squarehead

Yup your right Colin, I was comparing the manual IS200 vs Auto IS300, so I wonder how fast a manual IS300 could be then :-) ??? If there was such a thing........

One thing we haven't touched on this IS300 "I want one" forum is - they only sell it with an automatic box- come on that 6 Cylinder sounds fantastic with a manual box - I've not driven an IS300 but I have driven an IS200 auto and I must say it's not as an enthralling drive....

Plus, circa 7k for 1 and a bit seconds is a heck of a lot of money to justify. Especially as the revised IS200 has a very similar spec now.

Is there anyway you can program it to automatically arm the deadlocks - you know, instead of having to press "lock" twice ? It would be great if you could - I guess I'm answering my own question here, you probably can't because of the health & safety aspect of locking somebody in accidentally as the deadlocks will not allow you to open the car from the inside - I think?

Can somebody explain what exactly the LSD does ? And has anybody compared handling between the SE & the Sport and is there much difference?

Great feedback - I think?!?

To be honest I think if Lexus really want to sell the "remaining" stock of the current IS200 until the new one is released in 2005 I really think they should have the 18" alloys as standard, imho they are the dogs dangly's...

Thanks Chrispy - see, you can justify that training course!

It wasn't put on to p**s people off, it was purely my observation!!! As for character, well that's your choice at the end of the day....

As the old saying goes, if it isn't broken don't fix it!

You might even get cheaper insurance if you install an additional alarm!

Although, my advice to you is - when you come to sell it what do you say to the buyer if you have an additional alarm fitted, bearing in mind the security on the IS is top dog....

Well my IS went in today for some work done on it, I had an 04 IS200 SE for the day and I was fortunate enough to drive it to a meeting in Derby (200 mile round journey). I thought I would share my observations with you (in no particular order & apologies for my lack of terminology)

1) The new blue which replace the strathcaron blue imho is not as nice.

2) Those new alloys look a swine to clean! I must admit I do prefer the older ones by a million miles. The older ones look the dogs and are really easy to clean. OK there have been complaints of corroding - but mine have been ok.

3) The fan spray windscreen wash is much better than the 3 nozzle version.

4) I wasn't too keen on the full leather, it was really hot today and the seats were boiling when I got into the car after it standing. And they felt slippy when going around bends. Didn't really feel as if they were hugging me as well as the half leather seats.

5) I do not like the white? silver? stiching on the steering wheel - who was on drugs when they redesigned that?

6) The aircon seemed much better than mine - a lot colder, I thing I need one of those bomb thingies - any suggestions?

7) General observations - the leather gear knob holder was squeaking like mad, the sunroof visor felt flimsy, the fuel filler cap felt like a tin can - whereas in my 02 SE feel much better made.

Sorry for too much info, but hey that's what this forum is for!

;)

Nice review from honest john - much better than the topgear magazine which comments that the is200 is shamelessly competing with the 3 series - put me off Mr Clarkson for life!

I've had a 3 series and wouldn't change my is200 for the world.

I'd like to know this as well - can you post the details please Duncan?

How much do they cost to buy & to be fitted ? I would like one when my warranty runs out next year

And my M3000 is still for sale until 7pm tonight !!!!

Go on, ah go on you know you want to....

Sorry I know this is the IS200 forum so I'll finish by saying I Love my IS200, much better than previous comp cars A4 & 320d !!! By a mile !

I'm selling my Plantronics Bluetooth on eBay if your interested. It's currently £20 (no reserve) + plus £5 for p&p if you interested here's the link:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...MESSE%3AIT&rd=1

Copy the link above into the address page.

It's brand new and works great - I'm selling it as I have just had a car kit fitted. Bought from amazon for £60!

Yep Chris is right, it was confusing though! Holdcrofts are in Stoke (Hanley) or are they in Stafford !!!

Anyway, good service they even put a sticker on my spare to say is was checked - Lexus Chester didn't do that !!!

This is quite ironic as I have just had 2 new SP9000's fitted to the front of my IS, I had friction wear and the insides were worn down. I was really really lucky though as I shopped around and got them for £86 quid each as they are being discontinued. Laser alignment was £17 as well!!! This was from a garage near Chester.

I have been running standard SP9000's so far as recommended by Lexus Chester, I know what the difference is but what are the benefits?

Anyway, The SP9000 has been superseeded by the SP Sport Maxx which I have been told is even better than the SP9000, has anybody fitted these yet???

As this topic comes up quite a lot surely we must be able to negotiate a group buy !

I had my 30k service in Lexus Stoke (Holdcrofts I think they're called), to be honest they are a Toyota dealer in the main, but I agree with you all they did service my car very well and it came in at £118 - beat that !!! And they washed it for me, but I didn't get any chocolates this time - which I don't mind as I am on a diet anyway.

And whilst we are talking about chocolates - I know it's a nice touch but surely they build the price of these into the service anyway ?

A plane crashes on a desert island and only three men survive.

As the men come to their senses they see another man approching them, as he gets closer he speaks to them,

"There is only one port on this island where you can get a ship to safety" he says, "However, I am a cannibal and i'm hungry so i'm going to make you a deal"...

"I'm going to get my d*ck out and if all three of your d*cks put together are of equal size or bigger then i'll guide you to the port, if they are smaller I will kill you all and eat you".

All three men readily agree thinking there's no possible way they can lose.

As the cannibal gets his d*ck out, they see it's 20 inches long!

The first man of the three gets his out and it's 10 inches long, feeling confident now, the second man gets his 9 inches out. Finally the third man gets his d*ck out and although its only 1 inch long the trio still win the bet.

The cannibal keeps his word and leads them to safety. Sometime later on the boat home the first man begins to brag...

"You two are lucky my d*ck is 10 inches long you know", he says to his companions. They agree and congratulate the man on havin such a long p*nis.

After a while the second man says, "You two are very lucky my d*ck is 9 inches long or we would of been eaten by that cannibal back there", once again, his two companions agree.

As the night nears its end they ask the third man his thoughts on the experience, "All I have to say" begins the third man, "is that you two are damn lucky I had an erection"

When I first bought my Lex I thought the fuel economy was rubbish. But that was only because I have been driving diesel's for the previous 5 years (A4 19tdi & 320d). And you get used to it - I totally agree with Mat I wouldn't change my IS200 for either of the above.

I tend to get around 350 - 400 to a tank which costs about £38 up here (The petrol is cheaper by far in the Northwest compared to anywhere I have travelled in the UK)....

Even optimax is cheper up here than some standard unleaded in the south!

Some f****r scratched my near side passenger door with a coke can in the Trafford Centre car park and left the evidence on the floor!

Can anybody recommend somewhere near to Chester (15 mile radius) to get it fixed? Will Lexus Chester do it - and does anybody have any experience of them doing bodywork repairs?

Thanks guys........

i have noticed that you have to hold the nozzle at a strange angle or the auto cutoff keeps happening on the pumps dont matter what garage i go to

I kind of agree with mattstheone on this one. I seem to have the same problem at Tesco time & time again. As I do a lot of travelling it is not just my local Tesco I have noticed it in Northampton as well!!!

I got so fed up with it one day and complained about it to them and they said it was a fault in the pump and they could do nothing about it. I have also filled up in Sainsbury's and didn't have a single problem.

Slightly off-topic I live inbetween Chester & Wrexham and the petrol prices here are really good compared to say Nothampton & Essex for example. Even Optimax is cheaper in Wrexham than standard unleaded in Essex.

And if I recall I voted for Mr March in the LOC calendar - my favourite picture, and it's on my wall looking at me - and look what I get in return!!!

So if I put 4 outlets & 4 large kettles and a hose pipe to cool it down will that work? Or just for good measure should I make sure that I have 8 outlets & 8 kettles just in case ?

Or maybe I should just pay Fargo to do it instead! I'll bring me gear to the next meet ok mate?

Anyway, thanks I think !!!

Hi all,

I want to give my engine a clean as it is dusty dirty etc.

What's the best way to go about it?

Thanks in advance...

Regardless of handling The Dunlop SP9000 is the best looking by far!

Why don't we have a vote?

I'd buy SP9000's again - no question.

Cheers guys....

I'll let you know how I get on