Lexus ES 300/ES 330

dardson1

I rarely drive my wife's 01 ES300. I always forget what a fantastic car Lexus makes. It's approaching 3 years and the darn thing still drives like the day we got it......smooth, quiet, quick, and rattle free. The bad thing about driving one on a daily basis is you get to assuming the way a Lexus drives is normal. I drive a Tahoe and appreciate it for very different reasons, but it's no Lexus. If I had 50k to spend I'd buy a Lexus SUV.

simmomi

About a week ago,I was out running errands with my wife while in the North Atlanta suburbs. In about a 2 hour period of time, I know I saw a minimum of 10 2002+ ES300s/330s. Seemed everytime I turned around, there was another one. I told my wife that someone was trying to tell me something!!!

Then, I'm driving home from Chattanooga yesterday, and what do I see going North on interstate 75, but a car hauler FULL of brand new ES330s!!!! I was sick!!

I WANT MY ES330!!! I GUESS I NEED TO GROVEL TO MY WIFE SOME MORE!!

cdnlexusman

Hey Simmomi, I know what you mean. I find myself pulled to the ES330 like a magnet. I have literally looked at every possible site, chat room, picture, and of course the real thing again & again. I'm sure the dealership folks have me classified as unstable by now. I've only visited to ask questions about 10 times in the last couple of months. The good news for them is that I do plan to purchase a new ES330 with ML, Navigation system and the chrome wheel package right after Christmas. I have chosen the mystic green mica (Canadian color name). I'm looking at approx. $64,000 Cdn. on the road but I know it will be worth it. It seems you're committed to this car as well. Any plans to take the big step?

rparis

I also do not really like the rain sensing wipers. I agree with previous posts, very erratic.
I prefer intermittent wipers with 7-8 various settings for frequency.

simmomi

And everyone else...
Definately planning to take the plunge. My wife's SUV will be paid off this June. I've already told her that I will be buying my ES330 as soon as she mails that check for her last payment (if not before!!).

I was given an ES330 to take out for a few hours last week, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Drove back roads, quick starts/stops, interstate, etc. LOVED IT!

I'll be buying a black garnet pearl with ivory interior, premium pkg, HID, heated seats. I don't care about the NAV, and don't want to spend the extra $$ for the ML. I'd like to have the VSC, but I'd have to special order - not really interested in that.

Sounds like we're doing the same thing. I think I've ready everything available on the Net about the ES300/330.

If I could convince my wife to allow me to get one during the December sales event, I would jump on it in a heart beat. We'll see...

Good luck with your future purchase! Keep us updated.

jurytrial

I was hoping to buy a 330 in the near future and was hoping to upgrade the so called premium stereo. I'd rather buy something aftermarket rather than shell out 3 to 4 grand for the ML/Nav package. I've been told, though, that the head unit for Lexus radios is an off size and that no adapters for it are made so that an aftermarket radio fits neatly. Has anyone made any upgrades to the premium stereo in any way and if so how did it work out. Thanks a lot

s852

You may not have to replace the stereo head unit to improve the sound. Usually, you can add an amp/amps, replace the stock speakers and maybe add a subwoofer while still keeping the stock radio in the dash and keeping the stock appearance.
You shouldn't have to do that in a $30K+ car. The stock radio is a joke. Lexus should at least upgrade it to the quality it was in the last generation ES300 if not make the ML standard or much less expensive via a "Value Package" in 2005 or 2006.

lehighlexus

And it's not just the system. The Nav takes up at least half of that. Check out the nav system, it's a really good feature. I know my way around the area, but this gives you every little detail. I would say check it out with this package.

rparis

My wife comments that when she uses the heated seats in our 03 vehicle she smells "like something burning."

Has anyone else noticed this?

dardson1

Last year during a service repair I drove an '02 as a loaner and thought the single disk stereo was inferior to the one in my '01. Had brake pads put on my car today and got a brand new '03 ES330 to drive. The car I drove had a multi-changer upgrade. Is this a different unit than the single disk? I have to change my earlier criticism. Eight-six watts or whatever it sounded pretty darn good to me.
    I'm a fairly serious stereo guy and found the sound very good. It won't bounce quarters roof but I remember the dull and flat radio (no CD, nevermind a changer) in my '91 Mercedes 300 (a $50k vehicle). Maybe my hearing is going as I move into my mid 50's.
     BTW, I couldn't get the transmission to do anything but perform well. Worst criticism I have is it was a little "slowist" to down-shift. Most interesting thing........the window sticker was on the new loaner with almost exactly the same equipment on my '01 is $1800 less. It's a beautiful world....lol.

theflow

Can ES330 owners tell me whether the power windows button in the ES330 are illuminated or not? The one-touch up & down is for driver window only or for all four windows? Also, is the mirror control button and the power door lock buttons illuminated?

Thanks.

vpboy

does anyone know if there there is a way to get the skid control without getting other options? the car i'm looking at has the premium package, but i'd like to get the vsc, without other costly add-ons. help!

simmomi

My dealer in Roswell, GA has told me that in order to get VSC, I'd have to special order the car. She said that none of their cars are coming with VSC.

Don't know if this is because it's not needed as much here as in other parts of the country, but I would really like to have it, just for the extra safety.

FYI...when you get the VSC option, that automatically includes Traction Control and Brake Assist. I would think that if you HAD to special order your car, you could get it with whatever options you want.

Just my .02, for what it's worth.

Mike...

dardson1

about the new (since '02) ES. Have an '01 I've loved. Drove an early '02 ES300 while in for service. Disappointed, kinda thinking Lexus had taken a step back instead of forward. While I found it distinctly more luxo/large/and quiet, also thought it wasn't as quick, not a well balanced, a little unsure what gear it wanted to be in, and heavy-ish feeling. Last week drove a new ES330 (again, when in for service.) Had it all afternoon and gave it a pretty thorough test. Drove great, no transmission issue other than the short hesitation to downshift, quiet as a tomb, and plenty quick. My '01 is so darn good I can't quite decide why I should trade, but I could live with the new one. Still not that taken with the mono-chrome paint treatment as it makes the profile look "fat". I don't care what anyone says, the old two-tone paint made the cars look "trim" and eager. It may just be paint, but all the new cars look a little too well-fed.

vpboy

thanks simmoni. apparently the only way to get vsc (without a special order) is to get the car with EVERY possible option (inlcuding navagation, and mark levinson sound). too bad, because i'd prefer the safety of the skid control (and traction control/brake assist), but don't feel like you should purchase $2500 in other costly options just to get the extra safety.

kiiwii

Same situation here in TX. The sales lady told me that you have to either special order the car or get all the optional equipments. If you sepcial order the car, you won't get any discount.

alpha01

According to CarsDirect.com, there are no discounts in my area on the 04 ES330 anyway, for what its worth.

Also, Consumer Reports will be testing the ES330 for either the February or March issue.

~alpha

ls8

as i just posted on the price paid discussion board, JM Lexus is quoting as much as $3000 less than MSRP on ES330's

jim040558

I special ordered an ES 330 with the VSC and ALL other available options. I got almost $4,000 off the MSRP. This included chrome wheels and the gold package as well.

I'm in Kansas City, and the only dealer is Superior Lexus. I got my initial quote over the internet, and finished up negotiations by telephone. Very painless.

The only down side to a special order is the wait. I won't get mine until early February.

es330rules

OFFERED A GREAT DEAL ON THE SILVER COLOR FOR THE ES330. ANYONE OWN SILVER? IS IT A NICE COLOR? I'M GOING IN TO LOOK AT IT THIS WEEKEND.

r1_97

I think it is. What do you think? Would it make any difference to you if I thought silver was not a nice color?

cdnlexusman

Let's talk about colors! Lexus presents the ES with fairly limited color choices in comparison with some of it's competitors, so choosing the right color is an integral part of the decisioning process. I've been wrestling with it myself as I get closer to order date. Dark colors are attractive, and show off those brilliant chrome wheels but the lighter colors will likely endure longer and help retain the car's value at trade-in time. (I've learned that from personal experience.) That may be of interest to "ES330 Rules" in considering silver. I'm leaning towards that very different mystic green mica or mystic sea opalescent, as it is called in the U.S. Anybody own one that color? Thoughts/recommendations?

jim040558

I wrestled with color choice too. I liked the darker colors, but went with Mystic gold. Apparently, the best trade-in colors (from what I've been told) are true black, white, silver and the mystic gold, not necessarily in that order.

atoews

lehighlexus - lexusrock has stained the cushy vinyl part of his dash.

The same thing happened to me. I rubbed my dash so hard that I think I wore the vinyl part down. I took my car to the dealer for a regular maintenance and reported the problem. The service dept returned my car to me and the dash was repaired.

I am going to ask my dealer what they did to fix my dash, but in the meantime, maybe you can provide lexusrock with some insight as to how he can get his dash fixed.

atoews

lexusrock, I heve not forgotten you. It is just inconvenient to do so during the week because my dealer is 150 miles away and it would be a long distance call from my work phone.

I have a day off on Friday, so I plan to call the dealer then. I'll post on Friday informing you of the status.

cubss

I can get this Lexus for $5,000 (dealer's trade in amount). It has 120k miles has been taken care of i.e. 60k service, oil changed regularly by dealer, new brakes. I need a reliable car. Can I trust this one with this mileage? Can anyone tell me if a 1996 coach ES 300 is roomier inside than just the 1996 ES 300?

tmart

and the regular one is the leather on the seats, some minor trim and badging, wheels, and the bag. Interior dimensions would be the same.

lexusrock

Your dealer is 150 miles away and you always have your ES serviced there? Again. thanks for asking your dealer about the stain/redye.

atoews

I live in Ridgecrest, Ca and there is no Lexus dealer here. The nearest one is 100 miles away in Bakersfield.

I purchased my vehicle from Lexus of Cerritos (California), 150 miles away, and had my first couple of services there. Lexus of Cerritos is the dealer who fixed my dash.

When you live in a place like I do, you get used to driving distances for things. We recently celebrated getting a Home Depot here. Of course, it is a mini version, but nonetheless, we inhabitants feel it boosts our town up a notch. :-)

summer4me

I think there are actually 3 silver colors. The more traditonal ones (if you will) are the Millennium Silver and the Starlight Pearl (I think is silver). I am leaning towards the Alabaster (a more white silver)and as much as I like the Alabaster, I'm concerned in terms of resale that it may be a problem down the road. I have a BMW 528i and it's called Aspen Silver but almost appears to be grey. Lexus knocked money off of the trade in value because of this color. I was surprised and am trying to sell my car on my own now. Anyway, you might want to ask about all the silver colors.

dacstl

While color is definitely a matter of personal preference, it's the first thing you're going to see every time you look at your vehicle. My major difficulty during the buying process was finding an ES330 in each of the colors that I was considering. The paint samples that they carry in the dealership showroom just don't give you enough on which to base a decision. My final choice was Alabaster, and I would make the same selection again. It is a subtle silver gray without the harsh metallic characteristics of the Millennium Silver. Strangers have stopped me to comment about my beautiful car.

lenscap

To answer your questions:

1. Yes, all power window switches at all doors are illuminated (unless the driver locks out the other windows, in which case only the driver's window button is illuminated).

2. The one-touch up/down window feature is on all four windows.

3. The mirror control and power door lock buttons are also illuminated.

dardson1

.......go to your Lexus dealership and look at the cover of their slick ES330 brochure......that's the color Lexus thinks best presents the car. It's usually the same color they use in their magazine print ads. Go to the Lexus internet site. Almost all the photos are of silver cars.

kennyg5

IMHO, what the masses consider to be a favorite color is a fad. For the past couple of years, Silver is in. If you look back further (6 or 7 years), green was in because people associated green with a clean environment. Black, however, has been quite perennial, particularly if you have the time and fortitude in keeping the car immaculately clean.

riskyb

After pondering silver versus white for days and then actually seeing the two colors back to back in the lot, I went with the Crystal white. Its almost a metallic ivory sort of white and is not the boring flat white you see on most cars.

White certainly shows off and accents (rather than blends/hides) the chrome features more than the silver does dramatically, I noticed this right away. You should see it with my new chrome wheels...wow. I have had the car for only 4 days and three strangers complimented at different times in parking lots. Man am I special or what? (laugh)

To the person who mentioned the Mystic Green: I've seen it in my company's parking lot in both a dirty and clean state. Personally I dont think its as nice as the other colors. I cant explain it but somehow it doesnt make the car seem quite as "expensive" if you know what I mean. Thats not snobbish, I just mean it just doesnt seem to fit the car as nice in my opinion. Its a bit too subdued and faded a type of green I guess. You have to see it on the lot and go with your own thoughts of course.

I have also seen the alabaster in both a clean and dirty state. Definetly nicer than the green IMHO, and hides the dirt a bit better than green (but believe it or not I think of all colors, crystal white hides dirt best, especially in daylight because of the bright highlight and reflection value) Alabaster looks great in the daylight, but it looks REALLY super at night under artificial street lighting.

Gold was an intersting color. Sure gave the car a different appearance but I only saw it in a clean state. I saw it at night. Mercury Vapor streetlights really make it look like metallic orange. I'm still trying to figure out what I thought of it!

Finally, if you can afford chrome wheels, I highly recommend them. They add major visual strength and value to ANY of these colors, especially because they bridge together all the other chrome highlights on the ES 330 design in general... (headlights, window rims, door handles, etc.) Just my two cents. Good luck!

lenscap

The perception of chromed wheels varies greatly by geographic region. In California they are, indeed, very popular. But in the Midwest they are not, and you can hardly find a car with them. I would disagree that they add value, at least not where I live. Most people here think chrome wheels cheapen a car and make it looked "pimped up." Note Mercedes and BMW do not even offer chrome wheels.

Chrome wheels are very much a personal preference. If you have them and enjoy them that's great, but they are not for everyone. It's a regional thing.

alpha01

I completely disagree with the chrome wheel recommendation. I'm young enough that I notice (and become ill when I see) slammed Civics, Lancers, Corollas, Eclipses... with either actual chrome or mock chrome wheels. Watch any show on MTV, and you'll see all the hi-pro R&B, Hip-hop, Rap, and Pop stars with their pimped out SUVs and chrome wheels. IMO, if you want to make a classy car (the ES) look ghetto fabulous, by all means, opt for the overpriced chrome. If you want your car to look like the brilliant piece of engineering that it is, stay away.

~alpha

lenscap

I couldn't have said it better myself.

simmomi

Amen. :-)

atoews

Of course, the serviceman who performed a maintenance is no longer with the company. However, the current service reps said that the dash was probably fixed either with leather cleaner.

That is difficult to believe, since I tried several types of leather cleaner and made the problem worse and worse.

The rep that spoke with me said that when a car on the sales lot gets a scuff mark or stain, they send the car out to a company called "Best Impressions" to fix.

Left a message with Best Impressions (in LA) to call me regarding having a dash stain removed.

I guess a lesson learned is to have the dealer record everything they do to your car, so you have a record of it. I have had them do several things to my car, where they did not write it down.

I'll let you know if the company calls me back, but I don't have high hopes. Sorry.

cb1943

I totally agree that the chrome wheels add even more class and good looks to our Lexus. We purchased the Crystal white 330 also and it looks GREAT decked out in it's pretty shiny wheels. It may be a regional thing because with many states and their harsh winters they must remove their chrome wheels and only use them during summer. Love chrome wheels and love mild California weather !

theflow

Thanks for the response. I wonder if I can buy those parts (illuminated window buttons, one-touch up/down windows, illuminated mirror control buttons and illuminated power door lock buttons) and install them in my 04 Solara. I think they are the same....at least they look the same to me.....

riskyb

I definetly agree with you that many vehicles looked "pimped out" with chrome on alot of teenage/early 20 cars (thanks to Mom and Dads money usually!) but I think you are missing something and havnt really looked too closely at the standard chrome wheels on the ES330. There is quite a difference.

The chrome wheels offered for the LEXUS ES 330 are the exact same style and design as your standard allow wheels only with chrome plating process. They are rather conservative in appearance and not the juvenile "pimped out" or "ghetto type" with wierd designs and rivets and funny shapes etc etc ... Rather conservative yet elegant if I may say so myself. (like me! LOL ). I like to think I have a designer's eye (since I am a successful designer) and I personally really appreciate how they bridge all the other chrome highlights of the car together. A fine finishing touch if you will, especially on the crystal white color. The compliments I received were from the over 30-40 folks, certainly not MTV teeny boppers, though Id welcome those as well.

You might want to spraypaint your chrome Lexus exhaust pipe matte gray or black. Otherwise, someone might see you on the road and think you are out pimpin or cruising your hood!

lexusrock

You've gone some extra miles for me. Thanks.

I think you'd consider lucky that it's the ex-service rep. who helped you out fixing that stain. This current one may not have done it free for you. Where I live I got a few lexus services nearby and if I am as lucky as you were I might get one that's willing to do the same thing. No I don't think it's just leather cleaner. It'd have just made it worse. Must be a redye job.

alpha01

I respect your opinion and your designer's eye, and I am aware that the chrome option offered by Lexus is simply a chrome plated finish on the design of the standard alloy. My opinion still stands, and as seen in the posts above, several agree with me. Personally, I do not see how the chrome option can justify its cost. I remember recently seeing an ES300 that simply made me want to cry- it was the deep burgundy color (not sure what the official name is) with chrome wheels and gold trim. OUCH. (I cant see that being good for resale either).

For those who like chrome wheels, enjoy. For those considering the option, I'd suggest a very close look. If you do decide to purchase the chrome, please excuse the my visible discontent when you drive by.

~alpha

pat

Hi folks - I'm thinking of moving the whole ES 330 discussion to this one and renaming it "Lexus ES 300/ES 330."

Anybody have a problem with that?

kreativ

I've seen an '02+ ES with chrome wheels that I liked, and another with chrome wheels that I didn't care for. Just make sure it goes well with your choice of car and emblem colors, and if you can, see the car with the chrome wheels before purchasing. Personally, I don't think this wheel style goes all that well with chrome. But it's your own preference that counts.

s852

You have to think about what will happen when you resell the car. Will any of the extra cost of the chrome rims be recouped or will it actually REDUCE the resale value if it is deemed tacky, gaudy, chipped, pitted or just dated-looking when you want to resell?

riskyb

Just exactly why did Lexus (and Toyota) get rid of all the two-tone paint designs a couple years ago? My last car was a 99 Avalon with a light tan body and a dark brown lower body. It looked GRRREAT. So did the white color with the light gray lower half, and a few other color schemes I can think of. They used to make ES's, Camry's, LS's etc with this but around two/three years ago, they just banished the two-tone autos across the board, all in the same model year.

I thought many of these cars looked exceptional this way. Was this just an expense they were trying to lower on the cost of manufacturing? I sure wish I had a choice for this paint style on my recent purchase. Strange that they just became extinct.

And I bet two tone would look UNBELIEVABLE with my new CHROME TIRES too!!! (laugh)

kreativ

Because styling trends change, and two-tone currently isn't in style. Might make a comeback in the future...many styling trends tend to be cyclical.