onnzo

Hi guys. Really interesting thread. I'm looking for a new car in 6 months time and these prices sound awesome! Pity the car is getting too small for me though (family). I was thinking of something fast/luxurious like an old m5 or Amg but damn they are expensive!

I recently got sumitomo z3's. 245 40 18 for $250 each. They seem quieter the the oem's.

Used to be $360 per annum for me but was increased to $560 last year! (Fleet policy).

You guys need to get on to OCW! I start mine with a wash (a Meguiars product) with a microfibre wash mit. Make sure you use the two bucket method! Then it gets a dry with a waffle weave drying towel Then a clean with Zaino Z6 and finally a coat of OCW - Optimal Car wax. All up this takes me 45-60mins from start to finish including packing up. The z6 and OCW are the easiest products ever to use (just remember to use minimal product). My car is nearly 2 years old now and it still looks brand new :) Try it, you wont be disappointed!

Ours is a Chameleon and yep it is a 4 wheeler. I haven't "driven" many prams, but it sure handles well and i definetly recommend it.

When they are older you can leave them alone in the back but as a baby it is best to sit with them. Our baby seat is rear facing, the next size up is forward facing. Yep, the basinette is really only for when they are newborns and cant sit. It is more comfortable for them. We changed to the seat when he was about 3.5 months old and could sit up properly. With the basinette, it is a tight squeeze to put it in the boot, but with the seat, it is fine. Definetly make sure the pram you buy fits, alot of 3 wheeler prams for instance dont fold as compact and might not fit.

Im going to throw a spanner in the works. I purchased the is250 before my wife got pregnant. My son is now 6 months old. It was fine for the two of us and for the occasional trip with passengers (more a 4 seater rather then a 5). Now with the baby seat in the back (I use an isofix mounted seat so it hs to be on the left or right) it is a bit tight. If I put bubs on my side (behind me), I am comfortable but I sit quite upright. Mum also get lots of legroom with the front passenger seat pushed forward. With bubs in the left, the mrs doesnt have much room sitting behind me. As for boot space, it fits our bugaboo but it folds up quite compact. With the basinette, it just fits in, but now that bubs is older and we have converted to the seat there is much more room. You can do a big shop and still have room in the boot with the pram car seat. I have a liberty as well (sedan) and it is much more comfortable in the cabin and there is heaps more room in the boot. Bubs can sit in the left or right (again mounted via isofix) and there is plenty of room. I am looking to change to a RX model when my lease expires in 1.5 years. I recently purchased the next size up seat (for over 9kg) and it looks quite cramped in the back (when mounted behind me). Ill have to trial it this weekend as I only had it in briefly.

My Prestige with factory 18" wheels definetly rides smoother then the sports luxury. I was told they have different suspension setups.

I velcro my remotes onto the inside edge of the door pocket. Just reach down and press!

I watched the matrix trilogy (over a few weeks) in the car. I pick up my wife from work and depending on when she comes out I fit in 10-15 minutes here and there. I like to have a DVD in the car just for those times when you have are waiting around for a few minutes.

The backrests on my 08 model also have air coming out. On a hot day I can definetly feel the difference. Without the cooling function on ill start sweating. With them on it cools enough to stop sweating but it still feels warm. My brother has the e46 m3 and I dont think it has cooled seats, only warmers.

Yeah, Ive also wondered where the mic is as well. I usually talk straight towards the steering wheel.

I can give you an opinion because also came from a Lib 3.0R :) Firstly, I like the styling of the is250 alot more. It is more "prestige" then the lib. The overall size of the is250 seems smaller then the lib (inside and outside) but it is bearable. With the lib, I could take 5 adult passengers around easily, it is a bit of a squeeze in the is250. The interior of the lib is nice, but after you have sat in the is250 - you discover there is another class of luxury. There is a lack of storage space in the is250 compared to the lib though. Performance wise, the liberty feels much quicker, but isn't as refined/smooth as the is250. I hate the tiptronic style of the is250 which doesnt give you full control and in this respect the liberty is much better. The boot of the Liberty is also a lot bigger and services are much cheaper (approx $200 compared to lexus' $500). Finally the is250 is MUCh more efficient then the lib. I was getting 13-14l in the lib where I will do 10-11l in the is250. Those few litres more of efficiency per 100km means I only have to fill up once a week! Mike

We got a Lexus picnic rug/blanket, Buvlgari Key ring for my wife and a lexus keyring for myself.

I have two clips on my drivers side and it is good. On my previous Liberty I only had 1 clip and the mat would always annoyingly move around. It was aso beige and was very difficult to keep clean. The Black ones in the lexus are so much easier to keep clean.

I was looking at getting one as well. there are a few avaliable (via ebay and online sellers). I will probably get one from invisible shield (the ones that make the stuff for ipods amongst other things) but i need to measure up the screen and send them the details. Mike

Hey Swamprat - I too have moced from a 3.0R to an IS250 :) I got the enhancement package and I love it. My temp guage seems abit low if anything (The 3.0r temp indicator I think used to read too high). Only criticism against the 3.0R is the lack of torque (but I have only done 200kms and haven't floored it yet).

Hey guys - i'm to take delivery of my is250 on Monday. I've been looking at hacks for the navigation system as well and also came across that lockpick website. I was reading on the US forums that people have used the Lockpick in the states on their is250's and it works. I will decide whether or not toget it after I get the car. Mike