UKPulse

As far as I know, manual was only ever an option on the 2.5 model. All the 2.5's make 280bhp with 0-60 in the mid sixes for the TT and in the low sixes for the VVTi (suposedly)

I'll bet no other car is de-badged as much as low-spec 3 series. All trying to be something they ain't!

Ok, you know that 'optical' glass you get with the anti-glare coating on it, that looks a sort of matt dark blue colour? (The sort you get on spectales, binocular lenses, sat nav screens, etc). What's the best way to clean it and can an anti-glare coating be re-applied if it seems to have worn off in places? Cheers in advance :)

I have a mate - top bloke he is.... but only OUTSIDE of his car! What does he drive? A 3yr old black 325i of course! We share driving to work - when I drive it's a relaxed smooooth drive, and takes about 60 minutes. When he drives it's white knuckle, aggressive, cringe-worthy, uncomfortable burts of speed, swapping lanes, violent braking and feats of breath-taking selfishness, and it still takes about 60 minutes! I have to admit, his car is quiet, it doesn't rattle, and it is very quick. But I still wouldn't buy one

Mmmm, don't see many of them about. Amit has just bought a black Soarer TT off Smiffy at SSS B) Think it was an H or J plate.

As you're not far from Barking why don't you give Smiffy a call at the Soarer Sanctuary. He does full resprays of Soarers for around a grand, so sortng your roof will be a whole heap cheaper, and his work is absolutely top notch! B)

I know just what you mean, Parkers etc. don't seem to think the car exists even though it's been out since 2001/2! A quick scan for IS300 with satnav in the Lexus Approved pages & AutoTrader lists: 01(51) - Mileage: 37,500 Price: £18,995 01(51) - Mileage: 24,210 Price: £18,988 02(52) - Mileage: 8,000 Price: £19,988 02(52) - Mileage: 35,500 Price: £19,995 02(52) - Mileage: 35,500 Price: £20,495 02(52) with styling kit - Mileage: 20,510 Price: £21,950 03(53) - Mileage: 6,500 Price: £22,795 03(53) - Mileage: 7,418 Price: £21,995 03(53) with styling kit - Mileage: 8,000 Price: £23,995 These are all dealer prices, so what does the dealer give you? Two to three grand less than they sell it for? Plus forecourt prices will be a grand more than the private price? Mind you, this is just me guessing! Think the manager of Lexus Edinburgh is a member here, he'd probably have a pretty good idea...

I was at the Saint Hill Manor for the morning session. Took the RX300 offroad - there was one serious drop on that course! Went for a waft in the LS430 and of course the obligatory spin in an SC430. Nice setting, and they did do breakfast rolls (sausage, egg, mushrooms etc) though the food got a bit scarce later on. All the staff were really helpful. My mate enjoyed himself, although he said the best bit was spotting people oggling his NSX (what a poser)!

Have bought two new Lex's - one in 2002 and one in 2003. However I keep in touch with the staff there, pop in for coffee and chats.... errr, grovel basically! :winky:

Are we talking about just the income you declare to HMIT or all income? :winky:

Going to the Lexus Brighton event in East Grinstead this Wednesday - that'll be my third Open Road in as many years. Just so happens I'm (ahem) working at home that day Took the new RX offroad at last years event, was a really rough course with lots of narrow bits between hedges. All eight RX's were scratched to bits!!

Thursday morning (June 10th) on the M23 northbound near Gatwick, was overtaken by a young lad in a blue IS200 - styling kit & 18" alloys plus a personalized number plate. Surely must be a member?

Still missing the TT Steve? :winky: I was up at SSS today looking to join the fold again. Tried out Smiffy's mad black TT... yeeeoowww! Don't profess to know how the "BOV", Apexi induction, strut-brace and Mines ECU all work, but they combine to make one seriously quick TT!! I want it... Incidentally, that '98 FSG manual TT is still for sale oop-north but they want nearly £15K for it!

I recently sold a Soarer TT and am close to buying another. As Soramad says, the TT for sheer pace, and the V8 for that extra refinement, although all Soarers are very smooth, refined and reliable cars. £5K should get you a decent 92/93 TT or V8. Although the car was in production until around 5 years ago, models later than about '95 are few and far between. If you do decide on a Soarer, see if you can get one of the owners here or over at TIF to have a look at it with you. There are one or two common problems with Soarers owing to the fact that many (most) in the UK are over 10yrs old, but problems are fewer than you'd think for a car of this age/spec/performance, and they're relative easy to fix. Both Toyota & Lexus garages should be able to help with parts & servicing, plus there's specialists like Smiffy's Soarer Sanctuary. Running costs are around 23-28mpg and insurance can be had for around £500-£600 although obviously it pays to shop around as they're imports (also expect to have to fit an alarm for the insurance if the car doesn't already have one). The original stereos in Soarers are a big double-DIN unit so you'll need to be creative if looking to replace it. Standard equipment includes things like: auto gearbox with overdrive and ECT/PWR mode, electric/folding mirrors, climate control, remote boot/fuel cap release, stereo, digital dash, dusk sensing lights, etc. Options can include: electric sunroof, TEMS suspension, cruise control, electric seats, leather, etc. You'll find there's all sorts of combinations, plus the V8 tends to have more goodies than the TT. Manual TT's are rare as hens teeth. Think there's about a dozen in the UK! (Arguably they're no quicker than the auto anyway). Go on.... you know it makes sense!

Good man - go for the satnav! Think I've actually used my satnav 'properly' twice this year - as opposed to just using it to watch the world go by (it's a bloke thing!) :winky:

Same as everyone else here is saying - swapped my IS200 SE Auto for an IS300 a year ago, never looked back since. Faster, quieter, more refined and more goodies! The car is very stable at speed, feels really 'planted'. Getting around 340-350 miles to a tank. Did some very unscientific 0-60 tests last year that back up what Colin was saying, 60mph comes up in around 7.5s So, have you ordered one yet?? :D Must confess tho... the 300 was relegated to my garage for six months when I got the Soarer TT - quiet, refined and absurdly quick for under £5K! :winky:

I'd say the SC430 is expensive for what it is, but the 36th worst car of all time? I don't think so. For starters you've got almost every car Renault and Vauxhall have ever made (ok a couple of exceptions), plus all the Fiats & Lancias that rusted before you got them out of the showroom, Morris Marinas & Itals, Maestros - Montegos - Metros, various Citroens that depreciate 50% a week, early Skodas, late Peugeots (is the 605 ugly or what?), Yugos.....

Woohoo! Just got my invite from Lexus Brighton for the event at Saint Hill Manor on June 16th. Don't s'pose the new GS300 will be there...

Fruitcake

Guess what bazza.... you're another £30 nearer your target! Cheque's in the post Steve :D

When I got my IS in March 2003, they threw in 3yrs free servicng. The little booklet with three vouchers in it came about eight weeks later, direct from Lexus GB.

Really sorry to hear about your father, and that you found the club under these sad circumstances. You can check the manufacturing date of the car from the number on the VIN plate just inside the left side of the engine bay. You can then tie up the chassis number with the manufacturing table here. The 3.0 litre version is a beautiful car, but unfortunately isn't as popular as the 2.5TT or 4.0 V8 versions, thus it doesn't command quite such good 2nd hand prices. A good idea may be to search through AutoTrader and see what people are selling for (note, Soarers are sold as both 'Lexus' and 'Toyota'). There's a '99 3.0 litre being sold by a dealer for £11,000 but that's probably a touch high? Between £9K-£10K may help it sell quicker, not sure - see what others here think? As for selling it, I'd try selling it privately via AutoTrader or eBay first. Dealers will give you all sorts of hard luck stories about it being an import and difficult to shift, and will use that to drive the price right down, maybe even offering you just £7K or less for it. Truth is these are are easy to own as Toyota can supply parts and do servicing, plus there's a thriving owners club here. Very best of luck.

Had an IS200 Auto for 14 months and can't say I ever notice any vibration in the accelerator pedal. Haven't noticed any vibration in the IS300 either. Wonder if anything can be done with the rubber that fits over the pedal?

Pics give away a few nasties + too many unknowns from the description. Could be a money-pit.

I can only tell you the same story. The Soarer 2.5TT is a fantastic car, great to drive and goes like stink, BUT... it won't be cheap to own. I bought a '94 TT last year and it was in good nick and had a full history (which is uncommon). I was very lucky to sell it 6 months later for pretty much what I paid for it. However, in those 6 months I did 10,000 miles at around 22-25mpg, got an oil/filter change at Lexus Brighton for £110 (ouch), had a full Type C service + radiator + gearbox service + bushes done at SSS for £925... The car was £650 or so to insure for a year, so all in all it probably cost me £1,500-£2,000 for the 6 months I had it, and this was for a car that was already good mechanically when I got it! Had I needed tyres, etc.... :o That said, I'm looking for another as a 2nd car, but want to go for the newer VVTi version - these cars are addictive!! In the six months I had it, the IS300 stayed in the garage practically the whole time and barely did 500 miles!