JokeDog

Hi Lexus owners, Gas being so expensive, I want to start a thread for all to compare their actual MPG. Forget the EPA mileage as we should already know what it is by now and its never accurate. While its debatable, instruction to calculate your actual MPG here ==> http://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.do?action=calcMPG Please use this format for easy reading: Year/Model: 98 ES 300 Strictly City: 15 Strictly Hway: 31 Driver Type: Extreme Conservative Comments: Yes, my hway doubles my city which is crazy. Kinda the reason for this thread. Yes, I've quadruple checked my mileage. Driver Type Aggressive = Lead footed, What environmental problem? part time job, fund terrorists...JK, let keep politics out of this forum. Driver Type Moderate = Tries not to burn rubber unless necessary Driver Type Conservative = Should be driving a corolla instead. :-) I rate myself "extreme" conservative b/c I'm cheap. Here's a list of what I do to save gas which I'm sure you all know. 1. Make sure my tires are properly inflated. 2. Keep trunk clean, no unnecessary load/baggage. 3. I don't floor my gas petal on turns just to stop at red lights. 4. Slow acceleration, I keep it under 2K RPM, poor lexus. 5. If red light is ahead, I allow the car to roll to a stop...if no one behind me of course. 6. AC only while I'm cruising. 7. I do rolling stops on stop signs. I live in suburb NYC, way too many stop signs, practically every 50 yards and I go about 2miles before finding a parking spot, how sad.

wow, Pepa that's crazy. I still don't believe. Can provide more info for your fellow lexus owner? Don't quite understand why they're responsible for fixing your car to pass emission laws. How old and many mileage is your car? Was it still under warrantee? I'm under the impression that I'm responsible for getting my car to pass the emission and safety law? Your mechanic could've easily double charged you and lexus. Anyway appreciated if you can provide the reasoning behind this so we don't get ripped off from our mechanic would be greatly appreciated by us all. As for MarthaMom and Mr Mom, I got an engine check and when I ran the diagnostic, I got the p1705. Turns out to be some sensor issue. I used the scanner to "erase" it but it keeps on coming back within a couple of minutes. I'm afraid they won't pass me for this. The car drives fine and it doesn't seem to be a safety issue, so I won't bother fixing it, at least not for $2000 anyway.

I'm not sure where Toyama is, but if its anything like the main island where Tokyo is, you'll love it there. Forget about 2 Fast 2 Furious - Tokyo Drift :D You won't be seeing those kinda of cars. There's no Lexus brand there, only Toyota. Heck, I only saw 3 american cars there during my 10 day stay. Those japanese are so freaking polite its hard to believe they started/dominated Asia & the Pacific during WII. Lots of cute Japanese chicks showing of their thighs. (short school girl skirt with knee high socks seems to be the fashion). Sorry, I'm no perve, but its just something I noticed. Yes, skin care product is big there. If you're into the latest tech gadget stuff, its there. Just don't expect to find a bargain though, we have 'em cheaper here. Oh yeah, you gotta try out there toilet. Its heated and after you do your stuff, you can spray water up you know where for extreme cleaning. They're so clean. And don't litter. So hard to find a trash bin, so just leave it in your pocket until you're back in your hotel. They're just so friendly, you can't possibly not have a good time there. Anyway, enjoy and let us know how it is. It'll be one heck of an experience.

Thanks for your concern Sine. I called the dealer back and after checking with their sales department, they said they'll FedEx me the plates, registration and a 10 days temporary inspection sticker until I get the car inspected in NYS. So I guess the $250 I paid them did cover everything after all. Didn't have to step into the DMV. All I'm missing now is the title which I heard can take a bit. Just 2 days ago, I received a $90 refund check from the Lexus dealer. An actual check from the dealership made payable to me. It said "DMVrefund". I guess they're pretty honest people. I wasn't expecting anything. I did noticed on my registration paper said the fee is $140. I'm assuming that $90 refund is the difference, but thought these "stealership" would've pocketed them.

I'd like an answer to that "separate question" as well, but as for the original question, the $60 spare key with cut based on VIN, you'll still need a master key to reprogram it, so that won't work for you.

how many miles on ur 96? can I get your back seat cupholder shipped to 11375? Dealer wants $160 for the entire assembly. Just the rim is broken/missing. Forgot to check when buying from the dealer.

1967, getting a new cylinder may not be the solution. have the lexus dealer look at it. new cyclinder = new key = new ecm = 1k - $2k. no joke.

is ur car okay now? since no one reply, how about giggle the steering wheel a bit or check to make sure nothing already stuck in there. sorry for the obvious, but u never know. shine a flashlight in it just to be safe. maybe someone tried to break into your car. anyway, good luck.

insert your key into the ignition, but don't turn it and when the "security light" (on the dashboard) stops blinking immediately, that is your master key. Don't get your master key confused with your valet key.

Hi all, I live in NY, but bought my es300 2 weeks ago from a Lexus dealer in NJ. Paid tax and registration fee of $250. Drove away w/o plates or registration papers except for the papers below. 1. bill of sales 2. a copy of the insurance paper faxed to the dealer from Geico 3. National Safe Driver paper with my name, address, car vin and the price I paid for. No clue that that is. 4. Privacy Notice 5. Motor Vehicle Purchase Stimpulation Form (nothing was checked off) 6. Contact Authorization (in case they need to contact me for recalls) 7. Odometer Disclosure Statement 8. a "20 days temporary non-resident permit" on my rear window 9. A NJ inspection sticker on my windshield. Two weeks later and I still have no plates, nothing mailed to me yet. I'm driving my Lexus around with a "20 days temporary non-resident permit" which expires this Friday, 8/31 taped to the back of my rear window and on the windshield is the NJ inspection sticker which expires in 2009. I called up the dealer this morning, but he said he'll check with his office. I don't know about other states, but NYS requires that a registration sticker on the windshield next to the inspection sticker. A friend of mine also lives in NY and bought his WRX from a NJ dealer said that he got his registration within a week, his plates 3 days after he got the car and the inspection was done by the dealer so he doesn't need to do it. On DMV.org, it said if I purchase from the dealer, everything is done for me and I don't need to lift a finger, literally. And it said if I purchased from a private party, then I need to do all the paper work myself. My questions are: 1. Does anyone knows the real deal on the sequence? 2. What does this "registration fee" really includes? 3. How do you suppose to get the plate without the registration paper? Or is the registration paper even required to get a plate? I know the Title paper is different which you get later on. 4. Can I drive a NY car around with a NJ inspection sticker? I'm assuming different state has different "emission" law. Like NYS requires we paid $37 for inspection while NJ is free. I don't want to get a parking ticket an invalid inspection sticker. 5. but how can I get my car inspected w/o a license plate right? 6. Are they suppose me mail me a NYS plates? 7. If I don't get it in time, I'll have to do everything myself, then why pay the dealer an extra $250 for registration? I'm in limbo. Any help is appreciated. Thanks ahead. -Nick

14 days ago, Out The Door price as $7294 for a 98 ES300 with 112k miles. Looks nice and drives really smooth. Looks brand spanking new for a 10 years old. Back bumper was backed up against a pole by original owner which I was able to leverage during negotiation. Asking was $6995, Wind up paying $300 more after tax and title/tag. Yeah I sux at negotiating, but I was able to tell them I ain't paying no BS fees, i.e. $299 documentation fee and $169 for vehicle protection program (window's etching). Yeah, I should've demanded the OTD price at $6995. carfax is clean though.

damn, i'm such a newbie. haha. The website auto truncate the link with the three dots.

correct link is http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/lofiv...php/t39886.html

gent60, I too a new es300 owner. Wanted a 2000 ES300, but wind up buying a 98 ES300 instead. You can read my posting about my first car buying experience and I also include a few tips I learned which should be useful to new buyers. http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/lofiv...php/t39886.html I also wrote up a checklist on how to buy a used car including negotiation (but mainly with dealer though) from my own experience. http://slicknick.com/usedcar.html As long as there's no accident on carfax and 1st owner has all the repair receipts, you should be okay. Lexus is a good car and will lost you a long time. As for 109k, that is steep for a 2000. My 98 was 112k. Anyway, just make sure the first owner did the 90k mile service maintenance which should've include timing belt changed, etc. If he doesn't, you can negotiate down a bit otherwise the bill is on you. Anyway, good luck. I hope you find my posting helpful. -Nick

Thanks Toy!