Sidleybird

umm... I think you mean Jodie Kidd, but hey, potato potato.

To be honest, I think you will have a hard time finding one to match and it will probably end up costing you more anyway. Personally, I would go with a decent bodyshop but good luck, hope you get what you want. Bad luck, no chance anyone saw the scumbag who did it?

Rayaan, obviously we have had different experiences so can we leave it at that? I don't want to get into a slanging match with you; that's not what a car club like this is for. So you carry on paying over the odds and I will save my hard-earned and we'll both be happy. OK? Thanks.

Rayaan, I said a "good independent" not a backstreet garage, but hey, its your money; if you want to throw it away then that's your choice. But if you think main dealers do a better job just 'cause you're paying more, then you're kidding yourself.

Sadly. honesty is a rapidly fading concept and, indeed, the honest person is generally regarded as a "mug" these days. Which (sadly again) means that you have to work on the principle that even the most reasonable seeming person is out to rook you. I don't see why you should be a single penny out of pocket because of his stupidity, so sue the ****** (insert expletive of choice0 for the full amount of the repairs. Sounds like you hold all the aces though; independent witnesses are crucial, so I'm sure you will get the judgement in your favour. Bloody well hope so! As for cyclists generally, well, I drive a van as part of my job, and there's not a single day that I don't see them riding on pavements, going through red lights, weaving in and out of traffic and trying to squeeze through non-existent gaps. And then they have the nerve to claim some sort of moral superiority??....bastards, Anyway, all the best of luck. Don't give up. :luck:

Expensive lesson learned! Just don't give them any more of your hard-earned. Ask around, mates etc., for a good independent who will do just as good a job at half the price. Sadly, when you use a main dealer you are going to pay top dollar just for the name. Doesn't mean they will do a better job.

MIne's a 2000 and done 142k. Hoping to get a lot more out of her too!

I know its all subjective and each to their own, but....the E Type - I mean, come on guy, just look at it!

You always take a chance buying any car, but looks good to me - shame about the colour though!

Had to laugh at "Got bored". Most of us would have just gone for a drive! I can't imagine how bored I would have to be to start cleaning and polishing to relieve the boredom! Still, fair play to you, I just hope the birds respect all your hard work - at least for a day or two! Shame you're so far from me though, otherwise I would leave some cleaning materials in my car....just in case, you know....you ever get bored again!

Hard-to-identify creaks, squeaks and grinding noises seem to be common to these cars (see various posts on here relating to suspension issues). A week after buying mine, a horrendous grinding noise appeared on cornering. This turned out to be (after some investigation involving a stethoscope) to be a lower ball joint. Having replaced this and the attached track rod end (the nut connecting them was seized solid, another common issue I believe) the problem was cured and has not returned. Don't let this put you off though, its still a great car! And there is almost always someone here who will help you sort out any issues that my crop up. Good luck, I hope you find a good 'un!

Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder of course. Actually, I thought the guy's Ebay ad was quite funny! And you can't deny that the LS400 does look like a pimpmobile. Still, each to their own. I saw an 220D in a car park the other day and, after having had a good look round it, I have to say the term that came to mind was "bland". Just my personal opinion of course, other opinions are available. Brand loyalty is all very well but let's not kid ourselves.

Yes! Success! Thanks for the tip Lance. I pulled the lever up and wedged it there. Then the flap came open. The spring though seemed fine; still in place and still springy! I tried shutting and opening it a few times - worked fine! So maybe it was just temporarily stuck or something. Anyway, thanks again for the tip - I will remember next time panic sets in! This is what a good car club should be about - members sharing knowledge and helping each other out. Thanks Lexus Owners Club.

Anyone know how to open the fuel flap when the little lever won't do it? I just pulled into a garage to fill up and the damn thing won't open! Hasn't happened before but (of course) has to happen when I'm running on empty! Made it home at least. Now I'm stuck, hope someone out there can help. Thanks in advance if you can.

I have an is200 sport and I'm pretty sure the window tints are original (i.e actual tinted glass, not film). I think the law is that the rear windows (b-pillar backwards) can be as dark as you like, and the front door windows can only be tinted 30%. ref: http://redwood-tints.co.uk/law/

Then you will have to replace the attached track rod end. I had exactly the same problem. Seems to be a common problem with these cars - see other posts on various creaking, squeaking and grinding noises associated with suspension issues. Hey ho, nothing's perfect - not even a Lexus!

The Celsior was deffo a Pimpmobile!

Its funny how you just don't notice things until you have a reason to - or maybe its not. If someone had asked me when I last saw a Lexus (before I got mine), I wouldn't have had a clue. However, since getting one, now I see them everywhere! And mostly in good condition I'm glad to say.

Let's be honest, none of us would have bought a Lexus if mpg had been at the top of the list when buying a car. So, whether we went for looks, driveability, build quality, performance, snob value or a combination of things, I imagine we were all happy to trade that off against a few extra trips to the gas station. Enjoy your Lexus - its worth it!

That is seriously bad luck mate! But, as others have said, at least you came out of it with no serious injury and no other vehicle was involved. Car is def. a write off. Try to get as much as you can out of the insurance co. They may well let you buy it back for not very much. I should imagine that, if you have the time and space to strip it, you could sell the parts easily enough for decent money: wheels, interior, engine (55k is nothing), etc. Still gutting though - I know how I'd feel! Just try and remember how much worse it would have been if it had been the police knocking on your wife's door! Hope things work out for you,good luck.

Both myself and Woody is200 have had the same thing lately. So I'm thinking this is a common problem with the is200 of a certain age! I just got mine back from the mechanic. Lower ball joint replaced together with the track rod end ( due to corrosion of the nut - they couldn't get it off without destroying the track rod end!) , seems to have cured it. He said they gave it a good road test and no more squeaking! I don't know if Woody has got his fixed yet. Total cost: £181.26. http://s1111.photobucket.com/user/BexhillBird/media/Lexus/Lexusrepair001_zps38a5791d.png.html?sort=3&o=6 Seems fairly reasonable to me, what do you think? Anyway, hope that helps.

Thanks for the welcome guys, much appreciated. I hope you're right about the engine Pete, I'd like to think that the car will last me a few years! Its good to know that you guys are here to help keep her on the road if I have any problems. Thanks again and I look forward to getting to know you all a little better, Cheers, Keith

Hi, Lexus Lovers, I have just bought myself a new (old) Lexus IS200 Sport. I wasn't specifically looking for a Lexus, but needing a new car I was trawling thought Ebay and saw the car for sale. It reminded me that I had always liked this car when it first came out, but of course I couldn't afford one at the time. It looked pretty good, so I thought I'd check it out and - long story short - I ended up buying it. Its a W Reg. (2000) IS 200 Sport manual. It has 141k miles on it, which is a lot I know, but it has 10 service stamps in the book, cambelt done 30k ago and a new clutch 20k ago. Obviously, I haven't been very far in it yet, but everything works fine so far! The MOT is due in March, so I will probably take it in about 3 weeks before that in case anything needs doing. Hopefully not! The current MOT had no advisories on it and it has only done just over 2000 miles since then, so fingers crossed! Anyway, thanks for having me and I look forward to picking your brains over the coming months! Oh, and here's some pics of the car. Thanks again, Keith Bird

Google here also. Just looking for general info there is was!