kreativ

Hello everyone,

I just purchased a 2002 ES 300 and thought I'd share with you my thoughts on this newly redesigned car.

I'm going from a first-generation LS400, and the car definitely feels like an upgrade. It's almost as big (the LS430 was too big for my taste), and has a vastly upgraded interior that justifies it as a "baby LS".

(Updated 1/02)
Pictures: http://home.earthlink.net/~kreativ/Lexus/

Likes:
1. Leather quality - the same high grade as used in the flagship LS, and the best out of all '02 luxury cars I sat in.
2. Ride quality - absorbs road anomalies very well.
3. Interior design - very refined, quiet cabin, a lot of new features not in my LS (electrochromic mirrors, homelink transmitters, trip computer, 6 airbags, auto-up/down on all windows and moonroof, etc.), wood trimmings.
4. Exterior design - It's been controversial, which means it isn't boring. And it's aerodynamic, with a drag coefficient of 0.28
4. HID lights - Extremely bright, more so because the headlights in my LS were so lousy.
5. New 5 speed transmission - lower rev at highway speeds. Decent 21/29 fuel economy. Takes some urging to downshift for uphill climbs though, which can be a complaint for some.
6. auto-sensing wipers - modulates wiper speed to the amount of rain falling, has sensitivty adjustment.

Dislikes:
1. Standard audio system is only 86 watts (seems low for powering 6 speakers and a subwoofer; how much is in previous year Lexus?), and has excessive background hiss. You have to have sensitive hearing to pick it up though. Under normal driving conditions, you can't hear the hiss. Sound system sounds great otherwise, and on par with the one in my LS.
2. No increase in power of the engine. Look for a more powerful engine in a few years.

I waited a year for this car to come out, and am quite satisified with it. The ES 300 no longer feels "entry level."

What's to come? A more powerful 3.5L engine to replace the current 3.0L engine. Lexus didn't feel the need to power up the engine at the beginning of this new generation even though the ES' competitors have ~50 more HP. The '02 ES is selling quickly because of its luxury/reliability/refinement advantage over its competitors. Almost all '02 ESes are sold before they even reach the dealer.
But expect a "freshening" of this design generation in 2-3 years, with a name change to ES350 to reflect the more powerful 3.5L engine. The business guys at Lexus know what they're doing, as much as I would've liked the new engine in my ES.

Happy holidays everyone!

PS If you're an '02 ES owner and would like to keep in touch about any issues with the car, send me a private message.

CPerez100

Congratulations !! that's a good Christmas present for yourself.

Don't forget to post some pictures so we can meet it....

Happy Holidays !

SecPole14

Congrats on the new car! I share the same dislikes, but they in no way take away from the car. Enjoy it!

Erfan

post some pics of the bundle of joy if you can, I would really like to see it, I heard that it was a nice model and alot of people are enjoying theirs. Congrats

kreativ

I put up some pictures here:
http://home.earthlink.net/~kreativ/Lexus/

If you're thinking of getting an '02 ES and have any questions, feel free to send me a private message.

Erfan

WOW:eek: That is a pretty nice digital camera that you have. The interior is nice and supple and full bodied like in a LS400. The Chrome door handles are just like on my older mercedes that i have, they are the type that you pull towards you and the door opens, unlike the pull upwards handle. I like the style of the head lights too, they are like two eyes on a goldfish and the grill is like a smiley face The wood grain is neat and accents the car nicely. How many lincolns did it take to get this little bad boy I appreciate the pics

sam82264

wow! great pictures. nice job and good luck with your new Lex. thanks for the pictures.

Steve Barnes

that is a really sweet motor you have there... very nice!

Congrats on your new buy!

jaisonline

thanks,

LexRX

kreativ, I took one of your pictures to show this: I saw this in another picture of a 2002 ES somewhere and thought it was such a cool idea. The circled area is a little handle that folds out so something like a woman's pocked book will have a place to be anchored.

-Nick

LexRX

Here's the other picture I saw.

CPerez100

cool !!!! for my air freshener

kreativ

I hope you guys found the pictures useful. There was actually a layer of dust over the car, but with silver metallic, it's hard to tell.

LexRX,
Completely forgot about that little hook.
There's also a compartment next to the homelink transmitters on top for sunglasses. I put my cell phone in there instead.

The interesting thing is that the timing on a lot of the things that pop out or drop down has been synchronized. They all come out or down at the same rate...glove box, cup holders, coat hangers, overhead console box, etc.
I had read about this in a Lexus ad, but never thought about it until now.

BimmerLexus

I guess that proves Lexus's target audience! That why I bought one for my wife...a very femine car...soft, supple...not a hard edge.

When we go out together...we take the 540i Sport.

Joe

LexRX

But it's on the passenger side, meaning: husband, you drive - I'll ride!

-Nick