[Shotimes] Lexus Answers.....was: RE: OT..For Sale....

[George Fourchy]

On Wed, 10 Mar 2004 16:31:25 -0500, James F. Ryan III wrote:

>That could be, but I thought Lexus only offered the "E-Shift" paddle shifer
>on the boy-racer IS and not the upscale GS.

I don't know exactly when E-shift became available in Lexus, but it has been in the
GS 300 since 2001.  I hadn't paid that much attention to them until last summer,
when suddenly Lexus sedans came into our lives.  A friend at work has an '01 with
the E-shift, but the interior isn't as nice, as it doesn't have wood.  The 'Sport
Design' edition was new for 2003, I think.  That option is available in the IS, GS,
and one of the SUVs....the LX I think....I've seen one with the fender badge, but
don't remember what series it was.   E-shift is also in the GS-430, with the big V-8
that comes in the LS full sized sedan.  Lots of power there, but less MPG.  Mine
gets about 30 mpg on a cruise control trip.

To reinterate, I'm selling it because basically I'm too young at heart for it.  It's
a beautiful, well built, quiet, comfortable, etc., etc., etc., car.  Not a thing
wrong with it.  It just isn't what I want in a sport sedan.  If it had a turbo, I
could put up with the tranny.  But it just doesn't quite have the midrange power
band that I'm used to in a SHO.  It is at the top of the JD Power list for customer
satisfaction, and I respect it for that.  

And.....obviously, if you think about it.....it's worth more now than it will be
later, and I might as well cut my losses, since I'll be 20 years older before my
left knee gives out.  No point in having it sit around that long waiting for me to
'grow up'!

Someone's gonna get a GREAT car.

For one other questioner....I took the IS I had at Madison in for its first oil
change when we got home in July, and my original salesman was there....he was on
vacation when I got the IS in May.  I said 'I love this car (the IS) but it is too
small for my knees and hands to work together close to the steering wheel'.  He
said, "Get a GS!"  I said "What GS"  He said "That one, pointing to the car I'd
get."  I pretended to go through the roof....Why didn't someone tell me about this
car before....I had asked particularly for one this size that had the Sport Design
option.  So we sat and sat and finally dealt with the general manager, pretending to
be angry that I had been 'ripped off' (not really) by being sold the wrong car.  I
wound up with this car for a darn good deal since the IS was used....they gave us
our money back on it.  I'm very sorry I can't ultimately get the car I want from
this dealer....they're EXCELLENT.  

It's an '05 Audi A-6 V-8 6 speed for me, in November, or when I'm satisfied the bugs
are out of them.....its a new version of the A-6, about to be introduced.   'Course
I have to sit in it....I've never even seen one close up yet.  I hope I fit.

George