I drove another GS430 yesterday and when I put it in drive the doors locked by themselves. Salesman told me this is a new feature since my 98. I hadn't noticed it in my earlier test drives.

I'm not sure I like this feature. I think I'd rather have control of that as I always have. When I got back in my car I realized I do it as part of my start-up ritual -- key in ignition, seat belt on, lock doors, start car.

This feature feels too "automatic" for me. Reminds me of all the GM rental cars I laughed at when they did it.

Are automatic door locks a good thing?

 

I think this is a great new feature, I wish they had done it sooner. In my Explorer, I added an aftermarket Clifford alarm, and it auto locks the doors, but my wife is in and out of new Lexus's all the time (works for dealer). Additionally she's not always in the greatest areas (NYC) and with the rash of carjackings over the past few years the auto lock feature takes the onous off of the driver to lock the doors. I agree witht the start up ritual, but I too have been conditioned that in my Explorer its auto, but in my GS before I engage the tranny I am locking the doors. THe really funny thing is the original C-Best options allowed for an auto unlock when you placed the car in park, which is convenient but again a safety concern if you pull up to a drive thru bank window for example at night. Maybe I'm too nervous, but living in NY will do that to you, especially the suburbs - you would't believe (or expect) half the stuff that never makes it to the newspapers. People get a real false sense of security in "nice areas".

 

I know that feature is programmable for either auto lock or not. Does anyone know if 2001 GS can be programmed with auto lock when shift move out of "P" and auto unlock when you put it back to "P"? How about 99 RX, if it is possible at all?

Thanks for any info.

01 GS300 w/ Nav. M/L Audio
99 RX300

 

I would like to program my gs to lock by itself, I think its a very good safety feature, even though I don't really need it living here in TN (knocking on wood)

 

HZHAO:

Yes it can be done by the dealer. I will be reprogramming my GS430 when I drop it off at the dealer for the 1000 mile checkup next month. With C-Best you can program your 2001 GS to unlock all doors when the vehicle is stopped and shifted to park. The GS will lock all doors when it is shifted out of park. Another feature I will be changing is the Auto mode for turning off the headlights. With the default setting when I turn off ignition and exit the car it takes 30 sec for the lights to turn off. With my previous 1995 SC400 it is instant off when I exit the car.

C-Best programming features help owner taylor their GS to their liking.

Chu...

 

Thanks, ChuH.

One more question, is this feature available with 99 RX? Is there any information available to program by yourself?

 

Hi HZHAO:

Not sure about C-Best programming being available for 99 RX300. I know it is available for LS and GS car (probably also the new SC430 - not sure). I was told that the programming must by done by a Lexus Technician. When I drop the car for the 1000 Miles checkup I will see how they do it.

Chu...

 

so does this work with 99GS400 if so how much does this cost I like the headlight feature where you open the doors and the lights shut off I think that would look cool

 

I was able to extract the following info about the C-Best from a Palm database by (I think) Mitchell Hamm. There's a reference to ClubLexus in the database.

http://www.greendale.se/lexus/cbest.txt