JGTNewLexusOwner

Hey kilrone, sounds like you and I are in the same boat. Turning 50, got a Lexus (or getting one), and I am thinking about a total club replacement for my golf game also! By the way, yes in the forum section of Yahoo autos and other sites that have reviews by owners. One other thing to look for is an Elite dealer. I am about 40 miles from the dealer and the dealer I bought from has the pickup and loaner service for free for the lifetime (as long as I own the car). That swung the deal for me (I may have paid a few hundred more but it was worth it to me). Also, I did get XM on my car. Good luck in finding your new Lexus. Hey, (sorry guys for changing to golf), I am looking at going to Golftech or Golf Galaxy for my club replacements....where did you go and was it worth it (also how much if you don't mind me asking), and what clubs did you get? B) One last thing, I don't disagree with Lexusfreak too many times (and it is just an opinion that I will find out later if I did the right thing), but I did not get the extended warranty. I always did before on my US cars (Pontiac), but I figured I am paying this much for a Lexus...I shouldn't (I just bought my wife a Toyota and didn't get the warranty either). Oh well, I hope I did the right thing! Take care and let me know about the clubs and the car when you get a new one!!!

Kilrone, I just did 6 months of research (June - Dec 07) and bought the ES350 UL with Mark Levinson with Panoramic roof (black on black). I don't have answers to all your questions but I will attempt a few. I used Consumer Reports but I also used edmunds.com and yahoo auto. Now be careful, the invoice prices don't seem to be accurate or my dealer drove a hard bargain, not sure which. I also had a trade in and used autotrader.com etc. to get what my car was selling for. I was told you can get the UL package without the Mark Levinson. If you want to save money and don't care about high end quality sound (and by the way, the Lexus Premium audio system worked ok for me when I listened to it, I just wanted the high end system). I also know that many want the 18 inch wheel. I read alot of articles and people's reviews on Yahoo and Edmunds, etc. If you want better handling, the 18 inch wheels are the way to go (not my opinion since I didn't mind the 17 inch 10 spoke wheels but those that had them and wrote reviews on the sites). I also read that the Michelin tires are much more quiet that the Dunlops that most come with. My car came with the Bridgestones that seem quiet to me. I also got the rear bumper (cost an extra 400 dollars; after I got it on...not sure it was worth it). The UL comes with the ipod connectivity. Regarding the all weather mats, they had a recall on them and I am not sure you can get them. I have the normal mats and they seem fine (just have to clean them after winter). I got my car in Mechanicsburg, PA (for about 41K pre tax) so I am not sure if the different models with different zip codes apply. Good Luck!!!!

Hey kluthage, I have to ditto "thanks for your service" and that our thoughts and prayers are with you!!! Freedom isn't free and I (and my family) thank you for keeping our freedom in tact! Hey I started another post here on cleaning and detailing because I, like you, are new to this. Now I have a new car and you seem to have an older (but better!) car. One of the best videos on the Internet that I found is at the website below. In the middle of the page there is a button "click here" to play the Pinnacle products how-to play. It is a great video and steps through the process (even though it hypes Pinnacle products). http://www.pinnaclewax.com/productline.html Before anyone gets upset or I miscommunicate, I am not pushing Pinnacle products. I am a novice (as can be seen in the other posts), but I thought it really helped bring to life what mburnikas and detaildoc and sw03es have helped me with in the other post. I am working through this myself and I think I am going to try Pinnacle, Ultima, and Sonus for a start! Anyway, hope you find this helpful (from a novice). Just remember, we all are a Lexus family and Kluthage is part of the family helping us all be able to enjoy the freedom of expression like on this Owner's Club!

Thanks detaildoc! Maybe when I get some experience, I will go for it!

Thanks! Again, you guys are great!!!! I am looking forward to the spring so I can try some of this stuff out. I think I am going to get the Pinnacle wheel cleaning kit and their bucket (I am definitely doing a 2 bucket system! I plan to use their bucket for the "dirty water" part because of the grate at the bottom)). Then, I think I may do the Ultima product for the body shampoo. Definitely going to use the grout sponge from Lowes' to wash the car with as some of you suggested. And I still have to decide between sealant and wax (I am used to the carnouba wax and like the look...I have never tried a sealant before so I am leaning to the wax...I like paste wax over the liquid I think). I was thinking of the boar's head long handle brush to clean the roof with (I have a panoramic glass roof so I think this should be ok). One thing that I don't think I will ever try is the clay bar....something about this "scares" me. I want to do my Lexus somewhat professional (maybe not to you guys' expertise). But since I used some off the shelf product on my last new car (Black Bonneville) wheels and it really messed them up...I just don't want that to happen to my Lexus (gee, I did step up huh...Pontiac to a Lexus...whew! ha ha). Thanks again!!!!

So far, my 08 ES350 UL (black on black) is doing ok after 2000 miles (bought it in Dec). Glad to hear others like the black on black.........I think that is a great combo!!!! By the way, I have had some minor issues (internal "creaking" when it is cold outside and some transmission surge at about 20mph during decel)...but nothing major.

mhawkin1..........Right on!!!! :D

You guys are too good!!!! My head is spinning! Whew! But, man, I have learned alot. And, I am afraid to ask another question, but I am assuming that I should wax the car first and then put on a paint sealant? I sometime wonder if I should have had the dealer do the TMZ for me at $400.... But I kept hearing from Consumer Reports or others that it wasn't worth it. Oh well, but at least with all of your expertise and help, I can have some fun on my own! Thanks again!

Hey Navy, yep there are alot of people "complaining" but they really are just outlining some of the issues they are having and when you buy a Lexus you expect more. However, most of the ones that I have read in this forum and at Club Lexus, all of the owners do like their Lexus and have bought more than one. I take this complaining as helpful to see if I have a similar issue, it is not me and I can get it to the dealer to help me. I have had some minor issues as you may have read, but I do love my 08 ES350 after 1800 miles. Hope we both have continued luck in our ES'.

Great deal Navy! My deal was for the 08 UL with everything. But the dealer did not have alot of ES' and I wanted black on black! But I seem to have got an ok deal. I probably should have gotten an 07 but it was the first year for the redesign and I don't like buying a first year for any model....but Lexus should be ok!

So far, Bobby Rahal Lexus of Mechanicsburg, PA has treated me well. I wasn't too happy with the way they negotiated but they are an Elite Lexus dealer with pickup and loaner service...so we will see. They came to my house for the 1000 mile check and that went fine! :)

Badboi and Lexusfreak, I think you guys hit it right! Even though, one of my "nuances" is that I like a new car (the smell, the resale, the latest technology, etc). But from an investment perspective and "value for the money", you hit the nail on the head. I just wish I would get a bump in my head to get me to buy a used vs. new car. I had an opportunity to buy an 04 LS460 with 63K....it was listed for $24K....Probably could have got it for less. But I needed (needed is a relative term) bluetooth technology and the v7 Nav system...and of course the Mark Levinson stereo. Oh well, I graduated my last kid from college in December and I had to buy myself a graduation gift..ha ha! Thanks again for your insights!

Maverick, $500 over invoice is great. Mine was about $1200 over invoice. $41.5K ES350 Ultra Luxury with Mark Levinson (Osidian (black) outside and black leather heated/cooled seats inside). I could have gotten it about $400 less at a dealer but the dealer I bought it from was an Elite dealer. The dealer is about 40 miles from my house but they pickup, leave a loaner, and bring the car back for ALL maintenance (except body work). They also have a mobile express truck that comes to the house if there is something minor. I felt that was worth about $400 more. Hope this helps!

Bottom line: Price, quiet ride, enough luxurious interior, mileage and trunk space sold me on the ES350 UL.

I was remiss in my last posting in thanking SW03ES also! You and detaildoc have been extremely helpful!!! Thanks again!

F4DPhan, please let me know how they compare. When the spring comes, I was between the Ultima and Pinnacle systems when I do my first detailing on my black, um, I mean Obsidian ES350 (2008)! Detaildoc, GREAT PICS!!! Thanks. With all the advice you have provided to me on the other post (Cleaning and Maintenance of the ES350), you show how good you really are at this detailing stuff!!! Thanks again for the pics and advice!

Hey you guys are great! Thanks alot! I really appreciate your help. I also went on the Pinnacle website and the videos there were great and right on to what all of you said (of course they were selling their products). I can't wait till the snow/winter goes away here in PA so I can do my own "detailing". I have to admit though that I have run my car through the automatic car wash (just the water/soap jet systems NOT the ones that touch the car with those heavy, ugly dirty rags) to get the salt off the car. Hope that hasn't done anything to the car...doesn't appear to. Anyway, thanks alot (if you have an opinion about Pinnacle products would like to know your thoughts).

Sorry tn161, I don't have that issue on my 08. However, if it is that noticeable I would MAKE the dealer drive it and make them fix it. Do they want a Lexus owner for life or not! Good luck!

Hi Nelsjay, well I don't know about LOVE but I just bought a 2008 ES350 UL with the Levinson system. I did about 6 months of research (yep, I am anal about when I pay $$ for a car). After looking at the German luxury cars (BMW and Mercedes), Japanese luxury cars (Acura RL, Infiniti M35x) and the US luxury market (Cadillac CTS and STS), I picked the Lexus ES350 (over the Lexs GS350). Price on the Lexus ES was the lowest. However, for the money and the reports of reliability (even though Lexus has slipped a little), I felt (and still feel) that the ES was the best buy for what I wanted. Now, what I wanted was a quiet interior and a luxurious interior with room to haul 2 sets of golf clubs (and I wanted a great sound system) with half decent gas mileage. I feel I got that. Now, here is my thoughts on the other cars (and I drove them all); On the German cars, I found a much better suspension in these cars (probably could take a curve at 75 mph without any body roll....but that is not what I wanted). The insides were not as nice as the Lexus (in my opinion). The BMW 3 and 5 series that I drove had a "unique" (read "strange" to me) shifting mechanism (called Idrive if I remember correctly). The drive was GREAT! The handling was GREAT. For the size I wanted, I would have to go to the 5 series. On the MB C Class, driving was great but again, the size was not there. Plus, the German cars (BMW 5 series and the MB C and E Class) were at least $55K without tax, title, dealer prep (with what I wanted on them). On the Infiniti M35x, nice interior! Drive was ok but not quiet at all. The engine was noisy (but some car driving enthusiasts would say that is what is needed in a sports car).....again, not what I wanted. Plus, the trunk space and gas mileage were not that great. On the Acura RL, again nice interior but it was over $52K.....my bottom line here is I would rather get a Lexus for less money than an Acura RL. The Cadillac CTS did not have bluetooth (which I had to have) so I didn't get the CTS (plus the color I wanted was not in stock anywhere I went and the demand for these were high). It drove nice though and with 303 hp, had great acceleration. The interior was nice also (but not as nice as the ES). The STS was a little bigger, but Cadillac's reliability isn't that great. Plus, the STS was about $48K compared to the Lexus which was about $41K. Now, I was going to buy the GS 350 but the AWD took space from the trunk and had this wierd bump in the driver's floor that was ackward for me. I liked the external and internal styling better but the AWD bump/trunk space with the extra $8K sold me on the ES350. Phew, sorry I went on so long. Bottom line: Price, Quiet ride, internal luxury, and gas mileage (I just got 33 mph on a 200 mile trip...not bad) "drove me" to the Lexus ES350 UL (sorry about the pun there). By the way, I got the obsidian exterior with the black interior. Hope this helps. Phew, probably gave you way too much info; but the bottom line;

Rocketmatt, sorry to hear of your issues. I just bought my 2008 ES350 and I hope I don't experience what you have. I did read an article/interview with the CEO of Toyota and one of the biggest issues is that with their growth has come problems with quality/reliability. Also, believe it or not (and I am not sure I believe it), that Buick passed Lexus in quality! Argh!!! Anyway, I sure would hope that your dealer would help you. Haven't you got any support from them? Also, alot of states (like mine in PA) have lemon laws, doesn't that qualify for yours? Anyway, good luck!

Thanks mburnickas! I am new to all of this.....alot to learn on my part. So every piece of info is helpful!!!! Thanks again.

Thanks Detaildoc. Phew, I feel like a virgin out here. What does ONR stand for? Is the Lowes Grout sponge for washing or drying the car? Sorry but I didn't realize the aspects of car detailing (or what I used to call washing and waxing my car). Of course when you go from a Pontiac Bonneville to a Lexus, I guess I better learn if I want to keep my black Lexus looking good! I would appreciate a "Car Detailing 101" if you have the time sometime. Not only to exterior washing and waxing, but also what to use on my Lexus UL wheels (I used something on my Bonneville wheels and they never looked the same...don't want to do that again). And, also for the inside (I am looking into the swiffer and try to work the dash that way and with a wet cloth), but what about the leather (black perforated Lexus leather). Anything you can do to help is greatly appreciated. Looks like I have alot to learn! Even if you don't have time to reply to this, I appreciate the reply you did post. Thanks again!

My first comment is on Consumer Reports. I believe that they have made some changes that they now will only post ratings until they have (I believe) at least a years' worth of data. I really used CR in my research in buying my new ES350. I was considering the GS350 (very poor ratings from CR...CR had this car highly recommended last year but after new information came in, it doesn't even recommend the GS350). I also considered the Infiniti M, Toyota Avalon, Cadillac CTS and STS, BMW 5 Series, and Mercedes Benz C Class. I think that CR had them all pegged correctly. Also, I just read an article with the CEO of Toyota/Lexus, and he admitted that they have had their issues with quality as they are rising to the top of the automotive ladder! I think CR is right on! Also, I think this forum is right on. I have had "slight" issues with the transmission at 40 & 20 mph and I heard a "inside creaking" a couple of times during very cold days. However, I seem to be getting used to the transmission since these issues seem to "help" in downshifting in the snow and aren't too noticeable. The creaking we will see (but CR rates the ES as average on inside issues like this). With only 1300 miles on my car, we will see how it goes from here...but I do love the car! As to the ES350 vs. the German cars. I would say that the German cars handling around corners is much better than any other car including the Lexus. Now before all of us Lexus owners get upset, I can say that the interior quiet and luxury appointments (to me) are much better in the Lexus. I don't need to go around a corner at 75mph! But if I have to, a little body roll in my Lexus doesn't bother me too much. Plus, the German cars are all rated lower in reliability than Lexus and cost much more (nothing under $50K).

Thanks Lexusfreak! Good advice. Looking forward to SW's reply. Do you know what wax your detailer uses?

Hey, I agree that we all should be a little more positive. However, I do appreciate those that post items that may be negative just in case we have a similar problem. By the way, so far, I love my 2008 ES 350 UL (black on black). But, I have a few minor things that I have learned about here on this forum. For instance, I sometimes have a "creaking" noise inside (mainly when it is cold and I hit a bump). Now, it has only happened about 3 times but after reading it here, I feel I have information to monitor it and go back to the dealer if I need to (my 1000 mile check coming up). Also, I read about the slight upshifting at about 40 mph and 20 mph. I have that slightly....but I am getting used to it and it seems to be not as bad the longer I have had the car. Again, I agree with you that people should be more positive. However, the "negative" issues that people post about help us all! Thanks for the post and I am glad you love your Lexus as I do! Maybe some day the one real issue I would like to learn about (the Navigation Override) will be posted in this forum for all of us to change!!! Look forward to other posts!