SW03ES

I don't like foaming sprays because they get everywhere. The only glass cleaner I've ever found worth using is EagleOne 20/20 with newspaper or a glass MF.

Should be, but thats hard when they're 100 miles away.

I would actually look at www.wooddash.com as their kits retain all the factory writing that is on the radio face. As for the wood/leather cover, I wouldn't. Those covers look cheap in person. If you like the look of wood/leather I'd suggest a real upgrade from www.americanstitches.com

Glad they stepped up to the plate and took care of it!

I just went over all her posts, and didnt see her say anything about having difficulty turning the wheel or the car leaning to the left...

Oh sure, you'll always make more selling it yourself.

Same here...

Marv, Rear sensor, as in rear backup assist? That must have been a dealer add on, the ES doesn't come with sonar backup assist.

You'd think so, but for some reason 1-2 PSI low REALLY makes the car ride poorly. Mine were down to 28 and I just aired them up to 31 where I keep them and the car rides SO much smoother and quieter. Its like night and day. Try airing them up to 31 when cold (33-34 when warm) and see how that works. Its only air, it can always be taken right back out. I think it will make all the difference. All day today I was like "Wow, its such a difference". See thats the thing about Lexus' vs more "American" cars like Lincolns, Buicks, and even Avalons (which are built to be a "Japanese Buick") everyone thinks these cars are so softly sprung, but they're really not, the suspensions are pretty firm. A LOT of the ride comes from the bushings, isolation mounts, and the tires. Thats why Lexuses are smooth without being boaty or floaty like a Lincoln, Buick, or Avalon. Those cars get their softness from the springs, not the bushings and tires. On a Lincoln or your old Avalon you culd put any old tire on there and the PSI didn't matter, it would always ride the same. Not so on a Lexus, it needs really good tires, balanced aired and aligned JUST RIGHT to get the perfect ride. One hair out of alignment, balance, or 1 PSI low and it will ride very differently. Trust me, I've put 20,000 miles on this car I know how she rides best ;) I also think it would be premature to back out of the deal. I really think its a simple tire or alignment problem. If you were anywhere near me you could drive mine for comparison, it rides great at any speed, its so smooth its hard to imagine that the wheels are actually turning underneath the car. Any shimmy, vibration, or shudder is 100% abnormal, and usually its something really simple that wouldn't effect another type of car nearly as much.

Used to be the only people that made this was "Tornado", I guess their patent ran out. Its useless ;)

Hi guys, I'm Steve and I'm here to be the facillitator of our detailing forum here at the Lexus Owners Club. I have a lot of background in detailing, I've been doing it as a hobby for the past 10 years or so. Detailing is a great hobby, and a great way to either make a few extra bucks or even a living. I know my stuff but I'm by no means an expert, so please feel free to bring up new topics or to disagree/challenge anything I or anyone else may lay on the table in here for discussion. This forum is for discussing the matter of Automotive Detailing. Detailing is a highly specialized field. It is not a difficult activity but there is a learning curve involved. A line I like to use is "Detailing is 10% products and 90% process". I can't take ownership of those words but they are very true. When you start out detailing you're looking for the ultimate product but you'll quickly learn that it doesn't exist. There are many excellent products out there, but your prepwork beforehand will make the result either good or great. Beware the lure of the "ultimate product" and never take anyone's experience as fact. The best part about detailing is discovering new products and new techniques. So I would ask that everyone be open to new ideas, avoid pushing products and allow people to make up their own minds, be supportive of each other and everything will be fine. Thanks so much, welcome to the Detailing forum at the Lexus Owners Club!

I've not tried it but I know people who have, it gets mixed reviews. The people that dislike it say the soap doesn't lather enough and that the water pressure is way too low. I've also heard it leaves a film. I don't plan on trying it, I use a product called Protect All Quick and Easy Wash that really saves me time. Mix it up with a gallon of water, use it to wash the car with a microfiber mitt, and then dry. No hose, really saves time, can do it anywhere. You also might want to look into a California Water Blade and a Waffle Weave MF towel.

Regular washing and being parked out of the elements will keep it slick and beading, but the Zaino has long since lost its protective abilities. The Z car wash has some polymers in it that can cause the paint to bead, but they dont offer any real protection to speak of. 6 months is about the life for any product. 6 months and you're doing really well.

The front end of all Lexuses is really low, especially the LS. Slow is key.

Hey, you sprung for them! They look great!

Take the KBB at the "fair" condition rating and strive for that. Expecting anything more on trade isn't realistic.

The entire body was new in 95, no body parts are shared between the 90-94 and the 95-97.

No doubt about it, this guy's story is total fiction. The LS500h if and when it is produced should be better performing, but what you have to realize is that they're going to have to use a much smaller V8, 3 liters or so to make it fit with the electric motor. Plus the electric motor isn't going to be kicking out 200hp. Lexus has said again and again they're not interested in competing in the HP wars, nothing has made me question that either. Lexus sales are up 20% again this year so somethings going right. A 350-375hp LS500h would be more realistic. The current LS is 290hp, the new GS3 is supposed to be in the neighborhood of 250 so the V8 will have to move up somewhat. My guess is 320 for the new GS430. So the hybrids would have an extra 50 or so HP and maybe 30mpg. Lexus goal is by 2010 to have a hybrid version of every model. And the Lexus in minority report was almost certainly not a gas engine, my guess is hydrogen fuel cell based on the way it was laid out.

I know two great detailers in Texas, I'll double check their locations and get back to you. I would charge you $200 or so for a full detail though, and they will too (or more).

After 2 1/2 years the Zaino is definately long gone ;)

Michelin is a great tire, I have them on my Explorer (mine never had Firestones ;) ) but they're SO expensive and I'm not certain they're really worth the price. I'm going to replace my Bridgies with Continental ContiPremierContacts. Never had Contis before but they come highly reccomended and they're $85 each as opposed to a $130 Michelin.

You got grey with blue? Lucky you! That combination is VERY rare! 90% of the blues come with tan. That was the REAL deal breaker for me on the blue and that light green (which I LOVE) was the tan interior. I hate tan interiors. I probably would have gotten the green if there were any in the country w/ tan interiors because it looked good and would have been easy to maintain. Oh well, I love the garnet and its worth the trouble...I suppose. I can help you keep the blue nice, check out our detailing forum. Toyota paint is pretty soft which means it scratces easy, but scratches are easily removed ;)

If you hold down the unlock button all the windows will roll down and the sunroof will open from up to like 30 feet away, however far you can use the remote. Strangely though, you cannot roll the windows up using the key like you can on the LS. Nobody knows why Lexus made it this way. You have to get in, start the car and roll all the windows up. This is true for all 02+ I know.

I would guess 2005. I'm putting my 03 in next week to have it installed. TECHNICALLY you can have XM hard installed in a 330 using the kit from either the LS430 or the Toyota Prius right now. Lexus does XM only as a dealer installed option, it costs $700. I'm having it doen for $250 completely hidden I'll let you know how that goes. As for changes, we wont know probably until July or August what changes will be made to the 05. Probably very minor, new bumper maybe, new wheels certainly, probably all bolt onable to the previous car. I dont expect any sheetmetal changes.

Zaino is a very durable sealant, but don't be fooled by hype. There are many sealants just as durable on the market. "miracle products" don't exist. Detailing is a craft thats 10% product, and 90% skill." The guru wax test is a great report, and they rated Zaino #1 among the SEALANTS they tested (not #1 overall, they didn't compare that way) but they didnt test all that many sealants, several (most noticably Klasse) were absent from their comparison.