SW03ES

Cool! I still miss the big pile of dirt across the street from your house. The swingset is so...ordinary... ;)

Nice!

Well I went by and drove it! I'll say again, I really like the new interior. It's very elegant, and makes the car feel wider and bigger. All the new displays are great, the new gauges are a huge improvement, as is the high res info display between the tach and speedo. One other interesting quality thing, all the plastic covers under the hood are gone. My 2010 is all trimmed and covered around the engine under the hood. The 2013 has everything exposed. As for the drive, I know mhawkin wanted to know my thoughts compared to my 2010. Overall, the car is very similar. Driving down the road if you closed your eyes (might want to save that for when you're a passenger) you would be hard pressed to know whether you were in a 2012 or 2013. I didn't feel like it was any sportier really, in fact the steering is MUCH lighter and number on the 2013, you can really steer it with your little finger. Overall I thought it drove great, but comparing to a 2010-2012 the reason to upgrade would be features, the interior and style. Drive wise they are very similar. One thing I did find a little annoying is the gauge cluster lens is angled in such a way that it does reflect trees and such from the outside. Not a big deal. They should have a hybrid in for me to drive in the next week or so, he's going to call me. Looking forward to trying out the hybrid.

Do yourself a favor and get a trade in quote before you just turn it in. With that low mileage I bet you can make some money on it. Hell...I'd give you $35k for that!

I'd be interested to know your thoughts.

I doubt it's the same material. I thought the nu luxe in the ES felt better than that in the CT I sat in a few weeks ago, so I'm sure there are differences in quality depending on the vehicle price point. I wouldn't mind having this nu luxe at all, but I'd want the cooled seats so leather it is.

On a whim tonight on our way home from a dinner out we swung by the local Lexus dealer I stopped by yesterday to see if they had a 2013. Sure enough, they did! Sitting right out front was a cerulean blue and parchment 2013. No nav, nu luxe seating. Sticker was $41,500. Car did have park assist, BSM, etc. Overall, the car looks great. I echo what others have said about it looking better in person than in the pictures. I will still say I miss the chrome trim along the sides and door handles. Overal though, the car looks great. Very elegant and sleek. Definitely think this is the best implementation of the spindle grille. My one quality niggle with the exterior s with the exhaust tips. Why they didn't go that little bit extra and do integrated tips is beyond me, Beyond that, the tips are very low quality, thin metal fake tips that are noticeably clamped on to the steel end of the exhaust pipes, very low rent looking. Compared to the tips on my 2010 which are solid, welded on, smooth on the inside. Overall though, it's a solid improvement. Inside the differences are even more distinct. I've always griped about the quality differences between the Gen 4 ES and the Gen 5 ES. The small improvements that came in 2010 helped that somewhat, but the 2013 is a huge improvement. All the materials feel much nicer, the leather-like dash looks great, the gauges are a significant upgrade, all the displays are significantly improved, the rear space difference is quite distinct, and even the nu-luxe feels pretty darn good. Like others have said, the way the door panels interface with the dash is a little different, the door panels are quite flat, compared to the molded type panels we're used to. Interior ambient lighting is very cool. Overall I'm very impressed with the car, can't wait to drive one. I'm sure I'll get the chance some time next week... By a stroke of luck...it was unlocked! I'll echo again what others have said,

Enjoy, drive safe!

Cool! I got a call from the dealer I got my 2010 from that they have a 2013, but they're 30 miles away...I stopped by the local dealer today but they didn't have one. I'll try again... yeah the dash height is the new thing, when you drive all the new cars, BMW, Mercedes, etc they all have tall dashes.

I don't want this thread to get political, but you'd be surprised how small a percentage of these new home buyers are government employees, LOT of private industry. $121k a year is not high income in DC.

I'll drink whatever you've got LOL

We're the marauders of all that is natural in the metro DC area LOL Which project? The one on the Crown Farm site? Just tell me when and where!

This is the only part I disagree with. I can't speak for the eastern shore, but here a pool actually may detract from the home's value slightly. For whatever reason, its just not a draw in the DC metro area, families with kids worry about them drowning, the season is relatively short, etc. Not to say you shouldn't do it, but don't expect to see that money again in terms of value. Its purely an enjoyment thing. That said, I never had a pool when I was a kid. We belonged to a country club with nice pools, and we belonged to a little community pool I could bike to from our house. BUT, my wife had a pool when she was a kid and she said it was the best thing, all her friends wanted to come to her house, they had big family parties, etc. So, she is big in favor of having a pool. I say go for it, you guys will really enjoy it. Gonna cost you a lot...cheaper than a boat though! Haha, I'm in!

Unfortunately Lenore, a lot of those old woods are now housing developments! Incredible development in loudon county. Congrats Rob, she's a beaut! Enjoy your folks being in town too!

I know...its a miracle!

I'm done...like nc said...nothing enjoyable here anymore.

Okay...well that makes more sense lol

Welcome back! Yep, if they're heated they're ventilated.

Because the person still can't get insurance on their own! Its not a question of ability to pay, its a question of ability to get coverage.

This is a preposterous statement.

What about it don't you like? I did both, it is a problem I agree. The question is how to solve it. Same thing with unemployment, you shoot yourself in the foot by taking a cut in pay or part time work because you loose the unemployment.



We get the next generation out of it by helping them get an education, and we create an economy where hard work and education pay off again. We have to find some way of showing them what life is all about...because their parents aren't going to do it.


 

For sure! Just two people having a discussion as I've said before...

Um, did I just misunderstand?: Why would you suggest that if more states used Maryland's MHIP plan it would be less of a problem if you didn't like Maryland's MHIP plan? Apparently I need to call you LOL. We're paying $275 a month just for the two of us with no kids. Now, we have a good plan. It would have been over $700 a month for decent coverage is what I was told. After our last conversation I looked up what coverage would have been for him through MHIP...nearly $700 for a low deductible plan. $700 a month is a lot of money...high deductible plan...the guy still wouldn't have wanted to go to the hospital because he didn't have the money for the deductible... The idea behind the no deductibles for preventative care is that if you encourage people to stay healthy it saves expense in the long run which reduces cost. I don't disagree with you about the need to balance the budget and pay for things... 

Sure I do. Like I said, obviously there needs to be reform, its never going to be perfect. 


 

Thats not an unbiased source of information, its a site that has a political agenda. Just look at that article on the first page with all those inaccuracies about CFL bulbs? Not interested. 



 

It is a problem, and its one here that we really are sheltered from because of how good our public schools are in Montgomery County. Thats a local issue though.



 

I agree 100% 



 

Again though, John Stossel is not an unbiased newsman. You can cherry pick specific people who will present a certain way. For every 1 person who abuses the system in the ways that you mention, there are 10 that don't. BUT, those people don't provide him with the story he wants to tell.



Sure...I think you'd be surprised how often operations are done in that manner though. And destroying companies which cost jobs, and sent jobs overseas. Right. That was in 1773. 239 years ago. This is 2012. You don't deal with disagreements with your government with guns anymore. Doing so makes you a domestic terrorist. So by your logic we should applaud the guy who killed Kennedy? The guy who tried to kill Reagan? Standing up for what they believe in vs their oppressive government right? Maybe you should dress up like Batman, and fight crime. How heroic! It was a joke that went right over your head. You referenced your "right to bare arms" its your right to "bear arms"

Sure they're abused, and require reform. Its impossible though to weed out ALL abuse. Source? You don't think I'm "average folk"? I come from a long line of "average folk", I was the first in my family to go to college, both my grandfathers were coal miners in WV. I work my !Removed! off, every day. I had a nice childhood, my family was able to put me through college, and that certainly set me off on the right track but I maintain the single best gift my parents gave to me was a strong work ethic. I'm not a trust fund person...everything I have I worked for. What you fail to realize is the world is changing. Hard work isn't enough to get ahead anymore. I mentioned what my father was able to achieve without a college education, and his father before him was a simple coal foreman but he was always able to provide food, a warm little house to live in. Its not that simple anymore. The economy of the 21st century isn't an "effort" economy, its an "intelligence" economy. You need education to succeed, the jobs that are left where you don't are minimum wage jobs. Or if they aren't...they will be. You could be the best at something and not even get in the door for a job without a college degree. Hell...the first 3 rounds of interviewing is done by computer looking for "tag words", you can't even impress anyone anymore unless you've survived all the computer rounds. No offense (seriously, no offense), but just because you don't understand a proposed solution, doesn't make it a "crazy think tank solution". There is nothing crazy about the idea of providing grants for kids from poorer backgrounds so they can go to college, nothing crazy about the Affordable Care Act, its actually pretty simple. Would you as a taxpayer rather support someone on welfare forever, or provide a grant so they can go to college, get a successful job and start CONTRIBUTING to society? You fear educated people and their ideas. No reason to do that, we have complex problems in this world...we need educated people to solve them. Look at George W Bush, I wholeheartedly believe his intentions were good...but his lack of, frankly, intelligence really screwed this country up.