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Comments
I have the NAV in mine, and frankly, it's a toy option. There may come a time in this car's tenure with me when it will be useful, but so far, the only use it's gotten has been a few playtime runs and one earnest inquiry on which it mis-directed and added about 35-40% to an otherwise short drive. An updated Thomas Bros. guide every year from Costco doesn't even begin to approach the tax on the two-grand cost of the option.
I think when the things are completely voice-operated on the fly, they will be worth a couple hundred clams for the install, but for me, for now, No Great Shakes.
I can use the excuse that I DO travel plenty ALL over NJ. I currently use MaoQuest and it works 90 percent of the time...unless u miss an exit and have to retrace back to were u made the error...with Nav you can use an alternate route.
The one used by the TSX (Honda/Accura Family)is extremely accurate (a friend has it) and is voice activated although he preferrs to use manual.
Will wait and see. Thanks for the advice.
Finally took my wife to look at the cars I'm considering (IS300, G35 and M45). She wouldn't even sit in the M45 -too ugly. Didn't particularly like the G35 ("Do they have a spoiler or body kit that makes it look a little better?"). Hands down winner - the IS300. She liked it a lot. Note - she didn't drive any of them and didn't care to. She was just keeping me from buying an eyesore, to which I have sometimes been known to find myself attracted (Alfa Romeo Milano and early Mazda 929 come to mind - and no, wiseasses, she happens to be a very attractive woman). She wasn't too thrilled with the SportCross, which, to be honest, I was a little ambivalent about myself.
Sheeze, only 5 months and I've damn near finished my search for a car. Should only take a few more months from here.
The G sedan doesn't sway me one way or the other, though I very much admire the coupe.
Not thrilled with SportCross? No biggie, and she's certainly not alone. It really needs a very discerning and rigorously, perhaps classically, trained eye to fully appreciate the exquisite beauty of this 5-door concept, especially in this country! [-P
I don't know if I missed it; did you try out a 3er?
So, will you make it in MY '03?
And yeah, the NAV on mine was what was out there with leather. I love the smell of leather in the morning...
I know that my Max (w/ leather) does not smell.
It may be the obvious possibility of cheap leather...but I just dont feel that smell when I get into new Bimmers or MB's either...probably more but no big deal
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
wale - Yeah, I considered the UDM but its ubiquity, high price and marginal reliability make it not the right vehicle for me. This is going to be my "appliance" car, so reliability plays a very strong role. I already have my fun car that needs attention on a regular basis. On top of that, the IS just feels like it puts you more in touch with what's going on. The 3er seemed slightly more isolated.
Does anybody know the story on VSC (Vehicle Stability Control)? Edmunds lists it as an option. My salesman thought it was standard but we couldn't find it listed as either a standard feature or an option anywhere. The Lexus site makes no mention of it but its description of the standard feature called "Electronic Throttle Control with Intelligence" (or something like that) sounds like VSC might be incorporated into that. Any help?
hard to find NAV on sportscross but I have seen one with it. VSC is an option, traction control is standard. The one you are talking about is ECT-i electronic control transmission with intelligence - a smooth transmission that will learn how you drive and adapt.
and yes, the internal combustion engine.
This 90's styling and Toyota interior is getting dated fast.
The other persistent rumor is the coupe. We shall see...
If the spy shots are accurate, the GS looks like a winner to me.
_________________
I have bought several sets of tires from Americas Tires at the TireRack published price + shipping from the TireRack warehouse. I have Americas Tires install them and I purchase the road hazard insurance and free rebalancing from Americas Tires.
I do this so I have somebody to talk to if I have a tire problem. Which has happened a couple of times over the years.
You might want to look at the new GoodYear F1 GS-D3. GoodYear has a $60 rebate right now. I have the F1s and IMHO they are one of the best HiPerf street tire on the market right now.
Lexus doesn't appear to build them with the set of options I want so I'm going to have to special order one and that will put me into 2004 model year production at this point.
In other forums, I keep hearing references to how dealers are, or might soon be, willing to deal or discount the 300's. Do any of you know if this is true? If so, is there a particular reason? Thanks.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
contact me : mermaid @fdn.com
Every time I have called Lexus Customer Sat I have talked to a woman so you should be treated fairly :-)
It may help to sit down and document how you have maintained your car's finish. How often you wash the car, how you wash it, how often you wax the car, and where you park the car. Use this when you talk to them to out line what you have done to maintain the car and how the condition of the paint is not normal.
The only issue I have seen reported about I300 paint it is easily chipped by flying rocks/gravel. From personal experience, a clear bra really helps to minimize the problem.
There is a person assigned to your area by Lexus that is responsible for customer service problems. I assume you had that person look at your car? I assume the dealer had a body shop examine your paint; the service manager isn't an expert on paint problems. You need to have an expert evaluate the paint on your car.
Run, do not walk, to a lawyer on this one. And do not give up. You didn't buy a Kia, after all. If my suspiscions are true, you were sold a damaged car and in many states, you have legal recourse.
The Lexus Customer Assistance Center
Monday - Friday, 6:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. PT
Phone: 1-800-255-3987 prompt #4
I would agree with the post from Habitat, about the only way a new car gets over spray on it is to be inside a repair shop. I guess it is possible that somebody could have been painting something near where it was parked at some point.
I'm thinking of buying an 04', but the dealer is trying to get me to buy his 03' model IS300.
In general it is hard to get objective and accurate information about cars from salesreps. They want to sell you something today because they are afraid you might not come back. So you might try calling Lexus and seeing if they can help you. Let us know if you find out anything interesting?
My gut feeling is there won't be anything significant and the 03 will be cheaper?
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
What I'm looking for is an e-shift with power and leather, Graphite wheels, and LSD. Invoice would be $29,559 so it should be right around $28K. Unfortunately, Lexus doesn't produce that combination of options, according to two dealers. According to them, the graphite wheels are only on MT models and VSC is only on cars with Nav.
"3 new colors - Bluestone Metallic replacing Solar Yellow
Indigo Ink replacing Intensa Blue Pearl
Savannah replacing Cibola Gold
Driver's memory seat
Smoked gray headlamps
Auto lock doors when the car is in gear
Optional 11 spoke wheels
Dash tray when no Navigation
Oil change reminder light"
Of the above the, the driver's memory seat would be of the most interest to me.
I'm not too far from you Fred. Got a call last December from that Mission-Viejo dealership you mentioned. I'm closer to Carlsbad, but I don't think they have a lot of new IS300s to choose from. What do you think of the Mission-Viejo dealership? Good, straight-up deals/service?
I've read that there will be a re-design for the '05. It needs more hp, too. So my interest in the IS has waned somewhat. Plus, there's a new '04 Acura TL that needs to be checked out first.
I'll never forget the day I drove my first new car home. I wanted to surprise my mom. For about a year I had been occasionally teasing my mom to look out the window at my new car, and all she would see was my 20 year old, beat-up, rust-bucket of a Toyota pick-up in the driveway. Finally, the big day arrived, and my mom looked out the window and said, "Black? You got a black car? Don't you know that black cars get dirty fast?" What made it worse was that at the school I used to teach clouds of dirt would kick up from the playground onto the cars in the faculty parking lot. At the end of each day, I'd slide in behind the steering wheel and look over the dashboard to see a film of brown dirt covering the hood of my previously-washed black car. Eventually I invested in a custom car cover which helped somewhat but presented its own unique problems.
After my beige truck started rusting out, I didn't wash it but once or twice a year. I made up for all that lack of washing and waxing when I got my new black car.
That's probably why there's a water shortage out here in the West. Peeps like me with black cars be washing them all the time. Silver with black interior leather would have been the better choice. Man! I F@#$%! up. Something for you to think about when you decide on car color.
On a daily basis I find the HP on the IS to perfectly adequate. I refused to engage in speed contests on public streets so my EGO is pretty much disconnected from the gas pedal. I have no problems merging into traffic, passing car, or getting quickly from Point A to Point B.
I got the wife a new accord this year. Jumping back and forth between the accord and the IS is pretty interesting. You really appreciate how much more hooked up the IS feels and how much better RWD feels over FWD. Acura/Honda make good cars but I personally want RWD and an LSD in a sports sedan.
I am in the market for a used car and hapen to come upon a 2001 IS300 with about 52,000 miles for $17,600. WOuld this be a good deal?
And more importantly what should I be looking out for when I go for a test drive tomorrow??
Thanks all.
I would make sure everything works. I would be interested in the brakes, shocks, when the fluids were changed, any accident damage repairs, tire condition. Check to see when the next service is due and how much it will cost. I think there is a major service at 60K?
Drive the car at a variety of speeds and check for vibrations and noises. I would check to see if any parts have been replaced recently in the engine compartment or suspension. I would be looking to see if somebody had recently removed a coilover shocks, turbo kit, or some other performance modifications.
The cars are reliable and well made. If the price was right I would have no problem buying a used one. Check the online used car pricing guides and see what people are asking for the cars in the some of the local newspaper. The price seems good if the car was taken care of.
Are they all like this--or did I inadvertently bend the gear shift lever with my own brute strength? :-) I'd just like to know this out of curiosity. Can someone check their gear shift lever's shape for me--please? Sanity check!
Thanks in advance!
Ron M.