JGTNewLexusOwner

No problem, ask me any questions you'd like. Detailing is my favorite hobby, so I really enjoy discussing this topic. Let me revise something I said in my previous post. You can use cockpit detailer on wood and it will provide some UV protection, but if you do use it, I recommend that after it has dried you wipe it with a damp MF towel as it will leave some streaking on the wood. Sonus leather cleaner and conditioner are excellent for perforated leather and IMO, one of the best for this type of leather. It won't clog the seats at all. Thanks, I really do appreciate your help (by the way, what is IMO...I know this is a stupid question but I have seen it alot and have been dying to ask!). Happy Easter!

Thanks. And I know you will get tired of me, so it's ok if you don't reply. I have the perforated leather (heated and cooled seats)...is the leather cleaner/conditioner ok for this or should I use a Lexol or other leather cleaner/conditioner? I don't want to plug the holes in the seats with cleaner/conditioner...thanks again!

Gee seaweed, I am now glad I didn't purchase this very expensive option (it was and extra $2K for my 08 ES UL). Also, I 100% agree that the bass could be better on the ML. I had to notch it up to the highest to get what I wanted out of it. Of course, have to use real FM stations to get the best sound. XM Satellite radio (although a great variety and less commercials...and great sports) just doesn't have the fidelity of the FM stations!

Michelin's are definately one of the best choices depending on what your looking for in an all season tire JGT.....having said that, pretty much anything is better than the OE Bridgestone's that were factory equipped on our ES's. There are other very good choices as well, again.....depending on what one is looking for in a replacement tire. :) I would be looking for quiet and comfort as a priority! Handling is great but I don't race the car so quietness and comfort is critical to me. Of course, second is durability! Should I still Michelins or are there others out there I should consider? Of course, I assume Michelin's are very expensive...but if they are worth it! Thanks for the responses!

Ok, one more question (I probably will have more...sorry)....is the Sonus cockpit cleaner/total eclipse cleaners ok for the wood inside my ES or is something special I should consider? Also, is there anything special I should use on my front grill and things like that on the outside (not sure if it is chrome or not....whatever an 08 ES350 UL would have)? Thanks!

A paste wax. You can get it here: http://www.autogeek.net/p21s-100--carnauba-wax.html Thanks again detaildoc! But you know, you got my wife mad at me!!! She saw my bill for all the car detailing stuff and went ballistic (of course she said I was never going to use it....as she put on her 50th pair of shoes to go out shopping for more shoes!....ha ha). I told her that "hey, I will used it...but maybe only once!" ha! :-) Hey thanks SW03ES for the expertise...I was a little worried there for a minute!

Ok, Ok, now everyone lets have a group hug and sing Kumbaya! Seriously, I appreciate everyone's honest opinion on this forum. An opinion is in the eye of the beholder and is not necessarily right or wrong. But the honesty here is great! We all have one issue or another and as I think I can state for everyone, issues with Lexus' are more of an issue because we all have heard great things. But, as the Toyota CEO said in a recent interview with Business Week, the problems of growing is hurting the Toyota/Lexus quality. But we all still have our Lexus' and hope they keep going and that the issues are resolved!!! Hey Lexusfreak, one question....I heard the Michelin's are the best tire to get for our ES350s....I have Bridgestones on mine now but looking to the future as to the best one's to get next. Opinions?

Congrats kilrone!!!! Gotta put some pice in...like mine below! All, we have to pick a place and time for the Lexus Owner's Club Trunk Weight Distribution System (LOC TWDS) golf tournament. If we do it back East here, we can do a West Coast Scramble(formally known as California Scramble)..haha!

We have had our 350 for 4 months and have 4300 miles on it. It has the ultra luxury package. The ride is very quiet and smooth. The navigation system is nice. I have a Garmin also and both have their positives and negatives - like all other electronic devices. We are getting a bit over 26 miles per gallon, and that is both city and country driving. The Mark Levison system is by far the best sound system I ever had in a car. The Bluetooth works very nicely - assuming you have a compatible phone, which we do. I would not hesitate in recommending the fully loaded 350. My wife is not as much into "gadgets" as I am but we simply see the useability of some things differently - such as the navigation system. We have had cars that drive more like a sports car but I find no fault with how the 350 handles. I like the dual moonroofs. There is a bit different look to the car with the front one back. I also like the sunshade for the rear window. I would strongly recommend that if you don't go for the ultra luxury that you do get the Bluetooth and the back up camera. Vision to the rear is limited. We also have an RX350 without navigation, Bluetooth, and the backup camera features and I wish I had gotten them on the RX. As a reminder, I got the UL 08 ES350 with everything but the adaptive cruise control. Panoramic roof, ML, bluetooth, etc. I agree with Manchester that the camera is a "must". The visibility in the rear is limited. Also, the bluetooth works great! In about 3000 miles, I have probably averaged 28mph combined. I have taken several 200 mile trips lately and averaged over 33 mpg everytime! Handling is great. The Nav system is ok....the Garmin just seems to be better than any car system I have looked at (and I looked and played with alot of them)....but I still would get the built-in nav. I don't know if you can get the bluetooth without the nav system though! Better check!

Ok SW03ES, we might have an easier time being on the East Coast, but kilrone is in Seattle......of course kilrone, sounds like you travel alot anyway....come on back to the East Coast...but you gotta give us strokes!!!

Ok, darn it, I am jeolous now........2 1/2 weeks of golfing (note, I am passing on the Mariner's ball and pool time since golf is the only thing that matters)! Hey enjoy yourself and don't forget we have to get the annual LOC golf outing setup!!!

Oops forgot...what is P21s100%?

Lol! It does not have a panoramic roof, it is just that I keep the paint in a mirror like condition. I can probably shave with it. If you have a panoramic roof, I would just use a good glass cleaner and a couple of high quality MF towels. I recommend Meguiar NXT Glass Cleaner, which you can get from autogeek. The best MF towel for glass that I have come across is this one at Pakshak.com http://store.pakshak.com/waffle-weave-micr...el-16x16-1.html Thanks detaildoc!!!! This is what I have to get in shape. This is when I first bought it in Dec. It is alot dirtier now but I hope to return it to this after your help!!! Looks nice. Is that obsidian? Just FYI, that color is a single stage paint and no clearcoat, yes, no clearcoat. I don't know why Lexus did not put a cleacoat on that color. That means you have to be extra careful when polishing and make sure not to use a too aggressive polish/pad combo. On the plus side, nothing looks better than a properly detailed black. Yep, Obsidian. No clearcoat huh?? Phew, didn't know that. I don't plan to polish it anytime soon. I plan to wash and dry and then wax with a carnouba wax (I lean toward paste not the liquid but I guess they are the same). I may clay it (as you suggested in an earlier post) if I "feel" that it needs it come April. And, as you have advised, clay it before I dry and wax the car after washing (hey I do listen to you!). Thanks!

Lol! It does not have a panoramic roof, it is just that I keep the paint in a mirror like condition. I can probably shave with it. If you have a panoramic roof, I would just use a good glass cleaner and a couple of high quality MF towels. I recommend Meguiar NXT Glass Cleaner, which you can get from autogeek. The best MF towel for glass that I have come across is this one at Pakshak.com http://store.pakshak.com/waffle-weave-micr...el-16x16-1.html Thanks detaildoc!!!! This is what I have to get in shape. This is when I first bought it in Dec. It is alot dirtier now but I hope to return it to this after your help!!!

By the way, what did you use on your Panoramic roof?

detaildoc, you da man!!!! Whew, looks good! I am going to start in a few weeks. My car looks like heck after these first few winter months...but getting ready for the spring. Looks like you are ready!!!!

Hey kilrone, to be clear and so we can tell if you got a good deal, you gotta talk price paid (before taxes). Maybe we could help you more here. The invoice stuff is all over the place (at least what I found in my 6 months of research before I purchased last December). And one key thing the salesman said (which says alot)...."when you buy a Lexus; you "want" a car, you don't "need" a car." Interesting but accurate!!!! Good luck and got my TWDS in my trunk and ready to head out your way to golf! Take care!

Was that w/navigation? If so you got an excellent deal! Congrats. Hey EMP, yep with Nav, panoramic roof, etc. I wasn't sure if I got a good deal or not. But I am happy with the car. You know it's kind of funny...when I say I got a Lexus people say "oooo". But I know people that have Dodge or Chevy trucks all optioned up and no one says that to them and they paid more! Go Figure huh?

WOW, what happened there? I didn't even notice that! Hope he is doing ok...ha ha! Thanks for pointing out that I am an idiot....oh well, getting old is heck!!!! Thanks.

VictorVictor, I agree with 100%; comfort and space. The ES has both plus great styling!

Ok, Ok, if anyone comes up to me and says it is a Buick, I may hurt them!!! ha ha. Hey, I did go up to a Jaguar owner once and said, "hey is that the new Kia! Wow!" Cant remember the model but one of the Kia's look somewhat like a Jaguar....boy they were *BLEEP*ed. Now, I know what I would feel like if someone called my ES350 a Buick!!!!

I got everything except the adaptive cruise control and supposedly paid about $1500 over invoice (but the invoice price on Edmunds and other places just don't seem right. I had Cadillac quote me about $11K under invoice).....I think the dealers and car manufacturers are "making up figures" to mess with the new Internet buyer!!! Figures lie and liars figure! Go figure! ha ha Hey, count me in on the LexusOwnersClub tournament!!!! Anyone else in? (Fore!!!)

Hey Navsafe, I have a minor transmission surge when decellerating. It happens at about 20mph...check what speed yours happens. Sometimes I feel this at 40mph (but not as much as at 20mph). Mine is minor though. When I put on the brake, it does seem to decel normally then. Interestingly enough, this seems to help when going down a hill or up a hill in the snow....not sure why.....maybe it has something to do with the traction control or vehicle stability control. Let's hope the dealer will fix it. (by the way, I did notice that if I let the car warmup a little, it is not as noticeable). Keep us posted! <_<

Hey, this just means we are smarter than the average 42 year old OR the 42 year old has no kids or just one passenger to drive with if they go to the BMW 3, Infinit G or TL!! :)

HA HA, trunk weight distribution system...the old TWDS!! Sounds like a good set! My current 16/17 handicap has to come down too! Gee, if you are on the East Coast look me up...we probably are just as bad as each other (until you use that new set and get into the single digits!). SW has a great point; you can buy the extended warranty up to the end...I forgot about that....Thanks SW03ES