LS430inDE.

What's up guys? So I've been a Lexus fan for a looooong time. I currently have a 2005 LS430 and have loved every day of owning it. My gf will be saying goodbye to her 2006 Accord EX-L (V6), and we shopped for a 2012-15 Audi A4, ES350, and Accords.

She THOUGHT she loved the A4, until she sat in, and drove the ES350.

I didn't do all my homework before I bought my LS430, and sometimes regret not having the Ultra-Luxury or the Custom-Luxury packages available on the 430. But this is about the 350. Would it be safe to say that if the ES350 has the heated steering wheel option, that it will always have the sunshade option, and thus, it's the Ultra-Luxury package?

There's a ton of sellers who simply advertise their 350's as 'BASE' model, but when scolling through their pictures, they show the heated steering wheel button, etc, so it's definitely not the 'base' model.

Also, is the blindspot monitor an option with the Luxury package or was blindspot monitor an option on every package?

We like the new style ES's (2013, 2014, 2015), and I'm thinking it would be a little smarter to stay away from the 2013's as they're the 1st 'new' model, and some of the bugs might not have been fully worked out yet? I believe 2014 added HID foglights or were they optional too?

When we were at the Lexus dealership, they were asking around $31k for a 2014 w/36k miles. Recently looking online, I see they can be had for several thousand bucks less than that, anywhere from $24k-$28k with all vehicles having less than 36k miles.

Finally I'm scratching my head why Lexus offered the fake leather?????????? They said to help with the environment??? LOL! I don't think the fake leather would be an option to us. We want the real thing.

Thoughts?

lesz

The heated steering wheel and the rear sun shade have been stand-alone options. While the sunshade is a part of the UL package, it is also available as a separate option on non-UL ES vehicles. Similarly, while the heated wheel has been, I believe, a "required option", with the UL package, it is also available on non-UL cars.

The blind spot monitor also has been a separate option, and I believe that it has been available on cars with any package. Obviously, with all of these options, you are more likely to find them on an UL ES, but seeing these options on an ES is not a guarantee that it is an UL or even a Luxury ES.

A few weeks ago, I traded a 2013 ES for a 2017. During the 3 1/2 years that I owned the 2013, I had no issues whatever. If I was looking for an ES in the 2013 or 2014 range, I wouldn't hesitate to consider buying a 2013. Instead, I'd pay more attention to things like vehicle condition, mileage, etc. The dealer from whom I bought the 2017 and to whom I traded the 2017 is offering my 2013 as CPO vehicle, and they also have a similarly equipped 2014 that is being offered as a CPO vehicle at the same price as my 2013. Since the 2014 has about 6000 fewer miles on it than my 2013, I can only assume that the 2014 is not in the same condition as the virtually perfect 2013 that I traded in.

lesz

Adding to what I said above, if you are trying to identify an UL ES, look for the pano roof, thigh support extender on the driver's seat, or seat memory buttons on the front passenger door.

If it does not have any of those things, it is not an UL car, but, if it has perforated seats (for a 2013 or 2014), it is a Luxury package ES. If the seats are not perforated (again, for a 2013 or 2014), that is the NuLuxe, and it is a base ES.

LS430inDE.

Great to know info. Thank you. Is it accurate or a typo when you said the passenger seat to have memory buttons? Also, I'm being kind of lazy, but can someone post a pic or 2 of a piano roof versus regular sunroof? We've decided she can live without the heated steering wheel. I read that the entire wheel isn't even heated!!!? Only the 3 & 9 o'clock positions? Really???

Thank you!

Ratchey

Yes just the upper leather portions are heated. That's really high for that used one. I paid less for a brand new 16 mid level, several thousand less. Others have paid even less than that.

The pano roof is all glass. The forward 8 inches lifts up as an air dam, then the middle section lifts and slides back.

Halfmoon

My wife drove a 2010 Accord and wasn't impressed with it. We purchased our new 2013 ES350 three years ago this month and it's been perfect. I too don't like buying the first year of a new model, but this was built late in 2013 so we went for it.

She loves everything about this car especially compared to the Honda.

Fillykonk

My 14 with Luxury package and navigation has both the rear sunshade and blind spot monitor. They were stand-alone extras along with HID headlights. I love this car and as of the moment (with only 17k mileage and a 28k residual) intend on buying it at lease-end in May. Your GF will love this generation ES whatever year and package you decide upon. Good luck with your purchase!

Mike728

Really? You paid less than $30k for a brand new ES???

lesz

I was wondering about the same thing. If it is truly a "mid-level" ES, the MSRP would be somewhere around $45,000 and a purchase price that is "several thousand less than 31k" would mean a discount of over 35%. Even with buying a 2016 past the end of the 2016 model year, I haven't seen anyone else claim to have gotten a discount even close to that size.

mcomer

Minor but visible addition to the 2014's over the 2013's...if equipped with Luxury level equipment (real leather, etc.) then it
customarily came with HID headlamps. HID headlamps in '13 had halogen foglights, new for '14 the foglights became LED.
So... if you see Halogen fogs it is a '13 wo/Nav...

Kijug

Heh... In the category of "if you post it on the Internet it is fair game for all and you never know when it will come back to haunt you" category...the red car above is a pict of my new 2014 ES UL I put here in '14. Ha! That's great!

Also, note that the Panoramic Roof has TWO sunroofs--one for the rear passengers, but only the front one opens up. When the front is open, it slides into the middle of the car so the rear sunroof is still clear and lets sunlight into the back passengers.

FWIW, I don't use the leg extender as it seems to get in the way more than anything. Another thing the UL has is manual rear-window shades. In the summer I drive with the rear window shades and rear window shade (auto) up most of the time...then down in the spring/fall/winter. I didn't get my windows tinted and I talked to the Lexus guys who talked to Lexus that the windows are 99% UV protected so I figured I didn't need to tint the windows to protect the leather. I think the UV beat up the leather in my former car, but it was a cheaper leather also.

LS430inDE.

All great to know info, guys. Thanks for the pics and advice. Is there anything to pay particular attention to when inspecting/test driving these cars? I've read about a TSB for Battery Discharge...but anything else we should inquire/inspect/observe on a 2013/14/15 ES?