The G Man

I'm not a Ford "hater", it just amazes me when i hear people talking about how much more reliable the new Fords are with no data to back it up.

I think most people are saying how much better the quality is on the new Ford, not how relaible they are. Ford have always been pretty reliable to start with, there might be some minor issues like interior panels not holding up after some time, but for the most part, the power train is pretty good.

The top of the line Toyota Avalon can cost up to $40K as well, there is a very fine line now a days between a car company's top of the line econo brand and their entry level model of the luxury brand.

You mean the $40k taurus?

Yes maybe a $40,000 Ford might have quality materials, but all of these qualities are lacking in Ford's remaining lineup.

I think I would buy a $40K Taurus SHO over a $40K Lexus ES350 any day of the week.

Approximately 70 days ago, my wife, backing out of our garage in our 2008 GX470 was unable to stop the car with the break. Fearing a slow-motion accident with a retaining wall, she opened the driver's door and tried to stop the car with her foot (the other foot firmly planted on the break). After having the car 89 days and doing nothing but an inspection, we find out that Lexus says the car is fine. We have no idea what to do. We are afraid to drive the car--it's brakes failed again that same day (though she was able to use the emergency brake). We've bought 5 Lexus cars over the years--obviously will never buy another one. But we need help now. Any ideas?

Unless your wife plays for the NBA, I doubt she can have one foot on the brakes and the other foot on the pavement since the GX is a very tall SUV.

Did the dealer change the brake fluid or try to bleed it at all?

So, anyone have anything to say about the Volvo?

I know that Volvo is now owned by a Chinese car company. My brother in law just lease a 2010 C70, he got it dirt cheap. The Volvo dealers are really hurting right now.

I recently purchased a 95 Lexus ES300. The previous owner was a smoker and there is a terrible odor that comes from the A/C. Will this problem be solved by replacing the Cabin Air Filter?

Try to find a HVAC filter with carbon in it.

I remember the old days when Lexus used car dealer sets the standards, now a days, they are no better than everyone else. I guess they are a victim of the economy as well.

Really its 2012...but its not 2012...its 2010.

People need to learn that technology is not a replacement for actually knowing how to drive.

Stability system is like spell check and navi, after a while, the technology will take away from the user's skill.

Isnt the stability system a requirement for all new cars starting next year?

The engine fan makes the V8 engine sound like a 4 banger.

Hi Guys,

I am new here, just want some suggestions if i should get extended warranty?

For a 2006 gs430, 40000km now,still has factory engine and powertrain warranty,

the extended warranty go for

$2580 3 years 30000km

or

$2890 3 years 40000km

i just did a vehicle check today and noticed the passanger/rear shocks are leaking.. any idea how much would it cost?

Thanks

My answer to this question has always been: An extended warranty is worth the money if your total repair covered under the extended warranty cost more than the extended warranty itself :)

Seriously, if you are considering after market warranty, be very careful, read all the restrictions and fine prints and ask for reference. Generally, rather or not I would buy an extended warranty policy depends on the car's reliability history and how long I plan to keep the car.

Well you will need to update this post when you find out. One thing I notice is that the lean changes. I have measured mine in my garage, after driving and over a week or so. The lean varies over 1/2". Either way, the dealership says this is normal.

I bet alot of others probably have the same "issue" but don't notice.

This is a common problem with the Lexus GX470, my old GX used to sag on one side by about 1/2". Some owners complains about 1 side sagging as much 2 inches. The sag does varies from time to time, its almost like it depends on how the suspension settles after you go for a drive. Of course you need to make sure you are on level ground when making the measurement.

I tried this on my 2010 RX and I could not get it to work. Now my daytime running light dashboard indicator light does not come on when my daytime lights are on!

I dont think this procedure works for the 2010 RX350. Are you sure you have a DRL light on the dash?

I am close to buying a CPO 2007 GS350. It is an AWD with 28,000 miles - good Carfax, looks to be well taken care of. Right now I am at $33,500 with the dealer and he is putting on a new set of run flats. Is this a decent deal or not?

Also two other questions -

1 - The NAV issue - what can't you do while you are driving. I test drove the car and the NAV appeared to work fine when the car was in motion, I was able to zoom in and out and move around the map. Does it just prevent you from entering a destination while driving?

2 - I just want an AUX jack added for Ipod connectivity, can the dealer easily do that (what would be the cost) and how does it affect the interior styling. I don't want something obnoxious. Just a simple AUX jack in the center console would be fine. I don't mind controlling it directly from the ipod.

Any help on these topics would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

You can get a 08 for that price, the 08 has the mid model-cycle upgrades. You cannot enter a destination while driving, but you can use voice command to enter a destination while driving. I would ask the dealer to put on regular tires and give you a donut, the GS is very rough and noisy with run-flats.

My 07GS350 AWD has 41K miles. Yesterday I noticed the rear end is not leveled. So I did a measurement.

The driver's side wheelwell is about 1mm lower than the passeneger's side.

The tire pressure is the same on two rear tires. It's too early for a shock absorber to go bad.

The front end is completely leveled.

Any GS350 AWDs owners experience the same?

Could be a leaking shock.

Called the dealership this morning and read them the portion of the Lemon Law guidelines that says that I need to request a meeting with the Dealership owner before filing a claim - they called me back and said they now admit that the short block was not the solution and they would need to "order more parts" and tear the engine back down, so it wil be a few more days - no word from Customer Care yet.

I thought that the PCV valve fixed the problem????

The new aftermarket windshield that was installed on my Rx300 handled poor weather a LOT differently than the previous 5 year old OEM one...

It was a Pilkington replacement.

I am not sure why that is, but here is a description from a dealer about the Water-repellent front door glass:

Seller's Comments

Pwr rear liftgate,Intermittent rear wiper,Variable intermittent windshield wipers,Privacy glass,Water-repellent front door glass,UV ray-reducing window glass.

http://www.autotrader.com/dealers/dda/detail.jsp?ct=u&address=02460&result_car_id=275770070&dealership_view_name=lexusofmanhattan&car_id=274745433&dealer_id=79228

When ever I have a choice, I always rather buy a car made in Japan or Germany as oppose to the USA, Canada or Mexico.

Care to share the name of the dealership?

Its a pretty common knowledge that a defective PCV valve can cause oil sludge build up. I think you have a good case here, the last thing Toyota wants is another law suit right now. Try to get some kind of compensation from Lexus of USA and the dealer, if they refuse, have a lawyer write them a letter of your intent to sue.

Good Luck

Oil changes were done every 5-7k miles, we did present those receipts to Lexus Customer Care - and after 60 days of back and forth they agreed to "good will" the engine if we paid labor...not what we wanted but we know the enine was $15000 and paying only the labor $5000 seemed like the best offer we were going to get. The agreement was a new engine with full warranty for only labor charges...we got 1/2 an engine, charged for 1/2 the parts, and paid the full 5k...I am waiting to hear from Customer Care today - if they do not correct this, I will pursue action through Lemon Law, Legal Representation and BBB...I am of the opinion that this dealership employees dishonest scumbags and they need to pay for that practice.

Did you sign a consent form for them to replace your short block?, If you did, it might be a difficult legal battle.

I got 40K miles out of RFT from my 07GS350AWD. The tires still had 5/32 tread left when I replaced them couple months ago with the same RFT. All four tires wore evenly inside & outside. Dealer said I did well on the tires.

Agree Primacy performes on wet & snow better than MXV4. Have them on my Accord. Love them. Primacy has a zero pressure feature. I found out the hardway. One time, on the way to work. Just out of the drive way I heard a flapping noise from the rear. Didn't think it was something serious so continued driving and would check the noise out when I got to work. Got on the highway & drove 65-80 mph on a 16 mile trip. Got to work, walked around the rear & noticed the rear passenger side tire was

completely flat. The sidewall was burnt. The tire was still attached to the rim. I just had the car serviced the day before. So I knew it could be the valve was not closed after the tech checked the tire pressure which caused the air leakage for a full day.

Oh man. I was lucky that the tire didn't come off the rim. That would be a big mess on the highway. Tire hazard insurance paid 1/3 for a new tire.

Anytime you can get 40000 miles out of those runflats, you are doing good. Some owners replace them as soon as 20000 miles. The side wall on the Primacy is pretty stiff, almost as stiff as the Good Year Eagle one all season.

That is rediculous, sludge motor in 65k....I thought their sludge problem was fixed.....

The oil sludge problem could be the result of the PCV valve stuck open. Thats why one should always try to get a second opinion with any big repair job.

I've had aftermarket windshields installed before (on my previous rx300) and they quality is terrible, you can see waviness and it doesn't repel water like the OEM one does. Aftermarket windshield for the Rx300 was $150 installed, very cheap.... literally

It depends on which brand of after market glass you bought, some aftermarket brands are actually better than OEM and cheaper too. By the way, the windshield of your RX is not water repellent, only the front side windows.

File a complain with Lexus headquarter, considering everything that is going with Toyota right now, I got a feeling you will get a fast and fair response. Lexus HQ can call the dealer and adjust the cost.

I have a 2008 GS350 AWD, I had 50,000 miles. My runflats became noisy 2 months, As of today the left rear Driver side tire inside blewout and the inside seams looked as if they were coming apart. The TPMS indicator came on and i was able to drive it a little way.

As i am writing this, i had am having the dealer replace them with NON-Runflats / Michelin MXV4 225 50 V 17's. $220/per tire plus addition cost for aligniment and balancing, im sure labor is going to be high at dealer, they quoted around $1000.00 out the door and gave me a loaner while they ordered tires.

I hope they perform well, if not happy ill have them replace again and or prorate if applicable. by the way i purchased the tire hazard progrm lexus dealer pitched, and i must say not worth the paper its written on, they did nothing as promised. never will do that again anywhere.

You got 50000 miles out of a set of runflats? That is amzaing if that is the case.

The runflats falling apart on the inside is a common problem when it age on the GS, every GS owner should inspect the inside of the OEM run flat as they age. I would have replace the runflat with the Michelin Primicy instead of the MXV4, its a much better tire.