tdgreer

Last week, for my son, purchased a 96 ES300 w/ 104,000 miles for $4500. Needs small amount of paint touch up. Mechanic gave it a good once over taking care of small issues and maintanance for $500.00. Just put new tires on. The tread on the tires were still very good, but because it was not driven a lot and the tires were on for quite some time, they were starting to dry-rot. Ordered new hood struts and replacement antenna from ebay. Those were put on today. Except for paint touch up, it is running great! :)

Yes, I feel that I have pretty good glass on my ES. I have not found any problems with it. It would seem strange for Lexus to use anything less on the GS, or any other car. I can't even begin to imagine what the reason would be to have a glass that would respond the way some are saying in the other forum.

I'm considering a new GS for sometime this summer. On another Lexus forum, I came across a thread regarding the windshields of the GS's. I'm guessing the newer GS's if not all. In the thread there are complaints that the windshields are not very durable. They easily chip, scratch and at times, even break. http://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread.php?t=253933 Unless I've missed a thread, I have not seen this complaint on this forum. Any complaints regarding the windshields? TIA

When I took the car in earlier this month, I thought the service rep said they had replaced the belt... although they were'nt sure that was the problem, as it wasn't acting up when I took it in. But when I looked at the service invoice, it said they tightened the belt. Regardless, the service rep said the belt looked fine, that they don't usually need changing at this time. I have about 34,000 miles. It's going back on Monday morning. But they just don't seem to know what to do without hearing it make the noise, and it just tends to behave when I bring it in!

Earlier this month (1/07) my A/C started making a squealing noise. Unfortunately it was on and off. At times continual through an afternoon drive. But then at times, it just wouldn't do it at all. Quit annoying. I took it to Lexus service and they couldn't duplicate the noise. They tightened a belt. It seemed fine for about a week. But then it started again last weekend. Myself, my husband and son, all agree it sounds like a cricket. But it really sounds like the aliens communicating to each other when heard over the baby monitor on the movie Signs with Mel Gibson. Seriously!!! Anyway, it's only when the A/C is on. Quits when it's off. Very annoying. The bad thing is that it doesn't do it all the time. The car is going back to Lexus on Monday morning, but again, there's a good chance it won't do it once there. It's not doing it today. I do wonder if outside temps contribute to it, as the it has been most annoying, the weather has been in the low 80's, and it seems to behave when we've been in the 50's to 70's. I'm in Tampa. I wish I were closer to the dealership/service dept when it does this, but don't live near it, and rarely am out that way. And it seems to had it's worst times during a weekend anyway. My mom has taken ill in Louisiana and will probably be making a trip there in few weeks and sure don't want it acting up. Anyone have such a thing happen? Any clues? TIA! 2004 ES330

Robert Redford's character drives a nice LS in the movie The Clearing. He plays a wealthy man who gets kidnapped. Here's a page with Lexus cars in various movies. Celebrity owners of Lexus vehicles include Steven Spielberg, Robert DeNiro, Holly Hunter, Mel Gibson, Cameron Diaz, Tony Hawk, Christie Brinkley, Tyra Banks, Michael Bloomberg, and Bill Gates. Info came from Wikipedia when looking up "Lexus".

Oh my. I'm hurt. :cries: Seriously... I do hope there is a small part of you that can and will respect other opinions and view points. Perhaps you were having an extremely bad day when you posted this? I currently participate in several forums, many that I rarely visit anymore because they have become horrid with too many postings that are quite similar to yours. Luckily this forum has been different. It has been a pleasure to visit and post here because the members and moderators do want to keep this forum not only informative, but also respectful, so that it can be a pleasure for it's members and visitors. I'm glad you are enjoying your 350. Good luck to you.

I'm in Tampa, and when I do the "build your own" and choose the highest Premium Plus Package ($7,137.00- total car $41,022.00), I can get the voice-activated DVD Nav, but no ML. According to "build your own", I can't get ML. Anyone know what the deal about why the UL is held back in some places?

IMO, you shouldn't have to be "stepping down". If the idea was to downgrade items in order to add other perks without raises the price much, that's crazy. They seem to forget about the current ES owners and how they would feel about that. I really like my 330 (save the transmission) and it really rubs me the wrong way to think that to stay in the ES line, I have to sacrifice. The car should be moving forward- at least don't take away from it. Also, IMO, the ML should be standard in the LS. Nav optional, but ML stereo standard.

Exactly how I feel. I was looking forward to sliding into the new ES, but I can't get past the interior. I have looked at the GS several times now, and I really think the GS350 is where I will be going. Next summer for me too.

I took my 04 330 in for the 30,000 mile service yesterday morning and was given a 350 loaner. I was looking forward to spending a day with the 350 to see how I would like it. My 15 year old son will be in need of a car next summer. My 25 yr old daughter wants to hand down her 2 door accord to my son and hoped I would pass on my 330 to her as I slide into the 350. I do like the drive of the 350. The exterior styling is not great, but I can get used to it. The newer bells and whisles are great. What I can't get used to is the interior. Lexus really took a huge step backwards here. I am really disappointed. The overall look and feel is cheapened. The wood is not as nice, and not nearly enough. I hate the dash... the lifeless top of the dash that carries over toward the glove box. Why is it the glove box when opened and closed feels lighter and cheaper? Even the sun shade that you open and close for the moon roof feels cheaper. Positives is that there appears to be a little more leg room. My husband is 6'2'', my 15 yr old son, 6 ft. (expecting to grow a bit more). They find it roomier in the legs. However, my husbands head touches the roof where it begins to fur down toward the door. He put the seat down as far as it could go. So even though there is more leg room, it looks like some head room has been taken away. When I bought my 330 in 2004, we looked at and test drove the GS and the ES. I liked the power and exterior of the GS, but I liked the interior luxury of the ES. But even though I am the primary driver, my husband just didn't fit in the GS nearly as well. I have just taken another look at the GS, and I definitely like the GS interior over that of the 350. At this point I'm not sure I'll be ready to part with my 330 for the 350. When I got my 330 back this morning, it was really nice to slide into it and feel like I am in a Lexus. I may take another look at the GS, and have my husband try it out again. I'm not interested in the LS. I just don't need that much car. Perhaps when we are older, and my husband drives my car about as much as I do.

My husband has back problems. When his back is really acting up, he has found that driving my ES330 actually helps it. He feels a difference when he has been in my car and then gets out. Funny where he found therapy. BTW, tomorrow 11/1/06, I'm taking my 330 in for 30,000 mile service. I'm getting a 350 loaner. Looking forward to checking it out. :)

For the 350 owners, what is your take on the road noise? And... What type of changes is a car maker, in this case Lexus, willing to make for the next model year? I, like many, don't always like buying the first year of a new model. So if we wait a year or two, how much of a change can one expect? Would they change the body if it could improve the car? Side mirrors?

Yeah, I'm realizing that dark is going to show more than light. Any thoughts on the Perma Plate coating or the like? Worth it? Gimmick? Like I said in my original post, I did have it put on my 04 when I purchased it. Paint job still looks brand new. But would it look like that anyway, without the coating?

When I purchased my 04 330, I paid to have Perma Plate, a clear coat put on. Overall the paint job still looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor. Don't even see any swirling. I don't remember how much I paid for the coat. Question is... would it still look that way if I had not had the Perma Plate done? Is it a gimmick? I am considering going to the 350 sometime next year. My 15 year old son will need a car and my daughter wants to hand down her Accord to him and she would purchase the 330 from me. So I wonder if I should do the Perma Plate when I purchase the 350. Also, the 330 is a gold color. I am really picky about where I park it when out and about. I've had it for 2 1/2 years and can't see a door ding at all. I had a black Avalon before the 330. As careful as I could be, dings really showed up on it, as did surface scratches and swirling. I am considering going back to a dark color... love the royal ruby and saphffire pearl. But is a lighter color better? Does the lighter color hide alot, or maybe it's the Perma Plate that is doing the job? Any opinions on Perma Plate.... and any on light vs dark colors? TIA!