mrsel3

Hi All

      I'm currently driving the 2004 ES330 drives great but I would like more speed, HP, does any one knows of any superchip or upgrade I can do just to raise the speed a bit.

Rick  ;)

←

You could try taking out all the seats, carpeting, air conditionoer condeser, entire interior, then give it a real good coat of wax, put some octane booster and drive the car down a steep hill.

You should be able to to increase the performance.

Like HoeBag said you bought the wrong car.

Our cars are not fast and furious, they are slow and curious or 2 slow to curious!

HAs anybody ever tried this quiet car stuff www.quietcar.net ?

If so, any feedback as to how good it works?

The car is so quiet as it is but there is a fair amount of tire roar because of the 17" tires.  The idea of this car being quieter is scary but interesting.. :)

thanks

←

If your car has the mark levinson sound system then you have an answer to your tire roar problem. Just turn the volume up higher and enjoy the great sounds of your favorite music. Which will be louder than the tire roar.

Hi,

I am 23 years old. I purchsed my 02 ES300 when I was 22. ALl my friends nagged me by telling me it was an old man's car. I didn't care, I got a lot of bang for the buck!

As I drive my lexus everyday I notice one thing, all of the other ES300/330 drivers are much older than I am. I am talking primarily the 02 and up models.

I look much older however not as old as the ES drivers around me. Any thoughts?

Maybe its just every ES300 in my neigborhood, or NY for that matter.

I see a lot of younger guys driving the first generation ES.

This won't make me switch cars, just maybe get tintied windows.

So this is why I am curious to the ages of our memebers.

javascript:emoticon(' ')

smilie

←

I don't think that what kind of car you drive will affect how old you look......Sometimes i'll take my wife's 05 es330 to work, and actually feel younger than i really am. I'm 44 by the way ;) Yes it's old to some of you, but still.....

I usually take the rx300 (a womans car to some) or the rx330 (a boat in my opinion). But when i take my wifes es, i feel different. I don't think people think im any older than i am. If i saw a young guy (in their 20's) driving an es, i would think they have good tastes. That's just my opinion.

In 03 i bought my son (now 21 years old) a BRAND NEW LS430. He picked it out and everything. He looked at the IS300 all the way to the SC430's. Believe it or not he picked the LS over the sporty SC430. THAT in my opinion is an old person's car. But he doen't care. He's gotten in 4 accidents since, a total of $13k in repairs, and still drives it today...

Last year my daughter (now 20 years old) was going to college so i got her a new es300. She likes it, and doesn't think she's old either.

This is just my opinion.....A Lexus is a Lexus.....

←

Room for one more kid? I don't eat much!

I am 20 years old.

I love the car, looked at the G35 as well, the interior was better on the _________  <--- put any car name here

I just wish I got the wood steering wheel,:chairshot:    I got the shift knob, but looks like I'm gonna be sending it to american stitches to get the wheel

Imran

←

try ebay for a steering wheel

As says in the '02 to '05 ES brochure:

"Heated seats require leather interior and are not available in all areas."

←

probably if the car comes from a warm state then the hetaed seats are not available or are an option.

Hi,

I am 23 years old. I purchsed my 02 ES300 when I was 22. ALl my friends nagged me by telling me it was an old man's car. I didn't care, I got a lot of bang for the buck!

As I drive my lexus everyday I notice one thing, all of the other ES300/330 drivers are much older than I am. I am talking primarily the 02 and up models.

I look much older however not as old as the ES drivers around me. Any thoughts?

Maybe its just every ES300 in my neigborhood, or NY for that matter.

I see a lot of younger guys driving the first generation ES.

This won't make me switch cars, just maybe get tintied windows.

So this is why I am curious to the ages of our memebers.

javascript:emoticon(' ')

smilie

I'll definitely miss the seat heaters on the accord that its replacing, but I think it's definitely worth it to have a lexus. I'll try to have pics up sometime in the future. Thanks for the input!

←

What!!! no heaters? My 02 has got them. Did yours have the premium package?

HID, rain sensing wipers, wood steering wheel, etc. I thought seat heaters were a standard feature.

oh well. enjoy the new ride. Make sure the dealer takes care of any TSBs that haven't been.

Major ones were front brake pads and rotors, rear door noises, moonroof gasket and cowl noise.

steviej

←

Hey steviej,

How do I find out if any work was done to my car regarding TSB?

If not would dealers do them eventhough my car is off warrant?

its also a 02, with heated seats (Nice and toasty on the streets of NYC!)

custom

←

Are there cold air intkaes for other toyota/lexus that use the 3.0 engine and exhaust?

Maybe for the camry or new solara. The engine camprotment layout might be different but i doubt it. Keeping it the same would keep production costs down.

But mrsel3, 98es is from Tennessee - not from NY where all those dishonest people are!

Seriously mrsel3, NY people (OK, I don't know about Brooklyn) are darned nice and helpful - just like in the Midwest - maybe even better - I have spent quite a bit of time in the Albany area over the past few years.  Upstate NY roads are very good compared to where I live.  Missouri where I frequently drive was rated as having the 49th best roads in the U.S. - that's next to last!  Only one southern state (not saying which but the name also starts with Miss and ends in I) was rated worse.  I think Kansas City was recently rated as having the worst streets in the U.S. - damage from potholes and worse cause many hundreds of $ of damage per car annually. 

I absolutely agree that it is best to buy a car with complete records and receipts although these records usually do not get passed along through an auto auction.  If you are going to buy a formerly leased vehicle, try to buy one serviced at a dealership - it is easy to check to see if it was.

The lessee of my LS was an "old !Removed!" so I might have been lucky.  The main flaws on the car were two little marks on the rear bumper left by the wheel chair he hoisted into the trunk.  Hardware on my wife's wheelchair matches up perfectly with the marks.

←

Try driving in NYC and see the roads there, especially now since the winter has passed. I am talking about city roads!

You are in the perfect time frame to find a low mileage 2002 ES coming off a common 36 - 40 month lease.  These cars should be hitting the auto auctions right now.  Find an auto broker or small dealer and tell him what you are looking for.    This how I bought my current LS when it was three years old and I got it at almost $9,000 less than what the local Lexus dealer was asking for similer 3 year old LS cars.

←

This is a very good point. With leases expiring there will be a nice influx of supply of cars. Try to go for cars from warm states and states with nice roads unlike new york.

ALso check the leased cars throuroughly. People do tend to abuse their cars if they now they will be changing it in 2 - 3 years for osmething new.

←

I doubt if one needs to worry all that much about whether a leased vehicle was maintained or abused. Lease agreements require regular maintenance - the person who leased my current LS when new never missed a scheduled maintenance at the dealer and obviously took good care of the car. Abuse of a leased vehicle carries some very harsh financial penalties the end of the lease. An ES isn't the kind of car that people usually "drive the wheels off". Not that you couldn't get a bad one, but buying a formerly leased vehicle is these days a low risk proposition.

←

Most leasing companies check if the car is cosmetically fine and intact. then its off to the auctions. I never took any of my leased vehicles into the dealer for service, always at my mechanic (unless for warranty work). The lease requires that you upkeep the car, this does not mean take it to the dealer every month.

however 1990LS400 you did the right thing of getting a car from someone who took care of it, atleast on paper.

ALso i am taking about road abuse, say always going over a deep pot hole or constant hard acceleration, playing with the transmission, etc...

NY cars are very horrible because of our road conditions, weather, and people. For $300 i have a friend who will make any car look like new. I have never returned a car with a headache, and the mileage always happened to be just on the money.

Even with todays sophisticated cars mileage can be reset. The dealer has this ability and so do some brooklyn mechanics.

It doesn't matter if you are buying a lexus or mercedes or bently all these cars can be made to look like they are brand new and were never harmed.

My best suggestion look for the guy who has a book of records on the car.

If no books then I suggest a real good aftermarket warranty thats good at your favorite mechanic.

You are in the perfect time frame to find a low mileage 2002 ES coming off a common 36 - 40 month lease.  These cars should be hitting the auto auctions right now.  Find an auto broker or small dealer and tell him what you are looking for.    This how I bought my current LS when it was three years old and I got it at almost $9,000 less than what the local Lexus dealer was asking for similer 3 year old LS cars.

←

This is a very good point. With leases expiring there will be a nice influx of supply of cars. Try to go for cars from warm states and states with nice roads unlike new york.

ALso check the leased cars throuroughly. People do tend to abuse their cars if they now they will be changing it in 2 - 3 years for osmething new.

I 'm looking at a keyless remote for my 97 es300 and was wondering if 30 dollars is to much or does anyone have ant forsale?  ty

←

On a related topic, my keyless remote broke (04 ES330). The plastic just disintegrated in the area around the key.

I'm going to ask the dealer to replace it under warranty on my next visit. Does anyone think they'll give me a hard time about it (calling it user damage)?

←

they will probably say warranty does not cover the key, just the car. Its worth a try though, tell them that its the last car you will ever get from them.

try going on ebay there are many keys there. Then get it cut and come back here to get it programmed.

or you can just open your old key and take out the main unit of the key (the transponder box) and pop it in place of the one in the new key. (I was too lazy to program mine!)

I am looking to add on to our "lexus family" and am interested in purchasing a 2002 ES. I'm willing to spend around $20k, and it seems the only ones in my price range are on ebay. I understand that there are companies that you can pay a flat fee for them to inspect a car, which would give me a little more peace of mind about it. I'm not sure how all the taxes and things would work because I do want to finance. Are you charged more taxes for buying a vehicle out of state??? Or is it worth it to eat the extra $3,000 and buy from the dealership?? Any thoughts/experiences with this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

←

Hi,

Ebay is a very good place to start looking for a car because of the price. It is also bad because you don't see the car. I would first suggest looking for cars in you area or within a reasonable driving distance. Next look at the pictures carefully. Pay close attention to details in the pictures like scratches or dents.

If there are not a lot of pictures then request them from the seller. Also call him/her don't just bid. Most transactions on ebay for cars are closed over the phone. Ask a lot of questions. Nag them, eventually you will get the truth out of them.

I bought my 2002 ES on ebay. It was located about 30 miles awaya so I saw it before I got it. About $4000 difference from ebay and lexus certified. The dealer gave me an aftermarket warranty and everything.

My friend also just purchased an IS300 from a lexus dealer on ebay, got it certified pre owned and at fair price.

Also get as much service information as possible.

I use to buy and sell cars on ebay in 1998 so I have some experience. Not too sure about the taxes, I use to sell classic cars for average price of $5000, sorry.

Good luck with your next purchase.

Well after 1-1/2 years of use, one of the PIAA Xtreme White bulbs in my low beams blew out recently, and now I'm back to stock halogen  :cries:

But at least I got my money's worth with the PIAA, and it's time to move on to another brand.  Ebay's tempting me.. ;)

←

What was the color like? Like 02 ES or purpleish liek mercedes or BMW. I want to eplace the bulbs in my 04 Solara.

Thanks

on ebay there is a set selling for around $900

Just pads or rotors & pads?

In brooklyn? If so where?

Thanks

Is there any way to sync them or reset it?

Thanx

Hi, I recently noticed my Gas gauge and my distance to empty read out are not in sync.

It showed that with 3/4 of a tank i had 110 miles to empty.

After a lot of driving I got to 77 miles on half a tank.

Filled up the tank last nigh and it showed I have 200 miles to empty.

I know the mpg sucked but this is crazy.

Any thoughts?

I have almost 60,000 miles on the car. i got it with 54,000 in august.

its an 02

Thanks

hey, go to www.erebunicorp.com

they have a kit for $1100 looks just like the one on ltuned.com

i am getting it in the summer for my 02

is the problem starting the car or opening the doors using the remote?

there are procedures for both. try searching in th site. 02 and 03 shold be the same. I have an 02 and programmed my key myself using the site.

good luck

I was thinking of installing a remote starter. I do not want to loose the factor alarm and key. Is there a kit that will allow me to keep the factory alram and key. Its getting very cold in NY early.

Thanks

no ist been 3500 miles since my last oil change, there is 58000 on the clock.

how do i reset the gauge myself?

yep!

I decided to take a one day trip to pennsylvania. 200 miles each way. I filled up in NJ and the gauge read 180 miles to empty after filing up the tank. I drove and the gauge graudally read lower and lower. WHen I was heading back i filled up again and again 180 miles left. now i have a little more than 1/4 tank and it reads 60 miles.

I am going to fill it up again and see what happens.

I always use super and warm up the car. It needs an oil change, however i doubt that is the problem , it has only been 3500 miles.

any toughts? anyone at all? don't be shy come on!!!

just did it, worked like a charm thanks!!!!!

how do i get the buttons to work on the new key, it starts the engine fine, but the alrm buttons do not work.

thank you