mr_raider

What's this VIP style you speak of?

Whatever you get, make sure the charger plug is angled, or you cant close the damn center console

Have it done at a reputable independent shop. It should be cheaper. I can't imagine two discs and new pads will cost that much. You could even order the parts from tirerack.com.

I have the 08 invoice prices if you are interested

It's been pretty standard for every car I've bought new.

Have you considered ordering from tirerack.com?

All the valves were replaced, not just 2. We were told that this problem has only affected IS250s and not IS350s. U could b right about bad batch of parts. That's why I think we will b trading this car in, a lot sooner than we anticipated. Sure makes u lose confidence in the Lexus brand tho. Our other Lexus, an ES300, never had any problems. This is suspect indeed. The 4gr-fse engine is not used in any other North American car. I believe some of the Japanese Toyota Crowns use it also. The only thing truly different about this engine is the swirl control induction mechanism which may be finally showing some glitches. Mind you if it was susceptible to valve deposits, we should have heard of it sooner. This is the third year of production for this engine, with some well over 60000km. I guess

Exactly. I call BS. 2 valves gummed up only? Last I checked, all fuel in Canada is virtually identical. This sounds more like bad batch of parts affecting certain ranges of vehicles.

When should I be using the ECT snow button? I've been driving around in all kinds of snow and ice this week in normal mode with no problems. Is it even needed in the AWD?

You need to give Lexus a lesson in physics. All gases expand and contract the same with temperature.

I test drove mine in February although I bought it in April. The only weakness this car has is it's low clearance, which means you can't go through snowbanks. But it really holds the road well in the snow, much better than the g35x IMHO.

My heated seats have never been very warm, compared to other cars we've owned. And that's both IS's I've had. ReallY? Anything higher than 3 and my butt burns!

Bought TPMS from tireraCK.COM with package. Toyota charged 40$ to program them.

I dunno, with AWD, fold down rear seats, it would make a decent alternative to compact SUVs. I kinda like station wagons, minus the wood laminate panelling of course.

Block heater is like a 120$ add-on from the dealer. They just help warm the engine coolant and get your engine to operating temp quicker. You can also use the heated seats. They are a boon on cold winter mornings!

I have it on the non-nav non-ML. It's fairly functional, allows you to search by playlist artist and track. Controls are unmarked so you need practice. The display is only 10 letters, so text gets truncated.

On a side note the wheel change went smoothly (and back is killing me now). I downsized to a 16" tire/rim package for winter from tirerack.com The rear is fine, but the front calipers clear the inside of the rim by only 1.0-1.5cm. The wheel turns freely though. Is this OK?

What's a pantograph jack position?

Will be changing my tires this week-end. Anyone know where the 4 jack points are on the AWD? The diagram in the manual is a bit murky, and I can't seem to see the little notches where the jack is supposed to fit.

Try this one, take a fob, pull the battery out. Hold the fob to the button and start the car to simulate a manual start with battery failure. You may be able to lock the doors on your way out with another fob.

There are two issues here. One is whether Lexus premium pricing is worth it. The other is a particular delaer trying to charge over MSRP for a particular item. The former is up for debate. The latter is consumer fraud.

No one is arguing the point of value at a Lexus dealer. If you feel the extra details and attention are worth the money, good for you. You are free to pay for it. With respect to the OPs original post, I still find it highly offensive that an individual dealer tried to sell the ipod attachment at a price above lexus's own MSRP. This is like going to the supermarket, seeing a carton of milk for 2$, and at checkout time, the clerk tells you it's 4$. Then when you bust his balls, he tells you "sorry, it's 3.50!" That's not premium service. It's greed! My lexus dealer is expensive, but at least the pricing is up front and honest. I know an oil change costs 89.99$. I either pay it, or go elsewhere.

RWD with good winter tires will be fine, providing you don't regularly go up/down hills. You have to dive slow, and accept that on some days in winter, it's best to leave the car home. The AWD version can plow through anything!

These days, my car is holding it's value better than my investments!

I test drove both. I found the BMW had a firmer supension and a heavier steering feel. The difference in power was most noticeable off the line, but mid-range passing power was comparable. The 250 gets better fuel consumption. What I disliked was the fugly interior, fake leather, and lack of amenities for a price that is higher than the IS250 AWD. Not a fan of the run flat tires either. The 328 does get a fold down rear seat which would be a boon in the IS. Also consider 3 year lease vs. long term ownership. Since I was looking to keep my car 6-8 years, the prospect of paying for German sized repairs is frightening at best. However if you lease, it's not an issue because you will be in warranty and have free scheduled maintenance for 4 years. In the end the choice depends on your priorities. If you get the Lexus people will say you got geezer's car and don't know real performance. If you get the BMW, people will call you poser and a prick. The choice is yours :) Remember to test the g35x/g37x. It has more power than the BMW and a nicer interior to boot.