Sapphire Cam

Found my outside temp gauge to be extremely accurate (always within 1 degree (up to 2 on a really hot day) - comparing it with radio announcements). However on very hot days, it will exaggerrate for the first 15 minutes or so if the car has been sitting in the sun (eg. it may read 42c for 15 minutes, when it might be 34-35c outside). After a while though it drops to the correct temp.

I have a simple method which Im happy to share. For light washing, (dust, minor road grime, general insect/bird gunk) I use a Meguairs waterless car wash (Im asusming any other reputable brand is fine). Always use clean terry-towelling cloths (one to wipe, one to lightly polish), which I wash after every use and throw out after about 8-10 washes. I wont give you all the instructions - but this works well, especially for mine being a dark (sapphire) colour. Do not use too much downward force. The same rules apply - do section by section, and out of the sun. If there is actual dirt, mud, lots of insect/bird gunk, then the usual hand wash with a reputable car wash is fine - again ONLY using clean terry towelling cloths. DONT use sponges, shirts, bath towels - as these will trap bits of dirt, rock etc. that will scratch the surface. A good quality chamois to wipe clean is not to be underestimated, particularly if you are using tank water like me, which tends to streak more. As for those nasty dusty front wheels, a dry wipe with a soft cloth is all I do. Those alloy wheel cleaner sprays are a waste of money (some are $20 a pop). If you need liquid for more stubborn brake dust, warm water with a little bit of wool mix is good. Again (and this should be common knowledge for all car owners) NEVER use laundry or dishwashing detergents, due to their salt content! And remember, as soon as you see any bird crap on the duco - get it off asap, especially if you're near the sea!! More than a day, and you'll have damage. I know - Im telling people everything they already know - but handy to get a reminder now and then.

No little extras (apart from mats, first aid and vanity kit in the boot) - well I didnt get any! You get things in the mail from time to time through the Encore programme - but it a hit n miss with me. Cheap tickets to the opera dont excite me one bit, but an invite to play in a social golf tournament does. One bit of advice is to make use of Lexus' after-sales service (little niggles with the car - if you get any - you may, you may not - far less than a German would give you!). Any concerns/questions you have - get on the phone to your dealer, or go in and see them. If they stand behind the Lexus brand, they'll help you out as best they can.

As I type, Lexus are fitting a new instrument cluster to my 2006 is250! I too noticed on the VicRoads Advisory Speedo displays on the Hume and Princes Freeways that my speedo was well over actual speed. No wonder I havent received any tickets from overzealous speed cameras (non-Victorians wouldn't understand!!). Even doing 65 in a 60 zone I didnt trouble the camera operators! I actually didnt even mention the speed issue to the dealer, however I did mention that on start-up (during the 'lightsaber' manoevoure) the instrument 'needles' were making a very quiet (but noticeable) grinding/scraping sound - so they've just decided to put a new cluster in. I'll have to watch my speed more carefully now. But from a negative, if my speedo has been out 10% (despite correct tyres and inflation) over 30,000kms, then Ive been robbed 3,000kms really! So my 30k car has only done 27k!!

Im a bit of an audiophile (and part time music producer), so Ill focus on the sound. I have a is250 prestige with standard Pioneer 13 spkr system, which is heaps better than any Bose 'premium' option that is out there in Alfa, Mazda etc. In fact probably the best 'standard' system Ive heard. Just been driving a loan Prestige today whilst mine is in service, and it has the Enhancement Pack. A lot of fun, but not worth the full $8000. The Mark Levison system is a little disappointing to be honest. Better than the Pioneer no doubt - crisper top end and a fair bit louder, and extra tonal and surround controls, but not as mindblowing as I expected. The speakers dont appear to be as well matched - the woofers in the door seem overpowered by the mids and tweeters - even after fiddling with the tone and balance controls. And the surround DSP function is poorly developed - just make CDs sound muddy. The satnav is one of the better ones Ive seen, and the bluetooth functionality is easy to use - but 8 grand's worth?.....probably half that!

Not only common for the is250, but many Lexus vehicles. I had recurring seat squeak (is250) and later, a creak on the right side of the seat (when leaving the car). There is a Lexus service bulletin out of the States (#NV001-06) that Ive given to my dealer to help fix the problem (sorry I dont have the link). It was fixed and then a week later started up again! There are two causes - 1. as discussed remnant plastic washers, 2; loose pins and bolts on the track beneath the seat. For mine (its in the dealer today for its 30k service, plus a few other little niggles including the seat) I think its the latter - and the tech didnt tighten enough. By tightening these, you'll get a better driving feel too as that 'latency' between the car and the driver is eliminated again. You'll notice a difference!

Be careful with any after-market stuff - particularly anything electrical. As an IS250 owner I know Lexus are a different breed of dealerships, but they still may 'compromise' your warranty, should anything go wrong. If and when the HID globes blow, they are hideously expensive, and as another post has said here, the HIDs on the S.Lux are Adaptive - so again not cheap, and probably need to be wired into the steering set-up. In all honesty, unless you can haggle with the dealer to get them to put them in when you place an order for next to nothing, I wouldn't bother. I've driven a Passat with HIDs - good, yep, but the standard lights on the 250 are pretty damn good and as far as visibility is concerned not a lot of difference. Only a consideration really if you do a heap of country driving would be my opinion.

A few rattle problems as well (Prestige 2006, 30,000kms) - all minor, but niggling none the same. I'm one of these people that hate rattles whether it be a Commodore or a...Lexus! But I have a keen ear - mine have included sunroof, rear parcel shelf, buzzing door (when stereo up loud) and squeaky seat, as well as a weird metallic clunk behind rear passengers seat. All fixed by dealer. I've gotten results from my dealer by being patient and trying to identify where exactly the rattle is coming from and possibly what might be causing it (temperature, driving conditions, areas where tightening is required etc.). Put this down on paper and submit it to your dealer (I typed it up and emailed it to them prior to my scheduled service). That helps the technicians, and the dealership seem to care a bit more if you've taken to the time to help out as well. Lexus have made a rod for their own back in a sense by making such a quiet cabin. My friend's Mazda 6 has a squeaky seat after just 1,500kms and a colleagues BMW 320i after a month has a rattling dash that the dealer cant fix. Still the best car in its class and a joy to drive. My gut feel is that they may've rushed the car out by 6-12 months as the 3-series was 'getting away from them' and the Alfa 159 was around the corner, and not done the usual level of testing and trialling that they normally do