SW03ES

Yeah Lexus generally doesn't like to do this. It has to do with too many lights directly around the driver's sightline being disctracting at night. I've never seen a car that had illuminated multifuntion stalks.

Actually the UL package doesn't include the 18 inch wheels, that comes with the modern luxury package and sport suspension. For 2005 all option packages will include the 18s, Custom and Ultra both.

Link removed, and banned.

There ya go, lookin good! I still think those first generation wheels were the best looking ones Lexus ever made. Lexus doesn't do wheels well generally lol.

Download the free image optimizer from www.xat.com with that you can cut the photo down to the proper size ;) Good to see you again!

Like Matt said the detailing store is a great place to start. We have a lot of the products and tools you're looking for and sales from there help to support the site. There are also several very important articles for you to read. You CAN go into stores like Pepboys and they should have the basics like Meg's #9 they should have Scratch X, some good soaps, decent MF towels and sponges and mitts, NXT Tech wax and products like that. If you REALLY want to do it right though you need to buy the products online, and a great place to do that is our detailing store. The best quality products and MF towels are simply only availiable online. Like I said in the article you quoted when you're working by hand you really want to concentrate on hiding the imperfections not removing them. Have you thought about maybe getting a Porter Cable buffer? They're very safe and can give you far better results than you'll be able to achieve by hand. If you have a significant swirl problem you can always try and find a good detailer who can remove them for you. You can pay them to simply remove the swirls that are there with a machine and you can do the rest. Most detailers would only charge you $60 or so for this and it might give you a better place to start.

My dad has an 04 LS Ultra Luxury package. The ride is great, this is the best riding car on the road no question. The GS and ES Lexus sedans ride very well also, but somehow the LS just always seems that little bit more refined in everything that it does. There's not a harsh note or a rough edge on them. Totally silent at speed, but all Lexuses are more or less that way. In ride and quietness I'd rank the cars LS-ES-SC-GS. So since you liked the ride of the GS, you'll love the ride of the LS. The fit and finish is equally perfect, the UL package with the black interior has a very unique antiqued wood that has a darker stain towards the edges, like stain buildup on antique furnature, very cool. The power is seemless and completely smooth. The LS is just all around a wonderful, wonderful car. My ES is a wonderful car too, but its not an LS. As for the UL package, well I don't know that I would buy it. 90% of the features of the UL car are in the rear seat. Power/heated/massage/memory rear seats, rear seat controls of audio and climate, and a refrigerator between the rear seats. He hauls around a lot of clients to lunches and to play golf so the rear seat goodies are really worth it for him, but I really don't so I wouldn't bother. The UL package also has the air suspension but I can't really tell a difference in the ride with or without this, and its super expensive to repair down the line so I'd pass. The Custom Luxury car is about $5,000 cheaper and it includes all of the UL goodies like the analine leather, the special wood, the extended leather coverings on the dash and door panels, the heated/cooled seats, nav/Levinson, smart access, laser/radar cruise control, parking assist, sunshades it just skips the power memory massage rear seats, the rear seat climate and audio controls, fridge, and the air suspension. So if you don't carry passengers a lot or don't care if they have those things save yourself the $5k and the hassle of the air suspension down the road.

99- Sure, but I have a feeling that he won't have these problems again. They will make a note in his file that he is: 1. Anal about his car 2. Doesn't like a wash 3. Likes to be kept in touch 4. Is a great guy to deal with when these guidelines are followed They'll be fine from here on out. I've seen my own file at the Lexus dealer lol. They washed it last time by accident and they were so sorry, credited me back $150 to have it re-detailed again in case the wash guy scratched it (which he did, but not very severely).

The plastic will definately haze quickly if you don't keep them protected, but I don't think this is what Josh's problem is. I think he was discussing brittle interior parts of the lamps. You CAN wax them to protect them, but using something that is designed to protect plastic and has UV inhibitory properties will work even better. I'm sure the PlastX has these, as does Plexus which is what I use.

I can't confirm that but the dealer can give you the radio code pretty easy. Swapping the wheel and re-using the same airbag will be very easy. Just make sure you have the proper steering wheel wrench tool and the proper tools for the two bolts that hold in the bag. Make sure the old wheel is centered before you remove it, mark all the connections coming off the wheel and you should be fine.

I think if you let your experience with a 15 year old car with getting on 300,000 miles make the Lexus name disgust you you're going to be impossiblle to please. That car has lived its life...

LOL I enjoyed that. I always have wondered why Lexus didn't design the nav system so that when the passenger seat occupation sensor that activates the pass. airbags shows someone is in the passenger seat the functions still work.

Yep, I told ya, let your feeling be known and thats the true test. They earned your business for life.

I have no problem with the car, its the mentality of a lot of the owners and dealers. Its the "i'm better than you" or "our car is so wonderful that we can treat you like *BLEEP* and you'll still buy it" mentality of the dealers. Lexus owners and dealers don't have that. That can be seen by the forums, look at Lexus forums then look at MB forums, the MB forums are full of people just sitting around and downing other cars and the people who own them. You don't see that here. One reason for that is we, I in particular, don't allow that but in all honesty we rarely have to stop anyone, Lexus owners just on the whole don't do that. As for the Maybachs, I agree they're cool but I don't think they have the same road presence as something like a Bentley or Rolls. I saw one on the highway the other day (barreling down at 100MPH weaving in and out of traffic, what a boob) and it didn't strike me as anything really expensive. You have to know what a Maybach is to know that its something really special, to most people it just looks like an S class Benz which are everywhere, not the $350,000 supercar it is. I have also sat in a Maybach at the dealer and they are unreal inside, gorgeous gorgeous car. A Rolls or a Bentley however everyone can recognize. Maybach's best left to those that want to remain inconspicuous I think.

LOL LOL as to the Mercedes dealer being arrogant I remember when I was helping my dad choose the replacement for his 98 LS400 we went to the Benz dealer, we were walking up the steps and has just reached the door when one of the salesmen jumped in front of him, snatched the door handle out of his grasp, jumped inside and slammed the door right in his face. This man makes $400,000 a year and was shopping for a $90,000 S500 and the salesman just totally stepped on his head. We were both coming from work dressed in suits, got out of an older Lexus, you know prime "we're here to buy a car" people. It was unbelievable, why would anyone buy a car from these people? He went back to the Lexus dealer after that one.

SRK- LOL, yeah its funny. I'll take my characterless Lexus any day. Hey, whatever makes them sleep at night right? I can understand the MG, thats a cool little car but I don't get why people are so in love with Mercedes. Even BMW has the awesome handling and teutonic feel, but Mercedes doesn't seem to me to have anything to offer but the hood ornament.

Congrats on the wedding!

The Lexus products (Zymol) are good, but not as good as Lexol. I think the issue is that the conditioner is creme based and doesn't soak in as well.

All of those things are because of the truck vs sedan platform.

IMHO selling the car isn't worth the hassle. You make more, but you have to get the car inspected and you have to let people test drive it, you have to apply for their temporary tag, you have to deal with their financing. Its a huge PITA. You have to decide if the POTENTIAL added money is worth not only your time but the weeks and months it may take to sell the car.

The $500 deposit is customary, I put one down on my car. They view it as a downpayment on the car and reduce the final price of the car by that amount or they will credit it back to you, your choice. Its "good faith" money and they will also refund it if you decide not to buy.

Hopefully it should work out like you hope. You made the right decision by not letting them detail it, dealerships do horrible detailing jobs. I never even let them wash mine. Still they made the offer and that was worth something. It sounds like they should be open to your comments.

On any other car its called "crap" on a Mercedes or BMW, its called "character" ;)

For look? Jet black. For ease? Metallic black. The metallic helps to hide a lot of little imperfections and swirls that jet black actually magnifies.

They looked good though! Have you thought about maybe the 17s from the 05?