LEX-SV

btw - Ask for a discount.

Great reports on the ES hybrid.

Lexus pics are always welcome here.

Cheap is good in this case.

Possibly being considered. Wow, but I want to leave the building if they spin those rollers that fast! Might need equipment upgrades.

I wonder if smog testing hybrids with current process and methodology will be useful, I assume most hybrids run in full electric mode during the short cycle on rollers. Maybe that's why no smog test is currently required.

I like the smokey granite mica color, same color as my IS350. Your wheels came our great in the darker color. I'm thinking of having my Mazda CX-5 wheels refinished like that. Results are impressive, your wife will love that car!

Wow, nicely refinished, the step by step pictures are great. What color is your ES350? btw - I have 35% tint 3M CS on all-around on my 07 SGM IS350, works very well (done 5 years ago).

I vote, take the ES for the road trip. Better gas mileage, less conspicuous, still has decent economy. Leave the pristine LS in garage for a few weeks. Either way, the trip should be fun.

I've always thought the factory sub was pretty good...

Bummer on the dash squeak. Maybe in a couple of months Lexus will have a TSB out for this problem.

^ What springs or coilovers on your IS350 with 20's?

Customized us one way to view them...

Yes, IS350 is mostly a weekend car, past few years been about 5K miles annually.

Well done Lexus. At 47K miles on my 2007 IS350, one out of warranty repair was a brake light switch. Still on my original battery, I am wondering how long that will last...

I am not surprised by the end result of this incident. Race-car driver reflexes are not effective in this street setting where the fatal crash occurred, because the speeds were way too high for street conditions and environment (like 2x). Had the speeds been more reasonable (not necessarily legal speed), recovery would have been possible. Bad judgment to begin with, bad results in the end. On a closed course race track the recovery from loss of control can more easily the accomplished before hitting objects (and even then the objects are designed to absorb impact), plus plenty of runout room for recovery. Yeah, yeah, some of us are fortunate enough to have owned cars/Porsches with top speeds well over 150 mph, not that it matters here. Using that kind of speed in some tight industrial park public road setting with a 40 mph speed limit is not advised.

Yes, Lexus reliability is a major contributor to low cost of ownership. And much of the benefit of above average reliability is reflected in high resale value, therefore reducing depreciation (reducing cost of ownership significantly).

No surprise to me, I have a Lexus IS and Mazda CX-5 and they are both cheap to own compared to most competing vehicles. I monitor the depreciation, maintenance, fuel and insurance costs carefully and they are consistently low for both classes of vehicles.

Amazing and "not a typo".

I mentioned earlier that the F-sport exhaust had a semi-exotic sound when revved, but now I have a specific car or engine to reference: Maserati Ghibli (3.0L 60degree V6), it sounds similar when revved, not so much at idle.

Best of luck on the order. Let the dealer know your preference and see if they can support it regardless of how car comes from Japan.

Check you owners/maintenance manual, some significant service items are scheduled for 90K miles.

Good question. With the 2nd generation, the F-sport models were more cosmetic unless you added the F-sport accessories (including F-sport forged wheels/F-sport lowering springs/shocks/sway bars, etc.). 3rd gen is another story and I think the F-sport suspension upgrades are more significant.

Timberpoint - Welcome to LOC. Sweet ride congrats, super color combo. You are lucky to live in Mendocino, some great sport sedan driving country. I've visiting that area several times and always enjoyed the drive to and from. Perfect car for the terrain.

Especially important for Lexus being a premium brand, to be in this space with Audi (Q3/Q5), Porsche (Mecan), BMW (X1/X3).