Kalpesh

Hi J Hendesrson, Wow your F sport looks stunning on the original pics, only started reading up on your story just now and intend to read up with what youve done with it since youve had it, looking forward to it. 🙂 I heard the noise in mine again this morning reversing out of the drive, it was more of a grinding noise that lasted a few seconds till I straightended up. I have a strong feeling that it might slightly be catching somewhere under the front driver rim somewhere when on full turn and due to the angle of the drive, as i can see a slight difference to the rim protector (Im not sure of the name but will take some close up pics). It might just be my paranoi again though. Im also more convinced that is more prominent when the tyres are cold so its possibly just what you said or maybe a combination of both. For example just did some tight turns on a hilly drive and no noise at all., tyres not completely cold. I did a 200+ mile trip in it today. She drove like a dream. 38+mpg with a fair amount of luggage which Im very happy with and the ride felt fine on 40psi all round.

Hi both and thank your your replies. Part of what got me posting the question was that I got a flat last weekend, likely due to a pothole, the structure of tyre was damaged on the inside also I was hearing a mild rub/knock like sound on reversing out of the uphill drive/sometime on full lock when its cold outside, it last milliseconds. Tyre wear is even and I cant see anything under the arches where it mightve been catching. I read a few other posts on the forum with similar. I guess Im just really overly paranoid after the last lemon I had. I havent heard it since I inflated all to 40 Psi (reversed out repeatedly trying to reproduce the noise) so am hoping it was because all the pressures were vastly different (some low 30s, one 44 prior to me getting a home inflator the other day, I literally couldnt tell the pressure was so different whilst driving it but obvoiusly not going to help) I will keep my ears open and keep a check on tyre pressure. I did fall out with cars due my last one, but I think Im falling for her. 🙂 Such a nice drive (even with random tyre pressures!). I dont know how Lexus managed to make such modern looking cars/interiors on cars this old. Im hoping for some decent weather soon so I can take some pictures and post up. Once again thank you for replies.

Hi, apologies for whats probably a silly question. I recently purchased a IS250, 2007. It has 19inch alloys on 225 40 R19 all round. The stock 17inch pressure recommended is 35 front and 37 rear. I currently set them to 40 PSI all round but would appreaceiate some guidance. Would I be better off having 37 on the front, 39 on the back for example. Usually there is just 2 of in the car and little weight (although the occasional long distance drive with 2 full suitcases.) Im after best mileage and comfort. Again apologies for the daft question.

Just wanted to thank you all for your help, advice and tips. I bought a IS 250 last saturday. So far so good and the Boss is happy. 🙂 Thank You All.

Hi Richard, Thank you for your post. Personally I'd probably snap his hand off assuming the car looked and drove ok, particularly given your recommendation. As much as I prefer the luxury of its size, its going to be too big for the boss. She has already hinted she felt the IS 250 was too big so not going to push my luck. Thank you for posting, I really do appreciate all the help you have given.

Just an update to my search if anyones interested (probably not! :)) Went out today to have a look at a few 250 IS just to remind how they felt to sit inside. The front seating is amazing, so comfortable and stylish. Its amazing how Lexus managed to put this amount of luxury in cars 17+ years old and the fittings look almost like new. The right passenger door inerior arm rest probably the only thing I didnt feel 100% comfortable with. I tend to rest my arm on it whilst driving. The back although comfortable for 2, not so much for 3 (although thats not a n issue for us for 95% of the time). I sat in the back and felt I had enough leg room with the driver seat quite a way back. Unfortunately I didnt get to drive one as seemed no point with out the OH and didnt make an appointment, besides the first was a cat S and I was only going to have a reminder to how it felt, the 2nd was a Advance from 2012 and over my budget at 8.7K, 73k miles, not particularly well looked after imo, seems like its been in the courtyard for some time and overpowering dog blanket smell despite the dealers effort to wax it out. Lovely colour though. I got a video of a IS 250 SE L which was in Essex, nice blue colour and looks spot on but it didnt sound too healthy, you can hear a humming almost like a iffy flymo as the engine is idling. Im no carexpert but it definitley didnt sound healthy, also felt like way too much smoke from the exhaust. I wanted to sit in a GS 300 but the nearest I could find was a 450h but couldnt find the owner, didnt manage to get inside the car but I am pretty sure Im not going to be able to go for the bigger car anway, too big for my wife, given she thinks the IS 250s are too big aswell! At least its narrowed down my search a bit. What are peoples thoughts on Maxton kits on the IS 250? Do you have to be extra careful on speeds bumps with them?

Thanks I will have a look at their site.

Hi Malc, Might seem odd given my previous post, but have to say family size car, as we volunteer once a month and need to carry quite a lot of food and boxes to Manchester, so need a bit of space in the boot and back seats. (The polo handles this fine with the back seats down.) Plus would need space as my wife likes to do a lot of that food shopping whiles on our 500 round trip. So Im discounting a 2 person car.

Very good advice and thank you so much for your kind offer. Thankfully Im not in a rush so am trying to watch as much on youtube and reading up to become a bit more savvy myself, plus the guidance and tips you wonderful people is proving invaluable. Thank you once again.

Thank you for your post. 🙂 There are 2 of us who would use the car, though my wife has a Polo that shes uses to cummute. I work from home 90% of the time and its easier/cheaper to trvel by train when I do need to go to the office. The car I hopefully buy will be mainly for longer trips we do, e.g maybe a once every 2 month 500 mile motorway round trip, I will probably use it to get out of the house once or twice a week locally. Ill keep my eyes out on Autotrader.

Im near Bolton, ideally looking anywhere in the north west but prepared to travel. I will take a look at the For Sale Section Thank you I have been looking daily on Autotrader to keep an eye out for something of interest. That 5.7k GS I mentioned in my initiall post now apperas to have dissapeared so assuming its sold. Both the GS and IS are lovely looking cars imo. Im trying to avoid looking at the 450h as Im most likely going to pick the lemon due to limited car knowledge.

Thank you all for such a quick response, you have been very helpful. @ Linas.P, yep I did mean the 450. (Watching too many youtube GS vids these last few days, mostly American.) I guess I was also looking for some external guidance on the 5.7k pricing which you have kindly confirmed. I have a history of overpaying for cars as I dont do enough research and am impatient. I will keep my eyes out for something a bit cheaper. 🙂 Once again thank you ALL for your replies.

Apologies if I should have posted somewhere else. Im looking for a car as I havent had one for about 3 years and would appreciate any comments/recommendations please. 1) Infrequent town driving, maybe a couple of times a week with maybe a long distrance motorway run once a month. 2) Reliabiliy is important. 3) Comfort. Ive narrowed it down to GS 300/3.5 or IS 250. My budget is 5k-8k. I really like the and have seen a GS 300 SE-L, 2005, 78k miles in very nice condition, its currently £5.7k which is in budget but for some reason I keep telling myself thats too much for a car that old. I havent test drove it yet becaue I want to do more research on things to check when I go and see it.