Locate an Auto Repair Shop in Newport Center, Vermont

Newport Center, VT Car Consumer Discussions

Steering Wheel Redesign

by rennybosch on Tue May 06 19:09:22 PDT 2008

The center portion of the steering wheel should remain stationary when the outer portion is turned, so that all the controls mounted on the center portion preserve their position, just like the turn signal lever and the headlight control lever stay in the same position. Of course this presents a nice engineering design challenge, but it's not impossible. Aside from its advantage in keeping all the controls in their standard positions, it would also add a novelty/cuteness factor to the Lexus. If they patent the deign, they'd be able to license it to all the other manufacturers, who would undoubtedly want to have the same thing. (I hope Daimler-Benz doesn't read this site.)

Heres a great story

by nimrod99 on Fri Apr 18 21:12:16 PDT 2008

http://www.lexusoverride.com/success.php The following story is true. Unfortunately it is not unique. Because other Lexus buyers had the same experience I detail below, the website LexusOverride.com was born. Because Lexus has removed the override feature from it’s vehicles without prior warning to preexisting or potential new customers, it falls on others to inform the car buying public just what you get when you buy a Lexus. Here is my story. September 30, 2006: After considerable research and deliberation, I purchased a new car- my first Lexus after many a Toyota . I bought a 2007 model Lexus ES350 right off the lot from Newport Lexus in Southern California. Before buying the vehicle and because it was important to me, I spoke to the salesman specifically about the Lexus Navigation system and asked about the override. The 2007 models were very new then and there was little known about them. The salesman assured me that there were a series of ‘codes’ that could be inserted to allow use of the Nav system while moving but said he did not know them. There have been ‘override’ codes on previous Lexus models, so I had no reason to doubt him. He then volunteered that there were even ways to get the DVD to play movies while the car was moving, if I went to an aftermarket installer. The movie option did not appeal to me but I felt satisfied I had done my due diligence about the navigation and so I bought the car. What a great day! October, 2006- January, 2007 The Lexus owner’s sites and other user groups are abuzz – looking for the override codes to the new Navigation system. The new system, the 6.1 version, is made by Denso. Slowly, rumors come out that the code is harder to find, that it involves turning on the headlights, that there is no code, that only the technicians know it and are sworn to not reveal it, etc. During this time, I place occasional calls to the Lexus’ Customer Service 800 number to try to get the override information. I am repeatedly told nothing specific about the presence or absence of an override or even an official Lexus policy on the override during this time. January, 2007 This time, the call to Lexus 800 is different. The Lexus representative tells me officially there is no override for the 2007 vehicles, all of which have the 6.1 Nav system. I can’t believe it! I ask how I can go about returning my car. Lexus’ Customer Service instructs me to contact the Center for Dispute Resolution and file my claim. January- May, 2007 My case winds through the National Center for Dispute Settlement (NCDS) for months. Information is requested, and it is intially considered a 'valid' case by the panel. However, the case ends up being thrown out because Lexus asks for a summary judgment to nullify the case since “the car operates as it is intended”. All along I had noted that the issue was that the vehicle was materially modified without customer warning – I took the case to settlement like Lexus told me to do, and this, this is what I get? June, 2007 I register some domains, hire programmers and LexusOverride.com is born. To date, hundreds of people have signed up with little publicity for the site. One Half of those signing up state they would not have bought a Lexus if they knew the Override was not available. August, 2007. Consumer's Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports is contacted about the Lexus Override controversy. They are in the midst of determining whether this is a significant user issue that deserves customer education. August 30, 2007. I visit Lexus Headquarters in Torrance, CA in order to personally give my request to return my vehicle, since Lexus has told me they will not reinstate the override. A stroll through the Lexus HQ parkinglot reveals a mixture of cars- mostly Lexus vehicles and some are new and some are old. There goes the theory that all the HQ people have 2006 or older vehicles! There are a few basketball courts, a nice outdoor bistro area for lunch- overall, not a bad place to work. I enter via the guest entryway and am met by a security guard at the front desk. I ask to be directed to Customer Services. The guard explains to me that she cannot tell me where Customer Relations is. Instead, she directs me to a 'red phone'in the waiting area which I am to 'press 0' and I will be connected to Customer Relations. I cross the waiting area to the red phone, pick it up and - the line is dead. I press 0, reset the hook, listen, press 0 - nothing. Oh, the irony! I wonder if this is a Lexus joke or a metaphor for Lexus' consumer attention? I return to the desk and tell the (now 2 desk people) that the phone is dead. They write the 800 number on a piece of paper and tell me to call that from the other phone in the lobby. I call. After a short wait, the cheerful customer service representative picks up. I explain that I am in the lobby and have a letter for Customer Relations. My friendly rep, (Zoe I think) asks " you are in the building?" and I reply yes. She then tells me "I cannot give you that information"!! Say What?? This is now getting surreal. I did not ask for any information- oh, she explains she won't tell me where the customer relations department is located if I do not have an appointment. OK, I say, then can you or someone come down so I can be sure my letter is delivered? No can do, I'm told. Leave the letter with the guard at the front desk and someone will get it to us. So, I leave my letter and go home. No fuss, no muss and certainly no customer service! 10/08/07 Update: Lexus calls to say they are sorry I am unhappy, but they will not offer an override. Then they give me the number for the National Center for Dispute Settlement (NCDS). Humorously, I already went through NCDS back in January-April as instructed by Lexus, but then Lexus petitioned to have my case thrown out after three months of paperwork, etc. In the meantime, we continue to get traffic and sign-ups. Keep steering car buyers away from Lexus / Toyota until our cars are fixed and sign up to be informed of potential trade-in's or solutions to the Nav Overrride debacle! October, 2007. Consumer Reports (shame, shame!) does not inform car buyers about the controversy surrounding the Lexus Navigation system. Oh well, more registrants for me, I guess. 11/7/07 Lexus calls to explain that removing the override was a 'liability decision' made by 'legal'. There is no actual legal requirement that the navigation system be disabled while the car is in motion, but apparently the legal department had decided that it reduces corporate liability. But wait! Good news!! There will be a new and improved voice recognition system in the 2009 vehicles to fix the problem. I ask what if you purchased a 2007 or you buy a 2008 vehicle? Nothing. They are looking into it (but so far the message is you're not going to be happy). Reductive analysis reveals that the latest legal strategy co

New Cayman S Porsche Design

by savantnoir on Sun Mar 23 23:21:15 PDT 2008

I am new to the thread, and have read all the posts, but they seem to be all over the place. That being the case, I will just jump into this with some of my expereinces and thoughts. I bought last week the new Porsche Design Cayman S. The particular model I got was $92,000 (pretty much fully loaded, including Chrono, CCB, PASM, PCM, etc etc). I could have bought any 911 model. I also could have bought another Aston Martin (as my previous car was A-M DB7 Volante. People buy cars for different reasons. I did not buy the "poor man's entry level Porsche" because it was all I could afford. To me, the looks in conjunction with it flawless handling, was the basis of my decision. Is the TT faster? Well, yes it is from 0-60.but the Cayman S beat it on the 12 mile test tract by .10 second because it can out -corner the 911 by a long shot! I have seen so many people say...."hell, a Z06 can kick a Caymans butt for the same price". Yes it can. Hopefully it will last the 3 years of your purchase agreement. When your 3 years is up and you are looking to sell it ...be happy if you get 22k. Also, at the end of those three years you can hardly wait to get rid of it! Porsche has never been about JUST speed. Porsche, Aston, Lambro, Ferrari,m et al, offer an automotive expereince. What asp[ects of the total expereince most appeal to you, will be the compelling emotive forces behind your buying decision. All Porsches are GREAT cars, they are all easily 'daily drivers' that can just take a beating and keep giving you more. If you are willing to pay for all the luxury upgrades (and run your Cayman up to about 100k)..you also have one handsomely outfitted luxurious automobile in which the craftsmanship is impeccable. (The Vette Z-06 can never be made luxurious)! I wanted a Cayman since the day they came out. I loved the design. Personally, I am a little tired of the 911 look.it has been around 57 years, and i dont want a car as old as me! When I saw a picture of the Porsche Design Cayman S.....that was all it took. THe next day I bought one at Newport Auto Center, Newport Beach, California. When it comes to going out with friends....well..i still have my Audi A-8 (which i also love).

LR3 Rock Climbing ability

by gillz on Sun Mar 16 19:14:50 PDT 2008

Just back from a Wheels event in Southern California and have to comment on how impressed I was about the LR3 rock climbing / water fording ability. Even have a classic photo of a Land Rover pulling a high centered Jeep off of a rock. Check out the link : link title Pirelli sponsored part of the event and advise a new 19" tire due out in May '08, designed specifically for offroading with the weight of an LR3 in mind. The LR3's seemed to have an easier time with the rock climb than the LR Sport, but the real star was a Defender - ate the course up. Was a great day sponsored by LR Newport Beach and Pirelli. Guides/spotters very professional and their expertise was much appreciated.

Re: From the same seller as that Sportsgrain Newport... [parm]

by andre1969 on Tue Feb 12 05:55:57 PST 2008

I'm not enough of an expert on this particular model to know the subtleties and thus can't comment as to whether it is a "real" 2+2. But, I did notice that some of the trim/script pieces were missing. The thick wood steering wheel is a 3rd party accessory, etc. Just some niggling things that held it back in my mind. Admittedly I'm not much of an expert on the 2+2 either, so I did a little digging online. Looks like the standard 2+2 engine was a 428-4bbl with 360 hp for 1967. As for badging, it should have a "2+2" badge on the fender ahead of the wheels. It should also have fake vents on the fenders, fairly high up, just ahead of the doors. According to Wikipedia, a 2+2 would also have full gauges, and by that I don't think they mean the aftermarket-looking things stuck on under the dash! I'm not sure where they would have stuck the extra gauges on a '67 2+2. The earlier models had extra round gauges in the center of the dash, that were angled to the driver. So on this particular model, I guess they could have put them in that center section above the radio, where it has the "Pontiac" badge, between the clock and the glovebox. My '67 has air conditioning, so it has a duct in that spot. I dunno where they'd put the extra gauges on a car with a/c. That '67 on eBay also looks like it just has the standard 120 mph strip speedometer. I don't know for sure, but I'd guess a 2+2's speedo would go higher. If the car was a real 2+2, I could see it losing some of the trim pieces during its long life, possibly during a re-paint. And I guess it's conceivable that the 428 blew up and a 400 was put in? Or maybe it really is a 428 and the seller doesn't know that? AFAIK, Pontiac never really offered a "true" big-block, but more of a medium block, and as a result everything from the 326 on up to the 455 looks the same externally. I think even the later 301 and 265 look about the same, too. But I'd imagine that the dash could be a giveaway. Unless Wikipedia was wrong, and full gauges (oil and temp...they came standard with an amp gauge) were an option? I'd be curious to know this car's story.

Lexus Customer Services

by dewey on Tue Dec 18 13:55:28 PST 2007

Please note the words on the article below that these new ultra-lux Lexus dealerships are expected to boost SERVICE REVENUE. Before BMW built improved dealerships I always had my car serviced at my dealer even without warranty because their prices were reasonable. As soon as BMW built new/ renovated dealerships their service prices shot up to the point where I got my car serviced solely by an independent. Somebody will be paying for those wonderful new Lexus dealerships . Guess who that will be?_ WALL STREET JOURNAL Lexus of Palm Beach recently opened a luxury showroom featuring a water wall, back center. Just last month, AutoNation Inc., the country's largest chain of auto dealerships, opened a gleaming glass-and-stone Lexus store in this wealthy enclave north of Miami. The sales floor is made of polished porcelain tile, and the walls and counters are accented with cherry and bird's-eye maple veneer. "Guests," as Lexus calls its customers, leave their cars with a valet and are then guided by a personal concierge to a European-style coffee bar offering complimentary espresso, cappuccino and a selection of pastries prepared by a chef trained in Rome. "We have customers checking into world-class hotels, they shop on Fifth Avenue and they expect a certain kind of experience," says Mike Jackson, AutoNation's chief executive. Newport Lexus, a store owned by Wilson Automotive Group in Newport Beach, Calif., opened a year ago. There, customers can work on their putting game on a seven-hole green. Across the street, a huge Mercedes-Benz showroom owned by the closely held Fletcher Jones Management Group offers free shoeshines, manicures and shuttles to the airport. Last summer, Herb Chambers Lexus in Sharon, Mass., part of the Herb Chambers Cos. dealership chain, moved into a new building with a fireplace lounge, soaring skylight and spiral staircase. The rise of super-luxury dealerships reflects the country's growing ranks of wealthy individuals and the ways companies are trying to cater to them. At hotels, for example, five stars are now nearly passé, with more and more six- and seven-star properties cropping up around the world. The Newport Lexus dealership in California features a putting green to draw customers. He estimates the Palm Beach store will generate an after-tax return on invested capital of more than 15%, outstanding for any type of retailer. His forecast is based on the expectation of a dramatic rise in new-car sales and service revenue. In November, the first full month of operation, the store sold 335 new vehicles, making it the fifth-largest Lexus dealer in the U.S. A year ago, it sold 199 and ranked 25th. He also borrowed from some Four Seasons hotels, in particular the Four Seasons Aviara Hotel, in Carlsbad, Calif., a site used by Lexus for dealer seminars on customer service. "It makes you feel like you're in a high-end place, but it's not gaudy or stuffy or pretentious," he says. He found the two types of wood he used by leafing through Yachting magazine. The centerpiece of the main display floor is a black granite wall with water trickling over it, giving the wall a shimmering appearance. A Lexus logo in brushed metal seems to float on the water. Mr. Hagen got the idea from a similar water wall he saw at a Ruth's Chris Steak House in Florida. Not surprisingly, some car owners hail the changes. "I'm telling you, this is class, buddy," says Barry Speak while reclining in a vibrating massage chair at the Palm Beach Lexus store. Owner of a 2005 Lexus LS 4300 sedan, Mr. Speak says there is no doubt he will come to the Palm Beach store for a new vehicle in a year or two. "My wife and I are going to be fighting over who gets to