Car Chat General discussion about Lexus, other auto manufacturers and automotive news.

A little ES 350 love...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-17-10, 01:15 AM
  #16  
Fizzboy7
Lexus Test Driver
 
Fizzboy7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: California
Posts: 9,718
Received 167 Likes on 99 Posts
Default

I too have had ES loaners and greatly enjoyed driving them. As I get up there in years, I find myself leaning on the edge of sport vs. luxury. I'm still swaying over to the sport side, but I see myself in an ES eventually. It's such a comfortable car and looks great too. I hope the redesign will bring forth an improved dash design, as I feel the last generation ES had one of the best looking dashes of all time.
Fizzboy7 is offline  
Old 11-17-10, 12:48 PM
  #17  
Slvr surfr
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (1)
 
Slvr surfr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: dc
Posts: 1,284
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 6 Posts
Default

So one might say the current ES is basically a previous gen LS?
Slvr surfr is offline  
Old 11-17-10, 11:44 PM
  #18  
trukn1
NELOC Mod
 
trukn1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: MD
Posts: 5,201
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 9 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Slvr surfr
So one might say the current ES is basically a previous gen LS?
I wouldn't quite go that far as the LS series, in general, offers quite a bit more than this car has to offer and IMO rides a little better than the ES series. However for the price point, appointed amenities, and styling, it certainly makes for an attractive alternative for the budget minded.
trukn1 is offline  
Old 11-17-10, 11:57 PM
  #19  
bjlisiono
Lead Lap
iTrader: (4)
 
bjlisiono's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: CA
Posts: 470
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 1 Post
Default

Originally Posted by LexusMan77
Very nice looking ES. Btw was that shot taken at the parking lot of Cal State Northridge?
This picture was taken at the parking structure of Cal Poly Pomona.
bjlisiono is offline  
Old 11-18-10, 12:17 AM
  #20  
D-Boi
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (5)
 
D-Boi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: MI
Posts: 1,109
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

The new ES is a beautiful machine. They have always been good looking cars besides the 2002-2006 model ugh, ugliest Lexus ever made IMO.
D-Boi is offline  
Old 11-18-10, 04:27 AM
  #21  
Joeb427
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
 
Joeb427's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SC
Posts: 11,670
Received 17 Likes on 16 Posts
Default

The ES350 has a much smoother ride than my RX350.A bit quieter too.
Nice vehicle.
Joeb427 is offline  
Old 11-18-10, 09:27 AM
  #22  
GS3Tek
Moderator
iTrader: (8)
 
GS3Tek's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: so cal
Posts: 12,363
Received 165 Likes on 126 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Slvr surfr
So one might say the current ES is basically a previous gen LS?
never

an ES will never be in the same league as an LS, no matter the year
GS3Tek is offline  
Old 11-18-10, 11:42 AM
  #23  
Slvr surfr
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (1)
 
Slvr surfr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: dc
Posts: 1,284
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 6 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by GS3Tek
never

an ES will never be in the same league as an LS, no matter the year
Ok maybe not the 430 but it is atleast on par if not better that say a 98-00 LS400. It certainly is the same size if not bigger. Its loaded with more technology. Its faster. Looks are subjective but the ride is just about the same. You dont think this ES is better in just about every aspect?
Slvr surfr is offline  
Old 11-18-10, 07:47 PM
  #24  
mmarshall
Lexus Fanatic
 
mmarshall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Posts: 91,185
Received 87 Likes on 86 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by PhilipMSPT
Wheels and a nice drop helps...
Not in this case. Dropping the suspension and using larger wheels can stiffen up the ride...and it's the ride comfort that the OP specifically likes about the new ES. Larger-than-standard wheels (depending on the outside-diameter of the tire) can also throw the speedometer/odometer off and make both read low.
mmarshall is offline  
Old 11-18-10, 07:49 PM
  #25  
mmarshall
Lexus Fanatic
 
mmarshall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Posts: 91,185
Received 87 Likes on 86 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by GS3Tek
never

an ES will never be in the same league as an LS, no matter the year
True, but even though I agree that the 2006 redesign was a disapointment, the 2010 has received a number of improvements........IMO, it is a noticeably better car, even without a major redesign.
mmarshall is offline  
Old 11-18-10, 07:53 PM
  #26  
Akachan LS
Driver
 
Akachan LS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by D-Boi
The new ES is a beautiful machine. They have always been good looking cars besides the 2002-2006 model ugh, ugliest Lexus ever made IMO.
I strongly agree that the exterior looks of the '02-'06 ES left something to be desired. But I feel that the interior was the best of all the ES models to date.
Akachan LS is offline  
Old 11-18-10, 07:54 PM
  #27  
mmarshall
Lexus Fanatic
 
mmarshall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Posts: 91,185
Received 87 Likes on 86 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by bitkahuna
the ES350 is a very well designed and executed vehicle for its intended market. it's everything a buick should be.
Well, the new Buick Lacrosse and Regal are actually more sport-oriented (now) than the ES. The LaCrosse, especially, has a superb ride/steering/handling combo....it combines a lot of the traditional Buick ride comfort with MUCH faster, BMW-like, sports-steering. Test-drive one and you'll see what I mean.

The ES, on the other hand, remains a very comfortable but more traditionally-luxury-oriented car, with a slower-steering ratio and a little more lean in the turns. It is, though, IMO, (as I noted above) much-improved in several areas for 2010 (even without a major redesign), notably with interior-trim.

Last edited by mmarshall; 11-18-10 at 07:57 PM.
mmarshall is offline  
Old 11-18-10, 08:03 PM
  #28  
mmarshall
Lexus Fanatic
 
mmarshall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Posts: 91,185
Received 87 Likes on 86 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Akachan LS
I strongly agree that the exterior looks of the '02-'06 ES left something to be desired. But I feel that the interior was the best of all the ES models to date.
The '02-'06 was a superb car in many ways, discounting the occasional transmission-shift quirks and drive-by-wire TSBs/re-programmings. But the stylists, IMO, blew it in one area...those silly upsweep headlights that trailed far back up the sides of the hood.

mmarshall is offline  
Old 11-18-10, 08:04 PM
  #29  
shyguy16
Lead Lap
 
shyguy16's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: NY
Posts: 403
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by 1SICKLEX
I also think owners are a classy bunch. Rarely do I see them speed, they never double park and just go about their business.
geriatric drivers aren't known for being speed demons.
shyguy16 is offline  
Old 11-19-10, 05:56 AM
  #30  
LexBob2
Lexus Champion
 
LexBob2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Illinois
Posts: 11,147
Received 139 Likes on 113 Posts
Default

Sales of the current gen ES350 are holding up well considering that it's in it's 5th mdoel year. The new gen will be needed fairly soon to compete with the competition.

Lexus knows their market for this car but I'm sure they'd like to lower the average age of the buyers a bit.
LexBob2 is offline  


Quick Reply: A little ES 350 love...



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:37 PM.