Lexusfreak

The larger tire I agree, but all one needs is a top quality tire of the original size will meke a world of difference as well.......if one does not want the plus 1 size that is. Sw, I gotta check out the 'updated' Michelin you mention. B) You could be right. How much was it changed? & can I find it on the Michelin website?

I wonder if they are going to offer that colour on the all new 2006 GS? B)

Hi Everyone, I just got this off the Lexus Canada website. These are the 'Base' prices for the All New 2006 Lexus GS 300 & 430 respectively (All prices are in Canadian dollars): - GS 300 RWD: $ 64,300 - GS 300 AWD: $ 66,700 - GS 430 RWD: $ 74,700 :( :chairshot: :cries:

Hi Everyone, I just got this off the Lexus Canada website. These are the 'Base' prices for the All New 2006 Lexus GS 300 & 430 respectively (All prices are in Canadian dollars): - GS 300 RWD: $ 64,300 - GS 300 AWD: $ 66,700 - GS 430 RWD: $ 74,700 :cries: :( :chairshot:

- For the doors, I would suggest to use a high quality lube & makes sure ALL hinges, strikers & latches are well oiled (after applying the lube, open & close all doors several times so it works into the metal). Get some 'lock de-icer' & spray that into both front door locks on the outside of the car. - As for the heater, it could be a number of possibilities: - How old is your thermostat? It might need replacing &/or possibly a complete engine coolant flush (use the correct engine coolant that your manual suggests & mix with distilled water, usually a 50% - 50% is good practice). These are the smallest & least expensive items to check first. After having these items done & your still having trouble, it could be your heater core, rad, rad hoses, water pump or something more complicated. Eliminate the small things first & go from there......keep us posted & good luck! B)

Agreed project! :D They don't get much better than George Carlin! :D GC, let me know when you need new tires.......those Firestones are just aweful & are not rated good at all on several sites, including tirerack.....I changed them on my wife's are as well because they were so pathetic in every aspect! As part of the problem could be the tires themselves. B)

Ts, How many miles do you currently have on your 05 ES?

I stand corrected sw....you are right.....only grey or black intetrior :( That's too bad.....the ivory would look very nice imo. But if I had to choose, I'd personally take the grey over the black especially dealing with salt in the winter up here. B)

Actually sw, the most firm (and second most firm) setting on the AVS is quite well controlled & not mushy at all. The middle setting & the 2 'softer' setting I would agree with. B) ← Hi all, Wasn't going to weigh in until I had 1,000 miles on my 2005. So far I have 890. Here are my impressions. I test drove a 2003 and immediately told the salewoman and my hubby, who were in the car, something doesn't feel right. My Camry, which was totaled, felt smoother with over 125,000 miles. It was later that I discovered the hesitating transmission problem through internet research. Then I test drove a 2004 with 3500 miles. A bit better but still not smooth. Then I test drove a 2005. Ah! Felt right. My car had 10 miles on it when I test drove it. I didn't take it on t he highway during test drives. Initially it felt weird, like mayo in the transmission, when I drove less than 10 mph. That quickly went away and I can honestly say it's getting smoother by the day. For the first 200 miles I didn't do any crazy stops. Essentially babyed it. Once in stop and go traffic the car lurched forward a bit. That was wild. But I am seldom in stop and go traffic. So the other day I deliberately took the long way with plenty of lights. No pausing or lurching, everything was smooth. I do mostly highway driving. No problem passing or merging. The only change I'm making is from the toyo summer tire to Michelin, cause the toyo is crap/noisy. I have the 17 inch tires. Do I regret my purchase? Not at the moment. I pray my car doesn't develop the 1-2 second hesitation problem after the 1,000 mile mark. Hope this helps. ← I agree with sw sone......the problem is the fact the tires are summer tires......switch to a performance all season like the Toyo Proxes TPT. Michelin does not have a great choice of tire in the size you need......the Michelin MXV4's are average at best overall & expensive. A much better choice in terms of better all season traction (especially heavy rain & snow conditions), not to mention a less expensive tire that has the same treadwear rating (60,000 miles) is the Toyo Proxes TPT. The best part? In your size you can choose which speed rating you prefer (either H or V speed rated). Good Luck! B)

Agreed gents! WOW! :whistles:

sw, when it comes to replacing my ES......an 05 ES 330 in that Shale Blue mica will be my choice! Absolutly georgous colour! Not sure if I'd get the grey or ivory leather yet however. B)

Will do. Weather still nasty, so won't be getting any today. Will probably close the deal tomorrow or Saturday, as my mom can't make it out tonight (she doesn't know what we're doing). We're going to take her to drive the car, make sure that there aren't any reasons why they couldn't take it (just me being anal), and then surprise my dad with it. We're going to tell him we got him something for his Corolla. Then walk him to the door and say "A replacement." (How's that for a car commercial?) ← That's Awesome knm! :D Don't forget to ask your dealer about those concerns you mentioned & get them to put it in writing that they will either check it out (proof will be in the work order) or, have already checked it out & everything passes with flying colours.......also in writing. B)

How many did you call? & that is still much cheaper than the Lexus dealers. B)

Actually sw, the most firm (and second most firm) setting on the AVS is quite well controlled & not mushy at all. The middle setting & the 2 'softer' setting I would agree with. B)

Should be. I got mine wires (OEM- Toyota) for around $44 ← Agreed....they should be the same. B)

Post pics when you can knm! B)

nick, I don't have the problems you mention with my 01 ES with 52,000 miles (also a CPO I got the Lexus Extended warranty)......All major fluids were changed when I purchased (in the case of the tranny, I took it to my mechanic & he did a 100% flush with all new Toyota Type IV fluid, cleaned the filter mesh & replaced the pan gasket). The tranny did shift smooth before I had it done, but it's even much better than it was. If you bought it as CPO & due to the low mileage, it is still under factory warranty....I would take it back to the dealer to have them look at the car (if the need to keep it a day or two......let them, as they should give you a loner). If you think they are not taking you seriously or ignoring your concerns, take it to another Lexus dealer or contact Lexus head office directly. Have them look at every possibility that could trigger the symptoms you have described to us. Keep us posted! B)

that is the direction I am headed. The 05 tail lights will lessen the impact of the added chrome of the trunk bar. The 05 tails don't have the big bird's eye signal bulb with chrome background. The 05's have a rectangular signal lens that will enhance the trunk bar. (I should have been a designer). steviej ← I think the back end of your ES is gonna look awesome! B) ;)

Not personally a fan of dash covers......but whatever floats your boat! B)

The tires make a huge difference that's for sure! B) Wait till you put a real good set of tires on your ES with AVS......you might think it will be better than the 05. :D I hate to say it.....Lexus couldn't have choosen a worse tire on the 04 ES than the Bridgestones. B)

I'm not sure what the technical specs are for the voltage between the U.S. & Canada.

January 13, 2005 B) Consumer Reports ranks Toyota Camry best out of four family sedans Yonkers, New York - In its February issue, Consumer Reports magazine ranks the Toyota Camry LE best overall in tests of four family sedans. Freshened for the 2005 model year, the Camry received a "Very Good" overall rating. The Camry has consistently been ranked among the best family sedans by Consumer Reports in recent years. Two of the other vehicles in the group, the Nissan Altima and the Mitsubishi Galant, ranked second and third overall in this month's group; they were mid-pack in CR's tests among all family sedans that CR has tested. The newly-introduced Pontiac G6 ranked near the bottom of the pack in CR's ranking of 24 family sedans. Consumer Reports' Top Picks in the family sedan category are the six-cylinder Volkswagen Passat and four-cylinder Honda Accord. The V6-powered Toyota Camry XLE is CR's top-rated family sedan under U.S.$30,000. "The Toyota Camry is capable, well-finished, roomy, and rides comfortably," said David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports' Auto Test Centrer in East Haddam, Connecticut. "The Camry's new five-speed automatic transmission is very smooth but doesn't make a significant difference in acceleration or fuel economy." The Toyota Camry is a capable, though modest, sedan. The Camry LE ($21,574 as tested) is equipped with a 160-hp, 2.4-litre, four-cylinder engine and five-speed automatic transmission that provide adequate acceleration and very smooth shifts. The ride is comfortable, and the sizable interior is quiet and uses quality, well-fitting materials. Braking is mediocre, with long stops in CR's tests. Reliability for the Camry has been excellent. Consumer Reports recommends only two cars in this test group, the Camry and the Altima. CR will only recommend vehicles that have performed well in its tests, have at least average predicted reliability based on CR's annual surveys of its subscribers, and have performed adequately if crash-tested or included in government rollover tests. The Galant and G6 cannot be recommended at this time because CR doesn't have reliability information on those vehicles yet. Full tests and ratings of the four large sedans appear in the February issue of Consumer Reports. The complete report is also available to subscribers of www.ConsumerReports.org. The issue also contains a special report on the Chevrolet Malibu Maxx, a hatchback version of the popular four-door sedan.

Surprised you dont have a remote starter being you are from TO. ← lol, I don't even ave an engine block heater......the car is parked in the underground at my Condo.......it's not necessary. :whistles: 30 seconds after start up, I drive away. B) It only get's bitterly cold about 10 - 15 days of the year......some of the northern states are much colder than Toronto.

Intresting......my Dad's 90 Buick Park Avenue (just traded it in) & my Sisters 91 Buick Century Wagon which she still drives are / were still on the original DRL, never replaced any bulbs & were as bright as the day they purchased the car (including regular headlights & highbeams!) The Americans are fairly new to this drl thing (We've had it in Canada now for over 15 years now) as it is not yet the law to have them. It's also been proven here that on average it saves or assists in saving over 300+ lives a year.......times that by 10 (which is how much roughly your population is more than Canada) & that's over 3000 people! ;) :whistles: Here is one of MANY studies: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As more cars use daytime running lights, the risk to drivers not using them will steadily increase, according to Transport Canada studies. Starting with the 1990 model-year, all cars sold in Canada must have Daytime Running Lights (DRLs). The effectiveness of daytime lights in reducing accidents has been proven by research in a number of countries, including Canada, the USA, Finland, and Sweden. The systems have been shown to reduce multiple vehicle collisions by as much as 32 per cent. Finland was the first to make their use mandatory in 1972. Sweden followed suit in 1977. But Transport Canada's research into the use of daytime lights showed another effect, one that will become more important as daytime running lights become a standard part of the driving scene. Drivers who don't have daytime running lights run a risk of being "masked" by drivers who do. Research carried out for Transport Canada in the mid-'70s by Dr. Dennis Atwood, showed that drivers meeting a line of cars in a passing situation were more likely to miss an oncoming car without headlights if it were surrounded by cars that had headlights on. Atwood's results played a large part in the change in Ontario's traffic laws requiring automobile headlights to be switched on one hour earlier in the evening and switched off one hour later in the morning. The masking effect, which Atwood attributed to either the glare or the distraction effect of the headlights (or a combination of both) was strongest at dawn and dusk and increase rapidly as the level of light dropped off. At sunset, the light level can drop by a factor of 10 in as little as 10 minutes, he says, and the risk increases rapidly for drivers not switching on their headlights. Atwood believes that as a greater proportion of drivers begin using daytime running lights, the danger of masking will increase for those left without them. Daytime running light systems have a lower intensity than low beam headlights and last longer with less energy use. While the biggest advantage of the systems is when natural light is low, such as at dusk or dawn or when skies are overcast, research indicates that they are also an advantage even on bright, sunny days. Because the human eye is light-seeking, drivers will see an oncoming car sooner and make a more accurate estimate of its rate of approach. The effect is particularly important for peripheral vision, which may not see an object at all unless it contrasts sharply with its background or moves against it. Using daytime lights significantly reduces the chances of a car, cyclist or pedestrian moving unexpectedly into your path. Atwood suggests that drivers of cars that don't have daytime running lights as a standard feature purchase a retrofit kit rather than using low beams.

Thanks for the feedback. It is a Lexus dealer, and have been a very good one in our experiences so far. They replaced the brakes, PS pump and valve cover gaskets on my 95 SC, none of which I would probably have known to check at the time, and they did it for the original all-in price I offered them. They could have added that stuff on since I threw out the number w/o knowing about those issues, but they took care of it for me. They seem to be pretty honest and work hard to make my wife and I feel happy with our purchases. I've been very anal in having them walk through the CPO warranty, and feel comfortable that it won't be a problem. I just would rather fix these things now versus later after my parents have the car. But, it is what it is. I also know they're human, and just wanted to be diligent before making a $20k decision. As always, this Board is incredibly helpful. Edit: Oh yeah, previous owners an older couple, lease trade in for new ES330, all work done at this dealership, exactly on schedule. I looked over the records in person. And yeah, the white IS gorgeous. PS - I'll do a search, but TSB for "engine gelling"? ← If all oil change & other maintenance records are up to date, I don't think you have to worry about the engine gelling issue.....it's those that have neglected that important maintenance item. Good Luck! Sounds like a really good car & the dealer will look at the engine anyways to be on the safe side I'm sure! :D