billnel

From an engineering point of view, the only thing that higher octane ratings give is reduced "pinging" with a given compression/timing setup. Modern automobiles have computer control of the timing that makes up very nicely for the lower octane--perhaps at some loss of power. I have run my RX-350 and my wife's ES-350 on 87 octane since we got them and never had a problem. We may have lost a little mpg, but we sure paid a lot less $pg.

I installed an aftermarket hitch that went in very well and fitted fine. However, I don't know what part number to use for the pigtail to plug in to the factory wire (I do have the towing option). Can you help?

While it's true that you can't send your phone book to a Lexus with an iPhone, the limitation is with the car and not the phone. I have an RX400h and a Tundra with the factory bluetooth and can't sync with either but the add-on Parrot LS3200 in my Honda S2000 syncs with my iPhone every time I start the car automatically. Actually you can argue that both the phone and the car are to blame. The Bluetooth standard uses the term "profiles" to define what BT functions a phone supports. Handsfree, Headset are the common ones for use as a phone or music headphones. When it comes to address books, there are a couple of different profiles that support different things - one profile lets you send one contact at a time (almost a file copy), and another profile supports address book access (viewing the address book on the phone). The iphone allows access to the address book, but not sending contacts. The Lexus supports Contact copy, not address book access. Additionally, the stereo music streaming BT function on the iPhone (A2DP) only supports a subset of controls - so you can send music from your iphone to BT headset or cars that support A2DP, but you can only pause and play - you can't skip to the next track. I would like to see Apple update the BT functions on the phone, as many other phones support all these profiles. Yes, I have simplified my descriptions of things so I did skip a few steps. BTW, if other phones can sync their address books with the Lexus, then wouldn't this make the iPhone the problem and not the car?

The blades have a winter position which is designed to prevent them being frozen by ice--you have to force them up a little bit and then they will click into place--it's probably about 10 degrees counter-clockwise. I discovered it by accident when they wouldn't go all the way down last summer and I was getting bugs all over them. I asked a dealer and was told about the winter position. In the winter position, you can fold the blades up 90 degrees from the windshield and remove them from the arm.

I have an Escort, for which I tapped into the wiring in the overhead console. You have to take out two screws in the sunglass compartment and fold the console down. Then use a circuit tester light to find a wire that is hot only when the ignition is on and a ground wire. You might want to find an auto electrician to help, but my setup works fine and I don't have to fool with turning the detector on and off every time I start the car.

If you put your owner's manual in the "goofy void space, you will have much more space in the glove box for the other things you want to store. The power outlets in the center console allow cell phones, etc., to be powered while connected via Blue Tooth The handy fold-out side panels provide plenty of space for gum, water, firearms, etc. I find the 2010 cockpit design to be the best I have seen, and the mouse-like controller for electronic functions rocks!