iowaman

Soon enough, it will be two months since I bought my 2004 ES330 this car and so far, it has been outstanding. The car is 13 years old and I still get compliments everywhere I go. I plan on either driving this car into the ground or getting a newer model perhaps in 2020.

I have been looking at some used 2007-2012 ES350's and I feel that they are reasonably priced. For those of you who have owned or driven both, how does a 2007-2012 ES 350 compare to a 2004-2006 ES 300/330?

nsghtbrwry

Just my opinion, the 3.5 is a better engine than the 3.3. I love my 1MZ's, but when they switched to the 3MZ it got less smooth for not that much benefit (I did not care for the extra HP/TQ). Also DBW is lame.

So I vote up.

iowaman

Thanks for your input! I am hoping going from an ES330 to an ES350 is worth it, I like my ES330 but I want to get something a little newer. Any major differences between the Fifth and the Sixth generation ES 350's?

Oro

The 5th generation ES has some troublesome issues to get around before jumping in one. They've taken a lot of abuse in this forum and in the automotive press.

1) The engine has a nice power boost. It also has piston slap, a rubber feed hose to the OCV valves that is known to burst, dump the oil and lunch the engine (a fix is available). The transmission driveability is no better and some say worse. All of those things are big issues to me.

2) The interior was cheapened and IMO much more cluttered and less elegant.

3) The exterior looks are MUCH better, but it has really bad wind noise at speed. Really inexcusable.

There's a lot to ponder before diving into that gen of ES. The next one shrank so much in interior volume that to me it's no longer a roomy four passenger car. The 4th ES is the last one I could reasonably consider. I'd go to a GS, LS or stay with a late ES330.

hypervish

To each their own, but:

1) Not all of the engines have piston slap, in fact Toyota says it's normal and they are louder by nature. And as you mention, the oil hose has a recall and can easily be fixed. But, the transmission driveability is far better than 4ES. Not sure where you read it's worse, but I assure you it's almost perfect in my opinion. It drives incredibly well.

2) Agreed, interior is cheaper feeling but IMO, look's beautiful if equipped with Navi. Especially post MY refresh.

3) I have no wind noise to speak of.

My point being, each car is different and many of your concerns have been addressed and should not be a reason to deter you from a 5ES.

RXGS

iTrader: (2)

My 2004 ES330 interior seems more solid, especially the center console where the nav is, paint quality seems like it'll hold up better, and the engine has a nicer sound (I think direct injection is the cause for loud 3.5s?) but besides that the ES350 is better in every single way, and this is taking into consideration the age difference between the 2004 and 2012. Reliability wise, the 3.5 seems to have issues the 3.3 didnt (waterpump, occasional piston slap on earlier ones, some sort of oil hose problem, and leaking timing chain covers, but all of these areng killers, just things that you need to be aware of. The transmission in the 2012 is also significantly smoother than in my 2004 (which I don't find nearly as bad as others), so maybe they changed the programming in the later ones. In terms of comfort, it's better than not just the 2004, but my 3rd gen GS and dads new GS as well.

On a side note Op, that new car feeling wore off really quickly. Not even a month ago you were talking about how you were keeping your ES for a long time and asking why people bought new ones ha

iowaman

Don't get me wrong. I love my ES330 but I was just wondering if the later generations would provide an even smoother ride. For a 13 year old car, handling is phenomenal.

This is the first time I have ever driven a car that makes me happy every time I drive it. I am not a car guy, never was, never will be- I used to see my previous cars as simply tools to get me from Point A to Point B but I kinda fell in love with Lexus when I test drove my ES- I don't see myself driving any other car in the future but a Lexus.

xjokerz

Did you stay with a 330 or move onto the 350?