SW03ES

One day my dear, one day. :P

The government can easily put companies that sell HID kits out of business. I think we may want to do some more research on this. Maybe talk to a couple of companies that sell the HID kits, see if what the guy on the other site was saying is legit.

Well, one of the big things that is dissapointing you about your GS is the wheels, even the upgrade to the factory Lexus 17s would make a difference in the handling. Poke around on this site and some other Lexus ones, any GS guy will tell you the GS can be a GREAT sports sedan, but you gotta build it up to be one. New rims, stiffer shocks and swaybars etc. My feeling is, if you're gonna be in the hole 4-5 grand, turn it around and use that money to make the car what you want it to be. The only way the GS400 would handle better is if you got one with the 17 inch wheels. Buy better wheels and some springs and you'll run circles around a stock GS4. The car is gorgeous, its got low miles, its in great shape. You're just having trouble selling it because like every other market, the car market is in the pooper. This is just my opinion though...

Thats just a bootleg picture, I promise you the car will look nothing like that ;)

Yeah you're not going to be able to use the airbag probably, or the electrical goodies, and it may not fit PERFECTLY, but remember its just a loaner wheel, you'll only have it for a week and a half.

Lexus does an original factory chrome package. Costs $1700, depending on the market its fairly common. Southern cars actually almost always have chrome, Florida, Georgia etc. Around here, its rare. Its easy to tell though. Take the wadding polish and do a little inconspicuous area, if the cloth turns black when you rub it, then they're not clearcoated and they're not Lexus factory original. Another good way to tell is the spare tire (depending on whether its on the same rim, or a temporary spare, now they're all on the same rim), usually aftermarket companies dont bother chroming the spare, from Lexus, its chrome too.

The Avalon is more the counterpart to the ES than the LS, or the GS. Its on a streched Camry/ES/RX/Higlander frame, FWD V6. The LS is on the Toyota Celsior/Soarer platform, and is RWD and a V8, the LS and the Avalon have nothing in common except that they're both built by Toyota. See, in Japan there is no Lexus, but all the Lexus models are sold, as luxury cars under the Toyota name. They look identical, they're just Toyotas. The LS is the Celsior, looks the same except the badges The ES is the Windom, sold right alongside the Camry. The ES is also only 20% Camry by the way. The GS is the Aristo, which is its own RWD platform sharing no components with the Camry based Avalon. The SC is the Soarer. In iterations past the frame and suspension have been shared with the LS/Celsior, but not any more I don't think. The RX is the Harrier The GX is the Land Cruiser Prado, or our Toyota 4Runner The LX is some other super version of the Land Cruiser in Japan, or our Land Cruiser. Soon Toyota will completely drop that version of the Land Cruiser, and the LX will be based off the Toyota Sequoia. The IS is the Toyota Altezza. So the next time someone tells ya "That Lexus is just a rebadged Toyota" you'll have the ammo to say "Not one you can buy unless you live in Japan". Soon Toyota will be unveiling Lexus in Japan, then the naysayers will have no ammo at all. It'll be a "Lexus" everywhere.

Eh, you'd be surprised. I've seen many a Lexus with oil leaks that just come around with age. A quick machine of the bond surface and a fresh gasket, no problem. Still something to think about though. Since its always had synthetic (I misread) don't worry about it.

Cool, glad you got it working. I use those cleaners on the changers all the time with good results. I usually clean the changer once a month, I use it all the time too. Radio stations around here suck. $10.50 from Toyota, yikes!

Great Steve, I look forward to it. Now see, the book at the store said 7440 for the rears and didny say about the fronts. Weird...

Naa, in 01 the GS400 became the GS430 and got the new 4.3 liter V8 out of the LS430, replacing the 4.0 liter. Overall power remained mostly the same. The new engine is just more efficient, with ULEV certification. Also on 01, the 430 lost the E-SHIFT manumatic transmission feature, but the GS300 got it. Because of ULEV certification. The GS300 engine is the same though.

I've heard this come up before, usually people do attribute it for being built for the Japanese market and their preferences in a seat, I'd agree. Each iteration of the LS has gotten better seats. My dad has a 98, and I've driven it long distances and have been 100% comfortable. He has back problems and calls it the only car he can comfortably drive. I notice that the seats on the ES are short on lateral support too, I do however find them very comfortable as long as I'm not going around a hairpin ;0

Oh yeah, you'll love the 430 compared to the 94. In all honesty, there's not a lot of difference in the ride or the performance compared to a 98-00 LS400, but to the 94 it'll be like night and day. You can get into a nice Ultra Luxury 2001 now with decent miles for $43-45k, that'll go down after September when the 04 comes out.

You do want to be careful introducing a synthetic in an engine with cuch high mileage, it may cause leaks as it doesn't clot like dino oil, so any leaks currently plugged will punch through.

I just stopped into Autozone today, they dont even have the wedge bulb in amber! Only clear! The guy said he doesn't even stock them. Also, chill, what type of bulb is in the front, is it the same? Theres a slash where the number should be in their application book, and on Sylvania online. They do have the paint though. Now I just have to buy some bulbs. I'd hate like hell to have to buy them from Lexus.

I would think it would work. Issue is thats built to go in the glove box of the GS.

But it has been legal to SELL them for "off road or show use only". What they're saying is the sale of the kits is going to be banned.

They bend at the end on the 400 too.

Aftermarket chrome wheels usually aren't, but Lexus factory wheels (all wheels) are.

Sure don't. My guess is its not going to be any different, just the powertrain. Maybe some non sheetmetal changes like a taillight upgrade or something. The new VSC system is out from what I can tell, because the RX330 has it. Just a "2.0" like deal there.

Naa, I doubt it. They dont come with VSC anymore so it doesnt matter ;) Lexus cancelled it until 04.

So basically what I suppose you're comparing is the LS430 compared to your current LS400? What year do you have? The 430 is definately a great car, however so is the 400. I really wanted a 430 when I got my ES, but I'm gonna have to wait until next time. I seriously considered the 00 400, but wanted a new car, and the financing isnt as good for used etc. The Mark Levinson stereo upgrade is a must if you love music. Generally most LS430's actually have it. Any car that has the navigation system has the Mark Levinson stereo, it just works that way on all Lexus. Its almost impossible to find one without the other. As for the climate cooled seats, they are definately very cool (pun intended). Worthwhile for sure. Basically the car ships three ways. It ships base, with no navigation or ML stereo, does have cooled seats. This car retails for $57,852 It ships with a premium package which includes the nav and ML package, this car however DOES NOT have the cooled seats (go figure). This car retails for $61,592. They also ship with the Ultra Luxury package that has everything, special interior colors and woods, more leather (dashboard, door panels etc) power/heat/cooled massage rear seats, rear stero and climate control. Power sunshades, air suspension, adaptive cruise control, parking assist. This car sells for $69,807. These are pretty much the only three options you're going to have if you buy one off the dealer lot. The big thing with buying new right now, unfortunately is the VSC. Lexus has DISCONTINUED VSC, no new Lexus has it. They're coming out with a new updated system in 2004, and they have to shut down and re-tool the factory that builds the system. If you live in a snow area, this is really bad news for you, because the LS is horrible in the snow. If you want to wait for a great deal, be it new or used, wait until September or so when the refreshed LS comes out, the current LS430 prices, new and used will go down significantly.

Yeah, they do look great! I've always missed the chrome exhaust tips from the gen 1 LS400 too. Supposedly the refreshed 04 430 is supposed to have bright tips.

I can't fine anything thats available in the wedge bulb. My guess would be because most cars employ the socket. I think the spraypaint is the only way for now.

The VSC doesn't have anything to do with the hesitation, its purely a computer problem.