Lexus IS 300 SportCross

jmess · October 2003

Outside edge wear would almost have to be camber (not enough negative) or air pressure related. Try raising the tire pressure 3-5 lbs above the factory spec. That will stiffen up the sidewalls of the tire and prevent them from rolling over as much. The car will turn in better and there will be a slight change the in the ride quality with more air pressure but not anything major.

I highly recommend driving schools. If you want be a better golfer you take lessons. Why not do the same for driving?

wale_bate1 · October 2003

You haven't seen me golf, J! [-(

Seriously, at company golf outings, I'm referred to as "Ironman". You'd think that'd be a good thing wouldn't you? Nope, it's because I can't hit a wood and my putting defies classification...

I'd already taken the front pressure up two pounds over spec, so you think another couple might help? Easy possible fix, I'll give it a shot. Thanks.

Incidentally, I was on that Mazda 3 website again. That interior is about what the IS interior should have been, IMO. They're so similar, it's frightening. Perhaps Mazda just took the Altezza insides and did a little rework? Sure seems like.

The 3 hatch impresses me greatly, even if it is FWD...

riez · October 2003

Keep in mind that Lexus has a zillion tire wear disclaimers on the IS300. Just read the brochures. Make/model tire selected as well as suspension set up (e.g., camber) can contribute. But there might be nothing wrong with your car or the tires.

BMW, which doesn't recommend rotation, and which has its particular suspension set up, often has tire wear issues. People want to get 40K miles when about all they can expect is 10-20K-30K (depending upon how you drive).

wale_bate1 · October 2003

Naah, I'm used to soft sticky tires, but this is uneven wear on both fronts and at only 6K miles.

I was expecting (based on my route and practices) to get somewhere around 15K miles out of them before the indicators showed clean. I'll probably get more like ten out of the fronts.

I think I'll pay a visit to my regular tire shop (Larry's Tire Express) and drop the $50 on the front end. The post-collision alignment was done at Big O, and while I can't say I've ever heard anything bad about them, I can't say I've ever been given them as a recommendation either. Of course this assumes that the front camber is adjustable which it has not been on two of my previous cars. J?

Think it might be a slight toe-in, perhaps?

BTW, we can't rotate either. Well, except for J, that is...

r0bertbr1an · October 2003

Hi dardenkoa,
Just a couple of notes about my purchasing experience. The reason I took my SportCross back up to Alexandria was mainly to drive my car a long distance and crank up my awesome Lexus stereo. Sure, it's not a custom 1200-watt thumper, but it's the best factory system I've ever had. I also wanted to thank my sales guy once again for hooking me up. As for the Richmond dealership, they were the most disappointing of all the places I contacted. I did a mass e-mail on a Monday when I returned from vacation back in August (about ten dealerships), and they were the last ones to contact me (on Friday of that week). At that point I had already agreed on a price, financing and a delivery date with the Alexandria dealership. I e-mailed Lexus of Richmond, telling them what an easy sale they lost, but they never contacted me to explain why or apologize. I will, however, be going there for my first oil change (at 2,500 miles) and first free 5,000 mile service. So, you're getting a black SportCross? Are you getting tan or black interior, leather or leather/ecsaine? Mine's black with tan leather and graphite polished wheels. Since it came up from Florida, that's what most of them had in place of the heated seats. If I see you on the road when you get yours, I'll beep (even the horn sounds good on this car). You'll know it's me because there are no other SportCrosses around here that I've seen. Just the silver one in the parking garage where I work that prompted me to buy mine. Good luck and be patient. It'll be worth the wait.

riez · October 2003

wale_bate1... If my car is still under warranty, I only have the dealer mess with alignments, suspension settings, etc. That way I have documentation that the supposed "experts" are the only ones tinkering around with these components. Maybe it is just me. I wouldn't trust a 3rd party that doesn't specialize in Lexus products and might not have ready access to any and all technical service bulletins, recall notices, etc. If they mess up, Lexus won't warranty their work or the damage they might cause.

wale_bate1 · October 2003

Well, I have to respect that, riez, and the dealer will still see it for warranty work, and the occasional service, so TSBs and recalls will be covered, but it's a Toyota, and no really good Toyota specialist is gonna be confused by anything on it or in it.

Alignments aren't a warranted item, or else I missed something. Considering you can screw it up on a single pothole, I sure wouldn't want to have to absorb the expense of honoring that!

riez · October 2003

wale_bate1... You have me a bit confused. You wrote:

"I think I'll pay a visit to my regular tire shop (Larry's Tire Express) and drop the $50 on the front end. The post-collision alignment was done at Big O, and while I can't say I've ever heard anything bad about them, I can't say I've ever been given them as a recommendation either.

and

"no really good Toyota specialist is gonna be confused by anything on it or in it."

I wasn't getting the impression that "Larry's Tire Express" or "Big O" are specialists in either Toyotas or Lexus. Are they? They sound like generalists who see a lot more Detroit iron or even FWD I4 Toyotas than Lexus.

Not even sure I'd trust Toyota specialists. Toyota USA doesn't sell Lexus. There is no Toyota equivalent to the IS300 in USA. Dedicated Toyota specialists--who deal in Toyota marque--might have little or no experience or expertise with the IS300 platform. This is different outside USA, where the IS300 is the Toyota Altezza.

wale_bate1 · October 2003

No, Big O is the insurance co's farm-out locally, which is how I ended up there. I prefer the thought of returning to my shop, Larry's, whom I trust and have had great results from. Whether it goes into Lexus of Pleasanton or Larry's, they will reset the critical alignment factors to factory spec which is readily accessible info. There is no function in an alignment that Lexus will perform that Larry's cannot, unless maybe if parts are required (I think if it was that bad, I'd feel it). The coffee at Larry's (thus far) is better too.

What I don't know is how accurate or sloppy the Big O shop was, since I've never dealt with them, though technically, they should do exactly the same thing. Larry's for me is a quality known.

I think you're imagining a whole lot more mystery around Lexi (or any brand for that matter) than really exists. I was speaking of personal mechanics really when I mentioned Toyota specialists, and I would be greatly surprised to find that mundane maintenance on any Lexus was anywhere outside their capabilities.

This is not a plug for Larry's, nor a referendum on non-dealership service per se, but I have to say, my long-term experience with mechanics is that an independent you know and trust is often worlds better than the dealer's shop for a number of reasons. I mostly agree with your observations on TSB's and recalls, and I certainly wouldn't take a brand new model anywhere but the dealer.

Maybe this Lexus "experience" will change my mind on dealer shops!

riez · October 2003

wale_bate1... As I said earlier, my comments are based on the car still being under warranty and being willing to pay a bit more for peace of mind.

Not sure the average Joe Garage or routine tire, brake, or tranny shop has the tools, parts, or expertise for lots of things. Will they spot some potential problem when it first manifests itself? Will they be up on TSBs? Do they have the latest and greatest technical information or updates?

If a Lexus dealer does the work, even for simple things like alignments, you likely won't have warranty claim issues.

In today's mail I received a copy of the Lexus Platinum Extended Warranty I purchased with my IS300. Noticed the following "You must have your Your vehicle serviced as recommended by the manufacturer as provided in the Manufacturer's Owner's manual..., including but not limited to: ...4) Inspect front suspension and steering linkage." Then goes into great detail about how you have to keep all maintenance records. Lexus uses a computerized database that links all dealers. Reportedly your service records are maintained in a way that lets all Lexus dealers access and update. You'd clearly have the proof of proper maintenance.

Once out of warranty, I'm all in favor of good indendents who specialize in particular marque(s).

jmess · October 2003

I had my 02s alignment redone under warranty. Check the standard warranty book that came with the car. I am too lazy to walk down to the garage and dig it out at the moment.

dardenkoa · October 2003

that is disappointing to hear that the Richmond Lexus was late in replying your email the first time and failed to reply you the second time.

some traditional companies with new web sites often have the trouble of remembering to check their emails. i suppose Lexus Richmond is no exception. However, so far the sales rep whom i dealt with at the dealership has been very good about replying my emails within 24 hours. i have no complaints yet. hopefully never.

anyway, i got the black on black leather/alcantara. it comes with heated seats intead of the graphite polished wheels.

yeah, i will certainly beep right back at you when we happen to cross paths. i live in charlottesville so the chances of us bumping into each other will be slim. that is a good thing in a way since we both probably want to be the ONLY person in town seen in the SportCross. :-)

dardenkoa · October 2003

jmess, okay, i am starting to lean towards getting the clear bra instead of the traditional bras.

that sucks that the bra needs to be taken off after getting wet. (i never owned a bra for a car or myself before, hehe)

since you had two vinyl bras for your previous car(s), i think i will take your word for it.

The first thing I will do for my car is Tints. Gotta give the girl some shades before dressing her up with bras. or is it the other way around? hehe.

dardenkoa · October 2003

oh yeah, by the way...

by the time you have to go in to get your first oil change, you might just see a black sportcross sitting in the lot waiting for me.

it will be a rare sight for the Lexus Dealership in Richmond since they have a ton of IS300 Sedans.

i am projecting and hoping for mid-november arrival before thanksgiving.

wale_bate1 · October 2003

I'm sure you'll have no issues with your warranty.

jmess · October 2003

A friend of a friend has a black sportcross with the factory chrome alloys. It looks really nice.

It is good to get the clear bra on before you get any chips. I waited way too long. When you put the bra on over touchup paint the area over the chip isn't flat so the clear bra material is deformed slightly. When you get up close to the bra you can see where the chips are. Sorta of like rain drops on a window.

I had the full front treatment including the side mirrors, hood, airdam and headlights done. Since the airdam is plastic, it might not really be necessary. I am sure the plastic would get beat up a bit over time but it might still look ok.

One thing I didn't have done was the front windshield pillars. My installer said it wasn't really necessary. Yet a couple of months after the install I got nailed by a big rock in the driver's side pillar. I have a big rock chip as a result. Probably a 1 in million shot but it was my bad for not having it covered.

wale_bate1 · October 2003

I have seen my first '04 in Bluestone (sedan).

Beautiful. Now, THAT's a blue I could live with.

I wonder how far upside down I am right now?

dardenkoa · October 2003

while visiting my girlfriend in L.A. this weekend, i decided to go drop by Longo Toyota/Lexus Dealership to see if they had a SportCross. This dealership is HUGE. The sales rep claimed that they sell hundreds of lexuses a month! that is crazy.

well, the sales rep did know about the SportCross unlike other Lexus dealerships across the country. he took me on a golf cart to find one on the lot (yes, the place is that big!). he first drove me to this underground garage for the dealership filled with brand new shiny lexus beauties. BUT we did not see a SportCross.

so he took me to this "side" lot to see if there is one there. NOPE. he said they must have just sold it.

BUT there is one out in the front NOT FOR SALE. someone owned it at the dealership. it was awsesome looking: graphite on black, 18 inch rims, "lexus" and "is300" emblems removed in the back, and tinted windows.

man, the SportCross looks very sporty with 18 inch rims.

as some of you know or remember, i orderd a SportCross without seeing one in person. still waiting for my order to come.

after seeing the car in person, i am even more excited about the car. i cannot wait to get it.

i really liked the Longo Lexus Dealership. the sales reps were nice. they just bought the Home Depot building behind them and will be converting the space into a new Lexus Showroom!

anyway, if you are near L.A., be sure to check out Longo. i wish i did not live 3000 miles on the other side of the country.

by the way, the sales rep said that if i wanted to place an order with them for the SportCross, he will even ship it across the country for free.

oh well, i already ordered mine.

nippononly · October 2003

sells the most Toyotas and Lexi of any dealership worldwide annually. Year in, and year out. I have never seen a dealership so big as when I stopped by down there.

If you are within 500 miles of L.A. on any side, it is worth the trip over there if you have decided to buy a Toyota. And now they are increasing their sales space by a building the size of a Home Depot? Pretty soon there will be no other Toyota dealers left in the L.A. area!

saz1861 · October 2003

Greetings all. I have to relay the story I heard today. I am resigned to ordering the SportCross with all the specs I want. I've been told by a couple of dealers that only the escaine package is available and I want all leather among other things. Anyway, as a favor to a co-worker, I faxed my price request to a local Toyota dealer. My co-worker stated that her boyfriend could get a Lexus. He called me within a few hours of receiving my fax and told me the following. When he deals with Lexus he goes through a dealer in Delaware. He told me that he could not get my car because Lexus has stopped production of the SportCross and had disassembled the production line. All SportCross' arriving new are really the 2003 left overs so I would never be able to get a 2004 to spec. He also claimed that the dealership wanted him to have me order the SportCross and after waiting months, switch me into a IS 300 sedan. He warned me that any dealer who states they can order one is lying and they will try to pull the same trick. He suggested that if I get such offers I put some sort of time restriction on delivery so I could get my deposit back because they won't be able to deliver. I started to get a bit angry but did not argue or go into how the car is produced for other markets besides the US as a Toyota A...(Sp.?). Anyway, I thought he was sincere but misguided by the dealership he talked to. However, the experience has left me less than happy overall. I was wondering if anyone had heard similar stories.
P.S. I received two fair offers from dealerships relatively close to my house for orders. I hope to order soon.

jmess · October 2003

Dude, I would call Lexus and relay the story you were told and give them the name of the dealership that is the source. What a crock of shxt. I really like the bit about the assembly line being disassembled and people getting 03s. That is really creative. If you have to lie to your customers it might as well be an entertaining lie. Shame on Lexus for allowing fools and liars to represent them.

FYI, on one of the I300 boards somebody just took ownership of an 04 SportCross in one of the new 04 blue colors. I guess they must have re painted the car?

dardenkoa · October 2003

LMAO...

so...according to that dealership, the 2004 SportCross order I placed and am waiting for right now is actually a 2003 model??

so...according to that dealership, the 2004 IS300 brochures which includes the SportCross Model is actually the 2003 model??

so...according to that dealership, the main Lexus web site with info about the 2004 IS300 SportCross is actually a 2003 model??

so...according to that dealership, the new Blue Colored 2004 SportCross someone picked up and mentioned on a message board with pictures which jmess and I both came across is a repainted 2003 model??

i agree with jmess. report those losers. i cannot believe they even dared to say that Lexus had blown up the Iwate Plant in Japan. Do they even know that Lexus is a Japanese car owned by Toyota? hahaha. this is one of the funniest stories i have ever heard. it's one big Lexus conspiracy theory. LMAO.

Hey, give Longo Lexus/Toyota dealership a call in California. They would be willing to help you out. They will even ship your car for free when I talked to them this past weekend while visiting L.A., and I live in Virginia. Longo will definitely try very hard to work out a good deal for you. I see them as Sam's Club of Lexus and Toyotas. They have the advantage of handing out deals since they sell cars in mass quantities!

dardenkoa · October 2003

BTW, my dealership in Virginia gave me my SportCross VIN.

For Lexus to even attempt to sell 2003 models as 2004s means that they would have to replace all the VIN with new ones. VIN identifies the car with model year, brand, model, etc.

Yeah, you should ask that dealership if they are saying that Lexus is replacing all the 2003 SportCross VINs. hehe.

saz1861 · October 2003

Can someone direct me to the post, board and number, which shows pictures of the IS300 in the new blue. That is the color I want and would love to see pictures. As far as reporting the fairy tale, it wasn't that an actual Lexus dealership sold me the line of bull but a Toyota salesman quoting the Lexus dealership. The one dealership I found in DE is a Lexus elite dealership. It may be the only one in DE but I am not sure.

jmess · October 2003

Here is the URL to the forum with the picture. You may have to create an account before you can see it? It is located in the SportCross Owner's Forum.

http://www.is300.net/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&a- mp;t=13350477

r0bertbr1an · October 2003

Saz,
It's true that most dealers will give you the runaround on the SportCross, but I found that if you contact enough of them, somebody will step up and do their job. I guess it's because the car is so rare that maybe they don't want to make any promises they can't keep. If you're in Delaware, try all of the dealerships from Philly to D.C. Trust me. It's worth the trip to go pick up your new car out of town, because you get to drive it that much longer on the way home. I went from Richmond to Alexandria (about 100 miles) to get mine.

Other thoughts: I don't know about Longo delivering a car cross-country for free. I think it's standard practice to pay the shipping company at least what it costs them. I admit I payed and it was worth it.

The 2004 added colors (the blue and the metallic beige) are a nice addition, but I prefer my black with tan leather. By the way, on the Lexus website, it does appear that all-leather is NOT an option any longer.

One more thing. Me and my eight-year old son love the e-shift. Since I'm through the break-in period, I decided to take it down a twisty, hilly road near my house. The motor and exhaust are sweet when pushed to red line. It's still a little difficult to get used to, compared to a standard stick and clutch, but I think it's gonna grow on me. One tip: don't try to drive in manual with the stereo cranked up. It's hard to hear what's going on.

Good luck to everyone who's still looking or waiting on their order. You're gonna love your new SportCross.

saz1861 · October 2003

I've got a couple offers which are about 1400 over invoice. To me that does not seem bad since it is an order and it is less than 5% profit which I use as a benchmark. Regarding leather, it is available. The website confused me at first. When you build your own SportCross pick any Leather/Alcantra package. When you get to the interior screen, you still have a choice of black perforated leather. At least they did on the Bluestone metallic. Any comments on price appreciated. I want to order this weekend!!!! and be driving just when I have to buy snow tires and rims.

dardenkoa · October 2003

usually dealerships want the customers to pay for the shipping. it is definitely not the standard practice for Longo to ship cars for free. however, the longo sales rep told me that he was willing to cut a deal and ship a car cross-country for free. but then again, i did not negotiate a price for the car since i already placed my order here in VA.

BUT it is totally possible to negotiate deals like that with dealerships, kinda like asking them throwing in floor mats and such for free.:)

saz1861, that seems like a pretty good deal you got. yeah, it is harder to negotiate the price when the dealer knows that you want the car already. i think i am paying more than you over the invoice. BUT i am planning to do a hard bargain with my trade-in when my order arrives. since you got a couple of dealerships willing to help you out, i would recommend trying to find a couple more dealerships and see what they would offer. then see if the dealerships closer to you are willing to match the lower prices.

it certainly won't hurt calling Longo Lexus in California and demand low prices, free shipping to delaware and etc. it is to my understanding that California (western region) are allocated with more Lexus SportCross than our region (North Eastern Region). So Longo might have be getting one that you want already. i can't say for sure though.

anyway, good luck with your order. i am still waiting for mine to arrive. it has been about only three weeks since i placed my order. it feels a lot longer though. but it's going to be worth the wait for sure!

dardenkoa · October 2003

I requested all season tires with my order with the priority set for 17 inch rims. i doubt i will get the all season tires from Lexus/Dealership.

I am considering purchasing Continental ContiExtremeContact Ultra High Performance All-Season tires for 17 inch factory rims on the car. What are your thoughts on these tires?

I know that many people recommend getting a second set of wheels (in 16 inch) with snow tires. BUT i really don't want to buy a second set of wheels due to cost and space.

Will the Ultra High-Performance Wheels All Season be good enough for all year round or should I switch back to summer tires when hot season rolls in?

probably be a pain in the butt switching tires back and forth using only one set of wheels huh?

r0bertbr1an · October 2003

I'm with you on the tires, dardenkoa. Even though my car was shipped from Florida, it had all-season tires on it. I'm starting to think that the summer performance tires are the expense-free option now, opposite of what was standard on the 2002s. I don't have a garage, so there's really no place for me to put a set of 16s with snow tires on them, plus I'll be saving that money for my personal property taxes (ouch!). I've found so far that, unless you drive like a maniac, the 17" Bridgestone all-seasons that I have grip pretty damn good in the corners. I have read on the web that the Continentals are a good choice. I've even read that they have a version with bi-directional tread so you can actually have them rotated (or swapped as the case may be). With the uni-directional tires and wider wheels in the back, I see no possible way that my tires can be rotated. I just figure they're going to wear out before it's needed anyway. Oh, well.

dardenkoa · October 2003

r0bertbr1an, what type of bridgestone all seasons do you have? ultra high performance?

i really hope that my car will come with the all seasons 17 inch stocked so that i won't have to spend the extra money to get the second set of tires.

speaking of which, Lexus should offer 17 inch rims with Ultra High Performance All Season tires as the standard with Summer tires as the no cost option intead of the other way around. just seems more practical that way.

although the summer tires are really cool, but i am "calmer" these days. i used to drive like a maniac all the time. hehe. had like 10 speeding tickets in the span of 2-3 years during my younger and dumber days.

yeah, i am also with you on the rotation. although numerous ppl have mentioned that it does not make that big of difference to rotate tires for prolonging tire wear these days. i still prefer to rotate them. makes me feel better.

riez · October 2003

You guys make no sense. Trying to save shillings when you've already spent pounds??? We're talking about $30,000 plus Lexus. Cost you $30 or more just to fill up the tank. You might spend $1000 or more just for gas in a year. Not to mention a small fortune on car insurance. So people are going to compromise on tires just to save a few bucks? Then why not buy a Toyota Camry? Or Corolla? That will save you a fortune. Guess I'm easily confused. What is the saying, penny wise, pound foolish?

jmess · October 2003

You don't have to be an aggressive driver to benifit from good tires.

When somebody slams on the brakes in front of you isn't it nice to know your car is going to stop in the shortest distance possible, shorter than it would with AS tires?

I think we all have literally avoided accidents by inches in the past. It would be pretty sad to have an accident avoidance maneuver fail because the AS tires don't response as well as the spring-summer-fall tires do.

The IS300 has a lot of performance enhancements and will tend to be driven faster/harder than a family sedan. Like reiz, I would wonder why buy anyone would buy a car like this if you aren't going to drive it at some point. The only thing that AS tires offer is some improved snow/ice traction. Winter tires handily beat AS tires in snow/ice and spring-summer-fall tires handily beat AS tires in the wet and dry.

dardenkoa · October 2003

it is not about saving a penny here or there. howevery there's also the saying "a penny saved is a penny earned". someone does not get to the point to be able to spend "pounds" by wasting pennies here and there.

it is not about compromising. it is about practicality. i used to get summer tires for the two bmw 3 series i had. then i moved to A/S tires. the drop in performance from Summer to A/S tires is only slightly evident at very high speed driving and cornering. my personal view is that unless you are feel that your daily drive to work is a RACE, it is simply more practicle to get tires that fit the 80%-90% driving condition the car will endure.

if i had the room to store a second set of wheels, i'd be going for 18/19 inch rims with summer tires and all seasons with 17s.

saz1861 · October 2003

Yesterday, I made the deposit and my new Bluestone Metallic SportCross is ordered. It will be scheduled for December production, those orders have to be in by October 24th and be delivered in February. The Lexus ordering site, the sales manager ordered the car with me sitting next to him, states that 30 days should be allowed for production and an additional 30 for transport. Thanks to everyone who mentioned Longo Lexus. I didn't call them. I felt I had done enough work on price and wanted to, if possible, have servicing done at the dealership I bought from. Anyway, to get quotes I faxed about 24 Lexus elite dealerships from CT to as far south as VA beach, VA, (I live in the NE Philly suburbs.) May fax included all options I wanted, MSRP and invoice pricing. I specified that I knew the vehicle would need to be ordered and that was not a problem. I received about 7 replies via e-mail or phone. Two dealerships within 30 miles of my home responded with the best offers, about $50.00 difference. The deciding factor was that one dealership has the option of delivering a loaner car to your home and taking your IS in for service. Since I am a one driver family, my wife is disabled, this was an important consideration. Anyway, here is the order.

Bluestone Metallic exterior, Black interior.

Leather, (full leather) and Power Package,
Heated Seats,
Vehicle Skid Control & Limited Slip Differential, Wood Switch Plates,
Black Pearl Emblems,
Cargo Mat, Cargo Net and Wheel Locks.

I paid a little less than $1400.00 over invoice.
There was a large disparity of prices quoted using the fax method. Some were close to sticker but many were only $1000.00 off sticker. I've had a couple of dealers tell my I got a very good deal when I responded to their faxes/e-mail, for what that is worth.

Anyway, I now join the list of all those waiting for their SportCross. I will be asking about clear bras and window tinting suggestions. I have seen some posts referring to windows tinted to spec. I have never had windows tinted before so I do not know what that means. Any suggestions would be welcome. I believe I would like to have the "mirror" tint on these windows. I feel that would look great.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG FALL/WINTER WAITING!!!!

riez · October 2003

saz1861... Don't hyperventilate during the wait. Stay calm and focused. Don't obsess. Know this will be darn near impossible. But you can do it. Try to think about other things. Drink warm milk before going to bed. Count sheep, not IS300s.

Nice list of options. Great choices. Way to go with LSD and VSC. Ya gotta have LSD!!!

dardenkoa · October 2003

congrats on your order! man, you are getting all the goodies for the car. very nice choices of options. the LSD and VSC options is tough to get on the SportCross considering how little of them they are making.

it has not even been a month since i placed my order, and i already feel like it's been forever.

do yourself a favor and NOT check all sorts of message boards for the SportCross like me. i think i am making myself crazy by doing so. hehe.

$1400 over invoice sounds like an excellent deal, not to mention that you are getting exactly what you want.

once again, congrats!

dardenkoa · October 2003

i am not sure what they mean by tinting to spec. i think they mean tinting the windows according to the state regulations.

each state has its own set of regulations for how dark a tint can be on a car.

in virginia, for example, the front door windows cannot be less than 50% see through. rear door windows cannot be less than 35% see through. and the back window cannot be less than 28% see through. if a car can seat more than 10 people or built on a truck chasis (trucks or SUVs, then the rear door and rear windows can be as dark as you want.

each state is different. you can call an installer and ask them what PA requires. you can also do a quick search on-line to find the limitations. several tinting window sites have posted the requirements for all the States.

the titanium/mirror tints usually cost more than normal tints in black or gold. the mirror tints sure look great though! i am still debating if i want the mirror tints or the standard black tints for my black sportcross.

i have already spoken to a tint installer. he will be going to the dealership to meet me when i go pick up my car when it arrives.

i have also ordered and received the WeatherTech floor mats and my JL Audio 250/1 Mono Amp.

i guess the only good thing about ordering a car and waiting is you have time to plan and gather all the stuff you need for the new car. then again, it is just as annoying sitting here looking at my new amp and floor mats sitting on the closet floor intead of in the new car.

wale_bate1 · October 2003

Congratulations!

That Bluestone is a beautiful color, and I NEVER go for blue cars! I hope it's around when it's time for me to re-up.

Is the Ivory leather package no longer available? It would seem to be gone if one pays attention to the website.

Took the family across the Bay to the grandparents' house last night. I really love this car. LOVE!

r0bertbr1an · October 2003

I understand the criticisms coming from some of you on the tire issue. Let's just say that I'm fine with my all-season high performance stock 17" tires for several reasons. I don't have a garage so it's not that easy to swap tires twice a year. My state levees a hefty personal property tax which will soon take a bite out of my wallet. My last car was an SUV so the cornering in the SportCross is far beyond what I'm used to, even without the summer tires. And most importantly, I'm a father of an eight-year old boy who could definitely use the money for his college education (and probably braces) instead of me cornering a twisty road at five more miles per hour. All of you single guys with your multiple speeding tickets can have your summer tires, but don't criticize me for being sensible. Everybody's different, and most of them (us) have their reasons. Besides, I love my car just the way it is!

wale_bate1 · October 2003

Now, now!

I have an eight year-old son and a ten year-old daughter and a clean driving record, and the kids love the summer tires almost as much as I do! On the back road we take to get to the stables for her classes, they think the car is another E-ticket (for those who remember)! "Make it fly, Daddy..."

Don't sell yourself short Robert. Even if you feel great about the all seasons for your daily driving right now, you're going to want dedicated winters if you've got snow to contend with.

And trust me, as you get attuned to the handling dynamics of this little go-cart, it won't be long before you start to hankerin' for some more aggressive rubber. It won't be your fault either. It's the car, man, it's the car!

riez · October 2003

rObertbr1an... Concur with wale_bate1. I'm married and have two pre-teens (son and daughter). Wife and I both have IS300s (auto and manual). Isn't the whole point of driving enjoying the drive? That is why the IS300 exists. If you tried summer and winter tires, you'd understand the performance issues.

But why not consider safety. The summer tires should outperform the all-seasons in both dry and wet conditions. The winters will definitely outperform the all-seasons. How much is it worth stopping or handling better on wet or snow-covered roads when your kids are aboard???

jmess · October 2003

Nobody is really trying to beat you up about your tire choice. If you understand the trade offs and are cool with them, then so it goes. The only point anyone is trying to make is there are trade offs and it could matter given the right situation/conditions.

We have all driven cars in conditions where we had the wrong tires or worn out tires. We survived by being extra careful and knowing that we had to be thinking ahead. There is far less stress/risk when you have the right tires or good tires. It has nothing to do with age, driving style, or marital status. It is simple physics. Life is a full of choices. Sometimes you win sometimes you loose.

riez · October 2003

jmess... Great post. Completely concur.

Check out the CR test results, done within the past year or so, that looked at tire performance new and after about half treadwear. Interesting results.

Is too bad Americans are too lazy to use summer and winter tires. I've seen some data indicating upwards of 75% of Europeans use summer and winter tires. Marques like MB, BMW, etc. encourage that in Europe. But Americans want the lesser performing "all seasons". So in USA most MB, BMW, etc. come with lower performing "all seasons". Go figure.

r0bertbr1an · October 2003

Thanks for all your advice everyone. I'll be the first to admit that maybe I overextended myself by buying this car, so maybe I don't have the expendable income that you gents have. We are a single-income family, so I have two car payments (my IS and the wife's Accord Coupe), a mortgage (that doesn't include a garage), and many, many, many other things to dig into my snow tire fund. I should've known when some of you mentioned how well your golf clubs fit in the back, and how some of you have owned three or four BMWs in the past, that maybe I was in the wrong forum. Oh well, I guess that's what I get for buying a Lexus. I really do love my car just the way it is. I'm sure I'll feel differently the first time I have to drive in the snow. Maybe when my wife goes back to work in three or four years, we can get a house with a garage and I can get myself some 16s with snow tread. Until then...

wale_bate1 · October 2003

Income rises to meet expenses...;)

We're not really busting your chops over tires, my friend, we're just totally freakin' nuts about the car!

Besides, due to Toyota's rather inept marketing, you've joined a very exclusive club of SportCross owners: a car so rare, they don't even list its sales numbers on Autosite!!! We're not about to turn on one of our own...

r0bertbr1an · October 2003

Thanks wale_bate1. I guess I get a little defensive. I'm sure we've all bought things that were a little extravagant, and then felt like we had to justify it in some way. I searched for over a year for a wagon to replace my SUV and the SportCross not only fit the bill (except for it being a little smaller inside than I hoped), but I'd also rather have it than most sports cars (350Z, RX-8, Z4). I'm glad that Toyota has dropped the ball on marketing it, though. I've had mine for almost two months and still haven't seen another one on the road. I frequently get curious looks and comments about what a sharp ride it is. It's all good.

dardson1 · October 2003

the SportCross is not available. The whole thing is kinda weird. I suspect if you follow the money there's gotta be some logic here. Available or not, Lexus dealers and/or Lexus North America is way uninterested in selling these cars. According to my old friend who runs the local dealership, the cars just didn't sell and the little wagon was too close to the price of an RX to work. Too bad.

riez · October 2003

Latest sales data. Wonder if sales are so low they list with sedan? Sedan sales struggling.

Make Model September 2003 August 2003 YTD 2003 YTD 2002

Volkswagen Passat 1,264 1,753 13,851 15,290
Volvo V70 720 1,060 8,928 7,893
Audi A6 433 698 5,689 7,674
Audi allroad quattro 430 555 4,147 4,454
Saab 9-5 354 311 2,813 3,564
Mercedes-Benz C-Class 312 205 2,950 2,490
Audi A4 298 278 2,778 2,402
Volvo V40 240 262 2,392 2,123
BMW 3 Series 214 269 3,078 2,273
Mercedes-Benz E-Class 124 284 408 2,480
BMW 5 Series 117 127 1,382 1,396
Audi S4 14 8 41 181
Audi S6 13 74 143 557
Lexus IS 300 - - - -

Rest of Lexus sedan line struggling, including IS300.

Make Model September 2003 August 2003 YTD 2003 YTD 2002

Lexus ES 300 5,128 4,983 47,453 54,149
Lexus LS 430 1,739 2,168 15,583 19,909
Lexus GS 300 858 1,096 8,614 11,113
Lexus IS 300 848 1,420 10,954 16,341
Lexus GS 430 158 141 1,602 1,815

jmess · October 2003

I assume the BMW numbers are for the 325 sportwagon?

BMW 3 Series 214 269 3,078 2,273

I would guess that SportCross sales are less than a 1000 for the 2003? Lexus has not made any attempt at marketing the cars since 2002. If I remember correctly they produced about 4000 SportCross in 02. So I would bet there are probably less than 7000 cars in the whole USA.

Lexus IS 300 SportCross

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