Lexus Nerd

I was thinking of posting this under the IS thread, "Show us your mods!" http://www.smh.com.a...1109-17lcp.html

Arrrgh! It's not like you are really asking us a question ... You're just saying "ultrasonic blue IS350 F Sport" to tease us!! When I picked up my 250, the dealer said not to bother with wearing in the engine, but the manual does give some recommendations on braking, accelerating and towing. Check it out in your 350 manual.

In case you were wondering what's different about the styling in the new IS350, or the MY11 IS series in general ... here's a collection of shots from the IS350 SL dis-lex-sic brought to Saturday's meet.

Thanks fellas ... Once again, one short of double figures, but it was a great meet anyways.

I've found Canberrans' taste in cars much different to those living in other cities. Most cars are of low value, even in the wealthier suburbs; you don't see many SUVs there, let alone prestige or luxury cars. From what I've seen in Sydney between North Sydney and Eastwood, drivers of IS250s tend to be executives in their 30's to 50's (plenty of 250s in North Sydney) and middle-aged Asian women. A few nearing retirement age, perhaps, but I don't even recall seeing a retiree drive one.

Replaced for free outside of the warranty period. This is the kind of customer story that proves Lexus after-sales service is second to none.

It was a known problem on 06-07 IS250s and should be fixed by the dealer: http://www.lexustsb.com/questions/197/TSIB+BR001-07+%28%2706-%2707+IS+250%29%3A++Front+Brake+Squeak

Guys, the news page I posted does confirm that IS250s for the Australian market are affected: 'The announcement included Australia as one of the affected countries ... 'But for most of yesterday, Toyota Australia held out confirming its involvement in the recall until it had undertaken its own investigations, ''internal processes'' and had notified the federal government and dealers. 'But by yesterday afternoon, the recall swept through locally, too. 'Toyota Australia confirmed it was recalling ... 8201 Lexus models. 'They are the RX330 (6970 built between February 2003 and October 2005), IS250 (651 built from September 2005 to November 2005) and the GS300 (580 built from January 2005 to November 2005). All were built in Japan.' Lexus Australia's Website still has no mention about this recall, although Toyota Australia does mention the recall of Klugers.

Thanks for that! There was at least one person here inquiring about discounts off the list price. You confirmed what many of us suspected!I can see Lexus Australia, in a few months' time, putting together the quotable quotes for critical acclaim for the IS350 ... "(I) pulled out into traffic, floored my pedal, and almost pissed my pants ..." -- icefirehk, au.lexusownersclub.com :D

There is a documented way to configure the ability to automatically switch back to the navigation system after 20 seconds if, while using the nav system, you want to adjust climate or audio controls. But that's the only configurable setting, and that's not what you're looking to adjust. What you're experiencing doesn't seem to be right. Both old and new versions of the Navigation System Owner's Manual state that, if you move out of reverse gear, "the screen returns to the previous screen." That "previous screen" might be the climate, phone, audio or some other screen. If, after shifting out of reverse, the only screen it switches to is the map (navigation) screen, there is something wrong.

Lexus Australia hasn't posted anything on their Website yet, but one of our local papers does show which models and years are affected. Six hundred and fifty one IS250s manufactured between September and November 2005 and sold in Australia are affected, but some RX330s and GS300s built in or before 2005 are are affected too. http://theage.drive.com.au/toyota-australia-recalls-cars-over-brake-problems-20101022-16xwc.html

New recall soon to hit Lexuses in Aus, including 06 IS250: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/21/3044899.htm

Awesome! What did you think of your trade-in price on the IS250? - As your Lexus dealer probably didn't give you much room to move with the IS350 purchase price, did they give a generous offer on the trade-in value of the 250? - Did you feel that the IS250 trade-in value has already dropped from what you thought the value might have been a few months ago, due to the release of the 350? Thanks

That reminds me - back to novated leases ... The purchase price you can obtain through a novated lease is important. If your salary packaging provider won't let you find your own dealer in order to get the best price, you may end up paying closer to list price and negate the financial benefit of a novated lease. Having said that, the original question on novated leases was posted in the light of the recent IS350 launch, and we've already established that the discount on a private purchase of a 350 right now would be little, if any - so the above point only is only important to those who are looking to buy something else right now, or an IS350 later.

The locations of speed carmeras aren't preset by WhereIs (the supplier of the Lexus sat nav maps). Version 16 allows you to manually mark address book entries with sound-linked icons so that, as you approach the map point, an audible sound is heard. My Lexus dealer was quick to give a speed camera location as the ultimate example of using this feature. Your test IS probably had some speed camera locations in its address book, which would have been pre-configured by someone. Speed camera locations aren't included in WhereIs' directory of points of interest, so you'll have to locate the speed camera locations on the map yourself and add the points to your address book, marking each of them with an appropriate icon. If you already knew all that and are still wondering why you're not hearing anything as you approach the address book location, make sure you've pressed the "I Accept" button on the display panel. The sat nav function doesn't run at all until you've explicitly accepted the notice and disclaimer.

And here I was, thinking that was their original colour lol

More pictures of the CT200h in F Sport trim: http://theage.drive.com.au/photogallery/sydney-motor-show/lexus-ct200h-f-sport/20101015-16ml6.html

I ordered my new 250 in May, and got <10% discount at a time when the factory bonus offer (forming part of the overall discount) hasn't been as good since. So I think 13% discount is unlikely at any time of the year. I agree with Sapphire Cam and others with respect to the likely timing of a discount on the 350. Lexus Financial Services offered around 10.3% back in June - which is rather good for a specialist car financer, although some financial institutions (e.g. credit unions) might offer better. Lexus sometimes offers far better finance offers (<5%), but these appear to be just a form of factory bonus and are unlikely to be available with a newly-released model. But see what Lexus of Brisbane can offer you, as their last such offer was available across the entire Lexus range earlier this year, when such an offer wasn't available in other states. The benefit, if any, of a novated lease will depend on (roughly in descending order of importance): - How far you drive each year - How much you earn - Whether your employer will pass on the benefit of an input tax credit on the purchase of the vehicle to you - Whether the salary packaging provider can offer a fleet-type discount on the purchase price - The flexibility of the salary packaging provider: -- Whether they will allow you to source the best finance deal from any lender you want, or whether you must use their finance company at their prescribed rates -- Whether they will allow post-tax contributions to reduce the FBT liability (this is useful only in some circumstances) -- How much of the service and maintenance items they are willing to package (especially fuel) -- Whether any fleet-type discounts are available on service and maintenance Most salary packaging providers can provide you with a quote to show you whether or not you'll benefit from their services. Just make sure their calculation considers all of the above factors, and that your own calculations consider benefits you may be getting if you DON'T go with a novated lease (e.g. a good trade-in price on your Audi).

Details finally avaiable on the Lexus Australia Website: http://www.lexus.com.au/model/is350/ Price: Melbourne from $72,164 driveaway NSW from $71,072 plus CTP F-Sport (dis-lex-sic's pick) add $7350

No such recess on mine. I believe it's found on some of the earlier IS250's, as the old US Ownner's Manual makes reference to that recess, but the 2009 Australian manual doesn't. (I just thought I'd mention this in case somebody stares at their fascia and asks, "What recess? I must be going blind ...")

No cost - still covered under the 3 or 4-year new car warranty. (Will have to check the paperwork to find out how far it goes!) :D Huh? The standard care package only gives you the 15K service for free, not the 60K service. You must have obtained a bonus service offer (like what they're offering right now on new Lexuses).

On the facelifted Prestige models, the ML is only avilable with the F-Sport, which Lexus defines as a Prestige "option package" rather than a separate grade ... a $12,500 addition on a brand new car (plus LCT and GST).

Putting larger tyres on the front would cost 10-15% more for a set of 4 (according to Phamish in April, using Maxx TT's). So it's a question of whether the extra tyre life from being able to rotate front-to-back is worth the extra upfront cost.

I've had a "baby blue" loaner from Lexus of Chatswood, too! It also had 16" rims ... I can only guess that they swapped the wheels to reduce tyre wear and replacement cost. I'm pretty sure mine wasn't a Prestige, though, because it had the ML audio system, and there's a very noticeable difference in sound quality to the system in my Prestige *envy* Mind you, I didn't sit in the car as long as I would have liked to appreciate the sound ... the odour inside was almost as bad as in a taxi. If you did actually use the same car as I did, k2sty1, I assure you the smell was there before I loaned the vehicle ...

Version 16 directly from the publisher, WhereIs: http://www.whereismaps.com/buy-map-updates_built-in-car-navigation_product.aspx?view=13&country=AU&device=88