On Thu, 4 Dec 2003 6:35:13 -0800, Mike Rivers wrote
(in message znr1070541357k@trad):

When I bought my 1993 Lexus, the CD player was a $2,000 option (it
was bundled the sunroof or something) so I passed on it, and spent
several of the next ten years looking for a satisfactory aftermarket
CD player. The built-in sound system was so tightly integrated with
the body that no in-dash CD player would interface with it, assuming
there was a sensible place to put it (which there wasn't).
--------------------------------snip----------------------------------

I've owned four different Lexus cars over the last 13 years, and had custom
audio systems in all of them.

True, you lose the steering control remote for them (on those cars that had
that option), but there's ways around that. There are numerous remote
options that can put a small remote on the steering column, and/or on the
center console.

I do agree, though, that the way Lexus bundles options together is annoying
and stupid. The real drag is with the phone systems -- when I tried to buy a
new car last year, they told me I'd have to wait six months for them to get
the phones to work, because apparently they were having a problem with the
phones blowing up or otherwise not working.

--MFW