Lexus Nerd

The Mekon, I acknowledge this forum (General Lexus Discussion) is probably the best one to use when discussing more than one Lexus model line. Having said that, few of the regulars here check this forum ... Any car forum generally consists of three types of contributing members: 1. Those that are model enthusiasts 2. Those that come to vent about a problem with their own vehicle 3. Those that are seeking advice prior to buying (effectively looking for input from types #1 and #2) You don't see much of the second group here, since Lexus vehicles have relatively few problems. Furthermore, there aren't that many GS enthusiasts in Australia; so you won't see many GS posts at all. However, you can browse the GS model forums yourself and you will find that some late 2000's GS owners have noted problems with rattles. Only one person has attributed such a problem to snapped spot weld while others, though confirming that rattles is a common issue, haven't stated the root cause. Some have just grown to live with the issue. There's been a number of questions in the IS forums about common problems with the second-generation IS line. By all means, browse the forums yourself; in short, though, you'll find few issues with the 2009+ upgraded models. Like the GS, rattles and squeaks do occur, but these are apparent in the first 1-2 years of the vehicle's life and have nothing to do with welds (usually just foam insulation requiring even more foam insulation!). In short: Decide between the GS and IS, based on the functional differences you stated, and not on reliability issues. When test driving, do drive on bumpy roads and make sure there aren't any rattles or squeaks that will annoy you or your passengers.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/114073179031/lexus-confirms-is-f-has-been-discontinued Perhaps this 4-door performance V8 will become a collector's item ...?

Welcome! Your answer to the break-in process starts here: http://au.lexusownersclub.com/forums/topic/12596-is250-break-in-period/

Take a look at the variety of answers given in this thread: http://au.lexusownersclub.com/forums/topic/9674-running-in-the-new-engine There are recommendations given by both dealers and Club members, but also check out your Owners Manual for some basic recommendations (which, perhaps, have more to do with tyre and brake effectiveness than engine break-in).

Meguiar's high-end consumer products: NXT Generation Car Wash Deep Crystal System Polish (pure polish - I don't feel I need an abrasive polish on near-new paint) Ultimate Wax Liquid

Australia is set to sign a Free Trade Agreement with Japan: http://mobile.news.com.au/finance/economy/australias-free-trade-agreement-with-japan-could-see-prices-fall-for-consumers/story-e6frflo9-1226980714601 It's important not to overestimate the reduction in cost to car dealers. The current tariff is 5% of the Customs Value of the car, which is basically - for Lexus vehicles - the cost of the vehicle to Lexus Australia before it is on-sold to Lexus dealers, before the duty is applied. So expecting even a $1500 price reduction on a $30000 vehicle - the article suggests $1000 to $2000 - would be too much, given the CV on a $30000 car is much less than $30000. But it should mean a price cut of at least $2000 on most Lexus models, if the savings are passed onto consumers. (On the other hand, the savings may not be passed on, given that the main competitors are from the EU.) So, who's looking to take advantage of reduced prices? New RC or NX, anyone?

I CU2, you already have the standard 17" tyre, so have a look at the last letter after the tyre size, e.g. 225/45R17 95W Then look up the letter (e.g. W) against this chart of tyre speed ratings: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=35

As mentioned in my previous post, oil consumption and exhaust smell are two separate symptoms with completely different causes. Your exhaust smell, as Abnrml pointed out, is caused by the standard exhaust.

Fortunately, there's a reasonable difference between speedo reading and actual speed when standard wheels and tyres are fitted; so at 100, you could well be travelling below 100, even with the new wheels fitted. But you'll have a much smaller margin, so be careful around speed traps!

No problems with my 3IS but, then again, I have a different engine to the OP. OP reported this problem back in October - I wonder if the problem has been resolved? It sounds weird that turning on A/C would increase the engine rpm at idle ...? I wonder if timetorelax has experienced any idle issues on his 3IS 250 (none I'm aware of)?

The OP was querying the merits of the IS 350, so I'll exclude the rest of the IS line in my response. Some will prefer the more linear torque curve of a turbo, but the main issue that everybody seems to have with the IS 350's engine is its fuel economy. Based on real-world driving, the IS 350 would consume $1500 more fuel over 5 years than a 335i (98-octane fuel in today's money, at 15,000 km/year). But given the chasm of pricing between Lexus and the Germans, one has to remember: fuel consumption issues should be regarded as practically irrelevant in this segment. Most reviews will focus on the F Sport version of the IS 350. This includes the adaptive suspension that is also found on the Australian Sports Luxury variant. I'm not sure as to which "independent rating" you're referring, but let's look at all the notable independent reviews ... Road & Track: "The [bMW's] balance is still there. The chassis still makes you look like a genius ..." 'The IS has ... the feel and responses of a less heavily styled car ... The Infiniti has gadgets to "help" you, the BMW has motor and hereditary manners, and the Caddy is a milled ingot of doubly refined handling. But the Lexus puts it all together better and lets you enjoy it more, for less money—even optioned to the gills—than anything else here.' (Winner: IS 350 d 335i and others) Motor Trend: "Oddly, the BMW features the laziest handling here. As you're probably aware, BMW has been drifting away from its Ultimate Driving Machine image for several years now, moving more toward a techno/luxury future anchored by ferocious straight-line speed ... Its ride was the softest of the group. The Lexus IS 350 was something of a mixed bag ... This car's ride and handling tradeoff, more than the BMW's ... was compromised by the addition of AWD." (Winner: 335i xDrive d IS 350 AWD and others) Car and Driver: "... the M Sport package fails to rectify our complaints about the F30 chassis. There’s more movement from both front and rear axles than expected, more than its predecessor exhibited and, notably, more than either the ATS or the IS displays. Even with the optional suspension, body control falters. Bumps that the Lexus absorbs and the Cadillac shrugs off with a single succinct compression and rebound make the BMW pitch and roll and fight to stay on-line. Compared with the other two cars here, the BMW feels immense and slow-witted." "The Lexus is utterly imperturbable. Bumps that send other cars skittering off-line or scrambling to maintain their course are absorbed and dispatched, but not kept completely hidden from the driver. " (Winner: IS 350 F Sport d 335i M Sport) Torque News: IS 350 d 335i. No explicit mention of suspension but - like other reviews have noted - other factors have spoiled the BMW's handling. In Torque News' case, it was turbo lag and the "stability control nanny" coming on "too strong, too fast". Everyday Driver: IS 350 F Sport d 335i (series of videos) Wheels Magazine: I think you've probably all read this article by now. IS 350 F Sport d 335i Note that I'm only pointing out the suspension comparisons. Were I to focus on what really matters - the handling of the vehicle, which also takes steering response and feel into consideration - the results swing even more to the IS' favour. Sure, the 3IS was late, and it carries over the engines from the previous model. As you say, "the IS has always lagged behind by a generation on the 3 series in terms of handling" ... until the 3IS. Somehow, BMW dropped the ball by replacing its venerable hydraulic steering with immature electric steering, with the result that the new IS 350 beats the current-model 335i sedan in almost every aspect. The question is, will it be better than the next model 335i, which is probably not too far away? Based on the 4-series coupe reviews - some criticising the sports suspension as "too firm" and the steering described as "a little dull" and "still isn't there, yet" - the 3IS could still be as regarded as the better driver's car in years to come.

Incorrect. I used to own E93 325i always had replacement car free of charge when servicing. A "$15 administrative charge" applies at this dealership: http://www.bmwsydney.com.au/com/en/owners/bmw_service/faq.html#nr05 NSW drive-away pricing: Lexus IS 350 F Sport, no options: $81,108 BMW 335i M Sport optioned to Lexus F Sport specification: $117,294 Difference: $36,186 It might be harder to tune, but I think you could do a lot with a spare $36,000 to make an IS 350 leave a stock 335i in its dust ... if that's what you're really into.

1. Have a look at this: http://au.lexusownersclub.com/forums/topic/8170-howto-change-your-maps-dvd/ If you can't see the two tiny holes on your dashboard, or you open it and don't see a DVD slot, then you have a HDD-based map system. 2. If it's DVD-based, refer to the above link. Otherwise, refer to your Owners Manual. 3. It's a standard ISO, but some copied disc formats may work better than others. Whereismaps.com sells genuine maps for less than the dealers, at $295. Forum members are unable to post other online sources here, as this is a public forum and bound by copyright laws.

christea, I have found that the IS 350 depends a lot more on where (and when) you drive it, rather than how you drive it. You can drive either in ECO mode with both ECO indicators appearing, or drive aggressively in SPORT/SPORT S mode; but if you're driving a short distance to a school in peak traffic, you are equally likely to consume 16-20 litres per 100 km. That's just 250-310 km between refuelling, if you always refill at 1/4 full. There are many ways to save fuel consumption, which you can find in many places on the Web - don't be a lead-foot, watch your use of A/C and windows, etc. They all make relatively minor differences. The biggest tips for your new IS 350? Firstly, remember that a new car will consume a little more fuel than expected, until the engine "wears in". Secondly, make sure your tyres are kept to the right inflation; better still, keep them 4-6 psi higher than those indicated on your door frame.

Poor JayJaysISF - he couldn't make it because someone keyed his car. Help him with his paint protection question here: http://au.lexusownersclub.com/forums/topic/12468-paint-protection

Thanks to all who attended. Fourteen 2IS/3IS - not bad given the threatening clouds and chilly weather! Special thanks to those who helped out - DOIT, timetorelax and especially kyo for the barbie.

Final reminder! Looking forward to meeting some new faces and seeing old ones again from 2 pm Saturday. Don't forget to bring your camera!

Welcome, HNG. The 3IS has only been on the market since July 2013, and I bought mine in August. After 8 months on the market, the price that you'll pay is likely to be different to what I paid. I've been told that May is a quiet month for dealers, so now might be a good time to buy. In my personal experience, the reliability I've had with the 2IS an 3IS over 4 years is consistent with that reflected in reliability surveys. Since getting Enform installed at the dealer around Christmas (it's now factory installed), I haven't had a single problem. Yes, the service is great. In one recent survey, Audi in USA scored just as well, but this had more to do with the sales *experience* - dealers walking around with tablet computers - than *service*. In my experience, service costs over your 4-5 year/<75,000 km timeframe would be comparable with the cost of servicing a non-luxury car, but factor in the cost of the "free" loan car or pick-up service. They are likely to be cheaper to service than the Germans, with no expensive turbocharger servicing costs and no expensive dual-clutch transmission to repair or overhaul. Not to mention, the 12 month/15,000 km service is free.

Lexus Australia has comfirmed arrival of the 145 kW NX 300h in the fourth quarter of this year, while the NX 200t will arrive "early in 2015". Both will be available as 2WD or AWD, the 300h featuring "E-Four AWD".

All Lexus vehicles have a four-year warranty (eight years on the hybrid battery). You won't invalidate a car warranty a long as the service the service is done by the logbook. Lexus may also insist that genuine parts are used. A Toyota dealer (without a Lexus service centre) should be able to meet requirements, as might the likes of Ultra Tune; but I don't know how good they are in maintaining hybrid drivetrains.

The NX was officially launched in Beijing today. There wasn't much real information added to what we already knew from press releases made earlier in the month. But we do now know that Lexus' first turbo engine will produce 173 kW and 350 Nm in the NX 200t.

OP, when you confirm the before and after tyre sizes (as Spec said, there's something not quite right there - typo?), please also let us know the air pressures you've been using on both the old and new sets of tyres.

The front-end design is almost identical to a pre-production photo leaked here on our Club forums. New information to hand confirms much of what we new following the introduction of the LF-NX concept, such as the available 2-litre turbo engine. We also now know the NX will offer: An "innovative outer mirror" - whatever that means ...! "World-first door handle mechanism (with a hidden key barrel and integrated lighting)" Optimised for interior space, with a low seating position and best-in-class luggage load length Lexus-first Wireless Charging Tray for all your portable devices Panoramic view monitor Multi-information Display (including a Lexus-first G sensor and boost meter) HUD will be available Rear Cross Traffic Alert (I note that this was available on overseas IS models, but not Australian ones - so it remains to be seen whether we'll see this in Australian NX specs) A 2-litre NA version will be available for some markets, athough it's hard to see Lexus Australia offering an engine with less than the 170 kW or thereabouts promised for the 2-litre turbo.

The images are protected by copyright and other intellectual property protection by Lexus. Licensed to Lexus Nerd for review or discussion of the Lexus NX in this forum. Overseas models shown.

This pic does it for me ...: http://www.autoguide.com/gallery/gallery.php/v/main/news/manufacturers/lexus/2015_nx_exterior_studio_photos/lexus-nx-exterior-41.jpg.html (Source: AutoGuide)