I have over 3,000 back issue car magazines in my collection and I took the time to review quite a few of them to see how our ES350 acceleration times compare to musclecars from the late sixties to early seventies. I compared them to a Motor Trend magazine of a 2010 ES350. Here are the times:

0-30 mph: 2.5 seconds
0-60 mph: 6.6 seconds
0-100 mph: 17.3 seconds
1/4 mile time / speed: 15.1 seconds @ 94 mph

Here are the cars that performed closest to the above times:

1968 Corvette: base 327/300 hp, automatic, air conditioned (slightly slower)

1971 Z/28 Camaro : 4 speed, 3.73 gears (matched the ES350 almost exactly)

1970 Corvette: 454/390 hp, automatic, air conditioned, 3.08 gears (a hair slower)

1970 Chevelle SS396 coupe: base 396/350hp, automatic, air conditioned (slightly slower)

1969 Z/28 Camaro: 302/290hp, 4 speed, 4.10 gears (dead on in the 1/4 mile)

Some of the cars probably lost some steam due to traction problems on bias ply tires or out of state of tune. But, these were base models or loaded up with a/c.

Just thought it might be enjoyable to know how fast our cars really are.

 

Good information. I do the same thing when I see reports on the old muscle cars and how they compare with the ES350. I remember when shopping for my 2007 right after the new gen came out. C&D timed the ES350 at 6.2 seconds to 60 and Consumer Reports got 6.4 seconds. Pretty impressive IMO when you think about it.

I think MT got 6.0 on the 2013 in a comparo.

 

I may be older than both of you guys but I remember when an 0-60 time of anything under 10 seconds was very good for a production car and my goal in life was probably never to own or even drive a Japanese made 6 cylinder 4 door sedan with black tires. Times do change though.

Dave Mac

 

My Suppressed Desire in my 1957 High School yearbook was:

To someday own a passenger car that can accelerate from Zero to 60 in less than Five seconds.

In 2008, 51 years later, I finally reached that goal, and not with an ES. I came close earlier, but now I've got it

Lou

 

My first car was a 64 Pontiac GTO Convertible. I was in heaven. It had the three deuces setup with 348hp. At that time it was a pretty awesome performer. Not many that could keep up with it except the Hemi's! The problem was that I was in the Army at that time and couldn't afford to keep it in gas at $.30 a gallon! After all, I was only bringing home about $35 a month!

Anyways, I went back and checked its performance numbers:

0-30. 3.7
0-60. 7.7
Qtr. 15.8

Sure seemed a lot faster! LOL.

 

Yeah, the ES is pretty quick. Lots of us older guys think back to the late 60s & early 70s & believe that the muscle cars of that era were much faster than they were. Not so, they were just noisier. Some of today's cars are much quicker.

A couple of months ago I ran off against a Hyundai Genesis. It must have been a V8, as he simply left me in his dust when he punched it. I was totally shocked, as I feel the ES is pretty quick. It was a bit humbling to say the least.

 

My past 2007 Impala SS was somewhat faster than the ES350. But after three transmissions, it had to go.

 

In addition to the performance of today's cars, the steering, handling, braking etc. has progressed leaps and bounds.

I still love the old muscle cars though.

 

But the old muscle cars sounded,looked and felt faster.
Rev it up and leave rubber when the Xmas tree lights hit green,going down the 1/4 mile track,you can see the front end rise a bit on every manual shift and the engine sound was great.

About 4 years ago,I sold a '69 Corvette small block show car I owned for many years.Didn't handle at all but it felt much faster with the roar of the engine.

 

somehow my new 67 Cougar felt a bit faster than my ES . That car was my first taste "instant respose" in passing. The ES is no slouch though...

 

Nice Vette! Love the color...You're right, nothing like the rumble of a big V8.

 

429 hp v-8 would do that, and hopefully it wasn't the v-6, that would be very depressing.

 

In a C&D comparo a 3.8 V6 Genesis was quicker than the ES350, but it was very close.