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I think the difference is that there are superlatives that can be applied to the IS250 Auto, and you are hard-pushed to find any for the IS220D. Even the diesel's high torque is just to unstick a heavy lump of metal from a stationary position - essential for a manual car rather than a particular virtue. In terms of road performance, the diesel falls short at all speeds - as far as the figures are concerned - and for me in in real life too. The diesel's the increased gravelly commotion gives the impression of "trying" to a greater extent so can seem to perform better at times when the petrol just does it. Yes, the diesel makes little noise to the ears at cruising speed, but still too much is felt through the feet and body compared with the silky V6 which makes long journeys less wearing. The economy of the diesel is too conditional on all the anti-emission & particulate systems functioning properly - which this forum suggests is a bit uncertain, and which in turn seems lead it to be too conditional on the types of journey regularly travelled. If your situation & usage suits the IS220D; once you get used to the diesel's characterstics & requirements plus the slightly bizarre-gear ratios, it is fine. Its just that none of these factors come into play with the 250 Auto.

Why do you want to do this? Unless the Cats are faulty/clogged, you will not get a power increase that you will notice.

Just received my Insurance renewal-notice, and the Premium has DROPPED - not by much; but this has NEVER happened since I started driving. Any reasons for reductions like reaching 21, then 30 etc, or car-values dropping as they got older and so on, were always overwhelmed by Insurers claiming their Car Insurance divisions already ran at a loss (as if) & increasing repair costs forced them to inrease prices despite really hating to do so (again, as if). My annual premium is now 221 times that for my first old banger. Is it possible the Insurance Industry is beginning to think it has extracted enough from me?

Keep the car you love and do all the things people have suggested until it reaches the time to replace it - then think about getting a similar car that does not need any of this and is better in almost every way. This could well be IS250 Auto MM.

Think about non-sport versions because there is a lot more choice. Yes I know no LSD; but the IS200 doesn't really produce enough power for that to matter - so not really worh paying extra for being slightly lowered and drilled pedals on a Sport a bit more likely to be tired by having been driven hard.

RX8s have a lot of strange problems - even issues with starter motors. Again the bad feature is economy which is a lot worse than my 5L V8 ISF for much less grunt. But you can be lucky & get one already sorted (except mpg and using a drop of oil - both inherent) and take a chance on possible big bills in exchange for a low up-front price. It is an interesting car that drives very well. There are two versions, and only the higher power output one is likely to satisfy you.

The higher output RX8 is nice to drive but has many very expensive reliabilty problems - but the worst feature is fuel economy that is so bad it is almost impossible to believe. Maybe that is why they are so cheap?

They're not more expensive than normal winter tyres. These were approx £220 per corner new. In general in UK and western European countries, the winter tyres offered are more for driving in wet weather, cut through standing water, occasionally deal with wet snow. In Scandinavia, especially the North, you got to cope with ice and snow on all roads (incl motorways) for 6 to 9 months per year. Winter tyres are more "aggressive" but also more noisy. Mine are the ones I used on my Evo IX which I have in Finland. They were "worn" to pass 450bhp on to icey roads, but work perfectly in the UK or on the snow in the Alps. Coming for free with my car for the potential buyer ;) A potential good solution except that unless I'm mistaken, studded tyres have been banned for use on UK roads since the 1960s. Sorry, I am mistaken - but not entirely. Studded tyres can be used on UK roads when there is ice & snow on them but NOT otherwise. See section of Condition & Use regulations 1994: "Damage to road, person or vehicle If the tyre causes either damage to the road, or to persons, or to any vehicle using the road. This would cover such instances as if a vehicle with damaged or very oversized tyres which either caught against a person or other vehicle resulting in either damage or injury. Studded tyres also are included in this clause and if used in inappropriate conditions (i.e. where there is no ice or snow) and will damage the road surface then they would be clearly illegal."

I admit to bias & not being very PC - but compared with other, better Lexus cars (that is every other Lexus); the IS220d is like a wanabe Supermodel with Halitosis, PMT and on a hefty dose of Mogadon.

The IS200 ECU can't be remapped. The IS300 engine won't fit the IS200 gearbox - you would have to get the manual gearbox from a Toyota ......... (can't remember the model) plus a different exhaust system and a few other bits. Plus you should ideally fit a LSD. All this involves a lot of work & money. You would be much better off with an IS300 and might even be pleasantly surprised by its auto - it is definitely no Grandad's car. See if you can try one. Other than that, the IS200 is NOT a performance car or anywhere near it except with a supercharger - and even then although quicker, it is likely to be thirstier than the IS300 and cost much more to insure.

Your problem is basic. If looking for an IS200, you would see the car you now have as a desirable, older, quality car with a reputation for great reliability and a smooth, sophisticated drive - and worth paying a little more. You are selling into a market which ignores its qualities and is inclined to see it as a 10-year-old, high mileage, thirsty, up-market banger worth peanuts. It is only going to yield enough to buy a slightly more economical, possibly lower insurance car with no reputation for reliability, and old enough for horrible hidden problems to be about to surface. So as everybody has said, put some work into finding less expensive Insurance so you can keep a car you know is free from nasty problems for the forseeable future.

Given that these figures are well within the uncertainties (validated accuracy) of a rolling road when compared with Lexus stated 153bhp/144lb/ft - this shows the car is well-maintained and just how durable the IS200 is.

They're not more expensive than normal winter tyres. These were approx £220 per corner new. In general in UK and western European countries, the winter tyres offered are more for driving in wet weather, cut through standing water, occasionally deal with wet snow. In Scandinavia, especially the North, you got to cope with ice and snow on all roads (incl motorways) for 6 to 9 months per year. Winter tyres are more "aggressive" but also more noisy. Mine are the ones I used on my Evo IX which I have in Finland. They were "worn" to pass 450bhp on to icey roads, but work perfectly in the UK or on the snow in the Alps. Coming for free with my car for the potential buyer ;) A potential good solution except that unless I'm mistaken, studded tyres have been banned for use on UK roads since the 1960s.

To see what the best, most free-flowing filter in the world could do to improve things - just take out the existing filter element and see what that does - absolutely nothing except for more induction noise. Yes, a better filter could allow more air to flow; but only if the engine tried to suck more in - which it won't unless you fit something like a charger. The same thing applies to Induction Kits which will also not make a scrap of difference - even Lexus would have fitted 50p's worth of nicely-shaped plastic pipe if it was that easy to boost power. There are no simple gizmos, fuels, additives or any cheap way to noticeably boost performance by any extent greater than shutting the driver's window if it is open; but plenty of firms supplying stuff that allows you to prove this for yourself.

The OEM system has good gas flow, so there will be absolutely no power gain or change in reponsiveness with any system you fit. People will say there are improvements but these are 99% illusory and due to most sytems making more noise or having a sweeter sound.

Have to say the IS250 Manual gearbox is not the best gearbox in the world. The manual is also thirstier, has higher emissions so much higher Road Tax. The Auto is superb in every way.

Just watch out for sudden flashing lights by the road and for blue ones behind. There is no easier car to drive than the ISF - ultra-controllable at low speed and stable but exciting with the right foot down. Keep an eye on the fuel-guage - it gets thirsty if you really push it. Very, very thirsty. Just guard against scraping the hugely expensive alloys or letting the front lip ride over kerbs. Enjoy :<)

If you are selling because of Insurance costs only; it is well worth spending some time contacting Insurers directly (best by phone) to find the best price for the sort of policy you want. DO NOT rely on comparison sites - in nearly every case it is possible to find very much better prices on your own. Also a good idea to check to see what the Insurance costs would be for whatever replacement you are thinking of - they may not be much better if you have a poor claims record.

IS300 Sportcross is a fine, smooth, well equipped & quite swift car. It maybe a little less spacious than SX or RX; but I think handles better. Quite a rare car which can boost the price, but at ten years old and definitely no eco-car and having an elegant but unfashionable look; the market for it is limited. Although mechanically nearly bullet-proof, at that age the price is all down to condition. Hard to suggest comparative prices because there are so few of these around. It is though, one of those cars worth paying a little more than you want for something pristine - and many are. As to colours, you won't have much choice. For what it is worth, I think the dark blue suits it best.

Assuming you have eliminated the obvious like dead/dying fuel pump, wires dropped off and iffy electrical mods; check the easy bits first. You need a multimeter but they are dirt cheap from anywhere. Try Maplin. Find the switch and check it works by continuity checks with the car wiring disconnected. Workshop manual Here http://bahamutcars.free.fr/workshop/IS_98-05/menu_tree.html to help you find where it is. Sometimes just the action of unplugging the leads will clean the contacts and solve the problem. (You should be that lucky!) In fact it is no bad idea to unplug & replug all the connectors you can find to "clean" their contacts. It would be as well to check the Lambda Sensor just in case the fault codes have missed this. Check it isn't physically broken and has a sensible resistance value compared with a good one on a friend's IS200 at the same temperature. Then see if the correct spark-plugs are fitted. If they are not, replace them with the exact type Lexus specify and nothing else. Other allegedly better plugs are known to cause misfire problems. The next likely cause is coil-packs which are not cheap from Lexus. Ideally borrow packs from the very kind friend with an IS200 to prove they are the cause. Packs from a breakers are much cheaper but an unknown quantity and pointless to fit unless you can prove they are OK on the friend's IS200. This is the only way to effectively test them apart from suck-it-and-see and hope. Suppliers suggesting the packs are "tested" are usually lying and really rely on you to test them - but will generally replace them with equally untested packs if you find they are dud. The least likely cause is the ECU unless it is full of water or has been. Best of luck.

The motors run then, so if you are mechanically adept, you should be able to see if a plastic gear has stripped - or more likely coupling rods popped out (usually ball & socket arrangements) because the mirror has been forced or moved with ice in it. But you need to get at the works, and this usually involves removing the mirrored glass & heating element first. I don't know how you do this on the Lexus; but someone on here can probably tell you. It will be the same procedure as for replacing the mirror-glass. Best left for a warm day because frozen fingers will break something.

Unless it is just normal moisture collecting in the exhaust overnight etc. and then "burning off" as the exhaust heats up enough; sadly this indicates a possible head-gasket problem which I understand is common enough to be covered by Lexus extending the warranty on the IS220D engine - so should be fixed FOC. I would get it checked by a Lexus Workshop for exhaust gasses dissolved in the coolant (a 5 minute check) before it gets worse.

What is wrong with the mirrors? Some complain that they don't auto-park - but that is deliberate because if you park a bit close to a wall or somebody parks too close to you, automatic mirrors that open/close when you start/stop the engine would automatically be damaged. The only other thing to note is that mirror auto-dipping in reverse is only enabled if the Left-Off-Right mirror-selector rocker switch is kept AWAY from the Off position, and to store your personal seat & mirror adjustments 1, 2 or 3 have to be pressed until a beep sounds.

Blast another reason why I need a MY2010 car - guess ill have to find the additional 3k Maybe not for three reasons: (1) Technical: Codecs used in the UK for DAB provide audio quality inferior to FM, plus DAB was specifically not intended for mobile reception because low signals unavoidably encountered whilst moving lose reception altogether which is much worse than a bit of shash on FM. (2) Coverage is not brilliant - I cannot receive DAB here in Camberley without an external chimney-mounted aerial, so check you will be able to receive it where you are likely to go in your car. (3) DAB take-up in the UK has been very poor with stations closing faster than they are opening because audience surveys show a third of the channels have no listeners whatsoever - so DAB in its present form may be closed down before too long unless FM is switched off to force people to use the inferior and unpopular DAB. Also note NO MY2009 ISFs were imported into the UK; the only ones registered in 2009 were MY2008.

I admit to not being a fan of Diesel's. But will happily state that the IS220D is not a bad car. I personally think that the new IS200D drives better despite lower BHP. The trouble is that when the IS220D was introduced, many people got all huffy and said that a diesel is not what Lexus is all about - and sadly, in most respects they have been proved right. Although the IS220D is not a bad car; I would be interested if anybody on here thinks Lexus have ever produced a worse car or even one on par with it. Nevertheless, even bottom of the Lexus Great Car list is not a bad position! The difficulty the IS220D has is that it is an OK car which suffers badly by comparison with the much, much better IS250 Auto in every way except fuel economy - and if that is a major concern it would probably be a good idea to go for a cheaper car to really reduce costs.