Comments by "Tony Sterbenc" (@tonysterbenc) on "The Latest Lexus ES Is a Breath Of Fresh Air | An Update Done Well!" video.

  1. I'm an owner and it's surprisingly a non-issue, maybe because it's a sort of medium grey color that hides all sins. I just wipe off the 4 or 5 sensors for the safety nannies.
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  2.  @Cynical496  "If you have some money, you get a Lexus... People with real money don't go running to a Lexus shop." So which is it? Lexus buyers pay with simulated money? Lexus shoppers walk in but don't run? Do you read your own posts before you send them?
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  3.  @lionintu  Yes. Wired in '22, wireless in '23.
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  4. ​ @dm17nc17  I own an Ultra Luxury. The big items are the leather, additional soundproofing, the 360 parking cameras, and the rear sunshade, plus the fact that most of the Ultra Luxurys are coming off the line with the other options that are available on paper from other trim levels but often aren't in the actual cars, like the Mark Levinson and the triple beam headlights. I'd encourage you to decide whether those individual items are worth it to you -- for me, the leather and the best stereo were on my personal must list, so it was a no-brainer. If not, don't pay extra, because Savagegeese for one felt that the base with a few options (wood-trim Premium Package, Levinson) is a much better value for money.
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  5. Your comment that the F Sport Handling "doesn't compromise on ride quality at all" is not true, and has been refuted by numerous testers including C/D and Savagegeese (see the video "Last and Best Updates"). This must be pointed out so you don't mislead others.
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  6. How many different videos by this creator are you going to pollute with your own personal inability to tolerate beliefs different from yours? And if a guy with this level of expertise isn't working on your car, you've cleared a little bit of his valuable time for the rest of us. Good riddance.
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  7.  @Cynical496  I've owned both. Lexus has its points over Acura, too: more reliable, better build quality, quieter, comfier.
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  8. Can? Hell, you can fill the crankcase with snot if you wish. Should you? No.
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  9. Good luck finding a Sienna. I have a family member who gave up after several months on a waiting list and bought an Odyssey.
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  10.  @richardc6932  It is one of the weakest aspects of the car, although rear-wheel drive in that regard is even worse.
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  11. In practice, cold weather has proven to be no problem for these cars at all. Toyota has spent the last 20 years field-testing the system. The ES has the fourth generation, and it's proven tremendously reliable.
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  12. I had the same experience with waiting 5 months and still having Lexus refuse to build the car optioned out to my specifications. They just don't do it.
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  13. The Camry and ES are closely related. That's a good thing if you need parts or service, and in fact a Toyota dealer can service most parts of this car at lower hourly rates. But the ES has a number of upgrades where you don't see: structural reinforcements, special shocks, soundproofing, better paint, tighter assembly tolerances, to name a few.
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  14. And I'd say you have a very nice car!
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  15. Because the ES has more room, quiet, comfort, features, build quality and dealer support.
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  16. On May 8, you got your wish!
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  17.  @mikej238  Oh, so you've seen Naveen's posts too!
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  18.  @maga6319  Wow, I don't think anybody's called me "Kid" in 40 years. Thanks for the compliment -- makes me feel like a kid again! :.D
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  19.  @maga6319  So, you admit to Mike Jones that you're homophobic, too. You can cherry-pick recalls, although if anybody bothers to get into a Toyota vs. Hyundai recall contest with you, you're not going to win. More to the point, objective surveys like Consumer Reports prove your claims of excellent Genesis reliability and "average Toyota reliability, like Ford" are simply not accurate. Get your facts right.
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  20. Contact the Lexus zone office NOW, before your warranty expires. Get on record that you have this complaint while you still have warranty coverage to demand that it get fixed for free. Go to another Lexus dealership if necessary; all of them are authorized to do warranty repairs. But don't wait.
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  21. Go '22. The touchpad infotainment in pre-'22 editions is truly infuriating and hazardous to use.
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  22. Even though I'm old, this is silly stereotyping of young people. They don't have money because billionaires have wiped out good post-school jobs for them. Few factories, few IT jobs, fewer middle manager jobs, fewer entry-level jobs. Try buying a house as a Walmart or Amazon employee. The cost squeeze between layoffs and corporate greedflation is real.
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  23.  @JuanRivera-lj5lu  Unfortunately, it will never happen. The current car doesn't have room underneath for both a V6 and an AWD transfer case. The next one, probably 2025, will eliminate the V6 and offer probably the powertrains (all 4-cylinder only) that you're seeing now on the Toyota Crown.
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  24. That's a helluva car you've got there. I'd just fix it and daily it.
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  25. This is your third post on this thread ripping on this presenter for a grand total of one religious reference ("May the good Lord bless and keep you," at the very end after you watched the entire video full of useful automotive advice). Keep your personal vendettas confined with you in Mom's basement.
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  26.  @rightlanehog3151  Interior colors, too. You can't even get a decent tan on an ES now.
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  27.  @rightlanehog3151  In Europe, buyers are conditioned to be willing to custom-order the car and wait. Previously, Americans expected to walk onto the lot and drive away in a car. Maybe the current situation will change that; time will tell.
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  28. Opinion question. For most, no. For those who have the money and who place a high value on luxury in both the car and the dealer experience, yes.
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  29. And a lot of LS owners are really annoyed at how similar the cheaper ES looks. When I was shopping for this car, I was knocked out by how identical they looked. I had to train myself to tell the difference.
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  30.  @mathisnotforthefaintofheart  Oh, you're absolutely right about that. No question. Different chassis, powertrains, levels of sophistication, everything.
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  31.  @rightlanehog3151  This. They'll probably have less than a full model year in '24, and the '25 won't have it. EDIT: It's now being reported that the big changeover may be delayed until the '26.
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  32. Fun Fact: A full-size spare will fit into the spare tire area of the new ES's trunk. But if I were you, I'd keep that one — it's comfy, it's paid for, and you know where it's been.
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  33. You'd definitely prefer the 3.5 liter V6.
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  34. They're partly to make those controls convenient to reach, but mostly they're an affectation to look sporty and to provide family resemblance to Lexus's costlier LS and LC models.
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  35. Because it isn't the unreliable CVT with belts inside like the Jatco trash found in Nissans. It's called a "CVT" because it shifts without fixed gear rations, but internally it has nothing in common with those transmissions and, while not pleasing to listen to, is extremely reliable.
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  36. The one thing that made me feel better about having to swallow the head-up display is that other people value it, so it'll probably improve the resale value. But, yes.
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  37.  @yumpinyiminy963  Funny you should mention those markers. I find I watch those too, except I always end up watching them on the dash (brighter, higher contrast) instead of on the head-up display anyway. I guess if I were using MY head, I'd set something else on the dash so I wasn't duplicating the information, but bless Lexus for giving us that level of flexibility.
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  38. I think you like yourself an awful lot.
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  39. I can confirm that a full-sized spare fits, because I've fitted one. Replace the awful factory scissors jack with a compact hydraulic bullet jack while you're at it. Avoid just one nightmare tire change with the scissors jack, and it'll be the best $40 you ever invested. Ask me how I know.
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  40.  @user-cx2bk6pm2f  You're really really good at attempted sarcasm, babe. Don't let anyone else tell you differently. In fact, continue not listening to anyone else at all. It's working so well for you so far.
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  41.  @user-cx2bk6pm2f  You can direct junior-high slights at me to your heart's content, so long as you stop insulting our host for providing us useful information at no cost.
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  42. No flutter I've ever seen.
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  43. You can get the rub strip for the middle of the doors on the ES as a dealer-installed option.
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  44. Sorry, but I don't think so since they eliminated the standard CD player for '23 by popular demand. Only oldsters like me still wanted it.
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  45. Because making it FWD lets them use Camry chassis and mechanicals to hold the price down. When they built a dedicated midsize RWD/AWD sport sedan in the GS, the price was so high that nobody bought it and it got killed off.
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  46. Driven it? I get your comment on paper, but in use it feels a lot different, especially in ES 350 Luxury or Ultra Luxury form. Quieter, smoother, faster, more nicely appointed.
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  47. "position behind wheel is quite bad. Brakes are toyota like bad, so is steering feeling." I own an ES 350 with the V6. I completely disagree with the "position behind wheel" comment; it's completely multi-adjustable, including a thigh support adjuster on Ultra Luxury. Brakes and steering are better on the V6 than the hybrid, if that's a priority for you (it was and is for me), and I think both are in fact pretty good.
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  48.  @MultiMusicbuff  I wish that for you, Fred. And when you get it, I know you'll appreciate and enjoy it. 2013 and newer Avalons are very nice too, and a little more reachable.
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  49. If you want to avoid tickets, cruise control is your friend.
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  50. Head up display is also available on non-F Sport trims.
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  51. it's an 8-speed from Aisin, an independent supplier partly owned by Toyota. Some praise it for smooth shifts, some criticize it for rough downshifts at low speeds. It's the same transmission used by some other non-Toyota models like the BMW X1.
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  52. Agree. Not just for the just-in-case (which is real), but because run-flat tires ride like crap.
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  53. The F Sport has the exact same hybrid and V6 powertrain choices as all other ES's. The exact same fuel recommendations apply: regular for both works just fine.
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  54.  @PianobyRamsey  It depends on what you want. Honestly, if you want sporty handling no ES will give it to you, including the F Sport Handling. This video goes into more detail: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt1GhUNJctQ
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  55.  @PianobyRamsey  I agree with most of your comments, except there's no way in hell you'll find any new, decently equipped Mercedes E Class for anything resembling $45k. Given your stated priorities of luxury and affordability on long commutes, the other car I'd check out is the base-model Genesis G80, although it too requires premium gas. I agree with you about the hybrid's lack of power, which is why I chose the V6 without even driving the hybrid. My personal take on trim levels is that luxury is the whole reason to get ES instead of Camry, so one might as well go all-in for the maximum soundproofing and the nice aromatic leather of the Luxury or Ultra Luxury. But I understand that they're a lot extra, and the Premium package with wood and Mark Levinson is a nice choice for less. Happy hunting!
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  56. They kept making what people bought and stopped making what people didn't. The ES was outselling the GS something like 20 to 1. We made the choice for them.
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  57.  @alpappalardi7044  You did very well for yourself. The GS is definitely a better, more premium car than the ES in almost every way. If I could have gotten one without that damn trackpad, I'd have certainly bought one.
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  58. You haven't watched his other videos in which he calls out Toyota and Lexus models to avoid, yet you come on here and gratuitously insult him in public -- behind a gutless veil of Internet anonymity, of course. Giving you all the respect you deserve, up yours.
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  59. Sorry, no. You can't get AWD with the V6 ES 350, either. But you can have an AWD hybrid in an RX SUV.
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  60.  @cadriver2570  I think just about everybody agrees that the LS 500 is a costly misfire. The ES F Sport, on the other hand, is a trim variant that's very cheap for Lexus to add to the lineup, and gives them something to keep a few of the old GS customers in the fold.
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  61. Most reviewers say the AVS (Adaptive Variable Suspension) available only the F Sport version is stiffer than the regular suspension. Even at its softest setting. it pounds more stiffly and less comfortably over bumps. Some people feel the handling improvement is worth the ride sacrifice, while others (me among them) feel it detracts from the comfort-first mission of the car.
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  62. The LS may be fractionally quieter, but the ES is one of the quietest, and certainly the quietest at its price.
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  63. As it should be, since it's over $10,000 more expensive when comparably equipped with leather and V6.
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  64.  @augustraaymakers2432  Yep, that's an ES all right. :.)
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  65. 8-speed automatic for the V6 ES 350, e-CVT for the hybrid ES 300h. Do know, however, that the e-CVT doesn't have the belts or awful reliability problems of Nissan's CVTs. They're bulletproof.
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  66.  @mohammedkj1239  Yes. The people who don't want anything to do with Nissans for that reason... are basically right.
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  67. Also worth noting: I'm not sure whether you dislike the eCVT for its shifting behavior or for the poor reliability reputation of CVT's. If it's the shifting, I fully understand. If it's the reliability, don't worry for a second; Toyota's iteration has no mechanical similarity to that Nissan crap and is utterly bulletproof.
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  68. Buy a 2019-22 CPO and you'll still get the CD player. Meanwhile, that whole time some people ridiculed Lexus as an old man's car because it DID have the CD player. They can't win.
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  69. You made this very same rude, irrelevant and disrespectful post 3 days ago, still visible below for the extremely small number of people who care to see it. Just for the record, I counted exactly one religious reference in the entire video, an innocuous "May the Lord bless and keep you" way at the end. Not exactly a filibuster of religious propaganda. What's your real problem here?
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  70.  @user-cx2bk6pm2f  English Translation: "I'll leave a couple more smears against an innocent provider of information, just to keep myself feeling important."
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  71. I assume you think you're being cute here. But just for the record: 1980 Ford Pinto 2.3: 88 hp, 0-60 13.8 seconds. Lexus ES 300h: 215 hp, 0-60 8.1 seconds.
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  72. You're right.
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  73. First, drive it a little more just to keep it healthy, just the way you'd run your horse. Drive it every week or so for 20+ minutes until it's fully warmed up. Second, change the oil based on time, not just mileage. In your case, probably annually. Third, when you take it through the car wash, pay extra in winter for the one that sprays the underbody. It'll probably last until it rusts. Good luck!
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  74. Get over yourself. He's providing a valuable service. If his beliefs are what motivate him to do so, good for him that he found something that works for him.
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  75.  @user-cx2bk6pm2f  You started off your own post by admitting "These videos are so good and informational." Evidently, you trust his automotive judgment. So it's not really about that at all. Speaking of the fiction aisle, what's the truth about what your real problem with this man is?
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  76.  @user-cx2bk6pm2f  You contradicted yourself. You lack the balls to admit it. You're not nearly cool enough to carry off the attempted mic drop escape. Fail.
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  77.  @user-cx2bk6pm2f  Pro Tip: Before attempting the ultra-cool mic drop stunt here, practice on pets and children first in the safety of Mom's basement. BTW, seems you were bereft enough of a life that you not only watched to the very end of a long video (since that's where his only religious reference was), but you also had enough wanking time left over to comment on it 3 separate times.
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  78.  @user-cx2bk6pm2f  Thought you said "Bye bye"? At any rate (in this case, rather slow), you can direct junior-high slights at me to your heart's content, so long as you stop insulting our host for providing us useful information at no cost.
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  79. Savagegeese has addressed that in several other reviews you can find. In his ES300h review in 2019, he said the ES 350 has admirable engine smoothness, but the hybrid powertrain in non-F Sport versions better matches the personality of the car.
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  80. I'm also 6'2" with a long upper body and don't fit in some cars (including yesteryear's Lexus ES 330), but i fit in this car with no problem.
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  81. Yes, but I'll bet you also don't prefer that the car cost $65,000 like a loaded Genesis G80 or a stripped Audi A6.
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  82.  @davids1816  I'm extremely familiar with your point. My problem with it is that it's glib but not completely accurate. First, the ES is more than just "a Camry with sound insulation and elegant styling." It's bigger and rides better. Its chassis is stiffer. Its materials throughout are better. The standards to which it's buiit are higher, from parts quality to fit & finish to the paint job. It's also backed by the best sales and service organization of any major nameplate, which also costs money. The other 50k cars you praise may not share parts with other, more pedestrian models (or, like the A4 and G80 four-bangers, they may). But none combines size, comfort, luxury, quality and smooth V6 power at that price like the ES does. For buyers who don't value this combination of attributes, yes, there's any number of alternatives. But for those like me who do, no other car can match that combination—and the ES's reuse of many high-volume Camry parts, far from a source of shame, is what makes that unique value proposition possible.
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  83.  @davids1816  First, I have no intention of "eliminating the engine" in my shopping process. Lexus's plans to downgrade their engine in the future have no relevance whatsoever to its qualities today. Second, I happen to be 67, and I have no intention of "taking out my hearing aid" since the Mark Levinson system sounds so crisp and excellent without it (and since I don't own one, you ageist bigot). Finally, "not good enough at that price": You gloss over a lot of points with careless generalities like "A Honda Accord is also quiet and reliable"—yes, but a little less of each. That's the point. As Michael Karesh of TrueDelta put it in his ES 350 review, "Diminishing marginal returns (as prices rise into luxury goods territory) are a thing." Question: Name another car that provides the room, ride, quality and smooth V6 power of the ES at its "not good enough" price. Answer: You can't, which is why I didn't simply donate an extra $17,000 as a car nut to get absolutely nothing in return, simply because I'm just not as clever or discriminating as you.
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  84. ES has a compact spare. But if you take out the styrofoam spacer above it, there's enough space in the well for a full-size spare if you choose to buy one on your own.
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  85. Yes. For 30 years, Lexus ES has deleted the folding rear seats and added a trapezoid-shaped metal reinforcing brace behind the seatback for extra frame rigidity. Evidently their research tells them that luxury buyers value the added solidity and reduced chassis flex more than the cargo versatility that would be a higher priority in a family sedan. The hole in its middle is just big enough for the ski pass-through.
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  86. "Minus the current tech" covers a lot of ground, though. Today's cars must meet vastly tougher crash safety and emissions standards, and the numbers show the new safety features like automatic braking and blind spot monitoring really help. It would be neither legal nor popular to sell the 2007 design now.
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  87. Both should be extremely reliable. The ES300h might need a costly battery after about 15 years, but in the meantime, it will save you thousands on reduced gas usage and slower brake wear. But, the ES 250 is a louder and less pleasant car overall; despite its AWD advantage, most reviewers say it's the least desirable ES.
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  88. Mr. Levinson himself posted to a discussion board some years ago. He made it clear he has no participation in most of the car stereos that bear his name. It's just one of Harman-Kardon's many car stereo brand names now.
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  89. First, you clearly haven't inspected the upmarket versions of the LS with pleated door fabrics and even optional decorative cut glass. Second, the G90 is nearly double the price of the most loaded ES, so it damn well better look more expensive.
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  90. Acura has no direct alternative to this car since they killed off the RLX. Next year they'll be killing off the smaller TLX, and then they'll have no sedans at all except the sports-oriented and Civic-derived Integra.
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  91. In 18 months you'll get your wish, although not with a V6.
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  92. Funny you should say that. I think it looks so similar at all non-grille angles to the now-extinct Mazda 6 that when I see an ES or a Mazda 6 in red, I have to look twice to distinguish them.
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  93. You'll get there, Sergio.
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  94. @japanwatchconnection The same plant, yes, but not the same assembly line or workers. Lexus has its own assembly line and paint shop, and Lexus workers are handpicked and given Japanese training. Standards are higher on the Lexus line for parts quality, fit and finish, gap tightness, and paint quality.
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  95. The LC is awfully nice. In fact, part of what makes the ES interior nice is that they cribbed a lot of interior styling features, like the sexy brushed aluminum door handles, directly from the pricier LC and LS for the sake of family resemblance.
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  96. You should be concerned. After fall 2024, it will be gone forever from the ES, and probably from all Toyota and Lexus sedans except the slow-selling and extremely expensive LS.
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  97.  @qud3913  Depends on what you mean by "base model." The V6 costs no more, it just has a V6 with FWD instead of a Four with AWD.
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  98.  @qud3913  What "cheap tactic"? Lexus has successfully sold the FWD ES as a luxury car for 30 years. If you think a Tesla Model 3 embodies luxury and value better than a Lexus ES, you're the type who should buy one.
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  99.  @qud3913  You're pretty damn presumptuous. My last car was an AWD V6 luxury car. You don't know me. And you don't know Toyota either. "Falling behind"? As of early 2023, they're the world's #1 automaker, again.
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  100.  @411sponge72  There are 8 or 10 sensors or cameras. Some on the nose, the rear view camera above the license plate on the trunklid edge, a camera under each side mirror. They're flat, dime- to quarter-sized, and easy peasy to clean—just a quick wipe with a terry rag. Never even needed unless they get mud or ice/snow on them.
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  101.  @411sponge72  Glad to (belatedly) help. Enjoy your holiday!
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  102.  @Pisianita  Hi! I don't want to pretend to be an expert, and I don't own a 300h. But the consensus of owners and testers is that with proper tires, you should be fine. "Proper tires" would either be specifically winter tires like Bridgestone Blizzak, or if you encounter snow but less ice, Michelin CrossClimate 2's. Good luck!
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  103. He's unlikely to do that because he's a Toyota specialist.
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  104. Both have strengths and weaknesses. FWD is better for foul weather traction and space efficiency to deliver a bigger interior in the same size body (which is why the ES is about as roomy as the much larger RWD/AWD Lexus LS).
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  105. A guy in Dubai says they're everywhere there as airport Ubers, to the point that they have a stigma that turns off luxury buyers. The hybrid in particular is just so darn practical for people who carry back-seat passengers.
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  106. If you want 90% of the virtues of the V6 ES for less money, you reall do owe it to yourself to check out a CPO Avalon. These cars are so reliable and durable, it really is the next thing to a new one. If I were in the market for what you're seeking, I'd trust a warrantied example with clean papers any day.
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  107. Soft suspension and new trick shocks (except on the F Sport Handling version, which is why they complained about its ride).
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  108. My condolences. You won't have the last laugh.
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  109. There are three different seats available on ES, and none of them comes close to the wonderful seats of the LS 430. Some customers, including me, have complained that all of them are too thinly padded.
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  110. Some agree, but it is missing for a reason. For 30 years, all ES's have replaced the folding seatbacks with an extra trapezoid-shaped structural brace. Lexus believes luxury buyers place a higher priority on the added structural rigidity than on the cargo versatility. They may be wrong, but they are consistent.
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  111.  @pselden2103  It's all good, thanks. I can't source it, but I remember reading it over a period of years. Pretty sure it was for perceived body tightness rather than crash safety, since of course Toyota wasn't going to market Camrys and then Avalons with their drop-down seats and no brace that didn't meet the regulations. It's signiificant to note that until about 2000 when the IS came out, the ES was expected to be a rival to BMW in handling as well as ride, so it was important then for that reason too to be stiffer.
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  112.  @maga6319  The G80's four is a Hyundai four. Research further, boy.
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  113.  @maga6319  You sound like you not too bright. At least Toyotas will still be there when their owners come back to where they were parked. Without an engine full of metal shavings, even. Imagine that.
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  114. Why are you criticizing the engine because your transmission failed?
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  115.  @spikey01234  That's relative. Yes, I've heard the oil leak complaints. But compared to cars at large, the Consumer Reports reliability survey rates it excellent.
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  116. Then you should get a Camry. It's a reliable, fine car that costs less. Some of us see extra value in the ES, and for us they build that too.
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  117. Yes, they do. But boy, do they light up the road.
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  118.  @mohammadabdullahkhan360  I like 'em, both to look at and to see with.
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  119. You're probably stuck with it. Contrary to popular belief, it's not because all the stylists have suddenly lost their marbles. It's to disguise the big, flat, deformably soft front ends now required to pass recently toughened safety regulations for the safety of pedestrians in a low-speed crash.
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  120. You can uncross them. They're very well built.
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  121.  @GoAmateurRadio  I don't know, and in a quick search, I was unable to find it. I'm sorry I can't be of more help.
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  122. Sorry, only 8 track is available.
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  123. Thank you for this thoughtful contribution to the discussion.
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  124. Respectfully, speaking as a satisfied V6 owner, I must say this post misses some vital facts. Toyota has no choice but to ditch the V6 because of tightening emissions and MPG regulations. As for greed and planned obsolescence, Toyota/Lexus warranties the hybrid battery for 8 years/100,000 miles, and most go much farther. Finally, I resent your personal insinuation that Car Care Guy lacks either knowledge or integrity with your diss that he "drank the Kool-Aid" by buying a hybrid himself. There's every evidence to me that he knows the mechanical integrity of the Toyota hybrid system at least as well as YouTube poster Luke Walker does. Unless, of course, you care to prove me wrong by laying out Toyota mechanic credentials that are superior to Car Care Nut's.
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  125. You're right insofar as Lexus is grab-bagging to attack the problem that the average age of ES buyers keeps going up. .But It's also that since Lexus dropped the sportier GS, adding a slightly revised sporty version of the ES was a cheaper way to hang onto at least some of those buyers.
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  126. Not just moderately terrible? 🙂
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  127. What I can't understand is why you still can't get the opposite: leather seats with a handling suspension. You certainly can get that combination from every German competitor.
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  128. Then you'll want to not buy one. But thank you for contributing your very informative post.
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  129. Reviewing a car that's about to be discontinued isn't a good investment of time for a car reviewer.
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  130. Not sure I'm reading this post correctly, but all the current ES engines run on regular gas.
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  131. Alas, it didn't sell.
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  132.  @dearcoffee85  I'm 6'2" with a long torso, and I have 1 or 2 inches of headroom to spare. BTW, the panoramic sunroof car has just as much headroom front and back as the base car with regular sunroof. They brag that they engineered it to retract up and out so it doesn't reduce headroom, and I test-sat both before buying to make sure.
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  133. Toyota did scrap the multimedia and create a new one, effective with the 2023 model.
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  134. The ES was always based on the Camry and then on the Avalon. If anything, they've widened the gap between the two in this generation by adding more upgrades to the Ultra Luxury in particular, notably the chassis-vibration dampers and noise-reducing chambers in the wheels.
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  135. Did you decide? And how do you like your choice?
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  136.  @Edmond1812  Good to hear. Enjoy.
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  137. The ES doesn't have the fold-down rear seats of its deceased cousin the Toyota Avalon, because Lexus puts an additional brace behind the ES's rear seatback for the added structural rigidity that they believe is a higher priority for luxury buyers. It's not an inability to do it, it's a design decision.
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  138. @japanwatchconnection Your assertion that cheapness motivated Lexus to replace the Camry's folding rear seats with a structural brace makes no sense. If that were the goal, they'd have put the brace on the cheaper Camry and the folding seatbacks on the costlier ES for the last 30 years. Now, I can believe that cost was a factor, insofar as Lexus has always faced the challenge of extrracting luxury-car rigidity from humble family sedan bones, a disadvantage BMW doesn't have with the dedicated 5 Series platform that's not shared with any cheaper car. But those humble mass-produced origins are also what's always given the ES its price advantage over same-size competitors like the 5.
    1
  139. Agree about the touch screen, and so does Lexus; they added it for '22.
    1
  140.  @rightlanehog3151  Part of the reason for fewer color choices is that reducing production line variations makes the car cheaper to build and reduces quality mistakes. Honda started this 30 years ago by offering all its options packaged into trim levels and none a la carte. Buyers got more for their money and a well-built car, so they didn't mind. Another reason is that dealers, not consumers, are the carmaker's customers, and dealers are all ordering their cars in bland whites, greys and blacks because they refuse to stock a car whose color is controversial enough that they might get stuck with lot poison. The louder the color, the truer this is, especially yellow. More than once, automakers roll out an interesting or striking color scheme and then are forced to drop it in a year or two, because it's not feasible to keep it in the production mix when all the dealers refused to order any.
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  141.  @Duox-YT  I have no personal experience in either, but most reviewers have said the ES is the clear winner in ride comfort and quietness.
    1
  142. Say this for him: He lives his beliefs. He's worked on them for decades.
    1
  143. I'm not Car Care Nut, but I'm thinking wiper switch. The fact they'll run on high speed proves the wiper motor works.
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  144.  @zamirtovar859  Hope it goes well!
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  145. Or, buy a '23-25 ES 350. They hold up superbly as used cars.
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  146. Get a used '22.
    1
  147. Partly because of the economics of running a luxury car division. They sell fewer units than the Toyota brand, so each one has to deliver more profit to keep the lights on. And they expect they can, because ability to pay is one of the things that separates Lexus buyers from Toyota buyers.
    1
  148. They had a better handling and performing midsize sedan, the GS 350. But it cost more and nobody bought it, so they discontinued it.
    1
  149. @@japanwatchconnection Read slower and post afterward. Yes, YOU prefer the GS over the ES. But the ES was outselling the GS by 20 to 1 when the GS was killed. Lexus is not a charity.
    1
  150. Not quite true. High-quality FLAC files can carry even more audio information than a CD.
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  151. You can say that again!
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  152. Torque steer in a straight line isn't bad at all. But in corners, you can't really get on the gas or it'll always go wide. In snow or rain, it'll always break 'em loose when you mash it. Better tires than the OEM MPG Specials help the problem, but they don't cure it.
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  153. Some cars will only run properly on premium. Those cars will say it's "required," not "recommended." Some others will run happily on regular but have more power with premium, thanks to knock sensors that advance the timing more with premium (the last Mazda6 Turbo was one of these). Yet others, like the ES 350, perform the same either way, because they're optimized for regular.
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  154. Watch his review from 2022, "Take It to The Grave," and you might reach a much different conclusion.
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  155. Probably softer-riding (except the F Sport Handling version) than the GS, certainly less sporty.
    1
  156. The ES is built in the same factory, but on a different assembly line populated with workers trained to Japanese-type Lexus standards, and the build the car to higher standards and tighter tolerances (e.g., smaller panel gaps) than Toyota models.
    1
  157. For you there's the gas-only V6-powered ES 350, at least until late 2024.
    1
  158. New plastic caps for what?
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  159. I'm 6'2" with a long torso and fit just fine, and i have the pano roof.
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  160. Luxury brands will always cost more and depreciate more. It's not a direct comparison anyway; the Highlander is a twin under the skin to the Lexus RX.
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  161. Thanks for the sophisticated economic analysis. I'll take it under advisement.
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  162. You can turn down the sensitivity of that slam-on-the-brakes feature, using the buttons on the left side of the steering wheel and the menus on the left side of the gauge cluster.
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  163.  @billkallas1762  Right. The next gen will have AWD, but the V6 will be gone for good. Terrific car, that M35x. The juvenile exhaust noise and horrible gas mileage were all that kept me from buying one.
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  164. For 30 years, Lexus on the ES has replaced the fold-down rear seat with an added stiffening brace behind the rear seatback. Evidently they believe luxury car buyers value the added rigidity more than a family sedan's cargo versatility. They may be wrong, but at least they've been consistent.
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  165. Trade-in values aren't a Lexus thing, they're set by the individual dealer. If the ES is what you want, I suggest you either try a different Lexus dealer or ask a third party like Carmax what they'll pay you for your car. The Avalon is a fine car, but it was discontinued two years ago.
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  166. Not the same ride. Mechanically, they're almost completely unrelated cars.
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  167. No idea, but it stops just fine.
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  168. Sensitive stomach, I gather?
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  169. The used German cars are only inexpensive at the time of purchase.
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  170. Right about the back seats. Wrong about the differences from 2013 to 2023. In fact, they changed over to an entirely new platform in 2019 that retained very little except the engine. It rides a little stiffer but has more body solidity and better handling.
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  171. '22 was the last year for the CD player (and the first year for the touchscreen, which most reviewers and I highly recommend). While I can't speak for CCN, I can say that all model years after 2020 are basically the same mechanically (2020 had a batch of bad fuel pumps across multiple Toyota and Lexus models). You really can't go wrong in that way.
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  172. Most reviewers agree with you.
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  173. That was a great generation of the ES. Very luxurious inside.
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  174. On May 8, you got your wish!
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  175. Congratulations.
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  176. Correct, they still don't, just as they haven't for 30 years.
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  177. But then it wouldn't be affordable because it couldn't piggyback on volume-production Camry mechanicals, as the sophisticated but now-extinct RWD/AWD GS proved.
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  178.  @blackice7408  If splitting hairs, yes, you're correct. Even more accurately, none is "built off" any other; all share the TNGA platform, as do the Corolla and Prius, and to a degree the Highlander and RX. Point is, the more sophisticated GS was costlier to build and would erase the ES's price advantage.
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  179. I wish that for you, too.
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  180. You might be happier with an Avalon.
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  181. This is not the only ES review where you've put up this post. The ES's rear seats have been non-folding for 30 years. They put a reinforcing brace behind the back seat to add structural rigidity. In that time they've probably lost some sales over it, but it doesn't seem to stop them.
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  182. Yes, wireless Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay.
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  183. I know what you're saying about the 6-speed, and the 8-speed isn't quite as smooth. But the new V6/8-speed combo does improve both the 0-60 time and the gas mileage, so I can understand why they did it.
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  184. They did. It was called the GS 350, and nobody bought it, so they dropped it.
    1
  185. Then you may wish to widen your YouTube viewing habits beyond a career Lexus/Toyota master mechanic.
    1
  186. Lupton, not proof, but... An anonymous poster on a discussion board claimed he was a young recent employee of Lexus. The level of detail in his posts suggested to me he was probably authentic. He reported that he was surprised and impressed to witness that Lexus mistrusted US suppliers and trusted their Japanese ones to the point where every major assembly and subassembly in the ES was shipped over whole from Japan, leaving nothing but the body, paint and final assembly to be done here.
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  187. Don't worry about it too much. They don't use it where it kills reliability, unlike VW/Audi with breakage-prone plastic water pumps or Audi/BMW with plastic underhood air tubing that eventually cracks after repeated heating and cooling cycles.
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  188. Depends on what you want. The Avaion is qulet and smooth, the Lexus even a bit more so. The Avalon has a nice interior, the Lexus an even nicer one.
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  189. As I'm sure you now agree, you were never a suitable buyer for it in the first place. The ES exists specifically for people like me who want the lower center of gravity and better handling of a sedan and NOT an SUV.
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  190. Correction. One person does.
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  191.  @rayhofmeister6693  The (non-hybrid) ES that has the 2.5 is the ES 250 AWD. Most reviewers have agreed it's a much less pleasing car all around than the V6 ES 350.
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  192. "Just weight" is exactly the issue. In suspension parts, it's vital for the best ride-handling compromise. At luxury car prices, people quite reasonably want the best balance of both that they can get, and steel is generally inferior at it. And I say this as an ES owner.
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  193.  @zaffo757  Not sure I agree with this. Taken to its logical conclusion, it would disqualify 99% of the cars on the road based on everything from driveshafts to floorpans to brake rotors to quarter panels.
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  194. Both should be excellent. The Camry will need a hybrid battery after a decade or so, but this isn't as deal-breaking costly as it used to be. The hybrid system also reduces wear on brakes and eliminates some maintenance requirements. As for the ES 350, its V6 engine is legendarily reliable and durable.
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  195. You should see what Car Care Nut said about the LS 460 as a trip to repair hell.
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  196. No. Basically unchanged since they debuted what Toyota calls the fifth-generation hybrid system for 2019.
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  197. That's six boards where you've posted this comment, apparently all on the same day. See the others for your answer.
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  198. The next gen will have a high-output turbo 4, probably with or without a hybrid battery. Probably they'll offer the same powertrain that's now on the top Crown model. Meanwhile, if you want your ES to go a lot faster, there's the 302-horsepower ES 350 which still gets a respectable 32 MPG highway.
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  199. You might really like the new Toyota Crown Signia.
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  200.  @luptonpittman6520  I agree. It's well known that Lexus tolerances are tighter than Toyota brand, no matter where they're built. Specifically, body panel gaps are smaller, and standards for finish of parts are higher.
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  201. No. I have a Kentucky ES, and it's well built with lustrous paint, good trim alignments and minimal flaws. The US Lexus workers are hand-picked for the separate Lexus assembly line and get much of the same training the Japanese workers get, and many of the car's components reportedly are imported from Japan.
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  202.  @boblarkin7321  They're neat cars. Glad to help.
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  203.  @luptonpittman6520  Because they didn't change generations the same year.
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  204. Many echo your complaint, but there is a reason they've done it this way for over 30 years. Behind the ES's back seat is a trapezoidal strengthening brace to give the ES more chassis rigidity, minimizing groaning/squeaking and providing more body rigidity when cornering. Lexus obviously believes that its buyers value those traits more than the versatility of a folding rear seat. They may be right or wrong, but at least they've been consistent.
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  205.  @bobit8742  I didn't compare the ES to an Acura. What you're saying makes no sense. If the goal was to save cost, why'd they include folding seats on the Camry?
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  206. They couldn't. There's not enough space under there for both the larger V6 engine and the AWD transfer case.
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  207. $40k stripped, $54k loaded in the US.
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  208. In the good and the bad sense! 🙂
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  209. No.
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  210.  @curt5802  If you're throwing shade at me, I kept my last two cars for 17 and 10 years respectively and now own a Lexus, my first new car in 29 years. As a college teacher, you should know better by now than to try to persuade people by calling them juvenile names. But then, you've already bragged to strangers who didn't ask about your money, your houses, your cars and your job, so... lol.
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  211.  @curt5802  Curt, you were perfectly content to start this subthread with an ad hominem attack on a whole generation of posters you've never even met. We agree on one thing: There's a great deal "you don't know." Not just about cars, but about people and about yourself.
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  212. I'll sum it up...lazy trolling post.👎
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  213.  @user-cx2bk6pm2f  You're really good at attempted sarcasm, babe. And I'm confident you won't let anyone tell you differently.
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  214.  @user-cx2bk6pm2f  You're really really good at attempted sarcasm, babe. And I'm confident you won't let anyone else tell you differently.
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  215.  @user-cx2bk6pm2f  You can direct junior-high slights at me to your heart's content, so long as you stop insulting our host for providing us useful information at no cost.
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  216. The best way to understand the ES F Sport is that Lexus discontinued the sporty-handling but slow-selling GS. They wanted to have something to offer those buyers without making a big investment, so they made an ES version with minor changes that "F Sported" it. You don't like it, there's still the regular ES for you.
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  217. Uh, yes, America has millions of used cars for sale. Could you be a little more specific?
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  218. Stating my bias up front, I own an ES. That said, I had a choice of cars that included the Camry, and I can assure you that if I thought the Camry was the same, I'd have saved half the money. Don't accept this bit of Internet conventional wisdom until you've driven the car.
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  219. You can find some now.
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  220. No. It's virtually impossible.
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  221. It's possible to put a Curt brand Camry/Avalon hitch on, but you have to do some considerable violence to the underside of the car. A guy posted with pictures at Club Lexus on his installation. You can also use a trunk-mounted carrier if you're willing to risk the paint damage; the Saris Bones appears to be the best choice available. If you try that, I'd get some cushioning material for the trunklid contact points, and the clear plastic Lexus applique to shield the top of the bumper.
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  222. I happen not to be religious, but even I'm put off by your needlessly belligerent comments toward someone who's done nothing to you except give you valuable free advice. Give the respect to others' beliefs that you expect us to give to yours.
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  223.  @user-cx2bk6pm2f  Good thing I didn't ask for your respect. I asked you to respect your host. This is a public forum, pal. You don't get to decide who responds to you. Get over yourself.
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  224. Then give serious consideration to buying some other car entirely, because just about every tester has come away saying that putting a firm handling suspension on this car ruins what makes it special without making it an agile-handling car. Watch Savagegeese's "ES: The Last and Best Updates" for more details.
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  225. I think you missed the point. This "wannabe Tesla" has neither the Tesla's crappy workmanship nor its EV range anxiety, just near silence and 45 mpg city.
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  226. Huh? As of 6 or so months ago, I think Lexus was unique among BMW, Audi, Mercedes and themselves in not offering a full electric car. I believe they just now introduced one.
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  227. Lots more differences than that, of course. Fabulous car. Of course, it also cost a lot more when new.
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  228. Just a recent style change.
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  229. TLX for steering and handling. ES for the 3 R's of room, ride and reliability.
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  230. The ES outsells the similarly sized BMW 5 and Audi A6 in America. I frankly have no idea what you're talking about. And Lexus did have a dedicated high-end platform in this size sedan, which they based the GS on. But nobody bought it, so they discontinued that model in this country.
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  231. Remarkably, they've stayed in business nonetheless.
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  232. Probably a bad idea because they would have near a half-inch larger diameter as well as wider sidewalls, throwing off your speedometer and odometer. Look for what's called "plus zero" tire sizing.
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  233. An ashtray insert that fits in the cupholder is available from the aftermarket.
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  234. They actually moved it 4" forward from 2021 because they added touchscreen capability and needed it to be within the driver's reach. They did the same thing on the LS as well.
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  235. Till 2023, they made it standard, but they got so much ridicule for the "geezer" feature that they dropped it entirely.
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  236.  @Ebergerud  I'm with you, Eric. Two of the reasons I jumped for my '22 were to get the V6 (I needn't have hurried) and the CD player (glad I did).
    1
  237. The ES is also made in Kentucky, but on a separate assembly line with handpicked workers trained in Japanese techniques, and built to tighter tolerances and higher quality standards. They kept the ES and killed the Avalon because the ES sold better even though it's higher-priced and more profitable.
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  238. The Lexus GS had all of those and nobody bought it, so they killed it.
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  239. As a longtime Toyota master technician, the Car Care Nut is not a fan of Hyundai quality. He's done videos on it.
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  240. Unless you get the business tax break, there's really no point in leasing an ES. The Germans and Koreans are nicer although less durable. Buy Japanes or lease German.
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  241. If nobody's ever told you that you're a repulsive bigot, let me be the first.
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  242. I can understand that, but I think Toyota felt they were losing those customers to SUVs anyway and wanted to have sedans that offered some unique appeal to buyers, like sportier proportions.
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  243.  @ckone671  It's not the same as auto start-stop, because the drivetrain can move the car by either gas or electric propulsion. So, unlike a gas-only car that shuts down the engine, you still have instant forward propulsion the moment you hit the gas, even though it takes a second for the gas engine to come on. It's part of the reason it gets otherwordly gas mileage for such a large car.
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  244. You are aware this guy has spent decades being in this engine up to his elbows, right?
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  245. Most reviewers who compared the two said the Avalon's top JBL stereo option was notably inferior to the Mark Levinson available in the ES.
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  246. This is true of top-line ES's sold outside the Americas, too. I think a couple things are in play: For one thing, in many countries a luxury car's owner doesn't drive it, but rather sits in the back. Also, in the US I think they're trying to hold the line on price and not step on the LS's toes.
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  247. I'm not CCN, but... that's a lot of miles. I suspect this has been an Uber car or similar, so I'm wary of it on that basis alone. Get an independent pre-purchase inspection and demand to see its service records before you buy. Also be advised that although the 2018 was an exceptionally reliable year even for this very reliable car, it is not very similar to this car except for its engine, so most comments in this review don't apply to it.
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  248. He did. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PL1h0IKtMjQ&t=0s
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  249. You aren't the only one who's asked that. Several reasons, I'd guess. One is to stay faintly competitive in handling with its German rivals. Maybe a bigger reason is that all cars today must be tall and slab-sided to meet side crash regulations if hit by an SUV. If the wheels and tires were small, it would look ill-proportioned. So, all carmakers have resorted to low-section tires and big, blingy wheels to visually fill the void. BTW, the base model ES has smaller 17-inchers.
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  250. For bulletproof reliability and smoother shifting, '17 or '18. For better performance and handling and more modern electronics & safety gear, '19.
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  251. Partly. For 30 years, the Camry/Avalon's folding seatback has been replaced on ES by a trapezoid-shaped structural brace to lend additional chassis stiffness, for ride and handling and to reduce rattles, creaks and squeaks. To that extent, yes, it could be called a noise reduction measure.
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  252. I'd get a '21 for two reasons: The early ones had problems with too-quiet rear speakers, and some '20s had a bad batch of fuel pumps. But if you haven't tried the touchpad infotainment, make sure you're okay with it, because lots of people absolutely aren't and the car didn't get a touchscreen until '22.
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  253. Depends on your priorities. Both are fine, reliable cars. Drive both in a variety of situations before you decide.
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  254. He's a veteran car service technician.
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  255. At the very worst, examples of these will last long enough for you to get a sweet-running used one.
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  256.  @burntnougat5341  Yeah, but one of them won't leave Grandpa grabbing his cane and limping down the roadside.
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  257. They did have a fine V6 AWD sedan in this class, the GS 350. It cost $10,000 more than the ES, so nobody bought it and it got killed off. Like it or not (and I don't either), the lower price and poorer handling is what the people want.
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  258.  @vvanguard  Glad to help.
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  259.  @luptonpittman6520  Yeah, Lupton, I'm with you this time. That is a somewhat puzzling comment.
    1
  260. Q: How you do say "I've never owned a German car" without saying it?
    1
  261. Styling and cost. Some of the structures under these plastic bumper covers are little more than a block of styrofoam. And they're not required by law to take an impact with no damage, just no damage to safety systems. (Some can't even do that, so don't ask me.)
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  262. I'm old enough to be your grandpa, I have and like CDs, and I'm not about to apologize for it. You'll note that the '23 has lost the CD player, probably for good. In its place is... nothing. You happy now?
    1
  263. Nav has never been standard on the ES. What is your basis other than thickness for saying the metal quality is "cheap"? And "very cheap paint and clearcoat"? That hasn't been either my observation or my experience. Yes, you're absolutely right about the dashboard material being crap, and if your dealer is in denial about your sunroof, you need to change dealers. But...?
    1
  264. You can get wood trim on the wheel, dash and doors in non-F Sport trims, but unfortunately most interior colors come with flat black stain taht looks bland as you say. I wish they hadn't copied the Germans in this regard.
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  265. All mass-market brands will always offer better price-value than luxury brands, because the economics of a luxury label are dictated by the smaller sales volumes and resulting need for higher profit margins per unit sold. Lexus exists for those who are willing and able to pay more to get more than a Toyota.
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  266.  @alex99398  Wow, you held off for five whole lines before you descended to the personal attacks. This guy makes no attempt to disguise that he admires Toyota products—he's worked on them for a living for decades, what did you expect? I'm calling out your original comment that "of course you are not going to have anything bad to say." He has, and if you'd watched his other videos as you claim you did, you'd have heard it. That proves you're a liar, no matter what hygiene device you compare me to as you gutlessly hide behind an Internet pseudonym. BTW, some people like me for my honesty. Pity you can't say the same for yourself.
    1
  267.  @mathisnotforthefaintofheart  The GS hybrid is a great vehicle, but it is not available with AWD.
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  268.  @mathisnotforthefaintofheart  My last car was an SH-AWD Acura. There are a few fundamentally different AWD systems, and their sensitivity to tread-depth and tire size mismatches varies, but yes, some are like that. I also agree that AWD doesn't make you invulnerable, and some think it does; I'm always half annoyed and half amused to see Jeep Wrangler drivers going 50 in a 30 zone in a snowstorm, oblivous to the fact that they can't stop or turn in the stuff any better than anyone else.
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  269. You obviously disagree, but Lexus has been making the ES for 30 years with a stiffening brace behind the back seat that makes fold-down rear seats impossible. I think they decided that luxury buyers valued the extra rigidity and body tightness more. Do they? I guess you'd have to take that up with Toyota.
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  270. Similar. Not quite the same. More sound insulation, better interior materials, better stereos, better ride quality, closer assembly tolerances, richer paint, better dealer experience.
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  271. Glad you enjoy your F Sport, but for the sake of those reading this and shopping, it should be noted that the adaptive suspension is in fact stiffer than the regular suspension even when adjusted to its softest setting.
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  272. Lots of other people have done that already, and it's a poor investment of a car reviewer's time to review a car that's about to be discontinued. Short version: The Maxima goes fast in a straight line, handles better than the ES but not as well as AWD or RWD rivals, and loses in room, ride and reliability.
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  273. Fair criticism of the coarse-engined ES 250. The hybrid ES 300h and the V6-powered ES 350, you'll be more impressed when you drive one. Smoother ride, better sound suppresion, nicer interior.
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  274. Probably less cushy, but in the Luxury and Ultra Luxury trims, more adjustable.
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  275. Many have criticized it, but Lexus has done this on the ES for over 30 years to allow for a stiffening brace in its stead. At least they're consistent.
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  276. Depends on his priorities. Both will be very reliable and durable. The 300h hybrid will get spectacular gas mileage. The V6 350 will deliver smooth, melodious power with an engine that's about to be permanently unavailable starting in 2025.
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  277. Yes.
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  278. How many anti-ES trolling posts have you sprinkled throughout this thread? I've already counted three. If this keeps up for 4 hours, see your doctor.
    1
  279. Huh? What issue?
    1
  280. "Even"? The GS cost $10,000 more and was an excellent car that was engineered to a higher standard with costiler parts than any ES. Unfortunately, not enough people were willing to pay for that level of excellence in a car that didn't give them a German badge to show off to their neighbors.
    1
  281.  @joelthorne7434  They have multiple greys. Buy another, or better yet, get the better-looking pearl white, red or blue.
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  282. That will not happen, ever. The ES outsold the GS over 10 to 1 because its parts sharing with the Camry makes it a better value for money, which is what more people care about.
    1
  283. Lexus does. 99% certain you'll see six-cylinder engines disappear from the ES for good in 2026. Answer to "why": emissions regulations.
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  284. Then why did you even watch this video, let alone post in this thread?
    1
  285. Now that they've announced the 2026, it's official: You're a prophet.
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  286. Now he does. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-SAX1q2zNk
    1
  287. Unlikely. He's a Toyota master technician, so he tends to stick to Toyota and Lexus products. There is a very good YouTube review of the Pilot from Savagegeese, though.
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  288. What did you think of it?
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  289. Do it. The battery holds up for 8+ years.
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  290. The wind noise depends in part on the trim level. The Luxury and Ultra Luxury have sound reducing glass reported to mute wind noise heard around the mirrors and A pillars in other trims.
    1
  291. I'm willing to bet you sat in a Luxury or Ultra Luxury. The leather smell really adds to the luxury ambience.
    1
  292.  @da1nonly_Q  I've heard someone smarter than me say that Lexus matches the likes of Bentley in delivering aromatic leathers.
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  293. Then you'd never have bought one, because the ES has replaced the folding rear seat feature with a structural reinforcing brace behind the seatback for over 30 years.
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  294. He has made clear over his videos that his career as a Lexus/Toyota master mechanic has given him a lot of confidence in Toyota's dedication to quality and durability. Toyota is not the best at everything—they trail in technology and performance—but he believes they are very well made.
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  295. I didn't know about the hook in the trunk, either!
    1
  296. You can't get rid of the screen. And in truth, if it were gone, you'd have much less control over various aspects of the car. Wood is optional, although most interior colors they stain it flat black so you hardly even notice it, sadly.
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  297. Bogus price comparison between a lower-priced new car and a higher-priced car that's depreciated because it's now used.
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  298.  @JohnnyUtah9173  And some owners experience lack of traction when turning corners under heavy acceleration. I replaced the tires to stop the problem, and i still have it. It's not your place to tell somebody else to buy a $40-55k, 302-horsepower luxury sedan and then never use the accelerator because you don't.
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  299.  @JohnnyUtah9173  It's not automotive enthusiasm, either.
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  300. "The better car" was your opinion, partly because of folding rear seats. But, for 30 years, the ES has always replaced folding rear seats with an added structural brace because Lexus felt luxury buyers valued the extra quiet and rigidity more. The ES also beats the Avalon in interior luxury, audio system, paint quality, body tolerances, and sound isolation.
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  301. You're mistaken. This car is built in Kentucky.
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  302.  @LordCommandor  Check again, "Lord."
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  303. Mostly, but with numerous subtle upgrades throughout. More structural bracing, better soundproofing, higher-quality interior materials, better paint, tighter body gaps, better audio systems.
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  304. Spoken like a jealous Camry owner. 😂
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  305.  @LGN26  "It can't be debated"? I disagree. Am I forbidden from saying so?
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  306.  @LGN26  Thanks for "telling me." Uh, you do understand that opinions about styling are just that -- opinions. Right?
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  307.  @LGN26  There are similarities like the rear-fender sculpting, but also differences like the rear quarter window treatment -- which I think looks both good and distinctive on each car. Really, across all makes, the demands of safety and fuel economy have pushed all cars toward a common shape that's left little wiggle room except for the grille and the rear quarter windows/pillars. Compare both of these with, say, an Altima and it's as similar to these as they are to each other.
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  308. With some upgrades. For one, they now use both direct and port fuel injection, improving gas mileage and performance.
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  309. He is in the Midwest.
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  310. True of some older cars, but all the good newer ones are designed to withstand it.
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  311. Not "also." All ES's are just fine on regular.
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  312. Even Kia doesn't do the Stinger anymore.
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  313. The GS was on an entirely different platform that was made for RWD. Rightly or wrongly, this platform didn't leave enough space underneath for both AWD and a V6.
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  314.  @crxracer805  Probably so. Among other things, they knew they'd soon be abandoning the V6 entirely, and wasted space is wasted weight that hurts roominess, performance and gas mileage.
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  315. Higher-trim non- F Sports have real wood on the steering wheel, dash and doors (where the F Sport has wide strips of aluminum). Problem is, in most interior colors, it's stained flat black so it doesn't look like much of anything, probably in a misguided attempt to copy the current German fashion.
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