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ES 350 Reviews News (Road Tests, Reviews from C&D, R&T, CR, IL, etc.)
bobbyshred
Member Posts: 44
This is another great review for the new ES.
http://driving.auto123.com/research/viewroadtest.spy?artid=60522
Note that it says that the car is smooth riding, when you want to drive that way and it is quick and agile when pushed.
That's not describing a boaty boaty ride.
"The ride characteristics follow this lead. The suspension (MacPherson struts all round with anti-roll bars at both ends) is, on one hand, comfortably compliant, yet it manages to hold its own in a faster corner.
The amount of body roll is well controlled and, when the driver does manage to put a wheel wrong, the traction and vehicle stability control systems are ready to step in to save the day.
More impressive is the manner in which it all comes together. The previous car tended to feel almost -- dare I say -- sloppy when pushed.
The new vehicle is sharper to the feel and much more driver-oriented. Considering its station in life, the ES 350 is a remarkably entertaining piece to drive, be that quickly or not."
"Once a solid but oh so stolid set of wheels, the latest ES breaks the mould by delivering a car that is sassy enough to attract the younger crowd Lexus is seeking without alienating the company's traditional buyers.
What really impresses, however, is just how well everything has been integrated into the finished item -- it is good enough that Lexus lifts the entry-level luxury-car bar by a substantial measure."
http://driving.auto123.com/research/viewroadtest.spy?artid=60522
Note that it says that the car is smooth riding, when you want to drive that way and it is quick and agile when pushed.
That's not describing a boaty boaty ride.
"The ride characteristics follow this lead. The suspension (MacPherson struts all round with anti-roll bars at both ends) is, on one hand, comfortably compliant, yet it manages to hold its own in a faster corner.
The amount of body roll is well controlled and, when the driver does manage to put a wheel wrong, the traction and vehicle stability control systems are ready to step in to save the day.
More impressive is the manner in which it all comes together. The previous car tended to feel almost -- dare I say -- sloppy when pushed.
The new vehicle is sharper to the feel and much more driver-oriented. Considering its station in life, the ES 350 is a remarkably entertaining piece to drive, be that quickly or not."
"Once a solid but oh so stolid set of wheels, the latest ES breaks the mould by delivering a car that is sassy enough to attract the younger crowd Lexus is seeking without alienating the company's traditional buyers.
What really impresses, however, is just how well everything has been integrated into the finished item -- it is good enough that Lexus lifts the entry-level luxury-car bar by a substantial measure."
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This discussion has been closed.
Comments
7.2 seconds to 60??! Is the car really that slow?
As far as the cassette player being retained, that is most definitely a positive feature. No doubt about it.
As for the disgusting [non-permissible content removed] tray, that is clearly an anachronism and should have been done away with. Shame on Lexus for promoting nicotine addiction.
SLOW!!!!!
How can you make such a comment?
Slow compared to what?
Look at these times listed in Consumer Reports;
Ford Mustang 0-60 mph, sec. 7.5
Nissan Altima 0-60 mph, sec. 8.9
Nissan Maxima 0-60 mph, sec. 6.8
Acura RL 0-60 mph, sec. 6.9
Infiniti M35/M45 0-60 mph, sec. 7.0
Audi A4 0-60 mph, sec. 8.3
BMW 3 Series 0-60 mph, sec. 7.4
So how is 7.2 seconds to 60 SLOW?!!!
What car is faster of this weight, price range etc?
I don't want to hear such and such a car is 2 or 3 tenths of second faster.
It's a moot point. it has no relation in real world driving.
Where do you have to be so quickly?
So you have to go 0-60 10 times on the way to work, and you get there 2 seconds later?!!!!
Wake up 5 minutes earlier in the morning!!!
Do you floor it at every light to get it to 60? Most people are a bit more gradual.
The ES is NOT slow.
If you want a faster car buy a Lexus IS or a sports car, but I bet that won't be as safe, or it will burn a lot more gas.
I'm just tired of hearing these unfair negative comments about this car.
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Lexus is promoting smoking?!!! OH MY!
So you buy a Lexus ES and notice the ashtray. So you're going to look at it and say:
"Hey, I think I'll take up smoking because there is an ashtray there!!!"
Such a moron needs to be goggled up by Natural Selection.
Sheeeeeesh!!!!
I'm not knocking the ES. My wife has a '99 ES 300 & loves it. It's smooth, stylish & troublefree. Those are the qualities that she looks for in her car, & that's why she'll probably buy the new ES 350. It wouldn't be my choice - I like RWD & 3 pedals on the floor - but then it's not my turn for a new car.
The TL- 6.5 seconds :P
"I'm just tired of hearing these unfair negative comments about this car."
Dude, enhance your calm. This is a discussion. People are going to differ in their opinions over the new ES, which by the way IMO is vastly improved over the previous model.
God forbid- somebody having a different opinion than the one you hold :surprise:
If you want a faster car buy a Lexus IS or a sports car, but I bet that won't be as safe, or it will burn a lot more gas.
Yes, the ES 350 at 7.2 seconds to 60 mph IS slow.
Car and Driver timed the new Lincoln Zephyr which has 221 HP and a measly 205 ft.-lb. of torque at 7.3 sec. to 60. The new Buick Lucerne CXS' 0-60 time is 6.9 sec. By those metrics the Lexus is most certainly tortoise-like, especially in comparison to the Lincoln. Why is the car's powertrain so inefficient that it can't harness the stated HP and torque into a less leisurely time than 7.2 seconds to 60??!
Moreover, any car in this price range and segment had better be faster to 60 than 7.0 sec. Additionally, one does not have to drive the car like a fiend to appreciate the potential power, it's just nice to know it's there considering the cost and cachet of the marque.
As for the IS, it is an overpriced car for midgets.
And by including a [non-permissible content removed] tray in the car, Lexus most certainly is making a statement that it at least tacitly approves of nicotine addiction. Now that is disgusting.
God forbid- somebody having a different opinion than the one you hold
Well said, ggesq. Ol' Shred seems to have a thin skin when it comes to defending the car's deficits. And I agree, the ES is much improved over the previous version even though the acceleration doesn't pass muster in my book.
the ES is likely faster than any similar car that was put on the market 5 years ago, but now that is "slow"???
so what if it is not "as fast" as its competitors - that does not make it "slow"
if the car is too slow for you, then don't buy one.
as to the ASH tray - many of us use it for other purposes, and many people smoke other than cigarettes - I guess you'd rather they flick ashes out the window. THAT, my friends, is disgusting. Lexus is making a statement that it does not approve of people throwing lit matches or burning cigarettes out of your car. Thank you, Lexus, for saving us from cigarette smoker's most disgusting and more prevalent habit, usually caused by smokers who DON'T HAVE ASH TRAYS!
A 6.8 time to 60 is not slow at all. In fact I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see one of the major car mags find out it's even faster.
I agree. 6.8 is fine, 7.2 is not.
One slight problem with your logic: it's now 2006, not 2001.
as to the ASH tray - many of us use it for other purposes, and many people smoke other than cigarettes - I guess you'd rather they flick ashes out the window.
If they smoke anything, that is disgusting. They should not have any ashes to "flick" anywhere. If the space is to be used for other than the facilitation of nicotine (or other substance as per your comment) addiction, then it should be so designed by Lexus designers rather than attempting to curry favor with those who would pollute the environment while attempting to damage their own health as well as the health of others. If other car manufacturers, who are obviously more socially conscious, can design [non-permissible content removed] trays out of their cars, why can't Lexus? Any attempt to intellectually condone or salute this behavior implies complicity with it.
SHEESH! We're talking 4/10 of one second! FOUR TENTHS OF ONE SECOND!
Generaly complimentary review.
Big surprise (but one certainly in keeping with my subjective sense) is that 0-60 comes in 6.2(!!!), not the official 6.8 Lexus has been putting out there.
Quarter mile is 14.7 @ 97mph.
Pretty damn good numbers!
http://www.modernracer.com/features/dodgevipervsf163.html
Now that's fast!
My impression is that the transmission problems seemed to be largely in early production of both the Camry and ES350. But it sounds like Toyota is paying the price for putting out a new design before it was perfected.