I have been following posts from this BB for a few months now due to my huge interest in the 2002 TL type S. As many others here I will be purchasing a new car in <1 year. I realize it is so difficult to choose between two cars that aren't even out yet but I am leaning toward the '02 TL-S over the new '02 ES300 which I haven't even seen yet. Well for the first time I found what the new ES300 will look like (pic from a Lexus SalesReps personal webpage). Like to get some feedback, tell me what you think? Looks like a Civic on steroids to me. Anyone seen this car before? It says Mark II on the front plate. Thanks in advance for your opinions.
http://www.google.com/search?q=cache...us+es300&hl=en

 

Those headlights are horrible.

 

Really? If the new ES looks like that, then Lexus is really going after the Civic look, as if the IS wasn't already an overpriced Civic in alumninum trim.

Seriously though, I think the TL has much more to offer in terms of quality, features, and style than the ES even if they were comparably priced. Since they're not comparably priced, this makes the TL an even sweeter deal.



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'01 TL with Navi
Naples Gold Metallic
Everything is stock for the moment
except for a big plush teddy bear in the back seat.

 

Also, that is the Toyota Mark II which is totally different from the ES300 (Toyota Windom in Japan)....the Mark II is a RWD car...

just my 2c

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2000 Naples Gold 3.2TL/Navi - Factory Stock but with up-graded tires

 

bebber..I agree I think the TL-S is a very sweet deal. Patients is a virtue I wish I had. I'll have to wait to see them both in person. It seems you cant beat the TL-S at that price with the features they offer. By the time Lexus' nickle and dimes you in options it gets rediculous.

hunter001..I stumbled across this site a few minutes ago. They show the Toyota Windom as the same as the next gen ES300 different than the Mark II. It looks pretty tough. The Mark II is also shown further down on the page. Don't know how much I trust the source after all they don't even know what side to put the steering wheel on! :-) Check it out. http://www.geocities.com/busybeetoys/scoop/edn22.htm

 

Seeing that Lexus only confirms what all of us on this board already believe -- Acura TL's leading the pack right now.

 

If that is the new ES300, then I don't think Lexus is going to have good sales with it.....it looks like a Pontiac Bonneville from the front...Yuck!!!

just my 2c



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2000 Naples Gold 3.2TL/Navi - Factory Stock but with up-graded tires

 

Nothing against a Civic, but this Lexus looks like the previous gen Civic. The TL seems like a slam dunk.

 

<img src="http://www.toyota.co.jp/Showroom/All_toyota_lineup/MarkII/exterior/images/ex01_svg.jpg" width="800" height="600"></p>


<img src="http://www.toyota.co.jp/Showroom/All_toyota_lineup/MarkII/exterior/images/ex02_svg.jpg" width="800" height="600"></p>


<img src="http://www.toyota.co.jp/Showroom/All_toyota_lineup/MarkII/exterior/images/ex03_svg.jpg" width="800" height="600"></p>


<img src="http://www.toyota.co.jp/Showroom/All_toyota_lineup/MarkII/exterior/images/ex04_svg.jpg" width="800" height="600"></p>


What do you think?</p>

 

As mentioned earlier, this photograph is of the Toyota Mark II , which is a Rear-wheel-drive vehicle - similar to the GS/LS/IS series of Lexus. The ES300 - Toyota Windom is a Front-wheel-drive vehicle and is completely different. The Mark II is not based on the Toyota Camry unlike the ES300 which shares its platform with the Toyota Camry along with the Lexus RX300, Toyota Avalon and Toyota Highlander...

But if the ES300 looks like the photos, then it certainly looks a lot better than the previous generation ES300. Hopefully they would also have updated the transmission to a 5-speed automatic like the Acura 3.2TL and increased the Engine size from the current 3.0L engine shared with the Toyota Camry (having additional Variable valve timing heads) to a 3.1 or 3.2L engine...

From the back, the Mark II bears some resemblance to the current Mercedes Benz E320...


just my 2c

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2000 Naples Gold 3.2TL/Navi - Factory Stock but with up-graded tires

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">[This message has been edited by hunter001 on March 09, 2001 @ ]</font>

 

yohirosi..Where did you find these pics? They're nice. Do you know of any pictures of the Toyota Windom (top pic on this page http://www.geocities.com/busybeetoys/scoop/edn22.htm ?) I believe the TL-S still is a much nicer looking car than that Mark II. I couldnt see spending ~35k and have to deal with the civic factor. However the point is moot because I think the next gen ES300 is going to be a clone of the `02 Windom. Windom pics of the same quality of those you found of the Mark II would be perfect to compare to the TL-S. Got any? The ES300 is going to be out in Sept `01, I want to see what it looks like so I can rule it out for sure now and drive my TL-S sooner.

Later.

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">[This message has been edited by Y2k Grad on March 09, 2001 @ ]</font>