SW03ES

Its actually not an upgraded Camry Hybrid at all.

My Lord! I'm not cut out for that lol...

Yeah...I would. In fact I really like the Lincoln MKS and would seriously consider it instead of an ES350...

I love people that get all demanding looking for answers LOL. We'll return your membership fee. Oh yeah...its FREE.

Its the detailing forum...he has posted a detail here that includes the use of specific products and techniques that he has outlined. The purpose is to share the results certain products acheive on certain types of paint finishes. Go to the autopia.org site, there are two entire forums that are dedicated to exactly what he has just posted...one for general members and one for professionals. If it were out in the general forums I might agree with you, but in the detailing forum when the purpose is to discuss detailing...to me this is exactly what this forum is for... And no, Josh being a longtime member, a good guy, and a member of the army who has seen and been injured in the line of combat doesn't mean that he should be exempt from being expected to contribute meaningful posts. It does however mean that he should be treated with a modicum of respect and decorum that was a little lacking in your post I think. Incredibly rude, whether that was your intention or not.

Man, I totally missed that...what a trip. After I posted my response in here my wife and I went out for dinner and were talking about this very subject. I had nice things when I was a kid, got a nice car (Mom's hand-me-down, but nice), didn't HAVE to work. I started my first business at 17 and operated that and another business until I sold both a few years later and started doing what I'm doing now, but I didn't do that out of neccessity. I went to a very affluent high school and had many friends that were as fortunate as me without the same ambition or drive. Now that I am older and I look at where I am in my life and where they are...I start to see some issues with how we were all raised. These people are deadbeats...all of them its quite remarkable. Many of them still live at home and work very sporadic jobs...have little direction and I am married, have a successful business, own a home, invest...its an incredible difference. What was the difference? I was given nice things, but I was always surrounded by a strong work ethic and a very strong sense of responsibility and they were surrounded by a sense of entitlement. I really think that parents that raise kids this way are really doing them a huge disservice. For one, the sort of lifestyle this kid leads is simply not one that is going to be sustainable when and if he finally does move forward and start to stand on his own two feet. Most 20 year olds can't afford to drive $45,000 cars and order $800 bull bars for them on a whim from England. It creates a generation of people that are just indictrinated to live outside of their means. Life is tough my friend, trust me. You get out there on your own and try to live this way and tell me its not. I've been there...I know. I think it also robs the child from the sense of achieving something like owning a car like that. Like I said, most people work their entire lives to be able to afford to drive a car like that, and thats something that he's been given twice right out of the gate. When you're living like that, driving around in a handout Lexus with daddy's gold AMEX in your pocket...what is there left to achieve? I actually feel kind of sorry for him...

Hindsight is always 20/20. We just didn't know...and we still don't know what the effect of a GM bankruptcy would be on the economy or their employees. As it is their employees and retirees are really going to suffer because this helps GM get out of some of their pension obligations, it keeps them from having to pay out to lawsuit awards. Lots of consequences. Also the economy right now is a lot better than it was 6 months ago, credit is free-er. They may be more apt to come out of the BK now than they would have been then. I still think the best choices were made as could have been made at the time.

Honestly? You get what you pay for. Maaco will do a crappy job because thats what they do, crappy paint jobs that are cheap. Why are you coming out of pocket for this repair? I would contact the local DOT or in the least it should be a comprehensive claim, a hit and run that shouldn't change your rates.

He's sharing a car he detailed with the rest of the community. Where in the site's rules does it say people can only discuss Lexus vehicles on the LOC? Josh is a really nice guy who spends his life getting blown up for our country...I enjoy seeing his details as I know other people do too.

Ooooh...this is going to be a patented SW03ES reality check moment folks. Set your DVRs. Even if he did nothing he's still not making a steal for the reasons I just told you. Doing business has costs... Who cares, you got a good deal, why begrudge him the ability to make some profit? After all, thats what businesses are in business to do...make profit. Had you wanted to go to the hassle you could have sold the car yourself for more than he gave you on trade. What do you think would be a fair profit for him to make? Do you have any idea the costs associated with running a car dealership? Or any business? Or the costs associated with doing anything at all? No, you don't. Not everybody gets two $45,000 vehicles handed to them before the age of 20. Many people...most people...work very hard their entire lives and never experience owning a luxury car...something that you've experienced and now you're on your second one! Mortgage payments need to be made...kids need braces and need to go to college. Count your blessings my friend. Making a livings not easy, which you'll figure out at some point. I'm not trying to be mean, but its the truth. If you're going to make comments about someone else and the manner in which they make a living as if you have some concept of what a fair profit is when you absolutely do not, I'm going to call it like I see it.

No, I agree completely. Not to mention any sort of impact you would have on the crashworthiness of the vehicle, which is something you just won't know until you...have a crash.

I personally would never make that swap... Have you driven the IS? Its a great car but a COMPLETELY different animal.

I would buy the '04...much more appealing car IMHO.

I've always liked the Ford Edge...

LOL, I'll keep that in mind!

Thats not unbelievable. He lists it for $16k he might sell it for $13k-14k. He's got to make a profit on it, $2,000-$3,000 profit is pretty reasonable. He probably paid $200 to detail it, changed the oil and rotated the tires, by the time he pays his costs of sale when he sells it and the insurance to have it on the lot...thats not much profit at all.

And its not because GM and Chrysler took Government bailouts that has caused the bankruptcies, its because they were in a much more precarious situation than Ford ever was. I just wish they had done this sooner and saved us the money...

Happy Birthday Alan!

Thats actually kind of funny because its usually on more expensive cars you find door mounted mirrors...Ferraris and the like...

They have them at Costco I think. My Costco doesn't do alignments. Having an alignment done every 6k miles is totally overkill and a waste of money IMHO. Maybe once a year...definately with new tires but every 6k miles is unneccisary.

My favorite tire on this car is the Michelin Primacy MXV4, but they are pricey...like Stevie asked, what is your budget?

I've always wanted a BMW and a Mercedes too. One day I'll have each.

Don't buy the MXV4 S8, what you want is the Primacy MXV4...different tires. Better treadwear, quieter and smoother with better grip and actually cheaper.

Yeah I had heard that. Only other place I would know to reccomend is LXT in Rockville.

Yep, all 04-06 have a 6 speed.