Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see May lease deals!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
I'm starting to get the Mr. Limpet groan again when my steering wheel retracts. This started after I let the car set out all day closed up tight in 90+ degrees. Still love the car.
Now let me really piss you off ... did they tell you how much "extra" they'd charge you to install it? To just pop in a new DVD? My recollection is around $100 for installation. How's that for a rip off?
Anyone else out there want to stoke the fire on this one or have we played it out?
There was a DVD update a few months ago for '01 models.
Since the new update is coming out in just a few months, perhaps you can negotiate a deal with your sales person. The updates are not cheap ... as you can read for yourself a few messages back. Good luck. Let us know how you make out. It might help someone else.
Thanks.
My personal bet is that you will get a very late model/year 2002 car and this is the dealer's way of keeping you "strung out".
The old LS still sold well into it's 5th year, so they delayed introducing the new LS, but sales are slipping at a 25% clip, so it will be interesting to see if Lexus tries to head off a slide now, or wait another year of falling sales. People buy HP!
What did you ever do about the phone? By the way both cars remain flawless and I am at 30k miles on the midnight pine.
Has anyone seen an ultra-long LS430 limo on the road? This is one of those 25 footers or whatever that very elongated size is. Looked great.
I'm living with my unconnected cell. Didn't even get the over-the-radio mod. Had a similar one some time before and it didn't do so good.
My utility vehicle died and I just bought a new one. Thought about the LX, but I really wanted a more practical truck type, so I bought an Avalanche.
I continue to have no problems with the LS.
I imagine that new job is looming for you. And with it, the SC430. That still in the works? I'm jealous. Take care (I've been here, but not much on the board to comment on lately)
PS. Are both sides equally noisy? That would seem strange to me.
Does anyone with the '99 have a similar problem ?
My other question is if Lexus already knew that the '99's had this problem, should they not fix it for free even when the car is off warranty ? I have 62K miles on my LS and dealer is balking at fixing it w/out charge. I called Lexus Customer Care, and they refered me back to the dealer for advice on fixing it. No one seems to be interested to resolve this unless I pay the $400 + cost to replace it.
If so, and if you're willing to talk about it with a major daily newspaper, please send your vehicle and contact info to jfallon@edmunds.com no later than Friday, July 31. Thanks!
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Need help navigating? kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Share your vehicle reviews
Sorry for the delay but I check this board infrequently.
I had not asked Lexus to purchase the vehicle back at retail. I had asked to replace the original car last year. The result was Lexus's offer to look the car over top to bottom. Lexus never offered to take it in at retail (and I never suggested it).
flint350 - I start on October 15th. My current company asked me to stay on a bit longer and has guaranteed a full year bonus for this year. I just completed an acquisition in London and they want me to do the budget for next year. Then I'm gone. The low interest rates have really helped lease prices which is why I can get a good deal on an SC430. My only hesitancy is that I've gotten used to driving and I may want to drive through the winter. I wouldn't drive into NYC but to a park and ride outside the Lincoln tunnel. I'd hate to do that to the SC430 particularly because that is the one car I'd
like to keep in low miles and buy at lease end. So I may hold onto the midnight pine until next spring. I love driving the LS430 every day. Anyone who thinks you don't have fum driving this car is badly misled.
Microsoft - Don't feel bad. You've got plenty of company. I've had plenty of MSFT over the years. I sold all the shares I accumululated when it neared $100 and then bought back in the 70's, 50's and today at 43.50 - when I finally got the guts this morning. I don't believe in averaging down unless the company is very high quality and MSFT and INTC are the only companies I ever did it with. My all in average is around $54. It's the most rock solid company out there and at 11x cash flow it was a joke. Shows you how dilusional the market became. I'm a long on this one.
Although I'm not looking at any new Lexuses right now, I'm a big fan and love to read up on the company.
Over the years, my family has owned five new Lexuses other than mine (three LS 400s and two GS 300s). We'll be looking at replacing the 1999 GS 300 with the all-new GS when that comes out next year.
I don't think I could handle the headaches I've seen neighbors and relatives deal with while owning Mercedes, Jaguars and especially Audis and BMWs. Someday I would love to have an LS 430.
I'm wondering if anyone has taken the engine out of a LX 470 or an LS 430 and dropped it into a LS 400. The thought occured to me as I was driving home today. I think it would be an excellent upgrade and solve any power issues.
The passenger mirror did not tilt down in reverse. It was replaced under warrantee. Both mirrors make a whirling noise when retracting. clearly audible, but sounds normal. (BTW the mirror control switch has to be either in the L or R position, and not the center position, for the tilt to operate)
After retracting and then extending, the mirrors do not end up positioned EXACTLY where they started from. I have to hit driver-memory to get them to position precisely.
I can't tell the difference between sport and normal mode on the variable suspension.
I can't tell the difference between normal and high ground clearance modes.
My favourite feature is the Park Assist. I use my own judgment, and view the sonar as a gadget, but I must say that it has never been wrong yet. I test it by using "soft" walls, like a bush or plastic barrel. It's amazingly intuitive.
My car was built in Feb or Apr of 2002 (I forget which)and it had the 2001 navigation DVD. I will not upgrade to the 2002 DVD later this year. A cool feature of this GPS system that my 99 Lexus did not have is that when you hold the zoom buttons down on the touchscreen, the map zooms somewhat smoothly.
100+ degrees today and the auto-wipers came on by themselves dry a few times. The manual says high 100's for this to happen. I'll watch this.
My first two tanks of gas--Only getting around 13-14 mpg with careful driving in the urban-suburbs. My experience with my 99 Lexus is that this will improve somewhat with time.
The noisiest things for me is the ventilated seats and rear A/C vents. I like all the subtle amber lights that come on--foot lights when put in park, lights for trunk/gas switches, lights on seat belt buckle, etc.
I do not like the lack of a keyhole on the passenger door and the hard-to-reach keyhole for the trunk. Some parking lots near cell/radio towers where we used to live made it impossible to use the remote, even 1 ft from the car....
Radar works well, but is useless where I live. You need an open highway, with light traffic to make it useful. This is probably true of cruise in general, without radar.
My wedding band keeps hitting the wooden steering wheel and I'm afraid it will scratch the wood eventually.
The storage is great--2 glove compartments, door pockets that pull out, and various other small bins (under seat, in dash, center console).
Four air filters! I am sure they will be expensive to replace. (2 ventilated seats, in dash, and rear A/C)
I thought the oscillating vents were broken when one stopped moving. But then I read the manual--it adapts to temperature, dual or single zone mode, and whether there is a passenger in the seat. After the car cooled off, the vent that stopped started to move again.
Overall, I think the car is great.
You're right, those seat ventilation fans are whirring their little hearts out. I originally thought it was a hum from the audio system, but it wasn't. However, I still can't feel a temperature difference on my rear. Guess tomorrow I'll have to go check it out in my skivvies.
The neatest feature, by far, is the laser cruise control. However, it does change speeds frequently to keep pace with the guy in front of you. Be aware that the radar will break lock on a sharp curve. Then, it will accelerate to the maximum speed you have dialed in regardless of where the guy in front of you is. Also, if you are taking the curve in the inside lane, it is possible for the laser to lock on to somebody in the outside lane and speed up/slow down to stay with him.
Check out the custom pkg which I think was a new collection of options in 02 model. It has most of the Ultra goodies, except the rear compartment gadgets...For example, the custom has heated/cooled front seats, park assist, laser cruise control, ML with Nav, upgraded leather seats, and a few other goodies I probably forgot to mention. Your point about maintenance is well taken...if these gadgets ever need repair it will be expensive. So...I got the platinum extended warranty that covers everyting for another 2 years or 70,000 miles. Now I just have to make sure I don't get in any accidents. Hope this helps...
Have you ever taken the coastal route southward? If so is it a long and slow trip? I hear it's a beautiful route. The furthest south I've ever been via the caostal route is Ocean City Md.
But, I am glad it isn't just me having this issue.
On the other hand, I have also seen even numbers that seem to move in increments of 2's as well.
Anyone else notice this or have a more complete picture of what is going on?
Is the scale fixed? So that I will always see 99 degrees but never once see 98 degrees?
One thing I really like is the adaptive variable suspension option, which my car has. There are four settings, with 1=cushy, 2=standard, 3=a little sport and 4=sport. Dialed up in the sport mode the car has a very different feel. You really notice the stiffer and tauter drive, which I like. There is very little lean in turns.
The overall smoothness of the ride and interior quietness are also great. This car is world's better than the older ES 300s (which were also very good). Again, maybe not up to LS 430 levels but close.
But my greatest satisfaction is simply sitting in the car. The interior is truly great. My girlfriend's father has a 2001 BMW 740iL and in my opinion the ES 300's interior is nicer. I can't think of any other car in the $35,000 range that has an interior with such quality in both look and feel.
Hopefully someday I'll be fortunate enough to be able to get an LS 430.
The LS has been great - at 200 miles I had a sound like the left front ball joint needed lube -a wicked creaking- dealer fixed it in about an hour - said it was a loose suspension bolt - very un Lexus like, I thought. All else is perfect except- I tend to rest my left arm on the top of the door rather thann the armrest- when I do, it tends to creak a bit - have to get the dealer to look at it - get it on both front doors..... again, very un Lexus like given the expectations they (you and my friends have) created. Not to work miniscule issues but.....cannot understand memory controls for the rear seats (I have the UL) and no mmemory on the passenger seat. I guess I'm supposed to be the passenger rather than the "chauffeur".... the Nav system is the best we've seen (eaese of use, content, etc.)- much better than BMW I drive and much better than Mercedes COMMAND. No contest. I need to check whether they delivered the car with the latest available DVD, however.
C5gold - What did you do with the 745i? How do you compare the two cars? I also tend to put my left arm in the same place but don't have the creak. Its probably just a reset of the wood that needs to be made.
flint350 - thanks - and its always great to be in touch with you.
What other tires have people gotten OEM? Is the tire different for chrome?
What's a good replacement set?