SW03ES

I don't understand why a recall makes you uneasy? They're fixing the problem. The time to be uneasy is when there are problems Lexus refuses to address. As for a $200 credit "for your trouble" I highly doubt that. For one thing they will pick up/drop off your LS and give you a loaner. I don't see how there is any trouble for them to compensate you for...

Its definately leather. If you have the modern, custom, or ultra cars most of the interior is actually leather.

I've driven both, the TL is nice but its not even close to as good a drivers car as a BMW. If you think it is then you're kidding yourself. I think Acura CAN make a great handling car, but the TL is not one by the very nature of it being FWD.

Don't be emberassed. When you spend as much as you do for maintenance, ask for a specific car. I always do. It varies here. Like someone says Lexus of Rockville recently raised their rate to $99 making them the most expensive Lexus dealer in the country. Lexus of Silver Spring is still $89, and I find they do better work. Silver Spring doesnt have IS loaners though like Rockville, only ES and RX.

I find the range readout on my ES is pretty much useless and not accurate. Like you the MPG and the size of the tank make the range (usually 280 after a fillup for me too) obviously false.

Mine rides great, very similar to the LS...

Aww, now people won't count ;)

My mother had a VW, and it was a complete mess and VW was no help. They were so rude it made my father and I swear we'd never buy VW products again, ever. It was that bad.

But the one main problem is its a Volkswagen. Not the greatest reliability and some of the worst service in the industry. Thats the great thing about the Infiniti FX, great styling, sporty handling, carlike ride, good reliability, AND great service from Infiniti. Plus, no one who buys a vehicle like that is going to use it offroad anyways, even if they think they will.

Sales of the LX470 have been pathetic since the debut of the GX. Some dealers no longer stock them. Nicest SUV on the road or not, they have to do something and larger is where they need to go.

The goal for the hybrid version is 2010 ;) The scuttlebut is that the next LX470 will indeed be built on the Sequoia platform and will be built at the new RX330 plant in Canada (The RX330s are made in Canada now also) or here in the US alongside the Sequoia. I'm hoping it will be Canada... The problem with the current LX is that the Land Cruiser platform isn't big enough to make the LX stand out from the GX, the two are too similar in size. The Land Cruiser is slated to be axed as well.

It sounds to me like you were looking for reasons to get out of that GX470 ;) Basically what everyone else has said, its a truck. I drove a truck based SUV for years, a 97 Explorer Limited. Really a nice truck with air suspension, all the bells and whistles but it could not deny its soul and heritage, its a truck and so is the GX. I'll never buy another truck based SUV again for that very reason, I don't drive it offroad or need maximum ground clearance, and I like the ride of my sedan. If I were going to buy buying an SUV for me to drive myself right now I would buy an Infiniti FX35. if I were going to buy something for trips or for carting kids or for my fiance to drive, I'd buy an RX330. I'd never buy a GX470 because it is just that, a truck. I've driven it and its nice, but its a nice truck. Now when you get into REAL heavy truck based SUVs like Navigators, LX470s, and Tahoes/Suburbans then their awesome weight helps smooth out some of the trucky feel. Truck based SUVs in that weight and size class though, GX470, Explorer, 4Runner all suffer from a truck based frame and not a lot of weight. I would buy an LX470 or a Navigator because of this, but not a GX. Glad you got into something you're happy with though.

The RX is not at all designed to be taken offroad lol

I feel like I'm 53, but I'm actually (no, you'll have to count the I's)

I'm this many ;) IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I like making people figure out my age, one way or another.

The Bridgestone is a crappy tire, thats what I had on mine until last month when I got the Toyo TPTs. Loud, hard, low treadwear, horrible in the rain. Go to www.tirerack.com and look at the reviews of the MXV4 and the Potenza RE92 (thats what you'd get), its no contest. Definately get the Michelins. Stick to your guns about the spare, it should be covered under the warranty without question. The dealer isn't paying for the tires so don't let them play that game, Lexus is paying the dealer for them, thats how warranty works. They're selling you 4 tires, you and Lexus are just splitting the cost.

I've not tested the Pioneer vs Nak at speed but I get loaner ES' all the time with the standard pioneer system, I can DEFINATELY tell the difference in the sound quality, even when driving around, between them and my ES with Mark Levinson. The standard system sounds much flatter, has much less range and depth of sound. It also depends on what you listen to, the Nak and ML systems are more tuned to instrumental and classical music where the pioneer is more tuned for rock and roll. In all honesty if I were buying a new one I would pick the stereo but when buying used I wouldn't limit my choices because of the stereo. For a small amount of $$ you can do discreet upgrades to the Pioneer unit so it will sound just as good, or better, than the Nak. Niether the stereo nor the chrome wheels are worth limiting your choices as both can be dealt with after the sale. I'd concentrate on getting a well maintained Platinum with low miles in the color you want and not worry so much about the stereo. I know when I was shopping for CPO LS' the stereo really limited the selection.

Michelins no question. The Bridgestones that come on the ES (which I'm sure those are) are horrible tires.

I gotcha! So if you're looking for the new Lexus ride I'd stay with the OEM struts. I know what you mean, the Lexus rides smooth but not floaty like a Lincoln or Cadillac. By 60k I don't think the shocks would have worn that much to produce that different a ride...

Gotta service it at the dealer too right?

There is a HUGE price difference between the TL and a brand new 545i LOL, like $20,000 at least. Hardly a few grand more ;) Really the only way to know for sure is to try em all out back to back. I personally would get the TL because I prefer new cars, but that would probably be the only reason.

No, you cannot get the nav with the nak. Thats why Lexus changed to Mark Levinson for their premium stereo, Nakamichi refused to allow their system to be routed through a navigation screen. It is also impossible to make the 98-00 nav play a DVD as its a hard drive based system, not a DVD system like the newer cars. You'd have to hook up a DVD player somewhere and add a TV tuner. I wouldn't get too tangled up in the specs, its all in the sound. To me, and to most everyone I've talked to the Nakamichi sounds better. In fact it won a compero a while back in Car and Driver where they had Pavarotti or something testing car stereos lol. I also wouldn't hold out for chrome wheels. Lexus doesn't usually ship their cars with chrome wheels on the east coast. Aftermarket chrome is easy enough to do.

You should have gotten way more than $1500 off your 04. My dad got $3000 off his 04 right after they came out, but he's a salesman and has a habit of making car salesmen cry lol. Honestly Mike, I'd buy an 04...

I don't know, I would expect the ballasts before the bulbs. HID bulbs last a really long time as they have no filament, they're supposed to outlive the car.

Did the GS you drove have the 17 inch wheels? The GS doesn't at all ride hard, it just rides slightly firmer. At 60k the struts are going to be worn, replacement shouldn't be totally neccisary but it won't hurt.