JGTNewLexusOwner

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!

From navigating this forum i am seeing alot of people complaining about the ES 350 but i havent had any problems whatsoever since i bought the car last year, currently my wife's car has 10k and we havent had anything go wrong or notice anything that would raise a concern

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!

ONR = Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine. Nomral sponges are poor on paint. Use a MF sponge.

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!

Would like some advice on what cleaning products are the best for my new 2008 ES350 (black inside and out). Can Armorall be used on the inside dash (manual just says a damp cloth)? Or is the a better product? Also, what is the best wax for a new car. Consumer reports says Turtle Wax but I have used that before and on my old BLACK car, it wasn't that great. Just wondering if other Lexus owners or viewers of this Lexus Owner's Club have other experiences and advice. Thanks!!

The $4500 off sticker (depending on the sticker) seems good. That is about what I got (wasn't close though to what Edmunds.com said was the invoice). The dealer I went to offerred free pickup, loaner service, etc. so I may have paid a little more but I was willing to for this service.

Brake system....gee! I hope that wasn't an inherent design issue...if it was, maybe that is why Lexus reliability numbers are going down in Consumer Reports (in fact that is why I bought the ES over the GS...the GS ratings are awful for 08!).

Good luck with the brake system!

Thanks for the reply!

John

That minor surge is present in my ES300 also.

I have an '08 ES350 loaner with 1800 miles on it right now (mine is in for an oil change and a complete rear brake system rebuild...but thats another story. I think it rides and drives great! Seems more solid and the drivetrain seems smoother than the '07s I've driven. I much prefer the new mirrors too, they look more integrated.

In fact I had the internet sales manager quote me a price on an '08 UL, $4500 off sticker seem good?

I'm not going to pull the trigger yet...but the total brake system rebuild has me thinking.

All, I had XM installed and they put it on the right side of the trunk. Not sure if I am too concerned about the look since it is so small. Where did they put it where it can't be seen and still get the signal? The rear shelf is where? I may have them do this at my 1000 mile check.

I think I know the answer to this already but thought I would ask anyway....no way to enable the nav system to work while driving anywhere on any of the service screens? You probably got this question 50,000 times (and now 50001). Thanks.

All, I just wanted to add my comments to this post thread. I bought my 2008 ES350 in December 2007.

Regarding the transmission; at about 20 mph and during deceleration, it seems to "speed up" briefly before it slows down. It is slight but I feel it. It sometimes does is at 40 mph. Acceleration is no problem at all (in fact it is great).

Regarding the "creaking", I thought is was me but it has happened only 2 times in the 1300 miles I have driven the car. Each time, the weather outside was very cold. But it has only happened twice (and it has been cold more than twice). Thanks for the posts since I am due for my 1000 mile checkup and I am going to mention both items.

By the way, on the highway mileage, I could not be happier. My last trip this weekend was 200 miles (with about 20 miles in towns, the rest on highways/interstates) and I go 33 MPG!!!! Not bad for a 272hp V6 car like my Ultra Luxury ES350.

I hope the above minor issues get resolved (I could live with the slight transmission issues) but the creaking will have me extremely upset if it continues or gets more frequent.

Again, thanks for the posts!