nonlinear

I purchased a 2005 ES330 recently, have been driving it for a few weeks now. I am very happy with it overall, but there are a few shortcomings that I noticed:

-- too little headroom (and I am only 5'10", 150lbs)

-- heap and shoulder room are lacking, too: my head almost touches the upper door handle. I tried to lower the seat, but then visibility is compromized.

-- the driver seat is too narrow and a bit firm, and doesn't have enough thigh support

-- the auto climate system is frustrating: why do I have to hit the internar air circulation button every time I start the car? I fully expected that it would remember the setting that I left when I turned off the ignition

-- the throttle is still not very responsive, despite all the reprogramming and improvements over the last years. The simple test is to press the accelerator 1/3 to 1/2 way down and release within 1/4 of a second. Nothing happens, and tachometer doesn't register anything! I've heard that the throttle system will be completely new for the 2006 model, although if it's the same as in the 2005 Avalon, I am not encouraged (I test drove the 2005 Avalon, and was not impressed with the throttle).

-- shifts could be smoother, too, especially between 1st and 2nd, and 2nd and 3rd.

-- the Nav system is great, but I wish I could assign custom voice tag to preprogrammed addresses. In its current form, the only destination voice commands it recognizes are "Home" and "Quick Destination 1" thru "Quick Destination 5". I t would be nice to be able to key in the address and assign a custom voice tag to it, such as "My Hotel", "Uncle Earnie", or "Fred", so that you can later set it as destination by speaking it

-- my rear passengers found it difficult to fasten the seatbelts: the buckle is sunk to deep in the seat

-- body lean during cornering is pronounced

Lexusfreak

I agree with alot of your comments non.......personally, I would seriously consider the 2005 Avalon over the current ES if we are comparing all that you mentioned above as well. If it was the old Avalon, I would stay with the current ES handsdown........but with this new Avalon that's out, it's a VERY tough call for sure. f it was me today, I'd be heading to my Toyota dealer, not the Lexus store. Just my 2 cents.

RATTLHESIT

I use every opportunity I find to let people know what I don't like about my 03 ES300. Only 2 things but they are the pits. My login id says it all. It's disappointing to hear that the HESITATION problem has been happening since 02 and now you added the latest model year! I'm still hoping for a fix for earlier models and now you and I both are waiting for fix.

hubjunky1

I had an 04' ES330 loaner today while my 97 was in the shop getting work done, the transmission was just terrible. For a car with only 5k miles, I was stunned. On the bright side, the interior is stunning, and the loaner car had a strut tower bar.. is this standard on the car or did this loaner have it installed for some reason?

amf1932

Strut tower bars have been standard ever since the '02ES.

MRLEXUS

If I was you I go and trade it in for a 97-01 model those were some damm good Es 300 if i do say so myself.

Lexusfreak

Except if the car has factory AVS suspension.....then, there is no STB.

tiguy99

Whats STB?

Lexusfreak

Strut tower bar (or brace).

redkingjoe

so you mean that the 97-01 ES were better (or better buy)than 02 onwards.

thanks

tiguy99

STB....I knew that hehehe

Lexusfreak

It would all depend on one's point of view. Both generations are very good cars.