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My 2013 LS Observations

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Old Dec 28, 2012 | 12:51 PM
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My dad bought a 2013 (base) LS460. I have a 2009 that sooner or later I'll replace. Generally I only keep a car 2-3 years but I just don't feel the urge this time. If I HAD to buy a new car today, I WOULD buy the '13 LS. But it's basically the same car. Lexus brags about 3000 new parts, but they must be including the micro components in the new dash. The new car drove maybe a little nicer...maybe because of the 19 inch wheels versus my 18. Maybe because it's new. Maybe it's psychological. The higher center console did not bother me like my initial impression of the car I saw about a month ago at the dealer. The driver's seat "rolls out" longer or shorter versus the old car that does similar by sliding in and out. One thing that I did chuckle at was the JMcCraney wind noise fix. The triangle at the front corner of the front windows now has a curved "wing", I assume to channel the wind in a way that eliminates the noise. I wonder if the new part will fit our older cars and fix the noise problem (disclaimer: my 2009 LS doesn't seem to have the wind noise problem or at least I don't notice it)?

My dad is 78 and really appreciates the side view mirror alert of cars in the blind spot. I'm not sure it would be a big deal to me, however.

I really like the car...the "old" LS460 as well as the "new" one, but wish it was really the new car that Lexus alludes to it being. I will probably own one if there is no honestly new flagship in the next few years.
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Old Dec 28, 2012 | 02:00 PM
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Originally Posted by daryll40
One thing that I did chuckle at was the JMcCraney wind noise fix. The triangle at the front corner of the front windows now has a curved "wing", I assume to channel the wind in a way that eliminates the noise. I wonder if the new part will fit our older cars and fix the noise problem (disclaimer: my 2009 LS doesn't seem to have the wind noise problem or at least I don't notice it)?
I think it is rollin-on-the-floor funny. The cars that had the extreme "wind noise" had a noise isolation problem that was present even when the cars were sitting still and the engine not running. It wasn't about air flow, so adding a vortex generator - wing - will not help that problem. You need to keep in mind that there were thousands of '07 LS460s with the single pane glass that didn't have a wind noise problem. And there were thousands of '07, '08, 09 and '10 LS460s, LS460Ls and LS600 that had wind noise problems and these cars had triangle trim and mirror designs that were identical to thousands of cars that didn't have a wind noise problem.

You may find that replacing your trim with the new design makes things better but it would only be the result of the new trim adhering better. And you may have the experience that the new trim does't stick well, making things worse.

I do understand that my solution was not elegant. It was not intended to be elegant.

As far as I know Lexus has not provided a solution for this problem. I still get contacts from owners wanting advice on the DIY repair.

If there is anyone who does't know where to find the DIY fix, check here: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...noise-fix.html
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Old Dec 29, 2012 | 04:58 PM
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I want to post a photo that I took of the new triangle part, but can't figure out how to do it. Can't I just hit "upload" somewhere to upload from my desktop? Like on Facebook?
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Old Dec 29, 2012 | 05:24 PM
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Someone pointed this out in a previous post. Check here: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...y-2013-ls.html
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Old Dec 29, 2012 | 05:30 PM
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Originally Posted by daryll40
I want to post a photo that I took of the new triangle part, but can't figure out how to do it. Can't I just hit "upload" somewhere to upload from my desktop? Like on Facebook?
There seems to be hundreds of different ways to do it. I don't want to expose my ignorance by telling you publicly how I would do it. If you want to send me your picture in an email I will post it for you.
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Old Dec 29, 2012 | 05:41 PM
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Thank you, jmcraney, for offering to post my photo of the "wind noise triangle" I private messaged you with my email and will reply with the photo.
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Old Dec 29, 2012 | 06:39 PM
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This is daryll40's trim on his 2013 LS. As you can see it is a great car color too.

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Old Dec 29, 2012 | 06:45 PM
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Actually this is my dad's car. But it is a nice color. The triangle isn't any big high-tech deal. In fact, it MIGHT just have the "fin" in it as part of the refreshed look of the 2013 that also has new curves in the hood. And might have nothing to do with the wind noise. But I suspect it does, although Lexus probably won't admit it because that would support the argument that something is "wrong" with all the pre-2013 cars.

Thanks jmcraney for posting this for me.
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Old Dec 30, 2012 | 02:01 PM
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By the way, the one (and only) "gee whiz" improvement versus my 2009 car is the side mirror "blind spot" alert. Particularly for my somewhat aging father. I'm not sure if this is new for 2013 or was new before that, but that was the only real improvement that I saw that wasn't just a cosmetic workover.
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Old Dec 30, 2012 | 05:26 PM
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They are stabilizing fins: https://secure.drivers.lexus.com/lex...he-Air-Benders
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Old Dec 30, 2012 | 06:02 PM
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Originally Posted by aypues
-wonder if these 2013 'aerodynamic' triangles are same dimensions as previous years and could be fit to 2007-2012 Lexus
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Old Dec 30, 2012 | 08:03 PM
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Congratulations to your father, have him drive her in good health.
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Old Dec 31, 2012 | 04:35 AM
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Thanks, Dochusar. By the way, there was one other minor improvement that is actually major, if that's possible. Lexus finally caught up to General Motors, circa 1999, and the tire pressure display shows which pressure goes with which wheel.
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Old Jan 3, 2013 | 05:11 PM
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Originally Posted by daryll40
Thanks, Dochusar. By the way, there was one other minor improvement that is actually major, if that's possible. Lexus finally caught up to General Motors, circa 1999, and the tire pressure display shows which pressure goes with which wheel.
My 2010 LS460 has that feature.
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Old Jan 3, 2013 | 05:23 PM
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Really? My dad's old car was an '11 and he swears it didn't have it. I'd love to see a photo of the dash display on your car, if you could.
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