SW03ES

I'm not sure how Zaino fits into this thread, its not a polish and really can't be used with the PC...

Really? Learn something new every day.

Yep, thats why I said its hard to tell the difference, the center caps are easy to change.

Also remember Lexus has had a few rush to market problems with the GX470, they want to make sure the RX400h is PERFECT to maintain confidence in the hybrid technology.

Its hard to tell the difference but examine the Lexus symbol on the wheels, if its not the ACTUAL Lexus symbol they're aftermarket.

I'm fully a sole proprietor thats probably the difference. I still think theres a way to write the deduction off without leasing it back to the business though, but I'm not sure how.

The difference is in reliability. The factory wheels usually keep their finish much longer than aftermarket.

You can use SANDERS, not grinders. You want to stay away from a rotary sander/polisher anyways. Way too aggressive for a novice. I'll move this to detailing.

I was going to suggest that too

The steering looseness has been there ever since I bought it with 6 miles on the clock. Must have shipped that way. It'll be done Friday and I'm sure it'll be better than new.

You CAN use the 83 by hand but I wouldn't, I'd use something like Imperial Hand Glaze instead and follow with a wax. As for the clay, get the fine grade. The medium is bodyshop grade for more serious overspray problems.

Some dealers do that, they certainly did with the Prius. The dealer we bought ours from had no wait list when other dealers had 10 months but was selling them at MSRP first come first serve. Soon after we bought ours they started selling them at a 5k premium. Some Toyota dealers actually deleted their lists to auction them as they came in really *BLEEP*ing customers off. Lexus on the other hand seriously frowns on charging over MSRP. Some dealers did that with the SC430 and Lexus responded by no longer sending them cars until they agreed to sell them at MSRP or keep a list. Thats why Lexus dealers dont do that with the 400h. Makes perfect sense when you realize all dealerships are independently owned and they do business differently. Demands for hybrid vehicles are also higher in different areas of the country. For instance dealers here STILL have months of lists for the Prius while dealers in the midwest have them sitting on the lots and are selling at a discount.

This is a 2000 LS400: This is a 2000 ES300: As you can see the wheels are very different.

Oh no, the interest rate doesnt make THAT much difference. Even your dad would be hard pressed to get 5.9% on a loan for a used car. Used car loans have higher interest rates, sometimes by as much as 1% because they're riskier for the bank, there being a chance that the bank wont get what you owe back out of that. A downpayment helps, but not that much. If you didn't have enough credit to get a cell phone without a deposit then you wont be able to get 5-6% on your own even on a new car unless you have a connection somewhere. Thats just how it is.

The wheels are actually totally different, the LS wheel is a couple inches wider in diameter too. Even if it does bolt up its not going to flow into the steering column in look and its going to stick out. The airbag from the ES will DEFINATELY not fit. That I am 100% sure of. They're totally different designs. Your generation ES uses a stock Toyota wheel design shared with the Camry, the Solara, the 4 Runner of that era. The LS uses a wheel shared with the LX/Land Cruiser of that era and they now use that wheel rim on the GX, LX, 4 Runner, Sequoia, and Tundra truck.

Try $4500. The total repair bill will be about 8k, warranty work thank god. My dad's 98 LS went 160k miles with only one repair that was unwarranted by mileage, an AC compressor (the LS has 2) at about 70k. So I wouldnt worry. His 04 has about the same miles as mine and no problems. The steering rack and the abs on mine are an oddity...

No, it shouldn't. You can use it on all the plastics, you CAN use it on leather but I only would if it was really neccisary.

wwest- Because some dealers are offering first come first serve doesnt mean the demand has wained. Its up to each dealership whether they want to take pre-orders or just sell them as they come. It was the same way with the Prius.

Talk to a CPA first, nc's advice is good but I don't think that he fully understands the way the deduction works for a lease. He doesn't have to lease it back to the business to claim a deduction, you can get a deduction on your own if you work for a company and you privately lease a vehicle, and you certainly can as the owner of a business. Mine was leased in my name and I claim a deduction, and I dont lease it back to the company. My dad works as an employee and he's leased cars and gotten deductions for 20 years. MY business isn't incorporated though, maybe that makes a difference. Problem with leasing it or buying it in the company's name is usually thats automatically tier 2 credit vs where you may personally be tier 1.

Army- nc211 has a point. 6.75% is a very good rate on a car that old, unless you have a cosigner with excellent credit you're not going to get that rate, you're going to be closer to 9% probably and thats assuming interest rates stay where they are. My fiance's Prius is 9% and its brand new, AND her dad cosigned on it and he has tier 2 credit. Honestly, I wouldnt spend that money on a car which you're not doing, you're using some as a down and financing the rest which is smart. I'd use the bulk of that money as a nest egg to maybe get into a house or something here at some point. Using that money to buy a car is like pouring it down the toilet, its best to seize the opportunity and really put it to good use.

I doubt it, plus you'd have to buy a new airbag and thats gonna cost you.

Just drove mine at the dealer (see my brake grinding thread) and its definately noticably smoother than the 05, funny. As for the power, no I really dont feel ANY power difference between them at all. The 3.3 is throatier for sure though. Also another observation about the seats, they seem much firmer than mine and the shape is slightly different, dont know if thats because mine are worn in and melded to my shape or not but they're definately more comfortable. Love the A/C seats though lol

The tech at the dealer seems to think its the ABS system actually, he's going to investigate it. They had me come out there today and drove with me to feel the losseness in the steering, they think thats the steering rack and bet it will have to be replaced. They also need to replace the rearview mirror but the other dealer has claimed that they've already replaced it, which they haven't so they need to get that retracted before they can do it. Sheesh, they dont make these things like they used to, that makes a faulty ABS system, a faulty steering rack, a replaced catalytic converter, new brakes and rotors, 3 rattles repaired all in 45k miles... Definately gonna buy an extended warranty...

Yep it has memory seats, but the second position is my fiance's seat setting. Eh, no big deal.

Make sure TX isn't like MD. In MD if you have a drivers license you MUST have car insurance. If you don't for any period of time you will be uninsurable by anyone but the state...and its expensive. We made that mistake when my fiance moved in with me and we got her license changed from NJ to MD. She had no car so she didnt get any insurance, when we got the Prius and we went to get her insured they couldnt do it and she had to go to the state for 20% more for 2 years. Everyone I tell about that is shocked, even my insurance agent didnt know until he tried to write her policy and it wouldnt let him.