if u like to drive dont go ES350... you'll be surprised by how slow it is. The ES350 was made for people who want luxury but dont care about speed and really driving the car...

Lexus ES350 = grandmas car

 

I got the ES as a loaner a couple of days ago and I have to agree
I would not want to pay 40K for that car.

Personally I would get a used M45 sport or LS430.

 

get an extended warranty on any used german car

 

i love the infiniti M wish i could afford it to bad im only 18

 

It boils down to what you're looking for in a car. In a straight line, the new ES is quicker 0-60 than the previous gen GS. Car & Driver posted 6.2 sec for the ES. Consumer Reports shows 6.4 sec for ES350 and 7.4 sec for GS300). No doubt the GS350 is quicker than both. The BIG difference is in ride and handling. Two different animals. The ES definitely appeals to older buyers vs. the GS. The BMW would be tempting providing the used car warranty was a good one.

 

No. My advice is to avoid the new ES350. It is nowhere near as nice a car as the ES330 it replaced. Suspension, build quality, fit-and-finish.....you may like it, but IMO is is a disappointment.


I also advise avoiding the newer 7-series models. They are horrendously complex electronically, have quirky controls, and have developed a strong reputation for unreliability.

So....what cars ARE a good buy for 40K, IMO?

Several.

A new Infiniti M35.
A used Infiniti G35X AWD.
A one-year old (or new demo) Acura RL
A new Lexus IS250 AWD or RWD IS350.
A new Audi A3 DSG or a new/used A4....but their electronics are not as reliable as the models I listed above.


You don't have to spend that much, however. There are many excellent cars, both new and used, in lower price ranges than that.

 

Audi A8 is the best choice, it's the best combination of everything you want in a vehicle.

 

04+ LS430... everything you want for a luxury car, and reliability!!!
I was looking for a either a A8L or 04+ LS430...
But I ended up bought a nice clean 530i and SC3....
I like my choice.... well, for a while..

 

True, the A8 has a lot going for it, though, like other Audis, the electronics are not as reliable as in Japanese-designed cars, and new ones are considerably more than $40,000, especially the S8...to get a 40K one would mean one with several years or a fair number of miles on it.

 

E46 M3 Vert, nuff said.