Es350

[glen]

My mom is thinking about getting the Lexus ES350.
She loved her 2004 ES330.
I cannot think of any reason to change a good thing, but she wants a backup camer and SAT Nav. She is looking at a 2011 ES350 now.
Anything I need to consider?

 

[JulesMaximus]

It's a great car. Other than fuel economy I can't think of anything wrong with this car.

 

[Jimzz]

Is she a badge queen or really likes that style?

If she likes the style, wants to save money, and is not a badge queen tell her to get an Avalon. Drops in price quicker so she gets more of the same car for less. Same motor, trans, etc...

 

[jaedaliu]

If she's happy with the model and can afford the new one, why not?

 

[A5]

Is she a badge queen or really likes that style?

If she likes the style, wants to save money, and is not a badge queen tell her to get an Avalon. Drops in price quicker so she gets more of the same car for less. Same motor, trans, etc...

ES350 is a bit smaller than the Avalon. More like a V6 Camry with a really nice interior. Great car for a lot of people.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Is she a badge queen or really likes that style?

If she likes the style, wants to save money, and is not a badge queen tell her to get an Avalon. Drops in price quicker so she gets more of the same car for less. Same motor, trans, etc...

Believe it or not the ES350 handles a bit better than the Avalon. They've improved the Avalon a lot but it still isn't as good as the Lexus.

 

[mmntech]

ES350 is a bit smaller than the Avalon. More like a V6 Camry with a really nice interior. Great car for a lot of people.

ES350 is basically a souped up Camry. Built on the same platform with a better engine, suspension, and nicer interior. As far as luxury cars go, it's as bland as any Toyota. They haven't changed the interior style much over the last 15 years. They're pretty bullet proof though, ride nice. Refined. Don't see too many new ones on the road anymore though. All the yuppies are getting the RXs.

Fuel economy is okay with them all things considered. It's a V6. Average for a car its size and engine displacement. My only issue is they take premium, which ramps fuel costs up. I've driven the 2011 and I liked it. Rides nice. More refined and less flashy than BMW and Audi yet somehow not quite as stuffy as Lincoln and Acura.

 

[Jimzz]

ES350 is a bit smaller than the Avalon. More like a V6 Camry with a really nice interior. Great car for a lot of people.

2011 Avalon
Length 197.6 in
Width 72.8 in
Height 58.5 in

2011 ES350
Length 191.1 in
Width 71.7 in
Height 57.1 in


So 6" shorter, 1.1" less width, and another 1.4" in height. Not really that differant.

 

[A5]

2011 Avalon
Length 197.6 in
Width 72.8 in
Height 58.5 in

2011 ES350
Length 191.1 in
Width 71.7 in
Height 57.1 in


So 6" shorter, 1.1" less width, and another 1.4" in height. Not really that differant.

2011 Camry:
Length: 189.2 in
Width: 71.7 in
Height: 57.5 in

Differences: ES350 is 1.9 in longer, 0 in wider, and 0.4 in taller. Way closer to the Camry than the Avalon.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Not my cup of tea at all, but it is certainly a highly reliable, well built car. I would not hesitate to recommend an ES350 to an older, female relative. Lexuses do not speak to my heart, but my head says they're great cars.

 

[pauldun170]

Fuel economy is okay with them all things considered. It's a V6. Average for a car its size and engine displacement. My only issue is they take premium, which ramps fuel costs up.

You're spending $40,000+ on a car and you are complaining about an additional $100-$200 a year for premium fuel?

If it bothers you that much, you should tell the salesman to knock $200 off the sales price to compensate for the high cost of premium fuel.
The economy and all.....

 

[Jimzz]

You're spending $40,000+ on a car and you are complaining about an additional $100-$200 a year for premium fuel?

If it bothers you that much, you should tell the salesman to knock $200 off the sales price to compensate for the high cost of premium fuel.
The economy and all.....

OP is looking used, not new. Also easier to search gas prices by Reg but not so much by Prem.
The prem is cheaper at the more costly Reg gas place but more costly at the cheaper Reg gas station.

 

[KDKPSJ]

2011 Avalon
Length 197.6 in
Width 72.8 in
Height 58.5 in

2011 ES350
Length 191.1 in
Width 71.7 in
Height 57.1 in


So 6" shorter, 1.1" less width, and another 1.4" in height. Not really that differant.

Actually.. I think that is A LOT of difference since those numbers mean ES is the size of E class and Avalon is close to the size of S class. I know Avalon is one class bigger than ES, but didn't expect that much.

On the other hand, newer gen Avalon is now smaller than the previous gen while newer gen ES is now bigger than the previous gen, so they are getting closer.

 

[Sidekicknichola]

I had one as a loan for a few days while my IS was getting worked on... great car, the ride is amazingly smooth.

coming from the IS, the ES felt "big" to me, but I don't see a reason not to go for it.

 

[pauldun170]

OP is looking used, not new. Also easier to search gas prices by Reg but not so much by Prem.
The prem is cheaper at the more costly Reg gas place but more costly at the cheaper Reg gas station.

She's looking at a 2011.
I think this comes down to one of those things where you have to expect "Luxury car prices" no matter what the entry point is (used or new)

If the wallet is tight enough where $100-$200 a year makes a difference, I don't think you should be shopping in the luxury car segment at all.
If its just a matter of principle, then that's another matter.

 

[pauldun170]

As for the ES350 itself, I can't think of any reason why the average driver should be steered away from it. It's not like the original ones where it was basically a Camry with an appearance and interior package.
Its solid car.

 

[hans007]

She's looking at a 2011.
I think this comes down to one of those things where you have to expect "Luxury car prices" no matter what the entry point is (used or new)

If the wallet is tight enough where $100-$200 a year makes a difference, I don't think you should be shopping in the luxury car segment at all.
If its just a matter of principle, then that's another matter.

My aunt has a 2011 es350. Its nice for what it is which is basically a super camry. The new 2013 ones are based on the Avalon but the last gen was Camry based and thus about the same size.

 

[pauldun170]

My aunt has a 2011 es350. Its nice for what it is which is basically a super camry. The new 2013 ones are based on the Avalon but the last gen was Camry based and thus about the same size.

Technically, both the Avalon and the ES350 are "super Camry's"

 

[dbk]

it's so smooth and quiet..does't feel too much like a boat

 

[hans007]

Technically, both the Avalon and the ES350 are "super Camry's"

yeah but the ES has traditionally been more or less the same size car. same aunt had like a 2001 camry also, which shares a lot of body panels with the same year camry.

 

[meloz]

ES350 is basically a souped up Camry. Built on the same platform

The new (latest gen) ES has nothing to do with Camry. It shares its platform with Avalon.

Nice car.