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As for my interest in Astronomy - very deep, started when I was about 10 years old and I am a big Alan Guth and Stephen Hawking fan. I keep on top of all the latest theories and developments on Cosmology and have been subsribing to Astronomy, S&T and Scientific American for so long that I wish they had lifetime subscription rates. Did you read Hawking's "Brief History of Time"?
nealm1, I understand your concern about $$ vs. future interests. My only suggestion would be to best judge your child's potential and interest in the subject based on his current interests and how long they last (fads vs. true intellectual curiousity). If you think the interest is serious or could be, then I would urge a moderate investment vs. an inexpensive one. It is a bit of a 2 edged sword. Really cheap equipment will not perform, nor last and will not inspire the child to continue to learn. More moderately priced (i.e. more expensive, but not overly so) equipment might well do both. ljflx's suggestions were very sound and a Meade ETX90 at about $600 or an ETX125 at about $800 are good, yet small scopes that can do a lot. The diff. is the aperture size (90mm vs. 125mm lens opening) and the ability to capture more light. Celestron makes similar scopes and they all have "go to" computer capability built in. Hope this helps.
The car remains my favorite though and the more I am behind the wheel the more I appreciate it. I'm up to 10.6k of flawless miles on the midnight pine (I'll get into the new LX470 next month and slow the mileage down to stay in my 20k per year parameter - maybe - I can't pass up the desire to drive this car right now) and 6k of the same on the millenium silver. My business partner who operates a business that I have an interest in (away from my job)leased it in Parchment with ecru (61.23k version) and can't believe how great it is. Like us he went through his testing with the S and preferred the Lexus. As the financial partner in the business I approved either one, but he still went with the LS430. It is beautiful in Parchment as well - looks silver in certain light and silvery white at other times.
Like you I am looking forward to Hawking's new book. He is an amazing person.
Nealm1 - I completely agree with flint on the scope comments. The right scope will spur on further interest. The more expensive LX10 can handle many upgrades for sky databases, photography etc in a dynamic way. The smaller scopes can handle the upgrades but will leave the user hungering for the larger aperature at that time whereas an 8" scope will remain sufficient.
white with all options (incl nak) xcept nav - dealer priced at $38,900, will sell for $35,000 bottom $ - dealer has $33,000 in the car (on trade up to ls430) plus 1200 for certification - new tires, brakes 40k mi svc done, etc
Concidering this vs $37,000 for 2000 528iasport (27k mi) or $39,000 for 2000 e320 (30k mi)
Thoughts/sugestions?
The Customer Service fellow told me that he used Sprint and he thought they sucked, too.
I am not happy about the "no phone solution," but I could not be more impressed with the honesty and "no BS" I have experienced from Customer Service. To have a problem unhandled is bad, but to then be BSed about it insults one's intelligence, adding insult to injury. Lexus Customer service is a breath of fresh air.
And ljflx, if you're interested in more tech purchases, I can highly recommend the Nokia 8890, Sony MZR900 portable MD player/recorder, and the list goes on. Too bad I don't have the unlimited funds you seem to have.
jgwaltney: I agree totally with jlflx; the E is not even competitive in this contest. It wants to be a luxury car when it grows up, but it is cramped, the 6 is underpowered, and its level of fit and finish is nowhere near that of the Lexus. If you have been in both the E and the LS cabins for any length of time, this becomes readily apparent. And to think I actually considered buying one before the LS 430 was introduced. . . . .
As for the 5, it is a totally different driving experience, designed for a totally different market. It really isn't a luxury car in the same sense as the S and the LS. It will handle better than the LS 1st because it is significantly smaller and 2d b/c it was designed with handling as its primary goal (feeling every pebble is preferable to sacrificing .01 g in the slalom). If you are inclined toward that sort of experience -- and are willing to trade down substantially in comfort, ride, reliability, and dealer service, it is a terrific car. You will be happy. At 45 with a family, I find my priorities skewed more towards fitting everyone in the car in comfort, luxury, and safety; bullet-proof reliability; dealer service staff that will suck up to me; spectacular stereo, and very fine (B+) handling etc. Whichever one you buy, there will likely come times when you wish you had the other. If you buy the LS, it might come on a sunny spring day, alone on a mountain road. In my life, those moments are few and far between. Had I bought the 5, I would have longed for the LS every day, running over potholes and expansion joints, and every time Hans told me that I could get an appointment 3 weeks from next Thursday, if they have the parts. For me the calll was easy.
Finally, I am a HUGE minidisc fan. I have the tiny Sony (forget the model number) and I take it with me whenever I travel; it can really shrink the time between Dulles and Seattle. I am thinking, BTW, of sinking a ridiculous $300 into the Bose noise-canceling headphones to use with it. Does anyone have experience with them? Its not the 3 billls; I just HATE buying anything at retail and I dislike their marketing attitude.
TorrAnce.
...The relentless pursuit of perfection, I suppose. :>)
As for my technology comment it is just that the rash of things I've bought in the past year have been so enjoyable and were such big improvements over the old guard. Satellite TV provides so much a better picture than cable in the first place and when further combined with a digital or hdtv the television viewing is almost lifelike particularly in sdtv and without question in hdtv. When I am watching ordinary tv people think I have dvd's playing. So what I meant was the enjoyment brought by that leap in quality lived up to its expectations and then some. I don't see any other products on the near-term horizon to rival it. How can you possibly get a better picture than hdtv. The mini dvd is wonderful and the new graphics card on 1+ gig pc's are amazing. The digicam is about the last thing I want and completes the technology items I have a deep interest in. Pricewise I would have spent more on an MB S-500 lease in 3 years than all these purchases combined by several thousand dollars and I almost made that foolish decision. So in a way this stuff is - as we say in the financial world - "gravy".
thx to both for excellent "real-world" advice - guess it's tough to "find it all" in one car, but you're correct...you'll always have a few times when you long for another car for specific traits - but unless you're able to afford them all, your choice should be based on the majority of your opverall driving desires and needs taking everything into consideration - your experience speaks volumes about the comparitive differences, and what will likely be most important 2 yrs after you choose betw a pre-owned e320, 528 or ls 400 - esp if you keep a car 5+ yrs as i do
when it's all said and done, sounds like the ls 400 is the way to go for now, them maybe add a sports car down the road to satisfy those "weekend desires to escape" - thanks again for you comments - any thoughts on the price of the ls 400? (asking approx $40,900 on certified sticker, bottom $ is $35K) - again, '99 ls 400 w/ 40,000 mi 1-owner leased fr dealer - certifed w/new brakes, tires - fully loaded (nakam, hid lights, etc - all except nav) - had been thinking about black ext. color (this one is white ext.) as it always looks luxerious/classic - not sure about white but guess i'd get used to it
again, thanks for your help!
brewer10 - Good luck to you. When you've driven the car for awhile perhaps you can post the differences you see between the LS430 and the 7. Did you go with base suspension or Euro? Your experience with BMW was foretold to me by friends who have a 7 and will never buy it again - which is why I never even considered it. The only difference is they have serious engine problems among other things and it wasn't the first BMW they had that had such problems. They also hate the dealership experience.
I was in the business at one time, just wanted to pass this on.
I purchased a LS 430 in April, t/in 1991 LS 400, 140k, almost no service except regular oil changes, front brakes, 3 batteries, three sets of tires.
I am also curious how people feel the air suspension compares to the standard suspension on the late model LS 400's. I no longer have my 400 but I think the ride was a lot less firm which I actually prefer.
The "air" LS430 I drove seemed much more stable handling wise than my 92 and yet had just as smooth and quiet, maybe moreso, a ride as the 92 in cruise mode.
Thanks to all for the great info which helped me with my decision.
I cannot comment on the air or Euro setups, but the base is very good.
Topic: July 24th: "What is the stupidest thing you've seen someone do while driving?"
You will never find this kind of BS about LS430 on MB S class forum, there is just no need for it, unless MB S owner is a former Lexus LS felllow.
You're right, you will never find this kind of 'BS' on the MB S Class forum, they're too busy reporting a large number of problems they're having and in some cases, abysmal dealer service.
I also agree with you though that Lexus still does not have the prestige associated with the brand that Mercedes does, but I have only seen MB customers come over to Lexus, and never the other way around. That should give MB a lot to worry about.
kahuna, thats right, people report on problems with THEIR cars that's what it's for to disscuss S class for example and not other cars.
Drove ls400 and ls430 and simply not interested in the car or posting negative comments about them, unlike majority of the owwners on this forum post about MB.
I personally would not consider same car as nealm3000 though pseudointellectuals like him should be riding bicycles anyways.
And, alas, the phone problem continues with no real end in sight.
I also agree about the rear temp settings. They should be separate, especially given that they run off of a serparate air conditioning unit (which cost me a little trunk space).
To bolony: This board is far too classy to dignify some of your remarks with a response.
I will take beautifull car wiht no stereo and put it in myself. No stereo can save it's ugly, ugly styling--it is the word that comes to mind every time I see one. Why should everyone have to settle for nice stereo and exellent appointments and ugly, ugly, ugly styling? Styling should take priority over stereo.
Why not complain here and now about ugly styling
of the car?
ljfxl ----- may be if the styling were as good as the stereo you would see 5000+ cars sold instead of 3000.
If you have something useful to contribute to this discussion, the folks here will be glad to discuss your thoughts with you. "Ugly" is obviously a matter of opinion, and just as obviously the folks who have purchased this vehicle will disagree with you. While you are entitled to your opinion of the styling, you cannot reasonably expect that you can convince others here that somehow your opinion is more valid than theirs.
If your sole intent is to stir things up - which is certainly how it appears - I expect that the wise folks in this very respectful discussion will recognize that and follow the tried and true maxim of "don't feed the trolls."
Pat
Host
Sedans Message Board
Pat Host, well said, 'nuff said - hopefully the msg was received.
Another oddity (to me anyway) is that the rear seats have memory but the front passenger seat does not. That seat is used more often in most cases, I would imagine. Another nice addition might be the type of cover they now offer on the SC430 for the nav/stereo screen. It would look very classy in that Lexus wood trim way.
ljflx, watch out on that Fla. trip coming up. I-95 in Va. and N.c. is awash with troopers and, as my wife says, they don't appreciate that excuse about how the car really didn't seem like it was doing 80, it felt more like 50. It's true, of course, but they don't buy it.
Lastly, I found another neat little feature in the nav - you can ask for "previous starting point" and it will take you back to where you started. Helpful if you began at an unfamiliar location, went somewhere else and need to return to the start point. Starting to ramble, I'm done.
Flint350 - I'm flying. Would have drove if I went to Myrtle Beach which remains one of my favorite towns as it has so much for the family. I'm going to Long Boat Key. Have you been there and if so any recommendations. Last year I took a suite at the Ritz Carlton in Naples and had a great relaxing vacation. Lexus must have developed their curteous service on the Ritz platform. I'll never forget how the NY Times was on my door knob every day because a hotel employee overheard me talking about it. My kids believe vacation translates to tropical beaches. I think it'll be awhile before I see Alaska which is where I want to go.
Lexus wishlist - I still want that dirt eating glass. Maybe also an inside beeper when you hit 80mph. I had it in the mid 90's in PA. and it felt like 50mph. Luckily I didn't have to explain it to anyone. Flint - you better get that radar system working.
Interestingly enough, when I was at the dealer the other day to pickup a part I was chatting to the guy in the parts department about this problem. He asked if I had performed a "limits check" on the steering wheel. I had no idea what he was talking about and said no. He said that this usually fixes the problem. He gave me instruction on how to do this.... and it worked! No more vibration or noise. So for anyone else who is having this problem, here is how to perform the limits check:
With the key in, move the control knob on the wheel to the outer limit of any direction until it stops. Once it stops, click the control knob EIGHT times in the same direction. After the 8th time, the wheel will move 1/4 inch more. You have just set the limit for that direction. Repeat the same thing for the other three directions on the wheel.
I hope this information is useful. It sure made me a happier LS430 owner.