SuperCoupe400

I don't know your region at all, but there's gotta be at least one import auto parts place around town. If not, then just google "lexus auto parts" or "trunk struts" and you'll find a whole host of autoparts suppliers. That's how I got the replacement hydrolic struts for my SC. I don't remember the site, otherwise I'd give you the IP address. Last but not least, never buy anything from the stealership. Well...except for those certain items that Lexus has made sure that nobody else will ever have the resources to supply or reproduce aftermarket. I've saved SO MUCH money over the years by going through my local import parts shop and online (not to mention the savings by doing my own labor). Prime example: the stealership wanted $1,200 for a complete brake job (new rotors and pads all the way around). I did it all myself for well under $300! My wife's door handle sheered off just a couple weeks ago. Stealer wanted $100 just for the part. Got it online for $26 and replaced it myself! ;) Now that's what I'm talkin' 'bout!

Synthetics are more than "safe" for the LS430, they're "best" for extending the life of your engine. Doesn't matter what type of auto it is. The critical thing is how many miles were put on the car before synthetic is first used in it. Opinions differ on what that magic number is, but on an '02, I don't think you have a thing to worry about. The concern is that if a car has too many miles (probably upwards of 60k, but I'm no expert) on regular motor oil, that switching to synth will expose and leak through cracked and/or weak gaskets. I feared this too, upon acquiring my '93 SC400 two years ago with 88k on it. I knew the oil had been changed regularly, but suspected the previous owner was not likely using Mobil1. But i've been using Mobil1 now since day one - and haven't had one single gasket leak. So given that trial, I think you're more than safe by switching to full synth on your (much newer than my car) LS. Since you're not new to synthetics, you may also want to check out Amsoil. I'll stop short of a recommendation, because I have yet to try the product out on my own car. But their Series 2000 Synthetic 0W-30 is of particular interest to me due to its long service life - mainly because I'm a do-it-yourself grease monkey who'd rather be monkeying around with other things besides changing oil every 5k to 7k mi. Check it out.

Sweet. Thanks for the pics and added explination guys. I'll be doing this tonight!

Got mine from one of those online autoparts stores. I've never tried ebay for anything other than a car purchase (where I almost bought my SC, but ended up going with one on AutoTrader.com). And, yeah, your probably right about them not being designed to open forcefully. Something tells me they probably always had to be lifted a good 12" or so before taking over. I just think it sucks when you're out in the snow trying to load stuff in your trunk and if you don't push the thing all the way up, the wieght of a little bit of snow on the lid will force it back shut - but of course by the time it starts dropping, you've already got your hands full. Arghh! I'll tell you what would be nice - a trunk popper that would open it all the way up by it's self. Now THAT I'd pay money for.

LOL, Bartkat! Where'd you dig that up?

95_SC400, you gave some good info on how to use this stuff through the intake manifold. And I consider myself a moderate grease monkey. But on this, I just need to see some visuals on where exactly to pour this stuff (or have suctioned) into the engine. I went yesterday to use this stuff and ended up walking away scratching my head because the Seafoam instructions say something about using the pcv valve as a possible place to pour. But I can't find the pcv valve for the life of me. And the last thing I want to do is pour this someplace it should go and totally kill my engine. So if someone would please post a pic of where exactly this stuff should be poured/suctioned-in it would be great. (I'll be doing the crank-case and gas tank applications later, but first i want to do the intake application) Thanks a bunch.

I replaced mine about a year & a half ago - also pretty easy to do. However, I noticed that they still did not have the responsiveness of (what I thought should be characteristic of) new struts. They'd have to be assisted almost 1/2 way up before "taking over" and completely opening the trunck lid. And that was in the full heat of the summer months. As soon as temps start dropping below about 40-degrees my struts have to be helped ALL THE WAY UP. And if there's even a dusting of snow sitting on the trunk lid, forget it - the struts don't do a thing to help keep the lid open from any point south of 3/4 of the way open. It's been that way from the day I installed 'em. :cries: What kind of responsiveness are the rest of you (who've replaced yours) getting? What brand did you buy?

Omar, my man, you're right on point. The BASIC design language used by both Lexus and Mercedes on these two autos is about as distinguishable as two snowflakes. And Steve, you've got a good point too. It's inevitable that different people are going to pick up and compare different design cues between autos. It's usually based on first impressions. In most cases, even after a similarity has been pointed out by someone else, people will still see it the way they've always viewed it. Case in point: I happen to think that this Joe Rogan guy (Fear Factor) looks like he could be the little brother of Tony Danza. But not one single person I've ever mentioned that to seems to see the resemblance. :whistles: But I'll go to my grave convinced that they look alike - I've thought so since the first day Fear Factor aired. btw, if anybody else out there thinks they look alike, please chime in - I feel so all alone. :cries: LOL

Hey, now that you bring up the Cressida, I've always thought the Cressida and the very first gen ES (ES250) bore striking resemblance. Now that was one short-lived production run. (on the ES250, that is) And, yes, the 1st and 2nd gen LSs definately we targeting the Mercedes S-class devotes with the styling those front headlamps and grills struck.

well if you think about it, havent the past gen lexus models mimicked the past gen toyotas a little bit too? definitely the ES mimics the Camry (in all generations), im not sure about the older LS's and Avalons though. True, true. And not that it was excusable back then, but even moreso now you'd expect them to pull away and create their own design language for their lineup. They've proven that they CAN do it with such entries as the 2nd gen SC, the IS, the 1st & 2nd gen LS, and most notably IMHO the 1st gen SC.

You know, being an architectural designer, you'd think I'd have a better handle on picking out distinguishing features of automobiles. And I am. I think my main gripe (and the whole reason I started this thread) wasn't because I don't like the new design approach (L-finese) and perhaps not even so much because the IS & ES look alike and the ES & LS share too many similarities. My real gripe is with Lexus' decision to sculpt so closely to the lines of Toyota's top models (Avalon & Camry). I've always thought the new LS is a nice looking car. It's just that so much air has been let out of that balloon due to the fact that so many of it's design cues were already used on the Avolon and Camry. Case in point: What made the newer Cadillacs (CTS, STS) so popular and widely accepted - besides the fact that one of them made it's debut in "The Matrix Revolutions"? They were FRESH and UNIQUE! They didn't borrow cues from Chevy, Olds, Buick, Pontiac, or anybody else. They stood on their own two feet. Is it too much to expect for Lexus to do the same? That's what my real beef is. And, Steve, don't worry about the comment. I'm cool. Maybe some animations along with those type of statements would help better communicate your intent.

Now was that even necessary? C'mon man. Don't start calling people liars. No need to start a flame. I guess I'm just opossed to any car maker squeezing the distinction out of a line-up for sake of brand image. Jag, Mercedes, Volvo, BMW, any of them. And, yeah you're right, I definately was quite likely seeing what I wanted to see...A "brand image" that still can't create it's own design cues. But is still borrowing heavily from its little brothers Camry and Avolon. Agggh. Enough.

You know, SW03ES, before I sauntered into that showroom I thought I knew something about Lexus myself. :( But, like I said, my pinned-up disgust with them for morphing so much of their lineup into Camry/Avolon mimics had really clowded my perception. But I dare anyone to stand at the hoods between the two cars (ES & LS) lined up in a showroom and tell me there are not stark similarities. Not just small cues expected to be shared within a family of automobiles, but STARK similarities in the body lines and form factors. I don't know man... :whistles: Kind of like telling a parent that their two twins look just alike. But they'll always adamantly deny it by trying to point out the differences between the two. Then after about 5 minutes of convincing and eye squinting, you start to see what they're talking about.

Thanks 95 SC400. Can't afford them right now, but I've saved to my favorites.

Well, it'll make the ES and perhaps the IS drivers happy. Certainly the Avolon and Camry drivers. But the LS owners may not be so happy.

I decided to go yesterday and take a look at the LS460 in person at the dealer. Who, by the way, only had one showroom model. They can't keep those things in stock. I didn't examine it as closely as I would have liked. I was actually on my way somewhere else at the time. But just as the sales person pointed me to the LS (accross the room), something happened that only confirmed my previously unfounded supposition. As he pointed out the LS460, there happened to have been an '07 ES right next to it. I couldn't beleive my freakin' eyes! I actually had to ask the guy, "Which one is the LS?". Had I been just some "Joe" off the street, I may have felt slightly embarassed asking such a question. But I in part asked it to make a point. These cars are just way too identical! Yeah, yeah...I know their front grill and air dams are somewhat unique of one another. Yes, the overall massing of the cars differs. And their rear ends are rather different. But as I stood at the hoods of both these very fine automobiles (the ES maroon, the LS black), glancing quickly from LS to ES...ES to LS, I swear I could almost not tell the difference between them. The sculpted body lines of each mimic one another almost to a tee. Maybe my pre-conceptions got the best of me. Perhaps my bias against this new design approach (one that is way to close to the Toyota line-up and also doesn't show enough distinction between Lexus models) had clouded my judgment and slanted my perception. I'll go back again - probably this weekend - and have a second, more in-depth look. But from my initial observations, I am not at all happy with how Lexus has grafted, blended, morphed and otherwise dilluted it's brand image with the ES LS and IS. -_-

Doooohhhh! Make sure and check the headlight assemblies too. If you hit it on any part of your headlight, there's a possibility that one of the brackets that holds the headlight in place could have been snaped. Happened to mine in a mild t-bone collision last winter.

95_SC400, tell me more about this "seafoam". This is the first I've heard of it. I tried Googling it, but found multiple products under the brand name Seafoam. Which product did you use? What does it do? Where is it added/used?

Nicely put nc211. I second that. I'd also never be able to afford a brand new (or even 1 or 2 year old) LS. And I fell completely in love with the 430 two years ago at the autoshow. I've been seing a lot of IS's in the past few days and now I'm not even sure which one favors the Camry more, the IS or the LS460? I said it before, and I'll say it again. This LS460 still seems to me like big brother imitating little brother(Camry) - not cool...Not cool at all. <_<

I would buy a Garmin Nuvi. It does almost everything but it is a little more costly. www.garmin.com. I bought my Garmin 350 and I love it! I don't know how I lived without it. tgarcia, can you post a pic of your Garmin mounted in your car? I'd really like to see what some mounting options might be in our car for GPS. I've already got a mount for my Treo 700p off to the passenger side of the center console (snake mount with suction cup), and I don't think there's another spot I'd even want to put another device. It didn't take me long to decide on the spot for my Treo, given that no other spot seemed to work for me.

Just a general question here, but is it even necessary to replace control arms? Bushings and bearings and joints, for sure. But I just don't see how a new piece of forged aluminum (control arm) will out-perform and old piece of forged aluminum - IF there are no structural cracks in the old one. I'm not raising this question to cast doubt on anyones choice to replace such items, really i'm not. I guess I'm just not seeing the point of replacing a part that SHOULD last the entire life of the vehicle with no signs of degredation. To me it just seems about as useful as replacing the gas tank when it's not even rusting out. Do control arms (not bushings) ever really "wear out"? Or NEED replacing? Someone please respond, because I'm not trying to be facetious or sarcastic here. I want to know because at 145,000mi my bushings are definately in need of replacement, but I wasn't considering for a split second that the control arms may need attention too. thanks.

I've seen quite a few in the past couple of weeks. All while on the road though. I guess that's to be expected living in what I've heard is one of the richest counties in the US - Oakland county, MI... Yeah, that little discovery surprised me too when I first heard it several years back.

It so pains me to see our cars done this way. Almost makes me want to cry. :cries: Someone please report this rape.

Preach on, hvaughan. Preach on! :D Reliability is one trait that will NEVER go out of style. It feels good driving the #1 auto, doesn't it? I happen to work at Ford (dealership design and 3D illustration) and I don't mind one bit driving my SC in to work everyday. I don't do it to purposely thumb my nose in their faces, but I can't help it if our engineers and top brass haven't gotten their act together well enough to compete with the likes of Lexus.

But the same is true of BMWs and Toyotas, people who have no concept about cars confuse the two of those too. Or they think Kia Amantis are Benzes... Touche, SW, touche indeed. You're right on the money there. Especially with the BMWs. Heck, if I weren't really into cars like I am, i'd probably be no better than my wife is about spotting a 323i over a 318i. You just about had me rollin' with your Kia Amanti slam. Though that car is definately dealing with much more than a Benzo complex. It's got a little Jag thrown in (headlites), and pinch of Bentley Arnage T (tail lenses & general rear styling), and a dash of Benz / Chrysler 300 (grill) for flavor. What a Frankenstien! {but it actually doesn't look half bad, imho}