my 2014 - ES 350 UL life expectancy
04-04-17, 06:25 AM
#7
Lead Lap
For modern cars built with tighter production tolerances than cars of a few decades ago, it is not unusual to hear of cars that have been properly maintained and with 150,000, 200,000, or more miles on them, and that should be especially true with high level of reliability of vehicles made by Toyota and Lexus.
However, when we see a car with 200,000 or more miles on it that generally means that the engine is still in good condition with that many miles, but it doesn't necessarily mean that lots of other vehicle components have not needed repair or replacement. When a car gets that many miles, there is a good chance that things like the water pump, suspension components, brake components, etc. have been replaced, and it is a certainty that the vehicle has gone through multiple sets of tires, batteries, etc.
While I know that it is possible to maintain a very high mileage vehicle, somewhere along the line it becomes a question of how much money do you want to put into a vehicle whose re-sale or trade-in value is likely to be only a few thousand dollars and, also, how much inconvenience are you willing to accept to be having repairs that are inevitable done.
However, when we see a car with 200,000 or more miles on it that generally means that the engine is still in good condition with that many miles, but it doesn't necessarily mean that lots of other vehicle components have not needed repair or replacement. When a car gets that many miles, there is a good chance that things like the water pump, suspension components, brake components, etc. have been replaced, and it is a certainty that the vehicle has gone through multiple sets of tires, batteries, etc.
While I know that it is possible to maintain a very high mileage vehicle, somewhere along the line it becomes a question of how much money do you want to put into a vehicle whose re-sale or trade-in value is likely to be only a few thousand dollars and, also, how much inconvenience are you willing to accept to be having repairs that are inevitable done.
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04-05-17, 06:32 AM
#8
Lexus Fanatic
As others have said, its a very reliable car that is relatively basic, many parts are shared with less expensive Toyota models which makes replacements cheaper, suspension is a fairly basic setup so control arms and other components aren't terribly expensive to replace. 200,000 miles out of one of these is no problem.
My old 2003 ES is still in the family, it has 193,000 miles on it and has been great. I put about 160,000 miles on it until I sold it to my aunt in 2010, and she's put 33k on it in he following 7 years. I had new lower control arms put on it and replaced the dogbone front engine mount before I sold it to her in 2010 at about 155k miles. I also replaced the timing belt at 90k miles, and put a couple batteries in it, replaced the HID bulbs, few sets of tires and brakes. Its on the original struts. Work done to it, she put an alternator into it about a year ago, she had a head gasket leak I think it was that was repaired, and then she did the timing belt again at 180k miles. We also replaced the HID headlamp bulbs a second time, put all new brake rotors and pads on it, tires. The 13+ ES doesn't have a timing belt, it has a timing chain which doesn't have to be replaced which is a huge savings over the old belts like my 03 has ($1,000 a pop).. All the tech still works, nav screen is fine and works great, all the controls are fine. Few burned out interior backlighting bulbs. It was cared for VERY well when I owned it, garaged, regularly waxed. It sits outside at her condo and its a little more worn now, doesn't get washed much, headlamps are yellowed. Interior though is perfect. Overall, to say it has been an excellent vehicle and we've gotten our moneys worth would be an understatement
Out of all the Lexus models, the ES is the least expensive to maintain and repair, no fancy suspension systems, straightforward proven V6 engine, FWD so no AWD components to worry about, many shared components with Toyotas, it essentially is a Toyota Avalon so Toyota dealers and other mechanics won't have any issue working on it, you could have it overhauled at a gas station in the country. If you want a Lexus to last you a long time and not cost you a lot to maintain and repair, its the one.
My old 2003 ES is still in the family, it has 193,000 miles on it and has been great. I put about 160,000 miles on it until I sold it to my aunt in 2010, and she's put 33k on it in he following 7 years. I had new lower control arms put on it and replaced the dogbone front engine mount before I sold it to her in 2010 at about 155k miles. I also replaced the timing belt at 90k miles, and put a couple batteries in it, replaced the HID bulbs, few sets of tires and brakes. Its on the original struts. Work done to it, she put an alternator into it about a year ago, she had a head gasket leak I think it was that was repaired, and then she did the timing belt again at 180k miles. We also replaced the HID headlamp bulbs a second time, put all new brake rotors and pads on it, tires. The 13+ ES doesn't have a timing belt, it has a timing chain which doesn't have to be replaced which is a huge savings over the old belts like my 03 has ($1,000 a pop).. All the tech still works, nav screen is fine and works great, all the controls are fine. Few burned out interior backlighting bulbs. It was cared for VERY well when I owned it, garaged, regularly waxed. It sits outside at her condo and its a little more worn now, doesn't get washed much, headlamps are yellowed. Interior though is perfect. Overall, to say it has been an excellent vehicle and we've gotten our moneys worth would be an understatement
Out of all the Lexus models, the ES is the least expensive to maintain and repair, no fancy suspension systems, straightforward proven V6 engine, FWD so no AWD components to worry about, many shared components with Toyotas, it essentially is a Toyota Avalon so Toyota dealers and other mechanics won't have any issue working on it, you could have it overhauled at a gas station in the country. If you want a Lexus to last you a long time and not cost you a lot to maintain and repair, its the one.
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boolah (10-06-17)
09-11-22, 11:47 AM
#9
09-11-22, 07:50 PM
#11
Advanced
An unanswerable question. It's all based on probabilities, on average Lexus/Toyota "last" longer than just about any car, but take one car in particular no one can predict what might happen, or not happen. You've got a good vehicle there, I have the same specific model, I'll drive it as long as I'm able , or its able.
Don't worry, maintain it, and be happy.
Don't worry, maintain it, and be happy.
09-11-22, 09:28 PM
#12
Instructor
An unanswerable question. It's all based on probabilities, on average Lexus/Toyota "last" longer than just about any car, but take one car in particular no one can predict what might happen, or not happen. You've got a good vehicle there, I have the same specific model, I'll drive it as long as I'm able , or its able.
Don't worry, maintain it, and be happy.
Don't worry, maintain it, and be happy.
09-12-22, 07:08 AM
#13
Lexus Fanatic
If you stay up on maintenance and repairs, and don't cheap out it can "last" indefinitely...
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Littleguy (09-14-22)
