tex2670

She should save $700 and get a headset. The NY times had an article a few weeks ago about these systems (on 9/2); if you have an on line subscription (I do not), here's a link: http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.htm...DA00894DF404482

Look on the underside of the top of the trunk--it's there with an on/off switch.

If it was your tire pressure, the display window where the temp/gas miles/etc normally is will change to warn about the tire pressure (at least if it was low). I had a warning a few weeks ago, put some air in the tires, and it was gone instantly.

I dont think so. Not simply, anyway.

It modifies the transmission shift points, holding each gear longer.

Did you check off the X-Package--that's only available in silver, black or SGM.

Check www.mats.com--you can get tan colored all weather mats from them. I had tan carpets in my last car, and my other car, and they definitely get stained.

No way its the Smart Key. It's true that a car sitting idle for that long could have the battery drain, but not such a new battery. Agreed you probably had a bad battery; or, somehow the car's ignition was in the "acc" or "on" postion last time you used it.

I have the sterling interior with my tungsten pearl--I love it. since it's not all black, it doesn't get too hot, but the black carpets, as opposed to gray (i.e., cashmere interior has tan carpets) will not show staining as much, plus, it allowed me to get the all weather mats, which i think would have looked bad with the cashmere carpets.

I've had pretty good luck selling instead of trading in. My wife and I have been through two new car purchases/old car sales in the last 4 years. In both cases, we called around for trade-in values, and we found there was about 3,000-4,000 between the trade-in value and the retail value. In both cases, I sold the car for about $1500 more than I would get for trade-in. Our '97 Outback sold in 3 days via free online advertising. The '01 Malibu took about a month, and I spent $100 advertising in the local paper and in AutoTrader. Your best bet is if you can find a buyer who will buy it from you, but thru the dealer. Many dealers will let you come in with your 3rd party buyer, trade in at your 3rd party's purchase price, taking the $$ off your purchase and saving you sales tax, and then selling it directly to that buyer for the same price.

You're adding too much money for the Nav--you are adding $3,990 for the ML/Nav package. Look at the original post--he's only getting the Nav, which is $2550, meaning the IS 350 is $41,950. Get the IS.

Paddle shifters are standard with all IS models with auto trannys.

I don't think this is the right forum for this story.

I ordered a 08 IS250 with Mark Levinson Nav. Yes, it is a special order from the factory. But the price agreement was not MSRP. I negotiated down to invoice + 1000. This way, whatever the price increase, the dealer is safe. It looks like there's a little change in price anyway, which is about 200 dollars. Also the dealer told me the wait is about 3 months. (most places would say 4 months though.) To get me ahead, he did a little trick. Instead of waiting for the "allocation" to come for the dealership, he did the "change" request on an existing car order. i.e. There was a RX (completely diff car) already in order to be built and delievered to their dealership. He simply filed a change form to make that car with my configuration. This way, there is no wait time for the "allocation", which can be up to one month. Why would a special order need to be allocated? Isn't it specifically configured for THAT customer to deliver to THAT dealer? I thought allocations were just the cars that the dealer is given already configured per that region. All the dealers told me they can only see what they are allocated 2 weeks out, and if my car wasn't in that allocation, I'd have to wait another week, or they'd try a swap with another dealer. They even tried to swap a car as I wanted it, but it was someone else's special order.

Sounds like you could have had a better deal originally, but ended up with it anyway by upgrading. Nice!

I got a 250AWD, Nav, Lux Pkg, Wood Trim, Headlight Washers, All Weather Mats, MSRP (in May) was 40,601; I got for 36,150. Destination charge has gone up $50 since then.

This somebody *HAS* read the manual and I still cannot get it to work! I have deleted all previous phones from the IS-350 and yes, the Auto Connect is on. As for my $200 phone, it was the first thing I suspected so I tried it against a Bluetooth Headset and a friends Iphone. In both cases after registering the device it would auto connect after disconnect. Thanks for the comments, I guess. I'll ask the service guys the next time I take it in for service. Sorry for rant, wasn't directed toward you. As you may guess, I work at a dealership and its amazing how many people we get here who don't read the manual or try to figure out some the most simplistic issues. Back to you phone issue, using your bluetooth headset may not be the best way to figure out why your phone is not connecting. Headset uses the HSP (headset) profile. Connecting to the car is a seperate bluetooth profile. Your car will use HFP (handsfree) for pairing and OPP (object push) for phonebook. You should try the phone in another car. While I have read much of the manual, you can't deny that it is ENORMOUS, plus there's a whole separate one for the nav, and it's filled with stupid crap like repeatedly warning you it is dangerous to do anything while driving. Yet, it contains nothing that can end the debate regarding "slots" vs. "dimples" on the sun visor (sorry--had to do it).

That's funny because I was typing in zip codes for about 30 min at build your lexus on the website and noticed on the east coast New York and such offers the luxury package... Even though the LD is available in the NE, it's still hard to come by. I spoke to 9 different dealers, including Prestige Lexus in Norther NJ. They had 70 cars on the lot, and another 50 on the way within 2 weeks--only 3 had the LD, and they were not any of the color combos I would take (Breakwater Blue with Cashmere or Sterling; Matador Red with Cashmere or Sterling; Tungsten with Sterling; or SGM with Sterling). When I finally bought, it took 4 weeks for my dealer (Lexus of Chester Springs, PA) to locate a Tungsten/Sterling. Any of the other color combos would have had to have been special ordered. They only produce less than 10% of AWD with the LD--I can't figure out why, since it's the only way to get memory seats.

I have a RAZR V3m. No problems automatically connecting. Doesn't the Nav BT have an option to automatically connect? Is it selected?

Bartkat...can lock this thread this is stupid.... But, fun while it lasted! ;) Where's the love?

Who refers to a "slot" as a "dimple"? Dimples are round, like on a golf ball. I'm not sure what cards you are putting in the slots, but my parking stub at the parking garage fits perfectly. One of my colleagues lost his prepaid bridge toll card key behind the dash of his VW, through a little gap. If he had a "slot" in his visor, he would not have had to have the VW dealer dismantle his dash to get it back. Come on people! Slots and dimples is like talking apples and oranges! The slot whether you have one or two is not mentioned in my brochure (06 Model IS) but it is obvious at least to me that it's a card holder. You can use it to hold tickets if you like but for this military retiree it's a perfect fit for my military ID card and readily accessible every time I pull up to a base entry gate. Driver's license are a perfect as well. Bottomline, it has nothing to do with acoustics. One post, and he is contributing mightily already. I think this thread can now be closed.

I've always been hesitant on these "Tires for Life" programs. From what I've heard, the tires need to be so worn before they can be replaced that by the time you start getting close, the car is a death trap in rain or anything else that makes for a less than perfect driving condition. I also opted for a Tire Protection package which covers the tires and wheels. I do wonder though... does this only cover the original tire type? What if I upgrade my tires to a more expensive brand -or- larger size? Is this usually still covered? I would assume after-market wheels are not covered, so what about different tires? According to my warranty document, "...this Dealership will provide, at no cost to you, any tire if the tread depth has worn to 3/32 of an inch or less. You will be responsible for the cost of mounting, balancing, and sales tax (if applicable) of tires provided under this program. Tires will be new tires of the same or comparible brand and size on your vehicle as of the Purchase Date above. Only tires worn out due to normal wear will be replaced." They recorded the name of the tire manufacturer (Bridgestone) and tire sizes (225/40/R18 and 255/40/R18) on the warranty document. They said if the tire isn't available they would give me an equivalent tire. I don't think that I would want to mess around with changing tire sizes but maybe the dealer would work something out if you wanted to do this (or refund a prorated amount of your money back to you so you could get out of the plan). These tires are fairly "sticky" and actually a good tire for holding onto the road when cornering. My son has already given me a thumbs up on the performance of the tires. 3/32 is only 1/32 shy of illegal in PA. I just can't believe any program like this is truly a "good deal", because if it was, they would be losing money, and wouldn't do it.

Who refers to a "slot" as a "dimple"? Dimples are round, like on a golf ball. I'm not sure what cards you are putting in the slots, but my parking stub at the parking garage fits perfectly. One of my colleagues lost his prepaid bridge toll card key behind the dash of his VW, through a little gap. If he had a "slot" in his visor, he would not have had to have the VW dealer dismantle his dash to get it back.

Why would non-ML's, or as lopid notes, "all Toyotas" have it? I use it for my parking stub when I park in a garage.

You should have the dealer check it out, if you think it's a problem. Let us know what they say.