Citylights

I purchased an ES350 (Black Sapphire Pearl, Cashmere Interior) last month with a build date of 8/06.

I had a couple of issues including the infamous tranny hesitation, somewhat rough idle, a couple of creaks around the dash area, intermittent creaks towards the back of the car (which I suspect was the Rear Sunshade). The dealer had my car for a couple of days and gave me a 2006 ES330 (with 7K miles) as a loaner.

Here are my observations:

The ES350 is much nicer (interior/exterior) and with a dramatic improvement in horsepower. The ES330 felt really slow by comparison. It was also significantly quieter under full acceleration and at highway speeds.

However, I definitely believe that the ES 350 has regressed in the following areas compared with the 2006 model:

Idle was much quieter and smoother with last year’s model, no click noise whatsoever, you can barely tell the engine was on. Not so with the ES 350. I was told that it was “normal” for the ES350. They even compared it to the others on the lot.

The ride was also smoother on the ES330 with less tire noise. I am not sure if this was because my ES350 came equipped with the Michelin All-Season tires. The loaner rode on the Toyo Summer tires. Can the summer tires make that much of a difference?


Anyway, any thoughts or similar observations when comparing the two?

Kaius88

I figure there must be some sacrifices for styling and power. I do believe the ES350 is slightly louder than the previous model. But it's not so noticeable unless you intentionally observe it. The rough idle and tranny hesitation are not found in all ES350s. Mine idle very smooth and has no tranny hesitation. Mine is a 05/06 build. If what you say is true, then the build date is irrelevant now? I wonder what the 2008 ES350 will be like.

garsarno

My 8/06 build Black Sapphire / Cashmere UL does have the loud lifter noise when cold start up in the morning. No creaks / groans / rough idle / tranny issues yet at 250 miles. Did buy the clear exact mats to cover the factory carpet mats. Like the car / hate the navigation system - not easy to familiarize quickly.

amf1932

Probably almost identical to the 2007. with maybe a slight grill change. The mechanical specs and options will probably be the same. This is generally how Lexus does things.

Nextourer

slight change? not this early.

INHOCJP

I agree, but with the GS, engine change after one year, newer nav system...thanks Lexus

But I'm pretty certain the ES350 won't change for at least a couple years. The first tweaks usually occur during the respective model's mid-cycle "refreshening", err...except with the most recent GS

Citylights

The idle on the ES 350 is not loud by other car standards. Maybe, I am just expecting too much.

But from the beginning, Lexus autos are known to have a super quiet idle, consistently the quietest in the industry. That is what I have experienced first hand and also in reading all of the car mags.

I am still perplexed how this was overlooked on the ES 350 by the design team.

Nextourer

Indeed. We knew that the GS would be upgraded early anyway. When the GS300 came out and the GS350 in Japan, we knew that engine would make it over soon but the problem is that we have a GS430 and they don't and the GS350 is very close to the GS430 in power.

ba-b4

I don't have an ES but I do have an IS350. And I know in the IS the idle ticking noise is from the direct injection in the new engines. I think you guys just have a detuned version of our engine but it's still direct injection so that's why it's louder. A trade off of getting more power with better gas milage I guess.

ES350Bob

City,

I owned 2 prior ES 300 and at idle you could not hear those engines except the 2nd one when it's oil gelled.

This ES350 you never do not hear the engine, the contrast is striking between it's idle and that of the 2 ES300 and even my MBC240, all quieter than the ES350.

I am with you, the design team overlooked this and I know one who claimed to me to have been on noise reduction team is a BS artist for sure, He BS'd me on my transmission supposedly having a TSIB in Japan and now denies saying that to me.

My engine has problems and that may add to the noise level generally, so be aware of that, but compared to others I'd describe it as a noisy engine in general.

NoiseFree

If I purchase the ES350 I'd be coming from a 1996 Toyota Camry DX.
Since I've never driven an ES300 or MBC240 I can't compare them.
The ES350 would be a big improvement noise-wise over the Camry correct?
I was always quite satisfied with the overall noise level of the Camry.

reyrey127

Hi,

I do not have a lexus but a camry instead, but mechanically it is the same as the es 350. FYI, the es350 does not have direct injection as the is350. the es350 is 2gr-fe similar to the 07 camry, while the is350 is 2gr-fse, "s" indicates the direct fuel injection for the engine. I believe this is the case. Correct me if I am wrong. Thanks.

Rey

GumboChief

I'd think they'd update the NAV to support real time traffic.
Have been using google traffic on my phone, and for chicago, I can say it has been incredibly accurate. Would love to see this in the dash.

ba-b4

After looking it up you are right. The Camry and ES do NOT have the direct injected version of the engine. I mixed up the IS250 engine with it's pure direct injectected engine with the ES/Camry engine with regular injection.

Nextourer

does the IS250 have dual VVT-i?