SW03ES

If styling is your main concern than the 98-00 LS is definately the winner over the 01-03 LS430. BUT, the LS430 is bigger, its slightly better on gas, it has more gadgetry features and has many more availiable (rear seat functions, cooled seats, sunshades, laser cruise, ultrasonic parking assist) has better nav is you're interested in nav (the nav on the 98-00 isn't worth getting as it can no longer be updated) has the availiability of premium audio with nav, and has a MUCH larger trunk (the trunk in the LS400 is pathetic whereas the trunk in the LS430 is quite big due to them moving the gas tank). I would drive them both and decide what features matter the most for you. If you want the best of both worlds spring for an 04 LS430 ;)

BMWs have their problems also, but nothing like a Benz.

The only real changes motorwise between the 400 and the 430 is that the 430 is an ULEV, an ultra low emissions vehicle. The changes in the motor were to accomplish that and to improve fuel economy, theres no performance or power change. In fact the 430 LOST the E-Shift option the 400 has because of this ULEV rating. Other than that the changes on the 430 are: Slightly different headlamps (green tinted plastic thats all) Slightly different grille with wider slats New 16 inch wheels and in 2004 new 17 inch wheels Some new interior trim colors, for instance the bezel around the guages is graphite on the 430 and interior colored on the 400 A new Steering wheel with standard wood/leather applique Mark Levinson Audio option vs Nakamichi on the 400 Gen 2 nav system which is the DVD system with a larger screen and more updating options at lower cost. The nav on the 400 has a smaller screen and is hard drive based so its updating ability is small. New taillights Thats about it. Obviously if you're going to keep the car a long time you want to get the newest one you can afford but there's no REAL reason to get the 430 over the 400.

There you go! And you have driven a fancy car before, you've driven your LS. Honestly, the LS is a very nice and well respected automobile that is elegant without being austentatious or showy. THATS why I like it. People who truly recognize quality respect it as that. The rest of em, why worry what they think? Its really sad but the old line "You just can't have nice things" is very true. I've never had any vandalism done to my Lexus (knock on wood) but I had drinks poured on my previous Explorer, it was egged, and my dad's old 98 LS was keyed once and egged. We live in the richest area in the country, especially where my parents live, so its not like these cars were out of the ordinary or even close to the top eschelon. People are nasty, probably not the majority but the minority (especially kids) are very loud and active. Its just not worth driving something really over the top fancy and have to worry about leaving it places. ESPECIALLY if you keep it clean and nice because they know it has value to you.

I decided I'd help him leave.

But you're not going to get any response in the S Class either. I've driven all kinds of luxury cars, people don't care what you drive and why should they? I don't need nor do I want people going "Wow" at my car, it makes me go "wow" and thats all I'm interested in. I've gotten several comments on my car at gas stations and in parking lots mostly because of the nice finish, they're appreciated but I would keep the car nice even without their appreciation because I do it for me. Having a car that people lust over just invites road rage and vandalism. You'd need a Rolls Royce for what you're looking for, even them around here draw almost zero attention. Around here the S classes are much more common than LS430s (I see maybe 10 a day) and I get that kind of response when I tell people I drive a "Lexus". You're overestimating the interest level of people that are not into cars, to most people a "Lexus" and a "Mercedes" are synonomous. When they see a car on the road they don't know, and don't care, what kind of car it is and don't even process. I realized this with my fiancee, if we play "what kind of car is that" she'd have no idea "a grey one". Guessing costs she thought a Kia was a more expensive car on sight than a BMW. Having lived with me for 3 years she knows more now, but thats how most people are. Why buy things to impress others? If you live your life to do that and only to quest for things to make you appear wealthy when you're not you'll wake up one day, penniless, saying "why did I do that?". Why do you care? They don't. Walking around thinking everyone cares enough about you to be impressed because you can drive a 5 year old Mercedes is really kinda sad to be honest, because its all in your head. They don't care, trust me. If you buy the Benz, buy it for you because it makes you feel good, not because you think others will be impressed by it. You're thinking because they impress you and draw your interest that its the same for everybody and its not, thats actually a psychological phenomena its a cognitive bias called "illusion of unanimity" or the incorrect assumption that everyone feels as you feel. *AND* Women don't care what you drive, at least no woman you would want to be with. They'll be impressed by your Mercedes until some guy with a newer better Mercedes comes along, WITH the wealth she was expecting when she met you, then you'll be history. I'm not telling you not to buy the Mercedes, I'm telling you don't spend the money to get some sort of response or to make passers by double take like you're a rap star, that won't happen. If thats your ONLY reason to buy the S over the LS, then buy the LS and go on a $4,000 vacation with someone you care about. Live your life for you. I make almost twice what you make a year and I bought my ES rather than a 2-3 year old LS or an S class (I looked at them) because of not wanting to pay for the maintenance those cars require, I'm young like you are and I have things I want to do that are more important than making 5% of the population jealous of me. I could have afforded it, I could havce afforded a new LS or S class probably but thats not what I chose, I chose to be able to have fun AND drive a car that makes me happy.

Buy an LS, 93+. The ES of that generation have an oil sludge issue, if the oil changes were not performed perfectly (and its rare to find one with perfect records) then the engine oil could be sludged in a lot of cases neccesitating engine replacement. The LS has no such concern. But bear in mind that the parts for the LS and the maintenance are more expensive. Stay away from the air suspension in the LS.

Yeah I've never seen an ES or RX with cloth.

HRP, thats exactly how my dad felt when he got his first LS in 98, coming of Cadillacs he felt it was the first real car he'd ever owned. BUT, not everyone's situations are the same. If you've got the money and thats what you want, go for it. My only advice would be to get into a cheaper car if having the RX is going to create a financial burden for maintenance or payments etc. A car isn't worth having financial burdens in your HS/College years. I watched too many friends miss out on all the fun the rest of us were having because their BMW payment was due or their Audi needed struts. Its not worth it, you've got plenty of years to drive a Lexus when the financial burden won't be as destructive. BUT if you've got the bucks and its not going to cut down on your ability to have fun, why not?

I got a nav update DVD for Christmas from my mom lol Mom's are great ;) There was a big warning that if you have the older variety nav it can only be updated to a certain point, that Sep. 03 version may be the point.

Lexus sells a tuner they designed themselves, there is no way to get the same integration through the LS' nav screen nor the direct CD quality sound interface (Lexus uses a special plug and there is no adapter) through somewhere like Circuit City. If you want these features (I think it would be a shame to drop 60 large on a car and then cheap out over the satellite radio, as someone who has NON integrated satellite radio and a car that cost half what yours did, if I had the opportunity to pay Lexus $1000 to have the unit integrated into the nav screen I would have) then the cheapest way to go is to order the module online from a Lexus parts wholesaler (~$300) and then have a local stereo shop install it. (Note: Circuit City does NOT count and they have no buisness tearing apart the interior on a Lexus). You can get something from Circuit City for $100 but its going to have a seperate controller mounted somewhere on the dash and its going to be FM modulated (sound quality about 1/2 as clear).

Don't buy a 2000 model, whatever you do. The 2000 model was the first year of the redesigned body S Class and they are WROUGHT with problems, poor quality interior materials that crack and snap, body rigidity problems leading to creaks and rattles. Recalls and electrical problems. I would not even consider buying a S class unless it were at least a 2002, the first year they began to address some of those concerns. I really don't see the desire to own a Mercedes, a BMW sure but not a Mercedes. Mercedes is totally a poseur car, all show and no substance. Cheap interior fittings, poor reliability, snotty support. For your money you get the look, and while that might be fun for a while its ultimately going to be unfulfilling as those kind of things usually are. With a Lexus you get prestige and style and the engineering and quality to back it up, with the BMW you get prestige and style and the awesome performance, with a Benz you get....prestige and style thats it. It ultimately comes down to whats important to you, if style and outward appearance are all that matters to you then the Benz is the ultimate car.

Merry Christmas!

The 5000s are pretty good tires, the issue is that Dunlops wear quickly and are prone to uneven wear that causes vibrations. If the vibrations come back after the next rotation you might want to get them replaced. I have Toyo Proxes TPT tires on mine and like them but Michelin just revamped their venerable MXV4 line and they're supposed to be great. An RX330 loaner I had came with them and they were nice and smooth and quiet. They're expensive though.

You too!

The "master key" refers to your already programmed master key, and "key" refers to the new key.

I think thats a difference on the 05, I had an 05 RX as a loaner last week and noticed that you now must always hit text. Its probably some safety BS. As for the CBES settings (thats what you mean when the dealer has to program it) SOME things can be programmed yourself through a complicated series of movements (hit door locks twice, put key in 5 times, jump up and down like a chicken etc) but Lexus felt that it would be "better" customer service if they handled all of that themselves. Its free for the first year, you can get a printout of all the changes that can be made on here somewhere (you'll have to search) and they can do it in 5 minutes when the car goes in for its 30 day check. Welcome to the LOC and have a Merry Christmas ;)

For some reason all dealerships vary when it comes to the XM price. When my dad got his 04 our dealer charged him $700 to put it in. I've heard $500 and I've heard $1500. If you've got other dealers in your area you may want to shop it. It really isn't anything a good stereo shop, or even you could do.

Yeah at $750, I think it looks great like it is :D I am ordering that chrome strip for above the license plate, $97 painted.

I do like the new tails the more I see them, I've even considered upgrading but they're really expensive. The only parts of the redesign I don't like are the grille and the wheels.

Welcome to the LOC!

For $1850 thats totally unnaceptable, they should have replaced the door skin. They don't even have to replace the whole door, they can buy and weld in a new outer skin! Like everybody said buffing won't help. Just for fun though have em hit your hood with the buffer and see what happens ;)

If its still within the warranty they should...

Why do the new lights make a difference in what color to get? They're not all that different... Like you said, its all opinion but I think the ES is one of the best looking sedans on the road...

Thats the one that should become the GS and LS hybrids, V12 performance with V6 gas mileage ;)