nc211

Blake, wow, that's a chore! You know what's funny, from your pictures, I can see your passenger side airbag has the exact same "bump" as mine does, in the same spot, same size and same kind. I wonder why?

I knew I liked you Blake, we're business goobers! Hahahaa! I myself have a finance degree with a lot of business admin courses mixed in. Good degree to get, you'll like what it brings you. One piece of advice, don't watch the movie Office Space, it'll scare you to death! If you ever hear the term "TPS Reports", run!!!!!

I'm just curious how old the members here are. What are the ranges and so forth? I'm 31 / male. Commercial real estate lender "do some small business start up loans on the side".

In addition: Craig, in no way am I saying you're one who does not offer answers and post only negative comments. After rereading my post, of which I stick by, I can see you might think I'm saying you don't offer any positive benefits. You do, but you sure did step on my tail a bit.

Because if I were cfo, I would pay my guys something even close to what the market pays, and I would not withhold their annual bonus because I wanted to add my spoiled "D" student son to my membership status at the country club. Ever seen the movie Caddyshack? Remeber Spalding? Yep, you know what I'm talking about. I'm offended by your comment craig, you have no idea who I am, or what I am about. I get up in the morning and bust my tail to help people achieve the AMERICAN dream. I help a mom who's had a dream of opening their very own childeren's book store become a reality. I help people who came here from far away countries start a new life with their very own sub shops, gas stations, and whatever else they have dreamed about. I also help doctors buy their own office buildings to practice in, the United States Government GSA programs obtain industrial space to operate for good will of not only our country, but others connected to us. So, to call me a b*stard is out of line. I am also a loving husband to be, a father to 3 stray animals that were faced with certain death, and VERY well liked and respected in my community as an up and coming leader. Tell me this slick, if you mowed your neighbor's yard, only to find out your pay was $5, when it was agreed upon for $30 for the job, how would you feel? Exactly! Now, IF you Craig are one of those types of people who thinks getting ahead in the world is achieved by !Removed! over those who put your butt there in the first place, then you best stay out of my way! Because karma seems to have a way of evening out the playing field and I sure don't want to be around you when it does. Mr. CFO asked me for a favor, when he screwed me over on purpose. I refused and pointed him to where he should go for the answers. It's not my fault he is to arrogant to spend some time on the internet and learn about his 96 LS400, like we here have done by those who offer advice, post Pdf. files, offer connections to good deals, and don't just ask questions and make negative comments. SWO3ES, are you in here? Moderators? Thanks for the comment craig. real professional son, real professional.

My dad and his buddies took a motorcyle rally trip through the Black Forest over there a couple years ago. I WANT TO VISIT GERMANY TOO! Beautiful country!! It's the one country in Europe I reallllllly want to see! You'll be fine with the Type T.

true story: got my 95 last year in the spring, got some flack from the exec board here at work when I requested a raise due to steller performance, closed a $16 million commercial retail deal with 2 other lenders, 8 month pain in the ars. they said, and I quote "from the looks of it, you're doing just fine" as the scumbag cfo pointed out the window to the parking lot. I simply stated to him "as a cfo, I would expect you to understand the downside to a personal depreciation hit. Glad you like my 10 year old Toyota I got for less than a used Kia". Not only did I get my raise, the b*stard actually wanted to drive the car, and now he has one. Not as nice as mine though. Revenge is sweet, just sent him to the dealership for upper control arm replacement for the "clunk", which is actually coming from the lower's and strut rods! Hahahaha! I told him I made the dealership fix mine before I bought it. Hahahaa.

Any vibration on highway? Wandering steering feel other than wanting to understeer? Sounds like balljoints and/or outter tie rods in conjuction to the bushings. It sounds like lower control arm bushings as well. How many miles on the car?

Jacob, nice job amigo! I'm curious, are your rotors the originals? My fronts are worped and curious if I can get away with doing a resurface instead of new ones. Can't really afford new ones at the moment. And where did you take them? A national chain or a local mechanic?

Good question Mickg, as I thought maybe one was newer than the other, or different. They're all the same Michelin xvxqyadayada energy4's, with same tread amount. I just think the shop that did the alignment has an old machine, not a hunter machine like these cars need. I'm gonna take to the dealer next week for an alignment and balance job. At 40mph it is the worst for wheel vibration. Hit 80, and it's smooth. So I don't think it's the propeller shaft, since I would expect that to get worse the faster it spun.

LOL! I'll do one better, I'll pay the shipping and handling and get rid of it for you for free as well! Step-off branshew, I saw her first! Hahahaa

This is a little tough to read, but in summary, in Texas, NADA is: Trade in value = $16,625 Loan Value = $15,200 Retail Value = $20,000 N.A.D.A. Official Used Car Guide Vehicle Summary N.A.D.A. Values 6/3/2005 Region: Southwestern June, 2005 Stock #: Vehicle Description: 1998 LEXUS VIN: LS-V8 SED 4D LS400 MSRP: $52,900 Weight: 3,890 Mileage: 78,000 Retail Trade-In Loan Base Value $17,700 $14,425 $13,000 Optional Equipment Nakamichi Stereo Sys $175 $150 $150 Power Sunroof $575 $500 $500 Option Total $750 $650 $650 Mileage Adjustment $1,550 $1,550 $1,550 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total N.A.D.A. Official Used Car Guide Values $20,000 $16,625 $15,200

Maybe an all-wheel-drive model that's super brand new? Usually "X" stands for all-wheel-drive, and I thought I read something about that becoming an option??

Go up a hill in econ mode, hold your pedal right at the down shift point, but not quite, and then flip it to performance mode, you'll see the transmission drop down two gears, as in econ mode, it will drop down one. It basically puts the transmission and engine further up the torque curve. Eats more gas, but uses the gears more. Does nothing for horsepower. The car has 2XX horse, and that's it. Just readjusts the way they're used.

One old-school trick to increase distance is put the thing against your chin, it will increase the distance. Uses your head as a transmitter I guess. It's always worked for me, and I've had several of these things over the years.

I don't think it's a distance thing with flash as much as it is a hassle to unlock all the doors. Mine will work at GREAT distances to unlock the driver's side, or lock the car. But getting it to unlock all the doors requires hitting the "unlock" button twice, and it sometimes takes the computer in the car a second to read that command. Sometimes it works perfectly, sometimes it takes a couple of tries. My battery is new as well, replaced by lexus dealer when I bought the car last year. It's just a funky glitch, I think maybe related to interference from outside sources. I notice it happens more when I'm in the grocery store parking lot by my house. Maybe due to the automatic doors on the store, like how they will set off a radar detector. Like mentioned before, they're 10 years old, and a lot of new radio waves are out there now a days compared to back then. It's not battery related.

Mine does it too sometimes, got a 95 as well. I think it's just the nature of the beast. Sometimes it works perfectly, sometimes I have to slow down and do it again.

Gotta go against the grain a bit. Bikes are dangerous, and I would never ride one in a city for the reasons already mentioned. But on a Sunday afternoon, in the countryside with no traffic, they sure are fun. Of course, you need proper training and gradually step up the power of the bike's capability with experience. If you're inexperienced, no formal training on how to read the pavement, turns, traffic and clouds, and buy some 1200 CC penile projectile machine, well, God be with ya'.

Of course if maintance wouldn't force me into 3rd world living conditions, I wouldn't mind this 1988 BMW 750 il with 24k original miles on it! What a find! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...4553526197&rd=1

Oh yeah, I agree completely. I'm gonna keep it for a while, can't find anything I'd rather want for the price. Although I do love those 99' Tahoes, but hate Cheverolet completely. Just got that spring fever itchin' for a toy, it runs in my family :whistles: . I think I'll go test drive a VW GTI pocket rocket for fun. If I had it my way, I'd have a 90's series 300Z in my garage too, and a 89 Jeep Wrangler, and a......

Johnson Lexus of Raleigh, NC.

$950 for an alignment and balance job and a new strut, swore to me it fixed my vibration issue and clunk noise. Which lead to 90% of the repairs listed on my signature. Had to damn near sue dealership to get my ecu fixed under their 90 day / 3,000 mile "window" warranty. I could get divorced for less money and hassle than getting a freakin' tune-up. Greesy smiles from service dept., you know that kind of smile "yes sure, it would be our pleasure to SCREW over your summer vacation fund." Good coffee and free cookies though. Should be for $105 a cup!

From my data, $12,000 is bottom figure here in Raleigh. I think I could get $13,200 considering all of those repairs, but from the right person who is knowledgable about these cars and understood just how dramatic my repairs are to the life of the car. Blake, just got one of those rainy day funks today, slow at work and saw a really nice Infiniti QX4 SUV this morning. I've always liked those trucks. Plus, I'm starting to get a little tired of the constant repairs. The brakes are bad, the a/c is making that whinning noise and I can't get it aligned & balanced anywhere right except for the dealer at $170 a pop. Just going through that 100k mark. I'm sure I'll snap out of it shortly. Just getting on my last nerve hunting around for fixes. But, she is a Lexus LS400, can't beat that.

I'm just curious, how much would you guys think a 95LS400 with 100k, in perfect condition with all the repairs I've done already be worth if up for sale? It's black with jade, standard stereo, no trac control, no heated seats, but does have lexus phone and cd changer. Tires are fine, brakes need new pads soon and a proper alignment + balance due to recent work done. Other than that, it's flawless. Any suggestions?

As some of you know, I replaced all the front and back suspension parts. On the front, I did the outer tie rods. I matched marks on the front to keep alignment, but knew I blew it when i did the tie rods. The driver's side wheel turns out more than the left, ie, passenger side it straight, drivers side is angled to the left. Now, when i had the indi shop finish up the back's, they aligned the car. But, I've obiously got a bad alignment job by the tugging and vibrations I got going on. I noticed last night, the driver's side wheel still kicks out. I know I need a balance job as well, I pressure washed the inside of the rims and took off a ton of grim. I know grim doesn't weight that much, but enough to throw off the balance. My question is this: When you get a 4 wheel alignment, do they adjust the tie rods? Or do they just torque out the control arm settings until the steering wheel is straight? The wheel is straight, but she sure ain't aligned like a LS400 needs to be. It doesn't pull very hard, but you can tell when the driver's side wheel finds a groove it likes in the pavement, it wants to follow it until the passenger side finds a groove it likes, and pulls it back. It's not a wandering feeling, it's a tug-of-war feeling.