My Thoughts After 1.5 Weeks
#16
#17
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I can pretty much mirror your comment. My wife picked up her new ES350 10 days ago. We left on a trip two days later and now we're back home with about 1200 miles on the car already. We went from a 2009 IS250 to the ES350. Totally different animal but that is what we were looking for. The IS was fun to drive ... very responsive and a real road hugger. But my wife wanted something a bit smoother, a bit larger, and more comfortable. The ES350 is all that. It is extremely comfortable and has lots of leg room both in front and back. Seats are adjustable so many ways that there is just no way you can't find a position you would like. Sound system is great as is pretty much everything else. Now, the CONS in my opinion.
The Navi system is a joke in my opinion. I have a Garmin Zumo GPS that I've had for a while, using it in various vehicles and my motorcycle. It costs about 1/4 what the Nav system in the Lexus costs and it's funtionality is orders of magnitude greater. When we left on the trip, I plowed through the book figuring out things and figured that while the wife was driving, I'd play with it and figure things out. Problem is, while you're moving you really can do very little. If there's a way to turn that "feature" off, I'd sure like to know how. The system is not intuitive at all and doesn't seem to be very current. We were trying to wind our way around to an Olive Garden that has been there for several years. I stopped so that I could do a search, put in Olive Garden and the closest it came up with was 50 miles away. I mean, that's a bit old.
I'm still learning and hopefully I've missed something and it's better then what I've experienced but if not, I am extremely disappointed that I spent that much money for the system. I could just as easily have used my Zumo in the 350. Also, in the IS there was an accessory audio jack that you could use to plug in any MP3 player. Not there on this one. But, there is a USB connection. But, when I tried my MP3 player, it didn't recognize it. The USB works because it charges the player but won't recognize any of the files on it. It will play tunes from a USB memory stick.
Hopefully this forum will help me out as I move forward and learn more about the new car.
The Navi system is a joke in my opinion. I have a Garmin Zumo GPS that I've had for a while, using it in various vehicles and my motorcycle. It costs about 1/4 what the Nav system in the Lexus costs and it's funtionality is orders of magnitude greater. When we left on the trip, I plowed through the book figuring out things and figured that while the wife was driving, I'd play with it and figure things out. Problem is, while you're moving you really can do very little. If there's a way to turn that "feature" off, I'd sure like to know how. The system is not intuitive at all and doesn't seem to be very current. We were trying to wind our way around to an Olive Garden that has been there for several years. I stopped so that I could do a search, put in Olive Garden and the closest it came up with was 50 miles away. I mean, that's a bit old.
I'm still learning and hopefully I've missed something and it's better then what I've experienced but if not, I am extremely disappointed that I spent that much money for the system. I could just as easily have used my Zumo in the 350. Also, in the IS there was an accessory audio jack that you could use to plug in any MP3 player. Not there on this one. But, there is a USB connection. But, when I tried my MP3 player, it didn't recognize it. The USB works because it charges the player but won't recognize any of the files on it. It will play tunes from a USB memory stick.
Hopefully this forum will help me out as I move forward and learn more about the new car.
#18
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I specifically sought the ES without the navigation system. I think it looks nice in the car but not worth the extra money in my opinion. I have navigation in my Toyota Highlander but only because that was the only way I could get the car in silver There was apparently a shortage of silver Limited Highlanders last year. Anyway, the navigation is almost useless because as you mentioned, you have to be stopped to use it. I guess that is a safety feature but there has got to be a better way. I might at some point buy a smaller GPS but for now I will get directions the old fashioned way: Mapquest
Last edited by Txwingz; 07-08-10 at 06:59 PM.
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I've used destination assist while driving and it works, I guess it costs extra and I miss the ability to create a destination while driving in the Acura, but if I actually need the nav to find something I would be pulling over to ask directions anyway or entering in the destination before I leave. If I am mid trip I'll call destination assist and they'll send me the map...but the rear sunshade is somewhat unnecessary. But nice to have?
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More on Headroom
I'm a bit baffled by several of the posts re headroom. I'm 6'5", and I agree with racingt: there's room, plus an inch or two. In fact, I sat in every model at the dealership and found that the ES had the most headroom. Admittedly, this wasn't scientific, and I didn't spend a whole lot of time fiddling and measuring; but I came away believing that the ES was the best fit for us tall folks.
#24
I'm 6'3, and I have several inches of additional headroom unless I put the seat in its highest position, in which case a hat would be an issue. Legroom is definitely not an issue, if I put the seat all the way back I can't reach the pedals without some discomfort. (where I leave the seat there's an inch or two of travel unused.)
Mine is an ultra-lux with the panoramic roof-- I'm wondering if maybe the NON-panoramic moonroof might rob an inch or two of headroom.
Mine is an ultra-lux with the panoramic roof-- I'm wondering if maybe the NON-panoramic moonroof might rob an inch or two of headroom.
I'm a bit baffled by several of the posts re headroom. I'm 6'5", and I agree with racingt: there's room, plus an inch or two. In fact, I sat in every model at the dealership and found that the ES had the most headroom. Admittedly, this wasn't scientific, and I didn't spend a whole lot of time fiddling and measuring; but I came away believing that the ES was the best fit for us tall folks.
#25
Consumer Reports stated that the Infiniti M was loud for its class. All Honda's, including Acuras, are loud. I know because I own an M1A1 Odyssey. Can barely hear myself think in the Ody. But I absolutely love driving my Lexus ES 350. It's like a really expensive Prozac.
#26
6' 3" and I have headroom. Plust the seat squashes down too, that will give another 1" later on. I drove an 2010 Accura because I wanted the 6-speed manual. It was way too loud for me, constant tire and road noise. Otherwise it was a rather nice driving car.
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09-24-15 06:31 AM