thrang

So why did you buy a Lexus then? Just donate all that money to Sally Struthers.... So anytime you think you are wronged, you shouldn't say ANYTHING because there are less fortunate people in the world. Moronic....

I have the Mark Levinson system, so even if I create the hybride disc, how do I load it? The current data is on the car's hard drive, not an ejectable DVD. My understanding is that you must have special HW to connect to the car to perform an "upgrade" process...what dealer will do this with a non-OEM disc? None, I suspect... (I'm in northern NJ) The GPS has a separate DVD drive that has nothing to do with the sound system. It's located under the rear cargo floor. As I understand it, you can get the upgraded data from the 6.1 version but place it onto a DVD that has the older 5.0 operating system. In that way the older system will continue to function as it does now, but you get the latest maps etc. If this is correct there is no "upgrade" process for the the older machines, you just load the new DVD into the drive. As for the newer systems, this would be more like a "downgrade", so I'm not clear if it would work going in that dircection or not. No, the nav data is installed on the ML HDD - and according to the Lexus TSB, there is a special HW kit you must interface with the car when performing a nav upgrade....

I have the Mark Levinson system, so even if I create the hybride disc, how do I load it? The current data is on the car's hard drive, not an ejectable DVD. My understanding is that you must have special HW to connect to the car to perform an "upgrade" process...what dealer will do this with a non-OEM disc? None, I suspect... (I'm in northern NJ)

To others reading this post: Whether you agree with Steve, me or somewhere in between, chime in. This is an open forum, and I want to hear what everyone has to say. Hi Being new to the forum and after reading the various posts about the usability features, and being invited to chime in, these are my thoughts. I am totally against the driver being able to delve into the nav system while driving. I also wish I could find an electrical device that could disable all cell phone within a mile radius of me. I daily watch people run red lights, swerve out of their lane, and do other unsafe actions. About 99% of the people I see have a cell phone to their ear. I have a cell phone also and am not hampered by the limitation placed on me by my 2005 LS 430. While I agree that certain things should be operator choices, some things are better left to others. In California, the helmet law was finally passed and motorcycle deaths went down. Personally, I think that should be the operators choice but alas it's not. In the lawsuit happy time we live in, Toyota must protect their interests. Think about McDonald's and the lawsuit by the woman who burned herself with the hot coffee. Just my feelings. Why not limit the speed of all their cars to 65 mph? Take out phone integration completely. Disable all audio controls, and while they're at it, make all the cars one-seaters, since talking to fellow passengers is probably the biggest distraction of all. Sorry to be sarcastic, but bad drivers exist regardless of how many or how few distractions there are. That's ultimately a individual proclivity. And the lockout brings its own set of issues. Mentally, speaking out certain directions can reduce your focus, and pulling on and off the road, sometimes through lanes of traffic, to get to the POI features can't be considered safe. I doubt this is about liabilty, or all auto manufactuers would have the same attitude. BMW is cavalier about lawsuits? I think Lexus just lumped this decision in under subjective "safety" considerations, and they need to reconsider this. It would be very easy to provide a waiver process that you activate and the system records if they were concerned about lawsuits. And with all the systems out there (OEM and aftermarket) for all these years, can anyone point to a plethora of lawsuits by drivers that got into accidents because of full-access nav systems? Video is very different - that requires continuous monitoring, and should be disabled when driving. But nav access is temporary, like accessing many other functions of the car, and should be enabled.

M daughter is now driving my wife's old 1999 RX-300 (with Nakamichi stereo) Does anyone know if it's possible to have an installer put an aftermarket system in the car, presuming he creates a custom faceplate? I mean, under the unique-looking console, is there a good old double din spot in there? Thanks

Contact your service manager - I believe there is a TSB to replace the b-pillar column facing, if this is the area you're talking about. Something about us fat-butt American's rubbing up against it too many times when we get in and out of the car (my assesment, not the service managers'...)