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What you might want to try is calling around to some local stereo install places and see if they have something that they can do to install the switch. The wiring is really easy you just have to find the lead that goes from the speed sensor to the nav unit.

It should, the Lexus system is completely dynamic and adjusts the level at all speeds. In all honesty theres not a lot you're going to be able to do short of installing secondary driving lights (which would be very easy to do and pretty inexpensive).

It can be defeated BUT the speed sensor is an integral part of the navigation system. When you don't get GPS feed, the speed sensor helps to keep you on the map. I've known people installing a switch to turn off the sensor so they can input their info, then reactivate it so the system will work properly, but this involves extensive wiring and is almost certain to void the warranty...

The white is the only color on the Platinum that comes two toned, but the lower cladding is lighter than the cladding on the standard white. Silver, gold, and black are monotone. Actually the 2000 Plat is the first LS to be monotoned. Some colors had SIMILAR upper and lower colors, but they weren't the same. If your lawn guy bought an all black LS back then, it had to have been resprayed to match (which is somewhat common). The black ones all had grey trim.

Thanks for sharing that expertise with us!

Oh Steve, sorry to hear about it! Glad you're okay! How hard was the hit?

Believe it or not black is one of the easiest colors to touch up. Silver is the hardest. The pen will lay down a very thin layer of paint into the chip, its very precise so you're not going to get a blob. Its also very thin compared to bottle paint, and its eurathane, same as the paint on the car. What you want to do is simply layer it in until it looks best to you. I usually do 3 layers on a big chip. 2 color and one clear on top. You dont have to worry about the clear as your black ES doesn't have a clearcoat.

Lexus says Jan 2005.

They're quick enough.

The first chips are always the worst like Steve said. To me thats the only problem with driving a new car. As perfect as you keep it and as flawlessly as you maintain it, if you drive it regularly its just not going to stay perfect. I reccomend the autosharp pen ;)

They're really quite different. The optics and appearance are far better than Collinite. Collinite's main claim to fame is its durability. NXT is better compared to Poorboys EX. Collinite is a carnuaba wax while NXT is a full polymer with no carnuaba.

Welcome to the LOC! Yep the HID lights are going to come with the wood wheel option. Most cars have it. As for the phone, as of yet nobody has found a way to integrate a newer phone into the Lexus system...

I haven't heard anything to the point that Lexus cheapened anything in the construction of the LS430 over the 400, my experience with the two speaks to the contrary, of course I haven't opened either up...

I'm still not entirely sure what this "surging" is, if its the kind of jerk you get when applying throttle or if the engine is surging when the car is idling in drive... I sent some emails but haven't gotten anything back.

Actually the GS had quad headlamps before the E Class. As I've said before, wait and see one in person ;) Lexus always look better in person. I've heard this about every new model, INCLUDING the current GS and the tunes always change. As for the Maxima blowing the GS off the line, again, wait and see the real production car and see what kind of power/transmission it has. Like you though I'm not thrilled with a lot of the new designs that are coming out...

Oh no, never use the Lexus dealer, or any dealership shop. You'll always get a better repair at an independent place. I wouldnt say "give him $200 no more" though, you have no idea what the rates are in his area (LA), or how bad the damage may be in reality. I was quoted $800 just to repaint my rear bumper. There are many variables that come into play. Just get a couple estimates and go with the shop you like the most. It'll go under your comprehensive or uninsured motorist coverage and won't effect your premiums.

I was about to post a thread on this as I just read it in the Washington Post. Bad Lexus: Please, do us all a favor and just save the "Lexus is bad! We've been misled!" bit. How Lexus handles this situation will ultimately show that they're a responsible carmaker or not. Don't jump the gun until this investigation is complete. If the NHTSA determines there is a safety issue here, I'm certain Toyota will work with them and establish a way to do a safety recall and fix the problem. Nothing in Toyota's history would make me think otherwise. If the NHTSA finds no issue as they have in the past many times (they find no problem more than they find problems) then of course Lexus would have to do nothing. I know you are dissapointed in your 9 year old Lexus' performance, but this is an issue that all us owners are interested in and I'd appreciate if you don't cloud it by simply trying to take Lexus down. You don't even own one of these cars. Calm rationality always prevails over vengeful mudslinging. As for the engine sludge what do you expect Lexus to do? The problem doesn't exist if the oil is changed properly, and they have an 80,000 mile warranty that includes FULL ENGINE REPLACEMENT if you can demonstrate one oil change a year has been done, One a year when Lexus suggests 3-4 times that! Thats damn sporting of them if you ask me. Supposedly the changes to the 3.3 liter in 2004 fixed the sludging problem. Anyways it looks like this is the issue I've always talked about with the jump in the electronic throttle system. If this is the case this could be a big deal for a lot of carmakers that use these systems. I'll post more information when I have it, I'm going to call in some favors and see what I can find out.

Thats RWD oversteer, but I fail to see how RWD would cure understeer in that situation, RWD vehicles CAN understeer.

All very good points, I've taken advanced driving courses so I understand and agree with all of them. IMO though you proved my point, FWD does more for the average driver in the average situation than RWD does in snowy/icy conditions. One thing you didn't address was the issue of oversteer in a RWD vehicle. If travelling at 50MPH on icy roads (which is a problem in its own right) and making a turn, any car, even a RWD car is going to understeer creating a similar situation. So it would seem to be that a FWD vehicle with a yaw skid control system like VSC is the ideal choice, as it can and does apply braking power to just the rear wheels to correct understeer. I've driven two Lexuses in the snow with VSC, a RWD LS400 and my FWD ES300. IMO the VSC is much better at correcting the problems common to FWD (understeer) than it is RWD (oversteer). On the LS I actually shut the VSC off because it was simply in my way.

I doubt it would fit. As for the pass through, thats why there isn't one in the first place, the gas tank ;)

My dad has it on his 04 LS430 (they have a direct hookup for the LS430, runs through the nav screen and everything) and he says its all he ever listens to. Any kind of music, talk, comedy, traffic, news you could want. Its like the difference between cable TV and broadcast TV. He and I both like country music but we like more of the older lesser known (less pop-like) music that you can't find on broadcast stations, but its there on XM.

You're feeling the difference between cars that are designed to be sporty (The Accord and the G35) and a car that doesn't have a sporty bone in its body (the ES). It is normal. The hesitation is also normal on Lexuses because of their electronic throttle by wire system.

Well, not exactly. Sales isn't where a dealership makes money, its service. A Customer spends much more on service in their lifetime than the dealership makes off of them when it comes to sales. Dealerships are very concerned with keeping sales customers for service, thats why they scare customers like the guy who started this thread into thinking he can only have the car serviced where he bought it. Thats what I do for a living, I provide promotional systems for car dealerships that help them to convert sales business into service business. If a dealership didn't do any service business and they did all sales, even if they broke every sales record out there they would be out of business inside three months because the sales revenue hardly puts a dent in their overhead. Thats why dealerships have so many service programs out now for people who buy their cars at their dealerships, free oil changes, point reward systems (I sell these), free loaner cars etc. Service is BIG business, bigger than sales could ever hope to be.

The newest problems per 100 cars and reliability reports just came out, interesting to find that a 2003 BMW 745Li has more problems on average than an 8 year old LS400.

Looks like a good deal to me.