Budhah

I suggest you purchase a 1-day subscription for $10 to techinfo.toyota.com. There you can download the entire factory service manual for your car. It is a lot of clicking and saving, but much less expensive than purchasing a paper manual. Now that is some good info... Glad you posted it. :)

This is beside the point but there truly is no point in using Bayer aspirin vs the Wal-Mart brand. It truly is exactly the same thing... This only gives further evidence of my point. Acetylsalicylic Acid is a chemical. Anyone can make it and to suggest one brand is better than another is just silly. That there is some unwarranted feel good aspect to using premium fuel is also silly. Budhah seems to think it is better for the car. What if it was the case it made ZERO difference the entire life of the car and you chose to spend a few thousand dollars that could otherwise go towards better tires, more car washes/details (make your baby prettier), more frequent oil changes, or an extra dinner out a year with your significant other. I think the premium fuel issue is a revenue and margin grab by the oil companies. The car companies add to it because they can quote slightly higher MPG on the EPA stickers. In the end we all pay for a marginal and unnecessary advantage. I had a 68 Pontiac Catalina, that would knock and run on with regular, but not with with Premium. ?? Ask any race car driver what they think,, When we were young and Drag racers we only used Prem in our cars... I always thought that if you had to ask the price,,, you didn't belong in a LExus... LOL... Boy am I going to get it on that one.. By the way,, sign in lexus dealer today was labor at $129.95 an hour... Lady at the counter paid $395 for front brakes and oil change..

This is beside the point but there truly is no point in using Bayer aspirin vs the Wal-Mart brand. It truly is exactly the same thing... Actually they are not the same. Generic brands are only required to be more than 85% of the original... Having taken Chemo, I am aware of the diff.. I also get a lot of my meds from Bangkok, which makes me even more aware. Like all gas is not alike. Some premium grades are 91 octane, while others are 93 Octane.. I get better mileage with the higher octane. 24 vs 28 highway.

What the heck guys, You driving one of the best cars in America, You are not driving a Chevy or Ford.. Why not take care of it. How many of you take "BAYER" aspirin for you and family, or do you use the cheaper "WalMart" brand on your loved ones?? Quit being a "cheap Charlie" and take care of your ride...

Careful on updates. Have had reports and talked with my service rep. and the consensus is that after updating, you cannot override the GPS. Meaning you can't change the destination while driving... Still play with the radio, and climate control, but not the GPS??? Kind of crazy.

you have a total weight capacity. take the sum of the passengers weight, and subtract it from the total cap. That is most you can carry in the car... My son took a voltage converter with him on a trip. Blew a few fuses, and burned a wire off the plug wire in the lighter socket where it was plugged. So be careful if your friends are using the play station. or WII... Tire pressure should be posted on the door post on the driver side. A few extra pounds would be on with extra weight. Do remember to check the air in spare and make sure it is same as the others... (This is for newer cars with pressure sensors.),, Low pressure would cause the tires to overheat.

Or tires. Had a front tire that was getting old on our 2000 Avalon, and was thread seperation. New tires solved the problem.. Rides better than a new Accord... Well almost..

Both cars in question are California cars... Makes a little more sense as they don't have the cold weather extremes as many other places. Not to sure about the Blue with Blue leather. LOL...

Did 135 in friends vet. Had one oversize tire on rear, and each time I let off on gas would change lanes... Other than that was aver 120ish in my 08 Tundra,, Only time it road smooth.... LOL 110 in LS430 last week...

I do. It sounds like my experiences with our 1992 LS400 and 2000 Camry have been very similar to Jim's. They are both reliable, dependable vehicles, but both parts costs and mechanics' labor charges are much less for the Camry. But, the main reason the Camry has been cheaper to own is just because it is newer. Ours has about 80,000 miles and we have never had to do anything to it besides regular maintenance. No unexpected repairs, ever. Quite different from the 92 LS400 which has required replacement of several suspension components, power steering pump, alternator, power window switches, antenna, etc, due primarily to its old age. The LS has 150,000 miles, but many of those repairs were done much closer to the 100,000 mile mark. If you are worried about unexpected and expensive repairs, I think you have answered your own question. In my local classified ads, there are several 2000-2001 Camrys with under 100,000 miles that are all priced at $6500 or less. You'd spend at least that much on a decent 90-95 LS400 with similar mileage. Don't forget that the parts for the Camry and Corolla are much less expensive. If I was in your situation, with a limited amount of money, and a limited amount of time I could be without my car while it's at the mechanic, I would choose a newer Camry or Corolla. I can tell you from experience that newer cars are much less expensive to own. Drove an 08 Camry loaner yesterday while my LS was getting it's 30k going over. The Camry was a 4 cyl. and man was it a dud. Son's 2000 6cyl. Avalon with 167k on it would run rings around the Camry. The ride is so much better on the old Avalon. My advice is to drive different cars that you can afford and go from there. All cars have repairs, but some have lots of repairs. What do you feel the most safe in? That also has a lot to do with a decision. See if you can talk to the previous owner, and get their honest reason for selling.... Good luck,,

Even an old Lexus, kept clean will set you apart from the other students. First impressions and all. You will actually be treated different by them, and esp the girls. You will find Joy in that car. As long as you keep up the Looks. and maintain her with fluid changes when called for. DO NOT LOAN IT TO A FRIEND>>>> By the way,, My son is at Purdue, and came home with Footprints in the back window... Standing joke in our family, and he is a bit put out by the kidding.. Wish had bought him a Lexus instead of new Impala..

Could have air in the lines. Just adding coolant does not mean that the pump is pumping water. When you removed the cap, did you get a whoosh?? Seems you just might have a hose or radiator leak. and if pressure not on the system funny things can happen. Could just be a Rad Cap too..

You did well fella. My hat off to you. So many kids your age would just ask dad to get a new one. You sowed some good work there, and some good moves for becoming a good adult... Good Job... Raising a dead car from the junk to one to be proud to drive is a good feeling...

Do you have the name of this junk yard? Please let me know more info about your friend parting out his 93 LS. What i would like to do is get a more relistic estamit and file a claim, then go out and find the used parts. I realise my rates will go up, and the value of the car is fairly low, but i do love this car and plan on keeping it until it dies. Could be you just Killed it Would be surprised if the insurance co does not just Total it, and tell you to find another car. Surprised you have collision on that old a car. But maybe i am wrong. My son has a 200 Avalon and ins on the car is a little over $200 a year. But he is an honor student. Might be a factor.

You did not mention loosing the OVERRIDE upon upgradeing loud enough. Careful on upgrading. Here is url to searchl... http://www.lexusoverride.com/ Good to bring tththatoto he forefront. Funny thing is, Today while in a dealer, was told that two biggestt complaints on LS series were the placement of cup holders and the GPS .. LOL

Might want to check to see if after the update if the Override option will still work. I saw on one site that once the new disk is installed that you cannot reprogram the unit while moving. I like the Navi on mine. although it is missing a few new roads built over the last few years. I wonder how much a diff the update is from the present system?? :o here is the site http://www.lexusoverride.com/

could it be that one or more of the 02 sensers went out? when that happens the fuel mixture can be way off and you can acually melt a cat converter and they will plug up and thats how they retain heat untill they glow red . I have seen it ! but not on a lexus. there is no where for the exhaust to go and your car will not start and if it does barely start it will run like crap. check fuel mixture/02 sensors and replace or fix. then replace the catalytic converter . its probably shot Could the cat be plugged up?? yes . when the fuel is not compleatly burned in the engine is still burning in the exhaust. I do believe it will melt the inside of the cat. which is a precious metel like titanium that is made pourous . and when it melts it becomes nonporous inhibiting the flow of exhaust retaining heat and turning the entire cat. red hot Careful, One of the guys in a Tundra group I belong to parked in a grassy field, and his Cat was so hot it started a grass fire and burned up his truck. I feel for the guy, It was a sharp one.

Im also looking to purchase an LS430 for my wife this spring, but the 01 - 03 is the only model that can fit our budget right now :D which is still a nice upgrade from an 02 Honda Accord! i guess the coach edition is the one to shoot for with all the goodies? Sounds like you are really splitting hairs and haggling with yourself. Suggest you get a well kept up 2002 - 2003 (Some of the 2001's had the worst seats). Then with that experience under your belt, maybe you can make a quicker decision on the one for your wife later this spring. I've got only 84k on my 2002 and love it. BTW, we faced a real choice between the LS430 and the 2002 Avalon in 2002. You might just peek at a comparable Avalon. In most of the reviews, it compares very, very well. Especially the appointments, tightness, and rear leg room. We bought a 2000 Avalon for my 15 soon to be 16 year old son. paid $4800 with 160k miles. A bit much, but is such a clean car and ran so quiet, that could not pass it up. Unfortunately it was so much fun to drive that I wanted to keep it for myself.. First time in years I really had fun driving a car. So that little Avalon rest the reason that we went out and drove new ones, and happened by the 06 Lexus we bought. Now the son want the Lexus, and thinks the Avalon is perfect for the "ole Man" LOL We had the Avalon checked out and replaced the timing belt and couple of tires. Dealer said it should be good for another 100k... LOL On side note, Just came back from 6 or 7th Bangkok trip. Over there nothing but Toyota is used for taxi cabs. Several I was in had over 500k on them. Still ran great. Drivers would tell me, that the Toyota is only car to hold up to the wear and tear of being a taxi. A few Nissan but not many.

63 here but drive 70 regularly.. I don't understand the problem with remote working both cars?? I never lock mine with the remote, just push the button on the handle. Getting into the unit, just walking up to it and pull the handle with the remote in pocket will allow me to open the doors without pushing a button.?? Once had a couple of Fords with double sided keys. One was ground for one truck and the other for the Lincoln. so the same key fit a pick up and a luxury car.. LOL

I just bought a "perfect" 2006 ls430 for $33k with 28k miles.. Mine has nav but not the ultra package. I actually like the Nav on this model, as opposed to others that diss it. Doing the overide makes it worth while. Otherwise would think it worthless. If you upgrade your Nav Package, i heard that the override is not optional after the update. Something that might be interesting is the color combo on the 05, Blue is pretty hard to sell my dealer told me. But the Burgundy is a hot item. go figure.