I have been on this forum for the last 6 years and have learned quite a bit. It has been a good give and take. Beginning some time last year, my old ES began developing an annoying ticking in the front cylinders. Over the year, it got louder, so I decided to try and fix. I could not get anyone to reasonably repair it. It cost nearly 4k for a USED motor. BS. I decided to get rid of it. I need a car that can travel long distances on the highway at close to triple digits (at times), so it's time to say good bye. I have really enjoyed the give and take. This is a nice group. I may return with a different Lexus someday. The woman has an RX, so I might go over there for a bit. Thanks, gang.

2003 Lexus ES300
209,000 miles.

 

I feel your pain man, my ES just got totaled. Put a lot of money and my own time/labor into freshening up the engine and swapped transmission. 90% sure I'm going to retain my vehicle for the motor and trans and find another ES.

Who is giving you quotes at $4k for a used motor though? That's more like a complete rebuild type of pricing. Have you tried car-part.com to search for a motor local to you? Its a data base of most used auto recyclers around the country. A used motor should be more like $1,200 MAX.

 

Thanks, man. I'm checking in two years later as I obviously need to get out more.

I should have tried to replace the engine, though I have a 2012 Acura TL at the moment. It's okay. It handles shaprly, has long highway legs and gets good mileage. I still miss the ES, though. It stood next to my Jaguar S-type that I owned as being the quietest car I have ever owned. It also was the fastest car as well. I got it up to 132 mph on an empty stretch of highway in Oklahoma. I just didn't see the point of spending 3 grand to replace teh whole engine on a car that was worth maybe 3k. That said, I still miss it.

The car was relatively easy to work on and cheap to maintain. Other than the engine ticking it was reliable as a bank vault.

I had to do some repairs, but it never left me stranded. I could also work on it (mostly) except when the evaporator core went out.

I wish I still had it. Lexus doesn't make cars like that anymore.