SW03ES

You also got a year free of membership dues with an American Express Platinum card, a $300 value.

LOL horizontal telephone booth

You can certainly have a unit installed via an FM modulator, I'm thinking of doing this myself. Sound quality wont be quite as good as a hardwired connection but at least you'll have XM. Now, that said the LS430 and the Solara Toyota have built in hookup kits for the XM radio so it will run straight through the navigation system. I've HEARD that the Solara kit will work on the ES330 (they have the exact same navigation head unit) if you have navigation this may work. I'd shop the install, I'm sure a high quality stereo shop can do as good or better a job than the Lexus dealer for a lot cheaper. I've been told they could do a custom install of the XM panel for around $200 and it would look like it came on the car, I'm going to mount it on the headliner between the overhead console and the sunroof.

Naa, Lexus isn't going to use a truck motor. All sources point to the 3.3 liter V6 being the new powerplant for the GS3 and the IS (the engine in the Camry, ES, RX, Highlander, Sienna, Avalon) with HP in the 240-250 range.

Trust me :D

I think Lexus leather quality has stayed consistent over the years. The leather in the new LS430 seems a good bit thicker and higher quality compared to what was in my dad's previous LS400. The reason you thought the leather in the Rolls looked a lot like what was in the LS is because its the same leather, until 2001 Lexus used Connoly hides just like Rolls and Jaguar.

I would bet my reputation that we're not going to see this type of change with Lexus. One thing Lexus hates to do is overlap their models with one another, each model has its own specific niche. They were going to do away with the GS3 because it was too close to the ES, but they decided to move it upmarket and up power. Keep in mind that the GS430 only has 300hp and the LS430 only has 290, an ES330 with 270hp is just not going to happen. Lexus is only quoting the new 2006 GS330 at 250hp, why would they make an ES330 with 270? I don't see it happening. What we may see is this kind of HP in the new IS, but not in the ES. As to the question of why not have the advantage of power and the versitility of FWD, a couple of reasons: 1. Nobody likes FWD, no enthusiast would touch an ES because its FWD. Acura isn't aware of this, and sales of the new TL have been slow. Lexus however knows a high HP sporty FWD car has no marketability. But, a moderate HP FWD Luxury Car does, like the ES and the old TL (which sold very very well). 2. As you get higher in power, FWD works against you. Have you driven a new TL? It has torque steer and wheel hop (characteristics of high HP FWD vehicles) which isn't present in my ES300 because there isn't enough HP to make the car exhibit it. Just not gonna happen guys, Lexus wants the people interested in a sprty fast car in the IS. You say the IS is too small, but its the same size as the 3 Series, C Class, A4, CTS. The ES isn't designed to compete with any of those cars, its more suited to compete with the 525is and low optioned A6s of the world.

ALL LS' have anchored gas pedals.

Naa, no reason to buy the Euro suspension shocks, plenty of good or better and cheaper aftermarket shocks out there.

The ContiPremiums have an 80,000 miles tradwear warranty. With a 30 day trial I'll definately give some Toyos a try, whats the risk?

You'll never see any sport in the ES, thats what the IS is for.

Edmunds is usually pretty conservative in the TMV. I see no reason why you can't expect $1000 over invoice.

Welcome!

Eh I don't know, things like chrome wheels etc that you never see here are everywhere in CA, they are more image concious.

I would be INCREDIBLY surprised if the ES330 increases in power at all, 270hp? No way. Lexus is so conservative with the ES, 270hp is more than the new GS330 is going to have. The ES isn't going to go over 240. Plus the ES is front drive and as you start getting into higher HP you have problems with smoothness and torque steer. Lexus isn't going to risk that.

Thanks guys, I'll check it out.

Well, people in california tend to like to have every option more than people on the east coast. My fiance is looking for a Mazda 3 5 Door in a particular equipment package and guess where she can get it? California its not availiable here.

Where are they sold, TireRack doesn't carry them.

blake- The car is availiable without navigation but most cars have it. His is totally loaded, Ultra Luxury package, navagation, special leather and wood, power/massaging rear seats, keyless start, bluetooth phone. 99- See I think the 04 is much bolder and more aggressive than any previous LS400. You can't really tell in the pics but the nose has a lot of sharp creases. There are two creases in the hood that are almost an inch deep, looks very aggressive from behind the wheel. The chrome dual exhaust tips do a lot for the car also, I always felt they were missing from a complete picture on the 95-97, 98-00, and the 01-03. They took chances here that Lexus has never been willing to take before. It should be really interesting to see what Lexus does to the car for 2007. A fully loaded one leases out around $1200 a month, a base model (if you can call it base) which has about the same amenities as a 98-00 LS400 can be had for $900 or so a month. And yes, Lexus gave in about the fuel filler on the drivers side in 2001 LOL. My ES has it on the drivers side too.

Yep.

This one is exactly like his, right down to the chrome wheels, but he has a black interior Its a gorgeous car, in person it really has a lot of presence and heft, it seems much bigger and more imposing than his old LS400.

Check it out: I dont have any pics of my dad's but his is really sharp, dark charocal with a black interior.

The 98-00 has long been my favorite Lexus too, but as I see the new 04 more and more I'm moving towards that. The original LS430 is quite frumpy looking IMHO but in 04 they made it look like it should have the first time.

A member contacted me concerned because of the warn buttons he saw in his profile information, he felt he had been singled out because he was the only one with these buttons. This is NOT the case. Every member has these buttons, the reason it seems to a member like he or she is the only one is because you cannot see other member's buttons and warn level, only your own. To us managers, moderators, and admins we can see EVERYBODY's warn buttons and levels, I never realized that individual members could not see the buttons at least. I apologize on the part of the administration for not making that clear. The warn buttons are a part of the new software bundle that was installed a few months ago and since that time have only been used once, by me, to stop a spammer from posting on the site. So far other than that there has been no need to use them which speaks volumes about the quality of our membership. So those who were concerned can relax, NOBODY on the site has a warn level higher than 0%, and if a member were to be warned warned the system automatically sends them a PM and an email and explains why. I'll leave these threads open so that we can answer your questions. -Steve

A member contacted me concerned because of the warn buttons he saw in his profile information, he felt he had been singled out because he was the only one with these buttons. This is NOT the case. Every member has these buttons, the reason it seems to a member like he or she is the only one is because you cannot see other member's buttons and warn level, only your own. To us managers, moderators, and admins we can see EVERYBODY's warn buttons and levels, I never realized that individual members could not see the buttons at least. I apologize on the part of the administration for not making that clear. The warn buttons are a part of the new software bundle that was installed a few months ago and since that time have only been used once, by me, to stop a spammer from posting on the site. So far other than that there has been no need to use them which speaks volumes about the quality of our membership. So those who were concerned can relax, NOBODY on the site has a warn level higher than 0%, and if a member were to be warned warned the system automatically sends them a PM and an email and explains why. I'll leave these threads open so that we can answer your questions. -Steve