onnzo

I still have that film on my shifter too. After 3 years of ownership, it seems to come off normally

Great to hear you are happy with the tyres. Im like you, im happy to sacrifice conering for comfort. I just got the quotes back for the hankooks and continentals and have ordered the hankooks. At $750 aud delivered for a set of 4 (225 fronts and 255 rears in 18" 40 profile), I cant go wrong... The Continentals are $956 but the rears don't have rim protectors which is the deal breaker. Looks like you have converted a few people! The lexus is great value, just too small for two baby seats, otherwise I would just keep it. The mrs is driving around on the space saver at the moment (only short trips to and from the local shops really). I washed the car to assess the damage from the scrape and its sparkly clean, with a bright orange/yellow space saver on the rear right!

Driving along the freeway tonight, I thought I was hearing a loud V8 coming up pretty fast beside me but the car went past and the sound didnt stop so I suspected a flat. The mrs thought it sounded like a chopper flying really close! Anyway I pull over to the side and my rear left tyre is flat. When I got home I found out it was hole from a nail. So I opened up the kit (for the first time after 3 years of ownership) and am pleasantly surprised by a warning triangle, a hand towel, pair of gloves and hand wash/sanatiser! I didnt use any of it but wow, they have thought of everything (except for a torch). Luckily I stopped under a bridge with plenty of light, and I have my own torch in the car anyway. It made changing the tyre a pleasure! And it means new tyres now. Ive just shot off an email to Tirerack for a quote on some hankooks and continentals (thanks to the OP who wrote about their deal). On a crap note, F You to the asshole who hit the same rear left side today in the carpark, leaving me with a scratched bumper.

The sales guy was saying the ct is drawing a whole new crowd. At 40kish it is excellent value for what you get. I would consider it i as a young couple with no kids. Re a family car, I think the rx is good value for a premium brand (especially compared to the euros) but it isn't worth the premium over the kluger. The kluger whilst being the top of the range isn't quite in that premium league yet But for 20k less I'll stick with it for now.

What a co-incidence. I actually had a rx350 yesterday for a day to test drive whilst my car was being serviced. I was a little underwhelmed by the new rx tbh. Whilst the ride was refined, the exhaust note I found was intrusive. I don't like or maybe I'm not used to the remote touch system and the ergonomics of the dash didn't Do it for me. The memory seats were a welcome addition but the lack of heated cooling seats meant the leather was non perforated and looked very plain. I did have a look at the ct when I was there but it's too small. A nice package though. I've also been looking at a kluger grande and it ticks all the boxes (except memory seats and lines on the reversing camera) but at over $20k less it represents much better value. I've Been trying to justify the extra $20k to get theLexus but at the end if the day, whilst I have really enjoyed the Lexus experience, I don't think the rx is $20k better then the kluger (styling aside). I've also been looking at 2nd hand ml500s (too old in my price range and no keyless system), the new jeep grand Cherokee v8 (qustiionable reliabilty) and am still considering an xc60 (but a friend just bought one). Most likely I will go for the kluger grande though.

Congrats on the purchase. We are off topic but I got a blanket, picnic blanket, bvulgari key ring for the mrs and a normal Lexus keyring for me. I also bought my car 2 days before my bday so every 3 years I buy myself a new car as a pressie :)

The liberty is a nice car too. I came from one. Power is much more raw then the 250. It feels like you're going faster.I have the 3l h6 and it is very torquey. The torque makes me sick sometime. After driving the more sedate 250. But then again I'm getting older :P

Awesome info. Just had a look at my rears and they are nearly gone after 70000kms. Will look to buy a set of 4 and sell off the 2 new sumitomos. They drive fine but I don't like how they don't have rim protection. A set of 4 will cost the same as two rears bought locally. Actually it will be cheaper!

Very good deal. I paid 250 odd for sumitomo's. I Have been looking for stuff to buy from the us with the awesome exchange rate :)

Welcome aboard. Wow that is cheap! What size did you get them in?

Thanks for the info. It will interesting to see the best deal you get. 3 years 150kms plus roadside isn't too bad. It's likely when the olds take the car they won't do more then 15k kms a year so that is only one service to pay for a year.

I need to rant! Gave the VW dealer I went to the other day another go this afternoon. Being a public holiday last time I thought i'd cut them some slack. Re car choice, i've given up on the idea of a sedan and have been doing some research on other SUV's. The Tiguan came up in a few forums and I thought i'd go to check one out at this local dealer. I rock up with my wife and son and it is starting to drizzle. I see a Tiguan in the showroom and we go in to escape the rain. We sit in the car and are testing for roominess, interior finish etc. We start off in the back seat and I walk around to the drivers, get in to adjust it to my seating position and attempt to go to sit behind the drivers to see how much room there is. Next thing I know, the central locking activates. I thought this is a strange feature and walk of thinking nothing of it. Wait a few minutes for someone to approach us but no one does. I then decide to ask reception to get someone to help us. We wait about 5 minutes for someone to come. In the meantime they tell me to go outside in the yard (in the rain) to have a look. I go out and the cars are locked... Come back, a few minutes later a guy comes up to us now and checks the cars outside, unlocks two and tells us to go look at them in the rain again! So our family heads out in the rain and have a look, I had a sit in one and the interior doesn't appeal to me so we go back inside to drop off a toy (that my son took form their play area) and left. I was already unhappy with the service and wait. (When I asked for some help, I was referred to as the "young guy" by their receptionist) Now, remember when I said I thought it was a strange central locking "feature". Whilst we were walking back to our car, I remembered that while we were waiting for a sales person, I saw a person walk over to the car we were looking at initially (in the showroom) unlock it and put some number plates in. I then saw a tech putting the number plates on whilst we were still waiting... It's now that I realise the car must be getting ready for someone to pick it up! Putting two and two together, I realise someone has seen us in the car (they must have been in one of the offices as there was no one in the showroom apart form the receptionist), waited till we got out then locked it (as I was reaching for the rear door handle to get in). No one came out to explain anything to me! they just locked it from their office and continued doing what they were doing! I would be perfectly happy to not snoop in someones new car if it was explained to me that it wasn't a showroom car (if I was my new car I was picking up, I wouldnt be happy) but no one came out to explain anything to me! Am I wrong in being pissed off at this kind of service considering I was potentially going to spend $50-$60k with them? Again, another reason to buy a LEXUS!

Thats quite a narrow price gap. The difference probably just represents the dealers "fee". I havent thought about this until now. What are the conditions age/km wise for the extended warranty? My lease runs out shortly but I will be keeping the is250 in the family. I bought new and in the nearly 3 years i've had it, I havent had a single problem. I would have clocked up 75000 kms by the time 3 years comes around. On the other hand, I like to service my own cars and if I buy an extended warranty ill be up for dealer servicing as well (I like to dealer service whilst under warranty so there are no excuses if there is a problem.)

They seem fine to me. As another poster pointed out though, there is no rim protection! I didn't think of that when buying them and would have probably bought something else.

When you look at the rx 0-100 numbers they aren't that fast. but theN again they aren't meant to be performance cars. In reality, With two kids in the car I'm not going to be driving fast anyway and when I do, it's only at the traffic light grand prix up to the speed limit. I'm starting to think I should just get the 4wd and be done with it and get the performance sedan as my next car when The kids will be older and I don't have to worry about two prams and huge car seats. Well I'm going to give the r36 a go and if that doesnt work out a rx it is!

Well it does, but compared to a hybrid it doesn't!

Yep, although I haven driven a hybrid, all reviews indicate tremendous torque. It seems petty but In my opinion THE best feature that the IS has is the keyless entry/ignition. Call me lazy but when you have a wriggling kid in your arms (and soon to be two) it is a godsend to be able to open the doors without fumbling for keys. Pity the rx400h doesn't come with it otherwise my decision would be easy. The new rx's have it but the hybrids are expensive so I'd have to stick to the rx350 which doesn't have the torque...

We have aurions as company cars. Although the top of the line would have all the features, the nvh is crap (compared to a Lexus). Geez I'm picky! IS is out. My son is 18 months and his brother/sister is due in June. Their car seats take up huge amounts of space! I'm going to give vw another chance and go to a dealer my brother in law recommended. Maybe on my lunch break today.

I want both luxury and performance :P forgot to mention holdens and fords are out. I agree that the rx350 is the pick of the suv's and ill most likely get one if I don't find a fast luxurious roomy sedan in my price range. I went to a vw dealer about an hour ago. we weren't acknowledged By the sales people and all the cars were locked. Went up to te sales office and it was locked and I saw a guy walkin away from us into an office. He saw us coming towards the door. Sign says open till 5 and granted. It was 430 on a public holiday buthe did see us in the lot and could have told us they were closing early. This kind of service drives me back to Lexus! When I bought the IS I went in at around the same time of day and was given a set of keys to go for a test drive whilst the salesman finished with his current customer. It was such a refreshing change. it's left a sour taste in my mouth again and its starting to Look like I might be headed down the same route again!

I'm trying to avoid getting a suv because they are all slow! The ones I can afford anyway. I reckon you can still fit two kids and their gear in a sedan, just not comfortably in a is250. If I can't find a fast/roomy enough sedan I will most likely get a rx350. $50k is my ideal figure, I can stretch it to 60-70 if the right car comes along.

Hi guys. I'm after your opinions on what you would buy when the time comes to sell/trade the is250. I'm due to changeover in 4 months. For me if the interior was larger it would be an easy decision to get the is350 but with onnzo number 2 on the way I need some more space. I'm trying to convince the mrs that a sedan will fit all our needs in hope that I can still get something with decent performance! Price range is 50ish - flexible if the right car comes along and I don't mind buying used. Gs430 was next option but interior space is too small. Gs450h has the sAme problem and a pathetic boot (taken up by the battery) I've had a liberty and after a Lexus it is a bit "rough" I'm looking more into a: r36 passat - not sure on size and comfort (reviews all say the ride is harsh) - I will check one out tomorrow. I will also look at the Passat highline with 3.2, skoda superb and Octavia rs. Not sure on the skodas but I will check them out. Any other suggestions for performance sedans with some decent space, is as comfortable as a Lexus, and options don't cost as much as the base price of the car... Lexus has left some big shoes to fill! Otherwise I'll have to get a suv - at least I'll get another lexus if I go down this route.

I feel the need, the need for speed! Jumped into my is250 after a weekend of driving a rs6 and it feels like I'm driving a snail. That v8 burble and the sound of twin turbos spooling is magical! An is350 should cure it :)

Tyre factory sunshine

I have the sumitomos. They are fine for me. I Paid $250 each. I still have the dunlops on the rear

I did see a comparison of the gs vs a 540i on the web. I never knew the gs's were that fast! I like the performance but the styling doesn't appeal to me. Frigging why weren't these out 3 years ago. I paid the same price for my 250. I'm a bit peeved about the pricing actually! Only because I can't buy one. It's a bargain and I envy you new 350 owners :) Resale value is going to suffer for the 250.