makd

will be driven about 5k per year, in northern us climate. opinions please on plusses/minuses of each one. please ask if you need more info.

https://legacyautosales.org/inventor...s-es-330-base/

https://myskylineautomotive.com/vdp/...field-WI-53531

funcrusher

IMO Lexus stopped making bullet proof tanks after 06 for all their models. But if you’re only putting 5,000 miles per year, that probably doesn’t matter to you. Just test drive both and pick which one you like more.

FromFL

Probably the ES 350. Much more luxurious (ES 330 Base has no heated seats, steering wheel radio controls, single sweep wiper pass mode, Trac...ETC) , faster and modern than the ES 330. I have an '04 ES 330. I think though that the ES 330 looks the part ("luxury"), while the ES 350 looks more generic of that era.

RXGS

iTrader: (2)

Between the two, the ES350. It’s nice to have things like a backup camera and at the very least, an aux port without having to go the aftermarket route.

HomerJay

And no timing belt on the 3.5 engine. Should be little to no maintenance with a timing chain

funcrusher

You’re looking at a few hundred for a decent back up camera and modern stereo that will sound much better than the stock es350 one.

zeez88

To me, the build quality on the ES330's is far ahead of the ES350. Even the interior tells the story. You step into an ES 330 and you tend to notice that there is more wood trim and less plastic whereas in the 350 you have more plastic and LESS wood trim. The ES350's interior isnt really fancy, especially with a cheap looking dashboard.

But i would still get an ES350 because its more refined than the ES330 in so many ways, and also it has more horsepower, well about 50 more horses than the ES330. If i were you I'd go for a 2009 + ES350's. The earlier models 2007 - 2008, were not as well built. The 2007 in particular is notorious for transmission issues. There's an official Toyota TSB on the issue.

Best of Luck

acarapella

Knowing both well, the ES330 is by far a higher quality car, but the ES350 has a newer nicer presentation. Sadly, the days is build quality of near perfection are gone. This isn't an easy choice. Being that an es330 should be able to be had for thousands less than a 350, that might make the decision easier.

I have access to any used car adesa or manheim has to offer, I own a 4th gen.

Oro

Lately I have been driving some friends/customers cars a fair amount. All of them with modest mileage (the Subie has only 12k on it).

2010 Challenger SRT8
2014 Cadillac ATS
2016 Subaru Outback Limited

I normally don't drive the ES as it's her car, but I have been for the last three days. I am now thinking of getting a 2nd ES330 for myself, maybe that vintage GS. Just so much more quality and comfort in the experience. The bells and whistles on the newer Cadillac and Subaru are just more distracting than truly helpful. I can add a sound system, nav (phone or tablet), etc. and be up to date and easily upgraded, instead of tied into video systems we know will age poorly and break (I had to put a new screen in the Cadillac, and it's got 65k on it and 4/5 years old - common thing).

I like the engine and body of the 350 a lot more, but the interior is disappointing in comparison. Tough call.

I have seen a number of really knowledge Toyota/Lexus people say ~2005+/- was peak quality; downhill from there. I am not confident/enough data points to say that myself, but am leaning towards it.

RXGS

iTrader: (2)

You’re leaning in the right direction. Having owned nothing but Lexus in my immediate family since 1997, and having owned a 2001 ES, 2004 ES, 2002, 2006, 2009, and 2015 GS personally, the late 90s early 2000s cars truly were made to a higher standard.

That being said, would I give up the “modern” conveniences of the 2015 or even the 2009 to daily the 2001 ES, absolutely not, but I would gladly pick another one up to have as an additional car.

acarapella

Good advice here.

I can second Oro's comment about modern cars being over the top and subjected to becoming dated. Thats what the first decade and possibly the first half of the second decade of lexus was all about If you ask me. You can tell they aren't brand new, but they never looked dated. The 1990 LS400 went from new and almost futuristic with its tight lines and LED instrumentation, to elegant, to classic. It never looked horribly dated like even a 1990 S class (in my opinion). I feel the same about the 4es, and though less so, the 5es as well. I cant say the 8th gen will look good in 2035 but I guess time will tell.

As for quality, seems its unanimous that the 4es is better than the 5.