MD350

I took my 5/06 build ES350 loaner car out this morning after being parked all night. I did not even try to do it, and YES the tranny flared. My car never did this. So, I don't think it is driving habit. If you have, you know it!!

As to wind noise, this loaner also has a lot more wind noise than mine. Don't know if the UL roof makes mine seem more quiet. But, I did notice the increased noise on my loaner.

Cold start knock is the same on my car and the loaner. Same symptoms.

Also, transmission whine is the same on both cars.

I also notice the difference in leather on the PP and the UL package. The UL leather is a softer leather.

Lastley, I think my loaner also has the rattle on the rear deck behind the rear seat. I know these loaners get beaten up, but I can hear that rattle back there when I go over bumps.

ES350Bob

MD,

I have always posted that if a person has a car with the flare, they would KNOW it and it would not matter whether they had ever read about it or heard about it from someone else, they would KNOW and post on it happening to them.

Wind noise varies on non-UL glass roof cars, never have driven the UL. Same as trans flare, depending on degree present, you'd KNOW it if you car had it as an issue apporaching serious nuisance level.

Diesel engine knock tap varies also, seems you got two very similar. They really can go from cannery works to sewing machine level to the rarest of the rare, none. Again with this at louder versions, you KNOW it and it would not matter whether you read or heard it before experiencing it yourself.

I hope you still have loaner and if so check out it's door alignment by looking at chrome strip across bottom of windows, I'm guessing that either or both the driver and passenger doors do not align as they should. Even just one way off allows more wind noise, exterior noise intrusion in my experiences. See subject titled ....window issues... and note one pic of sig misalignment that looks like a stair step.

ES350Bob

BTW: That back area rattle I ignored and discounted on my former car to point of viewing it as a non-issue until I described it to NGG and he let me know that's the sound his made that ended up with his former car taken apart for missing welds or fasteners or both. I could not believe my stupidity in not taking that type of thing seriously until after his acknowledgement..LOL

PaJaHa1

FYI, there is a rear rattle in some examples that is caused by the tire pressure monitor antenna, which is mounted in the headliner right near the rear window. I had this fixed on mine and am satisfied.

MD350

Yes, it is misaligned

ES350Bob

Thanks paj I am aware of that though some might not have been and also plastic clips mentioned on IS forum.

This is not limited to that though as the entire back glass/metal shelf it is glued to lightly rattles when going on uneven roads, bumps etc.. It sounds like a glass metal combo.

wanderer99

OK, I keep seeing this mentioned and it's what this thread is about - differences in ES350's. I've driven 4, and all were different to a degree or another, like I've said before. I've driven a lot of higher end rental vehicles, and 9 time out of 10 all those cars drive almost the same with the same characteristics. You'd expect the same car with the same engine\trans\body to behave almost identically. I see and hear differences in engine noise\trans issues and behaviour\wind noise\vibration and rattles on the ES. I'd think these differences might be OK in a $10,000 KIA vehicle.

So I'll ask this question for those that have driven multiple cars...

Do you think its OK that each ES350 has differences in the driving experience?

My answer is NO. It should be relatively the same!

ES350Bob

My answer is HECK NO, it is NOT OK they are all over the map and worse it is NOT OK for customers to be told each version represents the ES350 because you want to save money and not make repairs.

ES350Bob

Thanks MD, thought so.

Door alignment plays a role in wind and other sound intrusion from my own non-scientific observations.

Thank you Lexus/Toyota employee who works the assembly line and gets doors dead on and I hope you get a well deserved raise.