New to the game

Hey, thanks! This has to be the best blog style site I have ever been on. So many times you are asking legitimate questions and you get a very juvenile and often very inappropriate responses. So far, nothing but great stuff. Glad to be with talking with solid people. As the critics say, "two thumbs up!"

Hey, I was thinking about buying that car earlier this month. Glad it went to an enthusiast. I ended up with an 06 GS3 with a 100k on the ODO myself.

For the oil, I would suggest doing a bit of research. Take the car to the local Lexus dealer and ask them to run the VIN. Check out the repair history report; sometimes they mention Mobil 1 or Castro but verify whether they used synthetic or non-synthetic. I know a lot of the dealer in my area are using synthetic Mobil1 or Pennzoil synthetic. This is important because if you go back and forth you'll end-up wearing a seal or two within the engine. Unfortunately, I made that mistake 10 years ago and my SC3 is still suffering :(. Also, from a mechanics point of view, you may want to switch to a 10w30. it's a bit thicker and more suited for high-mileage vehicle like ours. The name brands including Quaker State are excellent in lubing your engine parts, but the key is buy quality oil filters. The Toyota brand ones are excellent, and i've found Bosch and Mobil1 filters are really good. I've stuck with the Toyota and Bosch filters on my SC300 (260k) and IS-F (40k) The 90k is a very important service and i am glad to hear they've replaced the water pump, timing belt, etc. they are important.

You should have clean sailing from this point.

As for the NAV DVD update, i updated the disc on my IS-F earlier this year thinking it would solve many inaccuracies using the NAV system. No luck. I've had better luck using my Droid phone; more precise. I'm not sure if anyone else has experienced the same issue with their Nav.

The tint is definitely a good thing to have especially where you're headed. San Antonio is hot and the leather will crack without proper care and heat management. I was talking to my tint-guy earlier this year and he's carrying the new 3M tint that's clear but prevents 90% heat reflection. the tint is expensive but is going to be well worth it in the long-run.

As usual please feel free to ask us any questions. That's what we're here for... to support our fellow enthusiasts.

You can upload pictures of the LS to the picture gallery but i think there is a restriction set on when you can. Please reply and add more comments to this board and the restrictions will come-off.

Congrats.

Thanks man

Okay, so if you read my other tread, you know that I just bought my wife her first Lexus. But before I hand her the keys, there are a few things I think warrant action before completing the gift.

First, the DVD nav is way out of date. Does anyone have a modern maps disc they have used and are willing to sell me? I've looked on eBay, but can't pinpoint one that is this year's update. If not, and no, then what exactly should I be google-ing? I've been putting in 2006 LS430 Gen. 4 Nav update v.11. Am I wrong?

Secondly, Weather Tech Custom All Weather vs. LLoyd Custom fit All Weather... I like the history behind weather tech, but lloyd seems to cover more surface area on the floor of the vehicle and thus means less exposed carpets... Anyone's thoughts?

Lastly, the tinting. I know there is much debate on this one, but down and dirty. Top three brands people think are the best. If 2 or 3 of you can agree on a top brand, that's what I will go with. Money's not the any issue on the tint... I'll cut back elsewhere and not end up with purple bubble wrap stuck to my windows.

Also, if there are any other ways to sophisticate the girl, please let me know... I want to get the most out of this new Lexus experience. Better speakers to make a more full, clear sound. The upgraded system is okay, but still doesn't have that crisp, Bose level quality that just makes the noise where you can cut it with a knife. Any ideas on what kind of speaker package does real well with this car?

Thanks, you guys rock! Miles

Oh, and for Guru, here some pics of the new gal.

Hey, um, yeah, I meant tint. Wow. Well, I must be dumb because I can't seem to figure out how to spell or upload photos. But here is the original posting on craigslist that lead me to the dealer that lead me to Atlanta and eventually into this beauty. 10 days, 35 cars, hours and hours of research and reading from people like you all... and as my friend says, "welcome to the club of smart car buying."

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/ctd/3140115347.html

I walked away at 19,100 + TTL, 20500 total. Not a deal to hang your hat on, but "pretty good" enough. My wife loves it and now I don't have to worry about her in our previous car that was starting to fall apart. It has dealer records from the day it was originally purchased to when I bought it. Every scheduled maintenance on the money.

Thanks all, I'll be in touch with another update as I get to know this car a bit better.

Miles

Update, for all. I went with the LS430. I searched all over the central GA area and test drove 4 different LS430s and two different LS400s. I ended up with a 2006 LS430. 101K miles, had the 90K mile dealer sticker for the timing belt, water pump, and spark plugs done. It has 4 near brand new tires (8K miles) on them. The car came fully loaded and everything is still very tight. I'm super happy with the purchase, but I want to keep it as clean as possible. A couple of things I am thinking about doing:

1) Replace floor mats with the Weather Tech mat package: 2 front, 2 rear, and trunk (229.99 +tax/s/h)

2) Get Gen 4 2011/2012 DVD for US Maps (if the Nav has never been updated, will the 2011/2012 update encompass all, or do I have to get all the retro DVDs and upload them sequentially?)

3) Put in some tent (live in south, moving to San Antonio, trying to preserve the leather as best as possible)...advise on brand/shade? Darker in the back for the kids, but what is too much for the back/just right for the front, etc.?

Lastly, I want to change the oil and rotate tires, and change all air filters (engine/cabin/seats). I've been getting a couple of conflicting arguments on oil. Another owner told me that the Shell Rotella T6 5w30 is the best oil for the vehicle. Others have told me Castrol is the best. Any thoughts?

Thanks for the help, all.

Murray

I have never owned a Lexus, and I am on somewhat of a tight budget, so a friend of mine has helped me to look very closely at a LS400 or LS430

So, I have found a couple of LS400s with less than 100,000 miles around $10K out the door. That being said, that leaves me with about $4000 dollars left over to "upgrade" the car in order to have some more modern technology and whatever else that would be nice to add or upgrade to the vehicle.

Also, I have found a few LS430s between $19K and $24K. Some of the 430s have all kinds of upgrades and has perfect service records with relatively low mileage (70k) those are the ones around $24K. The ones around $19K are around 100K miles and have just the basic standard equipment (no nav/Bluetooth/backup camera).

So I am debating on what to do, what is the best package for the money. I don't want to be upside down at the end of the day, but I do want the most I can get out owning a Lexus.

Thus, I have opened this feed to hear as much advise as possible ranging from interior/exterior/under the hood/and whatever you think is good information. I'm all ears!