gdh300

Hi John, welcome to the LOC. It'll be good to get those bits sorted out. The fact someone owned it for ten years shows you what a good car they are but also gives you a nice bit of confidence, after all they aren't getting any younger. I toyed with the idea of an RX-8 a few years ago, but realised while my normal commute and drives for wok would be fine, my frequent Dad's Taxi runs would have been precisely the thing that would kill it. Keep us updated, and look forward to some photos. PS, confident in the new manager?

I guess you are going to struggle Steve with no NCB. Have you tried the insurance offered through this very forum, here? I do similar mileage to you including driving for work, and Privilege or Direct Line have come out cheapest for me for many year (or rather, close enough to cheapest to be sure of a good service). I'm always amazed how apparently little influence the value of your car has on the premiums. You aren't by any chance named as a driver on anyone else's policy, that can be a big help.

Hello there Steve, welcome. Everything I have read here suggests you had a narrow escape avoiding that used IS220d. And as ever, ignore the motoring press; they have too many vested interests and photocopied preconceptions. They drive a car for a few hours and if isn't what they're used to, they dismiss it. Which is more about them, than the car. The first time I drove an IS300h I really didn't like it - so removed was it from what I had even drive before - but the second time I loved it. Such a clever car, it knock dirty great spots of the usual tiresome fleet mangers choice of a 2.0 TDi Audi A4... Look forward to your updates.

Welcome Rob, hope you find the forum helpful. When browse Autotrader for what my next car might be, I always come back to the IS250; just seems to tick all the boxes. Perhaps if your custom made exhaust work out as you expect, you might get a few customers from here, may be even me, one day!

Interesting. The kit I used had a wipe that allegedly was sealer, but with hindsight I suppose a wipe is never going to do the job on two headlights. I'll give that stuff from Amazon a go; thanks for the tip-off!

SWMBO has a Yaris (about the same age as my IS) which yellow almost as quickly as a chopped apple goes brown. Last MoT time I bought a kit (Turtle wax one, I think) and did both lights. Within about three months they were yellowing again. My IS's lights are no where near as bad, but do take on a yellow hue every three months or so. I had some of the clarifying compound from the kit left over, and this works quite well on its own, if you can keep on top of it. I have previously used toothpaste but that can be a sticky mess (it's also brilliant at getting the windscreen clean) but last weekend I actually tried some T-Cut on both cars, and that seems to have done a decent job.

Those bolts are a right PITA, curse of my car...

Hi John, welcome. That is an absolute beauty; looks just like one they had in Lexus Hedge end's showroom last time I was down there. What a car. Look forward to seeing your updates; like you say, not many about as yet so you are something of a pioneer for that engine/body combination.

I put Avon ZV7s on my IS300 about 4,000 miles ago. Couldn't find very much information about them, being so new but was tempted by the price as I needed to replace all four. Previously I'd had Dunlop Sport Maxx RTs which never really impressed me in the wet; even with a light throttle I found them too ready to spin at wet junctions. So a tyre aimed more for wet conditions (i.e., this summer!) seemed ideal. They came with 8.0mm tread (the Dunlops only 6.0mm) and so far have gone down to about 7.0mm on the front, 6.5mm on the rear. Most of my mileage is motorway, so perhaps I do well out of tyres but the C for fuel and A for wet grip and reasonable db are all positives for my usual commute. Absolute cornering in the dry is not a concern for me. I have though been impressed with the cornering traction and good water clearing at speed (no flickering traction light) and they are much better on slippery lanes and verges than the Dunlops (more stipes). They also feel - even though they are XL - far more compliant and cosseting than the Dunlops. I won't run them through winter though, I'll be back on my Avon Ice Tourings then.

I've done my sums and I should be able to afford one as soon as 2033. By which time I'll be retired or dead, or more generally petrol will have run out or it will be illegal to own anything so wonderful.

Excuse a visitor from the JCE10 forum, but sorry to read of your predicament. Both I and Mrs gdh300 have had cars written-off through no fault of our own. Hope you get the proper money you are owed and that you stay in the Lexus family.

Hi Mark, yes I had a problem when I tried to get my Gold Membership. I'd suggest you contact admin, they can sort it manually for you.

Hi Rob, welcome. Keeping an eye on IS300s on Autotrader, I'm surprised the prices they are going for, but unlike you I think they seem surprisingly high! Since I bought three years ago, prices don't seem to have moved at all. I suspect prices can be weak because IS300s are thirsty relative to their modest performance and of course they are resolutely 1990s when it comes to 'infotainment'. As for bulletproof, well yes they are good, but don't imagine they don't have their weaknesses! You're buying a ten year old car, after all. 100k will be easy, but there will be things need doing then which are more expensive big-ticket items. Meanwhile, enjoy the ride! And when you need it, lots of helpful folk here. Let us know how you get on Monday.

Beaten to it!

Welcome Ian. Basingstoke for me as well!

Hi Stephen, and welcome. I have a saved search for IS300 and saw this one pop-up the other day; looks very tidy and hopefully the owner will see your post here and be in touch. As John said, check any candidate for it's last cambelt & tensioner change, ageing exhausts and radiators (I've had all three done) but also I'd add look for rot in the sills and any looseness in the front suspension. I've had several bits done (drop links, wishbones) as the bushes seem rather soft and - unfortunately - according to my mechanic you can't get poly bushes. But the biggest problem I've had has been the front brakes. Again, John has mentioned seized or sticky calipers are a bugbear of many Lexus. If you have any wheel wobble under braking on your test drive I'd say budget on at least one new caliper and getting your discs skimmed or replaced. At any pads change it's a good idea to get the slide pins out and regreased. Overall, they are well designed and built and use relatively simple and reliable technology. But be aware, Lexus OEM parts are expensive, and the at the main dealers big bills are very easy to rack-up if they stray from fixed priced jobs. As for driving, well you can only tell if it's for you by driving. I know that sounds obvious, but what's right for me might not be right for you. An IS300 is probably not as fast as the power and fuel consumption figures (!) would have you believe. But I find it ideal on the motorway (I reckon it could carry higher gearing) and handles A-roads well with easy acceleration and speed in hand. The auto gearbox takes a bit getting used to; it can feel dumb at times (clunky down changes, slow upchanges, ridiculous kick-downs) but using the buttons helps and being careful with the throttle. Be in the right gear at the right time and you needn't feel intimidated by much more modern and powerful stuff. Steering is positive and weighted just about right. Wind noise is low, but be careful what tyres you pick regarding both road noise and wet traction. And I can honestly say the interior is still rattle free (now that I sorted out the glovebox lid!). Hope that helps, good luck in your search. Let us know how you get on.

Hi Norman, mine have never worked since I bought my 300 and had a similar shock from the Lexus dealer! A few of the other IS300s I test drove at the time had the peeling/delaminating of the silvering, so I suspect "they are all like that, sir" and sourcing working second-hand ones might be a fruitless search. Depends if you think it's worth it; in my case I'm not missing something because I've never had it; more frustrating for me is that the heating element doesn't work in them either! Cheapo (non tinting, non-heated) replacements are available on eBay, which with a bit of sweaty-palmed prying-off of the old ones should just be a push fit.

Today, I finally had an email response from Lexus: it appears that there is a problem with the website which defies being fixed, and currently they have no time scale for a solution to be implemented. Not that anyone here appears to be looking for a used Lexus!

Is anyone else having trouble with the used Lexus website? I don't seem to be able to login (even though my browser remembers my user-name and password) and requesting a password reminder (just in case I have changed it) results in no return email. It's a bit annoying as I have saved searches with alerts, and an enquiry email to Lexus has had no response...

Having had a bit of involvement in traffic modelling, 'smart' motorways do work; in theory. How it's applied by humans, that's a different matter... As for German cars, yes they do seem to exclusively occupy the outside lane which is clearly the responsibility of the b*ll*nds that drive them. Worry though that they will soon be autonomous and self-aware (God help us, can you imagine the algorithm they are working on?). However, what I object to with German cars is the myth - endlessly perpetuated by the motoring press and lovingly reinforced by the manufacturers - that their 'perceived quality' is considered the same as actual 'quality'; pure showroom showmanship. Read a few pages of Honest John's (award winning) website and you can see the difference between soft touch plastics and real engineering quality. IS or A4? No contest.

Yep, that's in this video. I found I was prising the backplate at first, which explained why it was hard going! I guess if you need to look further than the bulbs, it'll just be a couple of screws to get the backplate off and release the buttons, connectors etc.

Yeah, that's OK. Anyone in their right mind would prefer a diesel Passat, obviously...

Is this the main light in the middle or the map reading light at the front? I followed a video on YouTube for the latter; hard on the fingers with that dread of breaking the clips!

Forgive a bit of a self-indulgent post, Lexus friends. But... This evening, I managed to get out of work just after five and it was still light and the sky clear. So, sunroof open, beanie on, temperature to 26°C and fans to auto! My normal 40 minute commute turned into a meandering nearly two-hour trip home, some A-road blasts, some lazing through villages. Great to hear the Blackbirds and the Robins in the trees, and the sweet sound of the 2JZ-GE through the railway bridges. By the time I got home, my shoes must have been hot enough to melt the glue, but it felt brilliant. Quite an unexpected pleasure on what had been just another working Wednesday; certainly more than my morning commute in unrelenting darkness! Faith restored in my old Lexus after a big bill for new front calipers, carriers and disc skimming. I've been pondering something newer after that hurt, but really, what is worth me financing £200 to £300 per month? It would need to be quite some car. Have any others here had a similar revelation?

No, my 300 doesn't clear when the windows go down (unless a helping elbow is applied!). Like you say, as they get old perhaps the rubbers harden and struggle to follow the curve of the glass. They seem to provide a good enough seal at closed position though, which is I guess what counts.