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Comments
Acco20 - how solid and reliable was the 1990 LS400? I had a 95 and 98 that were flawless great cars. I enjoyed the 95 the most because it was far and away the best car I ever owned. The 98 was better still but the jump was only marginal vs. the jump in quality I experienced in 95. But it had the Nak which was a fabulous stereo. The new LS430 is in a class by itself.
Does anyone think I should have the headlight assemblies replaced by insurance? I'm thinking it might result in a problem that's worse than having rough feeling headlights from paint overspray.
A few times early on I experienced the trunk lid not unlatching completely--I had to press the button again; but that problem went away on its own.
I had a call from Lexus to renew my Lexus Link. The safety/security (inexpensive one) is $212 a year which I think is kind of steep, but I renewed anyway thinking that IF the airbags deploy they'll check on me and send an ambulance.
Barb85
I'm thinking about installing it in the armrest since there is power there (I don't have a phone installed there.) I think it would actually look ok in the center on top of the dash, but would need to be covered with a white cloth to protect from heat in the summer. I'm trying to find someone who knows anything about placement of installation in an LS430. Help, please...
Barb85
The major "gripe" is that the resume function only works for a limited speed (25 mph?) under what it is set for. For example, leaving a tollbooth, in almost any foreign or domestic car once you've reached 25 you can hit resume and the car will accelerate back to whatever speed was set. With the Lexus, if it was set for 65, once you go below 40 the resume won't work. You have to manually accelerate and set the cruise again.
The other unusual operation is the on function. Most other CC's stay on (not engaged, just on) until you turn them off, even if the car is turned off and then restarted. This is done using either a mechanical switch for the function or remembering the setting. Lexus has to be turned on every time.
The S-class MB I was considering when I got the Lexus had a dedicated ring on the speedometer dial that showed the CC setting. Not really a critical function, just a little helpful.
And can someone tell me the actual "logical" functionality of "ON" or "OFF" on any manufacturer's cruise control. I would call it "enable" and "disable" if it could not be done away with entirely!
Other than normal braking I most often "touch" the brake pedal to "disengage" cruise control.
xm radio - the upper glove box is a perfect spot for it when Lexus makes it standard or an option. That's where the cd player used to be.
sopranos - anyone know when it starts!
I spoke with my local Lexus parts department to find out that the ML stereo does not have an auxiliary input. If it did, I think it would have an aux button on the front. I'm not sure what you mean by a "pre-amp output." The signal travels IN from the satellite receiver to the ML; in our current situation the signal will come in through a cassette adapter. By the way, I was told before the '02s came out that satellite radio will not be an option on the '02s or '03 LS430.
ljflx:
Here is the list of XM radio stations.
http://www.xmradio.com/programming/full_channel_listing.jsp?sort=number
If the upper glove box had a power plug for installation, it would be great. That's why I like the center console. I'm leary about installers and their drills.
In almost 40 years of owning or renting almost every brand of automobile, Lexus is the only one I've encountered that works this way. I can see how having it "enabled" (agreed it's a better term) could be a safety issue if it resulted in accidental activation, but I've never had or heard of such a case. That's why they all have a minimum activation speed of at least 25. At that speed you won't be parking, in close quarters, etc. I guess I've been spoiled, having to take the extra step of pushing in the button on the stalk is no big deal. The only reason I can think of having the function would be to give people like ljflx who wanted that extra safety margin, or who were afraid of cruise control (and I'm sure there are many who find it intimidating)the ability to disable it. Me, turned it on and left it on until I got rid of the car. It all boils down to personal preference, and that's what makes America great. Lexus just sided with ljflx on this one and chose not to give me the option of doing it my way (unless it's an unpublicized C-best function).
On the other hand, I find the resume function more annoying. I've tried it about 100 times, and at various speeds, but I'll try it again. You never know, it could be operator headspace.
I guess this drops the LS down to 9.9999.
P.S. Ljflx - How was Nicholas?
Nicholas restaurant is one of the finest restaurants I've ever been to. My all time favorite and still the best restaurant I've ever been to is The Old Swiss House in Lucerne, Switzerland. But Nicholas is right in step with it and on a par with restaurants like Le Cirque in Manhattan. You should try it and if you go easy on the wine (I didn't) the bill won't be so bad. You will also be surprised how young the owners are and they are usually there - at least on weekends.
Not to imply that any of them remain "active", they do not.
Yes?
On and off...
Once I get in the car and turn it on for what reason would I ever (remember) to turn it off?
The only reason the 996 ever gets turned off is by accident.
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I called around the Los Angeles area to shop the numbers my local dealer (Lexus of Valencia) quoted. I could only find Base models (no ML/Nav, just moonroof and heated seats) or Ultra Luxury (MSRP=70K+, ouch). I even had one internet manager look around for a day, then call and tell me to take the deal at Valenca. I paid $56K (Invoice = 54.7K, MSRP = 63.2K).
My only "complaint" so far is that my local dealer said they have had so many problems with the integrated Lexus cell phone, that they are no longer installing it.
Does any one have any experience (positive or negative) with the cell phone? cost and performance experience would be great.
BMW's pretty much had much above average satisfaction ratings with average to above average reliability (except the X5 whose reliability was much worse than average). The 7 wasn't scored because it's too new. Interestingly Audi's reliability was rated poor and seemed to be worse than I would have thought but then I thought of how often my boss's A-8 is in the shop. Infiniti models also scored well, all much above average in reliability and average to above average satisfaction levels(though the Q wasn't rated probably because of lack of sample, it certainly has been around long enough). But it's also clear that for whatever reason CR is no Infiniti fan based on its own brief write-ups.
ljflx,
Just how many Lexi do you have?
M
The way I see it there aren't any.
To even come close to matching the MB S500 in price you have to use the UL version. The MB and the LS430 UL, get real!
In there a price and/or performance competitor to the base LS430, no?
What would YOU chose to test drive against the LS430?
Lexus, are you listening?
Black Cherry/Ivory/maple accents and air suspension, no Nav.
Hell, I'd even accept an LS330.
I'm considering increasing wheel size to 18" with 245/45/18 tires (almost identical rolling diameter, so gearing and speedo stays to spec). Has anyone had any experience with this kind of changeover on the LS 430? Thanks.
But..Girly vehicles...
The early ML's did have relaibility problems, no question, but to sorta compare apples to oranges, so did the early Ford Escapes. All indications are that ML has addressed its problems with the ML and it's pretty clear that Ford is also on that road.
We had a really heavy snowstorm here on the eastside of Seattle, pretty much localized to Bellevue though.
MY 01 AWD RX300 PERFORMED ADMIRABLY.
Because of my expressed concerns about the AWD setup I wasn't as brave with it as I might have been with either of my previous Jeeps, but it was clear that the ABS was up to the task at hand and seemingly the AWD was kicking in at some level when appropreate.
Two things did surprise me, I got it into a large vacant parking lot and was able to create s significant level of yaw yet the VSC, seemingly, never kicked in. This really surprised me because I'm quite sure that previously I have had it go to work as I turned left and "plowed" through a water puddle. Maybe the yaw I cranked in last night was so quick and extreme it "bailed"?
Same was true of the TRAC. I was able to get the wheels "spinning" in the deep snow but as far as I could tell the TRAC applied no braking, not even moderately so, and it certainly didn't dethrottle the engine.
Of course it could have been that all four wheels "spun" at the same rate, but that would mean the AWD is more up to snuff than I have ever though, so I won't go there.
But for a multiplicity of reasons I would still suggest that the ML and X5 represent better SUV implementations overall. As far as AWD setups are concerned I'm beginning to suspect the Ford Escape engineers have that one figured out best.
Somehow, I cannot think of the LS and the MB "S" series as being competitors, the MB is undoubtedly roomier, but along with that comes a disproportionaty much higher purchase price.
Also, in the GS and MB E class I see absolutely no need for anything larger than the V6, except if you happen to be of the "boy racer" mindset.
Given the size and weight of these vehicles you simply don't need anything larger to "haul" them, at least in "normal" driving fashion.
My sincerest appologies to mooretorque.