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Lexus ES 300/ES 330
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Comments
We used to have a TL vs. ES300 discussion around here - it is probably archived. If anyone wants me to do so, I can pull it out.
Or anyone interested can start a new one.
Pat
Host
Sedans and Women's Auto Center Message Boards
if you think the cost is more important I think it's better off for you to get a Camry V6 XLE or an Accord V6 EX.
besides, comfort is a very important thing to Lexus owners which only Lexus vehicles can offer. Luxury AND Comfort together is what makes the ES cost more than the TL. Otherwise, why would Lexus owner want to buy an ES. A lot of ES owners in this forum even complained that the ES look is too boring but they bought it anyways. Why? I hope you don't conclude that Lexus owners are stupid.
BTW, thanks for giving me a TIRE-101 course you posted a while ago to explain how tires and tire pressures work. I think it was a good explanation for someone who has absolutely no knowledge about cars, except for rearlights, like me :-) . And I think that's an example of what this forum is for. Now, I'm not saying this only to you but to everyone participating in this forum.
Love,
Pete
You may then ask your questions and make your points there and anyone who wants to discuss them with you can join you in a more appropriate place for this debate.
Pat
Host
Sedans and Women's Auto Center Message Boards
PeterUbers and turbotc, please review your Terms of Use linked on the left sidebar.
Take this conversation to a new discussion - HOWEVER, the Terms of Use will be in effect there also.
Pat
Host
Sedans and Women's Auto Center Message Boards
Can we change the topic?
The best way to change the topic is to just quit talking about it and move on to something else, okay?
Pat
Host
Sedans and Women's Auto Center Message Boards
Pat
Host
Sedans and Women's Auto Center Message Boards
But I don't think either car would win for prestige. Your ignoring all the cars people with real $$$ get to drive. The E-class is pretty nice, and BMWs 5-series or if you really have some bucks, check out the S-600s or BMW850s, or Bentleys or the Italian exotics. It don't really matter where you are on the socioeconomic scale of things. Unless you are on of those in the 99th percentile of income, you are going to make a compromise of what kind of attributes in a car are important to you. And someone is always going to come along with a more prestigious machine.
For me $30K or so is all I can part with for a car without impacting my plans to abandon the corporate salt-mine before I get old. For that money, the ES price is too discounted from MSRP to ignore, and I like the more refined aspect of the ES over the sportier and (only slightly less expensive) TL. Although, when I heard of someone making a $35K deal for an RL at the end of the 2000 model year, I was questioning my decision to by the ES (already a done deal though). When the new model year ES comes out and the prices go back to MSRP+, it might change the overall equation. The ES with leather will probably fetch $37K the first few months out.
even people who are not lexus enthusiasts want to
join us. I think that says a lot about the
popularity of the ES. The top entry car will be
a target for attacks, challenges, admiration.
and it will only get better. I don't remember
who posted the MARK II suggestion, but that looks
like a very luxurious sedan. I wouldn't be
disappointed if that's the new ES. but they need
to take the powertrain up to another level.
Lenscap I think did mention that Lexus insiders
hinted the new ES would be a complete departure
from the current design. if that's true, then
this MARK II concept with rear/wheel drive,LS-
like appointments may be our long awaited new ES.
However, I wish they hadn't made the tail-lights
Mercedes..ish or at least look like it could be.
but only Lexus knows for sure and they're not
revealing much about the all new 2002 ES, yet.
so we are left to wait eagerly...but at least
we can talk about it and make speculation in
this forum. I thank those who have kept this
forum informative and peaceful by posting
intelligent, mature comments. ...that's another
piece of Lexus ownership guys.
and oh whatever happen to Enigmaone??
take care,
I purchased my 2000 ES in August of 2000. The ES is a fine automobile. But it isn't the end-all car. However, it is a great value at it's current price and has the kind of trade-offs between luxury, price and sportiness that I was looking for.
There are so many fine automobiles out there. It just seems silly to me to think than any one car is perfect. If life had put me in that 99% percentile of income, I'd have a different car for every day of the week, or mood that I was in when I left home that day. But I'm not, and I'd rather retire in a few years than spend all my money on cars.
I live in the Seattle area with many large hills and other than infrequent fading or scratchiness in some really bad reception areas, I haven't had any problems with my 2000 ES300 with Nak. You might also ask the dealer to check to make sure the diversity antenna on the back window is fully and correctly connected and that there are no breaks in the lines.
Good luck on this problem.
Al Finegold
The first time I took the car back to the dealer, the service manager rode in the car with me and acknowledged the noise. We also drove another new ES300 to compare, and while that car also had a very faint racing noise, it was clear the noise was much louder in my car. He recommended I drive the car for a month and he would address the noise during my 1st month checkup.
I drove the car for three more days and decided to take it in again. The second time I took the car back to the dealer, they worked on it for 4 days, and returned it to me last Tuesday. The noise was still there, and they were unable as yet to tell me what they checked or did with the car.
I am going to take the car back to the dealer Monday for the third time, and I am seriously concerned. The Grrrrrr noise seems to be related to the clutch in the transmission. The brake popping noise gets sounds as though the caliper is striking the pad (air bubble in brake line?)
Should I take it to an independent mechanic?
If the problem is transmission related, should I force the dealer to repair it now (even though the car is new)?
Do I have a lemon-law recourse here where I can force them to get me a new car?
Should I trade this car in and pay the difference for another one so I don't have to deal with the problem?
HELP! (Any suggestion is greatly appreciated.)
--John
(Note that the Search feature is not optimal at this point - you will probably need to hit the "continue search" button at the bottom of the page to find them all, but it will be worth it, the discussions ARE here. The Search feature is being revised as we speak and will be more useful very shortly.)
Good luck - sorry to hear of your difficulties.
Pat
Host
Sedans and Women's Auto Center Message Boards
Vern
1 - The warranty manual that came in your leatherette pouch contains, I believe, a state by state description of the Lemon Laws. Check that out for your state to see what it says.
2 - The owner's manual that also came with your car has the 1-800 phone number of the Lexus Customer Service line, which as I recall will help resolve problems or disputes that customers have with their dealers. You may want to call them and register your complaint to go on the record, even if the dealer indicates a willingness to make a good faith effort to fix the problem. You never know how things might turn out, and letting Lexus USA know of your problem early on certainly can't hurt.
Good luck.
Al--
You have a good point, I am jus hoping that the Lexus service department has more scrupples (and more to loose if I find out) than the Quik Lube down the street. I do however often observe the service being performed thru a window in the customer waiting area, and attempt to speak with, the technician working on my ES, hoping the ol adage holds that people are less likely to rip off someone they know. I'm jus gettin to old and lazy to change the oil myself anymore, but as you say...if you want something done right...do it yourself. I also chose the Pure One over the M1 filter for the same reason, I couldn't determine if the M1 filter was that much better?
Vern
The car will be driven by my wife who puts a premium on reliability and trouble free driving.
Everyone here seems so well informed so I am looking for a little guidance.
It is also convenience since I normally do 2 cars at once. I do miss the Lexus wash and vacuum service though. My dealer even has the pickup and drop off service but I on't feel comfortable having other people beat on the car. Have you ever wash your engine yet? I mean degreasing it? Mine has 26k miles now and has grease all over and I would like to pressure wash it. However I am a bit concern since our last Volvo has tons of problems that we had to get rid of it before the warranty expired. Mostly electrical related problems. The dealer fixed it everytime but I am beginning to wonder if it has to do with me washing the engine.
sured,
If you are looking for "trouble free and reliability" then I would probably go with the Corolla. The ES is already 5 years old and warranty is probably up now if not close to it. Unless it is a certified pre-owned. If you wanted the power, luxury and roominess the go for the ES. Otherwise the Corolla will give you reliability and better gas mileage.
I've used power washers ($.25 car washes) to clean my engines for over 30 years and have NEVER encountered any difficulties with Toyotas or any other Japanese vehicles after cleaning them. I avoid directly spraying the distributors and the alternators, but that's about it. Engines today are much better sealed against the elements than in the past. Don't worry.
Years ago a friend of mine worked in the service dept. of a Chevy dealer. Whenever a car came in for oil & filter change, they looked to see if the filter was a GM filter. If it was, they merely wiped it off with a rag so it "looked new" and didn't bother changing it. Let's hope Lexus doesn't employ any of those old Chevy mechanics. LOL!
I thought I was the only one that did not pay much attention while test driving the car, but evidently there are similar cases where people didn't think the car has any problems until they bring it home. I don't know why people (including me) couldn't recognize that there are problems with the car until it's too late to pick another one.
I try to get them replaced at a local shop that
I trust. save some money. I think they use
Castrol synthetic. I agree with you guys that
if you know how, it's best to do it yourself.
who can you trust more than yourself? you also
get to spend some time with your beloved car.
Liev,
I think we all lost a friend. Enigmaone helped
a lot of people here including yours truly.
he worked for Lexus so he knew a lot about it.
The only stereo problem I had was a defective
LCD screen. I mentioned this before. the sound
quality, clarity has always been class leading
however. I'm happy.
The only noise problem I've had is after a zero
degrees or less night when I start the car. it
doesn't sound as smooth as usual. the shifting
from 1st to 2nd is jerky. then everything is
smooth and sweet again when the car warms up.
The Corolla or ES alternative really is a no-
brainer for me. I'd pick the ES over any average
new car anyday. especially with only 40K miles.
but it's your choice. test drive both cars first.
then make a list of pros and cons for each car.
good luck.
take care
Agree with Rick, have never had a problem washing down the engine compartment at one of those self-serve wash stalls (although the ones in S Florida have signs posted that you cannot wash gunk from your engine compartment into their drains?)
I try not to hit the middle of the engine bay and back fire wall where some of the electricals are with full force spray. Also, I try to direct the spray perpendicular to the engine ie I don't spray from the sides, afraid some water might go where it might cause some trouble. Good Luck, I don't think you will have any problems. Jus have that AAA number handy...:-)
Vern
TRD's Solara has a supercharged 3.0 V6 which puts out 240 to 260 horsepower (depending on upgrade stage) compared with the stock 200 horsepower. The 1997-1998 ES/Windom uses essentially the same engine as the Solara. Imagine your ES with a TRD supercharger! Maybe a Lexus ES300 TRD will be Toyota's answer to the (boo, hiss...) Acura TL-S.
I'd like to hear from someone with more info on this, especially '97 - '98 ES owner who has inquired/taken the plunge.
Regards,
ecaf
motor oil: I change my own oil with mobil 1 5w-30 and AC Delco Ultraguard Gold filters ($10 at pep boys).
Yesterday, I took it back once more to Lexus of Nashville, and they very nicely told me they couldn't do anything about it. Thank you *liev* about suggesting I take it to Lexus of Alexandria. I will give them a call tomorrow. I called Lexus Headquarters in CA, and they offered to take the case up on my behalf against the dealer. I am very hesitant to take it to that extreme, since I bought two other Lexus vehicles from the dealer and have a very nice relationship with them.
Does anyone have experience with a whine (*NOT* engine whine) whenever they step on the accelerator? It almost sounds like there's a small hole in the exhaust pipe or catalytic converter.
hhjr
One of the nicest things about the review is the good words it has for the car's looks and styling, which has been the subject of some debate here lately. Among other comments, the reviewer says "In my opinion, this is one of the nicest looking sedans on the road with clean, flowing lines and excellent proportions when viewed from any angle."
Take a look at the article--I think that most board participants will enjoy it.
Al--
Alfinegold,
Thanks, that was very good information. I'm going to tell my brother to get the MDX. He wants an SUV with third row seats. This would be a perfect one for him, especially with that kinda price.