<VENOM>

I don't understand the whole radio controls on the steering wheel, I've never looked for that or even used it on any of the cars I owned or driven, I don't know maybe someone can explain it to me is it an age thing.

When I get into a car like the ES, 1st thing is the test drive then when I have it at home everything that I don't really care about but matters is secondary

I would not mine that active cruise control, being able to set it and crawl in the back and go to sleep would be *****in for those few times I have to go somewhere real early

amf1932

Last Spring I rented a Nissan Maxima in Long Beach, CA. This car had the radio and CD controls on the steering wheel and also on the front of the radio. At first I thought this feature was nice, but after using it a couple of weeks I really started loving it. It gave me complete control over the various functions such as, changing volume, changing stations, changing CD tracks, etc. I think this is a safer way of playing with the sound system 'cause you can keep your eyes on the road instead of having to glance down at the dashboard. I would have loved having this feature if it was offered in the ES.

lexusk8

BMW is known to have an abundant array of controls and other electronic gizmos in their models (i.e. iDrive concept in the 7-series), so it's no surprise to see radio and audio controls on the steering wheel. I have driven my father's 740iL for a while, and of course immediately loved all the controls on the steering wheel

I just hope that Lexus will either come equipped with steering wheel audio controls in the near future, or materialize on a new and unique electronic concept/function to woo others from the luxury car market. These days, everyone's looking for the up and up, especially in the auto industry

EDIT: I cannot believe this is my 1000th post!

dreday68

In the past the cd changer would be behind the Nav screen and the nav screen would fold down... If the cd changer isn't behind the nav screen... where is it? ... i hope not the trunk!
Or am i reading something wrong...

<VENOM>

My 4Runner has radio controls on the wheel but it goes through every station, not the preset sations every station working or not but I learned at an early age when I almost rearended a car that stopped in the left lane to operate the radio without looking

amf1932

On the '02-'03 ES's equipped with NAV the single CD player is behind the NAV screen and the 6 CD changer is in the center console.

Davtown

My mom's 2002 Land Rover Discover Series II has the radio controls on the steering wheel, and while it may seem like an unneeded luxury (well, it is....), it's certainly not an accessory that goes unnoticed an unused.

After a short drive in that car, I find myself looking for the radio controls on my Lexus for a while (until I finally realize that I don't have them )

Seems like a pretty cool overall car

<VENOM>

Since the ES is upgrade to a 330 do you think it could hang with a BMW 330 on the highway I doubt it can even keep up in the turns suspension is way to soft

amf1932

No way could the ES compare to the roadability and precise handling of the BMW 330. But as far as quietness and smoothness, the ES has it all over the BMW.

XeroK00L

You must not have been in an ES300 with navigation in person.
When the navigation option is equipped, the CD changer is moved to the center compartment box and uses up the bulk of the valuable space there.
There is still a CD player behind the nav screen but it holds only one disc.
What I was suggesting is that they should replace that single-disc CD player with a 6-disc one, now that the space originally occupied by the tape player is freed up.

XeroK00L

Yup...a friend of mine who drives a 540i admitted the comfort and quietness even in his car can't compare to my ES300 after I took him for a ride.

amf1932

I was told that the area where the cassette player was now houses parts of the NAV system and they no longer have the controller box in the trunk for the NAV system.

amf1932

Lexusk8, Congratulations on your 1000th. post!!!

XeroK00L

True...it has to be put somewhere.
I'd take an in-dash CD changer over the in-dash GPS unit any day, though.
I wonder how they manage to find space to cram all the gadgets and controls in the dashboard of the smaller SC430 but fail to do the same to the larger ES300 (the nav screen in the SC430 doesn't even need to fold to reveal the CD slot).

amf1932

I agree with that wholeheartedly! It now makes the center console virtually useless.