Used HS 250h a good buy now over ES 300h?
09-21-16, 01:32 PM
#2
Moderator
Yes it is a better deal. Similar engine but very different driving experience.
09-21-16, 05:02 PM
#3
I'm currently driving an ES300h loaner while the dealer rids my HS of a mouse infestation 
So I'm getting a good week with it, and yes it is a very different car - not something typically cross-shopped. The ES is bigger inside and out, there's not as much support in the seats for spirited driving, and very little feedback in the wheel. Very numb, but ES buyers probably want that - something to get from point A to B with as little fuss as possible. But, the powertrain is nicer - quieter, more power and better fuel economy than the HS. To me, the perfect car would be the HS with the 300h powertrain!
So I'm getting a good week with it, and yes it is a very different car - not something typically cross-shopped. The ES is bigger inside and out, there's not as much support in the seats for spirited driving, and very little feedback in the wheel. Very numb, but ES buyers probably want that - something to get from point A to B with as little fuss as possible. But, the powertrain is nicer - quieter, more power and better fuel economy than the HS. To me, the perfect car would be the HS with the 300h powertrain!
09-21-16, 05:15 PM
#4
The pursuit of F
A colleague has a '13 ES 300h with 60k miles now, no issues at all and loves it. He came from European cars like BMW and Volvo and will not look back after his first Lexus. I have been in it a few times and it is a little more quiet and comfortable, traits I do appreciate in a car to drive daily to work. I did consider one when switching my thirsty IS but ended up with an HS thanks to its sportier looks, perfect-sized (to me) dimensions and most importantly, the far cheaper price tag. Ideal car for me would have been an IS 300h but it's unfortunately not available in N. America.
09-23-16, 05:05 PM
#5
OK, just finished spending a week in the ES300h, and back into my HS. Some more thoughts to compare them:
- I think the HS fits in between the IS250 and ES300h in terms of size and sportiness, though I personally think it tends to feel more like the IS than the ES except maybe on a racetrack when FWD / RWD differences become apparent.
- I averaged 39.6 mpg indicated in the ES300, doing the same 45 mile round trip daily commute that nets me around 38 in the HS. So a little more fuel efficient, but probably not enough to be a decision factor.
- The ES300 definitely has more punch than the HS. I'm guessing they dialed in more aggressive motor assist at part throttle. And the engine is quieter and more refined - doesn't whine as much when pushing it.
- I found the ES to be too big inside (and outside) for me (I'm 5'7, 160). Seats don't have as much lateral support. But as an aside, I thought the CT200 was too small / confining too. HS for me is "just right" (same with BMW 3 series).
- I really didn't like the wood steering wheel. It more or less requires you to hold it at the 10 and 2 oclock positions, which I never do. Maybe I'm the only one? And that's the only place it's heated too. I much prefer fully-wrapped leather wheels.
- The ES interior is a bit more upscale with more wood, but not as stylish as the HS (subjective comment of course).
- The ES comes with 17" wheels, which is partly the reason why it feels so numb compared to my HS premium.
- I never quite got the stereo system set up to my liking, but it seemed to be better than the HS.
- The ES definitely sits lower. I had to reach up to get my mail out of the mailbox, which I don't need to do in my HS. Though I didn't notice a difference on ingress/egress.
Overall, nice car, but I'm glad to be back in my HS. I recall reading a long time ago that Lexus targeted Buick's as the benchmark for the ES model, and that feels about right.
- I think the HS fits in between the IS250 and ES300h in terms of size and sportiness, though I personally think it tends to feel more like the IS than the ES except maybe on a racetrack when FWD / RWD differences become apparent.
- I averaged 39.6 mpg indicated in the ES300, doing the same 45 mile round trip daily commute that nets me around 38 in the HS. So a little more fuel efficient, but probably not enough to be a decision factor.
- The ES300 definitely has more punch than the HS. I'm guessing they dialed in more aggressive motor assist at part throttle. And the engine is quieter and more refined - doesn't whine as much when pushing it.
- I found the ES to be too big inside (and outside) for me (I'm 5'7, 160). Seats don't have as much lateral support. But as an aside, I thought the CT200 was too small / confining too. HS for me is "just right" (same with BMW 3 series).
- I really didn't like the wood steering wheel. It more or less requires you to hold it at the 10 and 2 oclock positions, which I never do. Maybe I'm the only one? And that's the only place it's heated too. I much prefer fully-wrapped leather wheels.
- The ES interior is a bit more upscale with more wood, but not as stylish as the HS (subjective comment of course).
- The ES comes with 17" wheels, which is partly the reason why it feels so numb compared to my HS premium.
- I never quite got the stereo system set up to my liking, but it seemed to be better than the HS.
- The ES definitely sits lower. I had to reach up to get my mail out of the mailbox, which I don't need to do in my HS. Though I didn't notice a difference on ingress/egress.
Overall, nice car, but I'm glad to be back in my HS. I recall reading a long time ago that Lexus targeted Buick's as the benchmark for the ES model, and that feels about right.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
felixcat
IS - 2nd Gen (2006-2013)
34
09-13-08 08:13 AM