SW03ES

The plastics are a tradeoff...something has to give when you pack that much technology and features into a car for that price. Rattling is an issue in our '04 Prius too...although I haven't read a lot of issues with the new one.

I bet if you were to rotate the tires on the BMW more often that wouldn't happen...

In reply to saab's post.

Why would the 400h need a special alignment machine? Alignment machines aren't model or type specific... Sounds like the guy is full of !Removed! to me...

I bet they wind up installing a gas pedal that hinges at the bottom like on the LS...

He's a great guy, you'll like him!

This is foolhardy IMHO. I have put 135,000 miles on my ES300 which is similar in weight distribution, drivetrain, etc. I've also put 55,000 miles on our '04 Prius. I have NEVER had the front tires wear out before the back tires, they have always worn out all at the same time. If you think about it you never give them a chance to if you rotate them every 5,000 miles as per Lexus. In fact I have done this with every other car I've ever had, Lexus or not and the result has been the same...all the tires wear down at the same time...never the fronts before the back or the back before the front. I think the best thing to do is to do what Lexus says, rotate the tires every 5,000 miles and if your experience mirrors mine they'll all be ready for replacement at the same time. Anyways you're better off having 4 tires with similar wear and treadpatterns anyways than trying to replace two.

I probably would still disconnect the battery to be sure. Better to reset all the setting than have an airbag explode in your face IMHO...

Hey all, I'm being quoted $750 in labor to install lower control arms and ball joints on both sides of the car. According to Alldata.com this is a 12.8 hour job which factors down to a cost of $58.60/hour which seems pretty reasonable to me. Thoughts?

Nelson was a Lexus master tech for 12 years at Lexus of Silver Spring. I don't know whether he enters the records into the Lexus mainframe or not...my guess is no. Just keep the records, I have a big file with every record since the car was brand new...you can bet when I finally do sell this car, that will carry a lot of weight with the buyer. Plus, if you sell it locally they can always call and talk to Nelson, and they get a built in mechanic who knows the car. The savings are huge, I had the 135k service done today at a cost of $112 which would have easily been $250 at the dealer... If I were the buyer I wouldn't care that you had the work done at an outside independent Lexus specialty shop as long as you had the records...

And almost every other carmaker who offers nav.

I like the look better in some of those pictures...

I use Nelson an LXT Automotive. Tell him Steve Withrow sent you...I'm taking the ES to him tomorrow actually. Used to have it serviced at Rockville until my service guy left...was always happy.

The LS460 has a .25 cD also.

Yeah...like I said mine work great

I don't think its that, I think its cost. People buy as many Priuses as they can build. They sell less RX450hs that RX350s the same way they sell less GS460s than GS350s. Its more expensive.

Try 1998. Lexus nav systems have had control lockouts since the system was first introduced in 1998.

I don't see how anyone could possibly classify the LS460 as boxy...the LS430 as boxy sure...but theres not a box or square line on the LS460... Yeah I agree dollarwise the winter is the time to buy, long about December or January.

Nice! How was the purchase experience at Rockville?

Glad we helped!

I absolutely agree NC

I've noticed that...I'm going to wait to replace mine until the spring (I hate buying cars in the winter) and I'm thinking I might even be able to get into an LS460 over an LS430 by then...

I've seen some new RX450hs...

Hey man, great video! I really like the car, I even am starting to like those wheels. I still have to drive one, since we're getting into winter and I don't like buying new cars in the winter I'll wait until spring if I were to buy anything, but the changes to this car have really made me wonder if I might want a new ES vs a pre-owned LS430. I definately prefer a light interior on this car...

Have her go test drive some other cars. In my experience the LS ruins people for other cars, all Lexus cars do, but especially the LS. Its so refined and so much more refined than almost anything else on the road driving something new and then getting back into the LS makes you really appreciate the LS. I have a Prius and you could not pay me to trade my ES in on a Prius...and DEFINATELY not an LS.