TerrySmith

Some comments: 1. I did not find this video review (or most other on-line reviews) very useful. It was all subjective or based on the impression of the driver. The BMW seemed to have better steering and the GS seemed to have a better suspension. Ok, what's better mean? 2. The numbers in your chart are more objective and useful but only relate to drag racing performance and fuel economy and not performance driving a road with lots of curves. So maybe if the 2013 handles a lot better than the older GS even though it's a bit slower off the line, it might still be a more fun car to drive. 3. If the 2013 falls somewhat short of the BMW on performance, but is close, and excels in luxury, reliability, and dealer experience and the cost is similar or less, why would it not be a good choice compared to the Audi or BMW? 4. The 4.6L V8 adds less than 40 HP over the 3.5L V6. The the 2013 GS should have an option for the 415 HP, 5L V8 that's in the IS F. 5. Personal preference: I like the exterior looks of the 2013 GS over any of the previous generations even though I think the front grill is a copy of the Audi look. I'm not sure if I like the dash look, but the analog clock is nice. 6. I test drove a 2011 GS450h yesterday with the thought of trading in my 2003 LS 430 for something newer and more fun but still able to carry passengers and be comfortable. I had a glass half-empty reaction: not as fast and does not handle like my IS F and not as quiet, luxurious, or roomy as my LS 430. Or the other way: faster and better handling than my LS and roomier and more comfortable than my IS F. 7. My dealer has several 2011 GS450hs in stock that seem to be about $10K off MSRP due to the pending 2013 GSs. I need to decide quickly (before the end of the year) if I want to buy or lease one and trade in my LS 430. ???

Your height cut off is too low - I'm 6'3" and drive round trip between SF Bay Area and Denver every summer (1300 miles each way). I've gone 16 hours in my 2003 LS and was actually unhappy that it was time to stop. I'm an audiophile and so appreciate the quiet cabin in which I can actually hear the excellent (for a car) ML audio system. I will say that I had my LS 430 driver's seat modified to add some support to my upper back by having an upholstery shop add some padding there. The Lexus dealer (in 2003) actually paid for this. I think a shorter person would not have needed this change. Looks like I need to do something similar to the seat on the new IS F. This time, the dealer is not offering to pay though they will arrange the upholstery work if I want and it will not void any warranty. Kind of like getting shoes that fit, I guess. I also recently drove my IS F to Oregon and back including 9 hours non-stop going up. Again all was fine though the LS gets a slight nod for long distance rides. So this issue with upper back support has made me also think the Lexus are made for shorter people but otherwise I'm very comfortable in both cars. Plenty of leg and head room in both. A Jag never occurred to me due to the reliability issues - glad to see they've improved. At 8

Missed this when I posted above. Thanks for the link.

Ack! Not good news to find out the ML speakers have foam surrounds (between the cone and the frame). Foam surrounds typically decay and fall apart after 10 to 20 years on home speakers and so probably last less than that in the harsher car environment. The size of the speaker is not the only parameter needed to find replacements. Other factors include efficiency, impedance and frequency response. The entire system of speakers, amplifiers and cross-over (filter networks) were carefully designed to work together in these cars. If the replacement speakers or more or less efficient than the originals, they will be more loud or less loud relative to the other speakers (woofers and tweeters) throwing off the balance overall. If the impedance is not correct, the speakers might consume too much power from the amplifiers and also may not work correctly with the cross-over network that filters the correct frequencies to the speaker. Finally, the speakers might not have the correct frequency response and so not sound right. The ML System is a very good car sound system and so needs to be correctly repaired. I would suggest, therefore getting exact replacements, if possible, from the dealer or Harmon International. Also, please note that speakers with deteriorated foam can be repaired back to their original operation. Refoaming is quite common and not too expensive for older home speakers and might be available for these as well. Since I have a 2003 LS with ML sound, I guess I need to start researching this to find out how these speakers can be repaired. Questions to be answered (I don't know these answers): 1. Can these speakers be refoamed? Does Harmon make refoam kits? Aftermarket kits? 2. Who can do the repair? (I know of shops in the SF Bay Area that do this for home speakers, but not sure about these.) 3. Can a car audio shop remove and refoam the speakers? My guess is having a dealer replace the speakers will be expensive so I hope to find more about repair. BTW, mine are fine so far.

Done. Thanks.

I Read somewhere on the Internet that F stood for Flagship and was used pre-1990 as the code name for Lexus (only the LS then) and so was also the F in IS F (and LFA and the future LF), but I don't remember where I read that. Anyway it's not correct. IS F Story ". . . In fact, Fuji Speedway is the IS F's home circuit, and its many turns were the inspiration for the F-logo design. . ." and Fuji Speedway ". . . The last five of [Fuji Speedway's] 16 corners can generate over 2Gs in lateral acceleration, and when viewed from above, they form the shape of the letter F. . ."

Sure, agreed. The LS has a lot more dedicated information displays that I miss in the IS. Thought I read somewhere that F did mean Flagship.

Steve, Thanks for your response and also for taking the time to support this forum as a forum manager. Both much appreciated. FYI, I found the answer to one of my questions (item 3 on my list): directly under the volume control on the dash are two buttons, one with an up arrow and one with a down arrow. If you press one of these buttons it takes you to the next or previous track, depending on the button you push. But if you press and hold one of the buttons until you hear a beep, the control becomes fast forward (up arrow) or fast reverse (down arrow) for as long as you continue to hold the button. I found this in the owner's manual and then tried it in the car. In the LS, these controls are on the touch screen, but not on the IS. To your point, I paid extra for the Mark Levinson Audio / Navigation options on the 2011 IS F and I paid a similar amount extra for those options on my 2003 LS 430 8 years ago, so I was expecting similar capabilities. Also, I was not complaining so much as asking if I was missing something - in one case, I was. And, to put my nit picks about things lost since 2003 in perspective: The LS 430 ML/Nav system includes: CDs, AM and FM radio, cassette and DVD Navigation with voice command. The IS F ML/Nav system includes: CDs, DVD Audio (high resolution, surround sound), DVD movies with surround sound, CDs with MP3 files, iPod sound via a dock cable with on-screen control, audio from files in a thumb drive with on-screen control, audio streaming from a smart phone via blue tooth, blue tooth hands-free cell phone connection with voice command and on-screen command, AM, FM and Sat radio, Lexus safety link, Lexus Inform and HD navigation system with voice command that also shows traffic conditions and alerts, weather, sports reports and stock reports. Aside from the audio / nav system, the LS 430 does in fact have several cool features missing from the IS (doors that closes themselves, park assist, radar cruise) to name a few. Of course, the IS F has much higher performance in terms of speed, braking and handling. Finally, the F in IS F stands for Flagship, which was the code name used by Toyota when they were developing the Lexus line before it was announced. So at least the top of the IS line? Anyway, I really like both of mine and have never met a Lexus I didn't like.

Thanks, I try that.

I recently got a 2011 Lexus and have had a 2003 LS since new. Both have ML audio / navigation systems. I've noticed a couple features missing on the new car and I'm wondering if I'm not using them correctly. Minor stuff, but... 1. 2003 LS clock sets automatically to the GPS, 2011 IS does not. 2. 2011 IS clock settings allow you to set time zone and daylight savings time but these settings do not change the clock which seems to be totally manually set. So what is the purpose of entering time zone and DST if they don't change the clock? 3. On the 2011 IS, I can't find the fast forward or fast reverse controls for the audio player for any type of playback: CD, DVD, iPod, files, etc. Am I missing something? These are available on the 2003 LS. I also miss the shelf in the top of the center-console arm rest. I noticed this missing from a new RX I recently had as a loaner as well as from my new IS F. Handy place to put little stuff. I also don't like the 2011 IS windshield single-shot control. If you're in auto mode, you have to switch through off to get to the single shot. I find I need to do this frequently as the auto mode may not always operate when needed. But since I have to go through off to get to single shot, I might as well just shut it off and go back to auto, which causes a single shot anyway. In other words, when in auto mode, the quick press and release single shot is not really available. On the 2003 LS, I can pull the handle toward me and release for a quick single shot directly from / to the auto mode. Minor stuff on really great cars - and in the scheme of life, these aren't very important. But in some cases, I might be doing something wrong - and if Lexus reads these forums, this could be considered as feedback for future cars. Thanks,

My 2003 LS430 has the perforated leather seats to allow air flow. However, a few of the little holes (perforations) have some dirt or something jammed in them creating white spots on the black leather. Is there anyway to get those out?