SW03ES

Yep, the roads here are the same way.

Yep I've still got all of it. I will try to get them out this week.

I'd be careful with that, don't want to void the corrosion warranty.

Yeah, if Lexus didn't put it on the car, it doesn't need it ;)

speaking of polishes SW, where are mine?:whistles: ;) ← Dammit! I'm sorry! I'll get these out to you I promise! Moving coupled with starting my new business has me scatterbrained.

I'm sure this is possible but my guess is it will cost between $7-10k.

They have an aftermarket company do it for $500, then charge the customer $1400 thats how they do it. Check out www.americanstitches.com

nc211- The LS has had a drive by wire throttle since 1998. It has the same touchy throttle.

You have an aftermarket system, theres an aftermarket company that installs remote starts that use the buttons already found on the standard remote.

It actually doesnt make you faster, it just makes it FEEL faster.

Actually Lexus vehicles have relatively little sound deadening equipment compared with other luxury cars, thats why tires are so important. They achieve quiet by STOPPING noises instead of hiding them. If you want it quieter I would pay a stereo shop to dynamat the whole interior.

Lexus' target for the ES isn't 35, they're lucky if they get 35 year olds in the IS. It does have a lot to do with age, similar cars in price range like the 350Z, Infiniti G35 coupe and sedan, Acura TL, a myriad of different sports cars fall within the 30k-40k range and they all have lower average age drivers than the ES.

I think it depends on the road. I've been on highways that run 80 with a limit of 55 and I've seen roads that stick to the limit.

I wouldnt use the Scratch X. Its more of a by hand single area type of product. I'd get something nice like Meguiars #80, that should be easy for you to get to use to polish the car out prior to the AIO.

Like I told you before, don't expect to pay under sticker. That said I dont believe theres any reason to pay OVER sticker for this car, the demand is not THAT high. They're essentially asking you to pay $900 or so over sticker. Counter with sticker, if they don't take it walk. I NEVER pay over MSRP for a car, thats underhanded pricing. We bought a Prius at the height of their popularity when waits here were 10 months long and they were going for $5k over sticker at some dealers and sticker at others, for MSRP and a wait of only 2 weeks just by driving 300 miles to get it. So, like monarch said look around. We also have a resident car broker from CA here on the site might wanna give him a ring, PM him his name is ronsadvice.

The 98 wheel WILL NOT fit in a 97, this has been tried several times. The hookups for the airbag are very different. You could buy a 98+ airbag but it would not function. Like Jim I love the look of the wood wheels, but for comfort after living with it for a few years I like the leather better too.

Why would you want to trade the perfect integration of XM in the nav screen and the perfect digital audio for an XM Commander with crappy FM modulated sound they put in Kias? On a $65,000 car the extra $400 to get a good integration of sound to match the ML audio you already paid for is worth it. Its worth the price of the Lexus unit, and any stereo shop can install it and probably will do a better job than Lexus. Thats like buying a $1500 Stereo reciever and hooking it up to 50 watt $99 speakers because you didn't want to pay for them. You've wasted the $1500.

Personally I would take a new Avalon over a used LS also, but I just prefer new cars. If I were capable of buying an LS430 new though, I certainly would not even consider an Avalon.

Personally I liked the flip key for about 5 days, then it got old. Its gimmickry IMHO and thats why most carmakers don't use them. I would certainly not trade remote functionality for one.

Yeah thats dirty, I always give my contact info happily and I actually hardly ever get hounded. I do definately agree, car sales is a very difficult job and you guys get a real raw deal from people when it comes to respect and honorable treatment. I personally having worked with dealers for several years think that 75% of the problems people have with car salesmen are problems they themselves create as consumers. I always negotiate a deal on a car that is fair for both sides, I give up some they give up some. I may have spent $500 more than the other guy, but now I have a relationship for life and I know I can always come back and get a good deal on another car, if I have service problems they'll help vs the other guy having nothing. In the long run, the $500 is worth it to turn a grading, demeaning process into a warm fuzzy.

The politicians can't get support for the bill because of the strong lobby of people that get rich over speeding tickets. Get this story. In DC we have speed cameras now that sense your speed, take a picture, and mail you a $50 ticket. They put them on light poles etc. Well, the company that developed this technology keeps 25% of all the revenue generated by them, which has been in the 9 digit range so far. There's a company that wouldn't be too happy if suddenly all roadways were raised to the 80th percentile speed, it woul cut 75% of their profit. Small towns and jurisdictions get a MAJOR chunk of their budgets from speed enforcement. The state of NJ for instance would have a huge hole in their budget if suddenly speed limits on the Turnpike were 75-80 vs 65. There are little towns on highways all over america that would have no capital if it wasn't for speed enforcement. Radar detector companies, talk about a HUGE business that wouldn't be around if suddenly everyone could drive the speeds they drive legally. So, like anything else the interests with the money have the power. There are several organizations that lobby for higher limits all over the country, and they've been SOMEWHAT successful, but not enough. They did get rid of the national 55 limit.

Honestly, I would never buy an Avalon over an LS, I wouldn't buy an Avalon over the ES either. It is a VERY nice car but it is not as solid or refined as a Lexus by any stretch of the imagination, and at least to me thats immediately apparent at the first seating. The Avalon may steal some ES330 buyers that aren't interested in the presitge of the nameplate but nobody's going to cross shop a brand new LS430 and an Avalon. My quess is 95% of buyers who are capable of shopping for a $70k car and have a desire to buy a $70k car (many people have the capacity but not the desire) won't even know the Avalon exists. The Avalon may have some of the LS' features, but a Lexus isn't about features. Its about quality, solidity, and luxury feel. The LS is FAR more luxurious than the Avalon. I've found with every other Lexus let alone a Toyota, they all feel like wonderful cars UNTIL you drive an LS. The LS is simply a higher caliber vehicle including my ES which I love, let alone an Avalon. Also remember that the LS and ES both get redesigned next year and the LS is going upmarket with a new longer wheelbase vehicle in the $80k price range. Any hope the Avalon may have of being legitimate competition for the LS is going to be very short lived.

Be very careful using a urethane remover from Home Depot, the paint on the car is urethane also. I'd start with something like 3M's Adhesive Remover as was already suggested/.

I'm sure its a leather wheel, does it have stitching. $600 is a lot to repair it with a "kit". You can replace the wheel for that.

www.lexus-parts.com