SW03ES

Hi there, I'm a member on PriusChat too ;) Welcome!

Sorry, not buying. In order for ignorance to be bliss, we have to be ignorant. Just because people don't agree with you doesn't make them ignorant. I never said our government or country wasn't great. I was simply making a counter to your argument that your tax dollars are used to benefit you. Your LOCAL taxes are used to benefit you, but not your federal taxes. I'm happy to pay my taxes, I just don't agree with a lot of what is being done with my money right now. It has nothing to do with the government, its this administration (and for the record, I have been a republican all my life, I've recently left the republican party because of the corruption in the party and the fact that these people are not behaving like fiscal conservatives). In fact, I resent the implication that those of us who are critical of this administration or our government are "hating on America". Well if thats the case, 70% of Americans are hating on America. Thats ridiculous. The issue I have with the war in Iraq is that the reasons we got in and the reasons we remain there change to fit the moment. You can't trust liars, and this administration is FULL of crooked liars. Now that we're there we have to do it right, but I don't think we ever should have been there in the first place. If you believe that this country is not heading for...or already in the early stages of a recession you don't know what you're talking about. Is President Bush a member of the liberal media? Because he believes we're heading for a recession. A recession is defined as a period of negative economic growth for a period of two fiscal quarters or more. Locally a lot of areas have been experiencing negative economic growth for years, not quarters and nationally our growth is down to lower than it was before the last recession in 2001. With the volitility of the stock market, the mortgage market, and the real estate markets nationwide coupled with the extreme devaluation of the dollar we are DEFINATELY teetering on the edge of, or already sliding into a recession. Thats a fact, and pretending its not happening won't help matters.

The bulbs are the same, shape of the projectors and the aim of the lights are the issue. The driver's headlight is supposed to be aimed lower to avoid blinding oncoming drivers. When they adjust them they're adjusting them within spec.

The 04 LS430 has bluetooth technology ;) I've always felt the same way. Back before I got my ES in '03 I was deciding between an 00 LS400 and the 03 ES300. The better and upgradable nav system in the ES was the real seller, but one of the big things was I wanted a NEW car. I still feel that way, in many many ways I like an 05 or 06 LS430 better than a new ES350...but every time I sit in one it just feels...used. I even sat in a lightly used 07 LS460 the other day...just felt used. Plus I like to lease for business, and I've never been able to make a lease on a used car work.

That is definately true of the ES, there's really not another car you can buy and compare it to. The 3 series and the C class are smaller and sportier. Its more like a 5 series or E class in size, but its so much cheaper. Do you have an issue with used cars? You can pick up an '06 LS430 for a comparable cost to a new ES350 UL.

This is not true, it will remove other wax...sort of. See TOGWT's above post for a good explanation.

I'm there, I'm "GoodnClean" on the Autopia forums for all you cross Autopia posters.

Sure, here you go: So, let me get this straight. Does being ignorant suddenly mean smart? Would a smart person "build those huge insurance companies"? We're not 5 years old...we understand tone and intention. You may not have directly called us stupid, but "ignorant" was close enough and we know what you meant. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. You don't think your tax dollars make someone overweight a rich behind a desk doing nothing? Do you honestly think a toilet seat costs $300,000? How about this rediculous war that costs us a billion dollars a day? Thats a stitch. So yes, I'd rather pay the insurance companies. At least I can buy stock in them and share in their success, and at least if something should happen I'll be okay. You think the government will help you? So did the people in New Orleans. And before you blame insurance companies in New Orleans. Yes people got screwed out of their insurance claims in N.O., but they didn't have enough insurance. No flood insurance in New Orleans=stupid.

What a bummer! Keep us posted...

Great!

One thing I've said several times though that you need to keep in mind: There is more to a tire's speed rating than the speed you can travel. It has to do with rubber composition, hardness, sidewall stiffness, etc. The suspension geometry of the car is designed around v rated tires. Otherwise why put v rated tires on it? It costs the manufacturer more too. I think you'd be okay with H rated tires, but personally the price difference is small and I want to have what the manufacturer intended the vehicle to have.

One thing you have to keep in mind is that you're always going to have a hot or cold reaction on internet forums, people who LOVE their cars and people who HATE them. As the cars get older this tempers. Before I bought my 03 new the forums were the same way about the 02+ ES. Drive it extensively first. I like the ES350 a lot, my only dislike comes from the interior vs the previous car and thats somewhat better with the UL...

The Lexus warranty is not this way. It is total years and vehicle mileage. So whether you buy it when its new or right before the factory warranty runs out, its good until the same point in the vehicle's life. I bought the 7 year 100k warranty, good for 7 total years of age or 100k total miles. You can buy it for the new car price all the way until the original warranty expires. At least in the US...

Actually much later Lexus model leather is uncoated. My leather seats are uncoated... Check out the detailing forum ;)

What a bummer Ralph, sorry I didn't see this until now...I've been so busy. Sounds like a rough week! Your leasehold interest in the vehicle won't be affected. Lexus can file a depreciated value claim with the insurance company to help them with any decrease in value. As long as the vehicle is properly repaired you shouldn't have any problems. How bad is the damage? Any pictures?

I think a blanket statement like "wax will remove previous wax" or "you can wax over a paint sealant" is really not accurate. While I agree that for the most part carnuaba waxes are not layerable, its not really that the new coat removes the old coat. If you're dealing with pure paste waxes with no cleaners the solvents in the wax re-liquify the previous coat and the two kind of meld together forming one new coat. In terms of a sealant, you cannot layer a liquid wax or a wax with much solvent content (all wax has some) over a sealant and expect the sealant to still be beneath it. You can layer a pure paste wax over SOME sealants, but not all.

I agree, the Autopia store is a good "one stop shop" for a new person looking for some basic products to build a collection.

Winter doesn't cause those things, improper paint care techniques cause those things. Its easier to swirl and scratch a car in the winter because of abrasive road salt, but its not impossible..or even that difficult..to keep them from happening.

I'm not saying you're a Joe Schmo, but you have to be open to the idea that people who disagree with you are not neccisarily wrong. Try not to present your opinions about products or techniques as the only right answer and you'll have less problems with others. You come across as being a "know-it-all" with your blanket statements that denigrate the opinions posted before you, your contstant referrals to your "professional" status and your "training", the blurb in your signature. It definately seems like you think you know a lot more than the rest of us. A "certificate" is great, but there are others here, myself included, that have a lot more experience than you do cerificate or not. Your opinions are welcome, but offer them as opinions instead of fact, and stop qualifying all your opinions by saying "I'm a professional so you know I'm right". Thats why you're getting so much flack.

As an outsider looking in the exchange I saw was completely one sided. You were getting reactions about your statements but they weren't incendiary, you all but called us stupid for owning insurance several times. That works for you and thats great. Me? I'll just pay for insurance and structure my assets in such a way that protects me from tax liability. You're paying one way or the other, you're just paying the government instead of the insurance companies by your own admission.

I haven't rideculed anyone. Show me where I've rideculed anyone? I've expressed frustration with people who come here only to complain, which is genuine. I am not a representative of the Lexus brand. This site is not owned or operated by Lexus in any way shape or form nor do I work for or recieve compensation from Lexus. The entire point of belonging to a forum such as this is to express and discuss OPINIONS. It is a DISCUSSION FORUM. I'm a member of this forum just like you and I am entitled to my opinions whether you share them or not. I'm a manager here as a volunteer, unpaid, because I enjoy working on the site. It doesn't remove me from my right to have or express my opinions. And for the record I'm not threatening you, I'm informing you that personally attacking other members here is not permitted. Read the posting guidelines you agreed to when you joined the site. If you want to discuss opinions and be a contributing member to the site, please do so and have fun thats why the place is here. If your goal is to try and drag me or anyone else out into a flamewar by pulling out an 8 month old post like you did with your very personally insulting first post we'll ask you to leave. Not a threat, but a fact.

Not much I can add, you guys have done fine. Only thing I will add is I have used over the counter products before that I found okay.

jchrome: I don't think Mburn is out of line asking how long you've been professionally detailing cars. You're selling your advice as that of a professional and its reasonable to ask how long you've been a professional and what the scope of your experience is. Based on your reluctance to answer him I'm going to guess its not long...

Jibby, I hope you never hit me or hurt me or someone in my family. $30k bond? That won't even make a dent in any liability you may have. You maim someone and the suit STARTS at 7 figures. $30,000? Thats a joke. I'd have everything you own. If thats okay with you fine, but don't call me or others tupid or foolish by taking the responsibility to adequately insure our assets and protect ourselves from liability in the event something unforseen may happen. What if you have a house fire and your house is destroyed and you are maimed and cannot repair it? Even if you did repair it yourself...materials aren't free. Recipie for disaster. Talk to any financial advisor...one that does not sell insurance and look at their face when you feed them that crap.

I am indeed self employed. I could probably buy and sell you several times over too, so don't worry about me. And I'm sorry if my hobby of chatting on this internet forum bothers you. In fact, if it weren't for me and the other significant administrators and members of this site spending time here and working on the site...it wouldn't be here for you to enjoy. So...you're welcome. Look around the internet, 12k posts to an internet forum is hardly a lot. Anyways, you say I can dish it out but I get offended when people disagree with me. I *never* get offended by anything anyone says to me online. In fact, I don't think I've shown any offense or anger at all in this thread. I simply have an opinion, as you do. It differs from yours, but I'm just as entitled to it as you are. Since you're new to our forum I'll let you know that you're welcome to debate the topics with anyone here including me, but singling people out and rideculing them in the way you've attempted but failed to do here is not acceptable and won't be tolerated.