Lexus Nerd

Some promotional video footage . Nice engine note can be heard at 7:10.

Sapphire Cam's and Atlantis' musings on release dates of, and avaialble engines for, the third generation IS (respectively) can be found on the 3IS Rumour Mill: http://au.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=10649

Often, photos of future vehicles don't look as good as computer-generated drawings. Not so with these. The new GS F Sport is that good, the photos look better than the drawings. I can't wait to see it for real!

With Toyota and Lexus, a moonroof is synonymous with sunroof. They all tilt and slide open. (Not that I'd know from experience, right ilv? :P )

You'll find the differences between all four grades, including X, here: http://au.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=10109&pid=30783&st=0entry30783

Yes, most probably. We have similar tastes, apart from the fact that she doesn't see the point in a soft-roader. And yes, it would most likely be a Lexus.

Hi borna, and welcome. A number of regulars on these forums own, or have owned, 2006 model IS 250s. Most issues affecting IS 250s, as discussed on these forums, are minor and affect all manufacturing years. For example, you're hard pressed to find reported issues with IS 250 air conditioners here, whereas there are a number reported on Edmunds. My first impression of reading the Edmunds reviews are that they are similar to those one would read on Australia's top restaurants on Eatability: many with good experiences won't bother posting on the site, and the few that have had an unusually bad experience will. (You also get those people who have unreasonable expectations: what about the blogger who said he owned Toyotas that never needed tuning for 180,000 km, so he was dissatisfied when, in 2010, he wrote that his 2006 IS 250 needed $3,000 worth of repairs??) That doesn't mean to say that the problems that Edmunds bloggers wrote about didn't exist. There were a number of recalls on IS 250s built in late 2005 and 2006 that would have fixed the most commonly reported issues. If you do decide to buy a 2005-2007 model, make sure it's been regularly serviced by Lexus. That won't guarantee that the car has been subjected to every recall service to which it was entitled (especially the voluntary recalls), but there's a better chance IMHO.

9 am till late.

Nobody really knows what features the 2013 IS will have, so your decision will not be based on a feature comparison, but what you normally look for in a car: - Are you the kind of person that will pay full price for a just-released new shape model (or will you wait as long as late 2013 for a demonstrator)? - The features in the 250 X are great value, but do they interest you? - Do you prefer cosmetic or engine enhancements? If the latter, perhaps you can now get the 250 Prestige for thousands less than $59K? - Are you looking at the Sport Luxury model? My opinion is to bargain hard if you are, or wait till the next model ... What were unique features worth paying for in 2005 iare becoming standard feature in mainstream cars nowadays (e.g. AFS on an i45).

Oh. In that case, talk to Fair Trading and see whether they think getting a refund (or, failing that, getting a trade-in at its typical trade-in value) is a reasonable course of action that you can pursue. Who knows, they may answer, "Yes, definitely," based on the consumer law and their experience with lemon cars. Or, they may say, "It may require some mediation;" or they may say, "No, you'll have to endure worse before it comes to that." Hopefully, it's the first answer; but you won't know unless you try. Remember, you're not asking Fair Trading to step in for you - they may want you to approach the Subaru dealer first, and only escalate to Fair Trading if they say no. You're just asking Fair Trading what your chances are of getting your money back without too much argument. Just my thoughts ... I have no experience whatsoever with talking to Fair Trading myself.

That's very unfortunate. Arguably, it hasn't been fixed in a "reasonable amount of time". For cars bought after 1 January, 2011, the consumer law is quite clear: you have the right to choose what you get: a replacement (the whole car), refund or compensation. For cars bought before then, well ... I haven't found anything definitive on the NSW Fair Trading Website. You certainly have the right to raise the issue and get them to mediate a resolution, but I don't know what the likely outcome will be. Personally, I'm leaning towards giving Subaru another chance. Others might disagree with me, and that's fine (many people, including my wife, put up with much less). But either way, you should at least make a phone call to Fair Trading and find out whether they agree that this is a "major" problem that has taken more than a "reasonable amount of time", and what you're likely to be entitled to either now or in the future, should you retain the car and problems happen later. You could perhaps talk over some possible scenarios with them, and see if they agree. For example, if you no longer want the car, is it okay to demand the dealer to buy the car back at normal trade-in value, as if there were no problems with the engine? (You'd still get less money than if the first engine was perfect and you sold the car privately, but at least you'll be rid of the problem.) I'm hoping that talking to Fair Trading will at least give you some certainty, confidence if you demand restitution and - hopefully - peace of mind. Good luck.

Just down the road, a few minutes away.

Featuring a ring-in or two ...

LOL ... That would be one helluva detailing project.

Sorry guys, I know this is a little late. The photo subjects aren't too different from others', but I've adjusted the images to compensate for the lighting.

Legal, for now. It would be an expensive purchase if RTA added it to their presently out-of-date list of restricted vehicles. It's an expensive purchase either way... But I'm sure if one was to purchase it before the RTA added it to their list (and could prove it) then they couldn't be banned from driving it. My brother got his P's two days before they introduced the turbo/super/V>6 rule back in '05 and was able to drive anything legally. Yes, exemptions were granted for those who owned a prohibited vehicle before 11 July, 2005. No such exemption is specifically provisioned for those who acquire a vehicle after that date that subsequently becomes prohibited. "An exemption will not be granted simply on the basis that the only vehicle available in a household is a prohibited vehicle."

Thanks x250x! I was aware of an upcoming GS 300 X, but not an IS 250 X.

Isn't the sti liberty turbocharged? good luck getting an exemption first, and then keeping it. How much longer are you on your p's for? IS350 is more powerful, has more torque and legal for a p-plater to drive....silly rta.... Legal, for now. It would be an expensive purchase if RTA added it to their presently out-of-date list of restricted vehicles.

It was a known problem with 2006-2007 IS models, as can be seen in this information bulletin released in the US. Note that the problem occurs "when slowly coming to a stop": http://www.lexustsb.com/getattachment.php?data=MTk3fEJSMDAxLTA3IEZyb250IEJyYWtlIFNxdWVhay5wZGY%3D It's odd that you have the problem, though, seeing that you have a 2009 model. But there's a few things of note from the TSIB: - Updated brake pads and "anti-squeal" brake pad shims exist. If you have had your brakes serviced at any time, perhaps outdated/inferior parts were used on re-assembly? Or maybe the shims are missing (if that's possible - I really have no idea)! - Updated grease is available. Perhaps grease should be re-applied? - A specific torque is mentioned for the upper mounting bolt of the caliper assembly. Perhaps checking the torque would help? (Or maybe it's mentioned to ensure safe re-assembly, not to fix any noise problem.) - Lexus USA saw this problem as something that should be resolved under warranty - as a Lexus customer, you're not being too pedantic. I'd get your Lexus service dealership to try harder.

I'm in too. What Platinum_Jay said ... Are we meeting someplace (your place?) at 12ish, and then departing from there to get to Hickson Rd Reserve (near the south pylon of the Harbour Bridge) by 1ish?

I'm in.

I suppose all batteries have a limited warranty. But if your battery is the original that came with your '08 car - no, I doubt that would be covered. Three years' lifespan would be considered normal.

Thanks to ilv1004s, I now know that headlights imported from LH drive countries will be different from ours. So buying them from the US won't be a good idea if you want to see properly at night (and stay roadworthy). You may want to check prices with our Club traders, Lexus of Chatswood or E910 from Manukau Toyota, and see whether they can do you a good deal. To go from halogens to xenons with DRL's, you'll need headlights as well as "caps" and a wiring harness to suit the DRL headlights.

You wouldn't be the only one here tackling the HSC this month. Good luck in your exams!

No probs, still happy to meet up.