VBdenny

When the plastic casings for my ES330 keys broke, I ordered replacement keys which come without the electronic gut. You simply transfer the electronic part into the new casing. Now I have new keys that work everything.

There really isn't too much these cars need. No tire rotation due to staggered directional tires. At 50k miles I change all fluids.

Costco dropped regular to $2.95 yesterday

Filled up the BIG tank on the Chevy Silverado at Costco in Norfolk this morning. $2.99

I follow a basic rule whenever I buy a car now. Must be white. I do have a champagne 1999 Corolla which has perfect paint. Of course all of my vehicles are waxed and detailed regularity and many are kept inside. The paint on my previously owned 1990 (white) LS400 is still nearly perfect after 25 years. Pigments all fade. Of course I do remember in the past when a whole car wouldn't last 15 years or 100,000 miles.

I saw a WaWa store with $2.99 I think on the eastern shore. I recently bought NO alcohol 91 in the Syracuse area for $4.01 Filled up today at Costco in Norfolk premium Top Tier 93 (with alcohol unfortunately) for $3.41

As Billy correctly pointed out, no, not normal at all. I have no issues flooring most cars however with the LS 400 you can only expect to hold it for less than 10 seconds unless you have diplomatic immunity or a badge. The car should go to redline and shift, the repeat. Almost sounds like it didn't shift?

Once, while attempting to adjust something, my car did the same. Had to turn car off and on to clear.

Oh, the RESTORE won't "fix" anything. Worn rings are worn rings. The stuff actually works to stop extreme oil burning. Not sure why and of course I know the rings are shot but for whatever reason, it worked. Warm up the can and shake really well before you add. I'm not even sure they still make the stuff.

Ahh, say it ain't so. But yeah, same with me. Best engine I've had is the 32v 4 Cam 4.0L V8 in my 90 LS400 but it had zero pipe whereas the IS has excellent sound. The transmissions back then were okay but nowhere near as sophisticated as the new units. Seems only a short time ago that a 6 speed automatic was impressive but now? I think I hear MB has a 9 speed.

There are always a lot of really nice LS400's with miles available. Yeah, it takes some time to scope out a good one (which is one maintained) for a good price. It is not a new car but like the Hoover Dam, it was built well and will last. Where you need to look is the west coast of south Florida. The place is a major check out point and of course many people never go far. I was down visiting my mother last March and scoped out the local car market and saw lots opportunity. Of course now I see you live in non-land? SO, south Florida is probably out.

I wish I could offer hope but there isn't much to be found with 400 miles a quart. No, it isn't right but it is true and I'd guess worn rings from neglecting regular oil changes in the past. Now, for a possible cheap solution. Try adding a can or two or RESTORE to your oil. My 66 Cutlass used so much oil it looks like a fog. The stuff really works well to control oil loss. Keep in mind that burning all that oil is probably terrible for your catalytic converter, plugs, et al. I do know it is a whole lot cheaper than a new engine.

Maybe this will help you decide. Go look at what else you can buy for that. As previously mentioned, check records but if it is clean and a color you can live with, offer 40 Franklin and maybe you'll be in luck. Very, very dependable cars. Toyota can not be beat for dependability. Sold my LS400 with 200,000 and it still goes 5,000 with no oil loss. It will also still give and Acura RSX a good run but I can't go into details on that.

I guess it has something to do with high RPM's. I like higher winding engine sounds better that lower. For example, a John Deere "A" or a Harley.

It should not idle at 1200 when up to temperature. The correct idle speed should be 600. For whatever reason, your idle is high and there is no adjustment for idle speed.

Saw one at the dealers.

I think your engine is staying on high idle longer than it should. Remember that the 400's idle at 1600 RPM's at cold start up and they stay on high idle for as long as 10 minutes as the idle slowly lowers to about 600. I have duel burnout marks etched into my garage floor where my wife popped it into reverse on high idle causing both rear tires to loose traction and deposit the rubber. Now to your problem. I know a lot of people drive around with almost empty fuel tanks all the time. From experience (on the side of the NJ Turnpike & other places) that chronically running your car with low fuel can very easily compromise the life span of your fuel pump as they are only cooled by the gasoline in the tank. When the gas is low, much less cooling and much more stress on the pump. Use Top Tier fuels and keep the tank full and the fuel pump will outlast a car. I couldn't stand buying gasoline in NJ. I really hate having some pump jockey touching my car. I was yelled at several times for filling my own.

Over the years I've had all kinds of brake problems. I know Nissan brakes need the caliper slides lubricated every 50,000 miles or they stick on. I have never encountered Toyota vehicles have these locking problems that aren't from the caliper pins. I stand by most interested to hear the cause.

Carbon buildup. Unless you routinely take it to redline, this happens. Often on the Interstates when you see someone floor it, you'll see a cloud of exhaust as the engine heads for the red zone. I guess sometimes cars can't believe you want them to swing the needle all the way.

I have a 350 Vortec with a 700R4 and 12 bolt posi in the Silverado. Came with true duel exhaust to the muffler then a single 3" to the side. When I get the urge for a V8 surge, well I have it. How can you not love the sound of a V8? Now V-10 engines sound terrible but the V-12's are sweet sounding. Speaking of sound, this IS really has some pretty good pipe with the true duels. I got on it down the street the other day and got a nod of approval from my neighbor (we all have a good relationship so occasional acceleration, burnouts etc are acceptable). Probably why my fuel economy is limited but I do like taking this little V-6 to redline. Not sure how I'd do with 100 more horsepower but I'm sure it would cause issues.

Well Becki, I think you hit it directly. I do like older big block V-8 cars BUT, new cars are so much nicer. My 66 Cutlass hasn't been out of the garage in a couple years because it just isn't as much fun as other cars. I had a riot with Miata I had but sold it before I blew it up (which is apparently impossible) or scrubbed the tires to the cords (which is very possible) or killed myself (which my wife worried about). The IS is just more fun and with bluetooth? ahhh so good.

I do love old cars but have found the older I get, the newer I like cars. But going back, nothing like displacement. My wife drove my IS for the first time today and really liked the way it drives. Not that I wanted to let her but after a rough flight she was air (car?) sick.

The low oil light would go on if you were low. Find a toyota dealership in your area which is not associated with the Lexus dealership where you dealt and have them look at your car. For whatever reason every lexus dealership I have ever dealt with are pretty much terrible. Good coffee, but terrible on everything else. Pretty bad to say that I am afraid to go to mine for service.

Although I haven't had enough time to really play with things, I have found the sport mode to be more fun than the paddles.

Yeah, knowing the cost of parts, I'd say that is right in the ballpark.