SW03ES

I'm not even going to respond to that

I don't think thats true...

Yes and yes. If its a color that isn't black, it has a clearcoat ;) Its really not a big deal. People think clearcoat is this magical thing but really its just paint...thats clear. The colorcoat is the same paint, it just isn't clear. The single stage black is just as thick as the dual or tri stage Lexus paints (anything with the word "pearl" in it is tri-stage) its just all one type of paint. The reason its softer is because the pigments used to make black paint make the paint softer.

Who said Lexus decided to no longer offer the panoramic roof?

It has nothing to do with the ES, its the obsidian black finish, its single stage, meaning it has no clearcoat. Other Lexus colors do. Lexus skipped the clearcoat on the black because its deeper and smoother looking. I don't consider it a bad thing at all. True it scratches easier, but it also is VERY easy to polish out and when its polished out and detailed it looks better than any other black out there. Lexus isn't the only manufacturer that skips clearcoat on black cars. Its also not uncommon on red cars or white cars. They just need a little extra care.

Must be the GS. My ES is still tight as a drum after 6 years and 120k miles, my dad's 98 was tight as a drum with no rattles when he traded it with 165k on the clock, and his 04 LS is still tight as a drum with 70k on it... I had one rattle in my ES, which there was a TSB for and they promptly repaired it...and it hasn't rattled since. Now our 2004 Prius rattles like an old Chevy...

Everyone has different viewpoints but there is nothing wrong with carnuaba wax. Carnuaba wax has been used on cars for decades and many people, myself included, prefer carnuaba over polymers especially on dark cars.

If you don't want to read comments about your viewpoints...don't post them to a discussion thread on a discussion forum. As for Colin Powell and Lenore's post. What you fail to realize Lenore is that many republicans and conservatives feel as Powell does about the current state of the party. All throughout his interview I found myself astonished that he believes and arrived at his decision exactly how I have. Turned his back on his friends? Come on. You'd have more respect for him if he pretended to support someone and something he doesn't because they're his "friends"? Thats not courage, thats cowardice.

Our economy isn't going to fail. The steps that have been taken will keep that from happening. But we are in for a long haul here I think, but we've been here before. The scary thing is that China is going to continue growing while we stagnate for a year or two...

I would skip any NuFinish product. Meguiars ScratchX is a better choice. Hire a professional to wash it weekly by hand. Get references, go to www.autopia.org and find someone in your area. Should be plenty of folks in central NJ. It'll cost you about $25 a week. Your ES is single stage, it has no clearcoat and the paint is very soft. Improper washing or carwashed will destroy the paint.

Thats about what my dealer charges. No reason not to use an independent shop. I've just started using a good local independent Lexus mechanic (I wouldn't use a chain, find a good independent mechanic that knows these cars) and the cost is MUCH Less. The 10k service (oil change, tire rotation, inspection) is $65 vs $185. I paid about $115 for the bigger service. But the shop is small, cramped and no loaner. I enjoyed using the dealer and when I get a new Lexus I may use them again, but my service guy left so maybe not.

You can buy a better Lexus factory warranty on any Lexus under 50k miles up to 100,000 miles for $1500. The CPO warranty is not transferable to a new owner, the extended warranty is. The work they do on CPO cars varies from dealer to dealer. I'd be more interested in the individual car than whether it was CPO or not.

Yeah tell that to my old 97 Explorer with 190,000 miles that my family still owns...

Big endorsement today, Colin Powell...

I'll tell you what, I don't often feel let down by politicians (because I don't expect much), but John Edwards is such a dissapointment...

There are so many variables, did both the 350 and 400h have the same tires, were they in the same state of wear, what were the PSI in the tires? How much gas did each vehicle have? I have driven several 400hs and 330s/350s but I have driven a lot of other vehicles and know a good bit about driving dynamics and vehicle construction, 300lbs isn't enough to make a serious difference in how a 4500lb vehicle handles. Its just not. Bear in mind gas weighs about 6lbs per gallon, so a tank of gas weighs 120lbs. For me the reasons I'd choose the 400h, its a more unique package, I like the styling differences. I like the hybrid system, I like not having to pay sales tax in the state of MD, and I like not having to have the vehicle emissions tested.

$4k under invoice? I don't buy it...unless it was used. $800 under sure, thats probably the minimum a dealer could sell the car for and still make some money.

LOL, you guys are ruthless.

Normally I'm not a fan of paying cash for cars, I can pay cash for cars but I prefer to lease or finance to save on having to take capital out of investments (not that those investments are doing great right now lol...) but on a car that old...I wouldn't buy it if I couldn't pay all cash. Financing a new or 2-3 year old car for 5 years is one thing, but financing a 10 year old car for that long? I'd be weary of that, especially what kind of interest rate you could get with it being that old in the current lending climate...if you could get it financed at all. As for the BMW vs the Lexus, I also would never purchase an old BMW unless I had a great and trustworthy BMW mechanic or knew how to do a lot of the work myself...

Absolutely, Ron Paul is a little kookey, but he's more republican than the rest of these ya-hoos running around. I think Libertarianism is taking it too far, but fiscal conservatives are almost impossible to find nowadays, at least fiscal conservatives who won't shove the bible in my face too.

LOL, I hear this ALL the time in one hybrid families including mine. The hybrid driver is careful to maximise their MPG, and then the non-hybrid driver drives it like a bat out of hell and ruins the mileage. When I drive my wife's Prius I know if I bring it back with LESS MPG than she left it with...I'm gonna get it.

Conversely the CVT causes a slightly annoying engine drone at some points in acceleration that isn't present on the RX350, as does my Prius. You should drive them both and see which setup you prefer. At times I like the CVT, at times I like the 5 speed auto. I don't buy this. In the grand scheme of a 4500lb vehicle, 300lbs is not much. Its like driving with a passenger. I doubt you would see a significant change in how the vehicle handles because of it. Depends on how you drive. If you drive aggressively you will still go through brakes. This I agree with, I would choose the RX400h over the RX350 for a lot of reasons.

Run a search ;) If you update your nav software to v 7.1 or v 8.1 it will automatically go away after displaying for a couple seconds like it does on the '08s and '09s.

Thats not going to fix the problem though, if anything that will accelerate the issue because it wears down the clarcoat but doesn't replace them. If you want to FIX the problem, the ClearVIew kit is the easiest way.

Please do not re-post your questions. When someone who can help you reads your post, they will answer. This is an enthusiast board and people post responses at their own leisure, you have to be a little patient...in the very least don't expect a response in 15 minutes on a Sunday afternoon...