Ezzer

Well, had a whole load of school kids cheering. Yankies have no idea what it was -should have seen the looks on their faces. Also people's faces when I pass them at 85mph! And also when I nip into the smallest parking spaces in c.London (once with an inch front + rear in soho), and also through gaps with others wouldn't even see in cut and thrust London traffic. Also managed to powerslide it once - it was GREAT! Smile everyday, more so than now in the IS200. Build quality - had seen one with rattle bits: Some skin head who had it as company car who hated it and put in a boom box bigger than the car, extra lights or whatever here/there..... and he was at the dealer complaining that the electrics were messed up! What the h*ll did he expect? one of the most electronically sophisticated car on earth! Seriously though, build quality was second to none - esp. if you consider the price! Defo better than any new mercs bar an S-class or SL maybe.

Worst: Mazda 626 2.2i Estate. Eewwlll. Can't sit properly in it, can't corner, can't really brake. No traction, HARSH engine. Fav: F355 'stick shift' (Thank you!) or Merc E55, can't deceide. Both of them a short blast... but what a blast! A Fiat Coupe Turbo (16v) (big turbo I believe) reigns deep in my memory too. But amongst my cars, love and loved all of them: Smart Passion MKV coupe - never had so much in so little. Packaging is amazing. Safty is great. Handling is interesting. Engine sounds fab. build is amazing (prob better than our beloved!), glass roof, a/c, CD changer, COMFY seats and lots of attention! and 35mpg+ . Pug 306 Cabriolet 2.0 - It's a cabrio, it's in bright colour, its amazing at playing the GTi game (i.e. grippy front end, lift off oversteer). One of the best handling car I have ever experienced (even though it shakes like hell!) and def. the best steering! Could do with better engine and mcuh better build quality. Lexus IS200SE - no need to explain here!

Are you sure that the cracking noise is not from the wall you just banged into? :D I get the wiper thing too, it's very annoying. Initially my wiper when first arrived was broken at the joint, it didn't clip in properly, this led to a scratch right in front of my vision! I guss I got used to it now but maybe I could claim it from Lexus? But since it's replacement (asap by the dealer at showroom), it has been okay but the knocking thing is there. Especially when going fast. Problems: Wiper as mentioned. Gearbox 'knocking' going into third now disappear. Brakes were spongy b4 10k service - brakes cleaned and now great again. Power steering pump belt not adjusted properly, leading to screeeeech when cold - fixed. Paint very weak - getting worse by day! Had problems starting about 5-8 times. most when cold. once hot. Once after very water logged motorway and 2 day no action run. Hi-Fi ate a CD once, eventually got it out myself.

The only major gripe for the car, I think.

Yes, can't turn speaker off 'cos that would really annoy me.

Green is nice a lot of the times. Aston and B.R. Green? the IS200 in Green is nice. Any Bentley in BR green. Pink on the other hand I agree to a certain extent. Some people have highly moded and near pink smarts in the continents, it's kinda qutie cool in a way.

Is there any way of disabling the sound on it? Gives me a heart attack all the time!

It's very difficult to get the IS to wheelspin off the line anyway, unless you want to fry the clutch, in my opinion. So on/off would made no difference I would think. But on powerful cars, it would mean sapping (too much) power to reduce wheelspin and, at least for the good drivers, a little bit of wheelspin is sometimes good for the trafic light race. This is because it keeps the revs up while propelling the car forward. Of those figures you see in magazines or offical numbers, it would have been done without TC. Some companies are very optimistic when claiming (VW?), some are spot on (Lexus?), and some are very humble (porsche). But you will often find journalists taking TC off and trying to match/beat the official time. In my opinion, in a powerful rear drive car, TC would mean that it would bog the car down (drop in revs) and since there is more traction on rear drive car off the line, it is not so neccsary. In a powerful front drive car though (Fiat Coupe Turbo), it can be useful as front drive are not that good at dealing with power.

Maybe you should ask them to rig it up like they do on ovals in Nascar then!

If some of you might recall, at least down south, it was absolutely p*ssing it down with rain last Wednesday. I had to make a 60mile round trip on the M.way. On the way there I was careful with standing water as I knew where they would be and there were lots of cars around. On the way back, it has kinda slowed down, the rain, but bits were still very wet. But the roads were very empty. I was going a little bit faster and at a few points, the car started to aquaplane big time! (Appologies to the other Silver IS200SE for giving him a little heart in mouth in front of him. So, parked the car at home, then had to move it about an inch because of badly parked car behind it. Then didn't use it for a day and then the next day, it started REALLY roughly. Sounded like it was flooded a bit. Ran it for about 10min after that, and now it's fine. Anyone else had this and/or know why? Cheers.

Wow, under £100 for 10k service and 76.9p for Optimax! U guys are lucky. Was charged £165 for 10k service the other day and it costs me 79.9 for optimax, here in C. London. Service was top notch though. I get around 26-27mpg on C.london, then medium speed A roads, then M ways. Ricky, I'm surprised u only get 23-24mpg, looks too low, tyre-pressure? Need some adjusting to engine? What fuel do you use. I think I am getting better mpg now that I have changed from 95RON BP ULSP to Optimax.

Agree with Rodders totally. Car felt odd at the beginning, didn't like the steering too much, thought that it didn't have weight or feel. Now very used to it, love it! Believe me it self-centres when u punt it sideways! Saved me on an occation!

Been reading a lot about people's Is' paint problems here. Have always noticed it, especially on the bumpers, what's it made of, just comes off like that! I just started parking on a street now after 7 months ownership, but now after only one week here, already a whole corner has had it's paint done in! And it was near perfect condition before that! So upset by that! How much would it be for repainting the bumpers? Will it be worth it for re-sale purposes? Cheers. Eric

Have exactly the same problem from new as well (01 Sept facelifted car). Just got my flywheel and clutch changed at 10k service. Haven't been for a listen, but car seems much quieter in general.

Was in the car about 6 months into its life and one cold evening, had the hi-fi and heated seats and ignition on for about 45min, started about 2 hours ago no prob. I'm surprised that 30min would have done any harm!

My car is a facelifted Sept 01 car, so there should be no problem!

I had that clonk from second to third before 5k miles. It was like some foreign object. Really gave a very short sharp kick in the hand. Now it's gone. Yes, 1st gear is so short, always hit the limiter when I have to dispatch another car. 6th is short too I agree, but I have a feeling that that is how the car gets to 135mph, which is better than almost all in class. Besides, I don't think economy would have been much better from the straight-six. HAve to be said though, the gearbox feel is SOO good. Wish it's still as tight as new.

hear hear to that.

Lost paint on from bumper and read bumper when had the slightest contact with parked cars. Chips all over the front and bonnet. It's SOOO soft, the car is a Sept/OCt 2001 facelifted car.

Nah, have been running BP Ultra Low Sulphur 95 RON fuel since new. Aside from two tanks of Super from BP, I have now switch to first tank of Optimax. Might stick with it as it has woken up the 'needing 1st service tune up' engine.

I once enquired on another forum about how come my car (IS200SE) was so much less jerky on super than on normal 95RON fuel. The replies I got was that my car (and other IS) was probably tuned for 100RON fuel used in Japan, and hence. What do you guys reckon? Do you get much smoother gearchanges when using super?

Thanks guys, I'm glad I'm not alone at least on one count, still hoping that it's similar problem than causes all else and not a worn clutch. The juddering is indeed very annoying at slow speed and very embarassing when passingering as well. You don't even get that in a Micra. I actually found it very difficult since first day to change gear/match revs/speed/clutch smoothly, always engine speed to fast or slow, 1/20 times I get it right, and I do try to heel-toe as well. Does that reduce or improve clutch wear?

Humm, two completely different animals. One is an extreme, hard riding, FAST, manic looking, boy racer image, traditional Jap build (read: lots of plastic) and none too refined car. The other is Automatic only, silky smooth engine, firm but fair ride, relatively comfy and very able handling car, with all the refinement of a long range car. Followed an IS300 yesturday who must have just had it delivered and the guy was quite enthusiastic, it had more urge than my 200 manual, very beautiful in black!

Coming up to 1st service this week, 10k miles and it looks like clutch is gone already! Quite a bit of judder after a long drive on M.way and then moving off again. Cannot believe it, as much as an entusiastic driver I am, I don't give it 7000revs off the line, 70% of that is motorway miles and in any case, it's a pretty much low torque and power car (at moving off revs anyway). WHY???? At what stage did you guys have to replace the clutch and why? If I do have to, can I claim? Since it is meant to last about 40k (according to dealer) and I don't drive it to destory it.

Even though I did more or less properly run-in the car, it didn't really really noticably losen up. Maybe at 1000miles, maybe at 5000-6000miles. Been using normal 95RON fuel and frequently visiting the VVti zone, noticed a bit more urge. But used Optimax for the first time the other day (after reading EVO!) and wow!! Real kick at the zone! actually, it goes from really sluggish below 2500 to suddenly a bit more decent go and then...... ahhhhh finally! 4500revs!