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Some great stuff on the '04 LS including a sport package (woo hoo!).
So I was very disappointed when I read further and found: "Engine Start: Once the key is detected, the vehicle can be started by simply turning the ignition switch. There is no need to insert the key." What a letdown. Does anybody know why no one makes a car with remote start? Is there not enough of a market for it (too few hot areas)? Or is it a safety thing? Or a legality thing? Or have they simply not yet thought of it?
Waiting for the '05 . . .
You've been spoiled by the Ultra my friend. The door closers are standard on it and not available on the other LS models - at least in 2001 & 2002. It's also not just bulb burnout but killing the batttery would be the bigger problem.
Now just so that you don't miss out on anything - there was an excellent story on String theory in this past Tuesday's NY Times science section. If you missed it see if you can still access it on line.
The LS is truly a fine vehicle to own, but can be pricey to fix/maintain especially with high mileage cars. It is a car afterall....
Good luck with your decision.
If the headlights are on and switched to automatic they will stay on until the trunk is closed - same as the doors.
Great car but black is a bear to keep clean. Wish they would make a pearl white.
They are asking 16.9K or OBO for the '95 w/ 47K miles.
Would like to pay 14.9-15K for it.
The '95 probably has some maintenance issues due to age.
My main concern is the timing belt. It is almost 9 years old and is probably marginal.
I am leaning to the '95 purely because of mileage.
3-4 years fron now it will have under 100K miles.
By then the '99 will have 160K miles.
http://www.cars.com/advice/advice_carprices.jhtml?aff=national
The Black Book is a relatively *safe* guide than edmunds or KBB...
Good luck and let us know how it turned out...
The car was silver with the 17" six-spoke wheels. I was hoping it would have the saddle interior so I could check that color out on the LS but it had a light interior (ecru I believe).
They also had small preview brochures showing the front, side, back and interior. Oddly enough the brochure does not mention many of the cool new features.
I seem to get more stone chips in the front than any car we've had and they really show on a black car. Beautiful when it's polished though.
Carguyay, are you from IN? What dealership are you dealing with?
That being said, the changes are very subtle. I would think most people would not even notice the changes unless they were very familiar with the 2003 or were looking at the 2003 and 2004 side by side.
Lexus seems to have successfully updated the car without making the 2003 look outdated.
'90 was first year. '93 got 16" wheels which made the car look 100% better.
'95 got a new body with increased rear seat legroom.
'98 was another body style change(but much less than the '95 changes) with new motor and 5 speed auto.
'90-98 cars were all variations on a theme.
'01 was a completely new body.
So the '04 changes are not any sooner than the '95 to '98 change.
Personally, I'm still waiting for AWD. Guess I'm in for a long wait.
I'll bet they want to see how well AWD goes over on the next GS before they introduce it on the LS. Or perhaps AWD will be offered as an option in 2005 since the GS in that model year will incorporate it as standard or optional equipment. It doesn't strike me as a smart move to just offer it on one car. Let's see.
My lease is up in February and I'm torn between the sport suspension and the custom lux options. 18" wheels with tinted glass will make that car a knockout but unless the tinting comes from the factory I wouldn't want it.
Lexus does not have long model cycles. Typically their cars run for five years, with a cosmetic freshening in the fourth year. So, what Lexus is doing follows their history. Compare this to Mercedes and BMW, who usually keep model runs around 6-8 years. With Lexus there are exceptions, as the old SC and current GS have runs longer than five years. Also, the last LS ran an extra year because it wasn't quite ready yet after five years from what I heard.
As an LS recap:
LS 400 gen I - 1990, 1991, 1992
LS 400 gen I freshened - 1993, 1994
LS 400 gen II - 1995, 1996, 1997
LS 400 gen II freshened - 1998, 1999, 2000
LS 430 gen III - 2001, 2002, 2003
LS 430 gen III freshened - 2004
An update on the door noise. I noticed that if I parked the car under the hot sun, I can drive it for a long while before I hear any noise. I can hear it easily in the early drive to Starbucks. So maybe temperature and humidity affects the plastics/materials within the door linings.
Music from the ML drowns the noise even at mid levels, but business radio doesn't. The ML soundstage is just so good. But you know that already.
Again, I won't attend to this until my first 1K service at Ray Catena.
At 600 miles, the LS seems to be accelerating even better, or maybe it's me getting used to it.
I also noticed iritating noise with the BMW 7 series and even in a Rolls.
The real problem is that the overall sound level in these expensive cars is so low that minor noise like ours are so easy to spot.
BUT everytime we drive that "loaner" home, doesn't our "noisy" car seem so much better when we pick it up again?
I also noticed iritating noise with the BMW 7 series and even in a Rolls.
The real problem is that the overall sound level in these expensive cars is so low that minor noise like ours are so easy to spot.
BUT everytime we drive that "loaner" home, doesn't our "noisy" car seem so much better when we pick it up again?
I have been told that the Hardware will not support the upgrade...
I would be interested to know if anyone else has heard something different. It never hurts to double check especially when it is a brand new item.
The price on the DVD update started off at $500, but was reduced in the following year to $250. So, that's a good guess on how much this one will cost (if it works in the older 430s, that is).
Sean
The new LS pictured at the Frankfurt show - see the high end board for a link - really looks nice. The more I look at the front end the more I see the true LS400 look in the headlight design. If you scroll down the cars on that link you'll see a Toyota hybrid sports car that - at a glance - looks like a modification of the original Vette. The next SC?
There is also a Ford model that looks quite interesting.
It appeared to be silver in the ad, but when I got there it was a light green color that was not real attractive.
The seat color was okay but the carpet was greenish.
Engine was silent at idle and the car drove really well.
There was some repaint work on the right rear fender and rear door. The leading edge of the trunk did not fit properly.
I will not be buying this car.
But here is the kicker, it had 146,000 miles on it!!!!!!!!
It still drove great.
Guy was asking 13.9K.
b4z - The high end board is labelled "High End Luxury Marques" and is located within the sedans boards. Just scroll down or up depending on latest post.
In the article, Mike Wells, VP of Marketing, says the next generation GS will go on sale in January 2005 (I heard spring 2004) and will in fact be the first Lexus to focus on a "distinctive new styling that has synergy with all other future Lexus models."
You WILL be able to get upgrades for your nav, giving updated maps, they just won't be same DVDs as for the new '04's.
http://www.autochannel.com/F/news/2003/09/11/168528.html
No word on timing. My guess is that AWD and hybrid go together for the LS...i.e., maybe no gas-only AWD is planned. We'll see.