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Lexus ES 350
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Comments
The Ruby Red is absolutely GORGEOUS! I have had variations of that color (dark red metallic) on five vehicles since 1991 and if you lean more toward slightly darker hues, you will LOVE it!
IMO, it's not "too" dark and shouldn't be a bear to take care of. My dealer has three in that color and even chose it to display in the showroom for their grand opening.
Sunday, they had one parked right next to an IS in the lighter red, and the Ruby seemed much more luxurious. It just suits the character of the ES.
I test drove a white one today with the cashmere and that is the interior I plan to go with.
GOOD LUCK!
Anyway, ended up driving a Premium Plus w/ Nav. It was a Moon Shell Mica... awful color. This is the 3rd time I have seen this color.... and all 3 times, I can't see why anyone would get this color... but to each it's own.
So, about the test... it was incredibly smooth and effortless. Plenty of torque and power I need. I'm 6"2" and 220 lbs ... and I found the car comfortable. My co-worker came with me and he sat behind my seat and had plenty of leg space. I was really impressed with that... and he's 5"9". The seats were very comfortable and soft. The car was everything I thought it would be. I'm not planning to get one with Nav, but I was pretty impressed with the features on the Nav and the rear backup camera. I agree with other's when they say it doesn't have a lot of storage, but I'm not planning to store that much stuff in the car anyway. Wood steering wheel and walnut wood finish is "sweet". I found the center console just right for my right arm rest... that could be b/c I'm taller.
I'm still targeting to get the car by the end of the year. I'm hoping by then... the excitment will die down and discounts will be available. By then... other 2007 models will be revealed, so it may soften the ES price. I just can't see myself paying MSRP for any car.
Anyone buy an ES350 in the MD/DC/VA area and receive discounts? Please name dealer and sales person.
You are correct, jimbres. That's exactly what happened with my car. It was riding very stiff - more so than the demo. When the tires were cold the next day, found they were at 38 psi while the door sticker recommended 30 psi. Guess the prep guy forgot as you said. (I was waiting on the car that had just come off the truck.) Deflated the tires to 32 psi, reset the tire pressure monitor (important!) and all is well. That was the only thing wrong with my car. Have had it a week now and love everything about it!
I still might get the ES, but I'll have to take it for a much longer test drive of about 30 min.
I'm 6 ft 200 lbs but I felt cramped in the car. My right leg felt closed in by the high center console and it was claustrophobic to me.
I'm heartbroken over this because I love everything else about this car.
After looking online for cars with more room, and those with bench seats I'm now giving serious consideration to the Buick Lucerne.
No, it's nowhere near what a Lexus is but it looks very comfortable with the bench seat.
I also like the fact that it has a 275 HP Northstar engine in it, plus I can actually go back to cloth seats which is what I've wanted all along.
The dash and controls aren't as nice or fancy but I can get navigation in it.
The front of the car is kind of boring Buick, but the tail end looks pretty cool.
It doesn't have a telescoping wheel so I would hope that I could still get that perfect driving position.
I can't get the top of the line because there is no bench seat in that model but I can get a CXL V8 which is very nice. The car gets decent reviews claiming it is the most agile Buick ever, but they say the braking could be better.
I will be able to save 6-10K off the price of the Lexus.
All bets are off until I actually drive it. Right now I'm a bit too ill to go check it out having some setbacks from my heart surgery earlier this month.
This is not how I wanted my car buying experience to go. I've been waiting a very long time to get a new car.
I'd like a little more excitement rather than to have to buy and old man Buick, but I'm getting to be and old man LOL!
I had a Regal years ago and I actually liked that car quite a bit, it was very comfortable.
I'll let ya know what happens here.
Sure wish I could join the Lexus club.
Anyone else consider this car?
Sorry about you not being able to get a Lexus. You will get creamed on Buick Resale/Trade Value when you go to trade it, so buy it as much under invoice as you can.
Sorry that the ES 350 isn't a good fit for you, but you're doing the right thing by not compromising on comfort. Don't try to rush the shopping process.
Good luck, & keep us posted.
The Lexus people (national...not the dealer) seem to be suggesting that only T-Mobile or Cingualr Bluetooth phones will work properly with this car.
This is hard to believe.
Heck, half the world has Verizon.
What's up here?
Anyway... I would never give my sale to that sales person. If I was planning to come back and deal.. I would deal directly with the original person I talked to. Seemed much easier to talk to and deal with.
There are only 5 Lexus dealers in a 50 miles radius from where I live (DC/MD/VA). So, competition is fairly limited. I have even heard of people buying cars in Delaware and Pennsylvania ... then having them driven down to complete the deal. Might be another option if dealers around here won't budge on MSRP.
Just to be sure I understand, the address book on the phone will not automatically 'mate' to the car but if I input the name/phone number information manually one time, the car will hold it for the future and then function as if it had 'recognized' the phone's address book in the first place?
So it seems like the primary architect of this particular problem is Verizon, not Lexus, huh?
Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated!
I would stick with a Motorola E815 or Razr V3C though with the Lexus. I have read that Samsung phones are not compatible. At least we know the Motorolas work.
but yes you can
my choice might be white /cashmere.
but to me seems a decision to not make a decision for white .
could you post pic .
my dealers in dallas have not received a red yet. dont' like moonshell
mri guy
Did you try the ES with the seat extender? I drove the Camry without one and the back of my leg was hurting after five minutes. It seems to me that if you get the ES it must have the seat extender.
Frankly, I'm not that thrilled with the ES 350 since I think it's just a Camry with gadgets and it doesn't really fit me that well. My wife likes it though so I'll consider it. I would get the Buick in a minute but she won't. I bet that the Buick will be just a reliable as the ES. Frankly I think that is very important. I know the Buick will be more comfortable.
I suggest you try the Infiniti M35, G35 and BMW 525 with the standard seat. I found that those fit better than the Lexus and will probably buy one of them. Those are all great driving cars. They are a lot of fun to drive. I haven't driven the ES but I bet it doesn't drive as well as those cars.
One more thing. I think that the windshield on the ES is too low. It makes me feel like I'm in a a box. The car does not fit me either. I'll tell you the truth, I don't think I like the Lexus mainly because of the console and awkward driving position.
If you find another car without the damned console problem please let me know.
I'd consider the Buick Lacrosse which has a bench seat. It has plenty of leg room but the seat itself is not very comfortable.
I found that I could get into a better driving position in the Infiniti M35, G35 and BMW 525. For me, they were a lot more comfortable than the ES and I'll probably get one of those.
Hopefully if I don't buy a Lexus they may start making them without such a large console (Hyundai did).
Good luck with your new car and please let us know if you are able to find a TOTALLY comfortable driving position. Also, let us know if you got the seat extender.
I'm really annoyed at the designers who insist on putting in these consoles.
I'm going to go back up to my Lexus dealer and take a nice long drive and really try and get used to the ES and give it a fair shot. But my gut is telling me I'm not going to choose it.
I've been through the mill in trying to choose a car in the last few years. I was simply going to get a new Camry a few years ago. But every time I drove one, then got back into my 92 Camry I didn't notice that much difference other than power.
I liked the Accord but I feel the ride was to stiff and jittery for me. I waited for the Avalon and then hated it when it came out. I drove the Buick LaCrosse but felt it was underpowered. Last fall I tried to make a deal on a Camry but they would not budge off sticker so after 6 weeks I told them to screw it.
Then I waited for the new Camry. It's a very nice car but I think it's slightly ugly and I think the interior is very feminine, even on the sport model. Then I discovered the Lexus which is how I ended up here. I think the Camry might have a slight bit more interior room and I may consider it again.
Sometimes I drive my wife's Honda Pilot SUV and I think it's nice to have all that room and comfort. I even considered buying one for myself but thought it would be stupid to own two identical vehicles. Whenever we go out together we always take it.
So I started thinking about a more roomy car again. I don't want to be all jammed in like a sardine. My old man used to have Caddies and a Buick Roadmaster and while I always thought they were way too big, they were very comfortable.
I just wish more car mfrs. would consider bench seats. Not even the Chrysler 300 has them.
Honestly I wish I had bought the Toyota Avalon of 2 years ago with the bench seat.
I drove it a few times and found it to be a nice car. But I blew it and didn't get one when I should have.
The only cars that I like that have the roomier bench seats are the Buick Lucerne and the Chevy Impala. The Impala is OK, but I want more luxury.
My brain seems to be set on the Lucerne right now but I know it all depends upon test drives and I know I could be disappointed. I want luxury, lots of room, but I still want the power to get around the slower driver effortlessly without hesitation and too much body roll.
I'm hoping next week I can try out the Lucerne. I don't have my own vehicle now. I have to get something soon. I never thought buying my first new car would be this hard.
I'm still glad all you people are getting the Lexus ES. It is a great car, my sister may now get one. By the way I think that moonshell mica is vomit inducing! To each his own.
I used to drive a Nissan Murano and that was very comfortable on the inside - not too small and not too big. I had also looked at the Honda Pilot when I was buying it and thought the Pilot was too big for my needs.
Before buying the ES, I was convinced for months that I wanted an Acura RDX but then was disappointed when the final specs were released and the gas mileage was the same as the Murano, especially since the RDX has a 4 cyl turbo engine. I never wanted a sporty car, just a very luxurious vehicle with somewhat decent gas mileage since I have a long commute, AWD since I have a steep driveway and maybe extra cargo space. I finally decided not to sacrifice my gas mileage all year for the occasional times I would need the AWD. And I've always wanted a Lexus. When I saw the ES350 at the NY auto show, I knew it was the car for me. You have to feel comfortable with your decision. Good luck!
Thanks
The moonroof and nav make the car for me. The toys would make up not getting a sportier car. (The IS is too small in the rear seating area.)
This way if they give me a hard time I could always charge back the card. He told me that they can't keep the money because you never actually got anything in your hands.
But sometimes when they get a check they cash it and try to mess with you.
I'm also an American Express merchant so I would have no problem charging back if they forced me to.
I'm not looking to screw them, but I have to be happy with the car.
I haven't called them and let them know I'm waffling. When I feel better I'm going to go up there for an extensive test drive.
When I went in last week the dealer, not mine because he was on vacation, was not too accommodating to me, like I was wasting his time. In fact he told me that when my first Lexus dealer was fired he was in line for this sale and it was given to someone else so he was a little annoyed.
My brother called me today and told me he had been laid off after 37 years with a company. He wasn't upset because he got a great severance package so he gets an early retirement. The funny thing is that he told me they took his company car which he has had in one form or another for 30 years so he is carless.
Out of the blue he told me he's looking at the Buick Lucerne but his wife wants him to get the Lexus ES! He told me he likes bigger cars so he thinks he'll go for the Lucerne.
We might look like a couple of idiots over summer vacation driving the same car.
Too funny!
After inquring quotes from dealers (try dealing with internet or fleet mgrs), I've decided to get ES350 after all. I'm getting 3K off MSRP for nav and premium pkg. I'm going down to the dealer this weekend and seal the deal. I could have gotten TL for 31,500 w/ Nav. But I like the push-start-botton and backup camera.
This is going to be my wife's as well. I have QX4 which I looove.. If there's no competition in your city, why don't you guys go further out and save a couple of k's. It still makes sense, doesn't it?
I'll come back and post again where I get mine from.
Good luck
The brochure doesn't mention if the Mark Levinson system can handle MP3 CDs, but we sat in a UL-equipped ES. As I recall, the ML system included in this package is also MP3-capable.
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&uid=4946984&gid=10177617&
nice pics - I like the color. good choice
I live in the DC/MD/VA area.... and all post so far are for MSRP. I plan to buy the ES350 by the end of the year... and hope to get 2-3K off MSRP by the time I buy.
My son took pictures of my new white UL and has several pics of the panarama roof. I think if you saw it in person you'd like it. I personally think it's awesome.
Let me know yout thoughts after viewing.
As for purchasing, I am still going to wait until the craze goes down. I did read that the new G35 or G37 will be coming this fall so hopefully that will put more pressure to discount. It should attract some buyers and may be direct competition for the ES350 but I do not think I will even consider it. I know that Infiniti attracts different buyers than Lexus but I am only speaking in terms of pricing. I know its a gamble and if prices don't come down by November or December, then I could have enjoyed the car six months earlier.
I'm assuming that if the service will take over a couple of hours they will provide a loaner car if the car is still under warranty.
Some, however, have said that they might not give loaners if you didn't buy from their dealership.
Does anyone have any experience with this sort of thing?
Is it a car manufacturer type of thing (where the maker of the car governs the policy of their dealers) or a dealership decision?