Ezzer

When I first test drove the car, the first thing I noticed when I started it up was that the fuel was well below the empty line (way past red light district!)... so I asked the sales guy if we had to fill up... he said 'no, don't worry, when we get it at delivery, it comes with even less few.' So I went on to some quick driving for some 15miles. Nowadays I fill up about 10miles into the red, no more..... I have done about 20.

Hummm...... I like the CLK.... I guess it's the old version since it's a Cabrio and that would probably mean it's got a load of goodies for free? But one thing.... I hate the engine..... it is OLD technology, and it's a four pot. My flatmate has a SLK 230K fully loaded with AMG kit and exhaust but everytime I start it, I feel sorry for him that he paid £40k for something which sounds like a London Taxi and I paid £20k for something which sounds soo beefy.

Cheers mate, I'm hoping the bumpers would be cheaper..... but I doubt it. I'm not gonna repair it until I'm gonna sell it since it's just going to come off again! What is up with this paint? Hardly anyone else parking in the same area as me has it nearly as bad! By the way, how was the job by Park Lane? They were awful to me when I wanted to buy the IS.......

The infamous Lexus IS200 weak paint! More and more everyday people are taking out paint form my bumpers (in C. London)!!!! Tonight that was it...... a chunck from someone with a towbar in front.... but no damage otherwise. So... in light of this, and that I'm planning for sell the car soon, do you guys know how some paint damage (only) would affect the resale value? And also how much would it cost to respray the front and rear bumpers?

Saw a muppet uped Honda Prelude with IS rear lights......

I have a 306 Cabrio..... I love it loads to and hoon it around a lot..... What had been said I totally agreee....... its the over-sensitive steering. The pug has one of the best steering in the business IMO. It's very very well weighted and gives lots of decent feedback and its sharp to the point so makes it very confident inspiring. I got the same feeling when I first gave the IS a 'go' through fast corners, and it was quite unnerving through the bumpy stuff. But get used to it.... and you'll start feeling the decent feedaback that it gives and you'll start appreciating the limits of the car. It does have 215/45 17s very good tyres afterall. I have just noticed though that in the Pug, I rely a lot more on the feedback I get from the helm.... and in the IS, I rely more on the seat of the pants feedback! interesting. Also..... does anyone notice this: When accelrating from say 60mph all the way to 80-100mph, going through a corner (say on the motorway passing a de-restriction zone) in 6th.... the steering is very light and way over-sensitive.... something to do with the power steering not loading up due to low and slow build up in revs? It's not a good feeling.

I too was wondering what life to expect out of the Standard IS200 pads and discs out of HARD driving.... beem driving it like I stole it lately....

TVR: Cerbie, well I like TVRs, but would never want to have one unless I am loaded and have someone to bring it to the dealer every week. The cerbie is getting on a bit, even when the boxster was new. I'd save for a Tuscan. Or as I said.... get a real Porsche. It'll be cheaper to buy and a mile cheaper to run..... no where near as fast though... but you might live whereas the brakes might fail in the TVR! Ummmmm forgot about the RX-8....... sounds good doesn't it..... what is it with the new Jap cars!! They're coming of age all of sudden?

Sorry mate, but 290bhp from 3.5 is not bad! Consider that the Boxster S (as much as I love it), gets 240 odd from 3.2 Also..... TT, man! It's a golf! And your IS sounds sooooo much better and will sure have better gearbox and brakes for start.... sorry, just not my cup of tea. As for the boxster, good choice, but go my route and get a real porsche :D. Same money, better build, might be older, but hey, its a classic. Advice for your cousin, be careful with the 300zx..... coming from a 306 Cab. I have a 306 Cab, and I did the mistake of flinging the IS into a corner too fast, as you would in the 306........ thank *** I didn't hit anything while nearly doing a 180. the 300zx is very powerful tail happy monster. And as you all know, this means lots of sensible practice.

Any vibrations? Wheelspinning? I had the tail going quite a lot in the loan Auto IS.

For those of us/you IS200 owners here, what car do you want next? I really want a 993 Carrera 2, about 40k on the clock, in about two years. But then I just read the first brief review of the new Nissan Z car in EVO and it seems to be very very tempting.

Quote: A BMW 3 series comes with: Automatic stability control & traction (ASC+T) Cornering Brake Control(CBC) Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) A Lexus IS200 comes with: Traction control = ASC+T or very very similar. EBD and the best brakes with great pedal feel in the business (stops fast than a boxster). With good ABS action. So arguablibly, better than having CBC since u'd have stopped by then. No DSC unless cars with VSC which is the same thing..... BUT: If u dive into a corner too fast, no DSC will be able to save you. In fact, as a good example where one should not rely on ANY of these: I used to own a Smart car, with the more powerful engine. RWD and Mid/rear engine, very light car. Eco tyres. At the time, it probably had the world's most sophisticated electronic drivers' aid mostly due to the Merc A-Class incident and the smart could have been more prone to that. I managed to do one of the best power slides I have ever done in it, with no intervention from anything. Nuff said.

I forgot to mention: More wiper speed settings.

I have the same problem, I hate those people, also a load of paint have come off the rear bumper corners 'cos I park on the street now and obviously people just don't give a F about their cars! My car was perfect (i.e. not even kerbed the alloy) from September till beginning of June!!!!!! I HATE them!!!!! So... in light of this, I feel bad for u mate, would love to know the solution and the ourcome.

Crash it in any way. or Make it look like a 20th hand 3-series you see in Brixton Area.

Agree with most. In-line 6 it'll have to be. Keep the brakes, and the gearbox but make it a lot stronger. Better fuel economy Yes, indeed build on current good looks and DO NOT make it look like the current LS and SC!!!! PLEASE! (It's okay not to follow BMW's way of doing things) Interior quality I agree too. But keep the dials design. More room for the clutch foo Less 'Toyota feel' to the rear doors and boot lid pls - i.e more weight or damping DAmping strud on bonnet. - salesman said that it does have it due to unreliablility of tried dampers! Yeah right! Glass roof?? OH AND OH - STRONGER PAINT WORK!!!!

Nice one adeyb!

Come to think of it 'Best car' is probably my dad's 1986 Merc 300E It was fully loaded, very nimble, big engine, built like a tank, has huge boot, seats 4 comforably, does 120 no problem. Good brakes. Still running at over 100k of hard use and bad service! Oh, and all the light bulbs inside the car still works fine!

We don't get usual dry 'pavement' in the UK. We get greesy potholed hell here! Mine is busy even in the dry, thank you.

1. Pagani Zonda S 2. Merc E73, or a Brabus job 3. Porker 996 Carrera 2 4. Porker 993 RS 5. Noble M12 or a Bentley Arnage Red probably the Benters 'cos I already have a track car.

Totally agree with GRiM! But I don't fine it that much of a pain.... it gives me a sense that I am actually pushing it!

Wow, only 250 miles! my ***! And I was complaining about my 25-26mpg! I think that meant you are getting about 19mpg!! Eeek! I thought only Scoobys and S-classes and Barge Rover does that (or not even)! Do you live on the redline? I know I do a lot, but hell... you must do! You do know there is a 6th in the g/box, right? :D

So it seems no biggies here, I'm surprised since a lot of them must be company cars, going up and down the country and all. I drive it hard, but with respect: i.e. warm up, cool down, no free-reving. etc. Was just wondering the long-term effect of hard driving and how strong the motor is. Probably moving in a few months away from this country and was wondering whether to keep it forever kind, or get a new one much later on.

Personally, I wouldn't bothed. I looked at doing it myself. But in the process of save a grand or a bit more, it means 4-5 months more waiting! I just don't understand how anyone could wait that long for their pride and joy to come. I instead went to a dealer to look for a nearly new car, and found a BRAND NEW demonstrator to my liking. Got a bit of price off and was in my garage after 4 days of car shopping. But what I have now is fully proper UK spec, and first name terms with dealer. Very helpful and all. And hopefully much better residuals.

Was wondering, how many miles have you guys here done in the IS200? Any big big 100k+ milers here? How has the car flared?