Lexusfreak

In normal driving conditions, I go by 1 year or 12,000 miles.......if you don't have alot of dusty conditions that is......if you do, more frequently........details are given in your owners manual.....if you don't have one, contact Lexus directly as I think they will send you one free. B)

Prices are great but only if we know what size??? big difference... ← Not exactly sure what point your trying to make exactly zin?

In your situation & from what you have described, I would go with 4 snows. B)

Just have a quick suspension question........I might have 3 total. In detail, what is the difference between a rear 'Stabilizer' bar & a rear 'sway' bar? or are they the same thing? What specifically is missing from this list of suspension components...... Shock absorbers, springs, control arms, shafts, steering knuckles, ball joints, bearings, front & rear suspension links, front & rear stabilizer bars, & related bushings, seals & gaskets? Please advise & I appreciate the help......thanks everyone! B)

Of course, the current generation is a larger car both inside & out. I'm glad I'm 5'6" and a smidge.......never had a complaint about room in any of my vehicles before. B)

Bummer....sorry to hear bud. :(

Cool! B) I have 2 SDF filters left & by then, I guess I won't have a choice but to switch to the new Ea filters. B)

Haven't noticed any significant noise problems on my wife's Forester personally with the TT's....they don't sound any different than the Michelin X radials that were just replaced. And don't feel bad about your tire guy.......hey, your going back to him right? So your still giving him business. ;)

Looking forward to your results mburn! ;) Thanks for clairifying. B) I just wonder how 'more significant' this new filter is all things considered, I mean geez the SDF filter is excellent to begin with.

That should make you really aerodynamic! lol. ;)

From CNN Money.... I feel quite bad for the General actually. :( GM's big shakeup Automaker ups job cuts to 30,000 jobs as it shuts plants, facilities in plan to save $7B a year. November 21, 2005: 12:13 PM EST By Chris Isidore, CNN/Money senior writer GM CEO Rick Wagoner detailed the company's job-cut plans but declined to say when the troubled automaker might return to profitability. NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - General Motors Corp. said Monday it would cut 30,000 hourly jobs and close or scale back operations at about a dozen U.S. and Canadian plants in a bid to save $7 billion a year and halt huge losses in its core North American auto operations. The cuts are 5,000 more than the 25,000 jobs GM had said it would cut in June, and represents more than 22 percent of its union workforce in North America. Many of the cuts would start next year, GM said Monday, despite job protection provisions in its union contract that runs through September 2007. GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner said he expects another 7 percent of salaried workers in North America would also be cut by the end of 2006, though he gave no specific number of job cuts planned there. Seven percent would equal about 2,500 jobs in the United States and additional cuts in Canada as well. The automaker said the plan is aimed at saving $7 billion a year by the end of 2006. Wagoner said the cuts were what the troubled automaker needed to turn around its operations but he wasn't ready to predict when GM will return to profitability. He also wouldn't promise this would be the end of job cuts and plant closings. "As we sit here today, it's our best guess and well thought out analysis," Wagoner said.. "If we've learned anything in the last five years, it's that there's no guarantees in this business or any other business." Not surprisingly, the leadership of the United Auto Workers union blasted the move as unfair. "We have said consistently that General Motors cannot shrink itself to prosperity. In fact, shrinking General Motors only exacerbates its problems," UAW President Ron Gettelfinger and Vice President Richard Shoemaker said in a joint statement. "Unfortunately, it is workers, their families and our communities that are being forced to suffer because of the failures of others," they added. (Full story). Wagoner said he had received support from the company's board of directors and from its employees as he moved forward with the cutback plans and that he had no plans to leave the company. Some investors and analysts have lost confidence in Wagoner given the company's spate of troubles this year. (Full story). "I've given no thought to anything but turning the business around," Wagoner told reporters, adding that he believes his experience with GM should help him lead that effort. "I wasn't brought up to run and hide when things get tough. I'm convinced that's the way that things get righted." He said the moves were not due to any pressure by the board. "We're not taking these actions because of any pressure on me," he said. "We're taking these measures to get the business right." Stock rallies, but ... Some investors liked the move, and GM (up $0.10 to $24.15, Research) stock rose in late morning trading, though the stock is still down about 45 percent this year. But at least one industry analyst was not impressed. "The plan is essentially as expected, meaning not terribly aggressive," UBS analyst Rob Hinchliffe wrote in a note to clients, adding that the company's market share, which has been sliding, may fall further. He kept a sell rating on the stock and a price target of $20, below the current price. In June, GM announced plans to trim 25,000 hourly jobs in its North American operations by the end of 2008 in an effort to stem losses. The company has lost $2.2 billion in the first three quarters of this year, excluding special items. Most of those losses, about $1.6 billion, have come at its core North American auto operations. The company's contract with the United Auto Workers union essentially prevents layoffs before it expires in September 2007, as the company needs to pay union members whether or not there is a job for them. Wagoner said that some kind of buyout would likely be offered to speed up the job cuts, but that until the buyout packages are worked out with the union, the company can't say how many of the job cuts would come through retirement and how much through buyouts. The assembly plants being closed are in Oklahoma City, Lansing, Mich., and Doraville, Ga., with the first two closing next year and Doraville slated to shut in 2008. Some shifts will be eliminated at three other assembly plants, including Line 1 at Spring Hill, Tenn., and Oshawa, Ontario, Car Plant No. 2, which will both be shut, although assembly plants on the same property will continue to operate. Other facilities to be closed include stamping plants in Lansing, Mich., next year and in Pittsburgh in 2007, along with two powertrain plants, in St. Catharines, Ontario, and Flint, Mich., in 2008. And the company will shut three parts facilities in Portland, Ore., Ypsilanti, Mich., and St. Louis by 2007. One other parts facility yet to be identified will also be closed. With the announced closings, GM is essentially keeping its capacity of large sport utility vehicles and pickups intact, even though big SUVs sales have slumped in recent months in the face of higher gasoline prices. Wagoner said he believed that a new line of large SUVs due early in 2006 should give a lift to those sagging sales, and that some of its large SUV capacity is being changed to produce either SUVs or pickups, depending upon demand. He said GM needs to keep capacity for the vehicles that it can sell at the greatest profit -- namely the larger vehicles. Among the vehicles made at the assembly plants being closed are the Chevrolet Impala and its twins, the Saturn Ion, its minivans, the SSR sport pickup and some mid-sized SUVs. The company will have a North American capacity of about 4.2 million vehicles a year at its own plants, down from about 5 million. "Oklahoma City, (which makes the mid-sized SUV) is a very good plant but a classic example of ... just having too much capacity in that segment," said Wagoner. "That's why that plant in on the list today. We don't have any plants left that aren't very high quality and quite productive. I'm sure I'm not going to satisfy any plant as why they've been chosen to be on the list."

Anywhere between 1.5 - 2 U.S. gallons when the 'fuel' light first comes on from my experence. How 'FULL' do you fill your car? ;) I can get about 2 1/2+ gallons more after the 'trigger' stops on my ES........right up to the top of the fuel 'neck' which isn't good really to fill it that much. B)

Lexus OEM & lovin it! :D It's all I need. :)

I am debating on putting a K & N filter in my wife's Forester.......problem is, this type of car has very sensitive sensors in this regard & I am balking at the idea & for the time being, I will be using only OE (Subaru) paper filters.

Are you saying the new Amsoil oil filters are inferior mburn? I hear ya based on what I have read in regards to the engine gelling that heat is the killer....sounds like if you change the oil twice a year then one should be fine? Please do explain. B)

You have made a wise choice zin......keep us posted how your enjoying them! B) You will be impressed. ;)

Thats not so much a function of the tires as it is the fact that ABS is at its least effective in the snow. Glad they're workin out! ← Army mentioned he does not have ABS sw.

Didno' have them. I was getting some prices and the guy (personal friend) was giving me prices that were really good. It is like my toyo proxies tpt. I got them for like $300 installed etc. I could get them cheaper now then before if I wanted them. But these will be my last set of toyo's. He said if I do not like my toyo in the winters you will not like the Falken's. Next time I am going to try Michelin's Pilot or Goodyear Assurance TripleTred. I can get them installed cheaper then online prices. They would be about what I paid for my toyo.s ← Have to respectfully disagree with your tire guy about the Falken's in the winter mburn......I drive both in the winter......granted on 2 different vehicles, but the Falkens bite better in the slushy stuff & on icy roads better than the Toyo's. heavy rain was about the same....but the Falken definately has the advantage in winter conditions. Having said that, if it's down to the Falken & the Triple Tread......I'd go with the TT bud.....it will be more expensive (not sure how much.....depends how much price shopping you have done! ;) ) but longevity wise, it will last longer & it has a better warranty. Depending on how long you will be keeping your 98 ES, it just might be the last set of tires you purchase. B) Keep us posted & good luck! ;)

I have to agree.....the Falkens are the better value overall & I would go with the 512's over the 115's personally, simply because they would be going on an ES, not exactly a sports sedan. B)

Congrats on your purchase.......awesome ride & welcome to the club! B) Just curious if you had any other cars on your short list other than the ES? (New Avalon, TL, upcoming redesigned 2007 ES, etc).

I doubt many will respond, especially with a beige interior colour. Best suggestion is to try & locate a dash kit (if it exists) in the design & colour your looking for.......been here almost 2 years, never heard of anyone painting their factory wood trim on a beige interior. Although, the factory wood trim is the best & most classy colour now......that's why it's in there.....just my 2 cents. ;)

The Michelin is fairly new & not a whole pile of reports from tirerack yet. I'd personally stay clear of Bridgestones......the Yoko is a good choice, but as Army has stated, if you want a real good value & excellent all round performer, you simply can't beat the Falken Ziex ZE-512....they are made by the Japanese tire maker Sumitomo. My wife had a set on her car as well & they were awesome. Here is some more info... http://www.falkentire.com/tires_512.htm

sure......you get the best gear fluid out there! :D ← Thanks mburn! And yes, I agree if you use the Amsoil F & R diff fluid, it's pretty much put it in & forget it, it's will last that long. More expensive to be sure, but in the long run, I feel your actually saving. B)

If your looking for a summer tire specifically, maybe this might help......I just posted this in the tire forums. B) http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?se...rticle_id=10252

The front & rear diff's on my wife's 2003 Forester call for 75w 90 (front) & 80w 90 (rear). I think I will use Amsoil Long life synthetic 75w 90 for both to keep things simple.....any opinions? B)