Buying an ES30?
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: VA
Only time will tell, I guess.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,766
Likes: 2
From: Florida
I tried to be as thorough as I could based on the problems that other people here have described. I'd be disappointed by wind noise and engine knocking/tapping (as long as it's not harming anything) but I could live with either of them. It's the possibility of a transmission flare problem that really worries me the most. I know there are several people here who, unfortunately, know what it feels like to pay $40k+ for a car and then have to have the transmission replaced. That feeling alone would be bad enough. But if it happens to my car, I'll want to kick myself because I knew about the problem but took a chance and bought the car anyway! Only time will tell, I guess.
Only time will tell, I guess.I read response to e-man and was laughing at some of the BS stories you were told about the trans, particularly the one about the early problem ones were made in America..LOL..And it seems the story page has them all saying only experienced 1 or 2 of them or very few or just heard about it, or other.
And the dismissal of the internet by the one cracked me up not realizing you were on the internet researching so there are more than his "two kinds"..LOL
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,766
Likes: 2
From: Florida
I'd buy another one without any hesitation.
It was below freezing here last night and my car was parked outside. This morning I purposely drove it hard when cold to try and create both the startup engine noise and the shift flare. As with the half dozen other times I've tried, I couldn't get anything but a quiet, smooth drive.
Like wanderer99 said, you're in a better position to make a decision with all the input from owners on this board. The probems with various noises and some transmissions are very real, so you now know to look out for them when test driving and/or purchasing.
It was below freezing here last night and my car was parked outside. This morning I purposely drove it hard when cold to try and create both the startup engine noise and the shift flare. As with the half dozen other times I've tried, I couldn't get anything but a quiet, smooth drive.
Like wanderer99 said, you're in a better position to make a decision with all the input from owners on this board. The probems with various noises and some transmissions are very real, so you now know to look out for them when test driving and/or purchasing.
These need not knock and tap at any volume level, sewing machine or cannery works level, and they need not have any gears slip and when more like you post this type of info you shared on here the better for every ES350 owner.
Pole Position
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 333
Likes: 1
From: California
I have read some of the other posts as well. I drove some other cars before driving the ES350. I considered the Maxima, Infiniti G 4 door, Mercedes C, and BMW 3 series. Then I thought, well, I should try the Lexus too. To me the Lexus was totally different that the other cars I tried. The ride was smoother ("like an eel through oil", someone else's quote) and the inside space felt larger. I also liked the way it was set up. The amount of controls and gadgets when off looks unimpressive to me. Once started and in use that is not the case. (Yes, I think the clock looks cheap.)
Wind noise? -- not an issue
Transmission flare? -- not on my car
Fact that 90 mph feels like 55 mph? -- big problem
Problems: dash rattles (mostly fixed), 1 speaker intermittently not working (fixed, took a month), can't see home-link buttons at night (solved), speed lockouts on navigation system (this is the biggest headache on the car).
What color to get?
Wind noise? -- not an issue
Transmission flare? -- not on my car
Fact that 90 mph feels like 55 mph? -- big problem
Problems: dash rattles (mostly fixed), 1 speaker intermittently not working (fixed, took a month), can't see home-link buttons at night (solved), speed lockouts on navigation system (this is the biggest headache on the car).
What color to get?
Racer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,629
Likes: 12
From: NC
Pole Position
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 333
Likes: 1
From: California
Yup, I bought a tiny LED flashlight and Velcro-ed it to the inside of the drink holder lid. Used industrial strength Velcro too. Focused the beam on the button panel and voilà -- problem eradicated. 
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Racer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,629
Likes: 12
From: NC
Since there's nothing to take apart I'm still going with something more complicated and difficult in my ES350 once I get around to it.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,574
Likes: 282
From: Illinois
I wonder if Lexus has come up with a fix for this (I think I know the answer...). It's a real ergonomic oversight. My previous two cars had Homelink, and the button(s) were on the drivers side visor. Even in the dark you could find it, as it was the only thing up there. I still haven't figured out how to find the right button in the dark.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,766
Likes: 2
From: Florida
Or, for a cheap, fast fix, go to Home Depot and get a small can or tube of that nightglow paint like used to paint stars and galaxies on the kids bedroom ceiling visible only when lights off at night and just put it on or near buttons using a Q tip.
If they get too weak to see, hit them with a blast from the Owl to refresh them...LOL..j/k the ambient daylight should keep the glow at max or good enough.
Pole Position
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 333
Likes: 1
From: California
I was going to use some luminescent paint like they use on some of the newer dive watches (SuperLuminova) but I am so clumsy it might look like Salvador Dali (or my 6 year old) did it, and the rest of the interior too. Needless to say the flashlight is the far less invasive solution to this issue until Dreyfus shows us how to wire something in.
Lead Lap
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 621
Likes: 0
From: California
Although the following solution still doesn't resolve the "I can't see the buttons in the dark" dilemma, it will at least make things a bit easier when feeling around in order to press the right button; for me--since the only thing I would use the Homelink transmitter for is to open/close my garage door...what I wound up doing was to program all three buttons to open/close the garage door. No--I still can't see the buttons in the dark but at least I won't have to wonder if I pressed the correct Homelink button!
Racer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,629
Likes: 12
From: NC
Although the following solution still doesn't resolve the "I can't see the buttons in the dark" dilemma, it will at least make things a bit easier when feeling around in order to press the right button; for me--since the only thing I would use the Homelink transmitter for is to open/close my garage door...what I wound up doing was to program all three buttons to open/close the garage door. No--I still can't see the buttons in the dark but at least I won't have to wonder if I pressed the correct Homelink button!
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ES - 1st to 6th Gen (1990-2018)
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Apr 6, 2007 11:22 PM
