July 2025
Hi everyone,
I’m trying to find somewhere in Suffolk to change the automatic gearbox fluid and filter on a 2012 Lexus IS250.
Any recommendations? I would go to the main dealer but they will only do a drain not a full fluid change. Equally, I don’t want it hooked up to a flush machine.
Without wishing to sound like Bill Clinton (I think that was him?) there is a third way which a previous mechanic (wrong end of the country now) i used to go to did, which involves undoing one of the downstream ATF fluid lines, then running/cranking the engine, topping up the gearbox with fresh fluid as you go, that way you are only using the gearbox’s own pump to replace fluid, repeating till fresh fluid is coming out of the downstream pipe.
I know there is constant debate about ATF fluid changes. I have had it done on two previous cars without issue. The conclusion I have reached is that ideally, the fluid should be changed before it’s black and dirty. Change it too late and you risk removing the remaining friction that’s allowing forward progress or clogging up narrow passage ways with free’d up debris. Change it too early and the only argument is you’re wasting your money. So a goldie-locks interval must exist! I see that Lexus Europe recommends every 6 years under severe usage which includes town driving.
Anyhow, I know the risks. Any recommendations for a specialist in or near Suffolk?
Thanks
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I am after suggestions for a small SUV to replace my 2011 Toyota Yaris.
I have recently spent time driving long distance in a SUV and honestly now I have come back to my old Yaris I do not think that I can go back to being so low down! Seriously though I have been thinking about getting a bigger car for a while,more cabin space a bigger boot and a few more mod cons like having electric back windows! ... Read more
I’d go for a Yaris Cross
...
Hi our daughter has lived in France since 09/20 and is visiting for two weeks in Aug. Our insurer (AA) can't do temp cover for people who don't live in UK.
Has anyone used a temp cover company they'd recommend?... Read more
It's actually cheaper to rent a car than take out temporary cover for her (plus easier for us as well) so that's now the plan.
Thanks for earlier replies.
We were always told that cam chains will outlast cam belts but only certain manufacturers chains .
... Read more
Maybe we had it right with the push rod operated valve system as in the 105 E Ford Anglia which went on to power several Cosworth race engines.
Or, at the other end of the power spectrum, the cog driven camshafts in the fabulous air cooled boxer 12 of the legendary Porsche 917........
Hi, we're pondering buying a cabriolet for touring in UK and Europe. We'd keep it for a coupfe of years and then probably sell it. I like the idea of an MX-5 but it might not be so much fun for swallowing long motorway stretches. A4, C-Class around 10 years/ around 70-80k would appeal.
Thoughts on models that have decent reliability in that age/mileage? Read more
For pottering around locally they are a lot of fun but not for touring. For touring aircon is essential IMO.
They also have the crash protection of a soggy cardboard box, should something unfortunate happen....
One of the big US hire car companies is using Ai to detect the slightest damage to its cars when you return them to the depot.
The car is driven though a special bay with detectors covering 360 degrees.... Read more
And yet when I dropped a car back at Los Angeles Airport a few weeks they couldn’t have been more laidback.
As long as it had a wheel at each corner they weren’t particularly bothered.
I'm currently driving a Ford Focus MK3 Hatchback, and as far as hatchbacks go, it's pretty spacious in the boot and for passengers.
I am however looking for something bigger, that I can fit in a pram and some extra bits and two car seats in the backseat without it feeling cramped.... Read more
I had a Toledo. The interior was indeed a bit...er..primitive. Brilliant for kids though as everything is made of incredibly hard plastic.
I have been spending a lot of time with a mate taking him to look for a new or newish car.
He seems to tust my judgement a bit.... Read more
Unfortunately, Mazda seemed to have dropped the stone (light cream effectively) leather interior option. I have a 23 plate CX-30 with this and with the light headlining, it has a really nice and airy interior. There are lot of soft touch materials around the interior including the door cappings which tend to be hard plastic on so many cars. Apart from the styling of a car, the interior has a big influence on my buying.
Hi recently got wacked for £40 of bank charges after returning a hire car because the hire car company charged the damage deposit of 900 Euros to my card then returned it, rather than simply taking an imprint or charging 0.01.
Not had this happen before so a nasty little surprise.... Read more
Barclaycard - fine booking in the UK but abroad:-
"Barclaycard charges a 2.99% non-sterling transaction fee on purchases and cash withdrawals in foreign currencies, both within and outside of Europe."...
Trying to decide if its worth shipping tools back to the UK from Taiwan, The Price and Weight for 10 socket sets of a range of quality was obtained from Amazon. with a UK postcode set as the delivery address.
Amazon arent necessarily cheapest (Prime Tools seem to do Bahco better, for example) but they usually list the weight.
I dont believe one always needs best quality tools, but you might need better in the UK than in Taiwan, because rust, and nice tools are ...er...less nasty, so If replacing in the UK I MIGHT use Halfords Advanced or Sealey Premium for simplicitygood vibe//lifetime replacement/ (despite my age),
My Taiwan tools are probably not that good on average, though many are King Tony or Black Hand, both of which seem fine
Price/kg ranged from 63.05 GBP for a Bahco S138 set (bit of an outlier) to 6.67 GBP for a Pollok 216 set, with an average of 19.52/kg.
This approach could be extended to other categories of tools, but for some non-reason Amazon is now insisting on US pricing, so that'll do.
So 20 quid a kg is now my arbitrary cutoff top price for tool shipping. Shipping is expensive, but AFACT at present without specific quotes (Shippers want weight/volume before quoting, while I want their rates so that I can decide what's worth shipping, generating a bit of a chicken/egg/Catch 22) , doesnt seem to be quite THAT expensive,
As long as I dont get stuck with import duties for my old junk Read more
I was just about to mention EVA, incredible baggage allowance by modern standards.
Thank you very much, I will contact them.