Took the plunge today.
#1
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Took the plunge today.
We bought a Ruby w/black from Merriville today. I originally ordered a Ruby w/cashmere a month ago. That combination is so rare and the dealer did not know if he could get one by August. Also they gave an extra $500 to take the black interior. Another factor was the swivel Xenon head lights and parking assist. These options are not available right now. Sticker is $41249, paid $39249. I'm very happy with my price concidering other Lexus dealers in Chicago area are not dealing. I just wish I could have gotten cashmere. I may trade this in next year for a Ruby w/cashmere. Never know. My salesman also said all new 350s are comming in from Japan as $37170 premiums, $40289 premium plus, or UL if lucky. That's it. We pick the car up Saturday. This is my first Lexus. I hope I don't have any transmission problems like others have. This seems to be Lexus least reliable car to date. Hope I'm wrong.
#2
Lexus Test Driver
Congratulations!!! I'm waiting for mine to arrive next Saturday too So, did you get Premium+ package?
Tranny problem was found only on the early models in May. My dealership, here in NJ, informed me that Lexus factory implemented new testing to screen out transmission problems. So, all the new builds from Japan starting from June will be 100% good!!!
Tranny problem was found only on the early models in May. My dealership, here in NJ, informed me that Lexus factory implemented new testing to screen out transmission problems. So, all the new builds from Japan starting from June will be 100% good!!!
#3
Lexus Champion
This seems to be Lexus least reliable car to date. Hope I'm wrong.
I've owned 4 Lexus ES's since 1990 and they proved to be the most trouble free automobiles of any manufacturer that I've ever owned.
I'm sure you're going to love your new ES350 just as most of us.
Good luck.......and enjoy.
Alan
#4
Originally Posted by amf1932
I definitely wouldn't say that! The percentage of people that had the transmission problems with this model are extremely small.
I've owned 4 Lexus ES's since 1990 and they proved to be the most trouble free automobiles of any manufacturer that I've ever owned.
I'm sure you're going to love your new ES350 just as most of us.
Good luck.......and enjoy.
Alan
I've owned 4 Lexus ES's since 1990 and they proved to be the most trouble free automobiles of any manufacturer that I've ever owned.
I'm sure you're going to love your new ES350 just as most of us.
Good luck.......and enjoy.
Alan
I'll take this car any day of the week compared to my '02 ES 300 in which every transmission they made was a total disaster.
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Originally Posted by twister
Congratulations!!! I'm waiting for mine to arrive next Saturday too So, did you get Premium+ package?
Tranny problem was found only on the early models in May. My dealership, here in NJ, informed me that Lexus factory implemented new testing to screen out transmission problems. So, all the new builds from Japan starting from June will be 100% good!!!
Tranny problem was found only on the early models in May. My dealership, here in NJ, informed me that Lexus factory implemented new testing to screen out transmission problems. So, all the new builds from Japan starting from June will be 100% good!!!
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Originally Posted by Bash4
Sticker is $41249, paid $39249. I'm very happy with my price concidering other Lexus dealers in Chicago area are not dealing. I just wish I could have gotten cashmere.
You are so right about Chicago dealers. I live in Chicago and one dealer offered me $200 off as if he was doing me a favor. This was on a UL package. I also heard from a couple of Chicago dealers that they have people waiting with deposits for a Ruby/Cashmere and there has been no luck. One dealer said it didn't exist. I am sure it does but it's not easy to come by out here. You're getting your car just in time to get your city sticker without paying the God awful penalty.
#7
Originally Posted by andejes
You are so right about Chicago dealers. I live in Chicago and one dealer offered me $200 off as if he was doing me a favor. This was on a UL package. I also heard from a couple of Chicago dealers that they have people waiting with deposits for a Ruby/Cashmere and there has been no luck. One dealer said it didn't exist. I am sure it does but it's not easy to come by out here. You're getting your car just in time to get your city sticker without paying the God awful penalty.
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I'm really surprised at the Ruby/Cashmere shortage. I got mine, a Ruby/Cashmere UL, the first week they came out (a week late).
I've told this on other threads, but . . . My wife and I had studied the choices for several weeks prior to the release, and went to Longo in CA to buy a Granite/Light Gray premium plus. Longo has a huge underground lot. We went there and picked out one of several Granite/Gray cars for our salesguy to drive up to the front of the building. We walked past the Ruby/Cashmere, looked at each other with that OMG look, and calmly asked him to also bring that car upstairs. The Granite came up first. When the Ruby came up and was parked next to the Granite, my wife gave out an involuntary yelp (not a good bargaining tactic) and that was all she wrote.
It was during the first days of anyone selling/buying the car, so we got literally thousands off the siticker, got the Sirius with a 9 month subscription thrown in, and accidentally ended up with what appears to be a highly sought after car. I'm a happy guy.
P.S. - I've been stopped many, many times, 3 times just this weekend by people wanting to look at it and talk about it, and it's the Royal Ruby Metalic that starts the conversation.
P.P.S. - Bash4, I'm sure it will look stunning with the black interior.
I've told this on other threads, but . . . My wife and I had studied the choices for several weeks prior to the release, and went to Longo in CA to buy a Granite/Light Gray premium plus. Longo has a huge underground lot. We went there and picked out one of several Granite/Gray cars for our salesguy to drive up to the front of the building. We walked past the Ruby/Cashmere, looked at each other with that OMG look, and calmly asked him to also bring that car upstairs. The Granite came up first. When the Ruby came up and was parked next to the Granite, my wife gave out an involuntary yelp (not a good bargaining tactic) and that was all she wrote.
It was during the first days of anyone selling/buying the car, so we got literally thousands off the siticker, got the Sirius with a 9 month subscription thrown in, and accidentally ended up with what appears to be a highly sought after car. I'm a happy guy.
P.S. - I've been stopped many, many times, 3 times just this weekend by people wanting to look at it and talk about it, and it's the Royal Ruby Metalic that starts the conversation.
P.P.S. - Bash4, I'm sure it will look stunning with the black interior.
Last edited by Hitsme; 07-10-06 at 08:07 AM.
#11
Originally Posted by PsychDoc
You are 100% correct. My transmission is smooth as silk (other than a bit of "hunting" when decelerating from around 20mph down to 10mph and this is really no big deal).
#12
Originally Posted by Macklin
Exactly! That's a dead on description. I'm glad I'm not the only one to notice this. Really bothered me at first, but I've gotten used to it. Do you think this is associated with the "engine brake" feature mentioned in the manual? It does almost feel like a mild braking sensation at times.
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Originally Posted by andejes
You are so right about Chicago dealers. I live in Chicago and one dealer offered me $200 off as if he was doing me a favor. This was on a UL package. I also heard from a couple of Chicago dealers that they have people waiting with deposits for a Ruby/Cashmere and there has been no luck. One dealer said it didn't exist. I am sure it does but it's not easy to come by out here. You're getting your car just in time to get your city sticker without paying the God awful penalty.
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Originally Posted by PsychDoc
You are 100% correct. My transmission is smooth as silk (other than a bit of "hunting" when decelerating from around 20mph down to 10mph and this is really no big deal).
I'll take this car any day of the week compared to my '02 ES 300 in which every transmission they made was a total disaster.
I'll take this car any day of the week compared to my '02 ES 300 in which every transmission they made was a total disaster.
Thanks Bash4