Jazzed up Toyota

Seems like my Yaris seat is more comfortable. The "bucket" shape of the IS seat gives me the feeling that there is something large in my right pocket, but the uphostery is prettier.

Probably a little late for you, but others may be interested. Just saw this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110580174590&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMESELX%3AIT

************************************************************************************************* There is an announced recall to replace the valve springs on second generation IS's up to 2008 as of July 2010. Look into this. Otherwise, the springs may break and you are in for a major mechanical problem.

Then why does my dealer insist I come in ever 3,000 miles, and even sets my service indicator for that?? This is the part I don't get. I know most manufacturers are moving away from the 3k oil change interval with the modern oils. Heck, I got 240k+ miles out of a nissan truck using synthetic oil with 25k/1-year change intervals. But the on-line maintenance schedule indicates oil changes every 7500 miles. And they even recommend different types of work depending on whether you're on the 7500 or 5000 interval, which is based on your driving conditions. Lexus says the warranty is good regardless of which interval, but I want mine to last a lot longer than the warranty. Maybe I'll do some sort of hybrid with oil changes on the 5k intervals, but the more intense work on the 7500 mile cycle. It would be way too easy for me to just knuckle under and take it in at 5k intervals. Most car manufacturers list two service schedules, one for severe and one for normal use. I have no idea why that online schedule is different than the one in the printed manual. However most owners I have talked to are going with the 5000 mile oil changes. Back in the day, manufacturers recommended 3000 miles but with a filter change only every other change. I never went along with that because I couldn't see running new oil through a partially dirty filter. *************************************************************************************************** The answer, my friends lies in antiquity. During the days of leaded gas, cars should only be driven 3,000 miles before oil changes. The reason was that as an engine sits (not running) gasoline seeps down the cylinder walls into the crankcase. The tetraethyl lead in old gas nutralized the detergents in oil. With unleaded gas, this does not happen. Many "old timers" don't know this and stick to the 3,000 mile intervals, dispite what all the owners' manuals say. And, of course, anyone who can make a profit off this outdated interval, will! Since the dawn of unleaded gas, I have change the oil (regular oil) in as many as 11 vehicles at 7,500 mile intervals and have driven them all over 100,000 miles and they were still strong, when I sold them. The only car I change every 5,000 is my Yaris. I commute 85 miles a day and that is a small engine and revs frequently. The new IS350 will get 7,500 intervals like all my other did. Do it for yourself and the environment. Stop wasting oil. Leave that to BP.

Then why does my dealer insist I come in ever 3,000 miles, and even sets my service indicator for that?? This is the part I don't get. I know most manufacturers are moving away from the 3k oil change interval with the modern oils. Heck, I got 240k+ miles out of a nissan truck using synthetic oil with 25k/1-year change intervals. But the on-line maintenance schedule indicates oil changes every 7500 miles. And they even recommend different types of work depending on whether you're on the 7500 or 5000 interval, which is based on your driving conditions. Lexus says the warranty is good regardless of which interval, but I want mine to last a lot longer than the warranty. Maybe I'll do some sort of hybrid with oil changes on the 5k intervals, but the more intense work on the 7500 mile cycle. It would be way too easy for me to just knuckle under and take it in at 5k intervals. Most car manufacturers list two service schedules, one for severe and one for normal use. I have no idea why that online schedule is different than the one in the printed manual. However most owners I have talked to are going with the 5000 mile oil changes. Back in the day, manufacturers recommended 3000 miles but with a filter change only every other change. I never went along with that because I couldn't see running new oil through a partially dirty filter.