SW03ES

Verizon will never fix this. If you want to know why check out my posts in the cell phone thread in the General Discussion forum and the LS forum. Basically Verizon disabled the file transfer Bluetooth protocol to make people use their pay per use service like PixPlace to transfer files. In the crossfire they disabled the ringer, signal stregnth and the ability to transfer phonebook entries. Search the Internet for "V710 AND Bluetooth" they even had a pot going to see if someone could reprogram the phone to allow file transfer, no go. Only way to fix this is to buy a phone from Cingular or T Mobile. Both Verizon and Sprint have decided for you that Bluetooth should not be used to transfer files.

Sometimes Lexus does that. See you're not ORDERING a car, you're just selecting from certain ways they build the cars. Think about it, they can't build AND ship a car in 2-3 weeks, you're just selecting from many different cars already built and the dealer is allocating a similar car to their inventory. For whatever reason Lexus only builds cars certain ways, for instance you cant get the ML audio without the navigation system even though it LOOKS like you can, they don't make certain color combinations etc.

There are also instances of wear that come with age and not mileage, corrosion, drying out of seals and bushings etc. I would pay $4000 for a 2 year newer car with that equipment. Also be sure that the car has the wood wheel (i.e. have you seen it) because if it does it was added aftermarket. The wood wheel/shifter came with the HID lights in 98. Door panel is grey? Thats strange. Can we see pictures?

I have had horrible snow experiences with my Proxes TPTs. Great tires in all other respects though, makes a car dangerous in the snow.

Believe it or not, the ES did not have standard leather until 2004!

I personally don't see the similarities in the new GS and the Avalon.

As long as you don't drive around with it "off" then you wont have any problems with odors.

But the system is still on. Thats the difference.

Thats your opinion, I don't share it. I've driven this car for over 40,000 miles and I know how to drive it smoothly and safely.

You mean VSC? The button is on the dash beneath the ignition. Its not plainly visible its kind of like the trunk and fuel door buttons. Thats not going to make a difference though. There was a transmission reflash that came out, my ES has it by virtue that it came with it built in, yours may not have it. That may make a difference. I think most of your problem is that you have to be smooth when going to wide open throttle on this car otherwise it will hesitate before it downshifts. You can't go from 1/4 to full, you've got to ease into it. You'll actually find that it doesn't slow your ability to accelerate at all.

I hate them, and thats really saying something as I tend to give companies the benefit of the doubt in situations like this. I don't think I've ever disliked a company as much as I hate Verizon. I think I explained it further up in the thread...but its a long thread lol. Right now the US is pretty much the only country that still allows the blacklisting of ESNs. An ESN is a phone's particular signature, its VIN to use an example. Ever wonder why if you switch from Sprint to Verizon you have to buy new phones? Even when Sprint and Verizon operate on the same frequencies? There is no reason a Sprint phone wont work on Verizon and a Verizon phone won't work on Sprint. Its because each company blacklists the ESNs that are assigned to the other company to force you to purchase phones from them. Thats also why Verizon and Sprint get away with disabling all of these features to force you to use their pay per use services, because you have to buy the phone from them and they can do whatever they want to it. You'll buy it because you have to pay $175 a line to cancel your service. Look around on ebay or on Cell forums, they have info on how to trick Verizon and Sprint into activating each others phones all the time. The GSM carriers like Cingular and T-Mobile aren't really like that because of their background being from countries where this practice is not legal. In other countries buying a cell phone is like buying a normal landline phone. You buy what you want and plug it in. There is a bill before congress to make blacklisting ESNs illegal because it gives the cell carriers too much control over their customers. I expect it to pass just like number portability did. When that happens companies like Verizon and Sprint that think their crap doesn't smell will have to sit up and play nice. You're too young to remember, I almost am, but it used to be that way with telephones too. C&P and Bell telephone cos wouldn't let you plug just any old phone into their system, you had to buy the phone from them. They were so expensive you used to have to rent them like cable boxes. I remember as a kid standing in line with my mom to turn in old phones and get new ones at the AT&T store. That ended when the government broke up the Bell monopoly. Ever wonder what company still exists from the breakup of that monopoly? Verizon. Oh yes, because you haven't had a problem yet. Its a whole nother group of people that "help" you when you have a problem, and they are niether friendly nor helpful. I know people who have actually been cussed out over the phone by Verizon reps. Search the web, some people have these conversations saved for you to listen to or transcripts for you to read. The Verizon hate squad is strong... I wish I had the courage to do that LOL. My fiance's cousin and her husband who we're really close to don't have cell phones because they know once they have one they could never give it up.

If you don't keep the system on at all times you will get a mold smell, its not designed to be shut off. I just leave mine on and adjust the temperature, never been uncomfortable. As for the transmission lag premium fuel isn't going to help. If you take the time to learn how to drive the car smoothly it becomes a moot issue.

Like I told you in PM if TireRack doesn't carry them its likely they don't come in that size.

I have driven right there dozens of times and have never experienced that sort of hesitation. Long enough to stab the pedal? Its a split second kind of thing. Has your 02 had the transmission update flash?

Let me give you an overview of what that size means. First of all, do you have the 16 or the 17 inch wheels? If you have the 17" wheels the stock size is: 225/55/17 If you have the 16s the size is: 225/60/16 Now I'll break down what that size means 225(width of the tread in mm)/60(height of the tire from inner bead to top of tread in mm)/16(size of the opening for the wheel). You may see R's (meaning radial, sometimes its there sometimes not) and another letter, H, V, Z etc. That is the speed rating. Don't buy anything lower than an H speed rating which is rated for 131 MPH. Now, you can play around with the width of the tire a little, but not the height or the wheel size.

The gov't only requires 2MPH now.

I dont think the 330s come without HIDs. Theres more to HIDs than bulbs anyways...

It is fun LOL. We scared the hell out of a group of girls in a parking garage right after we got the prius.

My guess is because there are less 2000 models than 99 or 98. They only made 2000s for half the year, so negative reports are going to have more of an impact over the total score. Its 100% the same car as the 98 and 99, I wouldnt worry.

Parts for these cars are SO expensive, I'd only buy one CPO.

Oh okay, yeah the non remote master keys are about $50.

They are, but no moreso than the BMW he has now. Actually significantly less so, BMWs are VERY maintenance intensive. Be sure to get whatever you choose looked at by a dealership, a DEALERSHIP to make sure its A-okay. They can print out the service history for you while you're there.

Thats a VERY good question. I think its because of the service, most people never have contact with the SUPPORT side of Verizon. The phone service is good, no doubt about that, but the customer service is the worst of any company I've dealt with. Do something fun, go into a big Verizon store (one that does equipment service) and just sit there for 30 minutes. Never in my life have I seen SO many unhappy and frustrated people. I've been to 5 different stores trying to get my phone replaced and I did not find one where at least one person wasn't ranting and raving about how horrible Verizon is. In fact, I had long conversations with a lot of them an got some insight into why. 1. Omnipitance. Everyone at Verizon be it in a store or in their help department over the phone is content in their complacency, they have the attitude of Benz and BMW dealers, that you should be honored to have their very great and wonderful service and because of that, they don't have to work for you as a customer. I have not found one person who would help me happily and finally got what I wanted (a new phone to replace my defective one) after a 2 hour wait in the store because I made a huge scene in front of the manager on a particularly busy sales day. He caved to what I want to protect his business, not because he or Verizon felt any need to stand by the products they sell. 2. Lack of appreciation for their customers. Never have I encountered a company that has NO interest in keeping my business. I've had Sprint and Cingular before and had problems with each, but both problems were solved over the phone because I threatened to pull my service and they wanted to keep me. Did the same thing with Verizon, I got "Okay". 3. Unethical business practices and price gouging their customers. Deactivating the bluetooth features on their phones that make Bluetooth what it is, and cause the phones not to work in built in Bluetooth systems which is why many people buy them, and not being upfront about that at the point of sale is not only a poor business practice, it is illegal. It is misrepresentation. It speaks too much of their history as being the Bell subsidiaries where they used to gouge people for their phone service. I will be thrilled when the government takes the final blow at these scumbags and makes blacklisting ESNs illegal. They will. 4. Ignorant systems of dealing with customers in store. I've had Sprint and Cingular, and had equipment problems with each. Sprint will take your phone back real quick while you wait and diagnose it, Cingular doesn't ask any questions and just replaces it, Verizon thinks its a Buick and makes you leave it all day. Thats unnaceptable. The reason people pay for cell phones is because they need to be in contact. I'm self employed, leaving my phone for an entire day is simply suicide, I can't work. Best part is, they may or may not fix it after all that time. I told them I was having a power problem I diagnosed myself to the battery. Well they keep it for 4 hours and "we cleaned the charging ports, here". I'm like, well thats not going to help the problem of the phone cutting off randomly is it? He's like "no, but we dont have any batteries". So, I caused a scene and forced the manager to give me a new one out of the box. This was the 5th time I had tried to have this phone fixed mind you, at 5 seperate locations. Some stories. One woman was having her phone replaced because it was submerged in water through her insurance. They bring her out the new phone but it has an old scratched up battery attatched to it. She asks why. The guy says "We don't replace the batteries, only the phone" well, the phone was submerged in water and the battery doesn't function. She had to pay $50 for a new battery, plus the $50 deductible on the insurance, its like she said she could have bought a new phone. One woman bought a new PDA phone and someone called her to tell her they could transfer her phonebook for her. She got there after rushing from work early only to hear theres no such thing, no idea why someone called her. She asked if someone could show her how to use some features, nobody could. So she left with her $600 phone no one can show her how to use. One man put his daughter's phone in for service and they updated it without telling him, and it erased all her pictures AND destroyed the phone. Being 14 she was very upset. The manager of the store was not helpful or remorseful at all, he called Verizon online service and niether were they, he cancelled his service and went down to Sprint. Its really unbelievable. I've never seen so many furious people in one place at one time as inside a Verizon store. How they sell any phones next to people ranting and raving is beyond me. Horrible, horrible company. Just because they have good service doesn't give them the right to treat their customers like garbage. The service is good, but no better than Sprint and not a LOT better than Cingular. Sprint has deactivated bluetooth functions too so I guess Cingular is it.

And because they're ugly. ;)

How do you like your Treo?