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Barb
On a side note, I was told it takes almost 8 hrs of work to install the phone, which surprised me. I thought the cars all came pre-wired and it's only a matter of installing the holder in the center glove box. Guess I was wrong.
Anyway.... Was told by the salesman that there is no discounting at all on the car ever and that if I wanted to buy, it would be at MSRP due to the high demand. They only had 2 on the lot, but were expecting 12 this month. I have no problem waiting several months for a car.
So, I need some advice. What do I need to know to negotiate with these people? I'll either pay cash now or lease (3 years probably).Would appreciate hearing about the recent experiences of other buyers. Thanks.
Many of the phone screens on the Nav are disabled when the car is moving. This includes the main dialing screen so if you are moving you have to rely on limited memorized numbers on the Nav screen or voice tags. You can of course dial directly on the phone keypad but this is difficult as the console is behind you.
After your call is connected you can not enter any other numbers via the Nav screen such as extensions, voice mail prompts, pager no's etc. Once again you have to use the phone keypad.
The steering wheel volume control buttons are permanently disabled when the phone is installed.They are replaced by similar buttons that are used for phone presets and phone volume control as in previous LS models.
The phone mutes the radio when you place a hands free call but when you take the handset out of the cradle the radio volume comes back on at the previous level.
The hands free quality was very poor.
Based on the above I can understand why many dealers will no longer sell this disappointing phone.
I had mine removed and replaced with a Nokia vehicle kit on an installer modified Pro-Fit mount placed on the passenger side of the CD changer door/storage door. Microphone placed next to factory microphones (used for Lexus Link and Nav) ie above and to the right of the driver. Small ball antenna on the rear glass. Excellent hands free quality and easy to use.
I inquired the availability of a pro-fit for the 430 and was told that one was not yet available. Could you please provide the pro-fit part number used and possibly digital photos of the installation?
Thanks
Lease deals look bad now too...52% residual!!
Bottom line, I am going to buy this car, but I will get the options I want, and they won't make an $11,000 profit on me. Best advice is to let the market cool down. By the way we are in the midst of a slowing economy (some say on the edges of recession)... don't feel the need to play their MSRP game; it won't last. The car is a good value vis-a-vis BMW & Benz, but the profit margin is way too wide.
One of the better and most detailed reviews out there
I will have some pictures of the installed kit available for scanning soon. Is there a way to post pictures on this board?
My dealer told me a new summer Dunlop would cost over $300. I didn't like the price, but really hated the idea of buying a summer tire for a Chicago based car.
My local dealer had no suggested alternatives so I went to the net. I ended up getting the "Michelin Pilot X__ Z4" It was the only all season alternative I could find in the Lexus wheel size.
Has anyone else had any experience with all season options for the LS 430?
I also use AT&T one rate with a Nokia phone. The hands free car kit is EXCELLENT,(Used in my previous vehicle with a pro-fit) but my local AT&T (and other) dealers refuse to touch the 430.
Any suggestions?
all-season with a good 400 treadware but it's an H not a Z speed rating: $130.
To a previous post, The minimum time delay setting for the head lights on automatic is 30 seconds, which is too long for my purposes. However, I discovered that on exiting, push the remote lock on the key, then pushing lock a second time will turn off the lights.
Fred
The installer who put the Nokia kit in my car used a Pro-Fit mount for another model. The only way to figure out the part number would be to take the phone off the mount but he thinks it was a Toyota mount. He also thinks that Volvo and Saab mounts would work. What he did was look at the various mounts and see which of them would fit. As I said before it worked out just fine. The phone does protrude out slightly into the passenger side but should not be a problem unless you have a very large passenger in which case it might touch their left leg.
Another option for you would be to use a stalk type mount in the carpet on the passenger side. I am told that any holes in the carpet are easy to hide when you take the kit out.
My advice to you is to take the car to another installer. The Nokia kits and phones are used by most of the cellular providers and I don't think they would have a problem doing an install if you do not use their service. I will also point out that my local AT&T installer did not call me back after I called about a kit for this car and so I ended up going to another provider.
I do have some somewhat out of focus pictures of the installed phone but I am not sure how to get them onto this board.
the more we ask the faster they will make one. I don't want a stem mount it usually intrudes on the passenger comfort and its not as neat.
why doen't lexus have systems that work with the popular phones, nokia and motorola?????
I agree with nofeer, Lexus seems to have dropped the ball on this phone issue. (Altho', it seems that might be the only ball they dropped) They picked one of the more unreliable systems (Sprint) and forced it on us, then severely limited the ability of the system, sending many of us off to aftermarket solutions. The interior of the car is so well done that it pains me to tinker with it, even with a Pro-fit type mount. I'm sure they'll remedy this by next model year, but that leaves us early adopter types out. Since my car arrives today or tomorrow, I can get over it for now, but I'm sure, down the road, I'll wish I had a better, hands-free phone sys. There are too many (already) bad drivers out there weaving around, adding non-handsfree cell phones is a disaster. We all see it every day and Lexus needs to address this issue better in this "flagship" car.
I dun no, maybe it's just me, but it looks like they decided to place them there after the car was already designed.
Also, has anyone out there with the nav system wanted a way to name your CDs? It wouldn't be too difficult for Lexus to create an on-screen keyboard by which one could recognize discs and store title and track info. Heck, with internet connectivity one could even search and download cover art just like those nifty Escient CD changers (www.escient.com). I know I couldn't be the only one out there who can't remember exactly which CDs are loaded, and in what order!
Beyond the obvious, why is it the best luxury value on the market.... even at MSRP.
Thanks
I have researched these 2 cars (S430-500 / LS430)since Jan of 2000. I came to many of the same conclusions expressed here. Final decision was, I just took delivery of my LS430 Black Cherry Ultra Lux two days ago - and don't regret it for a minute. While I don't profess to the wealth of many of you, I could have afforded the extra 15-20 thousand for the Benz, but decided not to. It was, for me, a matter of quality and reliability. For me, while prestige is nice, I also appreciate the value and long term reliability of the Lexus. The only downside (and a subjective one it is) to the Lexus is the somewhat controversial exterior style. On almost EVERY other count, the Lexus wins. I have read this board and the Lexus board and the number of complaints about both the car and service and dealership attitude is stunningly high for Benz and low for Lexus. No, no car is perfect, but my LS430 (so far) comes much closer than the Benz. As for the reasons some people buy: my wife was initially much more interested in the Benz bcz we could go to Germany for delivery and drive there for a month or so. (Takes all kinds - lol) Any car purchase is, of course, subjective and personal, as was mine. But, I truly feel, if the only real advantage a car has is its name prestige and it costs so much more, then my choice is easier. I'd rather be on the road in ultimate comfort with a Nav system that is intuitive and an unparalleled ride in quiet, than sitting in the dealer's service dept. complaining about the rattles, squeeks, cheap plastic parts and various other failings I have read about here. Lastly (sorry for the length), I don't intend to put the Benz down - I almost bought one and think, generally, it's a fine car, just not a smart buy for MY purposes - but obviously it is for many/most of you. And if we pass each other on the road, let's wave and smile and revel in the wisdom of BOTH of our choices rather than belittle the other person's wisdom for his decision.
My feelings as well....just that I am not sitting in an LS yet.
I have a LS400 and a new RX300 and my wife and I both have Nokia 6000 series cell phones. We've tried the Navigator (charger/speakerphone/mount) in both cars, with and without the included line cord mic that cuts down ambient noise.
Results:
1. Voice quality to the dialed party is fair-to-poor
2. When the road gets a bit rough, it's not unusual for the cell phone to disengage slightly from the Navigator mount - then it doesn't work properly till it's reinstalled and/or powered-up again.
3. In discussing these problems with the Navigator tech folks, you'll get the "well, what do you expect for the money?" approach.
Bottom line - it does work. Just not well. I think that a Lexus vehicle deserves better but I haven't found the right product yet.
http://www.lexus.com/about/news/popups/pr_2001_01_08e.html
This is just a one paragraph quote from that press release:
Amid record low temperatures across the country, Lexus heated up the sales thermometer to a sizzling 206,037 units for the year 2000, an all-time sales record for the luxury automaker. Lexus' record-setting sales represent an increase of 10.8 percent from 1999. In a very competitive and tight market, Lexus became the top-selling luxury brand edging out Mercedes-Benz by a mere 423 units.
Lexus top selling Luxury line. Get real. This kind of comparison is meaningless. Lexus has more models and less expensive models than MB. I would expect them to sell more cars in total. What I'd like to see is who sells the most $50K+ cars.
Anyone heard anything more about the mid-luxury (custom) option package available this spring?
Peace of mind is what it's all about. i know this will not be in except for routine maintenance. most MB owners wish the same.
also looked at the insurance crash test site, and looked at the E class, then looked at the Avalon. quess who did better. MB talks the talk, but their rep is cracking. looking at that offside crash of the e class, and the avalon, opens ones eyes. Even volvo did better. so maybe MB isn't as safe as they say. look for your self.
http://www.hwysafety.org/
The S class though, for example, is an incredible car, but there's some questions about reliability, quality, and features (like their wacky COMAND system), not to mention 'value' for some.
I think many look at an S-Class and an LS and say that while the S-Class is great it just isn't a better overall package at any price than an LS 430 for example.
The E-Class is pretty boring overall but doesn't really have much competition so it does OK. Other companies (BMW, Lexus, Audi) do sports sedans in those price ranges instead. Yes you can get an E55, but that's a different league in terms of cost.
Lexus often 'follows' a market, too. They watched the SUV market grow and then hit a home run with the RX300 because they learned that people like the high driving position, the room, but not the truck-like ride or lack of amenities. So they made a great riding, good looking, distinctive, high quality vehicle that is a good value for money also. Home run.
BMW is too small a company to do as much as Toyota/Lexus, so they focus more on performance than anything else.
Acura focuses on people who don't want to spend as much as a Lexus or Mercedes costs and their TL for example, was a GREAT example of terrific value for money, but with some necessary compromises, given the price.
But getting back to Lexus, they now have a pretty broad product line, a terrific reputation, a good read of the market, and an ability to capitalize on trends often started by others.
Would I buy any other car than a Lexus? Not with that experience.
a 1997 E430, put a fork in me I am done!
LS 430 is the best at any money.
Leave it to America's ridiculous love affair with trucks (and truck-like vehicles) to have made the difference here for Lexus. Anyone who has taken a good look at the Mercedes ML will probably agree with me that it is a piece of crap. I can't believe myself how low-grade the interior materials they use on it are. Just like the Lincoln Navigator sales fueled Lincoln's total vehicle sales past Cadillac last year for the first time in many decades, we'll probably see Caddy come screaming back with it's new '02 Escalade hitting the streets any day now.
It's all about trucks now.
thanks!
Is the luxury car market softening with the economy?
Hmmm...I smell some better deals on the horizon.
Jim