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In any case, you should give the nav system another try. It is really quite good overall.
Also, there's conflicting info on this board about when the total redesign is due...is it model year 06 or 07? Or is it '07 coming in fall of '06, perhaps?
My uncle has a 00 LS400 which I help him do alot of maint./repairs on because he is clueless about those issues and he needs you tires.
He was about to pay the dealer $180 a tire for the OEM Dunlop SP Sport 4000's that can be bought on tire rack for about a $100. I recommended him to the LS-Hs.
I had Turanza's on my 92 LS. Normally I'm a Michelin man, but I was really impressed by them. Bridgestone makes a great snow tire in the Blizzak as well.
So far my Dunlops have given me 21K miles and probably have half tread left in them. In my case, they are taken off for snow tires for 4 mos a year. I think Bridgestone offers a far better value for the money. The MXV4 Energy tires for my 92 LS were $138 a tire. They ride well, but I'm not impressed with the wear on them.
I think the redesign is mid-06. This of course is speculation on my part. I haven't seen any hard data on what they are doing. Let's hope it's a nice looking car.
SV
I am able to protect the Dynamic Cruise Control Module [ I had to replace it as the glass was corroded and cracked on the module[a $2000 replacement]. I used self adhering vinyl on both the transmitter and receptor windows. This self adhering vinyl is used on LCD displays on computers and digital cameras. You peel off the vinyl and fix it on the glass and it sticks [no adhesives] it can be removed at any time. The product is sold in camera stores. I have used it now for 3 weeks and the module works perfectly and I feel protected from road debris and salted roads.The product cost $9.70.
I have a 2001 LS 430 Ultra.
My driving style is generally conservative, except that I accelerate very briskly away from stops and traffic lights, availing myself of the LS 430's amazing low-end acceleration (torque?), and almost invariably leave most other drivers in my dust. I don't understand why so few others routinely accelerate as I do. It doesn't really have to do so much with their cars' capabilities, because occasionally, (very seldom) when I come up against someone who does accelerate as I do, they stay with me even if they are driving an ordinary car. When that happens, since I am not actually drag racing them, I don't try to pour on the steam to see if I can ultimately out-accelerate them, which in most cases I probably could. My behavior lets them know I'm not competing. Most people seem to pick up speed from a traffic light slowly, but end up exceeding the speed limit by 10 mph or so. I'm the opposite. I start very fast but hold at the speed limit once I reach it. (I'm talking about the San Francisco area where I live. Maybe it's different elsewhere.)
Am I crazy?
Mike
The car connection just did a review of the LS 430 and seems to think it is the best luxury car out there:
"You can make a case for either of the German competitors' dynamics or the English Jaguar's styling, but the truth is that right now there's no better luxury car on Earth than the Japanese-made Lexus LS 430."
http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=7351&sid=18- - - - 3&n=157
Evidence: They do buy other cars that are not as good as lexus and even pay more for them...
Reasons:
1) They are uninformed buyers.
2) They buy prestege.
3) They buy engine size.
4) Looks..Inside or out.
5) They have always bought BMW or Mercedes or Jag or whatever.
I am sure there are many other reasons...
The Lexus/Toyota LS430 is actually sold under a different name in Japan and wears the Toyota badge but is the same car or in some cases a more advance version of the car)
In my judgement the Mercedes S class is almost in the same league as the LS 430...Maybe you have been drawn to Mercedes by that string around your finger..The LS reputation for quality and dependability, interior design, and amenities are what drew me to it.
I like the wind tunnel ad. and the pass key ad. At least they stress quality in their advertising rather then "strings around your finger"
The Q misses the mark badly and falls short of a true high-end sedan. That and the fact that Infiniti has been so inconsistent with it's definition is why it doesn't sell. But it still outsells an A8 here.
http://www.motorola.com/mediacenter/news/detail/0,,4455_3786_23,0- 0.html
http://reviews.cnet.com/Motorola_V710/4505-6454_7-30980661-2.html- ?tag=top
With that said, I am very disappointed with the ML sound system. My problem is not with the sound quality. It's fine. My problem is with the speaker balancing. It doesn't matter which DSP setting I choose, the sound seems to come from the front of the car, rather than surrounding me. I think this is a result of mounting the rear speakers in the doors rather than the rear shelf.
Playing with the DSP settings (the picture with the 4 seats) helps some, but the sound still comes mostly from the front.
I've tried changing the speaker balance, but if you adjust it towards the back so that the sound surrounds you, then the sound quality gets noticeably worse (the high end starts to go away). Again I think this is because the rear speakers are mounted low in the doors, and are blocked by the front seats.
The Bose system in my E-Class did not have this problem (it had speakers in the rear shelf). Has anyone else noticed this?
Is there a hack, fix or modification that will allow me to enter new destination data or change an existing destination in the navigation system while moving?
I'm now looking into doing this myself for my '04 LS. I got the wiring diagrams. I plan to interrupt the speed signal wires going to the nav system and LCD display with Bluetooth system. My goal is to tie the AFS switch to a relay connected to these speed signals. So just switch off AFS to enter a destination or access the phonebook. The AFS light in the cluster is a reminder to reenable the speed signals.
This is all theory at this point. I don't know how to get the LCD display out of the dash (without potentially breaking or scratching some piece of trim). The connectors I need to access are up high behind the dash. I hope the LCD hole gives me access.
I'll post here if I get this all figured out but I'm pretty busy with work and life right now so be patient.
The service manager 1st wanted to sand down both area and re-paint. Later, we agreed to replace the fender with a new one, and then re-paint. Since I have parking sensors on my 2003 LS, this is no minor job.
I am very concerned over the re-painting as I have never had one done for over 15 years. Back in the 80's, I had bad mismatches for a Honda. Under street lamps, the silver color just stood out.
Any experience anyone can share here?
Thanks!
Paul
He also told me about a $15,000 sensor that he own's that will give him the exact mix necessary to match any paint color ...
My concern is simply color match, as the only other time I had body work done was on a Honda Prelude, back in 1985. Everytime that car was parked under a street light at night, you can tell it was re-painted.
I am sure the technology has changed since, but I am a bit concerned that it will be both an eye sore and will cost me 1-2K in trade in value in a few years. All this at an "elite of Lexus" service center. I cannot believe it.
Make it clear to them if you don't like the work they will need to put on a new Bumper...Get their Agreement...Should be no problem they aim to please and it was their fault.
Seem about right?
i'm 5000 miles into this ls. i've spent almost no time in auto, the shifting is far more preferable. the ratios of the ls, putting city and slow two-lane country in 3rd with lots of power, is perfect. the audi/phaeton revved higher here and forced you into 4th too early.
besides, my trusted audi mechanic of many years, looked around the shop at all the new a8's in for early problems (mostly computer/electrical) and said quietly to me, "there's nothing for you here."
Tom in Vista