Sidney07

Here's some interesting information about "mismatched" tires on AWD vehicles...http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=18.

driving habits will do more than any mod you can do to the car. Common sense...starts and stops...slowly, conservatively. Keep tire pressure up, but with tpms, thats easy. Maybe a K&N filter. But really, the way you drive will do way more than any "mod".

FWIW, our 09 IS 250 AWD consistently gets 27 to 29, with more on a trip...they really can be very economical cars!!!

Man, that is very poor of the dealer to just let it go like that. Doesn't sound like the car threw any codes, so the fuel problem would be suspect. Let us know how it works out...

I'd like to know which companies they were...problem is in no way unique to Toyota. Not sure why they are getting the brunt of government inquiry. It didn't help hearing how they handled some of the complaints though...

As has been stated before, Toyota is only the latest in a long line of SUA (Sudden Unintended Acceleration) issues. S-U-A, they refer to it as, it's that common.

A fairly exhaustive article on the subject : http://www.safetyresearch.net/2009/07/20/s...n-acceleration/

I never had this problem in my '66 VW bug. But the accelerator cable did break every now and then...I carried a spare, clutch cable too.

I think we have too. Just an observation my friend. I did say a "little" easier.

A little salt in the wound...

http://www.egmcartech.com/2010/01/27/gm-of...call-headaches/

http://www.egmcartech.com/2010/01/28/ford-...a-acura-owners/

No doubt people are scared. They want to dump their cars and American automakers are making it a little easier for them.

At first I just thought it was the floormats. Then I read more about the mysterious acceleration problems in a number of cars, and realized it was more than the floormats.

Now, we have Toyota making this unprecedented move...http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704094304575028883557097968.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines

It's costing them hundreds of millions of dollars. Will it start showing up in Lexus automobiles too?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/28/business/28tokyo.html

Perhaps a better link...

At first I just thought it was the floormats. Then I read more about the mysterious acceleration problems in a number of cars, and realized it was more than the floormats.

Now, we have Toyota making this unprecedented move...http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704094304575028883557097968.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines

It's costing them hundreds of millions of dollars. Will it start showing up in Lexus automobiles too?

WOW! Very nice. I always loved the quickness of that car, and I'm sure yours even more so! So do you race it? Looks more like a show car...

Just put some Falken Ziex ZE-912's on my Subaru. Seems like a great value. Haven't had enough snow this winter to really test them out in the snow, but otherwise, I"m liking them after 6K or so.

I see you have a S40...my wife had two of those, prior to her two IS's ( she buys cars in two's I guess...) any mods on that Volvo? I really liked that car! She had a 2000 and an 03.

I'm from the Seattle area as well. Can I ask which dealer?

OEM tires...Potenza RE92's. I know on the Subaru forums for years guys with WRX's have said how crappy these tires are. They came stock on the WRX's as well as other Subaru's. I've had nothing but good luck with them. Don't drive as "spirited" as I used to, but even in the snow on my Subaru they've never let me down. Common sense is a great thing!

^^^ +1 Obvious BEST answer!

^^^dc is right on. Without seeing the car, it sounds like it was maintained well. Just look it over carefully. Maybe bring a friend who you know has an eye for detail. But really, buying an 08 with low miles is really a smart buy!

Let us know how it turns out!

Wow, what a thread. So FWIW, I did my first oil change on our 09 IS250 AWD (man that is one EASY oil change!). Also rotated the tires and gave them a good look. We did have some of the same issues that have been mentioned in this thread on our 07 IS. In fact, that is one of the reasons we traded it in on an 09. I'm happy to say that with 10K on the car, the treadwear seems pretty even. I'll be looking real close in another 5K, and leading up to it, to see how the tires wear, but so far so good. Not sure if it will make a difference, but the 07 had the Dunlops, and the 09 has the Bridgestones. Both tires do very well in the snow, by the way.

Probably the most sensible thing to do...

Sorry about the damage, that must be frustrating at the least...and time consuming.

Oddly, our 07 IS with Dunlops had various tire issues...seemed like quite often the tires had a slow leak.

The 09 with Bridgestones...not a problem after almost a year. I know it's not the tires fault, but just seems odd...

Wow, at first I thought this was just a "mat" issue, bad design, non-attentive drivers, etc.

Now, after a bit of reading, I am at least a little concerned. Some interesting stuff on the web out there....one example :

http://suddenacceleration.com/

Lots more too...

Be safe folks, and Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Interesting post, and welcome to the forum.

The Lexus IS 250 AWD, while perhaps rear-wheel biased, actually works very well. I've driven in 6" of fresh snow, compact snow and ice, and all sorts of conditions in between. We've has an 07 and 09 IS 250 AWD. Both cars have had the "horrible" stock all season tires. Amazingly, I've never gotten stuck, hit a curb, or had the late reaction traction control situation you describe that scare's one "bleep" less. No, actually, the car does very well in the snow, as I'm sure many on these forums will testify to.

While Audi's are wonderful automobiles, they don't even come close to Lexus in reliabilty. But don't take my word for it....do some research.

The Lexus is my wife's daily driver. I drive a Subaru Legacy. While I am partial to the Subaru's AWD system, I have a great deal of respect for the Lexus AWD, as it has earned my respect through experience.

Drive safely.

Crazy space-time-continuum in LA. You drove right through it!

Now that is an odd occurance...I can't see how the battery would do that, but maybe? Let us know if you figure it out..

FWIW, our 07 IS250 had numerous rattles, creaks. The 09 has none of them.

FWIW, my 07 Subaru has all weather mats on top of the carpet mat. Both mats have holes/grommets for the little hook to go through. It's easily tall enough to go through both mats to keep them in place. Never had a problem with it.

Welcome! First of all thanks for your service to our country!

Then congrats on the new ride...our first IS was breakwater blue, secon is Smokey Granite...kinda miss the blue myself....

Welcome cdog! Long time listener, first time caller! That's great and congrats on the new wheels....pics would be appropriate.

Either iPod interface is equally poor. The one in the glovebox, which also charges it and is controlled by the various buttons and such on the unit is the worst. The aux input in the console is maybe just a little better, but a far cry from the one in our 07. In the 07, I distinctly remember listening to Steely Dan's Aja album from the ipod...amazing. Or Earth, Wind and Fire, or James Taylor, or Carole King...they all sounded terrific. In the 09 I'd just assume not listen. Talk radio maybe, but that's just too depressing or it makes me yell at the radio....I know, personal problem.