The G Man

Well yes it does, just a little. It didn't quite get down to -40C this winter, but not far off.

I am getting to like the car the more I drive it, the handling is good, it has enough power for some fun (and speeding tickets), and the mileage is looking to be not far off my 4 cyl Camry, if the trip info is to be believed; it will be a crying shame if I have to take it back and change it. The rattles are worse at lower speeds on rough surfaces, on the highway I don't really notice them that much.

If you like the car, keep it, a little rattle is not going to kill you. All I was saying is that the 3 GS has a rattle problem and sometimes it is fixable, but most of the time, it is not. The 2GS was solid as a rock.

Run flats have a lot of issues, but sidewall bubbles is not one of them. Run flats also have a stiffer sidewall, so it should stand up to pot holes better wear and tear wise. Sounds like there is something else going one here besides pot holes.

Thanks for the reply.

Damn, wish I'd posted earlier. It does have rattles. I took out the 3 year extended warranty coverage as well and the dealer is telling me that they will fix things so I shall take them at their word. I have 10 days to return it and choose a different car if I am not happy with it. I love it until I drive over a rough surface, unfortunately there are a lot of those around here. I never expected to have this issue with a car of this class and reputation.

Does it get cold where you are? If it does, then the rattles will be tough to fix. The 3GS have rattles problems all the way up to the 09 model. If you are the type who hates rattles like me, then the GS is not for you. Like I said earlier, extended warranty do not cover rattles. Most dealer will do a one time fix for a used Lexus, hopefully, the rattles won’t come back or no new rattles will develop.

Thanks :)

The permissions set in the software are the same as before.

Changes to the forums will be made over the next few weeks.

I like the new look :) What other changes will be implemented in the next few weeks?

Hi

We are using both

Good work Steve, will this new software let me delete post? I made a duplicate post of this by accident :)

The new website design looks good guys, good job to all admins and Steve. Are you guys using a new software or just new graphics?

Daimler paying 185 million in fines in bribing foreign officials, BAE 400 million, Siemens, 1.6 billion, the list goes on. Very sad.

Tim

I don't think what Toyota did was any worst than what Daimler did, the only big difference is people dead as a result of Toyota's corruption.

Hi there,

I am about to buy an 06 GS300 AWD with 40000 miles on it. Its red with tan interior and looks fantastic. I just want to ask if there are any caveats to be aware of before I finally sign the papers. It appeared to have a rattle in the dashboard which the dealer has said they will fix before I collect it, is there anything else I should be looking for?

Rattles are the major issue with the 3GS. They have to take apart the whole dash board to fix the rattle. Most of the time, the rattles are cold weather related and once the temp drop, you might hear more rattles. If your GS is a CPO, it will not cover rattles. In my case, everytime the dealer fix one rattle, two more will show up.

Good Luck

Why didn't the NHTSA do anything about it?

Some thinks that is why NHTSA is so tough on Toyota now, NHTSA was caught in bed with Toyota. I am sure there was a lot deals and bribes going on under the table at that time. This is the reason Toyota is trying so hard to keep those office memos and email out of the court's hands. I am sure this type of things goes on in every big car companies.

Truth be told, it is for "Toyota's protection from frivolous US law suits".

I been saying it all along. If Toyota made thier cars so it can not accelarate, they would not have all these sudden accelaration law suits :)

I just saw this on CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2010/0...ment.cnn?hpt=C2

Toyota have been hiding a TSB since 2002 that stated that there might be a sudden accelaration issue related to the electronics system.

Here is the timeline of Toyota's 1st drive by wire system and their 1st TSB for sudden accelaration soon after. It looks like they had problems with the DBW system from the very beginning.

http://www.safetyresearch.net/toyota-sudde...ation-timeline/

I'm looking with no avail, for mudflaps for an '08 GS350. Body colored matched if possible. I know Lexus doesn't carry any. Anyone know???

I got the ones from www.L-tunedparts.com

They are color matched to the car but take a while when ordered because they are ordered from Japan. They line up well and a piece of cake to mount. Only 4 small holes in plastic have to be drilled (on for each flap). The other holes are already there. Sit down when you see the price.

I think I paid $45 extra to get them shipped a little sooner.

Here is a pic.

Stevej, I think Tuft university is paying you too much money :)

Is there a way Admin can give the right for some member to delete their own post?

G Man - you just want to delete your post about the pirus huh? :D Just kidding around with you...

Yes :) Seriously, this is the 1st forum I have been in that I cannot delete a post.

Yep, no delete option for the peasant members. :P Only mods can delete entire posts. Why do you want to delete a post anyway?

I have been in forums similar to this one format wise, the owner can give permission to delete post to anyone who wants it, which is what other forum does. I have ask Steve, the site's owner, so far he hasnt response yet, it has been a months since I PM him, so I dont think he is willing to give me permission.

if your car went out of control by just tapping on the brakes, then its not the tires, its either the brakes or the stability system. I would start with the barke since its easier to check and much cheaper.

I just went to my local tint and clear bra shop and had them clear bra the fender and rocker panels a foot or two behind the wheels. Looks better that the flaps and cost like $50-75

Pretty soon, I bet someone is going to clear bar their whole car :)

Just release from JD power, the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study is a random survey of owners after they have owned their car for 3 years.

Porsche top the list and Lexus got knock to #4, which is still not too bad.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/18/porsche...r-2010-vehicle/

I have a visual indication if the ABS system (traction control) is working, a yellow light flashes and two lines appear. There is no beeping sound and I don't have "stability control". There was not sufficient time to see the lights flashing for the traction control, the event happened so fast. In all previous conditions where I was in a skid condition on snow, I did observe the flashing lights but in this condition it was the application of the accelerator that caused this, never the brake, and I was always in control of the vehicle. I could correct the skid but turning the wheel in the opposite direction and dropping speed. In this case I lost control completely. I have checked the brake shoes and calipers, not sign of pitting, corrosions, rust, or any damage. I would welcome the opportunity for Lexus to make the same inspection to determine if there is a mechanical or software problem. In this respect I have tried to make contact. Do you know of an individual I could address this issue too? Thanks, Michael

The stability control light should look like the back of a car with two S shape line behind it, you need to comfrim if your ES will in fact make a beeping sound when stability is active. I dont have any contact in Lexus, but I doubt they will listen to you now a day. Lexus is not what is once was, it is no longer as responsive to customers as they once was.

Like other have already stated, check the brake 1st, bring it to a independent mechanic and have it check out. Lexus is not going to troubleshoot this problem for you fro free unless you have a lawyer in tow. Its only the brakes you need to check out, an independent shop should be able to do the work properly and for short money.

Is there a way Admin can give the right for some member to delete their own post?

G Man - you just want to delete your post about the pirus huh? :D Just kidding around with you...

Yes :) Seriously, this is the 1st forum I have been in that I cannot delete a post.

Is there a way Admin can give the right for some member to delete their own post?

Well Michael, I for one will give you the benefit of the doubt. It seems like you might have some sort of problem with your stability control system. Is your car totaled? Sometimes cases like this is cause by the mismatch tire diameters or bad wheel rotation sensors.

Thanks, the car was not totaled, it was repaired at considerable cost. All tires are of the same diameter and are the original ones. The car is not used that much and has a total of about 24,000 miles. Tires were rotated at 20.000 miles. What are rotation sensors?

They are the speed sensors on each tire, telling the comupter how fast each tire is spinning. Those sensors controls the ABS and the stability control. Usually when one of those sensors fails , you will get a warning light on your dash. Did you remember if you hear a beeping sound when you were sliding? When the stability control kicks in, you should get a warning light on the dash and a beeping sound.

It may also be one of your brakes caliper locking up, I would have that check out.

Just release by Toyota: The black box data shows that the accelerator and the brake had been rapidly pressed, alternately back and forth, 250 times," Mike Michels, vice president of corporate communications for Toyota Motor Sales USA, told a press conference.

Its looks more and more like this guy is a fake.

I agree with jgr7, there should always be some power to the front wheels. The system cannot send 100% power to the rear wheels.

Has anyone tried to order Lexus all weather mats lately? They seem to be really hard to find.

Are the RX mats being redesign because of the sudden accelaration issue?

G-Man, lets really read from the manual, shall we? Let's see.... hmmm.... here it is... page 606..."Premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91 or higher required for optimum engine performance (emphasis added). If 91 octane cannot be obtained you may (emphasis added) use unleaded gasoline with a rating as low as 87. Use of gasoline with an octane rating lower than 91 may (emphasis added) result in engine knocking. Persistant knocking can lead to engine damage and should be corrected by refueling with higher octane unleaded gasoline."

I take away from this that you can use 87 so long as you don't experience engine knocking. Now I know engine knocking; my 1970 iron headed 10.5:1 compression ratio Buick knocks like it is full of monkeys with hammers on a 100 degree day running 91 octane. I detune it on a hot day from the driver's seat with an MSD Timing Controller http://www.msdignition.com/Products/RPM/Ti...ng_Control.aspx. I'm not nearly as fast or as accurate as the knock sensor on the Lexus but the pistons and connecting rod bearings in the Buick engine (seen for the first time in 14 years last year during a freshining) were beautiful even after getting hammered for 14 summers. I've been in many, many engines over the years and Toyota engines are over-engineered compared to the 40 and 50 year old stuff from the musclecar era.

I've never heard knocking or even light pinging from any of the three RXs I've owned, always running 87 and always with the same cautionary language in the owners manual.

There is no "prohibition" against using 87. I own stock in several big oil companies so I'm perfectly happy if you guys burn money needlesly to fund my retirement. I'll keep using 87 in the Lexus all year long and wish I could afford $6+ 104 Rocket Brand or Sunoco for the Buick in the summer.

Kmart oil (if they sell SM rated 0w-20) is perfectly acceptable and produced by one of the big oil companies - not Kmart. I always use Toyota oil and filters; they are competitvely priced and easily obtained.

BadBrad, I guess if you read the manual hard enough, you can read into it what you want it to mean. The manual said 91 or higher is required for optimum engine performance, do you really want to run your engine at below optimal condition? If 91 octane cannot be obtained you can use unleaded gasoline with a rating as low as 87, are you having problem finding 91 octane?

Listen, you can use 87 octane and chances are you will not damage anything in your Lexus. Personally, I just don’t see the point of taking that risk for a saving $3 a tank full.

Well Michael, I for one will give you the benefit of the doubt. It seems like you might have some sort of problem with your stability control system. Is your car totaled? Sometimes cases like this is cause by the mismatch tire diameters or bad wheel rotation sensors.