Raymond.

Cheers Barney! I don't have the car anymore but glad I could have been of help. Chris. PM's

Yeah, turbo went a few weeks back and left Manchester in thick white smoke..... Taken the head off to check for damage and all is OK. Replaced the big end shells and mains and the head gasket while it was all in bits. New turbo and it's all OK. All in just under 200 quid plus 18 hours of my time.... ***** timing chains

Eyup Ray, how's things? Will be posting pics up soon, having it valeted by a friend first. The rother valley meet probably wont be till next spring/summer, but you are welcome at the plank and leggit. All good here Ian. Rother Valley is only 20 minutes from me so that would be good. Becks Vier on draft too!

Cheers.... I'll do that when I can afford something else... ;)

Ian, The GS looks good! When are you showing it off? Any details about the Rother Valley meet? (That is if 5-Series are welcome if the 9-3 has gone)

Nice wheels actually. Needs dropping quite a bit though.

Like every other one Chris?

Yeah, so do the kids. They never want to go out in misses's car anymore They're nice cars but a bit dated I'd say. I had a 1994 900 vert before (same shape) Just stuck a bigger turbo on and it's rather nippy now Need 4 doors again at some point again as it's a ball-ache getting kids in and out with the roof up..... Maybe another 7?

But, I wasn't comparing my IS to my 5-Series was I? Just to any mid size car from the same era RE toys and comfort. I thought at least OBC would be standard on any decent post 1998 car.

I'd have a new shape IS vert in a heartbeat though! When I've won the lottery....

Mine was a Sport so not much comfort. Lack of OBC was the biggest thing I missed. just an orange light when fuel was getting low. (Which is permanently on btw haha) Seats drove me mad being electric but not memory and no heat settings other than on or off. Just loads of little things like no auto windows, no struts on bonnet and boot. Mine was an older one (2001) so only half leather/half suede. Been in Transporters car which is from 2005 and it's like a different car.

As pretty as the IS looks, I couldn't cope with the lack of comfort, lack of toys and thirst for fuel.

Sorry, I've been a bit vague.... Sold the IS and bought a C-Class K for the misses and a 9-3 for me.

On my logbook it actually says Lexus IS200 Sport. Same quote roughly as an SE but still ridiculous...

Had a receipt in the folder of my IS for over £500 for the same job (Main dealer) so yours seems very reasonable. Glad my car only has 50k on as I don't fancy changing the chain anytime soon.

Cheers Stuart. Saab is fine now. Had some niggles but they're sorted. Kids love it with the top down. I had one before but that was a 900 vert (same shape) Bit dated compared to my last few cars even though it's on a 51 plate but the electric hydraulic roof is always cool. It is ridiculously fast though but can drop down to 16MPG when trashed. Love to go back to a big comfy all toys estate car though..... Best do some saving up

wow! i most i got out my my 1.6 focus was 45mpg and that thing only had 100bhp. amazing Today driving like Stuart again. :) 2 litre turbo petrol.... @ 70MPH on cruise control :P

I'm adapting your driving style Stuart. Got 50.1 MPG out of the misses's C180 Kompressor and 41MPG out of my 9-3 turbo

Well done on the 100k Chris! Mine was on 98 or summit when I sold it and still felt good. Cars are doing miles easier now compared to before though. I had a Rover (yes) 400 on a P plate and I sold it at 178k. Last BMW ended at 353k. Got 51k on my current thing. Never seen that on any of my private owned cars :eerrrmm:

Wow Stuart! 36.9 on an IS is amazing. I'm getting that on my 4-pot turbo but I'm down 2 cylinders.... My average on the IS was 260 miles to a tank. I see you have 'snow' up there?

I went to Wales last time Chris. I thought they had beautiful roads down there.... Remember I'm from Holland and the longest stretch is on the motorway which is like the M25 so never had a proper drive apart from the German Autobahn every other week

Scenery is beautiful. Note down for not cleaning the thing though!!!! I recon you have more scenery picts that you really ought to share. I've never been up there.

I'm not going to mention the OBC read 24ºC in my car earlier then..... Enjoy the rest of your trip mate. Looks rather pretty from previous pictures B)

Nice one! Picking up passengers from Rotherham on the way? I like it there! Didn't make it to the meet. Carries grandad just died before..... We'll have to meet up for a beer another time again mate. I'm sorry for your loss Ray.. We'll be starting off from Bradfordistan so will be going past Rotherham, if you can find space in the car after Tanya has packed it then you are welcome to come with us.....It's funny how a bloke can go away for two weeks with a wallet, mobile phone, a pen and a small flight bag yet the car will be packed to the gunnels with stuff.....Most of which the average bloke couldn't even begin to identify.. Tell me about it..... they pack 100 pairs of shoes before they even know they're going away! Drop by next time you're near this sh!thole for a beer mate.

Nice one! Picking up passengers from Rotherham on the way? I like it there! Didn't make it to the meet. Carries grandad just died before..... We'll have to meet up for a beer another time again mate.