smooth1

I paid cash for my 08 IS350, I certainly could've afforded Nav. The way I was able to pay cash for it was by not spending several grand extra on stuff that did less though :P The $300-400 price tags I quote are for units that do MORE than the factory unit... they do nav, and bluetooth, and ALSO do realtime traffic, weather, fuel prices, movie times, stock quotes, picture viewing, currency conversion, etc... Use a friction mount and the hassle is 10 seconds of moving it to the center console. Done. Then leave it there so you don't need to remember to take it with you, it already IS with you. You'd be as likely to use it as anything else at that point. Now, the screen will be 4 inches instead of 7, that's true... but I've never had trouble seeing the screen... and if you do you can spend the $2000-3000 you saved on LASIK and enjoy the benefits even when NOT in the car! :) Well, here again, I will say that I'm not debating the pros and cons for each choice. I am more pointing out that in-dash units, even factory units have some very nice features and are a plausible choice. I think we would both agree that you give up some features for others in each catagory. My brother swears by his Minivan, and loves all it has to offer, and he thinks the IS is way too small and because I don't have automatic sliding doors, it's just impossible to live happily with an IS. I on the other hand would rather walk with a permanent limp to and from work than drive a Minivan. Well, maybe if it hurt alot to walk also. But you get the meaning. Does the Minivan offer great features?, sure it does, is it "more practical"? Probably. But the IS 350 does everything that is important to me very well. And that's all that really matters. I paid cash for my IS 350 also. But I don't think it would have mattered any. I knew what I wanted.

Timex

I'm not argueing or even debating you. Dollars to sense would tell you no nav is less expensive. But we are talking about buying a luxury car here. If a grand or two is going to really hurt, then your buying to high in the ladder anyway. Also, the xfm and Sirrius options I meant were not on the hand helds. That the $300 or $400 price tag you quotes are for nav only, not all the other toys that come with an in-dash unit. All the in-dash units I looked at aftermarket are ranged in the same price, with the exception of options changing the overall value of each one. I just don't care for hand held units. 1) Hassle of putting it on the dash and removing everytime you get in and out of the car. Leaving it would be an advertisement for breaking a window and snatching it. And here in Florida, if you left it on the dash, the sun would take it's toll on it pretty fast. 2) Carrying something else to the car! Man, my hands are allways full now, the last thing I need is another piece of equipment to keep track of. 3) The screens are to small. and the bigger the screen, the bigger the piece of equipment I have to carry around. 4) I don't know of anyone who has in dash nav and doesn't use it. I know plenty of people who have Tom Tom's and Garmins sitting on the counter collecting dust. 5) Even though they are Blutooth, they don't pause the music and all when the phone rings, and then bring it back up when the conversation is over. Some things you buy because you need, and some things you buy because you want. And with some of the things you need, you get what you want anyway. For example, I was more about not wanting the way over priced spoiler and ground effects package they try to put on everything. You want to save some money?, have them not put all that on the car. that's a few grand right there!

I agree with that, but resale value is also built with buyer desire. And the first thing people seem ask right now when looking at a new or new used car, is" Does it have nav?" And a "yes" makes that car more desireable right there!

Well, I'm all for aftermarket units. Although I still don't think the hand helds are of the top choices. That's just a personal thing though. A friend of mine has a Garmin, and we used it when we went to TPC Sawgrass, and that thing was useless on in town driving. I much preferred the Toyota Nav to that thing. I also had the AVIC D-3 and Z2, which is one of the nicest after market Nav systems available. Both did a great job. And as for being able to operate it while in drive, I haven't run into that issue so much. At first I did think it was going to be a pita, but it really hasn't. Why would nav be bad for resale? I agree, everything is overpriced. But even the aftermarket Z2 will run you 1800 bucks, and the Avic D3 will smart you a grand. And that's not installed. Your comparing a Nav only unit, to a NAv, bluetooth, AM/FM, 6 disc changer, rear camera, XFM, Sirrius ready, touch screen unit, that also does all your maintenance intervals, and ties into the car much better. Does the non nav cars have voice activated controls also? I wasn't sure about that. So, when I look at Pioneer, Alpine and a few other aftermarket units and see about the same price I would pay, maybe a bit more but also is warrentee'd with the car, then I don't think the costs are really out of line.

So what did you do for your big day?

dinasour ( it's kind of wierd that I rarely even see one of those anymore!)

Well, all I have to add to this melee of humorous posts is: Streets are for driving on, Parking lots are for parking your car and race tracks are for racing. Get those confused and your headed for trouble. Personally I hate it when people park thier cars on the race track. Makes for some interesting laps! I race motorcycles and cars. My dad does 1/4 mile circuit races and competitions. we do all of it on the track. while I'm no saint on the road, I have developed where that grey line is, and I stay under it. It's not allways about you and your skills. Things happen. Btw, didn't you watch The Fast and Furious : Tokyo drift? Isn't that the new drifting bible? You should really pay attention to his practice session! Just imagine you in your IS250 on the same course, practicing. :)

!!!!!

booth

bathroom

Welcome to the LOC by the way. I hope you do get a Lexus and join the site. We have alot of fun here. ;)

One thing I noticed about the Lexus Nav I really liked is that when your on the freeway, it lists on the side the next 3 exits, what's at them and how far they are away. I have really come to like that feature. When we travel to other cities, It's so nice being able to just sit in the car and do an area search for a good resturaunt, either on the map showing where they are in relationship to your current postion, or on a list for you to just choose from and how far away they are. One button and your course is plotted and it an call ahead and you can ask more questions and set reservations if you need. And the back up camera that comes with the package is very useful. I like that for backing out of the driveway coming out of the garage. The touch screen options are way nicer also. So, when you look at all the upgrades that come with the Nav option, and remember that it's not just Nav that costs that much, then I think it's worth it. Plus it makes the car more valuable and resaleable. I know your leasing, but it's still a point to consider.

That's what?, 3600 bucks? the Nav is a 2k upgrade anyway? Hmm, yeah, but I wouldn't look at that way. It's $550 a month the lease the car you want, or 475 for the car you don't want so much. I would call around and see if you can find a dealer to beat the price offer you have, maybe get the negotaitional skills rolling here. And see if you can have them meet you somewhere in the middle. If not, and you have the best price, then you just need to make the decision, but remember, you have that payment every month. So, in order to find the bank you may want to have that nav system telling you where it is!

Bull

All I can say at this point, is warrentee. Take it in and have them look at it, and fix it.

A couple years ago I would have said Nav is a waste, but I have completely changed my mind. I have fallen in love with having one. We go to Miami and other places alot. And the Nav system is just soooooooooooooooooo much better. I personally think it's way worth it!

Also make sure you have the appropriate setting on the dash control. If you look to the left side of the steering wheel there is a button controller for the the display. You can swtich to winter or summer setting for the tire pressure there. In winter you might wanna lower your tire pressure and during the summer raise it, so there is a dual setting there. Just make sure you have it on the right setting if you were in there recently and may have made some changes.

Hey Flop! I was beginning to wonder!

That explains alot! ;)

You can probably get away without turning, (resurfacing) your rotors, as it's more for reducing hot spots and prolonging the brake pads you just put in. That way the disc and pad break in together, instead of the rotor breaking in and conforming the pad to it. Which is where the hot spots can happen. I turn mine, and I recommend it to others, but more as a preventative step.

I can't say I have the problem you have listed here and I have the LSD rearend also. The only thing I can add to what Bartkat and SK have stated is you might want to try better tires? So long as the car has traction, and your not spinning the tires, the TC won't kick in. And of course don't gas it going into a U-turn, just wait till you coming out of it. I don't know how you drive, but if you say you had the result in another car then I would imagine it's not the car, but something your doing.

the bolt pattern is correct. 5x114.3 As for the offset, it's really up to you. Your talking about a 1/4 inch in difference.

That's a descent buy. It's allways somewhat risky purchasing big items like that over the internet. Especially if there is a problem and you need to return and all that, the question allways comes up who is paying for the frieght. Generally speaking, to ship a motor anywhere in the US it's about 350 bucks. So that is allways a concern. I have purchased a few motors from Ebay and a few other long distance places. I had 2 great experiences, 1 that made me nervous but worked out in the end, and 1 nightmare that required too many phone calls and more curse words than I normally like to string together. Keep in mind, with this purchase: You'll more than likely need to replace the turbo, and maybe the wastegate. That could run you about 2 grand. You will want to add an intercooler. Not really expensive, but something else you'll need to address. Add all the gauges. that could be expensive. But that's up to you. If you decide to increase the turbo size, and all, then while the motor is out it only makes sense to open the motor and check everything out. Maybe get whatever internal work you want done completed then. As for the trans, I don't see what trans they used listed. It looks pretty close to the stock tranny size. I'm not sure about the output shaft from the pictures, but that's not too much of a problem. I doubt the tranny will work with the Eshift unless it is an OE96 trans, but you may be able to put a shift kit on it, and wire it to those buttons.

It's impossible to judge a car and it's value from a picture. I would need to get under the car and take a close look at the paint and things that don't match. If your not a pro, and want fair answer, then I would take it to Carmax and act like your gonna sell it, and have them do one of those appraisals and see what they have to say about the car, and what number they caome back with.