By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
I would have bought a new LS430 but I couldn't get a burgandy/ivory one without going up across the border to canada.
So I guess I have to made do with the RX300 until the RX hybrid hits the streets.
http://www.lexus.com/lexuslink/
Scroll down to the bottom and read the footnotes.
Sean
I'm going to re-up this year because I like the safety aspects. Calling the police if the car is broken into is great, and calling them if I have an accident is even better. I still think it should be closer to $10 a month than $20, and a few of the premium services should really be included in the cost of the basic service to make it a little more worthwhile.
Sean
Hopefully the new one won't read me a whole paragraph every time I start the car! Hey, maybe they could have it verbally warn me to drive carefully so the navigation system wouldn't have to make me "agree" to do so every time I head out. ;-)
Sean
I swapped out to the LX470 at the last moment as my son bought a surf board the day before the trip to bring with him. You get some great breakers down there. So I had to load my old Sears cargo carrier on the roof rack and take out the third row seats. I didn't appreciate that at the last minute. But the kids loved it as I set them up in the back with one of those all in one 20" TV/DVD/VCR units and plugged it in to the auxiliary power with an AC/DC converter. Even with the cargo carrier on top the LX was smooth and quiet at 75-80mph. It's a great SUV for a long trip but I'm always amazed that the gas mileage stays the same. I averaged out at 17mpg on I95 and I usually get 16-17 even on the NY area highways. In the LS430 I tend to get an improvement of 5-6mpg on a trip like that but the LX hardly varies.
Are you enjoying the car?
I only have about 500 miles on the LS, but it has been everything I had hoped for. Serene and yet responsive when asked for. Since I am not at that 1K mark, I have babied the gas & brakes. So I do not know yet how sharply I can bring it up for my daily driving.
So far; no creaks or noises from the cabin. No wind noise from the outside. Just minor road noise from coarse highways. These were lower than my S500, but in some ways, perhaps more noticeable since the overall noise floor is lower in the LS.
Aside from the 2 inch scratch on the rear seat, I do not see any other defect. So I am lucky.
As in the previous times I purchased new cars, I order stuff from california Car Cover co. You know, the usual assortment of waxes, polishes, and brushes. Stuff that I use for the 1st few months and remain inside the truck for the life of the vehicle. Oh, got the 1st 4 paint chips on the hood just yesterday. No dings, that's good.
Love those plastic covers on the door bottoms.
I believe that this information is sound since I recently passed a LS MY04 mule doing some USA road testing. Although there was some cover-up on the car the one thing that really struck me was that there were many more changes to the rear then previous pictures on Auto Spies and elsewhere had indicated. It was not near as "slab like" (like the current model) after the C-pillar as I expected. The front was very much like has appeared in recent spy pictures. Also, the new wheels looked very nice.
330 in a color called (I believe) bamboo pearl. It was striking and in my opinion blew away the traditional Lexus cashmere and beige colors and without question would be the color I would choose if I was buying/leasing an RX330. I think it would be a knockout color on the LS as well so I hope one of those colors is its' LS twin.
Was listening to Olivia Newton John tonight, and I seriously felt ONJ was physically siting immediately behind my chair. The stereo illusion was that good. Remarkable.
The 2004 looks more and more like the new Audi's; even some lines from the BMW 7. Is this what we (Lexus owners) want? I do like the extras in the 2004; especially that rear seat mirror.
I wish they'd add the damm AWD but I hear that it will not arrive until the 2006 major redesign.
So far; been getting 15-16 mpg in the busy streets of New York city.
What do you all set the tire pressure to on the Dunlops?
The rest of the list, however, is very consistent with what I was told by a Lexus corporate rep last month at the Lexus SUV driving event.
Yeilds dramatically better lighting than the low wattage (200ma) "flashlight" style bulbs from the factory.
I just discovered that the Porsche dealer parts department stocks european 6W bayonet halogens, H6W, for use in the 996 (986??) series front "position"/parking lamps.
$12.00 each but easier than my retrofit.
On my 92 I had masked off and "chrome" spray painted the inside of the front portion of the dome map light lens area leaving only the 1/2" square projector lens. This was to avoid the annoying map light "scatter" when my wife used the map/reading lamp on her side. Adding the halogen bulb brings her map lighting back up to an acceptable level.
You can also use the H6W bulb for the rear seat map/reading lamps.
For those rear lamps I also added a diode to the circuit such that the 6W map/reading bulb comes on with the normal bulb when the door is opened.
The front dome light fixture was modifed with two PNP darling transistors and base suppy resistors such that both front map/reading lamps come on with the front dome lamp and then gradually extinguish in the same manner.
For a little more entry lighting you can also use/upgrade to european 12 volt W5W lamps at each door map pocket light fixture and the two rear map/reading lamp fixtures.
I sort of expected this, but was hoping for much better treatment. Anyway, I called Ray Catena to schedule for another 250 mile trip.
The Rainx windows does not really wick out water fast enough to avoid using wipers. IS this what you find?
The ML continues to wow me, as 2 hours of jazz on it was simply invigorating.
Paul
I was surprised when you weren't impressed with the ML back on your test drives. Now I guess you know why just about everyone on the board who has it raves about it. By the way I bought a Denon AVR4802 Reveiver (which is a certified THX ultra and which they have upgraded since to a higher THX level) at home last year - when my old Onkyo was starting to go on me - and it wows me as much as the ML does. So if you're ever shopping for a receiver for your home theatre put that one on your short list.
I'm sure Ray Catena will give you better service on the leather. They do have another dealership in Westchester either in Larchmont or White Plains if I remember right.
My business partner who took the LS from an out of state dealer when they were so hot in 2001, gets his serviced at Lexus of Manhattan and has been very satisfied with them.
The ML has to be set properly. I have it at flat everything, and place the fadder one bar below neutral. At this setting, I find Olivia Newton John to be the most sumptuous. My jazz players with their clarinets and piano to my immediate left and right, surrounded by applause. This level of (auto) audio involvement is alien to me, certainly not from my S500. Driving on the rough Long Island Distressway today, with flying debris, strong wind, and menancing trucks was not a problem for the ML under the LS isolation.
Great features on the Denon. I see the back must be filled with 100+ connectors. The 3 sets of component video is needed in my case; as I now have 2 HDTV's.
I remember my first receiver was a Sansui, later bought a McIntosh Amp. Just 50watts, but capable of that in 2ohms. Drove my dorm mates nuts.
Manhattan Lexus is some 25 miles from me. Rallye is closest. They totally renovated their service shop, and they did wash my LS today to a gleaming finish together with a spotless vacuum. Couldn't really be angry for that.
The A8L was harsh, as you say. The new Jag XKR is very nice, but no headroom. Actually no room, period. Both are much noisier than my LS; as I remember.
Oh, another thing, my LS feels like I am driving a taller car, while the S500 felt clser to the ground, but wider and longer.
I also set the ML flat and find that is the best sound quality for it. Have you made your own compilations? They play very well. A few on the board have found ones that don't always work but everything I have bought has played very well. For the most part I've used Digital Research, Phillips and Memorex CDR's. I never put labels on them.
I have tried a few cheap Taiwanese CDR's and the fancy gold Kodak CDR's. Both worked fine on the ML.
I wish they accept DVD-R's.
Hoping for nice weather and happy returns.
If you were just hooking up 3 boosters, it could be done, but with forward facers and infant seats, they truly take up room.
Besides, I find that it is a whole different challenge just to have the kids sit that close together and behave; not even factoring in the seats.
I currently drive an '03 Navigator (HUGE) and while I like the room (you could fit forty car seats in that beast!) I often miss the "feel" of driving a sedan. The times I've driven an LS430 (in laws) I have not wanted to give it up! When my lease is up next year I am strongly considering going back to a Lux sedan. Figuring that my wife drives the kids around most of the time I guess she can use an SUV (like an LX or GX -- by no means a step down from the LS so she'll be happy) while I use the car.
If you are going to be the one driving the kids around most of the time then you might want to consider a bigger vehicle (the LX would be my choice if Lexus is the way you want to go). I've been told that three car seats fit in the LX 2nd row quite nicely. I wouldn't recommend putting a car seat in the 3rd row as you'd need to be an acrobat to buckle the child in!!
In any case, its good to know that the LS can handle at least two and perhaps three (tightly-squeezed) kiddie seats.
I love your final thought though, and it really does have me thinking -- what DID people drive before SUV's and minivan's if they had lots of kids? "Brady Bunch" station wagons? Or were cars back them much bigger overall? Years ago my dad had a Buick Electra that was probably bigger inside and out than my navigator!
The 1st sign of noise came today; after 500 miles, during stretches of very very rough road near the Amboys and Jersey city, as well as near Kennedy Airport. Sounds of rubbing plastic was coming from behind the leather covering above of door armrest. When I pressed on the leather (think it's rubber), I can hear some plastic squishing sound. I guess it's some plastic cover for the door side air bags.
This is not happening all the time like my S500, so I'll live with it, as it is not that annoying. Yet.
The noise is more apparent when the midday sun was baking the plastic, as I have not heard any noise at night, yet.
The road noise I mentioned as I was driving home back on 7/10 totally disappeared today, as I drove back on the same road. Perhaps it's not a deluge, or perhaps the Dunlops had time to break in, whatever it was, the ride was buttery, and the noise over gravel all but when away. The S500 ride is now a distant memory.
Then came a little of that door "inside" noise to trick my mind.... Then again, maybe it was the down market news over 1130 AM that make me more attentive. Who knows.
1) the leather sofa was so comfy, I fell asleep.
2) nice free gourmet sandwiches
3) bottled water and soda
4) exercise room
5) simulated golf driving range
6) conference room
Makes Rallye Mercedes looking like a Ford dealership.
I just might have to drive 200 miles everytime I get service, if not for all those big trucks kicking up stuff onto my LS.
I'm starting to think you're like me with private investments and business interests affording you some free time. I'm going against the old corporate world and have several different business interests - one that is well developed, one that is taking off and one in its infancy. So I'm leaving my company at the end of the summer to devote more time to my own interests but consult with my current employer on a 3-4 day a month retainer thereafter. In the meantime it's nice to have cutback my work to four days a week in July and now to three in August. If that's the case for you it allows for those nice drives. Next time you go to Ray Catena request yourself an RX loaner and go for a nice drive down the shore to Point Pleasant or further down Rt. 35 to Ortley beach for a day. It's great down there. Trust me - there are wonderful restaurants in the area as well. One of my favorites is Nicholas which I told you about earlier but another is Picolo Italia (you can bring your favorite wine to this one) - right next to the service center in the shopping center on the corner (left as you exit) on West Park Avenue. There is also Fromagerie in Rumson which is spectacular. A day at the shore with a nice dinner will be we well appreciated by your wife.
Now - on to serious stuff. This noise in your LS bothers me. I have no such sound or perhaps your hearing is in a league with superman. Once I did have a sound like the one you describe in the LX which was caused by my rear seat armrest rubbing against the seat leather. Catena had investigated the truck, found nothing and then took it for a ride and discovered the problem. They put some leather conditioner on the seat and I never heard the sound again. It bothered me for the simple reason that the LX is also ultra quiet and with Lexus you get used to that quiet isolation in a hurry. You want noise from the stereo and that is it.
God's gift to make up for my poor eyesight.
Do this. Push down on the plastic covering as well as the wood below the door glass. If you feel the give, then you should hear some squish, every so slight. This is the sound I hear over very rough roads. Perhaps I should let the car settle down for a few months before asking them to open up the door frame and try solving this. I am a little reluctant to have anyone (even Lexus) to play with stuff so near the airbags,,
As for driving around. I used to do a lot of that. Right after college. I live in Livingston, NJ and worked in Bethapge, LI. That's nearly 250 miles a day. I did 110K one year and 90K the next. Then I really started to lose my interest. My decade on Wall Street saw me more on cheap limo back seats. I tell ya, the Lincolns and Caddies are very quiet cars, although they "float" around bumps and move like the mechanical boats in the "It's a small small world" Disney ride. Only after I retired from Wall Street did I started enjoying driving again; first with the S500 and now the LS. Driving long distances is still not my cup of tea. Maybe after a long trip to CA or FL will change my mind. Right now, my son is too young for such a long trip. Perhaps later.
anthony:
What links were you referring to?
Get this fixed or it will drive you batty. That is why you bought a Lexus
Lenoard,
I must be getting a little nuts. I took the LS out very late last night, just to hear more jazz.
I HIGHLY recommend this disk:
http://www.fimpression.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FIMSACD034
Yes, it's $60 bucks. If you can find it cheaper elsewhere, do. But it is amazing. Just amazing on the ML. It is best when use at night; city lights is best. Adds to the ambience.
Journey! Great driving music, indeed.
Some of my Maxell CD-R 700MB disks have started to skip in the ML.
For those of you who don't know, CNBC is the 24/7 business channel on cable.