SW03ES

And he's not even on the Payroll ;) Not much I can add to that, except that the post count is 25...

You would have to completely replace the navigation system. The '10 is an all new system that is not backwards compatible...

I never let the Lexus dealer wash my car. On the two occasions they disregarded my wishes and washed it...it had to be machine polished to remove the swirling and scratching afterwards. When I was detailing professionally it seemed like I did one brand new car a week just removing the damage the dealer did applying one coat of wax. Dealers won't pay for a competent detailer...I've seen dealers wash cars with brooms...thats no joke. Autopia.org is THE resource. I have written some tutorials in the detailing forums on here and there are some other members here who are very knowledgeable.

Its a scary feeling...

LOL...right. I'm an employee of Lexus and my only mission is to try and pull the wool over the eyes of this specific person about the MPG readout on his 8 year old car. Thats right....I have an "agenda"! Thats why I've been a member here for 7 years, volunteer my time to manage the site, and have posted here giving people advice 16,000 times. Thats 6 times a day...every day...for 7 years. But you joined here last month...and posted 19 times...so yeah you've got me figured out. My advice wasn't anything so grand as taking apart the cluster and swapping out components. I suggested he disconnect the battery for 10 minutes to erase the global MPG memory so it can reset to the default because thats what fixed the same issue on my car. Definitely needs to be verified...I agree. Dangerous stuff. If people aren't going to follow the advice they get when they ask their questions...its a waste of all our time spent considering and typing our responses. I accept your apology.

In theory the nitrogen is drier, and the theory is that it reduces corrosion on wheels and rot on the rubber. However, when is the last time you read about someone's wheels rusting from the inside out, and remember modern cars have aluminum wheels that cannot rust. When is the last time you had a set of tires rot before they wore out? The answer is never...and the tires are still exposed to air and moisture on the outside...which is where the FL weather will act on them... You're still operating from the idea that you can run 5lbs less pressure and have the same treadwear when filling with nitrogen and thats not true. Pressure is pressure. Nitrogen has very few benefits for drivers of passenger cars. Its not going to hurt...but I wouldn't spend one dollar for it.

The news media has been doing the same thing ;) I post on the Prius forums too. There are 4 accident reports worldwide. There's really no interruption in braking (I've felt it on our Prius) its just the way the transition feels in certain situations it feels like a momentary decrease in braking...but it really isn't. It will ultimately be all the Hybrids...

You're right, we don't and carmakers can't design cars so that they are able to protect their drivers from all of the unforeseen things that can happen in an un-ideal world. Sometimes bad things just happen...

I'm not quite sure what you would want the Lexus dealer to do for you...

Um...I admire your youthful exuberance...but do not under any circumstances go re-wiring the vehicle. I imagine your parents would never allow it...but their RX400h is a very expensive piece of machinery, and if there is something wrong with it then it needs to be repaired by someone qualified to make such repairs. Its not a toy...

Actually the Prius is not included in the gas pedal recall. The brake recall is for a computer update to improve the feel of the brakes as they transition between regenerative and service braking. Its not a brake failure.

And what if the driver has no arms? Frankly...if you can't handle the pressure in a emergency situation well enough to bump the gearshift up one setting...then you shouldn't be driving a car on a public roadway. I agree with you that there should be no issue to cause uncontrolled acceleration, but saying that its the carmaker's responsibility to be sure that the driver's abilities are never called upon makes no sense. Asking that drivers be capable to moving a gearshift up one position is hardly unreasonable. How is that any more advanced a maneuver than steering into a skid?

Right...I have also read that for instance Mercedes designs their rotors to be disposable...

Honestly? I'd buy the Alenzas.

The answer is not really. I have Sylvania Silverstars in my foglights and they look nothing like HIDs. Almost no difference from any other halogen light. You really can't replicate the look of HIDs without installing HIDs.

Well then why are you posting on here asking for advice if you have no intention of listening to our advice?

You do in theory have less air loss issues, but thats where any difference on nitrogen ends. I too have had tires with nitrogen...and there is no difference in how the vehicle rides or fuel economy. In fact at the same pressure nitrogen should ride better because you have less pressure increase with heat. Your issue was the tires...you can choose to believe that its the nitrogen if you want, but its not true. Again...thats not true. 40PSI is 40PSI.

Damn...you get a lot of snow in Here ;)

I agree with you that the costs of maintaining a Lexus are definitely getting up there with the Germans, provided that you use the dealers. Lexus vehicles are still more independent mechanic friendly than the Germans. If thats the bar you set, then almost any modern car will be "reliable" to you. I obviously also agree about the older cars vs the newer cars...

You got lucky, or the color of the paint was such that you couldn't tell unless you were looking for them. I recommend exactly what rjt suggested above...

Sure...you need to purchase an HID kit, they are everywhere online. Cost will be $400 or so...plus installation if you don't want to do it yourself.

The official mat is the carpeted mat. If you however have the rubber mats, that you paid additional for (you pay for the carpeted mats too, but all the cars have them) then they will replace it under warranty as well. You can get the rubber mats...you just have to pay for them.

She's pretty scary...but some of the speakers make her look almost sane!

I know! We've had friggin 50 inches this winter! 10 more coming Tuesday night...

What do the side mirrors for a Audi A6 cost? The $2,000 repair bills aren't cosmetic repairs, they are mechanical failures. Transmission failures, etc. My Lexus has NEVER cost me $2,000 to repair anything even at 140k miles. You just simply don't see repair bills like that for these cars except in very rare instances. None of those Audis was old, I would hardly consider a car with less than 100,000 miles old. Don't know the exact years but by the look of them they were certainly no older than '04 or so. As for german cars aging better...again my ES has 140k miles and looks, drives, runs, and rides like brand new. I've ridden in Lexus vehicles with well over 200,000 miles and the same is true. How much better do you need a car to age? Buddy of mine has a 2003 525i with the same miles as my ES300. He paid $10,000 in repairs last year. Not for me. Including the licensure to use it for business? Highly doubtful. Lets say that the cars within the last 5 years are much better, we still have to wait to find out don't we? Being #12 on the IQS list is no huge win...