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Lexus ES 350
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Comments
The front end is still a little soft, even the current one may be slightly edgier after it's 2004 facelift, but given the demographic, it's acceptable.
The real problem was the low beltline and massive greenhouse. The new one flows much better, and looks more stately.
DrFill
It's all about form over function.
Last Spring, I looked at the GS 300 w/ Nav, Mark Levinson, etc. but I couldn't quite justify paying $50K+ for a car and they were selling for MSRP w/ no deals to be had. I learned that the ES was being updated for the Spring and my plan was to buy a new ES the first month or two that they come out.
Here is my dilemma. According to the posts on the GS forum, you can now buy a GS 300 for approximately $5K less than MSRP and this would be within my budget. In the past, there has been approximately a $7K price difference between a comparably equipped ES 330 and GS 300. I'll probably pay MSRP for the 2007 ES if I buy one in the Spring because it is a new vehicle which means that I could have bought a GS 300 for only $2K more. If the knowledgeable people in this forum think that these numbers are likely to hold up, I'll buy the GS and I could get it in the next few weeks. If not, I'll wait for more info on the new ES. I like the new GS but I've always been happy with the ES prior to now.
Here are my questions.
1. Do you expect the new ES 300 to sell for MSRP initially and, in the past, how long does it take for the dealers to start to substantially discount a newly designed Lexus?
2. Do you think that Lexus will maintain the $7K price gap between the GS and ES or do you think that the ES will be cheaper than this?
3. Given how nice the 2007 ES is supposed to be, does anyone think that the GS is worth spending another $2-5K for a similarly equipped vehicle.
Any thoughts and feedback would be much appreciated.
If you can get a GS300 at a huge discount and no discount on the new ES, you can compare them then and decide which you prefer, but you will have to wait to see what either car really sells for when the time comes.
There is nothing to prevent dings above and below the molding and plenty of cars have these dings there.
You cannot park near other cars if you don't want dings.
They are not "similarly equipped" because the new ES has a newer more powerful engine!
People who have cars that they absolutely want to prevent dings on take great care not to park near other cars and do not rely on bodyside moldings.
2. The ES will probably increase slightly in its base price
3. I personally would jump to the GS, but I admit that they are two totally different vehicles. The ES is a FWD midsize entry level luxury car much like my I35 and the GS is a RWD midsize mid price luxury sport sedan more like the M35 (although reviews have criticized it for not being sporty enough)
You could wait and see what the new ES looks like, and then make your decision. If you like what you see in the new ES but don't want to spend MSRP, you could sign a short term 24 month lease on a left over 2006 ES330 (or now, during their December to Remember event) and then when prices come down in 24 months then go and get the 2009 model.
You scared me- 2009 is my 10 year High School reunion....
~alpha
yea. I think I meant 2008...
You will still get dings even with body side moldings because other cars and trucks are either taller or shorter and depending on the shape of the other vehicle's door, it will hit your car at a different point.
What good is just not having dings along the strip of metal where the molding is installed when you still get dings above, below, in front of or behind the ends of the molding?
Dings could be better prevented with plastic body panels like Saturns have, but for some reason, plastic body panels are not catching on with any other car makers.
http://www.chicagoautoshow.com/
I'm interested in seeing what Toyota and Honda are launching...
I think I just typed in "Toyota Windom" into Google Images.
Jchan2 - Your post of Windom was #132.
I think I did just put it into Google Images (I typed Toyota Windom) and picked one that looked pretty good.
It appears that the ES may debut in Chicago on Feb. 8th, and that's an educated guess. Lexus is on the media schedule for a "world introduction" and the ES would be the most logical choice for a debut. I anticipate they'll make an official announcement shortly after or during the Detroit show.
I looked at Chicago show's schedule also, it seems like Toyota is taking charge in Chicago with Jim Press being the speaker in the first day. Toyota also will introduce something, could be the next Truck.
Too bad, has to wait another month to see the ES350.
Well we've waited this long, another month won't kill us but it's tough.
Make no mistake, while the DNA will be obvious this is a new design
The previous generation looked better outside. The current generation looks much nicer inside.
Maybe they can make the new one look good both inside and out.
I'd bet money it's a push button start!