ES - FWD
G35 - RWD or AWD

ES interior - one flavor (style)
G35 - aluminum trim or wood trim

ES tranny - 6 speed AT
G35 - 5 speed AT or 6 speed MT (yay!)

Brakes:
ES - 11.6/11.0 discs
G35 - 12.6/12.1 or 13/13!

Nav/Audio:
ES - DVD/CD
G35 - hard drive system - add your own music

Looks? G35 to me wins hands down in and out

Price - G35 starts $2270 less
ES - starts at 33720
G35 - starts at 31450

After reviewing the specs and options on these two vehicles, why would ANYONE buy an ES350?

 

I would go with the G35. The ES350 is too "soft" imo

 

The new ES has actually been firmed up over the previous ES330 with lower-profile 55-series tires vs. the former 60's and a new, firmer suspension......so much so that, IMO, the car has lost some of its character. It was never meant to be a sports sedan....and still isn't, by BMW or Audi standards, but the increase in firmness is noticeable. The interior, IMO, has also been cheapened, with a less-durable plastickiness, a loss of much of the former car's superb wood trim, and noticeable dash creaks and rattles. The creak-and-rattle problem is legion in the Internet ES chat forums. Short of the original ES250, it is probably the most disappointing new vehicle that Lexus has ever produced.

 

People who want entry level luxury without the RWD sportiness. I wouldn't cross shop them at all.

 

ES has more room and more luxury it will appeal to older buyers.

 

why not go for IS350...much better competition than both.

 

an IS350 doesnt start 31-33k

 

Just wondering, what do you mean by 'more luxury'?

About room - the ES is longer and wider, but the G has a lot longer wheelbase (which is one of the things that makes it better looking IMO), and more front legroom and more headroom, but the ES has a bigger trunk and more shoulder room (due to width), so it's mixed.

 

The G35 hands down. The Es350 hovercraft is just a guised up Camry imo. Es350 is a great car for grandparents though

 

Interior room is the only advantage I see in the ES over the G35 or the IS.

 

not everyone wants a sports sedan as an entry level luxury car

 

i dont see the two as competitors.
some people just want comfort and dont want anything sporty.

IS vs G is the comparison. ES doesn't really compare with either.

 

Precisely. It's much more of a family car than the IS or G.

 

I prefer the G35 sedan hands down, big improvement over the previous inside & out, I actually think it's better looking than the G37 coupe overall.

I do still have some reservations on how well it's put together overall compared to the ES though based on my own experience with the G35, the build quality is so-so at best (no I am not just talking about the materials used), & Lexus fit & finish is still better, particular the paint looks noticeably better.

I have driven the ES350 a couple times as a loaner, it's still a nice, comfortable & relaxing car to ride in, & I didn't notice any rattles at all, but I agree the interior materials is a step back from the previous ES, I am not complaining about less wood trim though (I think that's a matter of design), but the dash/door trim material looks to be of lower grade than the previous, it's the same as those use in the IS250/350.

Still, I can see why some people would prefer a ES350 over a G35 sedan, it rides softer & is more quiet, it just won't be my choice between the two.

 

this is like comparing apples and oranges. one is a proper luxury car and the other is a jumped up nissan altima with rwd. i've driven a g35. i couldn't stand that drowning exhaust and it doesn't feel that fast. would i pick the es350 over the g35? yes, if i had another car and that car was a bmw. if not, i'd go get a bmw.