are available cheaper including Tax & Insurance than a set of winter tyres especially for my ISF, plus will still handle better than it in snow because low ground clearance makes the ISF completely useless for snow more than about 10 cm deep. Only major roads are ever cleared in any way at all, and because it makes a rotten snow-plough you never get to reach them. Additionally, damage is not unlikely on very slippery roads, and frankly bending a cheap "old banger" is no big deal by comparison.

A storage service for tyres not in use just doesn't exist here and anyway, a cheapo car is more use for trips to dispose of gungey rubbish at the dump etc. than a pile of spare tyres.

For an IS220/250, higher ground clearance means slightly deeper snow can be negotiated. Nevertheless, although it seems counter-intuitive; relatively wide tyres and significant power are factors which inherently make for poor traction regardless of tyre compound, FWD etc. - you could get about better in an antique Model-T Ford with negligible power and tall skinny wheels if they were still around.

Realistically, here in the South of England, severe road conditions have so far been so unusual and short-lived that whenever it is possible - which of course it isn't always - it maybe better simply not to use the roads until they clear a bit.

I had a fiat cinquecento last year and get this - it was much better in the snow than the Lexus!!!!!!!!!!!!! - it didnt have a front or back end so couldn't really go anywhere and I felt safer in it than the Lexus

However I also have a horse box and having just seperated, cannot afford to run three vehicles so I had to get rid of the cinquecento :o

I was thinking of trading up to an RX but this forum has given me good advice and I will be fitting winter tyres in October to my IS220.

By the way - the garage will store my summer tyres for £7.50 a tyre for 6 months which I think is not too bad!

Living in Sweden where winter tyres are required by law, the idea of getting another car rather than changing the tyres seems completely ridiculous.

FYI, there are (at least) three different categories of winter tyres:

1. Studded tyres. This is what most people use in Sweden, since they are superior on ice. They are however quite noisy and I would believe not allowed in the UK, due to the wear they cause on the roads.

2. Snow and ice tyres. These are optimised for grip on snow, but not particularly good on asphalt due to the very soft compound and thread which is very flexible in order to find grip on uneven ice. Some people in Sweden stupidly drive with these all year around so they don't have to change wheels twice a year.

3. Performance winter tyres. These are almost as good as summer tyres on dry roads, while being much better on snow and ice. I switched to this type of tyre when I got my IS after always having used studded tyres before. This is what all the Germans use on the Autobahn, and also what I would believe is available in the UK.

My summer tyres are 245/45/17 rear and 225/45/17 front, while my winter tyres are 225/45/17 all around. However, I sort of regret not going for 205 wide 16 inch wheels for the winter, since 225 is a little too wide on ice and snow. Also, my winter rims are not Lexus originals, since they were prohibitively expensive (I think they would have added £1000).

One more thing - 4WD is NOT a substitute for winter tyres. What good is 4WD going to do when you come too fast into a corner, or need to brake before an intersection? With 4WD you can accelerate faster, but is that your biggest safety concern in the winter?

As for the hassle of storing and switching wheels, most tyre shops in Sweden offer a storage and shifting service where they store the set of wheels that is not currently on you car, and you just book an appointment twice a year to have them switched while you wait. The cost is about £100 per year. Don't you have this in the UK?

In fact, when you buy a new Lexus in Sweden, a complementary three years of wheel storage and shifting at the dealership is included! This is part of the Lexus service experience here, and I am not aware of any other brand that does this.

Mhult - I dont think one can compare Sweden with the UK - weather wise!

Given the posts on here, I will talk again with the garage re width of tyres (thinner being better) when I order my winter ones.

The garage have said they can store my summer tyres for £7.50 a tyre which I think is reasonable.

In addition not everyone is as mechanical savvy as you sound when it comes to winter driving. I for one am grateful for all the advice on this board which has helped me tremendously.

Oh and I originally was thinking to trade up to an RX!!

...................or you could go with the expensive option like I am thinking of doing and swapping the "pig" for an RX400!! (apart from the fact that the trade in is just laughable - 2007 model offered just over £6000 :tsktsk: )

Last year in that terrible snow my IS220d was just undrivable - I considered it near dangerous - I also had a Fiat cinquecento at the time and that was more more effective !! I couldnt bear to go through that again and its OK saying put winter tyres on but I would have to get to a garage first to get them put on anyways!! (my car skills extend to putting air in the tyres NOT changing them!)

I am in such a dilema!!

I'm putting my winter tyres back on in a few weeks. No need to change cars put on a set of winter tyres and your car will handle better than a 4x4. Sounds too good to be true, watch this, My LEXUS GS!, my car on sheet ice with winters, I got stuck nowhere last year!!!

There are still people who consider all other options before going for the obvious.

:shutit: I thought you had to take winter tyres off and on according to the weather (that is just use them in snow!!) Are you saying that I can use them just as normal everyday tyres??. If thats the case I will certainly look at getting some - as you say the obvious answer but I'm a bit short on technical knowledge so just thought shelling out another £10,000 would be the easiset option - doh!!!!!!!!!!

I watched your video by the way - what happened to the 12 INCHES of snow in your part of the world??

Many Thanks for the post - its given me something to think about

Hi,

Seriously, fitting winter tyres will transform your car.

I run my tyres from October until March. They are rated W which is up to 168mph and can be used all year if you do only a few miles.

Winter tyres are not only for snow but for all winter conditions. They are excellent in the wet displacing huge mounts of water. I was driving on a slushy M1 earlier this year. The outside lane was empty as it was too slushy for normal tyres. I drove through it and had excellent traction, I was throwing up huge amounts of water behind me though!

The compound of the winter tyre is softer than summer tyres. Summer tyres start to go hard below 7 deg C and this makes them pretty useless, winter tyres remain soft and spread out. Winter tyres also have lots of cross cuts in them called sips. The sips draw in the snow and this help with traction.

There are lots of rear wheel cars in Germany, BMW, Mercedes and the folk over there change to winter tyres as it's a legal requirement. These people don't usually get stuck, well maybe if its a few feet thick.

Try it, buy them now before the rush and you will be amazed and a lot safer this winter.

KNITWARE & MATUS - Thanks for your posts which are really helpful. Have Dunlop 225/45/17 currently on the Lexus.

I have been to enquire about Pirelli Sottozero seiries II and been quoted £583 fitted/balanced etc for 4. The garage also recommended Goodyear but as my knowledge of tyres can fit on the back of an ant will probably stick with the Pirelli!

The guy at the garage also said to keep my boot weighted (with for example a bag of sand!!)

I am so glad for this forum!

Many Thanks to all for your help

What experiences have you had in terms of start ups?

I havent yet had the privilege of introducing my car to such conditions. But am wary of it coughing up in the cold.

CUE - absolutely no issues whatsoever (in start up - driving another matter - prepare yourself for it being rubbish if we have snow this year like last)

The lowest temp I recorded in my Lexus last year was minus 17

I have a horse and get up at 5.20am each morning in the winter, my Lexus stood on the drive and she started first time everytime and I expected that - I have the car serviced every 12 months. No issues at the service in April just gone following the awful snow starts and driving in the darn stuff

...................or you could go with the expensive option like I am thinking of doing and swapping the "pig" for an RX400!! (apart from the fact that the trade in is just laughable - 2007 model offered just over £6000 :tsktsk: )

Last year in that terrible snow my IS220d was just undrivable - I considered it near dangerous - I also had a Fiat cinquecento at the time and that was more more effective !! I couldnt bear to go through that again and its OK saying put winter tyres on but I would have to get to a garage first to get them put on anyways!! (my car skills extend to putting air in the tyres NOT changing them!)

I am in such a dilema!!

I'm putting my winter tyres back on in a few weeks. No need to change cars put on a set of winter tyres and your car will handle better than a 4x4. Sounds too good to be true, watch this, My LEXUS GS!, my car on sheet ice with winters, I got stuck nowhere last year!!!

There are still people who consider all other options before going for the obvious.

:shutit: I thought you had to take winter tyres off and on according to the weather (that is just use them in snow!!) Are you saying that I can use them just as normal everyday tyres??. If thats the case I will certainly look at getting some - as you say the obvious answer but I'm a bit short on technical knowledge so just thought shelling out another £10,000 would be the easiset option - doh!!!!!!!!!!

I watched your video by the way - what happened to the 12 INCHES of snow in your part of the world??

Many Thanks for the post - its given me something to think about

...................or you could go with the expensive option like I am thinking of doing and swapping the "pig" for an RX400!! (apart from the fact that the trade in is just laughable - 2007 model offered just over £6000 :tsktsk: )

Last year in that terrible snow my IS220d was just undrivable - I considered it near dangerous - I also had a Fiat cinquecento at the time and that was more more effective !! I couldnt bear to go through that again and its OK saying put winter tyres on but I would have to get to a garage first to get them put on anyways!! (my car skills extend to putting air in the tyres NOT changing them!)

I am in such a dilema!!

Would be interested to know how things work out (hope its OK by the way) - I am currently looking to buy an 07 RX400 with 56,000 miles on the clock.

Given your experience? I could well do to ask some pertinent questions at the garage !!

Many Thanks

Javadude - yes I am aware but how strange as you say - I consider the RX400 more lux than the IS - so why wouldn't they give the RX the keyless entry??

I also know that the RX is automatic and I have only ever driven manual!

Oh and that its a bit bigger parking wise than the IS!

A few things for me to think about - I dont really want to move to another marque but have been loking at the Ford Kuga as well

Jay

I have an 07 IS220D currently at 67,000 miles (above average - and bought it with high miles) - never had any engine problem whatsoever with it although I do have it main dealer serviced every 12 months (this is not cheap :o so factor it in to your costs)

I have keyless entry/push button start and the only issue I have had is not being able to get in the darn thing - this has only happened once (something to do with the radio waves in the key being interferred with)

I am looking to change to an RX400 and like you will probably have to look at a high milage model - I am not bothered about this as long as it has main dealer service history - I think its important that the vehicle has been looked after.

Lexus is known for its reliabilty and thats why I am sticking with them

I have a 2007 is220d - I always have it serviced at Lexus Bolton - although I only do about 7000 mile a year, I have it serviced every 12 months.

Its not cheap - £600 for 60,000 mile service (but included 2 tyres and an MOT), £300 for 70,000 service (although I had only done 65,000 miles but its 12 months were up)

I would rather have the dealer stamps in the service booklet for when I change the vehicle as I would look for the same when looking for a new vehicle

1 UK Gallon = 4.54 liters

At 135.9 a litre this mean that 1 gallon of diesel now costs £6.169 (depending on which garage you use!!)

On average my 2007 is220d is returning between 31-34 miles per gallon.

I very rarely use a motorway so most of my driving is start-stop - I dont often move out of third gear and consider myself to be a careful driver.

I have my car serviced at Lexus every 12 months as I only do about 7000 mile a year

All

I need advice from the gurus here:-

Thinking of trading in my IS220d for an RX400 - only because the IS was cr@p in the snow and ice last year and I need something that will at least move in the snow and want to stay with Lexus.

My questions:-

1) Will probably have to look at an 05/06 model (not made of money!)so need advice about an extended warranty (didnt have one with my current 07 model)

2) Am I better buying from a Lexus outlet rather than just an ordinary dealer? What are they like for trade-ins?

3) Been reading about invertor recall - whats the latest on this?

4) What make tyres are best for the RX (have been reading lots of posts re tyres and am pretty confused!)

Many thanks for any advice offered

I dont think thats too bad - my 60,000 service cost £600 without a cam belt change!! (had two tyers instead).

Useful info for me as I am looking for an RX400/450 and will probably have to look at a higher mileage one!!

I've copied this from post by Roguebear today:-

Posted Today, 06:16 PM

napster, on 19 January 2011 - 06:52 AM, said:

NickS, on 18 January 2011 - 11:02 PM, said:

Well the service display can be set manually at any time so it proves nothing. That said, it would take a very deliberate act of deceit to alter it, and if they were going to do that they'd surely have wound the odometer back to 70K! Or maybe it's done 150K - only joking!

Afraid I'm unsure if Lexus has central database of service history. I believe Audi does. Can you trace the dealer from any items like window stickers, number plate logos or tax disc holder? Why not ring the previous owner?

Don't recall reading about cam-belt change, but a quick search turned up this:- http://www.lexusowne...=1

That was a 400 though, and I'm unsure how closely related the engines are. I'd ask the dealer to be 100% sure, or post a query here with that as a heading. Perhaps it's lurking in my handbook, but I'm mid 60s at moment (car not me, quite!) so perhaps I had better start saving.

Ha ha , only 150k miles these will do 300k so i have a low miler car... Mot have all checked out, out car was owned by big company from new except last year before i got it so thats all right. just cam belt, i will ring lexus or maybe in manual.. cheers

I believe cambelt change on an rx300 is at 100,000 miles

Jeffs - spooky but I am looking to change my is220d (2007) for an RX 400 or 450 - however I would probably have to look at a high mileage one as am not exactly made of money.

I would not change ordinarily but my is220d let me down badly last year in all the snow and ice - it was a monster wouldnt go anywhere and slip slided all over the place.

Just wondering if those that can offer advice to your post make any comments about the wisdom of a high mileage RX400/450

Sorry - put this post in the wrong place - I get easily confused with the model numbers and only just realised what I have done !!!

I have an 07 is220d and know I dont have any warranty on the car as its more than 3 years old (mine has 65,000 miles on the clock with full Lexus service history - having had two services done myself at Lexus Bolton who are excellent)

On this forum there are many entries from members about buying extended warranties from Lexus (i dont have one)

Have never has any trouble with my Lexus (fingers crossed) apart from not being able to get into it a few weeks ago when something happened with the electronic signals in the key fob!!

You will find many knowlegeble and informatavive posts on this forum and requests for help - not many complaints !!

I love my car and wouldnt swap it - thinking of the RX when I finally do fancy a change

OMG!!!!

Thats incredible - its making me think twice about buying RX400/450 as I would probably have to buy high miles but theres no way on earth that I would pay over £1000 for a service!!!

In addition - I will be looking for an RX400/450 soon - I think I will only be able to afford a high mileage one because they are still holding their value - I would choose one with full Lexus service stamps over one that didnt have them!!

I posted this on 18.6.11 re my past two services :-

I have a 2007 is220d and have had two services by Lexus Bolton - I dont do many miles so get it serviced every 12 months.

The first service was a 60,000 miles and an MOT (£54) and I had two tyres (Dunlop SO01 - £130 each) - total cost £600

The second an Intermediate (70,000 - although I had only done 6000 miles since the last service) and an MOT - Total cost £300

Each time - Lexus collected and returned my vehicle and gave me a Lexus for the day.

I cant fault them and recently they gave me free advice over the phone when my key fobs refused to work!!