Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Thanks again, Ken
1- After consultation with the manual people at Lexus they agree with me that rotors are not described in the exempt section of the warranty. and they will be rectifying that in the future, She also stated implied in the warranty is what actually covered is manufactures defect not those things which are due to wear and tear.
2- Because they were not specific in their warranty manual Lexus will be sending me a check for $ 1,300 to cover the rotor problem and i guess pain and suffering. The check is to arrive in 3 weeks.
3. The mediator asked me if I would buy another Lexus, I stated yes but will be awaiting the All Wheel Drive. She stated from what she is hearing it will be a 2006 model mid year release.
Though this has been an awful experience I feel at ease and my faith is once again restored. Of course the check is in the mail and I will inform you when it arrives.
Again thank you for all your support and collective comments and wisdom,
No change except pebble beach edition to SC, no changes at all to LX.
Big addition of options and accessories to ES (arriving 8/4)
new engine 270HP VVTi and sport package for GX (12/8)
RX gets 4th GEn Nav w/bluetooth, HID and AFS packaged topgether but separate from sport pkg, dropped Black Forrest/Gray and Blue Mica/Black (9/2)
Decided to hold on to my LS until fall and get 2005 RX instead of 2004. Glad no changes to SC so no regrets ahving picked that up now.
How's that SC430? I think the car stays as is for the most part until 2007. But I think 2006 is the year of big change for the LS.
The list I got from Ray Catena says "New VVTi engine (270 hp)". I'm not familiar with the car since we never considered one so I don't know how big a change that is.
I must say that they were amazingly gracious about our change of mind. They gave me a good price on both cars as part of a two car deal, and the color my wife wanted had finally arrived. I went in to talk to them in person. I told my salesman, and he went into the office to tell the sales manager. The sales manager came out with my salesman to talk to me, and I thought he was going to try to talk me into taking the car. Instead he thanked me for coming in to tell them in person, as many people in similar situations won't even return their calls when the car comes in. No hassel about the switch, and they refunded my deposit. I can't speak highly enough about them. If there was an "elite of the elite" I'd put them on the list.
I looked at the unit [right side of front bumper is a slot] and noted the lens glass and receptor glass were pitted. I assume this was due to the harsh winter in the northeast coupled with heavy road salting. I also noted a slight crack probably from road debris being thrown up.
I tapped the glass covering of the unit and it is tempered glass. The glass cannot be replaced one must buy the entire unit.
I believe it would make sense to make the units glass with a vinyl or mylar protector which would be self adhering and which could be replaced.
I also feel the glass front panel should be replaceable on the unit as it is exposed and and sits low to the ground, it will be will be damaged in time. It needs some protection.
I own a 2001 LS 430 ultra so the unit functioned well for 3 years now it needs replacement, Cost with installation $ 2,000.
Thanks again for your info.
Ken
Has anyone else experienced this problem - if so, what is the solution.
Thanks,
Jerry
By the way I love smartaccess but the lack of it in the GX is driving me nuts. Half the time I drive my wife's GX I'm trying to start it without the key in the ignition.
Is that what you are describing?
To turn the car on I just turn the key and get going. By "locking" do you mean that you cannot turn the car on without giving the wheel a hard tug?
Thanks in advance for clarifying this for me.
But, like you, I will note it when I take my car in for the 5,000 mile service.
Thanks again
Jerry
And I agree 100% with your comment about some kind of a protection for the glass. With the position of the unit, just about anything can be kicked up from the road and damage the unit.
Anyway, I'll ask my dealer about replacing the glass and see if they tell me the same thing about a $2k repair job. Stay tuned. I go in on June 29th.
Would be worth a call?
Unfortunately on the Dynamic Cruise Control module you cannot change the glass,you have to buy the entire unit. The unit is $1,600 and they have to drop the bumper. The design is terrible. I do not know whether the 2004 have a different design.
I am having mine repaired today and it is a $2000 job. I plan to buy a 20 mil vinyl sheet to see if I can protect the glass. Good Luck to you on your 30K visit.
Sorry to hear about your 2K pain.
I find it surprising that a company that makes you hit "I agree" on the nav/radio system every time you start up the car to avoid possible litigation would make such an easily corrupted laser cruise system that could lead to a serious accident if it malfunctioned.
I wonder if indeed, the '04 refresh of the LS included design changes to that system to make it tougher.
If the pin hits the groove straight on it will release easily, but if it hits the edge of a tooth then it may cause friction and not release easily.
Does this make any sense? It's hard to describe without drawing a picture and pointing.
By the way, I have noticed that when the steering wheel is locked and I try to start the car, I get a warning message that says "Check S/T Lock". Would you guess that "S/T" is meant to be an abbreviation for "Steering Wheel"?
Or is it a warning to get the steering wheel serviced?
Does the owner's manual have anything to say about this? (No, not lazy, I'm a potential LS430 owner here -- don't have a manual YET)
wwest - this happened to me in my garage with nothing impeding the wheels. So it should occasionally be expected - but as I said before - its a non-event once you know what to do.
I purchased the flaps and had the dealer install them. Since I plan on keeping my LS 430 for several years, I thought it was a wise investment to minimize rock dings and tar. I was finally able to convince the dealer that there was a way to customize the door locking mechanism given that other owners have reported sucess. Although they charged me $25 for the CBEST adjustment, they under-charged me for the mud guards so I walked away happy.
If the dealer provided the mud guards could you give us their name.
To go to regular cruse you just push the button twice. I suspect it will be the same on an 04
The dealer had initially quoted me a price of $85 for installation but ended up charging me $25.
Is the Cust. Lux package worth the price over the Modern Lux package if the laser cruise is not of interest? Is the interior a signifcant upgrade?
With all that said, if you get a reliable S-class and are leasing it or don't plan on selling it in the next 5 years, and don't care about the extra cost, I can't imagine you not being happy.
As for connection to the road, I'm not sure that it just psychological. The cornering is a bit sharper and the steering feel not as over boosted. That said, for a luxury car, I don't think those are key issues.
I'm sure it comes in handy though for the long drives out of the city.
I did read in an earlier post here that someone had there's damaged by a rock or some road debris and it was quite expensive (1-2K?) to fix.
Also, CR cited the MB and Lexus laser cruise to be overly sensitive.
Any experience with that?
The laser cruse does slow your car to maintain the distance between you and the car in front and of course your car will speed up to the set speed if the guy in front picks up the pace.
It is not at all helpfull if you are driving on congested roads however.
I will find out tomorrow how much it costs it fix the broken glass on the laser cruise. A small rock must have been kicked up by a truck on my last trip to Vegas. The laser still works fine so far, but I'll see if they can just replace the glass...thereby avoiding a $2k charge to replace the entire unit. I've got my 30k maintenance check tomorrow so I'll let you all know what my dealer says about it...stay tuned.
When I first got the 2001, the cruise control seemed to be doing exactly what I wanted it to, when I set the following distance to the minimum option, except that it was a bit sluggish in accelerating after the car in front of me picked up speed.
After I had the 60,000 mile service done, it seemed to me that the car was using a slightly longer following distance than it had before, even though I had it on the same setting. I mentioned this to the service guy and he said there was no adjustment, and that they had not done anything that might have changed the settings for following distances.
The 2004 is definitely more responsive in accelerating after the car in front speeds up, and it seems to have a following distance that is the way the 2001 was at first. The one sense in which it might be said to be too sensitive is that if the car in front slows down enough to trigger the alerting chime sound, it then increases the power brake amplification, so that if you press the brake slightly the effect is as though you had pressed the brake very hard, and the car overreacts - presumably a safety feature. I usually disengage the cruise control before activating the brake in these situations.
In summary, the 2004 is even better than the 2001.