FlintUltra

Ranger - The Sony works well. Radio mutes on incoming calls, transfers the whole phone book to the car, signal strength meter shows. Most of the stuff BlueTooth promises. The one issue, and I don't think it's limited to this phone, is when you dial a number on your cell phone and then hit CALL/SEND, it takes a while for it to come out of the car speaker - sometimes after the person has picked up and said hello. This is for numbers NOT in the 18 one-touch slots. Those work fine and the rest work fine when dialed from the touch screen while stopped. Not perfect but so far so good. I am hoping for a good flip phone that works as well - I just like the protection a flip offers. I've had the Sony since Nov. and scratched the heck out of the screen. Cingular coverage here in the Chicago area seems better than my old AT&T setup. Bruce

Oh Yeah - I'd go back to MB for one of those. Sweet ride - congrats! Bruce

Not entirely true - the 18 numbers are the ones you can have in the "One Touch" section of memory. You can access these while in motion. I have about 75 entries in my phone book and transfered them in about 15 seconds with my Sony T637. The rest of the numbers can be accessed via the phone book on the screen but only while the car is stopped. So far I'm happy with the Bluetooth function and it will likely get better with each iteration.

LexusLooker - I sold my 2003 E500 and am now driving an 04 Ultra Lux package LS430. 2003 E500 stickered at $65K, I sold it for about $44K with 28,000 miles on it. 8 different unscheduled visits to the dealer plus two scheduled visits in 22 months. My Audi S4 before that saw the shop about three times. That plus the depreciation hit I was taking on the new E class - I got out. The reliability issues were almost all electronic ones. I just think MB was trying to incorporate too many cool things all at once. There are trade-offs - the E500 with the sport package will outhandle just about any Lexus sedan out there. Stiffer ride, though. My LS with the air suspension set to SPORT give me 85% of the E500. Good enough for me. MB Keyless Go is a better implementation than Lexus. MB implementation of the sequential shift mode is better - just move the lever left or right from the "D" position - no need to move over to a separate gate. My LS is almost as quick, way quieter, and so far has not skipped a beat in 4,000 miles. Dealer experience so far has been great. Wife went and got herself a 2005 RX330 in the same damn color combo! Good luck with your search! Bruce

I see a lot of the last generation Celica-GT in that design. The GS is starting to grow on me.

Bill - Yes, I am using Cingular. I replied to your other post as well. Bruce

I have the Sony T637 and it works very well. I don't use any type of calendar function so I can't comment on that. Upload of phone book worked great. There is a slight delay when dialing from the phone - people on the other end have answered and said hello before it comes thru the speaker. Minor annoyance. I went with that phone since it was on the list of approved phones for Lexus. Bruce

I followed the instructions in the owner's manual and the prompts on the screen and it went very well. I have the Sony T637 phone. So far, so good. Good luck! Bruce

So if mine is radar based as opposed to laser, is that considered a "better" system? More up-to-date? The dealer could not answer that with conviction. Thought some of you might have a better answer. Thanks!! Bruce

My cruise is radar based. I did not know this was changed from laser based. When I turn it on it says "radar ready" in the display. I don't use it much - too many people out there can't hold a steady speed if their life depended on it.

Steve - Just good old fashioned tactics - keep getting up to leave saying you'll think about it and lo and behold, the price comes down. I'm sure they had some back end incentive but that's OK. I feel like I got a good deal and that's what counts in the end. Bruce

As you can see, I just purchased my new LS430. I was evaluating both a 2005 and a 2004 LS. The dealer was REALLY anxious to sell his last 2004. I ended up at about $1,000 under invoice on my 2004. He was willing to sell a $71K 2005 for about $68K so you can see the difference in pricing/dealing. Like one of the other folks said - the 2005's are still "new" and may not get as deep a discount. Good luck!! Bruce