by Reed on March 30, 2010

Gregg Hall asked:
It really isn’t that difficult to Make sure that your sports car is in top shape all of the time. The only thing you have to do is take the time and effort to do some preventive maintenance to head off the aggravation, hassle, and expense of taking it to a mechanic shop when the engine suddenly locks up or the “idiot lights” in the instrument panel light up.
The maintenance records are crucial for higher end sports cars such as BMW, Mercedes, and Lexus. Everyone that wants a car can’t afford to buy a sports car from one of these companies but here are some hints and tips that will help you maintain your sports car no matter what it is.
It is always sensible to inspect the brakes, tires, check the oil and the steering system as well to make sure that everything is normal before going for a drive. If you hear a sound or noise that was not there before while out driving the automobile, take it to your automobile mechanic or local repair shop to have it checked into.
Have the auto-mechanic look into all the parts of the ignition system. The spark plugs should be inspected since their condition is a very good indicator of how the engine is performing overall. These days with the advances in technology they should be changed every 100,000 miles but you should still be checking them every 30,000 miles just to be certain that everything is OK.
Due to the fact that the rotor and distributor cap are made of plastic which deteriorate over time due to normal wear and tear they need to be checked regularly. To make certain that these don’t casue any problems when starting the vehicle have them checked on a regular basis.
The various filters act as a preventatives against rust and other harmful objects that could hurt the performance of your vehicle. There several filters such as those for oil or fuel. These filters should be checked frequently – about every 3,000 miles.
Keep tack of the automobile’s mileage by computing the amount of fuel bought and the amount of miles driven as exhibited by the odometer before and after you fill your tank. If you discover a sudden and noticeable change in the number of miles per gallon, be proactive and take the car to the mechanic shop for analysis.
If your car’s sensor lights come on,you should be on the safe side and pull the car over to the side of the road call for help. The lights are there for a reason and there is a chance that the trouble can be relieved there or if it is a serious matter it may have to towed to a repair shop.
by Reed on March 30, 2010

Shaun Patrick Davidson asked:
Luxury sport sedans are fantastic automobiles, but at the same time they can be a maintenance nightmare. It’s the perfect compromise between the bland mid-sized sedan or the gas chugging sport utility vehicle. In addition, those very luxury cars are foundations to a rewarding and successful lifestyle, they have a timeless look and differentiate well with other cars out on the road. They are unmistakable in every imaginable category, but shopping for one is sometimes misunderstood, even a little frustrating without the right tools of information. Which car is right for me? Which car has the best reliability? And ultimately, which car will cost me the least in maintenance? All these important questions will be answered with a short list of some of the most reliable and inexpensive luxury sport sedans.
Japanese rounds out my top three picks with stunning good looks, great reliability, fantastic resale value, and they are inexpensive too! Lexus’ 2001-2005 IS 300 sedans look fantastic, have outstanding engineering that goes far beyond its 4-door looks and conservative nature. Low mileage models can easily be found for under $25k and are plentiful. Also they are available in an automatic or stick shift for some better driver intervention of gearing. Secondly, Acura’s 2004-current TL series are slick looking cars with some of the most satisfying amenities. With newer Honda products coming out, the TL will soon be ready for a newer body design, so that will help drive the prices of current models down a little bit more. Therefore making them a superior bargain luxury sedan. Lastly, Infiniti’s breakthrough 2003-current G35 sedans and coupes are a hot favorite with the younger generations. When they first came out, they inspired revolutionary styling and meticulously engineered platforms that perform with Germany’s best. They look good at any angle, and come equipped with comfortable leather seating that makes the drive a superb experience. Each of the three have styling that still looks good in any traffic landscape, and great reliability and pricing for some icing on the cake.
America has one fantastic sedan on the hot list and it is Cadillac’s 2003-2007 CTS model. With unprecedented success with its newest transformation, older models have never been cheaper. With cutting edge design and great engineering, the CTS has a lot of flavors to appeal to the most discriminating of drivers. Even newer 06-07 models can be had for the mid $20k level, which in turn makes it a perennial favorite in my book. As a result, the Cadillac CTS has all of the ingredients for a reliable and grabbing luxury sedan choice.
Value doesn’t come up too often for BMW, but its 00-06 3 series models enjoy some time on the camera for one of the biggest luxury offers. Aside for it’s timeless styling, the BMW is the quintessential choice for the beginning entrepreneur. Consumers are most satisfied with what the BMW has to offer, and at a great price as well. This can be attributed to a fresher new 3 series body style. Additionally, the 3 series line up has great engineering, faultless powertrain, and the status moniker that owners love. Avoid the 1999 model as it had more than its fair share of quality and maintenance issues. And keep in mind, the BMW has the more expensive maintenance tasks.
In closing, it was easy to find all the right candidates for the top five. They all shared some common elements, value (all under $30k), reliability, style, and overall satisfaction. They all hit the nail on the head and are a fantastic recommendation in all of the luxury shopping decisions.
by Reed on January 22, 2010
Lexus just wants me to bring my car back in for service as a "checkup", so the maintenance light is on. My car has no problems. How can I turn this light off?
I believe there was a method involving turning the key to accessory and start and off in some pattern to re-set the computer?
Please help! Thank you!
To be honest, it’s my grandmother’s car, and I’m not certain what year it is. It’s an RX though. Most likely an ‘07 or ‘08. It is quite new. Thanks!
if you give the year and model i can tell you. they are all almost the same i just need those things and i can tell you
Ok, RX you have a switch to the left of the steering wheel it says trip/odo this changes your odometer trip there is a trip A and a trip B. With the key in the acc position push the button until u see trip a, then trip b then just the milage on the instrument cluster. then turn the key off, press and hold the trip/odo button and turn the key to the acc position. u should see a dash countdown where the mileage normally is and the maintenance light should blink. when the countdown is over the odometer will turn all 0’s 000000 let go of the trip/odo button. start the car and the light should be off. if the car has a nav sys it may also be programed w/ a maintenance reminder if the car has nav let me know and i’ll tell you how to reset that. hope this helps.
by Reed on January 14, 2010
MPGomatic.com takes the luxurious Lexus RX400h hybrid SUV out for an extended test drive. Full Review: http://www.mpgomatic.com/2008/04/06/lexus-rx400h-review/
Duration : 0:4:16
[click to continue...]
by Reed on January 8, 2010
I heard the ES350 has more technology and the ride quality is just as good as the LS430. A con I have for the LS430 is that a new model of LS will be coming soon, and the LS430 will soon become a thing of the past.
You heard correctly, the new ES350 is now being called the baby LS. And it’s because it is now has more technology and luxury features available than those of some earlier LS models.
I test drove one a couple of days ago and the ride is great. Plus it has great power; V6 w/ 272 hp vs. the LS V8 w/ 278. The engine is also more advance and better gas mileage.
And if you have not seen the new LS in person, you don’t want to get an old LS 430 because the new model will make it look severely outdated. By the way, the new models of the LS will be the LS 460, LS 460L (long wheel base) and next spring the LS 600hL (long wheel base hybrid).
And as some uninformed people think, the ES 350 is not the same as a Camry. The older model was on the same frame, but not the same vehicle. The new model is on a modified frame and Lexus vehicles use different metals and even different properties in the type of glass used in the vehicles, not to mention a higher level of technology.
Go for the ES 350!