Knightshade

many newer standalones do dead reckoning as well... some can also do their audio over the cars sound system (via built in FM tuner) if you prefer using that to the built-in audio of the GPS... and the BT functions can do the handfree phone, built-in phonebook, dialing of POIs, etc... kinda like the built-in one can (but it won't care if you're driving or not and won't lock out some functions if you are). You can get larger screen ones too, but they're a little harder to fit in the center console :P Another big bonus- Garmin gets $75 for new maps... unlike the $300 Lexus charges.

Buy an IS without Nav, then take a small fraction of the $ you saved and buy a stand-alone unit that has XM traffic.

What suction cup? My Garmin 2610 uses a weighed "beanbag" type mount that stays attached to the GPS... whole thing goes from "in use" to "inside the console 100% out of sight" in under 30 seconds. I do live in one of the 10 safest cities in the country, so my perceptions might be skewed... but then again I grew up in NY and didn't ever get robbed there either... and I've used my GPS in rental cars in vegas many many times without incident and there's tons of crime there...a little smarts goes a long way. Unless there's criminals with x-ray vision it's just not a problem.

Or you take the 20 seconds it takes to hide it in your console. Problem solved, and you still saved a couple thousand bucks, don't have a crippled nav system while driving, and can move it to other vehicles when you want (ie your wifes car, or a rental if traveling). Not living in a high crime area probably helps too.

I'm not sure on the nav question, having not ordered with Nav... but possibly if you get the ML audio system it'd use the center speaker (siince the ML system has one). As to handling, just drive one. I test drove a TL-S, and it was nice, but the IS350 was better in pretty much every regard... better interior, better features, better power, and being RWD, much better handling without the annoying torque steer. The TL-S does a nice job for being FWD, but you just can't beat physics... steering with the drive wheels just isn't a good design.

Somebody needs to insert the "this thread is worthless without pictures" thingy here

Finding a sport pkg car in the southeast is...problematic..at best... hence why I special ordered mine (plus I wanted ML -without- nav, which no dealer has on the lot)

Base models never came with vented seats... it's still showing seats that are both heated and vented for the premium pkg, lux pkg, or sport pkg options

To my knowledge nobody makes any ecu parts for the ISx50 in the US

Illuminated scuff plates are now white instead of blue Outside mirror controls are now backlit coinholder added to dash (left of wheel I think) seat-backs of front seats changed to provide a little more rear legroom Steering feel improved (unsure of how, possibly for 350 only) They made a couple minor changes to the optioning on the 250 regarding the seats or somehting, but I didn't pay much attention to remember the details Stock wheels now come with liquid graphite finish I think that's most of the changes... no new colors or anything You'll also see lower mileage listed, but that's due to the EPA changing how they measure it

The thing with the tire package to think about- They'll still charge you for mounting and balancing They'll charge you for the required-with-them maintenance. Now, you can do your own oil change for 20 bucks. Or you can pay $150 to them for one. That's pretty much a free tire per oil change (when you count the markup they'll do on mount/balance compared to a non-dealer). You have to change the oil every 5k by the book.... so that's 5 (that you pay for) in the first 30k. Plus the other maint they might hit you up for ($150 to change your cabin filter or other crazy overcharges for stuff you can do for 90% less). I guess my point it, if they weren't making money on offering the package, they probably wouldn't offer it.

But not AWD........ Which thankfully saves a couple hundred pounds :P

How to enable DVD playing, and a slew of other features while the vehicle is moving- http://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread.php?t=193739

He's just trying to avoid doing the TSB... I've read dozens of folks who've done the TSB now and the replies all seem to fall into one of three categories- 1) Massively less dust and the brakes are barely noticeably worse (is in it might take 6 inches more to stop, tops) 2) Massively less dust and I notice no difference at all in stopping ability 3) Massively less dust and it stops better Most folks are 1 or 2, with a few saying 3. I suspect 2 is about the truth and 1 and 3 are just a placebo effect. Either way I've yet to hear anybody who says it's singificantly worse... though keep in mind, they'll be new pads, so like ALL new pads (even the original ones) braking will be worse at first until they're seated/broken in a touch.

Find another dealer. I'm getting an 08 with ML and Sport Pkg (and NO nav, which is a lot rarer than even ML+Nav) for, well, a lot less than MSRP. There's simply NO reason to pay anywhere near MSRP on an IS350 anymore other than a crappy dealer. And yes, mine is a special order since they don't make them that way from the factory.

Vegas is close enough to the So Cal dealers you could always buy there (and you can certainly get the best deals in the country in So. Cal). Check with Longo, they're willing to sell to out of state buyers if you pick it up in person.

All ISes have an AUX input in the center console, that's the only input for MP3 players for either stereo option (from the factory anyway)

Nope, no new colors for 08