JamesIS220

A friend of mine bought a fiat panda. His name was "Tony" I used to say it stands for "Fix It Again Tony" He bought it new and as lived in France. LHD clipped the curb as not great on road positioning. Bust wheel and suspension unit. Had it recovered to dealer. Explained honestly as to what had happened. Gave courtesy car. A few days later all fixed. Went to pay and asked for the bill. No bill! All done, not a centime! Replaced the whole lot! Ford. Found On Road Dead! James.

I'd just buy a later Land Cruiser Amazon for a 3rd of the price. You would get a really nice one for 10k and less miles. James.👍

Shocking omission from Lexus. Should have fabricated a gutter under windscreen scuttle to autofill the screen wash when it rains! James

For me it would be an old rear wheel drive Volvo 240, 740 or 940. For my workhorse 4 years ago bought a 1996 940 SE auto LPT estate for £250 and its been great. Same as my daily driver of 10 years a 1989 240 GLT auto estate. Paid £350. Sold 10 years later for £500. 940 now has 203,000. 240 234,000. All drive great. Or the late 90's V90 2.5 or 3 litre. If Lexus an IS 250. or GS450. James.

Looks good. Nice to save an older car. James.👍

I bought this one. Sounds similar https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/8-Amp-Intelligent-Car-Battery-Charger-Pulse-Repair-Starter-12V-24V-AGM-GEL-UK/254306059245?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 Worked great on my dead battery. No lights or dash lights. Put on charge late afternoon and charged up overnight, ready to re install the next morning. Started great and a good price. I paid £21.73 so price increased. James.

When I revived the AC on my IS220D I had a company called cool car come out to me and test the AC system for leaks. They used an electronic sniffer like tool. It went mad when around the condenser. I fitted a new one and had it regassed. Working AC. The cost for test was £30.00. James.

I thought it was my new windows 10 laptop. A right pain. Also more ads to close. James.

Not sure. think 1999? Probably took them a while to influence the build spec. The Volvo specialist said electrics are terrible. Plastic timing gear. Phase 1 V70 was as new the specialist would go. James

As you all know I had a 1989 240 GLT auto petrol estate for 10 years. Bought in 2009 for £350 and sold at 234,000miles for £500 . Put 78,000 miles with me and only recovered once in that time or broken down. The tail output bearing always leaked a bit of ATF and finally prop centre bearing went around 191,000, and had to renew the tail output bearing as well as a used gearbox mount as bent it! The biggest repair job at a Volvo specialist. Just under £400. I had also replaced, tailgate looms, water pump, rad, hoses and service items. Its heater fan died 5 years after buying and never replaced as its a weekend of dash removal! Sold it a few years after buying my 1996 Volvo 940 for £250 as wanted AC and ABS. Again a reliable workhorse. Both volvos have always passed the MOT straight through with no advisories in my ownership. Newer Volvos are very complex. My volvo Specialist said avoid Volvos after 2003. James

Sadly mine went the same way but high miles at 187,000. Gradual loss of coolant and then pressurising. Drove great still! My most expensive car at £1500 until my Auris. Listed with a totally honest listing on Ebay and got £350 after 2 messers. Even bought new tyres 2-4 months earlier all round and when bought 18 months earlier fitted a new AC condenser so fully working AC. Now have a Toyota Auris Hybrid. The chap who collected said he gets 3-4 a week! I tried HG sealer and it didn't work. The 250 is much better, should of bought it instead! James.

I think the only Lexus estate is the IS200 Estate. Not seen any in person but out there. I also like the Lexus Land Cruiser. Oh so nice. The LS400, must be their best model for quality, reliability and ease of maintenance. Like the twin front lights. I bought a Toyota Auris Hybrid estate. It wasn't cheap though, but zero road tax and 60mpg. I also have a 1996 Volvo 940 as my work vehicle. I'm self employed in property maintenance. Had the Volvo for 4 years and totally reliable petrol automatic. £250 buy. It's now done 203,000 miles. Needs AC leak fixing and electric sunroof leaks like a sieve and body needs some paint due to previous owners scraping the rear quarter panel. I'll probably do it in the lockdown! The road tax is the same £265.00 a year. 2.3 Litre low pressure turbo. B230FK engine. For the last 21 years I have driven old Volvo RWD cars. Like 240, 740, 940. You cant beat them for reliability and ease of self maintenance. James.

At least the mileage is low-ish. Mine was well looked after but very high miles.174,000 when bought, serviced every year from year 4 by independent. Perfect MOT history. Mine didn't have the ML sound system and was still very good. Apparently pioneer equipment. I should of bought an IS 250, but road tax rather high. I like Lexus but chose Toyota as had a hybrid estate I liked that is £0 road tax as pre April 2017 and great economy. I wish Lexus would do an affordable to tax and run estate! James.

Looks really nice. I bought myself a 2006 IS 220D with high miles and had it for 19 months until the head gasket went at 187,000. I loved the build quality, safety, and the Lexus brand but not engine and poor 32- 40mpg economy. Mine was a basic spec. Loved the style and colour and comfort. Not turbo lag. I have now bought a Toyota Auris Hybrid estate I hope yours serves you much better than mine did. James.

For me, neither. If one was given then Lexus! I'd put the money towards a house or just stick it in the bank. James.

Sounds a good plan! Or cut out fully and get a new piece welded in? Depends if keeping car long term. I tried the fibreglass filler to fill over my Auris Cat cover bolts and its awful stuff to work with. Mesh bonded in the resin, then filled over sounds the easier and best option. The older Volvo models are easy to change the timing belt as easy access at the front of the engine. I have never been confident to do it myself but buy the genuine Volvo timing belt and as car new to me the tensioner. Garage charged me £60 Labour. I change it every 50k miles. Apparently most rwd Volvo engines are non interference, but not all. I used to do the same with the old service items on my 240, I would put them in the boot cubby holes as spares just in case. A funny story. 5 months earlier changed the spark plugs on my 240. Drove down the A38 at 70 in the fast lane and suddenly a massive bang and engine misfiring! Pulled onto hard shoulder and lifted the bonnet and saw the disconnected HT lead and no spark plug! It was nowhere to be seen. Got an old one from cubby hole and fitted fine and was on my way! Never found the plug! James.

Not bad for a 24 year old car. My P Reg Volvo 940 petrol Auto is good. Every few years I underseal it. Just the body needs work as previous owners scraped the OSR quarter. 203,000miles. It was scruffy when bought in 2016 for £250 but a great workhorse for my business and ever since purchased goes through the MOT with no advisories. Never had any welding yet. My 1989 240 GLT auto had both jacking points patch welded twice on the passenger side in 10 years. cost was around £100 a time. Sold it on and still on the road today. 234,000 when sold. Hope my 2015 Auris remains rust free! James.

The IS 220D is great apart from rubbish engine, only 40mpg max for me. Gearing oddities and turbo lag! Build quality, styling, comfort, safety all great. James.

Hope the sealer works for you. If you can get another year great. If not breaking the useful bits will help. Hope it works out for you. James.

LS430, for me as newer and more goodies. Never had or driven either though. James.

Mine did the same. Started loosing coolant around 0.5 litre in around 150 miles. Gradually got worse and worse and started to pressurise and bubble up and out the coolant reservoir vent and get sprayed around by the electric cooling fan. Never overheated as kept topping up. Found you got no heater if low of coolant. Ran faultless, but water spitting out of exhaust. After around 2 months undriveable as pouring out quicker than pouring in. Tried k seal as nothing to lose and it didn't work. Listed a totally honest Ebay add and finally after 2 auction style finally sold it by a classified add with best offer for £350. Listed £375.00 The buyer was using some parts and scrapping the rest. Its probably crushed now! I got 19 months out of it and 13,000miles. Scrapped at 187,000 miles. It has been my worst car. Cost me £1,475.00, plus tyres, AC condenser. The is220 is nice, but not engine, turbo lag or gearbox. Should of got IS250. Now have a 2015 Toyota Auris Hybrid estate. My most expensive car. Loving the economy. £0 road tax and its comfortable. James.

Sorry to hear of your Lexus being stolen. Hope the Police find it soon, undamaged! Wonder if it was stolen to order? Used in thefts or accident damage and used to repair. Most likely on cloned plates, so no trace on ANPR cameras, as if cloned number plate of same make colour of car then looks legit! Most UPVC doors are useless. BSI lock needed. Anti snap as you say etc. If patio doors laminated glass rather than toughened. James.

I hope yours continues to be reliable. I scrapped mine after 18 months as head gasket gone. Mine struggled to get 32mpg winter 38mpg summer. I have replaced it with an Auris Hybrid. James.

I found my IS 220d rear leg room not great and 6 speed box notchy and 6th terrible with the diesel. Auto any day! My grandfather found it tight and hard to get in/out. I would buy a GS450H as more room if looking for a Lexus. Not sure what faults these have but liked the interiors. James.

Indeed! Yes I liked my Lexus IS 220d too apart from the diesel engine and gearbox. I really like the LS 600H and LS430, but sensible hat said buy something newer, cheaper to run. Really like the Lexus build quality, comfort, safety and oh the Tech! On an older Lexus you get a lot of car for your money! James.