Phil B.

ah interesting... I figured it was for efficiency in heating and cooling. Thanks for the explanation.

Hey all, I programmed my ES350 phone book with the Google directory service 1-800-GOOG411 and highly recommend it to others. If you're not familiar with the service, it's a free directory service so that you can look up any number that's not already in your phone book via bluetooth while driving. cheers, Phil

The ES350 is the first car I own that has an option to automatically regulate the cabin air whether it should let in outside air or not. I suspect it makes a determination based on outside temperature, actual inside temperature, and the desired inside temperature to determine whether to let outside air in or not. I hesitate to use this feature because my experience has been that when I don't let outside temperature in, I tend to eventually develop that annoying airconditioning odor. And since I live ina mild weather area (northern california), I suspect I don't need it. Have any of you developed an airconditioning odor by using the auto feature? Do any of you not use the feature for any other reason? thanks, Phil

I have a brand new '08 and paid special attention to the wind noise when I took it to the dealer. I also paid attention to the '08 loaner I got. Both seemed like the quietest cars I've ever driven... so I think there's something going on only some vehicles. If the dealer starts with the "it's normal" line and you think it's that obvious, you'll need to get more aggressive. It really can be only a couple of things: the glass/rubber fittings on the sun roof or the four windows. I don't think the side mirrors could cause inside noise like that.

I just got one... because they offered zero interest for 6 months and an $800 dealer credit if I put $5000 of my purchase on the credit card. Seemed like a great deal to me.

Most of the purchase options at the time of financing seem riduculous ($1300 protectant for seats or $1200 plastic protectant for the front). However, two caught my eye... I took advantage of one of them and am thinking about the other: - Lexus Credit Card: They offered me to put $5000 of my purchase on a new Lexus credit card, and then they would give me $800 to spend anywhere in the dealership, including the service department. The card has 6 months of zero interest. So you can pay it off in six months, interest free, and get $800 back. Seemed like a no brainer and recommend it to others, I just need to remember to cancel the card after I pay it off. - $1825 for prepaid service up to 50K miles. They tell me it's equivalent to $2400 value if they price out all the services. For those that like to have service at the dealer, I think this is a good deal. I plan on actually putting the $800 credit from the credit card towards the purchase of this deal, so that would make it $1000 for 50K miles worth of service. Do you guys think this price is negotiable? Has anyone here taken advantage of this deal?

Yeah, I did the deal. It's a little bittersweet... though I think I got a good deal, it's partially because of the economy, and I've lost a lot more in the stock market than I saved on the car. There is zero to no foot traffic in any of the dealers aroun dhere. What I did (and recommend to others) was first decide on the exact options so there is an apples to apples comparison, then request an email quote from the internet specialist of all the dealers in a 100 mile radius from me. A few of them were very aggressive and I kept asking for $500-$1000 less for each new one that called, and then called them all again to give them final chance. Ultimately, I let my local dealer (Lexus of Marin) have the last chance and they matched the price. Those guys were great (Lexus of Marin) and I would highly recommend them. However, again it was a little bittersweet because I sensed a little bit of downess on their parts that their demand has shriveled so much that they have to move cars at prices that are not optimal. I didn't get the full discount there, but they discounted the XM to match the 3K savings. I guess I'm getting soft in my old age.

I've carpet bombed quote requests in my area, and here's the best I've gotten so far for an 2008 ES350: MSRP 40,305 Invoice: 35,506 My price: 32,600 Seems like a good deal to me, but I know there are a lot of '08's left and I'm suspect there are some incentives coming up. What do you guys think?

For a while, I've been planning to buy a Lexus as my new car, but the decision was hastened when my camry was totalled yesterday :-) (no injuries.) Here are the decisions are grappling with, and would love to hear opinions on them: - I generally like AWD for safety, but I would have to order them from outside my region since Lexus doesn't stock dealers with 250AWD in Northern California. Also, I'm very curious why they don't make the 350AWD... that's what I would choose if it existed. I'm trying to decide whether I should just go with the RWD and get the 350 since there are so many to choose from here (and probably would save me money.) - Does the 250AWD lack power? (I haven't been able to test drive it... would testing a 250RWD be equivalent?) - How do folks here like the bluetooth integration? Is it working well for them? - In this economic downturn, any tips on getting the best deal? How much under invoice should I expect to get? - Anything you veterans found out about your IS that you wish you would have known before buying it? thanks! Phil