The car still amazes me. I drove to a large refinery/port authority area, and didn't notice the pungent petroleum smell blanketing the area until I opened the window to pay a toll. The interior air filter actually worked very well on that smell, while it doesn't on "skunk". I still have no mfr. defects, but I would like to know if anyone has had a "tank average" digital readout of over 19 mpg. The "current milage" readout fluctuates quite a bit at steady and consistant speeds. I know I am getting about 25 mpg highway milage, but I don't understand these readouts that the dealer has already reset once. Handling and interior comfort are still bringing renewed pleasure each time I drive.
After speaking to a master mechanic at a Lexus dealer about the tire pressure indicators and run flat tires that are on the SC430, I am glad the LS430 doesn't have them. He said the transmitters mounted to the inside of each wheel (within the tire) have lithion batteries powering them that need replacing at long intervals. If you ever wanted aftermarket wheels, it would almost be impossible. My Goodyear tire dealer told me that the Corvette run flat tires have been almost impossible to fix a nail penatration on except at limited/specially equipped Goodyear dealers. Many Corvette owners wind up buying new and sometimes different replacement tires.
Flint350 - Digital readout for cruise control? I've run through the Display 1 settings and didn't notice anything about cruise control. Maybe it wasn't on at the time. I'm still trying to figure out what "elapsed time" has to do with the real world. Hours on boat engines- yes, but cars??? Needless to say I'll play with the multifunction display tomorrow. My display 2 doesn't seem to do much. From my first reading of the manual I think this is because I have the Nav system. Is this correct?
jflx - According to the explanation of Edmunds- counting your post # 1000 was really 1031. 1024 might have been more appropriate for a computer based system. Thanks for your generous sharing of your prize in any case.
Got a wash today and during the approval walk around I realized just how much the "lines" of the car appeal to me now. Styling is fine, no issue for me at all. As for "tires", I also have the 17" B Turanza's (summer) and since I live in Md. (where it snows, of course), I would prefer all-season tires. So next fall, I shop. Altho' I understand the options are few. As for the Bridgestones, I don't have any special like/dislike for them. I think they could possibly be better/quieter (i.e. another brand like Michelin, et. al.), but not sure. How are yours wbwynn? Finally, the "bears" have drviven the market low enough that, had I waited until now and all the owner reports came in, I may not have bought for cash (I wouldn't have had the cash). Lucky for me (not as affluent as most of you I guess), I cashed out a Schwab fund to buy the car for cash just before Capt Greenspan and the Titanic hit me. SO - does that explain my "catchy" Oz-induced title line? (I'm feeling extra happy tonight, forgive me! - must be the Xanax).
OK, the digital readout I mentioned is when you turn on the laser cruise (assuming you have it, I forget what model you have). On 1st activating the laser, the small multidisplay (bottom ctr, btwn the speedo and tach) will show "radar ready". When you use the stalk lever to set the speed you want, it displays it digitally in that window underneath a little drawing of your car and the distance indicators. Now then, what Display 2 does is change those distance markers from "long" (3 bars) to "medium" (2 bars) to "short" (1 bar). Each press of the disp 2 button cycles these distances for your radar cruise to maintain between you and that noisy Benz in front of you. (couldn't resist) Also, the display 2 button, if held, will cycle off the outside temp display (not the center console one, the one near the speedo. If you have the radar cruise and haven't tried it - trust me, it works to perfection. I really thought it wouldn't, but couldn't be more wrong. A benzaholic friend of mine tried it and it totally amazed him (he has an E320, not an S). He was cruising the Baltimore Beltway at about 70 and the radar was keeping a nice distance on the car in front. Then some $^#%&* suddenly cut in front of us. The radar quickly downshifted (I only know that bcz I saw the tach, never felt a thing), applied the brakes and beeped to warn us. It wasn't so close that we had to disconnect, but nearly. As soon as the jerk moved away, the cruise smoothly accelerated to 70 again. It was a terrific, if unplanned demonstration. As for the time function, you can use the wheel reset button to reset it, but I agree, it's implementation is less than stellar. It just counts up continuously until reset. Not that useful. The S Class resets, as I recall, at each startup. Found some new nav voice commands today, but I have been droning way too long. Besides, the Sopranos approaches in 16 minutes, as I write this! Lastly, ljflx, thanks for sharing the prize, but since your post was directed at me, I feel obligated to share the expense with you!
Good title! I'm having the same feelings about the style. I first gave the car a B- , feeling it was somewhat "boxy" and lacked a distinctive feature like the "big eye" look of my E320. As I've had the car for a little while I'm noticing how well everything is sculpted to flow together and liking the look even more. I must be honest the styling will never grab me like a Porche, Lamborghini or Jaguar XJ, but I'd rather have my LS than any of those cars. Want more flash, speeding tickets and repair bills? Go for the sports cars. But if you want a truly great luxury sedan at a value-based price; go LS.
I have the base car with Nav/ML. My only rear seat passenger is our dog, and I think he's too old to learn the rear seat controls on the Ultra. I would have bought a Custom had they been available because I really wanted the laser cruise, park assist and a couple of the other goodies. I skipped over the display 2 section dealing with laser cruise since it was moot. Got to go. Against the law in NJ to miss the Sopranos.
Help! I currently drive a 1995 BMW 325i sedan. The car has been great, actually no problems. However, my wife and I are expecting twins very soon and the rear facing baby seats do not fit very well into this car. We have been talking about getting a bigger sedan - she drives a new minivan. My sister-in-law just got the LS430 and she will sell us her 1999 LS400 with 20k miles for a good price.
My "hang-ups" are - I am only 31 - is this car too "old" and big for me especially having the 325i and the handling/steering of the BMW is great. On the down side, the BMW is rough and noisy especially in Atlanta with all of our potholes. The Lexus is bigger obvioulsy and feels (and probably is) safer - now a very important concern with twins on the way. It is a hard decision to jump from a sporty small sedan to a big luxury car when you are 31. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.
I'm 53. To borrow from the current Mitsubishi commercial using Rod Stewart's song:
"I wish that I knew what I know now, when I was younger."
Don't get hung up on your age related image of what people shoud drive. The number of 20-30 somethings and 55+'s driving Corvettes is probably equal. You'll be more comfortable, safer and will avoid a major hassel every time you try to take your family in the car. You're thinking about car seats, but don't forget: Diaper bags, stroller/carriages, food and clothing, all x2. The LS is a great car, and is large enough to meet your needs.
"Rough, noisy and potholes" don't match with the winding country roads you see the sports sedans drifting through turns on when you see their ads. I made the leap from coupes to sedans, and it really was so much more comfortable and convenient. You are still going to get performance because the engine is sized appropriately to the car. My LS430 is my first Lexus and I don't have personal experience with the 400. From what I've read the general feeling is that the 400 was too insular from the driving experience (you didn't feel the road or steering), but never that it didn't handle well. In the new 430 they've added an option to have a more european suspension. My last car was a MB E320 and I enjoy driving my Lexus (with standard suspension) just as much if not more. If you read some of the earlier posts you will see people talking about how they hear the coins in the change holder hitting each other when they make turns. That's how quiet the car is.
An option you don't mention is to just use the new minivan when you are taking the children and keep the BMW. If your sister-in-law lives near you try to switch cars for a few days and try it. My best advise is to go with what feel right and makes sense - don't let a misconception that a luxury sedan is the first step into middle age be the determining factor. You may regret a missed opportunity. Best wishes to you and your wife, and enjoy your twins.
I think the B 17 Turanzas are great handling tires, but they do show some noise on certain road surfaces...I am not well-versed on tire alternatives in the 17" catagory.
Since I came out of a GMC Yukon, I am conditioned to the big fluffy Goodyears with no handling. I am just curious about the different tires that come on the LS and their varying noise characteristics.
I am having trouble figuring out this feature as well. For one thing, according to the manual, the "mileage per tank" and "mileage since last refueling" readings are supposed to reset automatically when you fill up; they don't (although the "range" reading does). Second, the "tank average" reading is very low - never above 16 mpg, when I know that is not the case. Anyone else experiencing similar problems? I will have them checked out at my 30-day. Also, the service writer told me that he cannot program the door locks to "all unlock" when put back in park. I told him that a number of posters had indicated they have already done so, and he is checking with Lexus Service to check if/how this can be accomplished.
TO REITERATE WHEN I CALLED LEXUS , THEY STATED THAT THEY ARE RE-DESIGNING THE PHONE AND THAT IT WILL BE COMPATIBLE WITH PRESENT LS430 WIRING. A VOICE ACTIVATED PHONE IS A MUST HAVE SAFETY FEATURE AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND THE LAPSE AT LEXUS.
I understand what you are feeling!!! When I purchased my first LS400 (1995) I observed that the bulk of drivers of an LS was either old, foreign or fat. Nevertheless, I kept with Lexus and have entertained a return to a sports car on numerous occasions. A few months ago I drove an NSX for an hour, thought I loved it, got back into the LS and realized that the quietness and smoothness the LS offers quelled my desire for the NSX.
I would recommend that you borrow the LS for a day and experience the reasons Lexus has such a following. It is possible that you may prefer the BMW. Some people prefer to feel and hear the road, nothing wrong with that, it is personal preference. If it turns out that you do prefer the 3 series, you have the minivan to haul the family around in and the 325 is yours alone!
I have a '99 LS400 and the ride is less firm as my previous '95 LS400. This took a month for me to get used to. The power increase the 99 has over the 95 was amazing, I would not be surprised if the LS is faster/quicker than the 325, but I will admit the 325 will slalom much, much better.
I agree with stevestein, do not let image guide you. Try it, see if you like it. Let the experience direct your decision. Hope it has GPS I get a kick out of mine!!
If you have to deal with traffic much (and I'm in Atlanta also), then you will find the LS400 a GREAT stress reliever. The 325i will seem positively archaic and crude in comparison to a 99 LS400.
As far as the image goes - you're 31 first of all, not 21, and a 99 LS400 says you're successful more than a 95 325i. But if you want to be thought of as 'sporty and hip' then I guess the LS400 is not the way to go.
I have a GS400 with modified (much improved) handlng by the way - so I've got Lexus smoothness and reliability with performance that will beat anything from Bavaria except an M3 or M5. :-)
My sincere apologies for the confusion over the recent journalist research posting. Indeed, we intended to look for high-end car-shoppers affected by the economy, including recent ES300 buyers who had originally considered more upscale models such as your beloved LS430. Sorry also for causing a distraction in your discussion. No harm or disrespect was intended in any way - we're just trying to help journalists in their quest to inform. Thanks for your understanding.
Lexus owners are generally a very tolerant bunch, but it just seemed odd apparently placing the LS430 in the same league as a C-Class and BMW 3 series. ES300 (and IS300) makes much more sense.
What I'd like to see is you do an article on why people who HAD been shopping for a Mercedes S-class ended up buying a Lexus LS430!!! I think you'll find plenty of 'quotes' from people in this forum! A loaded LS430 is $30K less than a loaded S500.
I'm trying to decide between two great cars. Is the LS a "fuddy duddy" car vs the BMW? or are they beginning to be perceived differently. I loved the LS except for the fact that the door locks will possibly drive me crazy and that passengers can't update the GPS once the cars travelling... Otherwise, I love it. The BMW is also great, but I'm concerned that the value will diminish once the new 745 model is introduced. Any suggestions?
There are younger folks who drive the LS430, I am only 33 with two kids in car seats. While I do not have experience with the 99 LS400 specifically, I do have experience with the assorted BMW's I used as loaners when my 740iL was in the shop. Go with the LS400 if you like it, you will want the room, especially in the back seat and trunk. I can remember the frustration of trying to shoe horn car seats, as well as kids, in the back seat of a 5 series, let alone a 3 series.
Borrow the LS for a day or two, put everything you would need in a typical day with kids (car seats, strollers, ...) and see how much you enjoy it.
Congrats on the twins and good luck in whatever decision you make.
The door locks can be reprogrammed. The reason why only the driver side unlocks at the press of the button is for safety so that no one else can get in who might be nearby. My wife appreciates this at night when she is grocery shopping or at the mall. A quick second hit of the button unlocks all the doors but it will take your dealer a few minutes if you want this to occur with the first hit. As for the car buy what suits you not what is perceived. If you want sport luxury than the LS400 is not for you - a sport suspension LS430 may do the trick though. If you want a great ultra-quietride with a great stereo and incomparable reliability than the LS400 or the 430 is the car. Btw - most of the 7 and S drivers I see look very much like LS drivers to me and they don't drive all that fast or aggressive. If you scroll this board you'll see most of us compared either the S or the 7 to the LS430 before we bought. I think the perception thing is a lot of nonsense perpetuated by the auto mags. Once you drive a Lexus LS (or GS)you won't ever fall for it again.
hoos1 - comparing the two cars is a bit like comparing a great guard to a great center in basketball. They are two totally different animals. I'd never even think of taking a BMW 3 over any Lexus LS car. The LS is such a better family car, and much safer.
Look at the resale, from what i am told, bmw's ( i've had several) don't keep their value like lexus. also, much more expensive to repair, because you frequent the service bay more (my experience). I've had them all, thought of buying an s class, but my service has been spotty and i wanted a car i didn't have to worry about.5500 miles and perfect...i've never had a car like this...perfect. My BMW's Mercedes. The only car that comes even close was my 94 honda civic ex, it just ran, but i had trouble with head room and wind noise but ran like a top and got killer mileage. My BMW's and MB service, service service, i really don't want to see the service guy. and when i do i want to be treated like i have been at lexus. today i called a local dealer not the one that sold me the car and asked for an appointment for an oil change...no big deal. he said we can do that for you today. I said no, but how about wed. and i'll need a loaner and change to the 7500mile interval. Yes sir, come in when you can and we'll be ready.
My local bmw service (st. albans, west virginia) took 5 visits and still couldn't get the grunting sound out of my clutch. I will never own a bmw. service, attitude, quality of the car, resale. I've learned my lesson. I don't trust the most engineered car on the planet (MB) (owned 2) and things should go better. I like a hassle free car, and that's lexus so far. My friend has a ML55, squeeks, and the command system stink. "how do you like spending 70+k for a vehicle that doesn't have automatic climate control and an abysmal location for the cd changer?" he said it's not a keeper. MB needs to rethink things, engineer to be simple not so complex to remind you of how difficult things can be. Ergonomics are class leader. I already have someone to buy my ls430 near lease end. They draw attention for quality, resale, and service. it works everytime.
nthemkt - you can also have the door locks changed to unlock all doors (not just driver) when you shift into park. You can also have the autolock adjusted to lock at approx. 12mph instead of immediately (nice for small movements, like around the driveway, etc.). As for GPS, it is mostly a legal problem. Lexus probably fears being sued by some idiot driver trying to be too interactive with the gps while going 80 on the interstate, etc. I agree it would be nice for the system to sense a passenger and allow such operation (after all, the climate control senses a passenger), but not yet. BTW, you can do quite a bit of changing while enroute, except for manually entering an entirely new address. You can reroute, detour, go to any of 10 previous addresses, etc. At least if you have a series of addresses saved that you navigate to often, you can do that, even by voice command. Of course you can always do a quick update at a long stop light or just pull over briefly. But agreed, it would be better if a passenger had complete control. (and by the way, it'll take you quite a while to find all the hidden little features in the car and the amazing nav system abilities - the fun goes on and on...)
Has anybody noticed the non-logical numbers on some of these readouts? Nealm1 in post #1019, and my post #1006 both agree that something probably is wrong. My dealer says no one else has brought this up, but I think it is just because people arn't aware of it.
I recently went to a car show and played around in a LS430, I was very impressed. Is this replacing the LS400, or is it just an add on to the line? My email is posted, please respond to this as i am not on the Town Hall very often. Any answers would be greatly appreciated
Hi - Thanks for your suggestion in post #1025. Are you aware we opened a discussion board called "Talk to the Press" where you can share your ideas on stories you'd like to see written? All are welcome to post ideas, as well as your automotive experiences and areas of automotive expertise. A lot of journalists use Town Hall in their research, and that discussion board is developing as the place to communicate with them. Hope to see you there! Meanwhile, have fun LS-ing.
I have been reading the many nice comments users have been posting about the LS430. Unfortunately I will have to wait longer to be able to get one because Mystic Sea Customs are just not available in the New York area. In anticipation of being able to buy one I have tried to purchase the LS430 electrical manual from my dealer while my 99LS400 was being serviced. The dealer informs me that Lexus does not sell manuals any more. That is a shame since it came in very handy on my LS400. I used it to make a device that cuts out the AC when the gas pedal is depressed fully so that acceleration to highway speed from a stop sign (and no merge area) can be made a little more safely. I would constantly forget to turn off the AC in those situations, so I figured out a way to do it automatically with the help of the book.
Does anyone know if Lexus will be providing these manuals on line in PDF or (AutoCad , Visio, etc. ) format?
Hi, I recently purchased an LS430 base car. Moving from an RX300 to this has been sheer bliss. What a terrific car! I am not into the us vs them stuff, I tend to count my blessings that I am able to drive this! After 2500 miles in my LS430, I'm starting to regret not getting the nav/lev package, which I could have used a few times already. At first I thought it was just another expensive toy that would lose it's charm after awhile, but now I am starting to realize the value of this feature. Does anybody know if this system can be installed as an after market item by Lexus dealers? I doubt it, but thought some of you more experienced LSers may give me a glimmer of hope. Anybody know how much I would stand to lose by trading up to this package? I bought the car, no lease. Also, don't you think that for spending 55K on a car Lexus could at least make the Lexus link standard? Goodness sakes, you can by a Chevy Impala with that system. Seems like a small request from the best car on the planet. Also, my standard radio has ASL feature that does not seem to work very well. Has anybody else noticed that radio level is unchanged when interior decibel level increases? Any help is appreciated.
I have a Mystic Sea/Ecru and I'm very happy with that color - looks good in all types of light. I wanted a Custom also but decided not to wait and went with the "61130" version (LLink,Nav&ML). As to your specific question - This car has pep! Even with the A/C on (and the last couple of days we had a chance to really use it) it accelerates to highway speed very quickly. This car is so based on electronics that it would be very risky to try and fool the computers. Are you aware that the gas pedal is really a "fly-by-wire" device and has no mechanical linkage to the throttle? Take another test drive and punch it. In the few cases where you feel you need more power you'd probably be much better off using the existing controls to turn the A/C off (or waiting for a little larger break in the traffic).
I suspect the complexity and fit issues with the Nav system or ML stereo would preclude their subsequent installation by the dealer, but you'd have to ask them. As to the Lexus Link, you are paying both for the car equipment and the initial service. While I'm sure they make a profit, it still costs Lexus a fair bit of change. They now have two choices. Make it standard on a 56K car and everyone pays whether they want it or not,or make it a 1K option on a 55K car that people can choose to buy or not. I think the latter is the better way to go. It keeps the entry price down (good for Lexus marketing and people streching a little to get into the car) and doesn't force people to pay for the HW if they have no intention of keeping the service. My wife feels that it is a great peace of mind feature, so I'll stay with the basic service and don't mind the price. Having made that decision, I still appreciate being given the choice.
I think you should talk to wwest about car mods. ;-) He could make sure the windows don't fog up while you speed onto the highway.
On a more serious note - AC probably amounts to a negligible amount (perhaps not even measurable) of loss of acceleration on a car as powerful as a new LS430. These cars are designed to run the AC basically all the time to either cool or dehumidify.
As for them not offering the manuals, the LS430 has 20+ computers and fiber optics I believe, and I think you'd need a PhD in electronics to follow it all. I can understand them not wanting customers 'tinkering' any longer. It was inevitable sooner or later.
Per # 1037 I have not been able to notice any change in volume or tone at differant ambiant noise levels. The ASL logo is displayed so I know that the setting is correct.
Does anyone have any experience in the proper operation of this feature?
I did an experiment to see if I could hear the ASL difference, and it was amazing! First, I drove around until all the lights lit on the ASL icon. Then I turned it off by touching the ASL button. I could tell that the tone had changed (or equalization). It seemed like the frequencies that were partially drowned out by engine noise were boosted, so that the total volume was NOT increased, just those frequencies affected by engine noise (or whatever noise trigered the ASL).
I'm really enjoying my black cherry/bordeaux Ultra. I originally wanted the Custom, but I'm using the shades alot here in the South, and the back seat goodies will be nice on a long trip (with another driver, of course), so I have no regrets. I've driven 1600 miles of pure pleasure. On the other hand, whenever I drive my '95 SC300, I miss all those wonderful features that are in the LS: magnificent music system, lazer cruise, quiet cabin, auto wipers... I even like the way the LS handles on winding mountain roads better than the sport coupe! This is the first sedan I ever owned, and being in my 30s I was apprehensive having thought that the LS400 was old fogey. But the technological wizardry in the LS430 made me take another look; not to mention the variable air suspension that is either cushy on rough roads, or tight handling on mountain curves (maybe not the tightest available, but tight enough for me.)
Tires--I've had good luck in the past with Bridgestone Turanza Revos on the SC300. The coupe came with Goodyear which rode kind of rough and wore out quickly--15k-20k miles. After going through another set of Goodyears, I did some research and purchased Turanza Revos a couple of years ago for the coupe. They are made with a revolutionary new compound called Uni-ty (sp?) which was developed for race cars so that they would wear longer and still be soft and grippy. They ride much smoother and cushier than the Goodyears, and they also feel like there is more tire gripping the road--I like them alot. I wonder if the Turanzas that came on my LS430 are made of that same Uni-ty compound?
I think you hit the nail on the head with the color looking good in all lighting conditions. The Cherry, for example, looks fantastic in the shade. In bright sun it looks purple. I admit I have not driven the 430. There seemed to be no need since it has the same power and about the same weight as my 400. I expect similar performance. It is not so much that the AC takes too much power, but that the rotational inertia of the compressor delays the RPM increase, keeping it out of the range where the power really becomes available for a longer time. Flying by wire actually makes the modification easier since you don’t need another throttle position sensor. As for waiting for a larger gap in the traffic: The gas pedal stomping location I referred to is an urban limited access highway in an old part of Queens NY. There are no gaps in the traffic. One is forever caught between the horns of cars behind you and the fingers of the drivers in the cars you force to brake hard. The only car I ever owned that managed the trick was my first one, a 365 horse 64 Chevy SS. (See how ancient I am) This car had great power, but all other attributes were abysmal. I will take the Lexus any day. So I accept your advice, I will try to remember to hit the climate control before the stomp.
Agreed, on a net basis, the power siphoned off by the AC is not huge but the compressor delays the RPM run up into the "engine power range". The delay is very noticeable on my LS400. It feels just like the “turbo-lag” in a Volvo I once owned.
I meet the prerequisites you mention as a requirement for understanding the electrical manual. Thus I still would like to have the manual, even if I never make a single mod. There is one mod, however, that I will try to make to the 430. The manual for my LS400 allowed me to put in a voiceprint biometric anti-theft module integrated into the car electronics. I would sorely miss this convenience on the 430.
Thus I would like to renew my request for information on the LS430 Electrical Manual. Perhaps some other dealers would be willing to order one through the parts department. I know paper copies exist because I saw one on the dealer’s shop floor.
Agreed, on a net basis, the power siphoned off by the AC is not huge but the compressor delays the RPM run up into the "engine power range". The delay is very noticeable on my LS400. It feels just like the “turbo-lag” in a Volvo I once owned.
I meet the prerequisites you mention as a requirement for understanding the electrical manual. Thus I still would like to have the manual, even if I never make a single mod. There is one mod, however, that I will try to make to the 430. The manual for my LS400 allowed me to put in a voiceprint biometric anti-theft module integrated into the car electronics. I would sorely miss this convenience on the 430.
Thus I would like to renew my request for information on the LS430 Electrical Manual. Perhaps some other dealers would be willing to order one through the parts department. I know paper copies exist because I saw one on the dealer’s shop floor.
Does anyone know why those spurious character strings appear in the message? The text I entered did not have them.
It looks like you are composing your posts off-line in MS Word? Doing that, then pasting the text into the post box will result in some characters (apostrophes, for one) being garbled like that when the message is actually posted - apparently Word uses some non-standard ascii characters.
Best way to avoid it is not to use Word. You could use a standard ascii text editor such as Notepad, or just type into the post box.
Hope this helps.
Pat Host Sedans and Women's Auto Center Message Boards
I live in NJ but grew up in Bayside. I can take a wild guess that you're talking about the Belt or Cross Island Parkway. I'll defer to your PhD as I'm only a BSEE, but I wouldn't want to try to trace the functions and interfaces between the modules on this car. They've built in some neural networks and fuzzy logic components, one of which deals with the throttle. I believe the torque curve on the 430 is much different than the 400, and that's where much of the 0-60 performance comes from. I'd try it first to see if there is a problem. If there is, then study possible solutions.
It you're determined to follow through, you might find some Lexus technician who would be interested in looking up how to do something along the lines you suggest as an intellectual exercise or as a diversion, and use his access to the manuals. Another alternative is to see if you can use the dealer copy in his service area. My dealership has a wonderful lounge area (including virtual golf, free cafe and putting green) in his service department. It would be a nice place to pour over service manuals while you design your "fix".
Good guess, but it is Jackie Robinson (Interborough) Parkway. From your comments I notice you have done a lot of research on this model. How did you find out about all those details? I agree with you that this thing could turn out to be a monumental undertaking if I let it get out of hand. As I get older "quick and dirty" is beginning to sound better all the time.
I thank the moderator for explaining the spurious character strings in my previous post. MS Word is indeed what I used. I guess I am a more or less typical Lexus owner in that like "easy to use" things. MS Word, unlike keying into this text box directly, can accommodate verbal dictation, obviating keyboard acrobatics.
I guess they are all of similar age and design. Lexus.com under LS430 specifications talks about ECT-i and VVT-i. These are two areas where they got very high tech. The VVT-i switches the engine bias between high torque at low RPM and high horsepower later, which is why I think it may be quicker off the line than your 400. The owners manual goes into some detail on all the features and I believe (but am not sure) that is where I picked up the details I mentioned in the previous post. The NAV system rates a volume of its own. Another thing the LS does is learn your driving habits. If you're a driver that isn't smooth on the accelerator (I confess my wife accused me of giving her whiplash) it will compensate for that. Also, since there isn't a mechanical linkage, the car can adjust the power output when it senses changes in workload due to a different slope and will maintain speed without requiring the driver to change pressure on the pedal. It's not your like your mom's old boolean processor anymore.
One other option would be to continue to use Word to make your posts, then use the blue Edit button which shows up to the right of your post title to correct the garbled characters. For about 30 minutes after making a post, that button is available.
Not ideal, but it would allow you to use the Word features you like with the opportunity to correct the occasional problems caused by it.
Pat Host Sedans and Women's Auto Center Message Boards
You guys are taking me back to my single days at the Salty Dog (metropolitan ave.) and the clubs on Queens blvd. with this talk about the Interborough pkwy.
Comments
After speaking to a master mechanic at a Lexus dealer about the tire pressure indicators and run flat tires that are on the SC430, I am glad the LS430 doesn't have them. He said the transmitters mounted to the inside of each wheel (within the tire) have lithion batteries powering them that need replacing at long intervals. If you ever wanted aftermarket wheels, it would almost be impossible. My Goodyear tire dealer told me that the Corvette run flat tires have been almost impossible to fix a nail penatration on except at limited/specially equipped Goodyear dealers. Many Corvette owners wind up buying new and sometimes different replacement tires.
Where else can you find such useful info on the LS!
I have 17" Bridgestone Turanzas on my car...any comments from others who have these....?
jflx - According to the explanation of Edmunds- counting your post # 1000 was really 1031. 1024 might have been more appropriate for a computer based system. Thanks for your generous sharing of your prize in any case.
As for the time function, you can use the wheel reset button to reset it, but I agree, it's implementation is less than stellar. It just counts up continuously until reset. Not that useful. The S Class resets, as I recall, at each startup.
Found some new nav voice commands today, but I have been droning way too long. Besides, the Sopranos approaches in 16 minutes, as I write this!
Lastly, ljflx, thanks for sharing the prize, but since your post was directed at me, I feel obligated to share the expense with you!
My "hang-ups" are - I am only 31 - is this car too "old" and big for me especially having the 325i and the handling/steering of the BMW is great. On the down side, the BMW is rough and noisy especially in Atlanta with all of our potholes. The Lexus is bigger obvioulsy and feels (and probably is) safer - now a very important concern with twins on the way. It is a hard decision to jump from a sporty small sedan to a big luxury car when you are 31. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.
"I wish that I knew what I know now, when I was younger."
Don't get hung up on your age related image of what people shoud drive. The number of 20-30 somethings and 55+'s driving Corvettes is probably equal. You'll be more comfortable, safer and will avoid a major hassel every time you try to take your family in the car. You're thinking about car seats, but don't forget:
Diaper bags, stroller/carriages, food and clothing, all x2. The LS is a great car, and is large enough to meet your needs.
"Rough, noisy and potholes" don't match with the winding country roads you see the sports sedans drifting through turns on when you see their ads. I made the leap from coupes to sedans, and it really was so much more comfortable and convenient. You are still going to get performance because the engine is sized appropriately to the car. My LS430 is my first Lexus and I don't have personal experience with the 400. From what I've read the general feeling is that the 400 was too insular from the driving experience (you didn't feel the road or steering), but never that it didn't handle well. In the new 430 they've added an option to have a more european suspension. My last car was a MB E320 and I enjoy driving my Lexus (with standard suspension) just as much if not more. If you read some of the earlier posts you will see people talking about how they hear the coins in the change holder hitting each other when they make turns. That's how quiet the car is.
An option you don't mention is to just use the new minivan when you are taking the children and keep the BMW. If your sister-in-law lives near you try to switch cars for a few days and try it. My best advise is to go with what feel right and makes sense - don't let a misconception that a luxury sedan is the first step into middle age be the determining factor. You may regret a missed opportunity. Best wishes to you and your wife, and enjoy your twins.
Since I came out of a GMC Yukon, I am conditioned to the big fluffy Goodyears with no handling. I am just curious about the different tires that come on the LS and their varying noise characteristics.
I would recommend that you borrow the LS for a day and experience the reasons Lexus has such a following. It is possible that you may prefer the BMW. Some people prefer to feel and hear the road, nothing wrong with that, it is personal preference. If it turns out that you do prefer the 3 series, you have the minivan to haul the family around in and the 325 is yours alone!
I have a '99 LS400 and the ride is less firm as my previous '95 LS400. This took a month for me to get used to. The power increase the 99 has over the 95 was amazing, I would not be surprised if the LS is faster/quicker than the 325, but I will admit the 325 will slalom much, much better.
I agree with stevestein, do not let image guide you. Try it, see if you like it. Let the experience direct your decision. Hope it has GPS I get a kick out of mine!!
As far as the image goes - you're 31 first of all, not 21, and a 99 LS400 says you're successful more than a 95 325i. But if you want to be thought of as 'sporty and hip' then I guess the LS400 is not the way to go.
I have a GS400 with modified (much improved) handlng by the way - so I've got Lexus smoothness and reliability with performance that will beat anything from Bavaria except an M3 or M5. :-)
Lexus owners are generally a very tolerant bunch, but it just seemed odd apparently placing the LS430 in the same league as a C-Class and BMW 3 series. ES300 (and IS300) makes much more sense.
What I'd like to see is you do an article on why people who HAD been shopping for a Mercedes S-class ended up buying a Lexus LS430!!! I think you'll find plenty of 'quotes' from people in this forum! A loaded LS430 is $30K less than a loaded S500.
Thanks.
Borrow the LS for a day or two, put everything you would need in a typical day with kids (car seats, strollers, ...) and see how much you enjoy it.
Congrats on the twins and good luck in whatever decision you make.
hoos1 - comparing the two cars is a bit like comparing a great guard to a great center in basketball. They are two totally different animals. I'd never even think of taking a BMW 3 over any Lexus LS car. The LS is such a better family car, and much safer.
I've had them all, thought of buying an s class, but my service has been spotty and i wanted a car i didn't have to worry about.5500 miles and perfect...i've never had a car like this...perfect. My BMW's Mercedes. The only car that comes even close was my 94 honda civic ex, it just ran, but i had trouble with head room and wind noise but ran like a top and got killer mileage. My BMW's and MB service, service service, i really don't want to see the service guy. and when i do i want to be treated like i have been at lexus. today i called a local dealer not the one that sold me the car and asked for an appointment for an oil change...no big deal. he said we can do that for you today. I said no, but how about wed. and i'll need a loaner and change to the 7500mile interval. Yes sir, come in when you can and we'll be ready.
My local bmw service (st. albans, west virginia) took 5 visits and still couldn't get the grunting sound out of my clutch. I will never own a bmw. service, attitude, quality of the car, resale. I've learned my lesson. I don't trust the most engineered car on the planet (MB) (owned 2) and things should go better. I like a hassle free car, and that's lexus so far. My friend has a ML55, squeeks, and the command system stink. "how do you like spending 70+k for a vehicle that doesn't have automatic climate control and an abysmal location for the cd changer?" he said it's not a keeper. MB needs to rethink things, engineer to be simple not so complex to remind you of how difficult things can be. Ergonomics are class leader. I already have someone to buy my ls430 near lease end. They draw attention for quality, resale, and service. it works everytime.
Re: The locks -- nice to know they're programmable, my issue was that they auto lock and a passenger must "unlock" the doors to exit.
Re: the GPS system/ Why can't a passenger update a location while in motion?
As for GPS, it is mostly a legal problem. Lexus probably fears being sued by some idiot driver trying to be too interactive with the gps while going 80 on the interstate, etc. I agree it would be nice for the system to sense a passenger and allow such operation (after all, the climate control senses a passenger), but not yet. BTW, you can do quite a bit of changing while enroute, except for manually entering an entirely new address. You can reroute, detour, go to any of 10 previous addresses, etc. At least if you have a series of addresses saved that you navigate to often, you can do that, even by voice command. Of course you can always do a quick update at a long stop light or just pull over briefly. But agreed, it would be better if a passenger had complete control. (and by the way, it'll take you quite a while to find all the hidden little features in the car and the amazing nav system abilities - the fun goes on and on...)
Does anyone know if Lexus will be providing these manuals on line in PDF or (AutoCad , Visio, etc. ) format?
Any help is appreciated.
Pat
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On a more serious note - AC probably amounts to a negligible amount (perhaps not even measurable) of loss of acceleration on a car as powerful as a new LS430. These cars are designed to run the AC basically all the time to either cool or dehumidify.
As for them not offering the manuals, the LS430 has 20+ computers and fiber optics I believe, and I think you'd need a PhD in electronics to follow it all. I can understand them not wanting customers 'tinkering' any longer. It was inevitable sooner or later.
Does anyone have any experience in the proper operation of this feature?
I'm really enjoying my black cherry/bordeaux Ultra. I originally wanted the Custom, but I'm using the shades alot here in the South, and the back seat goodies will be nice on a long trip (with another driver, of course), so I have no regrets. I've driven 1600 miles of pure pleasure. On the other hand, whenever I drive my '95 SC300, I miss all those wonderful features that are in the LS: magnificent music system, lazer cruise, quiet cabin, auto wipers... I even like the way the LS handles on winding mountain roads better than the sport coupe! This is the first sedan I ever owned, and being in my 30s I was apprehensive having thought that the LS400 was old fogey. But the technological wizardry in the LS430 made me take another look; not to mention the variable air suspension that is either cushy on rough roads, or tight handling on mountain curves (maybe not the tightest available, but tight enough for me.)
Tires--I've had good luck in the past with Bridgestone Turanza Revos on the SC300. The coupe came with Goodyear which rode kind of rough and wore out quickly--15k-20k miles. After going through another set of Goodyears, I did some research and purchased Turanza Revos a couple of years ago for the coupe. They are made with a revolutionary new compound called Uni-ty (sp?) which was developed for race cars so that they would wear longer and still be soft and grippy. They ride much smoother and cushier than the Goodyears, and they also feel like there is more tire gripping the road--I like them alot. I wonder if the Turanzas that came on my LS430 are made of that same Uni-ty compound?
I admit I have not driven the 430. There seemed to be no need since it has the same power and about the same weight as my 400. I expect similar performance. It is not so much that the AC takes too much power, but that the rotational inertia of the compressor delays the RPM increase, keeping it out of the range where the power really becomes available for a longer time.
Flying by wire actually makes the modification easier since you don’t need another throttle position sensor.
As for waiting for a larger gap in the traffic: The gas pedal stomping location I referred to is an urban limited access highway in an old part of Queens NY. There are no gaps in the traffic. One is forever caught between the horns of cars behind you and the fingers of the drivers in the cars you force to brake hard. The only car I ever owned that managed the trick was my first one, a 365 horse 64 Chevy SS. (See how ancient I am) This car had great power, but all other attributes were abysmal. I will take the Lexus any day.
So I accept your advice, I will try to remember to hit the climate control before the stomp.
I meet the prerequisites you mention as a requirement for understanding the electrical manual. Thus I still would like to have the manual, even if I never make a single mod. There is one mod, however, that I will try to make to the 430. The manual for my LS400 allowed me to put in a voiceprint biometric anti-theft module integrated into the car electronics. I would sorely miss this convenience on the 430.
Thus I would like to renew my request for information on the LS430 Electrical Manual. Perhaps some other dealers would be willing to order one through the parts department. I know paper copies exist because I saw one on the dealer’s shop floor.
I meet the prerequisites you mention as a requirement for understanding the electrical manual. Thus I still would like to have the manual, even if I never make a single mod. There is one mod, however, that I will try to make to the 430. The manual for my LS400 allowed me to put in a voiceprint biometric anti-theft module integrated into the car electronics. I would sorely miss this convenience on the 430.
Thus I would like to renew my request for information on the LS430 Electrical Manual. Perhaps some other dealers would be willing to order one through the parts department. I know paper copies exist because I saw one on the dealer’s shop floor.
Does anyone know why those spurious character strings appear in the message? The text I entered did not have them.
Best way to avoid it is not to use Word. You could use a standard ascii text editor such as Notepad, or just type into the post box.
Hope this helps.
Pat
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I hope that you enjoy the site.
It you're determined to follow through, you might find some Lexus technician who would be interested in looking up how to do something along the lines you suggest as an intellectual exercise or as a diversion, and use his access to the manuals. Another alternative is to see if you can use the dealer copy in his service area. My dealership has a wonderful lounge area (including virtual golf, free cafe and putting green) in his service department. It would be a nice place to pour over service manuals while you design your "fix".
I thank the moderator for explaining the spurious character strings in my previous post. MS Word is indeed what I used. I guess I am a more or less typical Lexus owner in that like "easy to use" things. MS Word, unlike keying into this text box directly, can accommodate verbal dictation, obviating keyboard acrobatics.
Not ideal, but it would allow you to use the Word features you like with the opportunity to correct the occasional problems caused by it.
Pat
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