D2X

I use Blackfire products on my '06 IS250 (Mystic Gold) and my car has quite a shine. Washing it is a breeze because dirt and bird !Removed! don't stick. I got my products from Classic Motoring Accessories. They also have an extensive library on detailing. Below is their website link. properautocare.com B)

When I was looking at IS250s in late 2006, I was told by a dealer that the cars come into this country preconfigured for particular regions. I live in So. Cal and I went to the largest dealer in the Western US, Longo Lexus, and they had many ISs and they were in only two configurations with the only difference being NAV or no NAV; everything else was the same. All had automatic transmission and only the colors were different. Heaven forbid if anyone wanted a manual transmission or AWD. The only way to get any of the options is to special order and if you say "special order" to a salesperson, their demeanor changes to not so nice. They want you to take what is in their inventory right now! At one dealer I went to, they had a Breakwater Blue IS250, preconfigured of course, but not exactly what I wanted. The more I said "no" the more the price went down and things were getting thrown in for free. I said to the salesperson that this is a very big purchase for me and why shouldn't I get exactly what I want? For fun, go to the Lexus website and put in zip codes for different regions and see the different packages that come up. The Luxury package is not available in So. Cal, only Premium package with additional options. I called Lexus corporate, which is right here in Torrance, CA, and asked them why Lexus lists lots of options and we cannot get them without special ordering a car. They said that the cars are preconfigured from research showing what is popular in particular areas of the country. Yeah, right! ISs with Mark Levinson sound do not come on preconfigured So. Cal cars and you would think this part of the country would love to have a high-end stereo system. Lexus corporate told me that any dealer would be more than happy to special order a car for me. This is another "yeah, right." I called and visited almost every dealer in So. Cal and most wanted to discourage me from special ordering - they'd make me a great deal on what was on their lot! (I heard that so many times I lost count.) They told me that special orders took 6-8 months and I'd have to pay full MSRP and other such crap. They really don't want to do it. If you find a dealer who will special order for you and not give you a bunch of crap, you are very, very lucky! Glendale Lexus was recommended to me by a friend who special ordered her 2006 IS250AWD. I went there in January 2007, after the dealers' hectic December to Remember which is not a good time to special order since they are trying to unload their inventory and win their year-end prizes. Anyway, when I walked into the Glendale showroom there was a 2006 IS250 in Mystic Gold on the showroom floor. It had the Luxury package and the 17" wheels. Special ordering left my mind and I asked about this car, especially as to where it had been for six months (its build date was 6/06). The salesman told me (and who knows if this is true) that the car had been at Lexus corporate as one of the stable of cars they rotate in and out of the lobby. It's possible. It only had 22 miles on it so it hadn't gone anywhere. This car was not originally for the So. Cal market, with the Luxury package, so I figured it was a special order someone didn't pick up. To make a long story short, the salesman turned out to be a friend of my boss and he cut me a great deal right then and there. Believe me, I didn't hesitate one second. I did not go to Glendale Lexus to buy a car that day; I went to inquire about special ordering. Talk about serendipity! It is a great car and I absolutely love it. I get so many compliments on the color, which Lexus discontinued and replaced with an ugly gold color. Let's hope they bring back Mystic Gold in 2008.

Nope, no new colors for 08 I wish they would bring back the color of my 2006 IS 250, Mystic Gold, which is an absolutely gorgeous light gold color, like expensive champagne. The gold color introduced in 2007, Golden Almond, is not as nice and I have not seen a single 2007 IS in that color. I live in a very large city and you would think I would have seen at least one. I guess I'm not the only one who doesn't care for that color. I get many compliments on the color of my car since it is what the salesperson told me is a "rare" color. Most IS lovers want black, white, or silver. Starfire Pearl is beautiful. Glacier Frost is the white color that takes on all kinds of colors in different light. I've seen a few of the Glacier Frost ISs and they mostly look like they are a light lavender or pink. B)

Go online to Tire Rack and check out the ratings. The OEM tires that come on the IS are not high on the list. My IS250 has the Dunlop tires and they do not do well on wet pavement. I am thinking of changing to Yokohama Advan S4 which has a very good rating. It is very important to me to be able to stop when it's raining. :D Tire Rack