Reaper

Yes.. go into your phone book on the Nav Screen... under the person name click on edit.... in there you can set up "name dial".... I've find it a pain in the a$$.... 2 slow for me.... so I still use my cell to dial the numbers... 2sec.. compared to a "Safe Way" of 20 secs.... No thanks.. :) I played with this feature a while (setting up my phone book, assigning the voice name, etc.) and it truly is not that spectacular. In order to call someone "hands free" from the Map View Screen: - Press the Phone icon on your steering wheel. - Press the phone book on the screen. - Say the name. A much faster way is to simply, hit the icon on your steering wheel then select the speed dial number of the person you want to call. It took 3/4 less time! These are just my findings. Yours may vary. -Gary

I have the G-Spyder wheels on my IS 350. I found out (from the detail guys at Lexus) that a product that I have previously used to clean, well everything (SIMPLE GREEN) works great. I tried it out and I'll be darned if it doesn't do a great job. When you go to wash your car like normal, wet the wheels then spray a little of the stuff on (especially the front). Leave it sit there while you finish the rest of the car. Do the wheels last. You should find that the break dust comes off very easy and that the next time around it should be a bit more resistant to build up. At least these are my findings. I've gone from the dust accumulating so much in one week, to now taking about two weeks. Still a lot of dust, but at least not as frequent. Hope this helps.

Whoa! This is an ENTIRELY different scenario than I had with same dealership. I've had my IS 350 for 3 weeks now and the Bellevue, Washington dealership (where we've previously purchased 2 other models over the last 10 years) has been absolutely first class. I'm so sorry to hear that you've had this poor experience, but I can tell you that I have never seen anything but the highest regard for customer service and satisfaction at that dealership. The ground effects that I had added were ever-so slightly off alignment on the rear bumper. I came in two weeks ago to make the appointment (I was in no hurry and seriously, it's so slight that only someone like me would notice) and they spent over an hour with me letting me know what they were going to do. I take in tomorrow and I'll let you know how it goes. I have no doubt that it will be professional. If you're seriously having issues with a saleman there, go talk to the general manager. Again, I'm sure that what they don't want are the kind of customer experiences you've described. Good Luck!

Yes, I got the Nav/ML package as well. I've seen a few post where folks who say they didn't need the ML package because they're not audiophiles and they won't hear the difference. All I can say is, you don't need to have golden ears to hear the difference. It is worth it... if you want it.

I had the dealer do the 3M protection and am so thankful. Spendy... yes, but our RX330 had a simple, but good sized scrape in the bumper... it took over $500 to bring it back to normal. Granted the 3M protection isn't applied to the rear bumper, but I just got the IS 350 with ground effects and had them put it there. Keeping fingers crossed that it does the job. -Reaper

Great Forum... I just found it after I bought my IS 350. I feel guilty in saying this only because the normal wait for these appear to be 8-10 weeks. Last week I went into my local dealership (having already test driven the 350) and inquired about the car, color and features I wanted. Tungsten Pearl, Black Interior, Sport Package, Ground Effects and 18" G-Spyder wheels. The dealer looked at me with an expression of "That's going to take a while to get". But without a word, made a phone call to inquire. When he got off the phone the expression turned to, "I don't believe it". He said to me, "Well, this rarely happens, but that EXACT car you just described is on a truck to this dealership and will be here in... 5 DAYS!!!". I picked it up yesterday and still haven't set my feet on the ground. I have found this forum highly valuable and will contribute as best as I can. To all you pre-order owners... the wait is worth it. -Reaper (Not my real name). :)