UKPulse

Great idea - gets my support. :)

Exact same problem with my IS (and was the same on the previous one). I just take it easy, gives you time to check out everything else that's going on in the forecourt The Soarer is a different animal altogether. It'll gulp down 70 litres just as fast as you can feed it!!

Watched 'Touching the Void' last night. Amazing story and fantastic filming.

I have no theory on what happened at the Pentagon that day other than it was very strange. I suspect we shall never know the truth, but the suggestion on the snopes.com website that something simply cannot be true if it means "the American government is lying" is fundamentaly flawed. Government agencies (not just America) have lied to their citizens in the past, and will continue to lie in the future.

The new A8 seems quite nice, but only been a passenger in one for a 7 mile trip to a business lunch. Compared to top of the range Fords, Vauxhalls, Renaults, Peugeots, etc., I'd take one any day... BUT for one thing - the dealers are rogues so no thanks. Compared to the LS430 you're probably right the Lex could well be better, although I've always found the looks of the big Lex a bit of a let down.

If they were doing 90mph in Sussex, they'd be overtaken by all the reps in their BMWs, Golf TDIs and Passats doing a ton! :duh:

Nice job - looking good :)

Yup, confusingly it's... 316 = 1796cc 318 = 1995cc 320 = 2171cc 325 = 2494cc 330 = 2979cc Audi's ... the cars are ok, shame about the dealers!

I went out and got a great shot of the Soarer which I submitted for September I think it was. The only thing I wasn't sure of was that the rules stated the car must be a Lexus, and with Soarers that's open to debate. But then again I suppose the same is true of Altezzas, Aristos etc. Anyway, sorry it didn't work out this year and I'll deffo be entering again next year - with photos of both cars ;) :D

Azev Type M should be fine up to 10" at the back - with no need for arch modification.

Good idea although it doesn't always work - some Toyota dealers will actually refuse to help, even when the car is badged Toyota but they think it should be a Lexus (the Soarer is a good case in point). That said, if you can deal with Toyota their labour rates ar around £20/hour cheaper than Lexus! I feel that experience with Lexus dealerships is down to individuals. Over the past couple of years I got to know the service manager and franchise manager of my local Lexus dealer very well. During that time I have had absolutely faultless service from them, and many times they have really gone the extra mile. In the last two months, both these people have left. I then took the car in for it's 12 month service. When I went to collect it the new service rep took little interest, didn't explain anything that had been done and I was then left waiting for 15 minutes while they tried to find the keys - minor annoyances perhaps, but a sign of worse to come?

My handbook quotes 2.2bar (32psi?)front & rear - that's for standard 225/55R16 tyres. I know some people prefer to run them slightly softer.

Look at the VIN plate under the bonnet on the LH side as you stand in front of the car. The chassis number will give you the exact date of manufacture (to within a month). £5995 for a '91 V8? Unless it's mint and low mileage I'd haggle (a lot).

As a biker of some 25+ years my motto is "Ride as though every motorist is out to kill you", in other words - ride defensively. As a car driver of more than 20 years my motto is "Assume every biker is out to kill him(her)self", so drive defensively. In a traffic jam or in very slow moving traffic on a dual carriageway or m-way, I'll filter thru but only 5-10mph faster than the cars. Never kicked or thumped anyone's car. At traffic lights I'll filter to the front if there's space to do so safely - it's no inconvenience to car drivers at the front as I'll be away before they've taken the handbrake off! :D My advice to car drivers when a bike comes up behind them would be - don't pull in to the kerb as your tyres can throw up stones and other rubbish at the side of the road. Stay at the speed you're doing, maybe exaggerate the act of looking in your rear-view mirror to let the biker know you're aware he's there, and leave sufficient space between you and the car in front for him to overtake into. You shouldn't need to slow down at all, any half decent bike will have easily enough power and will overtake if and when they want to. If they don't have the horses to pull past, well they should have bought a bigger bike! :P

It's had a new front-end plus rear spoiler and 95 style alloys. Shame it's been mis-registered. Almost £6K is a bit on the high side for a '91 V8 though - would think it'd have to be mint and low mileage for that price? There's an immaculate 94 black on black Active for sale down this way for much less than they're asking.

Good choice mate - looking forward to seeing the pics. B) I thought about possible mods but then decided to keep mine stock and spend the 'mod money' on getting a Soarer. Sold... 0-60 in 6s and the IS300 warranty is still valid

The IS languishes in the garage these days, the Soarer is my preferred drive 95% of the time - just so well put together and effortless to drive. Money no object - it would have to be the DB9.

Yes, the satnav voice only comes out of the drivers side door speaker and drops the volume slightly to the rest of the speakers while it does so. I know you can adjust the level, but I've been happy with the settings since I got it. I think my DVD is Sept 2002 - I'm not aware that there's a separate pub category although I know some pubs that are also landmarks, restaurants etc., are on there. Anyway, you'd be better off getting hold of a copy of the Good Beer Guide - it'll give you more detail about the pub then you can type the address into the satnav - best of both worlds ;) Don't think there's a 'find the closest POI' feature, if there is I haven't found it. I usually just display the POIs then zoom out a bit and guess! PS - HID opted for the top-of-the-range satnav in her Audi Cabrio. I can safely say that compared to the Lexus DVD satnav, the Audi one is utter pants!

Much as I love my IS300, I'm aware that there's plenty of demand for similarly spec'd BMWs & Mercs, and probably not nearly so many after the Lex. The fact that it's auto only can't help. I spent nigh on £30K for this car in March '03 and I bet I wouldn't get £20K for it now.

It certainly can. Believe you can buy the converter over at Tifbitz.

Don't forget it's not all about bhp - torque/gearing comes into it to. The 150bhp version of the Golf GTi Diesel is a good case in point. Once on the move, midrange acceleration is tremendous. Depending on your budget there's always the +Aug/96 VVTi version of the 2.5L Soarer. It's supposed* to launch from standstill quicker that the earlier TT variant, and you get better fuel economy - I average around 27/28mpg from mine. A '97 VVTi, fully loaded, went for just under £8K a couple of months ago. One drawback of the VVTi is that it's not nearly so easy to modify if you're in search of higher bhp. * I say 'supposed' because I've never gone head-to-head with a TT in this car. According to an OZ road test report it's quicker off the mark, mainly down to a torque figure of 378Nm @ 2400rpm (compared to the earlier car's 363Nm @ 4800rpm). However a lot depends on the state your car's in, fuel, driver technique etc. I used to own a '94 TT and the VVTi certainly feels quicker than TT did, but it's very subjective. Still, neither version of the 2.5 sounds as good as the V8 tho ;)

Have never considered a BeeEmm myself, probably because of the bad image and the fact they're so common. In it's defense, my mate bought a 3yr old 325i SE. Firstly it is very quiet and solidly built. Secondly, it's quick - easily as quick as my IS300, if not quicker! Thirdly, it's comfortable on long runs. However, points against are - firstly, it is sooooooooo common, every @***hole has one. Secondly, it's true all BMW drivers are monsters (even my mate). And lastly, the dealership is a bunch of rogues! If I couldn't buy a Lex, I'd probably go for any other compact exec than a 3-series!

Well the local bodyshop here quoted me £650 to respray the front & rear bumper on the Soarer - no damage, just a respray to remove a few scratches! Just £140 of that was for paint/materials. Hmmm, don't think so... Have a fine scratch about 1½" long over the rear wheel arch on the Lex. Given the hassle trying to match Plat Ice, just trying to ignore it every time I see it.

Congrats on the new Soarer - the '94 GT-TL is a beautiful car! B) As Andy pointed out, it showing "Charge" while the ignition is at 'ACC' without the engine running is normal. If you did ever have to buy a new battery for it they aren't expensive, £30-£50 would see you right. Don't forget to reset the ECU so it can 'learn' your style of driving!

The underlying car - for a 91/92/93 TT count on at least £5K for a good one. They can be had for £3K, but will tend to need work (type C service, gearbox service, bushes, etc.). Oh and don't forget the interior... £800 - £1K for a nice leather makeover. Then of course there's your music.... :winky: