SW03ES

Went by and drove one of the '05s today. Very nice. Every time I drive an LS I'm reminded why I love these cars...and just how far superior the LS is to other models in the Lexus line. The ES still rides and drives like a dream...but its nothing like the LS. Something about the heft and the feeling that the car is shaped from one peice of metal. When you get back in the ES, you don't really miss the LS because the ES is a really nice car too...but the LS is really a special car to drive. Definately my next car... Now all we have to do is find the right one. Like I said I'm really going to take my time and find the right car, I plan to drive this car a long time... Here's the car: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-Trucks...d=p4506.c0.m245 It has the Custom Luxury package, so it has the special wood, the semi-analine leather, the leather door panels and dash, the suede headliner but it doesn't have the rear seat controls or power rear seat nor does it have the air suspension. I've decided I would like the UL car if I can find one. $37k is way out of line, but the car is in very good shape. This car has all the goodies but its in CA. I could never buy a car sight unseen...at least not a $30,000 car. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-Trucks...d=p4506.c0.m245

My suggestion? Keep the LS and buy a used second car for fun.

Do yourself a favor and replace them now. Seriously, you have no idea how severely limited the car's traction and safety are when tires get that bad. You have maybe 10% of the control you'd have with decent tires. I know its tempting to wait...but don't wait too long...

Glad tp hear all is well! Yeah, its going to be a wet one here, buckle down down there!

Glad to hear it Ralph... Does anyone have any way of getting ahold of Blake?

Would you like to share your list of problems with the rest of the group or are they going to remain mythical? In terms of extra cost, extra cost as compared to what? Lexus vehicles are typically less expensive than their competition. In terms of cost of maintenance, Lexus dealer service is expensive but its no more expensive than dealer costs at any other Luxury marque, and you don't have to use the dealer for maintenance. I just started using an independent Lexus mechanic here in DC and the costs are less than maintenance on my previous Ford. And its a Honda "Odyssey".

Really? I'll have to try that. I haven't used #7 in years...

Glad to hear it, hard to tell on the 'net ;) I use a product called Stoner's Invisible Glass. Works well, actually better than Windex in my experience and is much milder when it drips on interior surfaces. Actually I find I don't have to use window cleaner all that often if the windows are kept clean. On maintained windows just water will work as the above poster says. Dirty windows, bugs, fog from interior offgassing, you'll need glass cleaner.

Thats no big deal, I didn't even notice it. He means Paintless Dent Repair when he says "Dent Doctor". You need to take that to someone who does PDR, $99 and its fixed like new. Thats a real easy fix.

Not that I've ever seen... Most dealers will do it for you and not charge you anything though...

I have to do some research about negotiating on used cars though, never done it. New cars are easy because I know how the profit works, profit on a used car is variable because you never know what the dealer paid for the car, whether they've repainted bumpers, etc. I like the CPOs because the dealers really clean them up and they're almost like new cars. But, I can do that myself too, if I save $5-7k even repainting bumpers isn't a big deal. I'm hoping I'll have time to go drive those '05s at Lexus and Carmax tomorrow...

Lookin good! Whats wrong with the right side of the car?

I don't know whether you're being sarcastic or not, but to everyone else Windex is not appropriate for use on anything but windows, and it will strip and damage surfaces that it is not designed to be used on. The reason why modern dashboards don't really need protectants is that they are coated with a UV blocking coating at the factory. This coating is one of the things innapropriate cleaners like Windex will strip off. As someone who has had Windex drip on a peice of trim when cleaning windows and didn't remove it for 40 seconds maybe and had it completely take the color out of the trim under the droplet of Windex, I don't even use Windex for automotive windows anymore. They make plenty of very good cleaners designed for vinyl and automotive interior materials and they are no more expensive than windex, or in the absense of these products just a damp rag works fine. No need to use things you shouldn't use...

Do you wear jeans a lot? Thats pretty common with the lighter interiors...its color transfer typically from jeans.

I'm not sold on CPO. As long as the car in under the 50k original warranty you can purchase a platinum Lexus 100k warranty for $1500 or so, from my looking around it looks like the CPO cars demand a $5k-7K premium. Lexus does have attractive CPO financing. The CPO warranty in non-transferable but the Lexus Platinum warranty is. And yes, dealers can lease used cars but the payments wind up being such that you could almost lease a new one, at least in my experience. My math is fine ;) The current crop of '05s are off 3 year leases, if you look around on dealer lots and even eBay you see mostly '05s, as we get into the fall we'll start to see more '06s, but if you were buying right now the '05 would be the deal. I don't really present to people in the car, once they're in the car they're already all set up. In fact...I really don't even carry people around in the car all that often. I mostly list properties and when I do have buyers we typically wind up meeting at properties instead of me driving them there. Really and truly for business here the LS is the perfect car. Lots of successful people and many many agents drive Lexus vehicles. In my experience clients don't really care what you drive...

No reason to be bitter, its an old car. Want less problems, buy a newer one next time. Perform repairs as directed by your mechanic next time. Your issues have to do with the vehicle's age and the way it has been treated and maintained, not Lexus. If it were any other car you'd have the same issues under the same circumstances. Lexus dealers are great for scheduled maintenance with style, but when it comes to diagnosing and troubleshooting problems they're not great because they don't do it very often, 90% of their business is scheduled maintenance on <5 year old cars. Their labor rates are out of this world too, which makes diagnostic work cost a fortune. As the other poster says you should find a independent mechanic that works on Lexus vehicles, you'll be a lot better off.

Well, the speed rating doesn't just have to do with the maximum speed the tires can be operated at. It has to so with the construction of the tire. Lexus vehicles ship with V rated tires and the suspension and steering geometry are designed around V rated tires. Personally I have always used the OEM speed rating when buying tires, this time I'm going to go to an H to save money but anything less than H would change the geometry of the car...

Oh no no no. Don't use Windex, Windex will discolor the vinyl and strip off the UV coating...Windex is for windows...its not an all purpose cleaner like a lot of people think. If you want to just wipe the dash down, do it with a damp cloth or with a product designed for automotive interiors. I like Meguiars Quick Interior Detailer. Leaves no residue. The answer is that you really don't need to protect the dash for the purposes of protecting the dash...modern dashes have UV protective qualities already.

Have you driven one lately? I drove the new Murano and the interior was top notch. Well put together, better materials than an 07+ES or an IS IMHO. I was very impressed.

Absolutely, just keep records that the oil has been changed.

Love the name! LOL. Anyways, what was the MSRP of your car? I'm not familiar as to whether the Pebble Beach edition is always the Ultra Luxury package or not... Post some pictures! I havent seen many in that color!

Yeah I'm really going to take my time with it and find the right car, no rush. I don't think I'm going to be able to find an '06 under 30k, but I really think an '05 is doable for less than that and as we get into next spring 06s will start coming off lease too. No real change between 05 and 06, if you're doing the UL car its rare to find an 05 that has the radar cruise as opposed to the older laser cruise, all of the 06s have the radar cruise. Yeah I've tried but I can't get to like the ES350's interior... So if I could get into something for 28-30k (a new UL ES350 MSRPs for $44k and I could probably get one for $40k. Mines worth like 10-11k, so I'd be out of pocket $18k and drive off with a like new LS430...pretty good deal.

Well in light of my recent electrical gremlins and the fact that I'm getting up towards 120k miles, I'm thinking about moving on to something else... Thinking about a new ES350 or GS350...I just can't help but be pulled towards an 04-06 LS430 instead. I've never bought a used car, but I know full well how great these cars are and how little 30-40k miles really is. It would still be a big mental block for me to get around... Anyways, whats everybody think? The 05's look like the sweet spot since they're just coming off 3 year leases. It looks to me like they're doable for under $30k with 25k-35k miles, which is just an incredible value. The 04s seem to be about the same price, and the 06's seem to be $35k-39k. Nav is a must, I'd like the UL package since I haul clients around in the back but I'm a little concerned about the air suspension's longevity. Rockville has an 05 with 35k miles and the modern luxury package (nav and SKS) I'm going to look at next week. Carmax has an 05 UL with 28k miles for $33k. It has a tan interior though which isn't the greatest, I'd want black or grey. I like to lease for business, and leasing pre-owned doesn't work, I'd probably just buy the thing outright and plan to keep it for a long time... Just kicking it around...

No experience with them personally, the speed rating is too low for the Lexus... I'm not a GoodYear fan in general though...

Yeah its going to be a tough one, stay safe guys!