jim7485

I'll keep you posted, but the most likely outcome is that I will trade the car in, since I'm sort of freaked out now.

Thank you for your reply. I will be picking up the car this afternoon. I wrote an email to Lexus Corporate and also filed a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Admin. I will update this thread when information is available. Thanks Jim

I had a similar issue but my car had over 200,000 miles at the time. Are you hearing any noise from the axles? It would be a loud clicking/thumping sound. Your post doesn't mention if the car is AWD or rear wheel only. If AWD, it may be impossible to find re-manufactured axles. I drove my car for several months with loud axle shafts while hunting for replacements. I finally found a wrecked 07 IS250 AWD in a junk yard. I bought both axles for $200, then had a local shop swap out the bearings and rubber boots at a cost of $75. Thereafter, I installed them myself. Very tough job, not recommended unless you have all the right tools, time and knowledge.

2007 IS 250 with approximately 240,000 miles. I am the original owner and the car is totally stock. The electric power steering stopped working several days ago. This was upon start-up after sitting for about 90 minutes, not while driving. The dealer checked the car out and held if for several days. Their 'repair' was to unplug the car's computer and plug it back in. Now the steering works. They tell me that no further repair is necessary. This all seems very odd to me. I'm scared out of my mind to allow my kid back in the car (18 year old new driver). It was literally impossible to turn the wheel when the steering went out. There was a steering campaign several years ago (9LC), but they tell me that my VIN is not in the range of cars needing repair. Questons: - is it possible for the steering failure to re-appear? - could the steering fail while driving the car? - is it safe to drive at all? All replied appreciated. Thanks Jim

I'm in the habit of un-buckling as I approach the house to either get the mail or navigate into the side entry garage. The warning chime starts immediately, which seems sort of dumb. Geesh - I know it's unbuckled... I did it... so I don't need to be warned. This is perhaps the smallest-ever annoyance, but is there any way to add a lag time before the seatbelt warning chime kicks on? or... better yet, any way to turn it off? I checked the personalized settings menu, but don't see it. Thanks jim

With my 250 AWD a month old, I just completed and returned the initial Lexus survey. Under the category "What do you like best?", I wrote smoothness of engine/transmission. This is my first-ever Lexus, and soothness is the most noticeable advantage over my former American makes. Is Lexus known for smooth transmissions? Many other cars hunt for a proper gear or are very coarse when the pedal is stabbed hard. I just got back from a 600 mile trip in a Chebby HHR that had only 1800 miles on the odometer. The car could not keep rubber on the road. The 'low traction light' blinked even when accelerating on dry pavement. Power intteruption was oddly random and probably dangerous. Torque steer was really bad. I was glad to get my 'real' car back after turning the rental. What IS features do you like best? jim

I have about 1700 miles on my 2007 IS 250 AWD. It's been pulling slightly to the left, which is most noticeable on the highway. Is this caused by uneven tire pressure or alignment? I've never owned a car equipped with low profile tires and none of them look low. Also, (if it's not tire pressure) should I take it in now or wait till the 5000 mile service? Thanks jim

I've had my 2007 IS 250 AWD for a month now and am overall very pleased. It's gotten cold here in the past few days, around 15-20 degrees. For the first 10-15 minutes of cold weather driving, I hear clicking/rattling from the dash or windshield. It's not the loud popping sound that others have reported, so I'm wondering if this is a warranty/TSB item or just an annoyance that I must live with. Thanks in advance. jim

I'm a new IS 250 AWD owner- less than a month. We had our first ice/snow here in the past two weeks. I am very pleased with the traction control. I get a brief dash-light under light slippery conditions, which turns to a beep on more extreme ice. I think the car has a rear wheel bias, which causes the back end to release. That said, this is the first car I've ever owned with stability control, and I have no complaints. It's a bit odd when the car 'corrects itself', but it seems to work very well. I have stock rubber and see no need for snow tires.

I was in a nearly identical situation at year end. I test drove many of the same cars as you and came to the conclusion that I wanted the IS 250 AWD. Sticker price on my car was just under $36,000, and I wanted to pay invoice, which I think was somewhere between 30-31. The conversation went something like this.... REP: "We sell them at MSRP. There are no discounts available." After a 20 minute test drive... REP: "How'd you like it?" ME: "I like everything but the price." REP: "We could drop it by around $1800." How silly is that??? Fast forward 5 days with the same guy. ME: "I stopped by another dealer and told them I would buy a car this week for cash. They beat your price by $1000." (Which was true). "I'd like to buy it tomorrow, but I need to pay still less... $32,000 is as high as I will go." REP: "That's impossible". ME: "OK, I'll continue shopping, thanks for your time." Surprisingly, he called me back in less than 5 minutes and agreed to sell the car at my price. I picked it up the next day. He also gave me $1000 more for my trade, even though he knew what the other dealer offered. I'll never figure that out. There are 4 dealers within a reasonable drive, all owned by just two companies, so I didn't have much bargaining room either. They had 8 cars on the lot- not a huge inventory, but it was year end, which helped. I'd suggest you stick with a price. Someone will probably come to you near month end if things are slow. For what it's worth, I started shopping in mid-December. By year end, ALL of the sales reps from Lexus, BMW, Acura, Audi and Lincoln hounded me with last minute calls. It may not be possible to get a sub-invoice deal, but you can probably come close.

http://pressroom.toyota.com/Images?p=1&amp...a=%2B08LexusISF Here's a teaser --- Also will show this concept vehicle 01/08/2007 Detroit January 8, 2007 - Detroit - Lexus unveiled the IS-F high-performance luxury sedan and the LF-A sports-car concept at a press conference today at the 2007 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The all-new 2008 IS-F high-performance luxury sedan will deliver more than 400 horsepower from a 5.0-liter V8 engine when it goes into production. The LF-A supercar concept is equipped with a V10 engine that produces more than 500 horsepower. Together, the two exciting new cars make a dramatic statement of Lexus performance. The IS-F and LF-A are very different vehicles, yet they share the same DNA, design philosophy, and heritage. Prominent in both vehicles, the "F" designation was first conceived nearly 20 years ago with a project internally coded "Circle-F," with the "F" standing for "flagship." This was the original code for what became the Lexus Division. The Circle-F designation further evolved into the code name Flagship One, or F1, and the first F1 concept developed into Lexus' first vehicle, the LS. Since then, the "F" code has come to signify a special vehicle program within Lexus that falls outside the normal engineering and development process. "Lexus has long been perceived as the maker of mainstream luxury vehicles, but the unveiling of the IS-F and LF-A not only changes this perception, it also introduces a new Lexus marque," said Bob Carter, Lexus Division group vice president and general manager. "The 'F' shared by both vehicles is the signature for a new high-performance marque conceived by an engineering team that dared to turn their dream of 'a Lexus like no other' into a reality." IS-F Performance Sedan Much of the development of the new IS-F took place at Fuji Speedway and the Higashi-Fuji Technical Center in Japan. The IS-F is based on the proven rear-wheel-drive Lexus IS, which is equipped with a double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension. As well as the IS performs, Lexus engineers demanded much more of the all-new IS-F. The result is a performance tuned 5.0-liter V8 engine, topped with specially engineered heads fed by a two-stage intake system, that produces 400-plus horsepower and more than 350 ft.-lbs. of torque. The all-new IS-F is equipped with engine-oil and transmission-fluid coolers for high-speed performance and a cylinder head-scavenging oil pump for high g-force driving. The IS-F engine is mated to the world's first eight-speed direct sport-shift transmission. A new torque-converter lock-up control was developed that allows for a direct, crisp gear change through the constant lock-up of the torque converter in second through eighth gears. In Drive mode, the IS-F transmission performs with great smoothness, and the torque converter allows for great launch ability for fast standing-start acceleration that will register a zero-to-60 time in less than 4.9 seconds. This unique transmission also features an advanced Manual mode. A pair of paddles located within a fingertip's reach behind the steering wheel enables the driver to make ultra-fast up-shift gear changes within a tenth of a second. Downshifts are accompanied by automated and incredibly precise throttle blips to match engine RPM to vehicle speed. The impressive acceleration achieved by the IS-F requires it be equipped with heavy-duty Brembo brakes designed to the specifications of the Lexus engineering team. Huge, 14.2-inch cross-drilled front discs are gripped by rigid, powerful six-piston aluminum calipers, while 13.6-inch rear cross-drilled discs feature two-piston calipers. High-friction brake pads are equipped on all four wheels. The brakes are finished with the Lexus name displayed on the calipers, a first for a Lexus production vehicle. The IS-F features custom-designed 19-inch forged alloy wheels as standard. The wheels were built to Lexus specifications by BBS and are surrounded by high-performance sport tires. The attention to performance also extends to a modified suspension that lowers the entire car by more than a half-inch when compared to the base IS, and one full inch when compared to IS models equipped with 18-inch wheels. This specially modified suspension allows for an exciting and energetic drive, whether on a race track or the streets. The IS-F features an all-new three-mode version of Lexus' Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system. In addition to the Normal mode, the new VDIM features a Sport mode that allows the driver to push the car even further before its braking-, throttle- and steering-control systems kick in. The third VDIM system mode is Off, which allows the driver to push the IS-F to its ultimate level of handling performance. The attention to performance is complemented by modified styling cues that differentiate the IS-F from the standard IS. Lexus engineers provided the IS-F with a dual-exhaust system and quad-tail pipes, wider front fenders, and a larger grille and rear spoiler. Both the hood and lower intake were enlarged to accommodate and cool the V8 engine. Like the exterior, the interior of the IS-F receives unique styling with aluminized composite trim and special surface treatments. The instrument panel includes an oil-temperature gauge and shift indicator-lights, while the "F" logo is showcased on the steering wheel and rear-center console. In addition to the usual Lexus standards of comfort and convenience, the interior of the IS-F features specially shaped and trimmed seats, which hold the driver comfortably and securely in place. The special sport seats are available in black or a unique high-contrast white and black trim. "The intent of creating the IS-F was not to be a competitor to other performance-sport sedans," said Carter. "Rather, the goal was to create a true performance sedan in a uniquely Lexus way-one that is totally authentic with a unique interpretation of raw driving thrill at all speeds and provides a whole new definition of 'usable power.'" The IS-F will arrive at Lexus dealerships in early 2008. LF-A Sports Car Concept The LF-A sports-car concept was originally shown at the 2005 NAIAS to express a bold new direction in styling for the Lexus brand. The goals for the new LF-A are no different than they were with the original concept: To build a supercar with world-class performance that is uniquely Lexus. As with all new Lexus vehicles, the styling of the LF-A is rooted in a design direction called L-finesse. The concept of L-finesse was used to shape and detail the original LF-A, and it was used to reshape, redetail and redefine this latest version. Lexus has further refined the styling of the new LF-A to enhance its exotic nature with a greater use of curved surfaces and interesting details. The running gear of the LF-A is just as it was with the original, powered by a high-revving 500-plus horsepower V10 engine. Its front mid-engine placement, along with a rear-mounted transaxle and rear-mounted radiators, allows for excellent weight distribution. The horsepower, superior aerodynamics, and revised styling makes a top speed of 200 mph not only possible but probable. An "F" logo, indicating the vehicle's status as a part of the new "F" marque, is located on each front fender. "The first LF-A was a pure concept, but one that we went so far as to conduct engineering analysis on," said Carter. "This latest concept is much closer to a vehicle that we would bring to market, and one in which we will be gauging consumer interest." Lexus IS-F Preliminary Specifications Powertrain Engine: 5.0 Liter V8 Estimated Horsepower: More than 400 Estimated Torque: More than 350 lb.-ft. Transmission: Eight-speed direct paddle sport shift gear box Brakes Large diameter cross-drilled discs Front/Rear: 14.2 inches/13.6 inches Opposed aluminum calipers Front/Rear: Six piston/two piston Wheels Forged aluminum wheels Front: 225/40R19 (19 x8) Rear: 255/35R19 (19 x 9) Performance 0-60 MPH Acceleration: Under 4.9 seconds Fuel Economy: TBD Emissions Rating: ULEV II Dimensions (inches) Overall Length: 183.5 Overall Width: 71.5 Overall Height: 55.5 Wheelbase: 107.5 Lexus LF-A Sports Concept Preliminary Specifications Powertrain Engine: V10 (under 5.0-liters) Horsepower: More than 500 Top Speed: Approximately 200 MPH Tire Size Front: 265/35R20 Rear: 305/30R20 Dimensions (inches) Overall Length: 175.6 Overall Width: 74.6 Overall Height: 48.0 Wheelbase: 102.3

Well then my theory was correct. I don't have the memory seats, so I don't have the tilt mirrors. The sales rep was mistaken. He spent considerable time describing the car's features but also spent a fair amount of time telling me how to fill out the survey I am supposed to get in the mail. Basically, I was asked to mark everything with top marks or he fails. Top marks ? for the mis-information I got ? I don't know.... It's a small detail, but one that I sort of want now that I don't have it -

It appears that all that power is causing the wheels to fall off- whoa

I hope to be at the Detroit Auto Show for an industry preview event on Jan 11th. Gotta get (and post) some pics of this fine lookin beast which will be unveiled at the show..... jim

Thanks for the prompt replies. As I suspected, the sales guy musta been wrong. I would ideally like to have a few more options without buying the navi, but it certainly is a well optioned base model. jim