We are slowly entering the market for a new car. Our 04 TL has been the best car we have ever owned. With this site and some time and learning I can and have fixed and performed most problems and maintenance. We have gone out and driven the new TL, ES350 and GS37. The TL interior unfortunately felt too much like our 04 and we want to feel like we have a new car. The Infiniti was nice but was not out fav. The ES seems to be our pick. With that being said, does anyone have experience with the ES's? Are they as easy and inexpensive to work on compared to the TL's? Are the any major maintenance issues that can't de tackled by the average DIY weekend mechanic? Thoughts???

 

TL Very sporty

ES350 A marshmellow-super smooth, but sloppy on corners.

 

Performance is not the selling point. Comfort, reliability and ease of maintenance are the main factors.

 

Lexus makes great cars and have very good reputation. I recommend checking out clublexus.com - very good forum and helpful information.

Good luck with your shopping...

 

if performance not a concern then ES is the one you want.. the other two cars are a marriage of performance and quality... ES give you quality ride and no performance... good car.. actually great car if all you desire is to stay near the speed limit and not drive agressive.. the funny part is somehow the ES does not fit in with the IS or GS.. but fits with the LS..
ES is roomy and IS and GS is not... IS/GS match more the TSX/TL than anything else

 

The ES350 is the perfect car for you.

We had one so I know quite a bit about it. Compared to the TL the ES350 has some advantages. The six speed automatic transmission in the ES350 is much better then our crap 5AT. Its MUCH more comfortable then our TL. Road trips were always a pleasant experience in that car. Compared to the TL the ES350 gets much better MPG. Would average 24-26 in the city compared to the 17-19 the TL gets. On the highway it was the same for both cars 30-32 MPG. The ES is a very big car inside. Its much bigger then IS (IS is very small) and slightly bigger then GS. But it falls under the GS.

Not sure what kind of ES350 you are for at but ours was loaded. The leather quality and the interior components were much better built in the ES. The TL leather is the worst I have ever seen. The xenon lights were great because they were adaptive. Downside was no bixenon. Parking sensors+navigation made the car feel very luxurious and hightech. (I dont have either in the TL).

Exterior wise the ES350 is nothing special. I never liked the design. Its very boring to look and its very boring to drive. The exterior paint finish was not the best. Had several clear coat issues. Oil change at Lexus dealer was $120 for normal oil non synthetic. Best bet is to go to Toyota dealer or DIY.

ES350 is much more easier to work on. For the TL you have to drop the bumper to replace a simple headlight bulb. Replacing bulbs/normal wear and tear stuff was a breeze on the ES.

Lexus dealers I find are better then Acura dealers. I know this is very simple stuff that most people don't care about but I find it interesting....maybe you will? When dropping my car off at a Acura I feel like I am at a toyota dealership. They have the same stuff, just simple coffee, no computers, just a small lounge and one tv. At Lexus its a very different experience. They offer great food (breakfast/lunch), computers, wifi, multiple tv lounges, great loaner cars, etc. Its very similar to the BMW/Mercedes experience I have had.

Overall. The ES350 feels more luxurious and is more high tech then our TL. If you are looking for a luxurious ride that is very comfortable, easy to maintain, has a lot of features the ES350 is the car for you. If you like sporty driving then the ES350 is not the car for you. ES350 handles like a boat. Go test drive the 3G GS350.....its the best of both worlds. Comfort, reliability of a Lexus and has a sport feel like Acura. (much better because the GS is RWD/AWD).

Check out the CL forum. http://www.clublexus.com/forums/es350-180/

I know we have another member from Azine on there who has a 3G TL and a ES350.....hope he also chimes in.

Another thing I suggest. Lets say you found a Lexus you like....you can easily view all the work that has ever been done to it (if by Lexus dealer) using this website. https://secure.drivers.lexus.com/lexusdrivers/home Register for an account and register whatever car your looking at under your name. It will give you all the information. I found it very useful. I hope you do too!

I hope I helped!

 

Im kind of surprised you feel that the new TL interior is too similar to your 3G TL. I have an 07 Type S that is even more updated than the older 04 TL's and I still think it feels completely different from the 2012 TL Advance loaner I have right now.

Lexus has always been great and reliable vehicles, and their customer service is also very good. Unfortunately for me, as nice as the ES is there just really isnt a whole lot of enjoyment from driving it. I understand it wasnt designed to be a super sporty or exhilirating car to drive, but as a car enthusiast I gotta have that in a car.

In my opinion, out of the cars you listed my choice would go to a 2012 TL SH-AWD with the advanced package. If you were planning on getting just a base TL then my opinion would change, but the SH with advanced is damn nice. I have had the loaner now for going on a week and it blows my mind how they made a somewhat large, and very heavy sedan feel and drive as if I was in my Corvette. It easily feels lighter, more agile and sporty than my 07 Type S 6mt. VERY quiet and solid interior, and the new ventilated seats feel amazingly more comfortable to my than my 07 Type S seats. This is all an unbiased opinion as I have owned Lexus vehicles, and currently do not even own a 4G TL. I personally find the 4G SH-AWD advanced to be a fun and very comfortable car to drive.

 

Yeah I saw the 4G up close and in person at a meet Friday night and I was impressed. I was watching a video on youtube earlier in which they were comparing the AWD system on cars. They had compared the Audi A7 and the 2012 Acura TL SH-AWD and the Acura did much better then the Audi. I was very impressed and surprised.

 

The 4G interior is a good evolution from the 3G... I wouldn't say they are very similar, but there is definitely a resemblance. Depending on my mood, I sometimes prefer the touchscreen on the 3G, but sometimes I prefer the knob on the 4G.

I do feel the 4G has lost some sportiness (comparing 4G SH-AWD vs 3G TL-S). 4G seems to gear more towards luxury than the sportiness. It's easier to steer, but the suspension and overall "feel" is of a bigger luxury car. I always feel like the 4G sits higher too...

 

Can't go wrong with the Lexus. Great reliability, comfort, and performance. If you want comfort AND sportyness, get the GS! Wait for the new 2013 Lexus ES that is rumored to take styling ques from the new GS. Good luck!

 

really diggin' the new GS. i haven't liked lexus in a while because all of their designs aside from the IS were getting all "bubbly" and "curvy" lookin'.

 

ES = Camry. TL = Accord in terms of where the design came from. I would pick the TL bc the ES is nice and all, but the tail lights are not LED. and if u go ES, at least get the latest model with the minor facelift.

 

the new GS is hot, i saw it at the 2012 auto show, but the tail lights are dissapointing. it looks like a hyundai sonata tail light and its not sporty looking or aggressive like its front. and if u hate curves, the Infiniti line is definately not for u, they got curves and bubbles all over.

 

Have you considered the Sonata or the Optima?

 

hmm... the back of the GS doesn't look like a Hyundai to me. It looks more in line with the IS.

And Hyundai's are looking like fish nowadays... their bumper lines look like an open fish mouth.

and Nissan > Infiniti as far as the design goes.

 

I say no to all of them.

Lexus is getting to "flashy" and copying others car designs at an alarming rate. (Seems to copy-cat to me-- takes time for the "pursuit of perfection") (Not 100% sure though)

G37 is ok, nothing real special. Great engine, RWD, power, but lacks a interior.

TL is fuglish, not as bad as before though. Great AWD system, and good interior.

 

Nissan Versa, Cube, Sentra, and Maxima are all ugly.

The Altima is meh... ok.. but still ugly.

GTR

Infiniti G37 Sedan and M37/45 is nice!

IDK why but the G37 coupes to me look ugly from the rear. Too rounded off imo

 

Is German out of the question here? E-Class or 5 Series maybe?

 

I'd really consider the Genesis. Years ago I'd laugh crying but Hyundai has really turned the tables. They look promising and really 'for the people'.

 

I vote for M-Benz E350 or even the new BMW 5-series also.

I never liked the look of the previous 5-series, but the new face lift enhanced the look of the rear tail lights A LOT. It resembles the 7-series from the rear and the 7-series looks player.



M-Benz E350

 

I too am surprised that you would even put the 4G TL interior in the same class as the 3G. We had an 09 TL SH-AWD as a loaner a couple years ago when our 07 was in for service. The 4th gen's interior is leaps and bounds better than the 3rd gen. Nicer materials and more refined.

I would skip on the G37. I'm just not a fan. The interior is drab and they don't hold up overall as well as an Acura or Lexus over time.

The ES350 is nice but is about to be replaced with a new model here in the next few months. Either wait to get the new one or get one of the last of the current models on the lot for a deeply discounted price once the new ones come out. This is probably the best option for you if you're just looking for comfort and reliability. There's nothing sporty about them at all. Just a nice plush ride and dead silent cabin.

 

The new 5 series ie eh in the shape department. Too similar to the 7 series. The new 3 series F30 looks similar as well. The 3/5/7 are not as unique anymore. The E60 (last gen) and E39 (2 gen ago) were the best 5 series every made. But I might be biased.

 

Get the new 2013 GS coming out, or an IS-F

These are the only Lexus I like.

But for a SMOOTH ride, very relaible, get the ES 350.

A Marshmellow boring car.

Or a Certified/Used 2008 335i sedan with the sport pkg---A MUST

 

Performance TL
Luxury Es
Disclose, I owned a TL and have RX 350

 

Can't go wrong with an ES350. What years are you looking at?

 

Good freaking crap. 8 year thread bump.

 

lol....i suspect that he made a choice by now....I think that he bought a Jetta

 

Jetta? It's like having a choice between winning a lottery or being healthy forever, but instead choosing to shot yourself in the foot.