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At $80 - $200/tire the monitors, while clearly not a necessity, can save you money and one hell of a lot of frustration.
You'll hate even more the $2000 bill for the engine you're slowly destroying. But let me guess, you'll sell it before that happens so someone else will have to pick up the headache. (The reason I never buy used cars!)
It goes off when the pressure drops 12 lbs below what it was reset at.
i usually get notice at around 20lbs which allows me to get to a gas staion in time.
It does not work aobe 70 mph though.
I took it out for a long ride and am just amazed at how great the car is. The 0-60 improvement is noticable and the ride (this was a base suspension) is tighter and incredibly quiet. But the ride is smoother, more refined if you can believe it, and just plain better than ever even though it is tighter with more road feel. I had driven my neighbors Euro earlier this month and it outhandles the base suspension and it also rides spectacularly. But the base suspension car is the most graceful car I've ever been in. I returned to the dealer and missed Bon Jovi (who created a ruckus by showing up) by about 5 minutes as he was in to buy an LX470 for his wife. But the LS ride was still worth it. As much as I love my 2001 I can't wait to get the 2004. Now the question for me is to Euro or not to Euro. The base car handling is more than sufficient. I will need to drive them back-to-back to decide.
Hage57 - You can get the custom lux with the Euro but only if your dealer is willing to press Lexus in Japan on it. It's a custom order and most dealers will not want to bother - particularly right now - as sales are hot. I was told that the 18" wheels can be combined with the base car and the Euro suspension but not with the Ultra lux. I think I will go custom lux or go the modern lux/euro route rather than go to the ultra lux. I want the 18" tires. I also don't think I'm going to hold my breath for the custom order. I just didn't get a comfy feel about it. I was told they are going to start building the LS in the states in a few years and then you will get whatever combos you want.
Lastly - The GS was pushed back a year because the initial design was vetoed by Lexus. i believe the reason - besides them not being enthralled with it - was due to the new look they want to have across the board. Also it is 90/10 likely that they will build the HPX in 2005.
I might just keep the car another year now until the fast one is released.
Pretty cool article.
One dealer has said recently released info (as of today) now limits PCS to be on cars with variable air suspension (ultra lux). Another dealer says PCS will still be on ultra and custom.
Does anyone know what's going on? Thanks for any info.
One dealer has said recently released info (as of today) now limits PCS to be on cars with variable air suspension (ultra lux). Another dealer says PCS will still be on ultra and custom.
Does anyone know what's going on? Thanks for any info.
Voice dialing is not available and while you are driving, only the preset one-touch numbers can be dialed through the nav system. I am using a Nokia 6310i and downloaded my phonebook numbers one at a time, so I only put in the frequently dialed numbers and set-up all the one-touch. I have found that this is not a problem, because you can always dial direct from your phonebook in the phone itself--even if speeding down the freeway--and the call still come thru the nav system the same as if it were one of the one-touch calls. Another great feature is when you are talking on your handset, you get into the car, start the car and then the nav (bluetooth system) takes over the call--you just put your phone back in your pocket and carry-on your conversation while driving.
I am torn between a new GX, a new LS, or buying my 2001 LS. I can't quite get comfortable with the GX yet and know that either LS is a good choice...just a 28k differential for the new model.
Are the GX problems going to be fixed and does the new LS offer enough improvement over the 2001? I see that you are also interested on both of these. By the way, I am not going to lease again but rather do a cash purchase.
Anyone else want to chime in on the lease buyout issue, please do. Thanks
Just had the one replaced in my RX but went ahead with the aftermarket glass.
Plus, if it's covered by insurance, go with the Lexus one... no brainer.
If not, STILL go with the Lexus one. You get what you pay for. Unlike wwest, I don't believe it's a ripoff.
That's like saying the LS is a 'ripoff' because it costs more than a Buick Park Avenue, or whatever.
This morning my connection was not successful!! I finally figured out that it was because I had the phone and the smart key in the same pocket. I turned off both the car and the phone--turned the phone back on, put it into the console, started the car and "successful".
Can you *see* any difference b/w an AM windshield and one installed by the dealer ? Having never had to replace one before, my guess is that the difference (if any) is not noticeable, but the price certainly is !
So your quote is almost identical.
I don't know how much difference there would be in an aftermarket windshield.
I would think it would still have to perform and have the same safety as the oem.
In some case the aftermarket identifies a problem and provides a rplacemnt that is of higher quality.
This is evident in some aftermarket rotors that are less prone to warping.
At least that is true of most dealers...I have never had to replace a Lexus windshield but would be surprised if they are different.
And if Lexus does sub-contract and you have a problem, now you have two company management teams to negotiate/argue with.
I might pay a 25 to 30% premium to have Lexus do the work, but never 300%
All I would ask is that anyone considering after market anything do their homework. Someone gave an example of after market brake rotors... I know people who buy 'cheap' after market rotors and they rust, crack, and have other problems. Now I have after market brakes on my car (StopTech's) but they certainly weren't cheap, haha. I bought them because they really do offer better stopping power than the factory ones, particularly with the larger rims (19") I have. (Note, my car is a GS400, not an LS.)
Summary: Caveat emptor!
Anyway, things being the way they are, the economy and all, how can one be sure that the Lexus dealer, or certainly the sub-contractor, actually uses Lexus "glass".
Now I am trying to decide whether I will buy the GX or lease it. I also will wait till the ones start coming over with the back-up camera mated to the ML/nav - supposedly in late December. I hope that is the case as I don't want to be without an SUV in January around here. The best deal I can get locally is $1500 off. LexusUS - if they are legit - will do $3500 off but it will cost $1000 to ship it. The $1000 differential is not worth it to me. I will likely lease it if the residuals are high enough.
LS430 - My midnight pine is at 60k miles and is letter perfect. I replaced the tires and that is it. Great car - but it was bought solely for business miles and I don't need a third car anymore. My silver is at 35k miles and also letter perfect. But I doubt I will buy it because I (and my wife) am tired of the color. It's a flawless car though and whoever buys it will get a great car. The new 2004 is spectacular. Go drive one. I will likely buy it as it should be late enough in the model year - April - where you can drive a good discount. There are two things that would lead me to lease rather than buy though. One of them is that a new model will be out at the end of the 2004 lease cycle or a year earlier. The other is that I am watching closely the development of the Hybrid technology. Given my preference though I'd like to buy one vehicle and lease the other as it fits my tax situation. So if I buy the GX I will lease the LS. But I haven't ruled out two leases either. Plus when I leased the LS in 2001 it was smarter to buy at lease-end rather than buy up front. So I will do that math again.
I would not hesitate to buy the 2001 though if you really love it. My silver car is a dream and if I weren't tired of the color I'd seriously think of buying it. My buyout is current $7k under what dealers are selling them for. By the way I'd always prefer a car over an SUV. I drive the latter because of bad weather, family needs and carrying large cargo. I also like the elevated driving position. But there is nothing like a great car.
Let me know what you do as we can always cyber-shop together again.
One thing for sure - I am staying all Lexus as the experience is so satisfying.
All I can get is a list of Bluetooth phones--it does not say which will work best with Lexus--or if they will work at all. Just need instructions on how to navigate that site.
Let's stay in touch; I am very interested in what you decide to do. By the way, I would like to see XM Radio incorporated in all Lexus vehicles...it's a winning entertainment and news platform in so many ways.
Thanks for your help on the windshield.
I decided to try Safelite's repair system. Since I have a very small(nickel size) round damage area, they said they can fix it and afterwards the area will be like new structurally, and only a faint imperfection will appear. For $60 I figured I would give it a try. If that fails, I'll buy a new windshield. I'm assuming for the $225 that safelite said for a new windshield it doesn't include the UV-reducing film that the OEM windshield has.
I also have a question about brake rotors. I am looking to upgrade my OEM front rotors to either cross-drilled or slotted rotors. I prefer slotted rotors but Power Slot does not make them for the LS400. Does anyone know any other company that manufacturers cross drilled or slotted rotors for the 2nd generation LS400(1995-2000)?
But I did notice that they worked in the C210 with a plexiglass windshield.
I asked about the XM system for the LS and it looks like the satellite transponder sit on the rear window deck, it is not built into the antenna structure this kind of sucks.
Also, I was there to fix my front headlight HID whose computer malfunctioned and I am awaiting parts
I will keep you posted on what I do. Even today I parked at a garage in NYC and a guy pulled up behind me in a GX470. I asked him how it was and he had nothing but the highest compliments about it. The only thing he didn't like was the rear door.
Live's short, eat desert first!
Don't deny yourself two, or maybe more, years of enjoyment of a new LS430 waiting for the new model.