mcat

Hi Gang,

I haven't been on here for a while and I'm usually on the LS400 thread.

My wife is giving her '98 es300 to her son since his '98 Buick Lesabre needs too many repairs.
She's driven both the 330 and 350 and she's keen on a gold/cashmere exterior.
I'm trying to push her to a 2009-11 ES350 but I'm wondering what to look for.
What is shift flare?
One '07 we looked at needed a water pump at 49K and that was replaced. That seemed odd to me.
But the car rode great. very smooth. Much smoother than the 300s and 330s we drove.

Of course no timing belt on '07 and newer.
Do '07s have first year problems?



Any feedback appreciated.
(ps, she loves the ls430s but we live in NEB and the winters are a bit rough.
I have a ls400 w/ Blizaks but also a Tundra 4wd for deep white days.)

Thanks,

Mcat

ThumperPup

i'v had my 07 now with 92,770 miles on it
had the W/P replaced at 82 or 83k i think.

other than that no issues

xanderES

iTrader: (8)

It seems that many of the models have issues with the water pump. Ive heard them range from 20k to well over 100k miles without issues. I would not be concerned with this as long as it isnt leaking WHEN you buy the car.

Shift flare is when the rpm jumps a couple hundred on the first shift from 3rd-4th gear when its cold outside. Does not really cause any harm, they've minimize/eliminated it with ECU updates.
Other than that its just the fit and finish of panels in the earlier es350s which are squeaks and dash rattles.

If it was me id shoot for the 10 because of the upgraded navigation to hard drive with bluetooth and trafficwatch.
Might not be 10 or 11 but its around there.

GrnIdKjun

I have the 2010 model.
It has the bluetooth and hard drive navigation, I wasn't aware of the traffic watch but I was in the city tonight and it was warning me about slow traffic in areas ahead.

Lexi66

Please.extrapolate,on this.. I've fot,the 2011 and never heard of it. How does it work?mm

ThumperPup

quick question i will be takeing my 07 to Utah it will be leaving FL for the first time that i am aware of there is no sighsn of it ever seeing cold winter weather.

This Shift Flare that you speak of
if mine has it is it something that my warranty would cover as long as i have a powertrain warranty ?
if it has to do with updates is anyone aware of this ?

igzy

Water pump replacement seems "normal" for this engine (3.5L). Mine was done at about 50K...

Shift flare most people won't even feel, and if they do it happens mostly right at the first upshift and you won't feel it after that until next cold start...

330 to 350, other than powertrain, there were minor improvements in handling and most other items are the same.

Quality wise: Lexus is Lexus, won't go wrong either way