blake918

surely we give everyone $4 worth of value a month? ← Absolutely! :D I've had 3 check engine lights between my two Lexus. That's $300 at the dealer, but because of the ES moderators I found out about AutoZone's free code reading, so that's atleast $300 I can send back to the club. Also, I've met tons of great people and great moderators. Everyone here has helped me in many ways, so I was happy to pay up for goldie status. And, I want that cool membership card!! B) lol I'll donate whatever I can to help keep this wonderful site going! ;)

RX...looks great, and with Lexus reliability, it'll last a long time. Be sure to see documentation of regular oil changes because 97-01 1MZFE V6's sludged if the owner's didn't change the oil regularly....as in every 3k-5k miles.

From what I can tell, you lexus people are the ones that just drive it. You want a comfortable seat on a machine that only your mechanic knows about. You're the ones that ask for more sound deadening material, not caring about the extra weight. We're the ones that rip out the carpets just to peel off the foam sprayed underneath. After all, if you stripped the whole car of the stuff, you could save a couple tenths of a second off your ET! :P ← Very true!! :D But, a lot of us here do a lot of diy work. Fluids, brakes, and taking the interior apart are very easy. Some engine maintinance can be a pain in the !Removed!(timing belt comes to mind!). I want a smooth quiet car to get me around. Lexus are just relaxing to drive! I can't tell you the last time I took a hair-pin turn at 50 on the way to work. IMO, the suspension trade off is just not worth the sporty driving that I might do 1% of the time. I'd buy a weekend sports car for that. But, to each his own of course! ;) There is a guy with a '97 ES(sunnman-his modifications are amazingly tasteful) that has completely gutted his car to install more sound deadening in the flooring and doors! Lexus is all about quiet! B) What kind of maintinance procedures are you talking about(when you say they are high maintinance cars)? I don't know what you're talking about lol...bleached dash(especially on your car...it's probably been coated with 303 since day one! lol)-seriously, my LS's dash is fine in that respect! I'm sure if you'd hold it next to a new one it'd be different, but it is still dark. I'd add dead LCD's(minus navi cars) as another thing that will eventually break on every '90-'00 LS.

Way too much VW Phaeton from the front and Hyundai XG350 from the rear! Acura for the Lexy...not a chace! B) I wouldn't want any kind of controller that resembles an iDrive controller. I could see myself totaling the car trying to find the climate control settings! lol

Just wait until he weighs 80+ lbs!! Annie has no idea that she weighs 90lbs when she hops on my lap! lol What breeds are they? Webby is so cute(she looks a little sad though)!

Thank you so much for the explanation! :D You do know a lot about BMW's! Lexus makes it easy with the chassis names for the line up: 90-94 LS UCF10, 95-00 UCF20, and the 430- UCF30(I believe). ES300/30(I'm not sure about the ES250...it's like the ES stepchild! lol) cars start with MCV_ _, and I beleive SC's are UZZ_ _. What ever happened to the Mcoupe? Poor sales(i think it's cool, but I could see how most people wouldn't want a sports wagon!)? <_< I never did understand why people black out their tags. I suppose some psycho could hack into the DMV, track my house down, and take my car? lol

This beast is going nowhere anytime soon! Dropping $2k is still hard to stomach (for a college freshman anyways) regardless of how long I plan to keep the car. I've really started to get used to it(the crappy paint). I'll drive it until I can get a new/er one. I don't think it's going to give me much trouble along the way either! A few little annoying things here and there, but nothing that I can't live with! Good Lexus! Good to hear that you got your car running. ;) What are you going to do with it? That's just for the "outer panel" which I suppose is a skin, no?

I found out that the body shop can paint the black parts of the car(since the two tone is still nice) for about $2k--sooo tempting, but I'm going to think about it some more before I rush into anything. I'm afraid that the the freshly painted door is not going to look right with the rest of the chipped up car, so that really makes me want to repaint. I haven't spoken with the insurance company yet; I'm waiting to get all of her insurance info(it'll happen...she's a friend). Thanks for your concern. Don't be sorry...I love off topic discussions! ;) I also agree that maintinance is the key to a long lasting car. I've been busy with school, so I haven't taken any steps to get the car fixed yet. Today, I payed the body shop a visit. I found out that I have $1,390 of damage. Tomorrow, I'll start with the insurance and getting a rental car setup for the repair dates. I'll keep yall posted Edit: Forgot to mention $475 for a new door(the owner of the shop agreed that the door was curling at the seam, so I need a new one.) + $915 in labor.

I've never heard of sludge reports in the 4cyl engines just the 1MZFE (mainly 97-01 Lexus Toyota cars ). I don't think Toyota is at all at fault for sludge; I'm sorry, but if you are too brain dead to change your oil every 3-5k miles you deserve your engine oil to turn to jelly. However, I'm sure there are some extremely rare cases where it wasn't the owners fault, but I've heard of owners not changing their oil for 10-20k miles. :o Come on!! I think Toyota is bending over backwards by replacing engines. Have you ever thought about leasing? It's just what I observe from your sig, but it seems like you switch cars every 6months-year. With a lease, you'll pay every month, but you won't get slammed with the depreciation(like you are experienceing with your LS) when you are ready for something newer, and you have a factory warranty. Just a thought...

Thanks so much! :D You're not so bad yourself! ;) I don't find the interior too plain; it's just extremely low rent. It's got the same stereo head unit that's in a Malibu or any other chevy, and a lot of things don't look and feel $50k-ish. The one I've driven is a converitble, and the switch that pops the toneau cover looks like it's tacked on at the end of production because the wires just dangle; their not in any kind of enclosure or anything like that. :( The view of the hood from the driver's seat is simply amazing! It is very dramatic. And, the gauges are great...especially how they dance when you turn the key on! :D You've got perfectly reasonable reasons for leaning toward the SS-more HP and less $$. Good luck with your decision!

They are a good distance away from each other. The tranny plug is in the middle of the car. You'll see it if you crawl under the car inbetween the passenger's side front and back door. I think it's a 14mm bolt(correct me if I'm wrong 99-maintinance guru!). It looks like a regular old bolt with a washer on it. This is how it is on my '95. A '91 could be entirely differnet though.

Talk about peer pressure!! j/k I'm thinking hard about the repaint though. I can't decide if I want to be completely broke or have a pretty paint job! I love the two tone, so it's staying! ;) Single colored Lexi that were once 2 look funny to me, but I have origionality issues, so it's probably just me!

I respect your opinion totally but must disagree! :D I do not like Chevy interiors of the '90s one bit like this one found in a '97 Cam SS...it's soo Chevy Cavilier. I'm not the only one; car magazine editors bash the hell out of the Vette for it's interior because it is an otherwise superb car for its $50k msrp. I've driven one before(a C5-'99), and I was heartbroken to see an American icon degraded for an extra buck. Same on you GM. :( The exterior on the Camaro looks a little busy to me. : I'm going to disagree that Chevy makes a more sound car. Maybe they do, but our '99 Suburban has been nothing short of a mechanical nightmare. This thing has an insatiable appatite for water pumps and alternators, and a nicely toasted tranny at 60k. You've got to cut the GT a little slack you you compare it with the top Camaro SS; the Z28 is on more level plaing ground with the GT. :) This interior from a '98 Mustang so much easier on the eye! Ford's interiors are always plain, simple, and pretty. If you go with a Stang the Mach 460 stereo is a must!! B) VMF, I think you're thinking of the Z28. ;)

That is the exact same symptom my LS gave me when my spark plug holes got soaked with water.After we blew the water out, the car was fine. What kind of plugs and wires did you use when you changed them? Any malfunction lights? Nitty, sadly, Lexus doesn't have any maintinance reminders(I think some of the newer ones do though). You are probably looking at a new tranny in the near future. Blinking O/D off/ECT PWR(on the 95-? I'd bet the 98+ gives you the message in the text read out. I dunno.) is usually an indicator of serious troubles. But, who knows...maybe some fresh fluid could help. It's extremely easy to do-just release the drain plug on the tranny, and roughly 2 quarts come out. Refill at the dip stick, and you're done.

Does it sounds like a low pitched ticking(not pinging) sound? I get a sound like that in the 2-3.5k rpms range, and then, it dissapears in 500-2k and 3.5k rpms on. I know my valves are good since my car idles silently. K9crew investigated a sound like this on his car, and he found that it is a rattling heat sheild on the exhausts. He put a hose clamp on the shield and exhaust, and it was done with. Here's the link to his post: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...owtopic=312&hl=

I don't have any pictures of it on this computer. It's a '95 convertible we bought new...Opal Frost Met.(silver) with ultra rare red interior. Good, old fashion Ford 302 Cleveland. It's got a cold air intake, and we had the compression raised a tea, tiny bit-I want to say 9.5 10. With the cai and engine mod, it went from 235hp to about 285hp. She moves! B) I know what you mean GT<Cobra>SS...you want the most hp. :D

I probably wouldn't go the ebay route because the most common problems on the older LS's are suspension related in which the car needs to be test driven to see if the problems are present. I'd print out the list Mr. Lee(aka wandawoods) complied on how the test drive should go(it's pinned) and hang tight for a local LS(one that you can kick it's tires and check out first hand). It took me about 5-7 LS's before I found mine which was 40miles away. ;) Just my $.02. Good Luck!!

Nope, but the '06 GS is going to have an awd option. Here are some pics: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...ic=5536&hl=2006

I'm just trying to keep up with Lloyd Laycook in Utah--I'll beat his 550k someday! :D I do manage to rack up a few miles-about 13k in 7 months. I'd love to know more, and I am going to google. Just because I'm in this Lexus club doesn't mean that I don't care for all other makes other there. We actually discuss other makes in here a lot, but we do it in a constructive, non mud slinging way unlike some online clubs because we know what Lexi are good at and what they aren't. My favorite thing is when an Acura owner comes cover and starts saying what a better performing car it is over Lexus, and we agree. Lexus is a smooth comfortable car with very little(or no) sport characteristics-that's why the aftermarket in the US is so limited for this make. Lexus offers the best package for my wants, so that's why I'm driving them(ES and LS). I don't take S or hairpin turns at 60mph or any spirited driving, so I go for a car with a smoother, docile ride. And, it's always a plus that I can fit my long legs in! lol When I want some kind of sporty weekend car, chances are it won't be a Lexus(eventhough the SC430 is an amazing looker. However, it's interior looks..hmm...petite!). Something like an e63 would be nice! ;) Or a S52. It turns out that I like the two weirdest BMW's out there! lol One more for you: what's your handle mean. I googled that too, but I only came back with various BMW club handles. And, I think I found pics of your car before it met with that damn Neon. It's got Oregon tags and your LOC handle. Actually that's 2 more...why is the Mcoupe(the one that is the hatchback/wagon) have a S or did I find the wrong number? Is this her(nice looking car)? http://www.justaddbrains.com/viewtopic.php?t=2086&start=15

Beige and tan interior go great together(very few car makers match beige exterior with black interior)-and Lexus and a few others make it extra hot with tan and light brown two tone interior :D , but you are right-my beloved 20% would have to go if I were to paint my car Cashmere. It just kills me that my beige ES doesn't have a single, solitary rock chip on it(it's been on the highway several times); I guess it's the lack of a clearcoating. As much as I'd like changing colors, I don't think I would; to me it just wouldn't be the same car. If I do decide to get my car painted, it'll be Black Onyx again; though, I would toy with the idea of one of those invisible bra's from I think 3m since I do drive a lot of hwy miles. Beige/tan ES(Aren't upholsterers amazing!! You can see a little of the beige exterior w/ tan inside.):

I agree the Mustang GT/Cobra is one of the greatest sounding cars out there-it's got a nice sound, but it's not obnoxious, and Ford took some time to make it so-the exhausts are different sizes on each side for that classic sound(the mufflers have different part numbers for each side). What has swayed you toward the Camaro SS?

Or you can go wild and cooooll, like 'my IS430'!? lol. (see signature) ← You came up with a very cool paint scheme on there, but I like dull colors best like beige and white being top. B) I like as little attention drawn to myself as possible; I could never imagine myself driving something that pimp! :P To be completely honest, I don't really know. I was more concerned with my baby! :) I'm pretty sure it was a bumper; I'm sure it just has a little scuff from where it swiped my Lexus. Did you get it fixed?? good man, no bondo! BONDO BAD!!! i was given an estimate of $4,400 To repaint my Ford Contour in Mocha Frost Metallic ( the color it was before). i was considering it, until i realized the paint wasnt all that bad...then i wrecked it before i could reconsider. ← Woooh, that's a lot of duckets for a paint job! I'm still impressed that you got 385k out of that car, and she even ran after the wreck! Thanks for the wishful thoughts. :) I have two body shops in mind that I'll let fix my car-the one that painted our Cobra(Camaro SS...bad! lol) and one that painted my neighbors MB. They both did excellent work, so I guess whoever can squeez me in soonest will do the work. Thanks again for all of the nice words.

Why do I miss my BMW? You ever driven an e30 before? Or any BMW for that matter... I miss it because it was an all around awesome car. One of the best looking cars to come out of the 80's, it was easy to mantain, very reliable, and fun to drive. It held the road like an NSX, braked like a champ. It was economical and solid at high speeds. It had a roomy trunk and an interior made for the driver. Not to mention all the cool features on the onboard computer. BMWs really are the ultimate driving machine. I hope to find another before the year is up... ← Welcome to the club! ;) For the BMW illiterate, what's the e30? I want to say 3/5series. I agree they probably are the ultimate driving machines(with a realistic budget in mind), but for my everyday commute, I much rather something like a Lexus-softly sprung, quiet, extremely reliable, but a !Removed! to work on-my '95 LS400 has 236,5xx origional miles and couldn't run any better. No doubt that the Bimmer is sportier, but you'll love(at atleast appreciate) the quietness and smoothness of the powertrain and ride of your LS. Count me in for a Z4 or 645 as a weekend ride though(however, I think I'd lose my mind with the idrive controller...shame on BMW)! SRK, your posts are always a hoot...firebombing the dealerships! lmao My neighbor had to take his 7__(I forgot the numbers) in for the engine to get rebuilt in the early ninties under a recall. '91LS, the 1UZ-FE hung around until the 2001 LS430 made its debut. For '98+, it's the same engine, but they added VVT-i--> 30 or 40 hp for the first half of the UCF20 and all first gen cars respectivley. It's a superb engine, so they were able to hang on to it for such a long time! B)

What a thought!! :D I'll keep my fingers crossed! Oh, no you're not nuts. I got an estimate to get my car painted, and I was given a $3k number! He said the bulk of that is labor time removing/installing the two tone panels. I dunno if I'd pay $3500-$5k for a paint job though. That's kinda steep. The guy that told me $3k for my LS painted our Cobra, and I don't know how much better it could get. The paint is beautiful, and it is smother than a baby's &#33;Removed&#33;. lol It is perfect. There's not a chance that Bondo is going anywhere near my Lexus...ever!! :) I wonder if the insurance company would be ok with them repainting the car in Cashmere?? B) Or they can atleast start with the door, and I'll pay for the rest of the car! lol That damned Saturn didn't have a scratch on it! Thanks for all of the nice words. :D I love the revision of the board; it's much easier to quote several people at once! Nice work Matt! ;)

Friday was a day of great misfortune for me...my car got backed into. :( How embaressing; I got hit by a damn plastic car! My sister, a group of her friends, and I went out to dinner only to get a call that one of her friends backed into my car. Luckily, she is insured, so it will just be a matter of finding time to get the work done. The grey cladding will need to be checked since it is separated from the door, and I don't want it falling off in a few months, and there is a nice sized scuff on the lower grey cladding that extends on to the door. I hope it won't have to be repainted I know a few good body shops back at home, so I guess I'll go in this weekend and get everything lined up. Other than this, I had a great weekend logging about 700 miles on my old faithful tank! :D Just out of curiosity, any price estimations?