mardibloke

yes ! www.empeg.com for the Rio Car player, runs Linux, plays MP3's stored on its two internal 2.5" laptop hard drives, I upgraded mine with two 48gig drives = 96gig = 12,000 songs and plenty of room left. The Rio Car has USB, Serial and Ethernet connections on the back, so you can bring it in the house to upload new songs to it, and use it in the house to play tunes. So I got some wireless kit and that sits behind the dash in the car, hooked up to the Rio Car player ethernet socket.

Doesn't everyone have wireless connection to a Linux MP3 player in the car, so you can upload new music to the player in the car, while its in the garage at home [;)]

Care to say what sort of deal you got on the Sport Vic ?

I didn't get to a figure as low as that, but it did include metalic paint. [Edited on 1-5-2002 by mardibloke]

Don't think fair to give exact details of the deal achieved on a public forum, the salesman was very professional and I fully understand his position. If anyone is looking to buy and wants some advice on what I have learnt U2U me. Lets just say I didn't manage to get £1k off which is what I was really aiming for. Yep, guess I have to make my own choices, however kicking it around with like minded people who know more about this than I do is very handy. Right now, importing sounds too much hassle / wait, need to get my finger out and try another dealer perhaps, but certainly will be looking at buying 2nd hand private and willing to learn more about Forces stuff.

Well more Lexus coffee and another nice chat with the Lexas man, we were so close to a deal, but got stuck on the last £500 that I wanted off list. So what are my options now, do I look at dealer used stock ? A private sale ? Importing ? [Edited on 30-4-2002 by mardibloke]

Are the wheels the same on SE and Sport ?

Not considered looking at European dealers, to be honest, I know I would save money, but admit that I am too lazy to take on the potential hassle. If I find someone to import for me, then by the time they take their cut, I am not saving enough and it brings me back to UK dealers. Have visited Motorpoint ( a couple of 2001 cars in stock ) and Trade Sales ( nothing in stock ), best balance off price and company that impressed me was Micronet at £18,697 for a UK 2002 Sport. But 16-18 week delivery and we have all heard of friends that have been kept waiting longer with some of these import places. Thanks for sharing the finance deal you got - gives me some idea where to start from. However whatever happened to all these 4% finanace deals some of the car programs go on about ??? Certainly not got a problem with a 3month, 3,000 mile car. What do you mean by "Forces Dealer" Tony ? Thanks for your thoughs, valuable stuff.

But heck you are not bitter eh ricky !???! 2nd hand values appear pretty strong so you should not do too bad ??

100% sure the Sport is lowered. The Specifications show the Sport as having a vehicle height as 1404mm, with the S and SE as 1420mm.

Thanks Ricky, keen those opinions comming ! I think I am at least going to ask about the front spoiler and wheels, it would be rude not to :P

ta Zee.

I initially thought body kit, but the standard SE and Sport have the same "rear" by the looks of the pictures and the few cars I have seen. Well spotted about the LSD, however I cannot see that being a problem, in fact it could be damn handy for getting traction on a muddy lane. All I can think is that its because the sport is lowered, hence it may ground out, or the towing hitch will be a little low. If this is the case, I will take the risk, as its for towing a car trailor now and again, and I should be ok. Any other ideas ?

Ta all, top advice. So if I show the dealer UK 2002 import is200 Sports for £18,700 and try and go for £1,500 off list, and work from there, hoping to get 1k off list and some stuff chucked in ??

Ok, go ahead beat me up for even considering it, however I need to have a tow bar, and notice there is one available for the is200 S and SE, but not the SPORT model. Anyone got a tow bar ? Anyone know why you cannot fit one to a SPORT ?

It will get some business use, not every day, but will be insured for business. Its to replace a company car i.e I am taking the monthly allowance from the company, to avoid paying tax. I have a portable Sat Nav system, sure not as neat as one built into the dashboard, but it does the job, for the times I need it. The book I was just reading implies you can buy the bodykit in parts, rather than having to take the whole kit - according to me dealer. Anyone managed to order just the front bumper, and the 18" wheels on a new car, without having to take the rear skirt ?

. . . . anyone that wants to fill me in, in private :P

The alloys and the front look great, but this will be my daily driver and don't want to stand out too much and attract the attentions of Plod. Any ideas on what margins the dealers are on, I was hoping to pop in on the last day of the month and get a good deal, but so far negotiations have only got as far as £600 off list, or throw in metallic paint, mats, and mud flaps. I could only find a couple of threads on the whole forum where people have commented about dealings on buying new cars - do tell me if I should not be discussing it on this public forum !

So I don't need the supercharger then :o ? Sat Nav at over £2k is a tad expensive IMHO. Would rather chuck that £2k into the styling kit, however cannot see me getting that back on resale, and my better half won't let my buy the (very) red one with styling kit that the dealer currently has.

I fully expect to loose money, all cars do. Just don't want to throw too much away :smug: Are there any options I should really be considering, as much haves for me, or must haves for resale value ?

After a couple of test drives decision is pretty much made on a new is200 Sport, Blue, black cloth, no options. Off to sit down with the local dealer tomorrow and sort out a deal. Just after a last minute check that I am doing the right thing - I want to try and cover myself on relase, so picking the most popular colour/model would be key. Also interested in what people have managed to get their local dealers down to on list price. Finally what finance deals people have managed to get, have looked at some scribbled PCP figures and not been impressed so thinking of buying it with cash in the bank, but everyone says better to hang onto my cash and finance it ???