SW03ES

I believe it is an interference engine, but I'll have to find out. That engine changed when the VVTi was added in 98, I forget which way it changed.

Wow Mike looks great, welcome back!

The GS400 was available with E-Shift, but the 430 is not because the vehicle is certified ULEV (Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle) if it had E Shift it would not have met certification. Thing is with the GS, the vehicle is 6 years on the market, so you can't expect it to have all the latest goodies like the LS430 (been out 3 years) and the RX330 (brand new). The new GS comes out in 2005, and I'm sure it'll have all theese goodies.

If its a 98 and it has those shift buttons its a GS400, those weren't available until 2001, when oddly enough the GS300 got them and the GS430 no longer did! They're great cars but I will offer you one peice of advice, check the production date, if its an early production 98 then you may wish to look elsewhere, 98 was the first year for the GS400 and there were some teething problems. Basically between 98-00 there weren't many changes, just small things here and there. In 2001 the GS got a mild refresh with some new interior peices, new headlamps and grille, new taillights and wheels. The 400 engine was also increased to the 430 that is also in the LS430 and SC430. You can take the VIN # to a Lexus dealer to see if its been serviced by Lexus. Good luck!

Thank you Jim!

Nope its very straightforward, I replaced the battery on my dad's 98.

Can you post a picture? I'd give us better info to go on.

The 15 inch H rated tires will be fairly cheap...

Probably why they no longer sell em...

If you look at the competition though, Lexus is still way cheaper than BMW, Mercedes, even Audi. You can get a fully loaded LS430 with all the toys for $70,000 where that same car will run you $85-90,000 in a BMW 7 or Benz S. Look at the GS, loaded at 50k while a loaded E500 or 540i asks $62k. The ES and IS come in cheaper loaded than a 3 series or C Class. Audi's are close, but still slightly more expensive. The reason that other luxury car prices are dropping is because they have to so they can compete with Lexus. I'd feel like I was wasting money driving anything else! If you really look, you can get a 2000 LS400 with 20-30k miles for $32k or so.

LOL

Sure does sound like a mount...

Well unfortunately there isn't and has never been an LS300, only the 400 which is now the 430. The LS is a wonderful car, I wanted one, but I couldnt swing a new 430, and I wanted a new car instead of used so I went with the ES. The 2000 LS has almost zero problems, they're one of the most reliable cars on earth!

Its Steve overload!

Any difference in performance or noise?

I also agree, if the TSB states service under warranty, keep on them.

You say you've had the brake pads replaced with higher quality pads, have you had the rotors turned or replaced? If I had to say what it is I would say that it sounds like a scored rotor. That being said unfortunately I dont think Lexus will pay for it because brakes are a wear item that Lexus and all carmakers expressely state is not covered under any warranty. You would have no legal ground to demand that they be replaced free of charge. If you call Lexus HQ and cause a stink you may get a better result. Even if they had found scored rotors they wouldn't have covered it under warranty even at 30,000 miles because brakes are a wear item. Did you buy the car new or used? You said there was a TSB, a TSB isn't like a recall, TSB's aren't performed free. All a TSB is is a bulletin sent out by Toyota to Lexus dealerships saying "The cars tend to do this, this is how you fix it". What I would do is print out a copy of the TSB and take it with you to the dealership, see if they tried it before. In all honesty a full front brake job with new rotors wouldn't cost more than $300 on an ES300, and at 60,000 miles its probably due anyway.

Zeta, I generally dont like white cars, 6 years with my white Explorer made me want something dark, but the new ES looks great in white, one of the top colors. I just can't stand tan interiors though, my Explorer has a grey. Also my bumper isn't loose so you may want to have them look at that. Does he have the nav? Rena-I know the fixed the issue on the 03s, mine is just fine. For some reason they're still ducking it with the 02s.

Matt, Oh yeah, I love it, its a great car. My only wish is that it had a little more power and a power/tilt steering wheel. Other than that, its perfect. Navigation is fantastic I'd never buyanother car without it. jweiss, The ECT PWR and SNOW modes are a good place to start, see if ECT PWR (if even equipped) smooths it out.

Lookin sharp! I like the taillights, sets it apart nicely.

I ask about the TBW because that creates a jerk under acceleration.

Welcome!

You know I saw that referral under Zeta's name... Welcome MeZoom! I hope you like it around here. I tried to contact you on AIM after I read about your accident on CL, I'm sorry to hear about your car :( Matt, She's the ES moderator over at CL.

Mine's an 03. I'm dissapointed Zeta ;) Is the 2000 throttle by wire?

I know myself Steve, when I'm shopping online, I want to shop online, I move on when a website asks me to call for pricing or anything like that. In all honesty, I don't have the time or the desire to call, sit on hold, be pressured when I'm still looking around and comparing prices etc. If I have the pricing and info I may call to purchase, but I still prefer to do it online. Same goes for cars, when I was shopping for my Lexus I was really overwhelmed by the number of these internet buying deals and dealerships with internet sales departments that wanted to contact me over the phone. I was like, no I don't want to talk to you on the phone, no you can't call me on the phone, I submitted my request via email, thats how I wanted to communicate. Several places no longer wanted to do business with me via email and just stopped responding to me. I would submit requests and specify "CONTACT BY EMAIL ONLY OR NO DEAL" and they'd call me and wonder why I never called them back. I actually wound up spending $250 more for the car because it came down to two best offers, and the dealership I went with was perfectly respectful about my desire to do business over the Internet and not the phone or in person, and the other kept calling and pressuring me. I never even spoke to my salesman until I showed up to take delivery. To me, if you're going to do business over the net, then don't expect or force those customers to call, odds are they wont.