SW03ES

Hey all

I've just found out that I may just be able to lease a GS00, fully loaded with nav/levinson package for just a little more than the nav/lev ES300. I'm going to confirm this, and if its true I will go drive both cars again before I make my final decision. I do have one question for owners of 2001+ GSs. The nav package states the GS has a "trip computer" in the navigation display, what is this? Does this compute range, average speed etc? This is a feature I would really miss from my Explorer.

Thanks guys

GS430 GUY

Correct, the NAV will show you your range, distance since last fill-up, average speed and MPG. I'd go with the GS personally, more room and I like the looks of the car better. But hey, I am partial since I drive a GS Best of luck on your final decision.

SW03ES

I did some research on the site and found the info about the nav system. My only concern is the ride, I'm a ride biased guy. When I drove the GS back a couple months ago I think I remember it being pretty close, but I really don't remember. I'll have to go drive it again.

Sam Khoury

The things you need to consider are this. The ES300 is a front wheel drive car and the GS300 is rear wheel drive. From a performance perspective, rear wheel drive is the way to go. That's why most of the German cars like BMW and Mercedes are RWD. The ES300 was just redesigned last year and the GS300 body style is 5 years but still looks better in my opinion. Dealers are willing to give more of a discount on the GS300 than the ES300 because the body style is older which is probably why the lease cost is almost the same.

If you look at these articles on the sales figures from the past few months you can see 2 things. First a dramatic increase in ES300 between 2001 and 2002 due to the introduction of the new body style and second, how many more ES300s are sold versus the GS300. If you want to have something a bit more exclusive, get the GS300.

August 2002 Sales Figures
Seprember 2002 Sales Figures

SW03ES

Thanks for the opinion Sam, and everyone please share your opinions with me, I can use all the guidance I can get thanks.

As for the dealings on price, thats really not an issue, I'm using a buying/leasing service for the car and they negotiate the price at dealers nationwide then ship me the car from wherever they can get it cheapest, they can get me a better deal on a GS though. What I'm looking at is $485 a month for the ES and about $550 for the GS. Before it was $530 for the ES and $650 for the GS, and it was pretty cut and dried. This latest quote though makes my decision harder. The GS has better resale also, which kicks in to lower the payment. The company I'm using has a totally assumable lease through Wells Fargo so they lease the cars for 60 months to make the payment low, then you can return the car to them at any point from 6 months-60 months and they'll lease it to someone else and lease you a new car. The ES has great resale when looked at as a 36 month lease, but the resale seriously dies at 60 months, where the GS holds onto it more, making the payments competitive.

I prefer RWD as a platform to FWD, and my concern about the GS is the ride. Those of you that have gone from ES to GS, or GS to LS or LS to GS could you offer your opinions here?

Thanks

Iceman

What kind of ride are you looking for? The ES is known for its silky-smooth, whisper-silent operation. It is not a sports sedan by any measure, but a pure entry-luxury cruiser.

The GS is designed to balance luxury and sport. It has been criticized in the automotive press for leaning too heavily still toward luxury, providing a cushier ride than it's BMW and Benz competitors. It certainly provides better road feel and handling than an ES, but is still not a sports car.

So again, what are you looking for?

GlobeCLK

iTrader: (5)

2nd that. You haven't really told us what type of RIDE you're looking for.

Recently I was at the California autoshow and sat in the new ES. It is amazing. However the GS is still a great looking car even tho it is 5~6 years old. I personally would go with the GS because it is simply in the next class up, and if you can pay a small difference that would be the way to go in terms of performance and class (but the ES is certainly up there in terms of luxury and quality also!)

SW03ES

I really want that silky smooth whisper quiet operation. I want whatever is closest to the LS is feel and drive. In fact, I may even be able to swing a 2000 LS with 23,000 miles, if this guy can make the lease payment work for me, but so far he stays $100 off. I'm going to stop by (maybe today) and drive all three, the ES, the GS and the 2000 LS and see what fits me better.

Iceman

That will give you a much better idea than anything we can tell you here! Good luck!

SW03ES

Unfortunately I wasn't able to go drive the cars today, 270N is closed because they found a white box truck and Lexus of Rockville is the closest dealership to test drive. May have to wait until next week. This is the end of the month for me, which means I'm swamped with invoices and billing. Good thing because I get paid, bad thing because I'm swamped.

I'll be sure to let everyone know. I dont think the 2000 LS is gonna work out, he can lease it for $570 but it'd be $2700 out of pocket, just aint worth it. So now its between the 03 ES and 03 GS.

Iceman

Judging by your signature, I'd say your mind's already made up!

SW03ES

Well I made the sig before I got the new lease quote on the GS lol