Lex6

Hi everyone!

Been shopping around for a while now. Looking for a right car.

I have tested 07 UL package a while ago, really liked the car, how it drives, really quit, very smooth, good acceleration, very comfy etc... the only concern for me is it spacious enough ? I'm driving around 90% in town, how is it on a long trips with 2 - 4 people.... ?

Immediately after I parked ES 350, I have tried LS 460 07 AWD, somehow it felt under power for me, maybe cuz it's a awd.. ES was faster in my opinion. It had it 100k miles on it, the car felt really solid like a rock, safer, but slower. Maybe a RWD would feel differently.

My plan is keep the car for 5 years or so, I'm also concern about maintenance costs too. As today I'm pretty much can get a LS 460 07 or ES 350 UL 10-12' for the same price. So, please share your thoughts with me.

Thanks everyone.

ESh

If you can get '12 ES than go with it.

CQRT

Apples and oranges.

Sporty, medium sized platform versus large luxury - -

For 90% in town driving, I would think a nimble, mid-size would be preferred - - better fuel mileage too.

Aron9000

^ I actually feel like the LS drives/handles/rides way nicer than the ES. Size wise there isn't that much of a difference IMO, yes the LS is bigger, but not enough to be annoying like driving a Town Car or crew cab pickup.

12jimmyjam

I've read about some reliability issues with the ls460 on this forum. I'd actually look at the 2013 es if I were keeping the car for 5 years. It's got the same proven and reliable drivetrain of the previous generation but won't look nearly as dated during the next half decade. But good luck and enjoy!

Blueshark

I've been in the same boat last summer, tested a good priced LS460L 2009, had all the amendities available (executive package). I like the drive mainly of the the AWD. Since i have the ES ultra luxury, the LS as a little bit more toyes than the my present ES. I know that people will say it is not in the same category, but i find the ES fully loaded can touch the LS with some plus: lower parts price, gas.

I dislike the navi in the LS for some reason vs the ES, the voice guidance is more nicer in the ES.

Space wise, the LS SWB is a bit larger from the interior, but not that much vs my ES, i now that the newer ES 13+ as more room as it is based on the Avalon platform.

Eventually, as i go older, i will probably get a LS for my next car, but planning a budget for maintenance will be warrant for peace of mind (insurance, gas, repair)

GCL

iTrader: (1)

If rear seat room is important to you, go for the ES.

The LS has the.huge center hump. The ES is virtually the only luxury car (outside of SUVs) with a relatively flat rear floor pan. It makes all the difference for rear passengers.

yeskay

es 350. if you travel involved 90% city, think about all the parking situation you would face with the 460. Plus the es 350 is lower maintenance vs 460.

HenryF

The ES is certainly going to have lower maintenance costs in some aspects, but think of the water pump and spark plugs/coil packs. Thanks to the transverse mounting of the engine, the water pump is extremely difficult to access even for DIYers, thus leading to high costs. A Lexus quote put it the work estimate around $1,100. Same for the spark plugs.
The LS, on the other hand, has issues with the control arm bushings. Air struts are also more expensive.

As far as parking, the LS460 is 2" wider and 8" longer than an ES350. If your city has tons of tight parking, it's going to be a bad time for you. If the spots are normal-size, you'll be fine.

On to driving. The LS460 AWD is definitely down on power due to the exhaust design that must conform to the AWD system. The RWD is faster than both the AWD model and the ES350, though it may not feel like it due to the extremely quiet cabin. The LS460 is significantly quieter than an ES350 and it also handle bumps and potholes better. Furthermore, the ES 350 has a worse tendency to develop rattles. On the highway and on long trips, you're going to be much happier in the LS 460 because it's spacious and it's quiet even on bad pavement. The ES 350 is quiet on good pavement, but it does not cope well with rougher roads and you get a lot of road noise intrusion. Texas is filled with rough roads and I know this first-hand.

It's an easy pick for the LS460. It's quiet, you're going to get about the same gas mileage, it's spacious, it's more luxurious, etc. Unless you're greatly limited by parking size, I'd get the LS. If you know parking is going to be a struggle, the ES is better.

SW17LS

Having had multiple of each, the LS is a considerably better car as you would imagine given the price difference when new. Its considerably smoother, quieter, more refined, interior is much higher quality, better room, they age better...very high quality car while the ES is more typical mainstream quality.

With that said, you're comparing a considerably newer ES to an older LS, you have to be willing and able to deal with more repair costs, etc as the LS is at this point 9 years old. If you're going to be financing this car bear that in mind too, you'e going to have a considerably older car and still making payments on it.

Day to day operating costs the LS isn't much more expensive to drive than the ES. Parking in the city isn;t really that big a deal either.

My 2010 ES was a great car, but it was no LS.