Jamalaya

Remapping always require other components to be updated to cope with the increased stress. Changing components for a particular car will be hard as it will be difficult to find updated OEM ones. Buying After market is always risky as they were not designed for that car and may or may not work in harmony with your engine not to mention quality etc.. A reputable mapper should tell you that upfront and a good one would have designed their own components to replace. I used to do my VW GOLF here http://www.tsr-performance.com/, see they also machine their engines and components. As the others said, remapping alone won't last. Good luck.

Well put Flavio. I initially bought my car because I will be making long journeys on the motorway to work and wanted to save some money on fuel but also I wanted it to look good. I got bored for driving slow (all brands are the same yo have to drive at slow pace to get the fuel economy stated). And you know what? none of this matters now as I just love driving it and looking after (just like an expensive girl friend. Premium diesel all that way). However, I must say I am surprised at some of the quoted mileage some people are getting,. OK I don't get 44mpg but I do get between 39-40 mpg and I don't drive below 70 or use cruise control (don't have enough patience) and I love it .

I too read many reviews before buying (and I am a hard core VW GOLF GTI owner and I think they are the best ever made ), I loved the VW Passat for its comfortable ride, economy and huge boot, but was boring to drive (I owned 2 as well and later gave them to me wife who loves them and still owns the 2007 Passat). All the reviews that I read about the IS 220D SE-L were awful or average, until I saw a "Fifth Gear" episode about it where the presenter (forgotten his name, the big guy with long curly hair) said the following in conclusion. "It is not as fast a BMW, but much more comfortable and more reliable and loads of extras without having to pay the odds for it and much more refined and sophisticated. The BMW is for the bullies and the unsophisticated while the Lexus is for the fine gentleman". True, almost everyday I have a beamer up my exhaust trying to prove something. I let him go cause it is dangerous to tail gate at high speed but then again they are a BMW drivers. If you get my drift (it happened just today, he was tailgating me at 100 mph. I let him go but he went no where except in front of me until I got to work). Actually, on the first day I bought the car, and while taking it home, a BMW came flying behind me, dangeorusly swerving and overtaking me on a single lane (40MPH) and when I looked at him casually he gave me the finger ME? I pulled a cigar and lit it. I am till wondering why on earth did he do this dangerous manouver?! Oh well. I took the car for half an hour drive (always insist on driving and testing the car both at national speed and in town) along the A419. The ride was comfortable, and it did accelerate rather well and the looks, really the looks and the colour that attracted me . The interior is exactly as I wanted it, uncluttered and straight forward. I am a driver not a typist and I hate the multitude of push buttons found on Mercs and BMWs. I wanted a compact saloon with finesse :-). Now Merc drivers are different, gentlemen too.The always give way They say it is noisy and that baffles me. It is certainly not noisier than a passat which is considered a very fine, comfortable car albeit boring, in the trade and reviews. I drive on the M4 daily (actually I hardly drive the car in towns) and it is a joy to drive. It just glides at 80-90-100 miles an hour (every day it takes me by surprise, how effortless the car drive at those speeds, it really glides), no unnecessary noise or wind noise. That would have put me off cause I never ever drive with open windows (got beaten up once in London as they grabbed my GPS ) and I will notice these things. I have the rear mirror vibration syndrome but you know what? I got used to it and I don't notice it any more. Review are fine but at the end it is one particular person's opinion. You have to read a lot to filter out the bad, the good and the ugly (still take it with a pinch of salt). Nothing to worry about the PROS, and the CONS, eliminate the CON that is not important to you and see what you are left with. If they outweighs the PROS then it is not for you, and move on. There is no perfect car. Now you get bad and good dealers anywhere with any brand. However, at Lexus, after every visit I get a call asking for my experience with the service from the Lexus customer satisfaction department. The local one in Swindon are very polite, very understanding and explain everything you ask in details (specially servicing). It could be my beard as I look like a terrorist when it is not trimmed You really ought to drive and test the car, any car, yourself and read a lot of reviews (not just one source) before deciding. (Apology for my grammar, it is my 4th language and I am still working on it and getting old and tired :megaangry: ).

To Add Lexus Swindon offered me a Major service for £450. They alss have a plan for £21.90 a months for 24 months which include 1 major service, 1 minor and 2 MOT.

Here is mine (not always that clean

Interesting. I have been wondering for a couple of months now Whether I got a good deal on mine. I got this car for £7440 (not including part exchanged my golf for £1000), 57 plate with 53K on the clock. Absolutely clean inside out and 6 months warranty. Full history. To be honest I never checked the prices. I just saw it, tried it, liked it and bought it. :-) I don't usually do this. Just to add, Not leather and no satnav. Both are no to me, having 2 children and a dog :megaangry: ).

Gratz. Enjoy it now. I am having a blast with mine and proud of it

Well a funny thing happened a couple of days ago. My battery (IS 220D) couldn't hold a charge any more. So I went to Lexus, Swindon, to change it at a cost of 156 pouds :(. Soon afterwards I started seeing a huge improvement in Mileage. I am getting 42 mpg driving from Swindon to Oxford for work and believe me I am no angel on the road. Coming from a VW GOLF, I drive it like a VW Golf. Before the battery change I was getting (reportedly) around 37-38 on the same trip. Now I don't know if it was the battery problem or the fact that I filled it with Shell diesel. Because I also see increase in power :-)

LOL ... of course you are right...I will ... I am planning a trip ... I am not driving it much now as I am sharing a car from Swindon to Bristol, but on the 25th I start a new job in Oxford then I will do it. thanks for giving me the kick

you are absolutely right. I am just terrified of letting a computer control it :eerrrmm: especially when you have children in the car. I would have done it if my ex was in it (Just kidding)

OK, here is my final report on this car which I purchased 10 days ago. I did a journey of 328 miles (both ways). As I said before it is very comfortable on the road and pleasure to drive. It did 43.7 mpg each way driving it at 70-90 mph engaging the 6th gear on 75+ and when the road gets congested I simply change to 5th gear and then back again when the road quiets down. it has a lot of power to give at 4-5 gear, and the 6th gear is for driving comfortably and economically at a set speed and rpm. so my verdict is that I have made a very good purchase. The car is rock solid,comfortable,consistent and looks great. sure it is not a racer on red lights but I did not buy it for this. I bought it to take me to work (45 miles each way) and be economical and the children love it :-) My advice if you are buying a car is to research what you are buying to make sure it fits your needs cause when people get disappointed they start writing all sort of ****. Be happy whatever you decide and enjoy it :-) Note: I haven't tested the cruise control yet :-) and I just can't bring myself to trust it (whatever the car) :-) maybe one day. cheers

OK, so I go the car last Saturday. I part exchanged my Golf IV. Good buy I must say, So here my experience for the week. The car is spotless inside out. One pre owner and it looks like he/she looked after it really well. Not a single scratch or scuff on it. Inside it is spotless as well and not even a single scratch I can see on the console or the steering wheel or door handles. Pretty amazing considering it is 5 years old. Unless the dealer fixed it :-). Whilst at the dealer (actually internet dealer) I asked for test drive for half an hour. I took it for a spin on the A419 and then town. I tested every single button, even the boot light :-) Impressed how smooth it was and obviously I bought it. Mileage wise, testing in towns and busy hours it returned 32.7.consistently. I work in Bristol and did the following; swindon-bristol-swindon, (M4, M32) 5th gear 70-80 it returned 40 mpg. swindon-bristol-swindon, (M4, M32) 6th gear 80+ (rpm @ 2k) it returned 42.3. NO 6th gear is not slow or useless, I easily over took without changing just don't let rpm drop below 1700 or so and if it drops change to 5th and go. these trips from swindon center to bristol center. I haven't tried cruise control yet but tomorrow I will as i have 180 miles journey and my aim is to reach that magic 44mpg. the ride is fantastic and very comfortable and just like the Golf (and I hate to say that) rock solid at high speed. It is also amazing at roundabouts. I takes it at 40 with ease glued to the road. Never felt so relaxed while driving. This car is not slow as others try to make it. This is how I drive it, 1st gear just to pull it and immediately change to 2nd and let rpm reach 1500 and fee the power from there on. This is my experience,and I thought I drop by with some good news :-) I will attach some photos when I have time. Have a nice holiday all.

thanks for the tip. I'll be checking my local dealer. still under guarantee from the seller anyway, and I'll be seeing them on Saturday to pick up some papers.

Hiya and welcome to the LOC. Have a look at this link and in particular, posts numbers 10 and 27, this may be of help to you. http://www.lexusowne...wtopic=75516= vibrating interior mirror&st=0 thanks for the link Geoff, it makes a very horrific reading looks like 220d is much hated. The mention of the vibrating mirror is fine. I might check that, but today I took it out for a very good spin - swindon-highworth-swindon-cirencester. I must say a very enjoyable ride, as good as my golf and my wife's passat. Not a single rattle or sound and it is not noisy as the other posters make it. Then again I never drive with windows open. slightly noisier than a passat engine wise. The mirror vibration wasn't that bad at high speed I guess. It need to be revved at low gears but once you get it up to 3rd gear, I don't know, it just flies and super steady. So far I am happy with it. Next week will test the mpg as I have few trips to Bristol and London. we'll see how it goes.

thanks all. Yeah I guess I need time to get used to it. As mentioned it has a lot of electronics/operations and I think I need to read the manual :-) . as for comfort,it is superb.I did drive briefly a passat which I think it is superb for comfort and I think the Lexus matches that. time for more drive about I think :-).Yeah if you can find out if the rear view mirror vibrates would be cool.It is not a problem, but it is visible, otherwise everything is perfect.

I just got my used lexus IS 220D and i already love it, very refined and well composed and in very very good condition from 1 previous owner. Today however, I noticed that the rear view mirror vibrates a bit.Is this normal? Also, while it has 174 BHP, I don't feel it though. I mean I never drover anything but a Golf GTI since Mark II and this is my first non VW car. Previously, I had golf GTI mark 4 turbo 150 bHP and you can feel the power on that car. Admittedly still getting used to driving the Lexus and getting the feel of it. there is a lag when taking off. I am not sure if this normal or it is me. I am just used to quickly zip into a gap on roundabouts :-) . Either way I love my Lexus and it looks great and I can see the envy (and challenges) from BMW drivers :-)