THOX

I've had my IS 200 for 5 years and have never seen a Lexus magazine. Never mind will be changing soon and it wont be a Lexus.

I'm not going to panic as my IS200 has just had MOT certificate number 3 and the only thing of note was the reflective backing on the number plates was coming away from the plates themselves. 23 pounds later I had two new plates, thanks to Lexus Chester.

Had it done at my request. 60K is far enough to stretch one of those. I also have the oil and filter changed every 6 months or 5K miles as an extra to the service schedule. Careful is my middle name.

I paid 554 pounds for an 80k service at Lexus Chester but that included replacing two lower ball joints and fettling the discs. 60K service was 500 plus but that included the cam belt. I'm hoping to have a service that does not include something expensive soon.

Shell and BP spend a fortune on research to get a package of additives that clean the deposits from your engine, allow the fuel to burn cleaner, reduce emissions etc. Tesco et al buy the base product from anyone who has a surplus of the base product and sell it often as a loss leader. With my driving style on the roads I travel Optimax confers no benefits, if you acelerate hard, drive on the limit, Optimax ( or BP ultimate) will be your fuel of choice.

I'm sorry my reply is unsatisfactory for neil.macdonald8. It is verbatim from the technologist working on the unit that produces and blends Shell fuel and optimax. I trust his explanation because I know him and the operators on the plant. Yes I do work for Shell, and yes we do make a vast amount of money, sadly not as much as we collect for the governement, but we do make money, that is why we are in business and it is why we are good at what we do. From my own humble experience having driven my IS200 for 5 and a half years I have recorded 52K miles on Shell at 31.6mpg, 10K on Safeways finest at 31mpg, 9K on Sainsbury at 32.8mpg. The best has been BP 33.82 mpg but only for 653 miles. Over 78K miles the average is 32mpg, but I try to be smooth and fairly gentle with the car so Optimax is not for me. ( I'd post the spreadsheet but not sure how) Bottom line is there is a choice out there, though most of the fuel is produced by a few major suppliers, this is well known and is accepted practice. From my office window I see Asda, Texaco, BP Safeways tankers filling up at the terminal. BUT, you only get the Shell additives on a Shell forecourt. I buy most of my fuel from a company that has it's primary business of petrochemicals. I buy bread and beans from a supermarket.

I just PM'd THOX with a request for some technical input ← Sorry to take so long in replying, have been travelling and the IT facilities have been patchy. I replied to Mr Morse, here is most of that reply. There are two octane numbers RON and MON. The RON of Optimax is 98 and the RON of normal mogas is 95. There is then MON which for Optimax is 86 and normal mogas 85. The octane is a measure of how efficent the burning is in the engine. A high octane fuel will completely combust at the same time as the spark plug activates. This gives maximum force on the piston forcing it down. A low octane fuel will burn before the spark plug ignites (this can lead to back firing) or will combust for a short time after the spark plug activates meaning that the piston is not pushed down with maximum force and a loss of power. RON is measured by the engine at high revs and is generally a measure of how well the fuel helps the engine accelerate. MON is measured at more steady revs and is a measure of how well the fuel helps the engine cruise. Optimax will give more efficent combustion untilising more of the power of the fuel in making the car go. As for mixing 98 and 95 RON fules a 50/50 mix 98 and 95 gives 96.6 so it is not quite linear. I hope this helps

For number 1) the usual problem of someone buying 5 pounds worth for their Corsa and expecting to out drag motorbikes from the lights. The enhancements come at the top end of the rev range and will only be noticable in "performance" cars. I don't use it in my IS 200 Sport, I use Shell unleaded. For number 2) I've no idea. I did see one test in I think Which but they tested one gallon if Optimax against one gallon of unleaded. Hardly scientific. I'll have a dig around. Sorry to be defensive. But I promise we do make the best. ← By any chance do you happen to be employed by the largest European oil company (for now, at least)? ← 27 years, man and boy.

For number 1) the usual problem of someone buying 5 pounds worth for their Corsa and expecting to out drag motorbikes from the lights. The enhancements come at the top end of the rev range and will only be noticable in "performance" cars. I don't use it in my IS 200 Sport, I use Shell unleaded. For number 2) I've no idea. I did see one test in I think Which but they tested one gallon if Optimax against one gallon of unleaded. Hardly scientific. I'll have a dig around. Sorry to be defensive. But I promise we do make the best.

Don't be conned by all the hype from the oil companies! Fuel is a centrally marketed commodity and they all buy refined products from each other so when you pull into a Shell station you could well be filling up with fuel from Total, ExxonMobil, ChevTexaco etc etc. ← Absolutely Mr Morse all the petrol in Scotland comes from the same refinery in Grangemouth. Was told that the only difference was that the Shell tanker drivers arrived with a can of "stuff" that they put in before they filled up and swerved around a bit on the way out to mix it up, viola Optimax :D ← Sorry but wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong. 1) Shell Optimax is made at Stanlow Refinery and only Stanlow. Where ever in the UK you purchase Optimax it was refined here, about 150 yards from my office. We only make it for ourselves and only sell it on Shell forecourts. 2) There is an agreement between the major ( and I stress major ) refining companies to supply the base product refined to or exceeding the standard for that grade to each others distribution depots and then the various additives are introduced. So Shell unleaded is different to BP unleaded and far far superior to anything sold at any and I stress ( My *** I'm getting stressed today ) any supermarket. 3) Shell spends more per annum on research into improving the total packaage you buy with each litre than any other oil company. I'd be happy to arrange a visit here to show anyone the truth.

Sunil, I’ve had an IS200 for 5 years and rarely get less than 28mpg and I’m used to seeing 30 mpg plus. The overall average is 32mpg. I’m gentle with the car, but the revs are there to be used, so I do. Cannot agree more with using only branded fuel. Shell, BP etc., steer well clear of the supermarkets.

Er, I also live in the cold north and pay 66 pounds a month to David Lloyd. Again just for comparison. But land here is cheap so for that money we have free parking, two pools, tennis courts stretching to the horizon all the gym and cardio euipment you can name. Once you have the motivation you need to work out the cost per visit. For me 4 or 5 times a week works out at a bottle of Sainsburys plonk per visit.

Nice to see everyone. Well worth the trip. Pity we had to leave the weather behind. ← Any jobs at shell then ? ← Sorry mate, all automated now we just put crude oil in one end and the profits (sorry Optimax) pours out the other end.

Good photos, hope you get the jalopy sorted, don't forget to use Shell petrol, may not help the performance but it will contribute to my bonus. Nice to see everyone. Well worth the trip. Pity we had to leave the weather behind.

and if the car was running on all 6 ← Problems ?

Gord, you would have been back a lot sooner had you not been slowed down by the blue IS200 dithering about in front of you.

Maz, Windemere is well signposted from the M6 to attract busloads of pensioners, and when you get there it isn't a huge place. You'll only need your Sat Nav if you insist on driving round with those two ladies perched on the bonnet obscuring your view.

I assume you are referring to http://www.steamboat.co.uk/ it would be difficult to find anywhere closer to the water.

Thanks SteveL. I always thought Lexus had it just about right so I've left it alone apart from polish and petrol.

Ally, I live 5 miles east of Chester just by J14 of the M56. Would be happy to meet up and get lost together.

If you promise not to laugh at my standard, unaltered, unfettled, straight out of the box, completely original 5 year old IS200. I know where the lake district is and I’d be interested in putting faces to the icons

Never had a problem with Michelin Pilot Sports having driven sensibly most of the time for 80K miles. Just about to have another 4 put on next week.

49 had my IS 200 Sport for close on 5 years, but don't forget you are not measuring the ages of Lexus drivers but the ages of forum responders. Me pedantic ? - Never !

Cos its better than watching Heartbeat..... ← ....and because Joanna Lumley was a guest.....

Program is repeated Monday 11:20pm suggest the video is dusted off, check the clock is correct and you've only missed two episodes.