SW03ES

Mine either LOL I mean convert the MP3 files you have to a format that iTunes will accept...

No problem!

You can probably convert them...

Thats absolutely correct, but the car was such a sales success they kept it on. The LX costs a LOT more than the GX and is significantly larger. Hardly competitors. The LX starts at $80k, nearly $30k more than the GX. No, theres just no market for a V8 midsized non-luxury SUV anymore. All the competition, except the Jeep, has dropped their V8 offering. Whats to be confused about? Theres the ES and IS. ES is larger, totally luxury focused. IS is smaller and sport focused. Pretty simple. As a buyer in this segment, an LS owner more or less for the past 14 years and an ES owner for the last 9 I completely disagree. People do not see the ES as a "compact" vehicle, and nobody knows its FWD...or really even cares about the difference. I drive people around in my ES all the time and its often the topic of conversation. People refer to my "old school big Lexus sedan" all the time. I would say that most people do not even know the difference between an LS and an ES. I've had several people make comments about my ES when we're talking about cars along the lines of "Well, my car didn't cost $60k" alluding to the fact that they believe mine did. So, obviously the typical public doesn't get it. I have a good buddy I go to the DC auto show with every year, he has a BMW 3 series, not a huge car guy but he has more than a passing knowledge. We were sitting in the LS and he thought it was the same model I had. Again, remember...the ES sells more vehicles than every other Lexus sedan combined, and that market is typically older...they like it because its a big comfortable car. Actually ES buyers are on average older than LS buyers. Educational differences? Pretty much the total luxury car demographic is well educated. Just to be clear, I would argue with your point that Lexus' market is predominately RWD. Since their best selling vehicles are FWD based, I would say their market is predominately FWD. Thats fine, but remember...the ES sells more units than all the other Lexus sedans combined. Without the ES...Lexus wouldn't be in business, at least not at the level they are today. The ES is Lexus bread and butter. Sure I too prefer RWD, but in most driving you really can't tell the difference between FWD and RWD. I have a lot of colleagues that have Camrys and the Camryh that I've ridden in extensively. No comparison to the ES, the ES is much smoother, quieter, much more comfortable, much nicer materials (the Camry is REALLY sh!tty inside, even the high trims, very poor quality leather, plastics, carpeting, etc), much more panache and style...for really very little more money. I think its a great value...and obviously people agree with me because like I said...it outsells all other Lexus sedans combined, and is always one of the top performers, if not the top performer in its market segment. I love the LS, I am intimately familiar with the LS, its one of my favorite cars and I've put a lot of miles on the LS cars my Dad owned. One day I'm sure I'll have an LS, but the ES gets more and more LS like with each passing generation...and the LS gets more and more expensive. Each time I buy one I always labor whether I should get an ES or a 3 year old LS, and I always drive them back to back to back and really...the LS is obviously more car...but I don't miss the LS when I drive the ES. When you go back and forth you obviously can tell the difference when you get in the ES straight out of the LS. But, you drive it for a while and come to the conclusion that this is really a car that has many of the attributes of the LS...for a LOT less money. At this point in my life, I'm happy to have the additional $30,000 in my pocket and my ES over an LS. Half the price, but I'd say 75% as much car. I used to really want an LS, but since I've had this car...that desire has seriously diminished. Its such an improvement over my old 2003 ES, a car I also enjoyed, its not even funny. I really, really like my 2010 ES. Bottom line, while the current LS has a lot more features and performance than it had...if you compare a 2010 ES and a late 90's LS...they are VERY comparable. Similar performance, similar to more features, similar comfort. I know this...because I've had both. At some point it becomes a diminishing return I feel, what I want is what I had in 1998, and the current ES...really is that, and the next generation on a longer platform giving you LS legroom in the back and a longer wheelbase with an even better ride? Even more reason not to spend more for the LS IMHO.

Yeah its really hard to make a living as a car salesman anymore. I used to consult with car dealers...

The interesting thing about this car is its going to be priced similarly to the CTS, kind of like the IS and ES. I could see this being real competition for the ES.

Have you tried using your Nano? Thats what I use...

Good for you buddy, you deserve it...

The FWD ES has always handily been the brand's best selling sedan. Their best selling vehicle is the RX...which is also basically FWD. So, I would say over half of their total vehicle sales are FWD vehicles, I would argue that their market is primarily RWD. They aren't going to have two vehicles that cater to the same market. If the new, larger ES350 tops out at $50k or so fully loaded, they won't also have a similarly sized LS350 in a similar price point. It just doesn't make any sense when the ES and LS already appeal to similar buyers, just in different financial spectrums. The ES is an unusual car that nobody else really has in their lineup...all the entry level type cars are smaller, and sportier when you look at BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Cadillac, etc. The 740i is $13,000 cheaper than the 750I, so if the LS460 starts at $67k now. you're talking about a start of low to mid $50k probably, where its going to compete with the ES and GS, I just don't see that happening.

Its really more of a burden being right all the time ;)

iPod works great ;)

Just happened to me thats why I knew to suggest that ;)

Its interesting where all these cars are built. For instance when I was trying to find BMW sales figures for the 5 Series, look at all the places I found where it is made: Dingolfing, Germany Toluca, Mexico[1][2] Chennai, India[3] Cairo, Egypt Shenyang, China Jakarta, Indonesia Kaliningrad, Russia 6th of October City, Egypt Tehran, Iran (CKD) Manaus, Brazil Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia[4]

I wouldn't hold my breath, with the ES moving to the larger Avalon platform (or...Avalon derivative of the Camry platform) I wouldn't think an LS350 would be likely.

Did you check the spare?

The tire is under the trunk floor.

So you're seeing oil on the driveway/garage? Is it moreso right after the oil change? It might be that they are spilling oil down onto the shield underneath the engine and its pooling there and leaking out. It should be pretty clear where an oil leak is coming from to a mechanic. Have you tried taking it to another dealer or even an independent shop to see what they think? Sounds like your dealer sucks. Yeah that was right when the 350 first came out. Would have first been available in late August 2006. Would have been one of the first cars off the boat. Make sure that you aren't trying to use the memory system with your foot on the brake. My Dad had the same issue on his old 98 LS400 and he took it in a few times, and we realized that sometimes he was trying to use the system with his foot on the brake, and having your foot on the brake deactivates the system... Good for you. I might think about something like an LS, best highway car out there IMHO. Get a later run one...the LS460 is at the end of its design life, and I think by around 2013, a 2010 will be a great car to buy and keep... No problem, hope it helps. Keep us posted!

HAHA!

I think this is very true. As for the A7...how can someone not like this car?

Its all relative. Audi's sales goals are likely not those of the 5 Series or E Class. Audi is a lower volume automaker with a smaller dealer network than BMW or Mercedes. 1900 units in December (which is a bad month, typically) puts them on track to do 25,000-30,000 units potentially, when you consider that the 5 Series probably sells 40,000-45,000 units a year and the E Class sells about the same probably. Not bad. Success isn't necessarily only being #1. So to say that it "sells poorly compared to the 5 Series and E Class" is to imply that the car is a failure by comparison, which is really not the case. Anyways, after driving a car for years that everybody and their brother drives, theres something to be said for something thats a little unusual. I've kind of felt like maybe next time I might move up to something a class higher than the ES, like a 5 or E...but you literally see them EVERYWHERE here.

I don't know, I think the A7 is a great looking car. Only one of these "hatch-sedans" that looks appealing to me.

No issues with the later LS's, it was an early run problem in 2004. I'd buy with confidence. Lucky kid with the LS430! ;)

Hi Randy, This is not really an answer to your question, but the ES was not available without a CD changer. If you don't have navigation, there is a single feed internal CD changer in the dash. If you have navigation, the car should have come with a changer in the armrest. What changer did you buy?

Welcome to the site! How many miles are on it? Obviously if you bought it off a presumably 3 year lease in Nov 2009, it was one of the very first ES350s manufactured and there were some new model issues that were basically solved in the subsequent models, and even later 2007s. You need to reset the TPMS system. Set the pressure where you want (I run mine like 32) and then push and hold the reset button under the dash. It'll reset to your selected pressure. That will make a HUGE difference in the ride. Mine rides great. This is a little unfair. Wasn't time lost, the vehicle was owned by someone else before you owned it, and they enjoyed the primary part of the warranty. Thats part of the deal when you buy used cars. BUT, the TSB should be covered under the CPO warranty. I would press them on it. Leaky oil pump is not a big deal... Whats troubling are the oil leaks. Have they told you what specifically has been leaking?

The A7 is a VERY sharp and appealing car. The Equus I can see just for the novelty. But the Jaguar XF?!? Lots of other vehicles I'd pick other than the mildly refreshed, several year old XF. What about the new XJ if you're talking about a Jag?