Not A Car Guy

It took me about 2 months to put on the first thousand miles, which means I am now beyond the factory-recommended " engine break-in " period. It also means I did a prophylactic oil change.  Yes, I know that these modern cars don't need  an oil change at 1,000 miles, since engines are built to tight tolerances and don't shed metal bits like the cars of yore. But the first three oil changes are on Lexus, since mine is a CPO car. So why not? And also, the LC 500 is one of those cars that may still be on the road after 50 years, so a bit of extra early TLC doesn't seem out of place.  It's kind of humbling to consider that this car will likely outlive me. As my 1965 Corvette probably outlived its initial owner (and is still going strong out there somewhere, AFAIK). Unlike a Camry or any current EV, the LC is likely the last naturally-aspirated V8 to come out of Japan, and thus attract collectors who will probably maintain it and not drive it into an early grave. A...

UPDATE: while all of the below remains true, it turns out that my iPod/iPhone options don't hold charge long enough for my very occasional driving. And once the battery is discharged, then it takes a good long while for the iPod/iPhone to come back to life when you start driving. So I'm back to a USB stick, which I probably won't ever update because it's a big pain to sync my library without Apple Music. Sigh.  The owner's manual says that the LC 500 infotainment system supports iPods via the USB connection tucked into the center armrest. What is less apparent is which  iPods are supported.  But before we get to that, a brief aside about why anyone should care: after all, iPods are long obsolete, right? We all now rely on Spotify via CarPlay/Android Auto, right? Or just plug in a USB flash drive, if you need locally-stored music?  Sure, fine, if you're good with those solutions, feel free to skip this entry. But there are two reasons that the iPod is better.  S ...

First things first: protect the paint before any damage occurs.  Well, almost. I somehow managed to scuff the front right fender on the curb while parking. Fortunately, it was minor and easily corrected by the pros at California Detailing before they put XPEL PPF (paint protection film) on the hood, front fenders, and side mirrors. Then I had them apply a full 7-year ceramic coat on the whole car. Perhaps not the most economically rational choice for a car I don't intend to keep 7 years, but I like leaving 'em nicer than I got them. Plus, it will make it easier to wash the car without marring the paint.  I've also got a bunch of car detailing supplies coming from Chemical Guys , as well as a small vacuum and a small caddy for securing detailing supplies in the trunk. Look, it's not every day I buy a new car (in fact, this is only the second new car in my lifetime so far), so let me obsess a little. :-)

  Almost 11 years ago , I embarked on a journey to understand what inspires car enthusiasts to love cars as they do. Back then, the plan was to get a different, highly depreciated, interesting car each year. Well, the annual cadence turned out to be too ambitious. But I did enjoy learning a lot during my time with a Porsche 911 , a classic 1965 Corvette , and a modern Mercedes S Class . As well as returning to my true passion car, the Mazda Miata .  That brings me to car #5 in my automotive journey: a 2025 Lexus LC 500 Coupe.  Why the LC 500? Well, we are in the twilight of the internal combustion era, and this is among the peak final exemplars of the breed. This will almost certainly be the last naturally aspirated V8 engine that ever comes out of Japan. It's a "halo car" for Toyota, made in a special factory to extremely high quality standards, realizing a particularly Japanese take on the "GT car" -- a high performance highway cruiser. Basically, it's a J...