MD350

Yeah, my Hertz days were located at Boston Logan airport and Dulles airport outside of DC. The fleet was a mess.

Tip of the day for everyone...when you rent your next car, you can always request for a low mileage unit...they usually are in good shape and clean. Many times I am offered a brand new unit.

Ok, sorry, back to the topic....

jgtile

I agree 350Dave, the key is "if I could justify the cost". Kind of hard to justify spending more on a car than my first house!!!

Lexus 1

Not a rattle,squeak, flare, rough idle, noisy engine or any other problems after 4months of ownership of an '08.

jgtile

Gr8 to hear it Lexus1! I have had minor issues but I like my new ES also.

tC350

Yea no problems here, got an 08' that rides great.....

rjm

I was given an '08 ES350 for a loaner when I was in for my last oil change on my LS430. I wasn't particularly impressed with the ES performance. The styling was great...it is a great looking car and I would really like to like it. The driveability (fun factor) was seriously lacking. It would benefit by an increase in power and torque and a decrease in the sloppy response to steering input. It was just somewhat boring to drive. But the most troublesome thing I noticed (in about 100 miles of freeway driving) was the throttle lag, a momentary lull in throttle response when pushing the accelerator down to pass or rapidly accelerate to change lanes. My bias comes from driving an LS430 and a BMW E90 so my reaction to this car would not necessarily agree with those who love it. I just think there in room for improvement in this car, particularly in the transmission and the suspension.

MD350

You are spot on! I came from an Acura TL, which would respond as soon as you hit the gas. On the ES, it seems the computer needs to have a 2 second meeting with the engine and transmission as to what gear to go in. Once that meeting has concluded, you go.

LSorBS

I think the OP was a little harsh on the ES, I really think it is a great automobile. I really enjoyed my fairly lengthy test drive of the ES350UL except there were a few things that just didn't work. First of, I think the cabin is a little too small, and the wide-shield line is just a little too low. At 6'2, I really didn't fit very well inside the car, and when reclined to my driving position, I couldn't fit in the rear. Which leads me to another issue, the rear headroom is severely lacking. Even with the seat in front adjusted for a smaller person, my head touched the ceiling in the back of the ES. It's a combination of size and ascetics that lead me to my CPO '05 LS430- which in my opinion is more comfortable then the new LS460's.

NGG

Easy explanation for your understandable impressions. The ES350 is the Lexus lemon....transmission flare, rattles/sqeaks, wind noise, engine "dieseling", cheap carpet, etc, etc, etc. Review this forum for the last two plus years for validation of the forgoing. It is the only Lexus model that has had extensive manufacturer buybacks. That tells the unfortunate tale. Sick and sad.

MD350

I have to agree. I am disappointed too.

Smkn600CTD

We've had our 08 since Turkey Day 2007 (about 5 months). With 8k miles on it now, the car has been fine.

It does have the cold engine piston slap/valve tick, but the dash is quiet and the tranny doesn't shift flare.

As for the 2 second PCM/Engine/Tranny conference, it hasn't done it in while, but I just bring the shifter over to the manual side, and tap it where I want the transmission at. Little more fun that way anyways

When we went looking, she was looking at a C350 Sport, Caddy CTS, Acura RL and TL-S and very very very low mile 06 GS300 and low mile 06 MBZ E350. We drove them up and down and side to side. I liked the GS350 much more than the GS300. The C350 was just too small, and the Caddy she didn't like after test driving it for the 2nd time. The torque steer on the TL-S was much worse than the ES, and the RL she just didn't like plus Nav system takes Ph.D to figure. The cost of the 06 E350 without nav or AC seats was the same as the new 08 ES350. So we went back to the Lexus dealership, and too get the GS...350 or the used 300. That's when the sales rep asked if we looked at the new ES.

My thought of a ES driver was about 60-65 year old grandma....not us in our 30's. But obvious to say, the power was much better than the GS300, more room than the GS, cost less than the GS , and a more comfortable ride......and that's why its in the driveway. It kinda looks like a baby LS460.

Her parents have a 07 (very early build) LS460L with every option and a 07 RX350, her brother has a 06 GS430. Of all the cars........the LS has been in the shop the MOST. Tensioner recall, squeak in the suspension (they still can't find what wrong with it-but they can hear it), nav not working correctly, and it too has the piston slap/valve noise when cold (and its louder than the ES). Her parents are about done with the LS (only got 9K miles on it), and wish they had their 01 LS430 back, never had one problem.

Bottom line is....the newer they get...the more fancy they get...the more they cost......but the cheaper they are made.....MBZ, BMW or Hyundai, Chevy....and yes even at Lexus.....the bean counters are at work at all of them