TTK

Hi, I just recently bought an 06 GS300 so maybe I can give you some ideas: 1. For the same price I can get a new leftover 2008 IS250 with Nav. Is the 2006 a better choice since I plan on keeping either one for at least 10 years ? As some said, both are great cars so it is really up to you. I personally like the look of the GS better and it is a step above IS. Is the GS300 you are looking at a Lexus-certified car? If not, you might want to reconsider. I would never buy a car that is not backed by the manufacturer. 2. If I go for the GS300, Is it worth getting an extended LEXUS warranty ? One of my friends bought a 2000 ES300 and it has never had any kind of problems besides doing regular oil change and it is still going strong. That is really one of the reasons I bought a Lexus over Honda or even BMW--reliability (and service). If you are buying a Lexus (with pre-owned car warranty) then I would suggest saving the money. 3. How do I tell if I have the Mark Levinson radio ? Salesman says it does, but I cant find any name on the radio face. With that price, I don't think so. Mark Levinson is a $5000 add-on. 4. Other than the rattles that I have read about on this forum, is there any other problems with the car as far as reliability, etc ? I have no rattling problems at all. The only thing if you buy that car is that you would have to go in for the recall campaigns that recently sent out. Unless you ask them to do the campaigns before closing the deal. 5. What is the true gas mileage it gets on the highway and on city streets. 19-20 6. I live in New York and we test drove the car the other day in packed snow. We stopped on a small slope and it had a very hard time with traction. I believe it is the Bridgestone Protenza tires. They are not the run flats. Tirerack rates them poorly, but I dont know if it was the car or the tires that did not impress me. Any comments on how the car performs in snow and what type of tires are you using. I can say about those tires but I have the runflat tires (AWD) and they are great. No traction problem at all and believe me, I live in the Midwest where I get tons of snow. You can certainly negotiate to have the tires replaced before closing the deal. 7. Since I dont have a manual, what does the switch in the center console do that says ECT/SNO ? The dealer would be able to teach you (I hope they do a better job than telling you the car has Levinson). It is for extra boast/kick (ECT) when you want to be cool and pass traffic swiftly or have more control in snow (SNO). My Lexus certified GS300 (32k) has everything except the Levinson audio and I bought it for $27,000 with four new tires so talk it down. All the best!

Thanks for your replies. I actually have the rubber all-weather mats installed right now and they are working great in this winter weather. People from the Midwest know what I am talking about. I must admit that I never thought about wife's shoes; remembering that would be vital for men's survival. Thanks for the tip, BillyShaft. I will probably end up swamping back to carpet mats in the Spring and Summer since I do like their feel better. Thanks. TTK

Thanks for the correction, Steviej. I was thinking of brake pads and rotors. I agree that if one can do it himself/herself that would be best to save money... TTK

Hi, No, they are not under warranty. If at all possible I recommend that you let the authorized dealer do the job. Even though they charge more, one of my friends did it using a mechanic down the street and somehow they did not do it right and he had to take it into the dealer after all. TTK

Hi, I am a new Lexus owner (2006 GS300) and am curious about how many of you keep the all-weather (plastic) mats in your car all year round. During the snowy and rainy months they are wonderful plus I don't really like switching back and forth. Thanks. TTK