The GS is Home and Already Costing Me Money!

"Arrivederci" (arrividerci)
03/04/2019 at 10:35 • Filed to: Lexus, GS350

Flew out to Nashville and picked up the GS from a small dealer last Saturday. Flight went out at 6am and I got back home at around 8pm. It was a long day. Good news is that the GS ran like a champ the entire way. Bad news was that given the lousy stretch of I-40 running through Knoxville, I ended up with a bubble in the sidewall of one of the rear tires.

First pic of the actual car above, right as I was about to set off from the dealership. Car was almost as described both by them and the Lexus dealer that performed the inspection and every little doo-dad in it works (so far). One thing they missed (or it might’ve happened on the way home) was a couple stone chips in the windshield. Both are small and neither are line of sight, so I took it into Safeli te to have them repaired on Thursday.

Given the sidewall bubble, I went ahead and replaced the two worst tires with a pair of Michelin Pilot Sport AS3+, which I’ll complete the set when the other two Sumitomos that came with it wear out. Road noise has already been reduced in the already-quiet cabin just with replacing those two tires.

I ordered up a K&N for the engine air filter and a new cabin air filter as well since the inspection said both were due for replacement. Also found the trunk a little heavy to lift and easy to slam, so a new set of the trunk struts were ordered as well off Amazon. Hopefully the trunk struts get here by this weekend so I can just go ahead and install everything on Saturday.

Next major items upcoming will be the 120k service which covers a number of items and replacing the worn suspension components. She was a tad floaty at interchanges on t he way home, I definitely need something a bit more buttoned down.

DISCUSSION (14)

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Arrivederci
03/04/2019 at 10:59

I40 through Knoxville might be the worst road I’ve driven down. It rattles my teeth out.

Arrivederci > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
03/04/2019 at 11:13

That section of road was ghastly! Also didn’t help my mood that the rockslide forced me to go up 81 and down 26 too.

Ash78, voting early and often > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
03/04/2019 at 11:20

Yep, it’s that weird 20-mile stretch where I-75, 81 and 40 overlap, and everyone from the entire eastern US seems to be in the same place at the same time.

Tapas > Arrivederci
03/04/2019 at 11:46

Road Knox you around? Guess that’s why they named the city Knoxville.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Arrivederci
03/04/2019 at 11:57

Th e last time I was on 81 I sat for an hour because the highway was closed. Someone lost scrap metal on the road. I eventually turned the truck off and watched Netflix.

Arrivederci > Tapas
03/04/2019 at 12:06

Heyyyyyoooooooo

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Ash78, voting early and often
03/04/2019 at 12:12

No only half of everyone in the eastern US is there. The other half is sitting on 285

Ash78, voting early and often > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
03/04/2019 at 12:14

Before I even read this, I knew you were going to say Atlanta.

benn454 > Arrivederci
03/04/2019 at 12:43

Back in the late 90s-early 00s, I used to visit my aunt and uncle in NC every summer. The part from Asheville to the west side of Knoxville was the WORST. Every. Time. Bad roads, low speed limits, and bumper to bumper traffic.

And god help you if 40 was blocked by a landslide in the Pigeon River Gorge. The only exit is off the side of the mountain.

Don't miss that drive one bit.

Arrivederci > benn454
03/04/2019 at 12:58

It’s a beautiful drive coming through the mountains in nice weather. Not so much in rain and rockslides, though.

benn454 > Arrivederci
03/04/2019 at 13:25

I loved how their “solution” was chicken wire.

Fucking chicken wire.

Tapas > Arrivederci
03/04/2019 at 13:40

I hope your fortunes improve and you enjoy the buttoned down GS :)

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Arrivederci
03/04/2019 at 13:40

Doh!! Hope it’s smoother sailing from here. Congrats!

Arrivederci > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
03/04/2019 at 13:45

A few small issues, none of which are the car’s fault. It has been a great runner in our short time together.