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mkla

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  • Lexus Model
    ES 330

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  1. So I now have a total of 3 concussions from the tailgate in my 05 rx330 suddenly deciding to close - I'll try to post all the details, but it's hard to remember everything.... This has happened in a period of 1 week, so definitely a new thing. I'll open the tailgate (usually manually). It'll open fully, I'll reach in to get something and before I know it it's beeping and closing (I've now discovered how useless those beeps are because by the time it starts beeping it's already hit your head -- maybe I'm just slow...) So here's what I know - all three times have been in the parking lot, so the tailgate did not hit anything that suddenly made it start closing) - one time, the keys were in the front seat, so the button didn't get pushed accidentally - this has not happened prior to last week - there are times when it's open and does not close unprovoked. - pushing the button to open / close still works. Any ideas what may be causing this, and where I can start to troubleshoot? Thanks in advance.
  2. Luckily the engine air filter in both the lexus and honda were untouched - that really would have sucked to have had bits of filter blown into the engine.
  3. So I have to touch the sensor every time I want the automatic sensing wipers to come on? That doesn't seem very "automatic" to me. I still think there must be something wrong with the connection, I'm just not sure how to fix it. There have been times where it's pouring rain and they don't start until I push on it....
  4. Try Google, my friend. It'll point you to a Club Lexus post w/ pics. I'd put the link in, but I'm not sure if that's frowned on here. It's for a '97, but should be same procedure. Keep in mind for your model it's optional, so you may go through all the trouble of pulling back the carpet and find a whole lot of nothing. Good luck.
  5. Thanks for posting the pics. I actually would like to keep the auto-sensor function, but I must have a bad connection since I have to push on it for it to work (once I push on it, it works until I shut the car off, then I have to do it again the next time I start up). The windshield has been replaced, so I'm assuming that's the issue. How do I make a better connection??
  6. OK - just thought I would share a pic of the cabin filter from my Honda which I just changed. No rat turds on that one, but obviously chewed to pieces. Anyway - hopefully never happens to any of you & nice to know we're breathing fresh air now....
  7. This is just a friendly FYI for those of you who are ever unfortunate enough to have a rat take refuge under your hood: Change your cabin air filter as soon as you kill the little SOB. My little rodent friend met his maker 3 months ago thanks to a little peanut butter and good old fashioned snap rat trap - it never dawned on me to change the air and cabin filter. So today, I did it as part of my regular maintenance. Air filter was dirty, but otherwise fine. The cabin air filter, however, had about 15 rat turds collected on it - so for the past 3 months, my lovely family of 4 has been breathing in filtered rat crap and likely p*ss as well. Anyway, I'm off to Pep Boys to get filters for my other car since he would car hop in our garage until I caught him. Can't wait to see what he left there......
  8. You know, actually I didn't. I did for the IS-C with the top down (and you can fit a few sheets of paper in there), but I don't think they ever opened the trunk for the HS (they had one car that people weren't test driving where you could sit in the back seat, open, the hood, etc) and IIR they were having trouble opening the trunk (also not a good sign) so not sure how much room the battery takes up.
  9. It was a Lexus Sponsored event in Newport Beach - they send out invitations every now and then for new models. I have no idea how I got on the list. This last weekend they had the IS-C and HS.
  10. Just got back from Newport - will try to get a chance to load pics in the next day - right now just too tired, but will write some impressions. Test drove both the HS (boring) and IS convertible (very not boring). HS review is in the HS forum, but bottom line is, it needs work. The IS, on the other hand, was fantastic. Hits the showrooms in a few weeks, but enjoyed the chance to get a sneek peek. They had several verions to drive, but you pretty much had to get the one that came back when it was your turn. All were 350s. one had F-type wheels, rotors, brakes, suspenison and exhaust (but the 350 engine) - they claim the exhaust buys another 15 hp. Unfortunately didn't get to drive that one, but still enjoyed my red 350 convertible. Newport weather was perfect convertible weather - 75, sunny. I haven't been in an 09 IS Sedan, so not sure how the interior compares with the convertible, but I felt it was a perfect match for the car - nice balance b/t comfort and sport. The top goes down in about 25 seconds. You do have to hold the switch the entire time (first time in a convertible, so not sure if that's true for all) but there is a diagram on the dash that lets you know when it's completely down or up, and it beeps as well. Trunk space is enough for a bag of clubs with the top down, but that's probably to be expected. One downer is that there is a divider in the trunk that you have to manually move before the top can go down, so you have to get out of the car, move the divider, then get back in and lower the lid - didn't quite understand that?? Driving was excellent and responsive, and I'm sure compares to the regular 350. Weight is around 3700, but still lighter than the G37 convertible which tops 2 tons. Driving with the front windows up, but the top down at 70 was amazingly quiet - could easily have a conversation. There were no rear seat passengers, so not sure how the noise was there. IIR, MPG 18/25, but I may be off on the hwy. Pricing is 45-55, which is comprable to the G37. Overall, I think Lexus has a winner here - (makes up for the disappointing HS). Will try to put up some pics soon.
  11. OK – so I’ll start by saying that I’ve never driven a hybrid before. So I went into this with really nothing to compare to and not quite knowing what to expect. But I think I can sum up the overall driving experience as “underwhelmed.” Perhaps it’s because I had just finished driving the IS convertible (which I liked very much), or maybe I was expecting too much out of a luxury hybrid. I’ll try to post pictures once I figure out how to do that, but I’ll give you both the pluses and minuses as I see it – just my 2 cents. The appearance of the vehicle from the outside is “nice” – nothing more, nothing less. Some of the people there loved the looks, some didn’t – I could live with it. The car will come in three models – base, touring, and premium. All the same engine, they differ by options and leather – mine, the touring, had a nice 2-tone leather. Seats were comfortable. Size, I would estimate, between the ES and IS, but closer to the ES. Could easily get 2 adults in the back and briefly get three in there. I was not so impressed with the front cabin. The center console I thought was far too intrusive in between the driver and passenger (sorry, no pics of that – I was kind of rushed in and out since others were waiting). A screen pops up in the center when you start the car. There’s a dial (similar to BMW) to control the screen, different settings, etc. You can get a ton of info (maybe too much??), including minute by minute summaries of MPG and power output (electric, gas, or combo) so you can get a sense of how you’re driving. So let’s start driving. Push button start simply turns the electricity on and powers up everything. The gas engine kicks in about 20 seconds later. When the gas engine did start up, it was rough (even the Lexus guy mentioned how rough it was) – it seemed to stutter quite a bit while just in idle. Not impressed at all by that. He of course stated that it’s never done that, but even if that’s true, it made me wonder why it was idling like that. They “joystick” to move it into drive or reverse, I thought was a little too small. I suppose maybe I’m just old-fashioned, but I think that a lever that puts a car in gear should look like it belongs to an automobile rather than a PlayStation. The car did drive well below 30 MPH. Unfortunately, over 30, it really drove like a 4 cylinder (and a weak one at that). The road that we test drove had a bit of an incline to it. The speed limit was 45 and I got it to 45 fine. But when I tried to get it to go from 45 to 55, it didn’t. I had it floored, and was in “power mode” which is the least economical, most powerful of this car’s three drive modes. This really ruined the whole experience. I realize that this is Lexus’s first attempt at using a hybrid engine for the benefit of MPG rather than power, but I really would like to know that I have the power to merge on the freeway, get out of someone’s way, or just kick it up a notch every now and then. This car simply can’t do any of that. The ride was very smooth, but so were the roads. I’d be curious how this holds up on the infamous Southern Cal aged highways. Now for the big questions – MPG and pricing. I test drove this on the second day of the event, and they stated that after 1 ½ days of different people driving and “pushing” the car, it was getting 33-35 MPG. The rep states he got it in the 40s. Highway was rated in the low 30s. All on 87 octane. So certainly good mileage for a good sized sedan, but again this comes at a huge power expense over 30 MPH. Pricing is still up in the air. Car is due to come out in 3 months, and pricing won’t be set for another several months, but it’s estimated to start in low 30s for the base – add probably another 10K for premium with adaptive cruise control, etc. Again, I’ll try to post pics later today or tomorrow, although they’re all exterior. Anyway, I hope that this is a good start for Lexus, but I think they still have a lot of work to do. For me it was just a little flat. I do plan on getting a hybrid for my next car – I just don’t think this will be it for me.
  12. So I get a chance to drive the IS convertible tomorrow in Newport (and HS hybrid)- looking forward to it. I'll try to post pics (if they let me take them) and impressions tomorow night. HS review will be in the HS forum....
  13. I'll be test driving the new HS (as well as the IS convertible) at a Lexus event in Newport Beach tomorrow. I'll try to post impressions / pics (if they let me take pics) tomorrow. Looking forward to driving both cars......
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