Why We Do What We Do: Listen to Our Happy Customers

"Timm was recommended to us by a friend who had purchased several Lexus from him. We found the purchasing experience to be very easy and were completely satisfied with how we were treated, not only by Timm, but by the whole Lexus of Wayzata team. Timm did an excellent job of explaining all the features of our new ES350, and made sure we were comfortable with all the bells and whistles before we drove it out the door. We hope to do business with him again in the future."

 

"I had a great sales experience working with Gary on my new ES350. Gary was friendly and knowledgeable about the vehicles. There was no pressure and Gary did a thorough job of reviewing the features and demonstrating all aspects of the technology.

The service experience has also been great. I enjoy the quiet and comfortable customer lounge and the nice selection of refreshments while you wait!"

Lucky Lexus Fan Unleashes the LFA

One man. One racetrack. 552 horses. Get a taste of the best day of Unleash the LFA winner, Mark Clemons', life. http://unleashthelfa.com.

It's So Wonderful Hearing From Our Customers

"I had great service on my vehicle and a nice visit with Russel, my salesman. My son rode down with me and ended up buying a car also. All in all this is a fine dealership to buy a vehicle and get service."

- Judy

The 2013 Lexus ES: A Story Behind Every Surface

Lexus to Get Turbo-Charged Four-Cylinder Engine in 2014?

Last week at the Paris Motor Show, Lexus announced a new 2.5-liter hybrid engine that will be introduced into the lineup next year — now Toyota has released a couple more details:

An enhanced engine for use in hybrid vehicles, based on the 2.5-liter AR gasoline engine, adopts the Atkinson cycle and D-4S system. The enhanced engine achieves the world’s highest maximum thermal efficiency of 38.5 percent, realizing both high fuel efficiency and high output. Hybrid vehicle models equipped with the engine will be launched starting 2013.

Still no mention of the hybrid engine’s total system output, but early estimates have put it somewhere between 220-225 horsepower.

Also announced is 2.0L turbo-charged engine (!!!), set to debut in 2014:

Starting 2014, [Toyota] plans to launch a vehicle with a new 2.0-liter, turbo-charged AR engine, also based on the 2.5-liter AR gasoline engine. The new engine’s smaller displacement will provide higher fuel efficiency while the turbocharger will improve output.

While it remains unconfirmed, the 2.5L hybrid engine should be used in the next-generation IS and the current GS — considering compatibility, this would make both models eligible for the new 2.0L turbo-charged engine in 2014.

(The front-wheel drive ES and RX are also available with AR engines — the ES 300h and ES 250 in China, and the RX 270 in various markets. However unlikely, these two models could also be offered with the turbo-charged engine.)

These two engines are only part of the announcement made by Toyota regarding their technical development timeline — I recommend reading through the full press release, as it details much of the company’s future plans.

Courtesy of Lexus Enthusiast

Our Be Pink event is this month!

Lexus of Wayzata is proud to support the fight against breast cancer. Be Pink this October and get involved! We are partnering with the Park Nicollet Jane Brattain Breast Center, CBS TV and WCCO to encourage Minnesota to promote the importance of early detection and support education, outreach and annual mammogram screenings in our community.

Lexus of Wayzata is hosting a BE PINK Celebration at the dealership. Here are the details.
WHEN: Wednesday, October 24th, 2012
WHERE: Lexus of Wayzata Showroom

WHAT: Join us for a night of shopping, spa treatments, prizes and more…enjoy appetizers and beverages…meet a WCCO personality and learn about BE PINK and Park Nicollet Jane Brattain Breast Center’s fight against breast cancer. Purchase a $20 raffle ticket at the event and be entered to win a special painting for BE PINK by Teri Bennett. All the proceeds will be donated to the Park Nicollet Jane Brattain Breast Center.

RSVP: By October 19th to reserve your spot and a special gift from Lexus. Call 952.476.6111 or email BePink@lexusofwayzata.com with you and your guests’ names.

Your Monday Maintenance Tip: Windshield Wipers

Ah, windshield wipers. Like so many indispensable things in life, we tend not to appreciate them until they’re gone. But what if all drivers had a basic understanding of the wonderful world of wipers, enabling them to identify problems early and choose replacements wisely? We like that idea. Accordingly, we’ve put together a crash course that should bring your knowledge up to speed. Your automotive windows to the world require dependable wipers, so let’s learn more about these unsung heroes. 

Wiper Maintenance
The most important thing you can do for your current wipers is check their performance on a regular basis. Are they skipping or squeaking and leaving streaks on the windshield? Do you consistently notice rivulets that evade their sweep? Do they leave a film of moisture on the glass instead of wiping it clean and clear? If so, try cleaning the blades with a shop towel or sponge, and see if that helps. Remember, all it takes is one rainstorm or blizzard to turn worn-down wipers into serious safety hazards. You need to be able to depend on your wipers in the worst conditions, and that starts with being mindful of how they’re working every time you switch them on. By the way, don’t forget about your rear wiper, if you have one; it’s there for a reason, and it can be just as important as the ones in front.

 

Now, suppose you live in a temperate climate with little precipitation—or perhaps there are lingering signs of the dry season. You should still perform periodic inspections of your wiper blades, regardless of the weather. Is the rubber deteriorating? Can you see spidery cracks forming on the surface? If so, test your wipers immediately by spraying windshield-washer fluid and wiping it off, following the guidelines above for evaluating their performance. Even if your blades look great, it’s not a bad idea to do the spray-and-wipe test every week or two. You don’t want to wait for your wipers to go to pot before replacing them, so stay ahead of the curve and monitor their status year-round.

 

Buying New Wipers
Fortunately, wipers generally aren’t very expensive, so the “Better safe than sorry” approach won’t hurt your wallet here. As such, we recommend replacing your wipers if you have any reason to believe that they’re not up to snuff. Here are some general guidelines for the wiper-shopping process.

 

The first rule is to buy the entire assemblies, not just the blades themselves. Yes, it’s typically possible to keep your old assemblies, yank out the old blades, and shoehorn in new ones—and you don’t want to do that. Like we said, wipers are pretty affordable, so do your car a favor and start with a fresh set. We should add that there’s a new one-piece wiper design called “beam blade” that seamlessly integrates assembly and blade, so if you’ve got that kind, blade-only replacement isn’t even an option.

 

Second, make sure you’re getting the correct wiper specification for your car. Like most auto parts, wipers come in different shapes and sizes. It may sound trivial, but we’ve heard stories of mismatched wipers flying off their mounts at the worst possible time. Although your mechanic or auto-parts advisor should know what your car needs, it’s always a good idea to consult your owner’s manual as well, just to be safe.

 

Finally, don’t skimp on quality. Generic-brand wipers are cheaper, of course, but they can wear out in as little as a month or two of consistent use. If your manufacturer recommends a particular brand—German automakers often prefer Bosch wipers, for example—we say go for it. Otherwise, ask your trusted mechanic who knows your make and model inside and out. Don’t pay later to replace cheap wipers; pay now for a high-quality set, and you’ll reap the benefits down the road.

 

Courtesy of DriverSide.com