bullrider

My mom just had an accident and totaled her beautiful 98 ES300. She wants to get another Lexus but I doubt we'll find one as nice, no rust, <100K miles, for the $4500 she paid for that one two years ago. I thought maybe I could move her up to a newer model. IMO the next generation was definitely a more refined vehicle - smoother, quieter etc. I own a 2005 ES330 and it's very nice BUT it has some drivability issues I don't want her to have to deal with at her age. Once in a while the trans seems uncertain about what gear to be in (the classic problem people take these cars in to get reprogrammed for) and also IMO there is too much of a lag between stepping on the gas and the engine responding when you pull out from a stop.

Are there any years of the fourth gen ES300 or 330 which don't have these issues? Does a Camry of the same vintage also have the same drivabiliity quirks?
How about a Camry with a 4 cyl instead of the V6, is anyone aware if it would be any different in that respect?
I'm looking for an older Lexus or Camry (I guess, or an Avalon) that isn't going to behave in a way she's not used to. I'd sell her my Lexus and buy a newer one but she wouldn't like the laggy gas pedal response for sure. Thanks.

LeX2K

1st generation Solara V6 fits the bill and no herky jerky transmission.

bullrider

Thanks - that is worth knowing. But she's a senior citizen and I think possibly she might prefer a 4 door. What years would be a 1st gen Solara? I'd expect a Lexus of those years to also hopefully be good?
Did that Solara also avoid the lag when you step on the gas? That's my biggest complaint about my 05 ES330, that half second lag.

LeX2K

The 1st generation Solara V6 has no throttle lag, the 2nd generation came with the 5-speed automatic which I assume is similar if not the same as the Camry and ES in respect to programming. So it probably has the lag as well. You want to avoid the 4-cylinder version of the Solara for two reasons, one the 2.2 liter 5S-FE is under-powered for the car the engine that replaced the 5S was the 2AZ-FE which is prone to head gasket failure due to poor design of the head bolts.

I personally think the 1st gen Solara V6 is a really nice car and not many on the road, but if you must have a 4-door then of course the car is not for you. If your mom wants a sedan then why not look for another 2000-2001 ES? You will probably have to travel a bit or even go out of state to find a clean example but it would be worth it.

bullrider

All very good suggestions. Thanks - maybe she'd consider the Solara, but otherwise I guess the 3rd gen ES would be best to find a nice clean one of.

speedkar9

I've had the 4 cylinder Camry, ES330 and currently have the first gen V6 Solara.

The 4 cylinder Camry doesn't have as laggy of a gas pedal, even though it is drive by wire. However, as these vehicles age, the head bolt stripping issue is becoming common and it can get more expensive to repair than the vehicle is worth. Other than that, its not a bad, if not BORING car...

The ES330 definitely has drive ability issues especially with its laggy tranny and throttle, that's why I sold mine. However it seems to be the ES that suffers from it the most. I haven't seen much complaints about it on the Camry/Solara forums with the same 3MZ V6 power train. I've driven my dad's Toyota Sienna with the 3MZ V6 and while it does still have the lag and jerk, its not nearly as bad as it was in my ES330.

The Solara is just an amazing car. Little demand in the used car market have made the prices drop a lot for these and a decent sample can be had for less than a 4 door variant. They're more refined and feature filled than the Camry, have the same reliable powertrain as your ES300. I love the way my Solara looks and how smooth the 1MZ engine is. The only thing I wish it had (living at home with family) is 4 doors! And that might be the deal breaker for your mother too. The seats are a bit lower than a Camry/ES, so make sure she can get in and out of it with ease.

If not the Solara, I recommend a Camry V6 (05-06, make sure you test the tranny), a face lifted 03-04 Avalon, or a 97-98 ES300 (avoid 99-01 tranny issues). There's also the Highlander or Matrix to consider too.