Happy Holidays, CL: MM Holiday-Review: 2013 Lexus ES350
11-30-12, 01:38 AM
#32
Lexus Fanatic
F
4) The last gen did not have any body side moldings as you stated. There was a very low sill rub strip, which was more for looks than function. It was not anything designed to protect the main area of the doors. And as with 95% of today's luxury cars, body side moldings are a styling blemish left off. It's not a cost-cutting measure at all.
4) The last gen did not have any body side moldings as you stated. There was a very low sill rub strip, which was more for looks than function. It was not anything designed to protect the main area of the doors. And as with 95% of today's luxury cars, body side moldings are a styling blemish left off. It's not a cost-cutting measure at all.
Can you imagine an LS460 with moulding on the side?
11-30-12, 09:21 AM
#33
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Can you imagine an LS460 with moulding on the side?
11-30-12, 07:24 PM
#34
Lexus Test Driver
Another great review ! I do not own a 2013 ES, but I get to drive one mostly everyday, and is leaps and bounds better then the old one.
One very small gripe, the center clock looks great as a design element, but it is hard to tell what time it is using a casual glance, a digital clock may not look as nice, but it is easy to quickly glance the time, do you agree ?
Overall, I really love the car and was not a fan of the old ES's, to vanilla, where this one is vanilla with hot fudge !
One very small gripe, the center clock looks great as a design element, but it is hard to tell what time it is using a casual glance, a digital clock may not look as nice, but it is easy to quickly glance the time, do you agree ?
Overall, I really love the car and was not a fan of the old ES's, to vanilla, where this one is vanilla with hot fudge !
12-01-12, 09:18 AM
#35
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Thanks. 
Company car?
In some ways, yes, but I don't think the overall level of refinement is quite as good. The hybrid addition, though, is a major advance.......even if it is just another use of the Camry hybrid-system.
Depends on the circumstances. Bright sunlight striking the clock directly can fade out LED/LCD digits and make them unreadable....but, of course, can also reflect off the shiny chrome-jeweled analog clock rght into your eyes. I tend to be somewhat of a traditionalist, and prefer old-style controls/instruments....but I do like the electroflourescent back-lighting that Lexus first started in 1990 and has used ever since for most of its models.
Why do you like this new one more? Because of the hybrid addition? Because of the 45-series 18" wheel option and better handling? Me...I'd rather have the smoother ride of the older tires/wheels, even if it means a little more mushiness in the steering.
I do not own a 2013 ES, but I get to drive one mostly everyday,
and is leaps and bounds better than the old one.
One very small gripe, the center clock looks great as a design element, but it is hard to tell what time it is using a casual glance, a digital clock may not look as nice, but it is easy to quickly glance the time, do you agree ?
Overall, I really love the car and was not a fan of the old ES's, to vanilla, where this one is vanilla with hot fudge !
12-02-12, 11:24 AM
#36
Lexus Fanatic
Does anyone have a comparison from the outgoing ES as to headroom, sat in a ES300h and I noticed that there is very little headroom back there, the car did have a sunroof which looked to lower the roofline but it did seem to be less than other cars.
12-02-12, 12:35 PM
#38
Lexus Fanatic
Nice review Mike. I'm in and out of these (as well as the rest of the line-up) everyday. I agree with most everything here.
The ES seems to have lost some of that quiet tombstone ride due to insulation and tires.
THIS is my biggest gripe with the ES:
The cheapness of the console is so unbefitting a car of this caliber and price. Lexus should be ashamed of themselves. As you note, the door panels, glove box (flimsy) and some other trim pieces are off too.
In my opinion the 2006 ES330 had the best build quality mixed with materials used. No panel gaps and quality materials. Design was ho-hum.
The hybrid trim this model year is a welcome addition (though the I4 is a bit rough), and is what the HS should have been in the first place - an ES Hybrid
The ES seems to have lost some of that quiet tombstone ride due to insulation and tires.
THIS is my biggest gripe with the ES:
The cheapness of the console is so unbefitting a car of this caliber and price. Lexus should be ashamed of themselves. As you note, the door panels, glove box (flimsy) and some other trim pieces are off too.
In my opinion the 2006 ES330 had the best build quality mixed with materials used. No panel gaps and quality materials. Design was ho-hum.
The hybrid trim this model year is a welcome addition (though the I4 is a bit rough), and is what the HS should have been in the first place - an ES Hybrid
12-02-12, 05:32 PM
#39
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by LexsCTJill
Does anyone have a comparison from the outgoing ES as to headroom, sat in a ES300h and I noticed that there is very little headroom back there, the car did have a sunroof which looked to lower the roofline but it did seem to be less than other cars.
Originally Posted by Joeb427
According to Edmunds specs
Rear Headroom
'12 36.8"
'13 37.5"
Rear Headroom
'12 36.8"
'13 37.5"
http://www.thecarconnection.com/spec...sdn_dimensions
Keep in mind on the 2013 model, though, that it comes either with and without a rear sunroof.....and that the rear sunroof does rob its share of headroom. So does the front one....but to a lesser extent.
12-02-12, 05:45 PM
#40
Lexus Champion
That is very close to what The Car Connection publishes on the 2012:
http://www.thecarconnection.com/spec...sdn_dimensions
Keep in mind on the 2013 model, though, that it comes either with and without a rear sunroof.....and that the rear sunroof does rob its share of headroom. So does the front one....but to a lesser extent.
http://www.thecarconnection.com/spec...sdn_dimensions
Keep in mind on the 2013 model, though, that it comes either with and without a rear sunroof.....and that the rear sunroof does rob its share of headroom. So does the front one....but to a lesser extent.
12-02-12, 10:25 PM
#41
Lexus Fanatic
The ES300h did not have a rear sunroof and I noticed the lack of headroom, I can't imagine how little it would have with the rear sunroof.
12-03-12, 06:35 AM
#43
Guest
Posts: n/a
For example everyone that has met me knows I'm a big guy so when I say headroom is fine on both they are fine on both.
12-03-12, 06:46 AM
#44
