SW03ES

The transmission is also adaptable and the hesitation seems worse depending on what driving style its adapted to. You can disconnect the batter for 10 minutes or so to let it reset.

Nope the timing belt is fine until 90k. The platinum edition had special badges, special wheels, monotone paint treatment, a different woodgrain, and a special leather upholstery. When new they also came with a year of the American Express Platinum card fee free.

Blake, have you seen a new Caddy CTS? Makes me wonder why anyone would buy an STS...

It is absolutely lol. I see other stuff I'd like to drive, but when I think about $800+ car payments mine starts looking pretty good...

Alan (amf1932) had an 03 and was particularly bothered by the transmission hesitation ad upgraded to an 07 and is happy with it. The 07s and 08s have some other issues including a transmission flare between a couple gears, you can read more of it there. The "transmission hesitation" has never bothered me. Have you been bothered by it in the older models you've driven? For me the ES350 is a mixed bag vs the 02-06 ES. I like the new exterior, I like the new features, power, and the way it drives. I do however believe that the interior of the car is several steps down from the interior of the 02-06. Its enough of an issue for me that I won't be replacing my 03 with an ES350. If you're looking at spending the money on a new or almost new ES350 and you don't have an aversion to buying used I might suggest you look at an 04-06 LS430 for about the same cost. As for seat comfort, I've driven ES350s extensively both test driving and as loaners, I think the seat comfort is about the same.

www.lexus-parts.com Thats where I buy my updates, they're about $280 or so. You can buy older ones on eBay, but I'd just go for the latest update, you want version 7.1. The first number signifies the year, so 7.1 is 2007. Your 04 has version 3.1, or 2003. The nav version is always a year behind the model year.

Click the link in my sig to become a gold member ;)

Lookin good!

Have an open discussion all you want, nobody's trying to stifle your discussion. My opinions however are as relevant and welcome as yours. I'm not the only one on my side either. If I wanted to "shut down" this discussion I would have shut it down, as in physically locked it out so nobody could post. Or just deleted the whole thing. I have no interest in doing that. I'm not saying that you aren't having problems with your car, I'm saying that the problems you're having aren't as serious as the issues owners of other marques have, and are issues that you would have noticed had you taken the time to thoroughly evaluate the car before you bought it. Saying you don't like how it rides? Did you even drive it before you paid $75,000 for it?!? The nav lockout? You mean the nav lockout that Lexus has had for a decade that many other manufaturers also have? Again, did you try the system before you bought it? A "ton" of recalls and TSBs? List them. Perhaps you should have waited for an 08. I would have.

Congratulations! Welcome back!

Oh I'm not buying anything right now. Mine's still a great car and its paid for.

Like look at this car: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2006-LEXUS-...1QQcmdZViewItem Or this car, this one's a UL!: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2006-Lexus-...1QQcmdZViewItem There are a ton of them out there, I suppose people are trading in after 2 year leases for LS460s...

True, but I love the ride of the LS so we're all pretty likely to look at it the same way. I dunno, I'm a ways off from buying anything else because of the state of the real estate market right now. I go back and forth. I'll probably wind up in an LS. I've seen some really good deals on 06 LS430s with mileage in the teens that are really attractive. I couldn't lease it, but because of the lower depreciation it might make more sense to do that and then plan on keeping the thing 7-8 years. Its hard to justify buying an ES350 or an M35 when I could buy a year and a half old LS430 with 15k miles for the same money. When I bought the ES the issue was the nav system in the new ES being so much better than the system in the 00 LS400, but when comparing the LS430 to the ES350 thats not an issue anymore (the ES350 has better graphics, but the system is the same). I'd love an LS460, but the shakiness in the market makes me hesitant about commiting to another $1,000+ monthly obligation.

It really is a pig in the snow without snow tires...

You have the sport suspension though, the sport suspension is much firmer. I found the basic car very comfortable.

Have you ever considered looking at a 05-06 LS430 instead of the ES350? They cost about the same and you might be happier there.

I got use out of mine, if one item needs to be replaced then they pay for themselves. At $2900 though I wouldn't. Ay $2k I would.

There is a weird rectangular opening. I store the key for the wheel locks there.

This has to do with the new environmental regulations regarding the composition of paint. A clear bra is a MUST HAVE on one of these cars nowadays. I'd have the chips you do have touched up and have clearbras installed on both vehicles immediately.

That sounds like a lot to me. I paid $1600 for the same warranty on my ES. Now, it'll be more for the LS but almost twice as much?

I'm constantly amazed by how high strung drivers in Ocean City are, I mean, you're on vacation people! Lighten up. A lot of road rage in Ocean City.

Better you than me hahaha

ArmorAll is a perfectly fine protectant. It actually has much more in common with 303 than it does otherwise. Its an old wives tale that ArmorAll will damage plastics. I wouldn't use ArmorAll on a dash only because its too glossy for my tastes. The 303 is safe to use, but I doubt it will hide scratches.

www.lexus-parts.com They can even do the keys and ship them to you already cut for much less. You can get an electronic owners manual by registering the car at lexus.com, I think they'll also mail you one for free.

Thats a great price!