I will be shopping for a CPO 2007-2010 ES350 in the next month or so. Is there a particular model year I should seek out or avoid or issues I should be aware of? Thanks.

 

If the budget allows definetly go for a '10. Several minor, but welcome, improvements over the earlier years.

Model generations typically improve with each successive year as the bugs get worked out; TSBs resolved in production, improved drivetrain, new options offered or included as standard equipment, etc.

By the way, the Lexus 0.9% CPO financing ends Feb 28.

 

I agree with AlGator. I would avoid a car, even if it's a CPO, that was a dealer loaner. You can imagine how they are treated over their service life.

 

I have no idea what you are talking about. I didn't treat my loaner car like a rental at all. Let's just say that the 2011 ES accelerates quite well and is smoother than the 2007 at 100 MPH.

I bought a 2007 CPO so take my advice from someone who has been there. I don't know what your budget looks like but if you're considering a 2010 you probably have more than I did when I was looking. The 2010 is a much more refined car than the 2007. Three years makes a world of difference in a car. But if you're considering a 2010 try to see if the stealership will make it a February to remember with a 2011.

But a CPO car doesn't really mean squat. The checklist is nothing more than a simple form that the lowest paid person on the lot fills out and checks stuff off. Get a 2010 with low miles, have a mechanic look at it, and buy the extended warranty.

Here's a list of items with my 2007 CPO that I bought in November 2009:
1. Steering wheel leather had a tear.
2. Console had a small tear.
3. Chrome molding on rear driver window will not stay down. I've had this fixed twice now and it still comes up!
4. When I bought the car I pointed out to the salesman that the driver's window made a funky sound when rolling down. He "had the tech look at it" and all was functioning within normal parameters. None of the other windows made that sound. Unfortunately I had already signed the papers so I couldn't change my mind and I was on my way off the lot with it when I noticed. It was subsequently fixed under the extended warranty. Bad salesman. I should have insisted on cancelling the deal.
5. There's been a couple of other minor things but the car wasn't CPO worthy.
6. But I do love driving my Lexus.

There are other alternatives to a CPO. Do not rest your laurels in the CPO "certification" that dealers give some cars. It is more of a litmus test than anything else. Low miles, good body condition, decent mechanical condition - put it on the lot as a CPO.

I think the 2010 model started with the real cabin lighting. The 2007 is horrible for cabin lighting. I would have never thought to test drive a car in the day and night. Also, I think the 2010 got rid of the stupid rubber buttons on the steering wheel. The engineer that designed the steering wheel should be cleaning toilets.

 

What I wastalking about was:

1. As AlGator mentioned, Lexus made a number of minor but welcome improvements throughout the car between '07-'10 which made the car better overall (I've owned both).

2. If I were the OP I would avoid a car that had been a service loaner and look for one that had been owned by an individual owner. Chances are that it had been cared for better than a loaner that is driven by someone different everyday of the week or at least a couple of diferent people each week.

 

Thanks for the tips. Most of the newer CPO's seem to be loaner cars, though I tend to think that Lexus drivers would not abuse a loaner as much as drivers of some other makes. I can where a privately owned Lexus would be preferable to a loaner though.
It seems like the best privately owned cars are coming off 36 month leases. That leaves me looking at 2007-2008 models.

 

Well, my experiences would be to buy your pre-owned from a country dealership. Earlier this month I have visited several dealership in town, the overall conditions of the 2007-2008 were terrible though the photos on the website were quite friendly. In a city setting more buyers are coming to a dealership and prices tend to stay high whereas in a country setting, the pre-owned prices are more forgiving. However, the best about going into the country is that the conditions on the pre-owned seem a lot better and they mostly come from trade-in and leasing from individual owners.

Well, do your home work on the Internet before you select some good ones to go. Also, buy the 2008+CPO ES350 so that you have one more year of factory warranty (&under 80,000KM). For the same money look for one with a premium package installed - would be nice to have HID lights, blue tooth and wood steering wheel for a touch of the Lexus elegancy.

A 2007 ES350 may not be good as it would naturally has more mileages on and the risk of expensive repair not discovered during the test drive (in the absence of a factory warranty on 2007s). To buy the extended warranty on a 2007 is much more expensive than a 2008 as well. You pay less on buying a 2007 but you top it up on extended warranty or on cost of repair. A new set of Mitchelin will run over $1000 dollars!

 

Thinking of buying a 2008 ES350 that has Nav and the wood steering wheel. Would this mean it has the premium package?

 

The 2008 had the various package choices, but you were not limited to those option groups. You or your dealer could also add odds and ends on top of the packages a la carte. For example, in my research of literally hundreds of pre-owned ES models, I never saw one that did not have the wood steering wheel and gearshift, so I'm not sure that's a good indicator of having a certain package. Here are some links from Lexus with the 2008 packages. Note the "individual options and accessories" paragraph:


http://www.lexus.com/images/ebrochur...ES_Page_10.pdf

http://www.lexus.com/images/ebrochur...ES_Page_11.pdf

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I may sound stupid after driving for over 30+ years, the first time I got my hands on the ES wooden steering wheel the sense of self satisfaction just took over. Its feels warmer to touch particularly in our cold winter time. The feel, yes, the feel on the curved hardwood with the bumps on the back is satisfying - just satisfying. I have seen quite a number base models 2006, 2007 and 2008s here that are just the base model without the wooden steering wheel. I saw on my 2008 model with premium pkg, it gives the wooden steering wheel, the HID lights, the sunshade at the rear and the bluetooth for a price C$3800 new.

The navigation pkg is of course much higher priced. I would prefer NOT having the navigation pkg as a top of the line Garmin GPS is only $100 or so with the up to date maps and more bells/whistles on. The best of it is we can get a new Garmin or Tom Tom replacement easily and NOT the Lexus screen - can't afford it after the factory warranty expires.

My suggestion is simply look for a base model with a wooden steering wheel and a pair of HID lights on a pre-owned.

 

Thanks for the pdf's 2008ES. Clarifies the options.

 

Not stupid at all. The steering wheel is one of 1000 little reasons why we are not just car drivers but Lexus enthusiasts. There is an article on the Lexus website about the steering wheels:


Lexus Magazine: Hands on the Wheel

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I must be stupid too, the steering wheel is one of my favorite features of the ES. I love the feel and the look.

 

Thanks a lot, ES2008ES for such a mind opening article from the Lexus magazine.

So, afterall we are just people who knows how to admire good stuff and quite frankly I know a few who don't even care the "technologically advanced" steering wheel at all. To know and to appreciate really builds up the sensitivity of our sensors and be able to enjoy more of what we have paid for.

Thanks again.