2002-2004 es
01-30-21, 08:55 PM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
2002-2004 es
I can't find it anywhere. Just a lot of irrelevant articles when searching for differences in the 2002, 2003, and 2004 ES cars. Obviously the 2004 has an engine with more power but I'd like to know what else, if anything, changed for 2004. Any help on this would be excellent.
01-30-21, 09:49 PM
#2
Pole Position
Hello,
2002 to 2003 didn't change, those were basically the same cars. In 2004, it received an engine upgrade, replacing 1MZ-FE with 3MZ-FE, which, other than increase in power, got rid of most weak spots of previous MZ engines. A year later, in 2005, it received a facelift with upgraded exterior and interior. The car stayed that way up until the end of production in 2006.
It seems like a common thing among Toyotas to upgrade just the engine a year before the facelift, that's what happened to both of the previous generations - 2nd-gen changed from 3VZ-FE to 1MZ-FE in 1994, while getting a facelift in 1995, 3rd-gen received a VVT-i system in 1999 and a facelift in 2000.
What in particular raised that question? It may be easier to help if you can convey the context behind it..
Hope this helps and best of luck!
2002 to 2003 didn't change, those were basically the same cars. In 2004, it received an engine upgrade, replacing 1MZ-FE with 3MZ-FE, which, other than increase in power, got rid of most weak spots of previous MZ engines. A year later, in 2005, it received a facelift with upgraded exterior and interior. The car stayed that way up until the end of production in 2006.
It seems like a common thing among Toyotas to upgrade just the engine a year before the facelift, that's what happened to both of the previous generations - 2nd-gen changed from 3VZ-FE to 1MZ-FE in 1994, while getting a facelift in 1995, 3rd-gen received a VVT-i system in 1999 and a facelift in 2000.
What in particular raised that question? It may be easier to help if you can convey the context behind it..
Hope this helps and best of luck!
01-30-21, 10:02 PM
#3
Racer
Thread Starter
Hello,
2002 to 2003 didn't change, those were basically the same cars. In 2004, it received an engine upgrade, replacing 1MZ-FE with 3MZ-FE, which, other than increase in power, got rid of most weak spots of previous MZ engines. A year later, in 2005, it received a facelift with upgraded exterior and interior. The car stayed that way up until the end of production in 2006.
It seems like a common thing among Toyotas to upgrade just the engine a year before the facelift, that's what happened to both of the previous generations - 2nd-gen changed from 3VZ-FE to 1MZ-FE in 1994, while getting a facelift in 1995, 3rd-gen received a VVT-i system in 1999 and a facelift in 2000.
What in particular raised that question? It may be easier to help if you can convey the context behind it..
Hope this helps and best of luck!
2002 to 2003 didn't change, those were basically the same cars. In 2004, it received an engine upgrade, replacing 1MZ-FE with 3MZ-FE, which, other than increase in power, got rid of most weak spots of previous MZ engines. A year later, in 2005, it received a facelift with upgraded exterior and interior. The car stayed that way up until the end of production in 2006.
It seems like a common thing among Toyotas to upgrade just the engine a year before the facelift, that's what happened to both of the previous generations - 2nd-gen changed from 3VZ-FE to 1MZ-FE in 1994, while getting a facelift in 1995, 3rd-gen received a VVT-i system in 1999 and a facelift in 2000.
What in particular raised that question? It may be easier to help if you can convey the context behind it..
Hope this helps and best of luck!
So that leaves the 300/330. I like the extra power so that leave the 330. However, I think that yellowish wood is ugly in the 05 and 06. I'm not interested in a black interior so that leaves the 2004 as the likeliest car. It would be a nice upgrade over the 05 Camry LE I had for 10 years before wrecking it in the snow.
Just wanted to see if, besides the power change (also read somewhere about some seat modifications) if anything interesting changed from 2003-2004.
Thank you.
01-30-21, 11:17 PM
#4
Pole Position
Well, I can relate to that, I was never a fan of that obscure wood option. In my opinion, and I may get some heat for it, 2004 is the best year for the 4th generation, combining an upgraded engine with the pre-facelift car, which I think looks quite a bit better than a newer model, that sort of "roundness" they added doesn't look that great.. That said, you may be that one ludicrously lucky guy to get a 2006 ES330 Black Diamond Edition with optional grey leather and unique dark grey wood pattern that was also available with a 2004 ES330 SportDesign. Both looked neat, and both are rare as unicorns..
P.S. Sorry about you Camry.. What climate are you in? If it is always snowy, it my be wise to step up and get an RX300. Not sure about your area, but it is generally possible to fit a clean, post-facelift 1st-gen RX300 within your budget. Underneath, RX is not that much different from an ES or Camry, since all three of them share the same platform. One word of caution though, don't get tempted with all those 2004 or 2005 RX330/350 for less than $6,000, at least from my experience, it is really tough to find the one that won't start falling apart for that price. It is not impossible, but you need to be aware that there is a reason for it to be as cheap, and go from there..
Hope this helps and best of luck!
P.S. Sorry about you Camry.. What climate are you in? If it is always snowy, it my be wise to step up and get an RX300. Not sure about your area, but it is generally possible to fit a clean, post-facelift 1st-gen RX300 within your budget. Underneath, RX is not that much different from an ES or Camry, since all three of them share the same platform. One word of caution though, don't get tempted with all those 2004 or 2005 RX330/350 for less than $6,000, at least from my experience, it is really tough to find the one that won't start falling apart for that price. It is not impossible, but you need to be aware that there is a reason for it to be as cheap, and go from there..
Hope this helps and best of luck!
01-30-21, 11:41 PM
#5
Racer
Thread Starter
Well, I can relate to that, I was never a fan of that obscure wood option. In my opinion, and I may get some heat for it, 2004 is the best year for the 4th generation, combining an upgraded engine with the pre-facelift car, which I think looks quite a bit better than a newer model, that sort of "roundness" they added doesn't look that great.. That said, you may be that one ludicrously lucky guy to get a 2006 ES330 Black Diamond Edition with optional grey leather and unique dark grey wood pattern that was also available with a 2004 ES330 SportDesign. Both looked neat, and both are rare as unicorns..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ceyn0os5KU
P.S. Sorry about you Camry.. What climate are you in? If it is always snowy, it my be wise to step up and get an RX300. Not sure about your area, but it is generally possible to fit a clean, post-facelift 1st-gen RX300 within your budget. Underneath, RX is not that much different from an ES or Camry, since all three of them share the same platform. One word of caution though, don't get tempted with all those 2004 or 2005 RX330/350 for less than $6,000, at least from my experience, it is really tough to find the one that won't start falling apart for that price. It is not impossible, but you need to be aware that there is a reason for it to be as cheap, and go from there..
Hope this helps and best of luck!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ceyn0os5KU
P.S. Sorry about you Camry.. What climate are you in? If it is always snowy, it my be wise to step up and get an RX300. Not sure about your area, but it is generally possible to fit a clean, post-facelift 1st-gen RX300 within your budget. Underneath, RX is not that much different from an ES or Camry, since all three of them share the same platform. One word of caution though, don't get tempted with all those 2004 or 2005 RX330/350 for less than $6,000, at least from my experience, it is really tough to find the one that won't start falling apart for that price. It is not impossible, but you need to be aware that there is a reason for it to be as cheap, and go from there..
Hope this helps and best of luck!
I'm in western Washington. It doesn't snow much here. In fact, we didn't get snow where we live in the 19-20 winter and have yet to get it. For some reason in March 2019 it did quite a bit and I was running completely bald tires, thinking I could get through the bad weather and through the summer, then get a new set for the rain in September. Didn't go as planned. Lol
01-30-21, 11:45 PM
#6
Racer
Thread Starter
Oh and no CUV's for me. I want to add a Land Cruiser in about a year or two. If that's going to be problematic to find a well maintained one at a good price, I'll settle for a Sequoia. My 3 and 4 year old girls would like some room as they grow.
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