So I have been interning at the Lexus Southern Area Headquarters office this summer in the customer satisfaction department. What that basically means is if you live in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennesse, South Carolina, or North Carolina and you have been uphappy with your car and have sought reimbursement or a replacement, I've heard your name . Honestly it's not too bad, most of the people are very understanding and welcoming of our assisting them into a new car. You guys wouldn't believe the things that Lexus will do to keep a customer...this is definitely the best company to buy a car from because once you do, they will do everything in their power to keep you happy. Not talking about dealers because I know that many of you have had trouble with those, but the corporate part of Lexus cares about customers first and foremost. It's very reassuring to work from this end, I can tell you that.

Through my time here I have had the chance to drive several new and also many "used" cars that have been bought back for one reason or another. I figured that for what it's worth, I might give you all a little synopsis of my thoughts with each of the cars that I have driven so far.

2007 LX 470 - Brand new

I will sum it up and say that yes, the LX is getting a little long in the tooth and the 570 is just a few months away, but to be honest there is nothing wrong with this SUV. In fact, I think that it still stands up the the existing competition very favorably- Range Rover, Escalade, and GL450. The only fault to be found with this truck is that it's a little short on power for how much it weighs. From a stand still it will get moving decently, but on the highway it barely has enough power to get out of it's own way. Definitely needs a little shot of "go".

Mine was black with tan interior, and it was absolutely beautiful. The exterior of the LX, IMO, still looks great. A little aged for sure, but the LX and Land Cruiser have this certain aire of class about them that never really wares off. I would still choose the interior of the LX over almost any other SUV- I love the design, colors, materials, and layout. Everything is easy to see and use and looks beautifully crafted and feels like it too. Way better than the oddball Range Rover and I sure prefer it to the bland and cheap look of the GL IMO. It drives very well, handling is predictable and sure footed, good bit of body roll, but it's also the smoothest and quietest vehicle I have ever been in. Overall I averaged around 14 MPG with the LX while I had it.

2006 GX 470 Buy Back

Interestingly, this has been my favorite vehicle that I have driven while here. I didn't really have any expectations for the GX since the RX is the golden child of the Lexus SUV family, and the big LX is the luxury Land Cruiser...you never hear too much about the GX. At the end, I found myself giving every excuse as to why I needed to keep it for another weekend, one more day, another afternoon, etc. This truck is the perfect size- more than comfortable for first and second row passengers and the third row would suffice for someone if it had to. It's hard to explain just how "right-fit" and comfortable the GX is unless you have one. The seats are great, seating position is perfect, ample room for everyone and your stuff, and the truck is not so big that it's hard to park or difficult to maneuver.

I also love how it drives- like a proper truck but without feeling wallowy or floaty. It's heavy and smooth, but never feels numb. Like the LX, whisper quiet time and time again, and perfect for highway trips. The V8 feels far more alive in the GX than the LX, and it sounds great while revving- a muscley and aggressive purr right up to redline when your foot is down. Handling is not athletic but it's also sure footed and you always know what to expect. Body roll wasn't too bad, though I didn't really feel much difference with having the adaptive suspension on "Sport" or "Comfort".

Mark Levinson gets two thumbs wayyyyy up from me. Everything sounded great- bass, vocals, pitch...and it makes me wonder how much better the newer systems in the GS and LS are. I loved listening to music in the GX because it just sounded so good, but jeeze CD changer in the glove box? Come on! Nav worked fine (see note below) and while some parts of the interior aren't as snazzy and up to date as it's competitors, they are easy to use and intuitive and the materials are top notch. I averaged about 20MPG on the highway and around 15 or 16 in the city, so combined I was at about 17 which isn't great but also is not bad. Overall, if I had a good $50K to plunk down, it would be on a GX before anything else. I love a traditional SUV and the GX just does it perfectly.

2007 RX350 FWD buy back

Definitely a night and day change from the GX 470. A lot smaller and also, a lot louder. Maybe it's because I got so used to the whisper quiet LX and GX, but the RX just seemed like I was getting so much road noise and got especially loud on the highway. That said, it is great to drive in the city and manages to be extremely athletic and sure footed. For an SAV/SUV, it really drives more like a sporty sedan which made it entertaining in some parts.

Another fault I had aside from the road noise...TORQUE STEER! If you mash the throttle from a stop, the RX will torque steer you with tires screeching right into the next lane if you aren't holding on the steering wheel like a rodeo cowboy. I haven't ever dealt with torque steer that is this serious and it never goes away. Also, maybe after all the complaints about hesitation with the RX 330, have they made the 350 too agressive? 270HP from the front wheels + relatively low curb weight = tires every 5K. Even from a stop with a little pressure, the RX350 chirps off the line...I swear I had people getting mad with me thinking I was trying to race because the tires screech non stop...even when you think you're being easy with it.

Interior was great- everything is placed perfectly within reach, materials are great, layout and design are attractive and the materials again are some of the best. Another thing I didn't like...I couldn't seem to even remotely get comfortable in the RX. I am 6'0" and about 200 lbs and the seating position didn't seem right for me, no matter how I adjusted it. I felt like I was sitting on the dash, or under it...couldn't get comfortable. This one had the standard audio system which I found to be more than adequate. I would like to see how much better the ML is. This had newer nav than the GX and it was far more pleasing to the eye and worked a bit better. I did miss the "cancel destination" command in the GX/LX though, as opposed to having to go into the system and cancel your destination. I averaged about 25MPG while I had the RX- around 22 in the city and 27 on the highway. I didn't love this car but everytime I looked at the gas gauge I had to like it a little more after coming from a GX and LX.

2006 GS 300 Buy back

Oh Lexus, you were so close to getting it perfect! I think many of you know that I feel that the 3GS is one of the best looking sedans on the market- I LOVE the exterior and the interior both. I was really looking forward to my seat time with the GS, and overall I am not disappointed. The interior, like all other Lexus products, is top notch quality and easy to use. The "drop down" console on the side of the steering wheel is nice because it gets those buttons out of your way, but also a pain in the butt when you want to use any of them. Seats are super comfortable, and my favorite so far. This car had the standard sound system, and it was more than adequate for me. I would like to hear how much better the ML is because I really have no qualms with the stock one. Also, I had read so many comments on here of people complaining that the GS is too small and the rear seat is useless. Well, like I stated above I'm a bit over six feet tall and around 200 lbs, and I can sit perfectly comfortable behind the drivers seat when adjusted to my own setting...with decent legroom. I don't feel like 4 people my size would be uncomfortable in this car at all. I also enjoy the cockpit-like feeling of the GS as opposed to any other Lexus models, and quite honestly when coupled with the lower roofline, it almost feels like it could fit that stupid "four door coupe" label. It feels like it should be a very sporty drive...

...but it isn't. Before I elaborate on the steering, let me say that I do actually really like the engine. There is a night and day difference in power delivery between leaving the ECT in normal mode, and putting it in power mode and using the triptronic shifter. Maybe it's just the feeling of it all, but with the power on and "slap it yourself" on the gearshift, the car really feels very quick. Not necessarily fast, but really quick around the city. Where things fall apart, as has been discussed numerous times, is the steering. The car has this completely numb feeling when you are on center, and at low speeds the steering really seems overboosted and again, completely lifeless. Worse though, is trying to take any type of turn over about 50 MPH. The steering feels very unnatural and whenever you go offcenter, it's like the car is fighting to be back to the middle. It's a hard feeling to describe but the steering goes from being so numb and nothing on center, to almost feeling like it is pushing against you when you try to turn. It's very weird. The ride though, is very smooth and quiet yet well balanced. On a straight road it's a great car but it's just that when there's a bend, curve, or turn, this car feels overboosted and unnatural, heavy and light all at the same time. I managed to get around 27MPG total, with about 22 in the city and...very respectably...about 33MPG on the highway.

2007 ES 350 buy back

I was looking very forward to my time with the ES because I have read so much criticism of the car here. Reading about all of the problems, mmarshalls complaints of a firmer ride, and of course transmission hiccups I went into this one expecting to be disappointed, and have thus far come away wonderfully delighted. You also begin to understand why the GS sells so poorly once you drive an ES 350.

First, I feel like the shape of this car is actually very appealing. Cover up the dull wheels, and the shapes and lines in this car are conservative but also well done. the UL wheels are very nice, but the standard ones should be replaced with something that is more interesting and complementary of the design for the rest of the car. I feel like the tail lights could have been better executed with a more interesting design, perhaps LEDs, but that is really my only problem with the outside. The front is a bit bland, but hey, this is an ES and overall the exterior is better than the "scared guppy" ES330. The interior though, is less exciting. Lexus has certainly scaled back on the wood and I feel that is a huge mistake. The ES has historically been the baby-LS and now, offers no more wood trim than a Corolla LE. A strip across the dash on the passenger side and a bit along the section where the leather and plastic along the top of each door would be just enough to say luxury without being gaudy. The center stack also looks a bit less appealing to me, and the area surrounding the shifter looks sort of bare and also cheap. I don't specifically care for the center stack, but it does work well enough and everything is simple and easy to use. It could be more spread out and use more space on the dash, as opposed to the expanse of plastic there is now. Standard sound system is fine, and certainly plenty for the demographic that buys this car.

To my surprise, what I actually really enjoy is how the ES drives. If you can get in and take it for what it is, and not try to compare it to a 3 series or 5 series, or plan a trip to go canyon carving...this is a wonderful car. Overall, it is slightly firmer than the ES330 but in that you gain so much in overall ride balance. I feel like it's just as smooth as the 330, but the beauty in the 350 is stability. The ES 330 had enough body roll to literally make someone sick if they weren't driving, and the ES 350 is undoubtedly firmer and better dampened. Certainly not a sport sedan, but there were times where the ES 330 was almost scary to drive quickly and the 350 does it largely in stride with little drama and far less body roll. Smooth, well balanced, and very controlled. The 330, at times, felt almost out of control with body roll and weight transfer. The 350 is very sure footed, always.

I like the 6AT in the GS better and this one is not as responsive to sequential shifting, but it's not bad either. The engine doesn't feel as fast as the GS at the low end, but is considerably faster at the top end. It feels like 80-100MPH takes place in about three seconds, though it takes the tranny a second to decide how many gears to drop from the point that you mash the throttle. This car is so quiet and smooth that I looked down and was going about 98MPH yesterday and didn't realize it. The steering is also far better than the GS. Again, certainly not aggressive but far more natural and certainly more linear. Somehow, the ES is more predictable and actually inspires a bit more from the driver just because you know what to expect, and the steering wheel isn't going to push in the opposite direction. So far, I have averaged about 28MPG in the ES- 24 in the city and around 32 on the highway.

Short take GS 300 vs ES 350

Overall, I would have a hard time buying the GS over the ES (though the GS 350 might sweeten the deal for me). The GS looks great inside and out, but does not have the demeanor to match it's sporty looks and cockpit. Awkard steering throws off the entire driving experience, while the rest of the car really seems flawless. The ES, while less attractive inside and out, offers many of the same features for less money, is slightly more comfortable for rear passengers, and to be honest, is more pleasant to pilot. It also has a better sized trunk, and somehow the SmartKey works way better and much faster on the ES than the GS. Walk up and just reach for the handle, and the lights pop on, the car unlocks. With the GS you have to walk up and grab the handle for a second, and then it unlocks. Minor detail, but noteworthy none the less. The GS is also not significantly sportier than the ES until you really get into it, and even then the steering soils the experience for me. I feel like Lexus needs to put greater emphasis on making the GS a drivers car when the ES is similarly sized, featured, powered, and costs less money. The ES is really no longer a boat, and does not create the same drama in mildly spirited driving that the ES 330 did. The GS needs to be established as a sportier car that drives significantly different from the ES, because as I really see it now, there isn't much reason to spend an extra $10K on the GS when the ES is really a good car for the money.

So these are just my opinions, feel free to ask questions or make remarks





A couple things across the range:

- you take the backup camera for granted until you don't have it anymore
- Lexus navigation, while relatively easy to use, can be frustrating when your address "does not exist on selected street" or "street cannot be found in selected city" when you know DAMN well that it is.
- I am going to feel like I am living in the dark when I go back to driving my 4Runner and don't have Xenon/HID headlights anymore.
- Looking at previous generation products, it is nice to see that there is far more character and personality being built into Lexus cars now. Exteriors for one, but I really enjoy the shapes, designs, and changes they are making to the interiors. The GS is really full of very thoughtful and original details when you look for them, and the LS and IS too have shifted away from traditional Japanese interiors to details and shapes that are more unique. Especially on the doors and dash.

 

Thank you for such insightful and thorough reviews.

I agree with you with almost all of your comments (I have had access to all those cars for at least a full weekend). They are definately everyday-driver oriented reviews and it will be useful for a lot of people on this thread.

 

Wow, great honest write ups!!

 

Nice writeup, thanks!

Question for you... on the 'buy backs' you drove were you made aware of whatever problems the cars had encountered that caused them to be bought back? Were those problems fixed before you got your hands on the vehicles?

 

Yep, completely repaired. I drive them for a number of miles to confirm the repair before they are sold. I also review the case before I drive the car, so that I can access the success of the repair as acutely as possible.

 

Thanks for the info.

I'm surprised to read that you found the RX to be substantially louder then the GX. My seat time with the GX is very little but I have plenty of seat time in the RX and have always, short of some drivetrain chatter, found it to be a fairly quiet vehicle... more quiet than my 05 4Runner, which is very closely related to the GX.

I've heard that the GX uses about 40 extra pounds of sound deadening material the the 4Runner does not... so maybe that's what makes the difference or maybe we just have two varying observations...?

 

I think the RX and GX debate comes down to two things: tires and weight. The GX is heavier so naturally, it's going to be smoother but it also has more off-road oriented (higher profile) tires. The RX, being lighter and having lower profile tires doesn't isolate you in the same manor as the cocoon-like GX.

Each has their advantage though; the RX's athleticism vs. the GX's smoothness.

 

Thanks for the insightful writeup, MPLexus301. I learned several new bits of information...makes me kinda wish I didn't pass up on the SUV testdrive section of Taste of Lexus a number of years ago.

Completely agreed on the new GS...it is a beauty IMO. And maybe the GS 430/450h with **** will make a difference in the handling?

Like the ES as well, so long as the transmission issue is taken care of. Your review crystallizes exactly why the ES is such a success and why it threatens GS sales.

Surprised that the GX still has a glovebox CD changer. That should be rectified IMO. I also expect the RX to get quieter for the next generation, if only to shut up those competing ads from different makes that crow about 'quieter than RX'! But I think the RX (and RX 400h especially) are quiet enough.

And btw, at 6' and 200 lbs, you're a big guy! Glad to hear about the customer commitment from inside Lexus South HQ. Hope the job continues to be a good one.

 

I would like to get into an RX 400h to see how much quieter it is than a 350, but we really don't buy any of them back. Lexus hybrid owners, as a whole, are very happy people

 

I doubt it's really any quieter once the gas motor is in use. Of course when it's not in use, like most hybrids, I'm sure it's eerily quiet... about as quiet as sitting in a parked car.

 

Actually in my experience there are some moments when the gas engine kicks in at the beginning when you can hear something, but it's often the contrast because the car is sooo quiet at startup, and at low speeds you can do the 'samurai sneak' on streets.

 

Great writeup

Having driven both '06 GS300 and '07 GS350, I can tell you that the GS350 gives you a very different impression behind the wheel. If you get a chance, try one out and let us know what you think!