Ok for all you ex 300 owners I want to get an opinion.
How do you rate the handling at 70mph+ between the 2 cars?
Obviously the suspension design is much different on the ES 350.
I feel that the 300 felt more stable at speed. The 350 has a rubbery feel that is hard to quantify. The slow speed handling on the 350 is better IMO, but not the feel going fast. And of course neither is a drivers car.
Opinions
Still love the 350 with a passion however

 

Having owned both ('02 and '07) I really don't feel much of a difference. Thy're both "boaty" and have entirely too much body lean. And the skinny tires on both are a huge design flaw....especially on the '07 with it's muscular engine. The '02 was definitely quieter both with respect to wind noise and (especially) engine noise. As I've said in an earlier post, the sounds emanating from under the hood are not the sonorous growl associated with a BMW or even M-B but, rather, a clatter/rattle that makes you almost wonder if a valve isn't clattering around. Clearly, the sounds (both wanted and unwanted) from this car ('07) are not up to typical Lexus standards. And while the ES is not supposed to be a handling champ a la the IS, I feel they could have dialed in a bit more sure footedness and handling finesse.

That's the kind of finesse I'd like.

You can keep the 'L-Finesse" styling as it really doesn't do it for me. It's not an unattractive car but it sure ain't exciting. Plain is a word that comes to mind when describing the '07's appearance. Kind of like that girl next door who you never give a second thought about.

I still love the car's features and straight ahead power. And that gas mileage is absolutely beyond belief but the car has a number of weaknesses rather surprising for a Lexus.

 

I dunno, after the cold start valve clatter is done, and the engine is warm, I think our ES makes a pleasant growl under hard accleration. As I said in a previous post, it's in the ear of the beholder.

 

PsychDoc said it perfectly. I still own my 2002 ES, but also have the ES from when it came out. What I have noticed is that the ride is much softer on my 2002 ES and the Engine, is still whisper quiet. I can easily hear the engine on the 2007 ES. I too believe the handling to be better at 70+ on the ES 300. And I notice almost all the bumps on the ES 350 whereas the 300 I did not. But I am extremely happy with the performance of the 2007 ES Engine. It's like Lexus listened to us over the years and finally fixed it.

 

My ES300 was super quiet and no engine vibration in floor panels, side panels, steering column as with this ES350. In fact if you were not sure you had cranked the 300 you'd possibly make the mistake of cranking the already started car it was so quiet, both of the prior I owned were this quiet.

No excessive wind noise either in the 300 Vs. 350

You never do not hear the engine in my ES350, even at park, idle at stop lights, throughout the entire acceleration process, light footed or heavy on the gas, cold engine or hot engine you ALWAYS hear this engine and it is annoying, very annoying when you know it is possible for it not to be so severe a sound having prior owned 2 ES 300

Compared to both my prior ES300 and my MB C240 this ES350 is a piece of thrown together JUNK with chronic problems.

 

The 300 was hard to break loose, the 350 feels top heavy and not as stable with the skinny tires, I'd like to see a sports package with a wider 17 or 18.

Engine noise, at start up it's loud but most engines are, soon as it warms up it's smooth as silk and it sounds sweet

 

Whoa that's quite a comment. This is a brand new car!! Just wondering what is the build date on your vehicle, and if you've made any complaints anywhere. If the car is not working right, it needs to ge fixed. I dont think the engine noise on the 350 is annoying enough to bug anyone....even if you had a whisper quiet car before. I mean, the car is still very quiet, and i can have a cell phone conversation while driving and people on the other end dont know whether im on the road or at home.

 

Whoa, comare to the MB C240, the ES350 is a piece of junk? You must have some special C240, because people always complain about all the issues with that car. Moreover, JD Power rated the MB C class a 2.5 out of 5 in inital quality, and edmunds.com's consumers rated it at 8.6 while the ES350 got 9.6 both out of 10.

 

Consumer Reports rates the MB C class as "Below Average Overall Reliability" for four straight model years...

 

i think the main reason for the new ES to make that much noise is because the dramatic power increase. i am pretty sure that next year the noise will be gone-if not Lexus is a dumb*ss. as for the c240 being MUCH better than the new ES, are you kidding me?? first of all the c240 has no power, the compressor is like-wait i cant even feel the pull of the compressor. the handling sucks with the H rated tires. its like a detuned c230 that cost $30 the lexus could use wider tires (at least it is V rated ). i have an older model lexus that had 205-65-15 stock tires, i have to admit the handling does suk a bit, but after i put on some 225-40-18, it was turning and handling like a sports coupe . just my 2cents

 

RX...My 2004 MB C240 did not ever do any of the following in the over 2 years I drove it and for the record neither of my 2 prior Es300 did either.
For comparison you need to notice ES350 have not been out long enough to accurately compare them and for the C240, it would rate against 330's not an ES350. And what "all the issues" and where is your source of all these complaints about C240 you stated?
My MB C240 never had any of the following, my only dislike about the car was that it was not as generally quiet as my Es300 and I wanted that again but it was QUIETER by far than the ES350 is.

1-Never had a deisel engine knocking and tapping sound when cold, warm or hot that lasted for 5 or 7 miles or more you could hear in the car every day, several times a day from day one of ownership.

2-Never, ever did it's transmission slip and spike the RPM

3-Never did it have any wind noise one could even come close to calling EXCESSIVE, even at speeds of 70mph plus.

4-Never did it's wipers on any speed rock the car back and forth

5-Never had any rattles, missed body to frame welds

6-It's wipers would not scratch the back side of the hood paint off whether you were or were not careful in lifting them.

7-The steering column did not vibrate, nor floor boards, arm rests, worse when car was sounding like a diesel and also present when car is hot and at stop lights, stop signs.

 

The ES330 I drove recently (loaner) was abused in its life and drove not so well. The engine was quieter though for sure. The transmission didn't know if it was coming or going though

The engine tapping noise seems to be worse in the cabin on the ES now. If I open the door of the car, I can hear the engine noise but it doesn't seem to be any louder in the cabin. Hmmm..

ES350Bob has valid arguments in his 7 point list. My initial reaction was to debunk some of these, but as I read through it I realised he is correct. Number 6 is just plain funny - who designed that??? I'm going to have to get paint from my dealer to cover my two hood scratches to date.

 

I think the 300 is more quiet than our 350

 

I have owned an ES300, and currently own a MB C320 wagon and and ES350. The MB feels great to drive and is very comfortable as well. You can form a real attachent to the Mercedes that I can't feel for a Lexus. My Es300 was very quiet on the road and the motor was wonderfully silent and smooth. It was a more nimble car than the ES350. The ES 350 does has some very admirable qualities and gas mileage is one of them. However, it's not an enthusiasts car. Aside from my problem with excessive wind and engine noise, the car drives more like a limo than a touring car. I find the unpleasant ticking of the motor cheapens the feel of the car. Anyway, I'm trying to keep things in perspective. The Lexus will likely require less visits to the dealer than our Mercedes and it's definitely comfortable as a family car.