JGTNewLexusOwner

I have to say I am looking at things a little differently. I really always liked FWD. I know that RWD is what driving enthusiasts swear by, but I was looking for AWD or FWD...hmmm, interesting informaiton in this post. I think my engineering mind will need to do a little more research to get my 'gut' into RWD! Maybe in my next car!

Yes, Ultima...oops did I blame Sonus. Yeah, I was trying to figure out the purpose of it also...? Thanks again, you have been a great help!

yes, I used the Ultima detailing spray before I used the Ultima paint guard plus. It was right after washing and I saw some of the nasty up close and personal stuff you see when you do things by hand. Didn't wax yet....plan on doing 1 more paint guard +, let it cure, and then I plan to wax with P21S-100. I am hoping the paint guard plus works as advertised so I can just wash/dry/wax from here until the next year when I may Paint Guard Plus it again.

Hey saabkyle, this is my lessons learned (I copied this from a post I started Cleaning and Maintenance of a New ES in the Detailing section of this forum)...thought you might learn from this. Just a few lessons learned so far from a novice (like me). Ok, I finally did it....in between the rain drops. Here are the pics (I hope if they uploaded). Two of my car and one of my wife's . OK, here are the Lessons Learned for all those novices like me. Lesson Learned 1. Do the wife's car!!!! If you want to keep spending this much money on detailing supplies; you better do your wife's car!!! Lesson Learned 2. Sonus products are good; BUT, (excuse me for yelling but I need to emphasize this point) TAKE THE CAP OFF AND USE A KNIFE TO TAKE THE CLEAR/WHITE INNER CAP OFF! This is for the Body Shampoo and the Tire Gel. I like rtj, lost some of the product (but I put mine over a cup and was able to put some back). Lesson Learned 3. If there are only a few rain drops, don't do it! Rain must have something in it because there were spots after I washed the car and had to go over them again. Lesson Learned 4. Be caution when using detail spray but not afraid (like I was). I probably did my paint guard sealant over some areas that I should have gone over with the detailing spray first (I did my car first and should have done my wife's car first......I wasn't afraid on her car (ha ha), and the detailing spray actually did well....you have to be gentle but not afraid. I was so scared to marr the paint I think I didn't use it well.) Hope this helps!!!!

Ok, I finally did it....in between the rain drops. Here are the pics (I hope if they uploaded). Two of my car and one of my wife's . OK, here are the Lessons Learned for all those novices like me. By the way, this is with only 1 coat of Paint Guard Plus...not bad. Will be doing another coat tomorrow. :) Lesson Learned 1. Do the wife's car!!!! If you want to keep spending this much money on detailing supplies; you better do your wife's car!!! :whistles: Lesson Learned 2. Sonus products are good; BUT, (excuse me for yelling but I need to emphasize this point) TAKE THE CAP OFF AND USE A KNIFE TO TAKE THE CLEAR/WHITE INNER CAP OFF! This is for the Body Shampoo and the Tire Gel. I like rtj, lost some of the product (but I put mine over a cup and was able to put some back). Lesson Learned 3. If there are only a few rain drops, don't do it! Rain must have something in it because there were spots after I washed the car and had to go over them again. Lesson Learned 4. Be caution when using detail spray but not afraid (like I was). I probably did my paint guard sealant over some areas that I should have gone over with the detailing spray first (I did my car first and should have done my wife's car first......I wasn't afraid on her car (ha ha), and the detailing spray actually did well....you have to be gentle but not afraid. I was so scared to marr the paint I think I didn't use it well.) Lesson Learned 5. The Pinnacle Wheel and Tire Kit is great. However, I think I used too much Wheel & Tire Cleaner since I may only have enough to do this one more time. Well hope this helps.

I'm pretty sure the Cadillac STS was FWD. Also quite sure it had an over-running clutch in the driveline such that it had NO engine compression braking. Additionally I seem to remember that it would dethrottle the engine if TC (stabili-trac??) activated. The control system would NOT allow full use of the NorthStar engine if the driver went WOT to "dig-out" from a full stop due to the danger of loss of control. Methinks that it was all THAT that convinced Cadillac to abandon FWD and return to building REAL upscale cars. Hey wwest, the sales person had some special edition type of STS (I can't remember the name it was given but it had a larger hp engine and was RWD....I know it was RWD because there was one in the showroom that was really sporty but when he told me RWD, I said I didn't want it for the snow...and that is when he told me about his car...but I thought he was just saying that to get me to buy it!).

Hey Lexusfreak, I do have to say that I have never had a RWD with the new technology. My points above though about FWD with ETC and VSC being as good as AWD probably gives credence to your points about RWD with ETC/VSC. All I know is that my ES350 definitely handles snow well! I also has a Cadillac STS owner tell me that his RWD with ETC/VSC drove great in the snow. I guess, though, since I never drove one and have only had FWD since ETC/VSC came in, don't think I would buy (wouldn't trust it....this would be my "head" issue not reality)!!!

Hey, welcome to the post Randy. Feel free to post pics when you do your first detail. I started this post seems like months ago and I haven't had the time or weather to do my first detail...oh well. But good luck!

Ok, gotta add my 2 cents. I just purchased the ES350 UL in Dec. I researched this for 6 months (yep, anal I am). I considered and test drove (more than once), the BMW 3 and 5 Series, Mercedes Benz C Class (the new one), the Infiniti M35x, the Acura RL, the Cadillac CTS and STS, and, yes, the Lexus GS350AWD. Now, my primary consideration was quiet and comfort in the ride with technology advancements inside (bluetooth was a must). No where in my requirements was driving around corners 80 mph. I have to tell you though, each of the German cars let you drive the "cloverleaf at 80 mph" and that was way cool!!! If I desired that, I would not be on this forum. So, the BMW is a great car, but not what I wanted (the 5 Series was comparable in room to the ES, the 3 series was small like the Acura TL). The not so good reliability was also a factor and the "value for the money" was a factor....that shifter (if I remember it is called something like idrive) is strange though! As to the Infiniti, another great car but noisy inside. What I researched though is driving enthusiasts want to feel the road and hear the engine. I didn't. The Toyota Avalon was a very good car, but not very sporty looking (in my opinion). The Cadillac CTS was very cool but it didn't come with bluetooth (go figure...Cadillac could have had a sale) so I had to look at the STS which was almost what I went for. But when you come down to Cadillac and Lexus...resale value got me (plus I paid less for the ES). The GS AWD just was too much money for the loss of space in the trunk and that bump in the driver's floor drove me nuts (but I liked the inside and outside styling a little better than the ES). So, again, value for the money with the quiet and comfort and reliability, I chose the ES. Bottom line (ok ok I went on too much), BMW is a good car and "to each, his/her own".

Yeah rtj, and so will 8 track tapes!!!! :P ha ha!

If you are in Dubai, RWD is the better handling car. Since I drive in mixed conditions, FWD or AWD are needed here in the snow belt of the United States. I have had FWD cars now for several years and with Vehicle Stability Control and Electronic Traction Control, FWD is sufficient. But if I didn't need it, I would get the RWD....however, the Lexus ES is a nice car!

No, I am not very anal. I am not good with lists, I used to make them and never go back to them. At work I wish I could hire a good list maker and maintainer, it's a skill that is so hard to find! I did print your list of what you purchased and put check marks by what I ordered to see what I will need next, so thanks! That's about as anal as I get. My wife is the list maker, honeydos, family goals, tasks, what purse she wants to buy next, etc. My son and I just follow what pertains to us. Hey AZ, thank you, thank you, thank you. rtj and ddoc started making me feel unworthy to even post in this forum! God, I hope this weekend is nice...but I think it is supposed to rain again and I go on business travel the next 2 weeks. Oh well. Hey rtj, from the directions I read and from what ddoc has said, the paint guard plus sealant should be fine by hand...I plan to do it by hand. On the autopia-carcare.com in the How-To section under the product description says it should be 10 minutes or something like that...you just need to let it cure for 12-14 hrs.

I have the spoiler, but I am not sure it is work $400 like I think they wanted for it (I negotiated this in). I, mean, it's ok but I guess I thought it would be bigger. If you look, you can hardly see it. In my old car (Pontiac Bonneville), the rear spoiler really made the car look better....I am not so sure with the ES. Just one man's opinion! I think the lip spoiler gives it a subtle boost. If you look at one that does not have it and compare it to yours you would notice the improvement. That's what I like about Lexus, everything is subtle, not so flashy. Flash is up to the owner and how far they want to take it. Yep, I agree with you AZ regarding the subtle not flashy!

Hey saabkyle, the thread that AZ referred to really is a good one. detaildoc and SW03ES contributed to it. and now, rtj seems to be mastering the art of detailing. I am a NOVICE....I bought the supplies but I am waiting on the weather in PA to cooperate so I can do my first detailing. I don't own stock in any of the supply companies and I don't work for any of them. I, like you, just wanted some advice to have my car look nice. I suggest you print out the 10 pages in that post and then highlight the key points. There is some polite banter off the subject but there is alot of good stuff. I also recommend you watch the videos at this link: http://www.pinnaclewax.com/productline.html This is so you just get an idea of what you will need to do. I bought stuff from this site, plus autogeek.net, and autopia-carcare.com. Plan on at least a few hundred dollars if you want to buy the good stuff! Good luck and post your experiences on the post that AZ supplied above!

Sorry to hear that 1st Lexus. I always shy away from the first year on any car make. I have the 08 and it doesn't seem to have the problems that the 07 has. Maybe your state has a lemon law like PA....good luck!

By the way, rtj, I am not claying at all. Of course when I get up close a personal with my car when I wash it and get ready to use the Ultima Paint Guard, I may change my mind. Also, if I do, I am not going to dry my car before I clay it. I think the water and the lubricant will help ensure that the clay glides across the paint (and doesn't marr it too much).

OK...ok...ok detaildoc and rtj..............I am not worthy!!!! I am not worthy!!!! (he said on bended knees!!!). God, and I thought my little Excel spreadsheet of the products I was going to buy was anal!!!! LOL!!!! I bet you guys are like the one guy on the Moment of Truth who slept with over 100 women and had a spreadsheet on it (no, wait, I wanna be that guy..ha ha...no just kidding (my wife is standing behind me now).). Hey AZ, you that anal? I have been called an A-hole but phew, this is amazing! :P Hey rtj, gr8 pix!!! Thanks for sharing. Now, to make me put you on a pedastal (like I have detaildoc), you have to send pix on the organization schema for your supplies. I would send you mine....but you all know what an old towel hamper looks like (LOL)! And who would have thunk it that my little post would grow to 10 pages and create detailing monsters like rtj!!!! But you have to admit, this has been fun (at least for me and hope you also)!

Hey no fair you beat me to it!!!!! Don't forget to post pics. You answered my question about polishing when you told me you had swirls and then ddoc said what you were using...so sounds like you are good!!!! As to swirls on my car, I have only used the spray car washes....I will never go to a auto car wash that has anything touching my cars paint. Did that with my last car and regretted it; also used cheap crap on my wheels and ruined them on my last car....that is why I started this post. Thanks to ddoc and SW03ES and mrburnikas and others, I won't make that mistake again and I will use good stuff. Now, I am probably not going to ever grow up to be like my hero detaildoc (ha ha), but I want to at least seal the paint and wax the car every so often to make it look good when I want it to. detaildoc is a mad man with his regimen (detaildoc were you in the Army?). Phew, I am not sure I could keep up with that and do my hobby (golf). On the PC or UDM, I may do that in a year or so also....but right now, I want to do it by hand. But hey rtj, you are now the expert huh (don't forget to post pics). Pretty soon I will have a second hero...you! ha ha!

Somewhere else on this forum goes into that. If I remember correctly it is supposed to work on the 07. I am out of luck since it doesn't work on the 08's! :cries:

I don't think this is true. I am assuming that you mean the Park Assist; which is an option that last time I checked. Now, I bought my 08 ES350 UL with it because I wanted it. (Side note: I hope you don't mean the automatic parallel park feature which is only available on the LS...just wanted to make sure). I know if you look on www.lexus.com and you build your Lexus, it will give you the Park Assist information as an option. I originally thought that you needed the Nav system for this but someone else on this forum said you can get the Park Assist without the backup camera....I don't know since I got the UL loaded (except without the adaptive/radar cruise control). But, check out www.lexus.com! Good luck.

Yep, I am in PA, but it rained here....crap! Don't you have a new car? Do you need polish? Be careful, I wouldn't use it unless you have an older car with a bunch of swirls in the paint. I am afraid to use the clay bar but detaildoc helped me with that (even though with my new car, I plan on washing and drying my car, putting on a sealant (Ultima) and letting it cure for 12-14 hrs, then waxing with P21S-100 carnauba wax). So, I wouldn't use the polish until you check with detaildoc (or unless you know for sure you need it). I probably will do it this weekend...but the Masters (:golf:) is on TV so I will probably work around that! Priorities you know!! And I agree that detaildoc has the right Avatar....I hope to get one too...but much smaller....haha!

This is not true, it will remove other wax...sort of. See TOGWT's above post for a good explanation. Hey SW03ES, wanted to validate something with you and detaildoc. I plan (when the darn weather gets warm) to use the Ultima Paint Guard Plus first...let it cure for 12+ hours and then use P21s-100 carnauba wax. That should work right?

OK Tom S. we all hate you too! ha ha. Did you buy your parents a Camry? Ok, you and saabkyle are the two guys who invented google!!! LOL I know about salt and snow....Pennsylvania is the same way....but maybe not the world's worst drivers' though. But you know what, I think Boston, MA has the dubious honor for having the world's worst drivers...I think Toronto is a distant 2nd then! :)

I have the spoiler, but I am not sure it is work $400 like I think they wanted for it (I negotiated this in). I, mean, it's ok but I guess I thought it would be bigger. If you look, you can hardly see it. In my old car (Pontiac Bonneville), the rear spoiler really made the car look better....I am not so sure with the ES. Just one man's opinion!

I can't believe that. I have a black on black 08 ES350 UL (everything but the radar/adaptive cruise control). I thought there was a poll on this forum somewhere asking that but maybe I am mistaken. But my guess is there is more than 50.