Rap03

And the rest you've missed Plus 10% GST Plus 5% Stamp duty Plus 33% Luxury car tax. Add it up....it stinks. I agree with everything you said except I think its the government thats screwing us the most. Dis. The prices I pulled off the Japan site was without Taxes. Taxes there add about $5k to the price. Even adding 5% Tarrif to the Japan IS250L price only puts it at $56.5k and under FBT. Adding 10% GST makes it about $62k, so the FBT would only be about $1,700, making total about $64k. I'll have that small change ($20k) thank you very much! Also, you have to remember, the prices I got straight off the websites for Lexus US and Japan and are RRP. There has to be add ons to these before the dealers RRP goes in. Now, I have seen a price of about $1,700 to freight a car from Japan to Oz and that includes someone elses fees and insurance, so the likes of Lexus must get it a whole lot cheaper. Again, we in Oz are getting scre#ed over by all the imported car deals, no matter which brand, and Lexus are just doing the same.

Well, he's the go and the part that I think really stinks when it comes to buying cars here. Go to the Lexus US website and look at the prices. Base models for the IS250 is just over $33k US. Now there are a lot on features included, but they also have a lot of options. Main one being the ML sound and Nav package at $3900 US, and $2k US for a Luxury Plus Value Edition package which items are mainly included in the Oz car. Now the IS350 starts at $37.5k US with much the same options and prices. SO, only $4.5k US difference!!!!!!!!! And this is where prices SHOULD BE!!!!!!!!!! Same cars, same set ups, same gearbox, same internals, just a bigger motor that costs Lexus two tenths of bugg@r all to produce!!!! I hope Lexus of Aust is watching, cause, it's about time they stopped scre#ing us all over................... Now in Japan, before Tax prices are IS350 - L 5.1M Yen - F 5.0M Yen - S 4.8M Yen - Base 4.7M yen IS250 - L 4.3M Yen - F 4.6M Yen - S 4.0M Yen - Base 3.7M yen There is a list with add ons. But basically $1Aus = 80yen today. Basically the IS350L would be $64k Aus, and the IS250L would be $54k Aus. So, only $10k difference for top on the line models. Gee, by the way, $54k + 5% import duties doesn't equal $84k which is about what Lexus Oz is selling the current IS250 Lux Sports for!!!! Finsihed my rant and will go and take my pills now!

Atlantis. Please don't tell me you ever believe a car salesman! It has been rumoured for more than 8 months that there was a chance it coming. Finally, some sense has prevailed, now just the wait for the car and the price. No doubt it will start around 80k and be up over 100k for top of the line. Makes you wonder. Most of the components will be the same as the 250, but a bigger motor. 20 odd K just for a bigger motor. We must be crazy!

Does anybody know what duties and other taxes are slapped on by the government when cars arrive here. That is before the dealers pay the 10% GST and any luxury taxes. Also, there was a 10% tarrif on cars and is to go down to 5%. Does anybody know when that is happening (not that the car manufacturers will pass it on, they will have some excuss to keep the prices the same).

kinjiru Yep. There is always the certification to go through. As for the UK get it we'll get it, don't know about that. The UK got the desiel models, but not Australia. Then again, everywhere in Europe get desiel models, and considering they don't drive that far, you have to wonder why. All. If you are looking for the more power in the IS and are happy to pay around the $100k mark or a little more, I believe Lexus of Brisbane were going to have 2 demos come available (may already gone as was told this a week ago) that were going to be reasonably priced. Having just said that, you have to wonder, that a car that would be less than a year old (I imagine), would drop from $140k to around $110k (or maybe even less). That's vey bad depreciation, but then again, could be seen as a great buy.

Ashpoint I have had a Nokia N85, HTC Cruze and now iPhone and all have been good. Even get connected when the phone is left upstairs and car in garage downstairs. When I was using the HTC (on both Windows 6.0 and 6.1) I did find occassional it wouldn't connect when I went into the car, but never had it drop out during any calls.

I don't think so! The "40" is the profile of your tyre. The wide is the "225/255".

Lexus announced some make over for the IS, yep, only just had some 12 months ago. "FRANKFURT - September 14, 2009: Lexus is updating its IS model range, adding a limited slip differential to the ultra-high performance IS F, offering a new F-Sport trim package for the regular IS 250 and 220d models, and introducing DAB-ready audio and new Hard Disk Drive (HDD) navigation systems" "Owners are being given the chance to give their IS a large dash of Lexus F style appeal with a new factory-fitted F-Sport package." "Available for all IS petrol and diesel models and in all available body colours, it provides an IS F-style front grille, rear spoiler and exclusive 18-inch alloy wheels. Interior features include IS F-style seats, steering wheel and, on the IS 250, automatic gear lever." "Navigation and audio systems A new Lexus Navigation System is available in the IS range, using a 40GB hard disc drive (HDD) that makes it one of the fastest and most accurate systems on the market, providing Europe-wide coverage with local traffic information infrastructure for each country. Three powerful audio systems are available: two premium Lexus systems with six-CD changer, steering-wheel mounted controls and eight or 13 speakers; and a 14-speaker Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound System, giving perfect 5.1-channel surround sound on compatible CDs and DVDs. All three systems are now DAB ready and provide both USB and audio jack plug connection for fully controlled use of portable music players and Bluetooth with an audio streaming function. The Mark Levinson audio package now features a “sound library” function, using the navigation system’s HDD to transfer and store music files from CD up to 10GB capacity." DAB is the digital radio system and it is not the same that is being released in Australia. We are getting the DAB+ system. So, will we get these??? Also, did people see the LF-Ch competitor to the A3/BMW 1 series on shop. May not get it in Australia, and if we do, no sooner than end of 2011.

The 18" are a 40 profile.

Latest on IS350. Have been told that end of 2010 will see the IS350 in Oz. Price, only a guess, around the $100k mark, but that is speculation from my source on the inside. Maybe a second hand ISF is a better deal, if you can afford the car and the petrol.

I have standard Lexus 18" wheels on my sports and have found that the speedo reads about 5% over. I know this and aware, so not an issue. I can go faster, by the speedo. My only issue, that this means it will read 105,000Kms when I have really only done 100,000Kms. 10% sounds a lot. As Bluey said, the speed will be a factor of a combination of the size of the wheel and the profile of the tyre. All this gives you is the circumference of the tyre. If you tyres are not inflated enough or worn, then the circumference will be less, but 10% is a lot.

illusivedreams. Not a function available on the Prestige. Only comes with the Sports or Sports Luxury.

illusivedreams. I would agree with you on the lux tax, but looking at the base model, there is no lux tax, so comparing these to OS pricing is realistic. Also, the lux tax is only calculated on the the price over the 57k mark. That is ($cost - $57k) x lux tax% = Lux Tax amt. So, this does add a fair bit when you get to the higher priced cars, e.g. $97k car becomes about $$114k car. Yipped off again. Back to the IS350, my local dealership service guys said that the sales guys have heard something about it may be coming. I think all the IS250 (and probably a lot of other model owners) owners ought to go down to their local dealership and tell them they want one. Only speaking out to the dealers and giving them this feedback will convince them to tell Lexus Japan to send them. Maybe we should start a list on who would buy one (given price is reasonable) and then let lexus Australia know how many they would be likely to sell. Well, I had better go and take my medicine and have a lie down. ;)

Hi all. I have been looking at updating and looking at pricing and wondered why we are paying so much for our IS range (and maybe other Lexus cars) in Australia. Looking at the base model and it is listed around $57k+, where when you look at the US and UK, it works out, after conversions to low-mid $40k. Example - IS250 bottom of range, in US it is $33kUS (Auto) which then becomes $41Aus (80 cents in $). In Uk, it is 23k Pounds (with VAT) which is around $46K Aus (50c in the pound). To try and put in some perspective I looked at the Camery to equate things but UK doesn't have a Camery or like it. Looked at the Yaris, but UK don't have the same models with engine size, but just the low end prices equate to (in Aus $s) Aus $16k, US $15k, UK $19k (1.0 litre model). Looking at BMW, and maybe they feel even more cheated. The price of a 335i model (again converted to AUS $s) in Aus $107k, in US $50k, and UK $64k. Extras still to be added and on roads, etc. So, it seems that luxory car manufacturers in Aust are ripping the public off left right and centre. And before everyone says it's the government or transport costs, etc, I believe the Government charges 10% import duty and then we pay our 10% GST, not that much extra if the base price is right. Transport costs, well, people will tell you that the transport to Aust should be less than going to the UK (from Japan) and maybe US is going to be a little cheaper again, but in all, it is only in the region of $1 or $2k per car. So, where does all the higher costs for Aust come into it? Right hand drive, I here you say. Hmmm....last time I looked the UK was right hand drive, production of left hand drive cheaper than production of right hand drive? Hmmm....same materials and time to make in both. Less import duties in the US than Aust, hmmmm.....what about UK. So, I think we need a Senate inquiry into this, after all, we have to keep those Senators up with that extra money they get from being on an inquirey. Another issue I have is why aren't we getting the IS350 in Aust. I think the UK people are dirty on that as well. After all, it is already make for Japan's right hand drive and Japan usually have higher emissions controls, etc, than the Aust standards, so, shouldn't need to be any mods needed for Aust. But, I suppose, if they did bring them in, it would be another $20k on top of the IS250. Gee, that's a lot for a bigger capacity engine that would cost 2 tenths of bugg@r all extra to produce. What other bits and pieces would you get over the IS250 Sports luxury, pobably nothing. So, that draws to a close on my rant. I do feel better. We need a way to tell these car companies we have had enough of being ripped off!

Khoala I got mine done in July. My car is a Nov 2005 model Sports. I believe the letters did say something about being up to mid 2006. Talking about steering, did you notice any difference? Before I got this letter, I had complained to the local dealership about the feel of the front wheels when the car was on full lock and it felt like the wheels "flipped over". I also complained that everytime I ran along a rutt in the road it was "tram tracking". Since the steering replacement, (and was told it was almost a whole new steering set up), it is driving fantastically. No "flipped over" feeling on full lock, and no "tram tracking". So, I sort of feel vidicated in what I had been telling the buffheads for the last couple of years. Anybody else had any similar driving feelings? Rap03.

Hi Pete. I had the same problem. I also encountered it on my previous IS200. The towbars are all-in-one cow horn shape. What I did was take mine to a steel works place and got them to add on a plate (parallel to the ground) with a hole in it big enough for a bolt through the bike carrier. This worked well on the previous one and on the new one. They had to re-inforce the plate (underneath) with two small pieces as the plate started to bend under the bike weight. Can share a diagram if you still need something done. Also, this hasn't affected the strength of the towbar itself. Rap03.

Hi All Has been a while since I commented on my issue. Over 2 years. I have still had no luck with Lexus and the dealer. They tried an upholsterer and that fix lasted about 2 weeks before it went back to how it was. Took it back and local dealer again contacted Lexus, but again they said they have replaced it twice all ready and sorry, it is not a PROBLEM. They tell me there are many others out there with the same issue. So, if you are one of them, please let me know. I am taking LEXUS and dealer to small claims court over it.

lexlex. Didyou end up buying the one you were asking about, here. If the seller had nothing to worry about, I am sure he would have sent you to his Lexus dealer where he has it serviced where they can give you a rundown on the car's history. I did that for my previous IS200 when I sold it privately and the buyer was very happy to be able to do that.

I was thinking of updating to a 2009 model, but have become very disappointed in Lexus service and also in Lexus not updating features in the "make over" model, like no full media connection (still iPod/MP3 player only), still manual handbrake/foot/parking brake. So, it looks like I am off to VW and the new Passat CC with everything. It's a very good package and a lot less money and most components are the same as the Audi.

First time back to the forum in a while, so have missed a lot of going ons. Just looked at the UK web-site and the 2009 model has a few updates in the make over. Also, they hav changed the lineup classifications. And, one of the major things is that their prices have DROPPED! I don't think the British pound has gone up against the Yen. I think it has fallen as well, so, should we see a price drop in Oz.......... One other thing that I see mentioned in here, if they brought the 350 to Australia, the price would be.......... Well, we all know that basically, if you have a 350 motor or a 250 motor, it would be 2 tenths of buggar all in extra cost to produce, so why are we always seeing HUGH different in pricing. Yes, the 350 might have some other features over the 250, but still, these luxury car makers are just ripping us all off. How often we see the same features ending up in the low end cars (Yaris for one with push button start) and they don't cost an extra. Unfortunately, they have us by the short and curlies, and if we want one the luxury cars (no matter which brand), they make us pay for it, even though the cost of producing those cars is not a great deal more than your every day family commuter.

Latest update. Got towbar via a friend in the trade, so got a small discount, about 10%. Had a professional towbar company install it. They gave me a quote for a little over 3 hours work (what it says in the Lexus install kits to do the work) at a fixed rate. Ended up taking 5 hours to do the install, but there were a couple a ciggy breaks, etc, in that time. It probably could have been quicker, excepted the guy (only one) got stupped trying to fine the connection point for a "live" wire under the dash. Maybe 4 hours may have been a realistic time. And this was for someone not knowing the car and reading the install instructions as he went. So, Lexus, 10 hours, hmmmmm, makes you wonder what they are doing, especially when the Lexus guys would know there way around the car. So, towbar installed and everything is working as it should. Anyone else wants details of installer etc, PM me.

Rusty. Seems to be the case these days. They are now saying it's like 10 hours to fit. Originally, before they had done any, it was supposed to be 3 hours according to Lexus corporate. RRP on the towbars & wiring harness is about $1,080 (roughly). I am trying to get fitted by a Towbar company. Will update you on the price if they can do.

Lexxy. Any photos?

Yep. The Hack is currently the only way to do it. But contact these guys Advanced Ice http://www.advancedice.com.au/index.php as they seem to be coming up with new add-ons all the time. Contacted them last week and they said they will have out (by the end of the year) an adapter so you can plug in an external hard drive or flash drive (USB connection) and hence play your music via the car's system. Hence thousands of songs to play. Goodbye CDs. :-)

Hi Alan. Have seen your postings on the UK site. Not good. Moving to the lucky country. Good on you. Don't know if they have fixed the rattles, but as they are 2 years into production, you would hope so. I have just got a new one in mine (had now for 18 months) which is only there for the first 5 or 10 minutes of driving when first drive of the day. Going to Sydney, you will have some good drives north, south and west, and the car is great on the open roads. Maybe write it into the sales contract, to return and get your money back if any rattles appear in the first 12 months.