You will be happy to learn that in 2016 Lexus changed the GS interior door handles to metal.

 

Great to know. Thanks for the information about the dash. It would be awesome to see if a dealer would still honor it.

 

I saw an LS 400 today in a parking lot at a grocery store and I couldn't take my eyes off it. Now we're back to square one. Awesome.

 

Too old to drive the way you want to drive it.

I had a 2010 ES (same as the 11-12), its a very good car. The GS is unquestionably built to a higher standard (I've had both), but the ES is simple good reliable transportation in a nice classy luxurious package. Since you're going to keep it so long and put so many miles on it I would get the newest one you can. Its already old to be expecting to drive it another 10-15 years.

 

My wife and I bought a 2011 ES350 new and are now considering buying a new ES300h. We currently have 80K miles on our 2011. It's dark blue with the white interior, a gorgeous combo! The vehicle has been almost flawless up until now. The clear-coat is starting to go on the roof and mirrors, as it was never garaged and only covered occasionally. While I couldn't be happier with the 10-year run, I do see signs of looming maintenance as some of the rubber suspension boots (ball-joints boots/link boots) are starting to fray. I'm surprised the CV boots are still intact, as this is a common weak spot in FWD vehicles. Check the 5th-gen forum for other things to look out for, such as, timing chain cover leaks, valve cover leaks, spark plug replacement cost (when due), cold start valve train noise. But generally, compared to all other makes and models, this era of Japan-built-only ES's are jewels! We have considered upgrading the infotainment system in ours and keeping it five more years, but since we are getting up there in age, we're really looking forward to latest safety tech, especially automatic emergency braking and LED lighting, when we buy new.

We have also considered a 1 or 2-year-old GS to replace our ES, as I agree with others posters above that the design/build quality is more substantial in the GS, equivalent to the LS of this era and the earlier SC (we own a 2008). When we were shopping ten years ago, the faster 0-60, cheaper cost of vehicle and ownership, the use of regular fuel and better fuel mileage, trumped the GS's advantages. Now, my wife and I are retired with our home paid off and can easily absorb the extra cost of ownership of a GS. The advantage to buying a new ES, however, is the newer tech. I don't believe the last of the GS's had wireless carPlay, bird's-eye camera, automatic emergency braking, etc.

Good luck finding the right ES! Focus on the seller's proof of scheduled maintenance, as unfortunately, many let this slide and it can turn any reliable car into a disaster-waiting-to-happen!

 

Steve, yeah yo're right about the LS. It's a nice thought, but it's too much to ask of a 20+ year car to put 25-30k a year. I'm not going to budge from the 10-12 ES, though. As far as those being too old, I don't think so. Maybe I'll be like the guy on YouTube that has an ES with 596k miles and still running well!

 

Do you really want to drive, any car, for over 500k miles?

 

It depends, really.

 

Certainly won't be the ONLY vehicle I drive over the next 10-15 years. I do want an older Land Cruiser, maybe a jeep to mess around in, and a fun car to rack up some more speeding tickets. I'm thinking an E39 M5 if the freakin' prices ever drop on those. Lol

 

That’s just a lot of mileage and use to put on a car that’s already 10 years old IMO

 

The Toyota body on frame SUVs from Japan are worth having forever. Very rewarding vehicles.

 

It'll be a good test for sure!

 

Maybe my old Buick, from college-days, if it could have lasted that long. In those days, though, cars rarely lasted 100K...80-90K was about average, except maybe for the Chrysler Slant-Six and Checker Marathon cabs.

 

Yeah those automatic transmissions were garbage I heard. Lol

 

I still have my 2003 ES, it has 215,000 miles on it. A family member drives it. Its been well taken care of, but its tired. I wouldn't want to drive it every day, or even for very long or very far...