RXGS

iTrader: (2)

For those of you who have it, or those who wish you did, do you think the Ultra-Lucury package is worth it? Looking at two, a Luxury with 20k miles, and an Ultra with 16k miles, both a 2013 and negligible difference in price, but would like to get peoples' opinions on here.

Also, does the ultra come with power closing trunk on this year? Im aware of some differences such as the wheels, leather, Mark levinson, and shades, but not sure of what else. Thanks in advance.

oldcajun

For me, the biggest reason I chose the UL on my previous ES was to get the seat with the thigh extender. In addition, the UL has nicer leather and a panoramic sunroof.
For the same price, I would certainly choose the UL.
Steve

lesz

I had a 2013 ES with the Luxury Package, and I now own a 2017 ES with the Ultra Luxury Package.

For me, I could easily do without many of the UL package features, including the rear seat sun shades, ambient lighting, panoramic sunroof, etc., but there are two UL package features that I especially like. First, the semi-aniline leather on the UL package seats really is much nicer than the standard leather with the Luxury Package. Also, I very much like the thigh extender on the driver's seat.

The MSRP of an ES with the UL package is typically about $3500 to $4000 more than the MSRP of a Luxury Package ES because, in addition to the extra cost of the UL package, UL package cars are usually equipped with other options, including the ML audio system.

With regard to your question about the power trunk, it has been a stand-alone option on the ES (about $400, I believe). An UL ES is more likely to have that option, though, than a non-UL ES.

If you are looking at 2013 ESs, by now, much of the initial MSPR difference between an UL car and a Luxury package car should have diminished significantly. If everything else is equal in the two cars and if the prices are close, I'd certainly go for the one with the UL package, but, if there was a significant difference in favor of the Luxury Package ES with regard to its condition, an ES with the Luxury Package is still a very nice vehicle, and I might be inclined to go in that direction.

RXGS

iTrader: (2)

Both are in excellent condition and certified. The luxury is white on beige with brand new tires, and the ultra black on black with one tire that was replaced at 10k due to a nail in the sidewall, so i think its really going to come down to whether they want white or black.

Kijug

I have a 2014 ES/UL and got it for the better leather and sunroof mostly. The ambient lighting I like but is more useful I need the winter when it is dark more often. I have the ML and it came with the optional auto trunk open/close...which I've gotten spoiled with. I've enjoyed all the UL features. For the semi-analine leather, some say it is softer and more comfortable. I don't know. However, it is died leather all the way through, not just on the surface. So if you get a scratch or tear, it won't show the white inside of the leather. I also wanted it for that.

PAcommuter

I think the passenger seat memory is a nice little extra on the UL package. I have a premium package 2013. I wish I had the touchless trunk closure though.

BigRon12

I have a 2014 UL and I would say its well worth it. If you do alot of night driving the ambient lighting is a pleasure.

peteharvey

The Ultra Luxury package comes with 18" wheels on lower profile tires.
It may handle a little better, but be careful of the ride and noise.

lesz

Actually, the 18 inch wheels are not a part of the UL package on the ES. Instead, they are a stand-alone option with an MSRP of about $880. It is true that most of the UL that are shipped to dealers do have the 18 inch wheels, but there are a couple of people who post here and who have bought an UL ES with the 17 inch wheels, and there are a fair number Luxury Package ES that have the 18 inch wheels.

Also, for what it is worth, I think that the difference in ride quality between the ES with 17 inch wheels and the ES with 18 inch wheels is not nearly as great as one might be led to believe from reading posts on this board. I had a 2013 ES with 17 inch wheels, and I now have q 2017 ES with 18 inch wheels. While the 2017 with 18 inch wheels might have a marginally firmer ride than the 2013 with the 17 inch wheels, they are close enough that, if I hadn't read posts here about the difference and if I wasn't looking for the difference, I probably wouldn't even notice any difference between the two. .The difference in sidewall height of the tires with the 17 inch wheels and the tires with the 18 inch wheels is only slightly less than 2/3 of an inch. That is enough enough to make a small difference in ride firmness, but it isn't big enough to make a huge difference.

norakat

When I was checking out the ES before purchase, the first car I sat in was 2016 UL ES 350. I really liked how I felt on the seat. The base felt solid and comfortable. Then I decided on the Luxury package assuming the seat would be pretty much the same. Well anyway, the front seat on the Luxury edition I have was a big disappointment. It looked like, but did not feel like the UL seat at all. Mine was very uncomfortable, and the base/bottom on your rear felt like you are sitting on a leather hammock. It is not solid and feels awkward.
I'm not sure if this is a problem on the 2013.

Also the Pioneer(?) sound system in the luxury edition sounds pretty good imo (2016).

norakat

I have to disagree with that. It depends on where you live and the conditions of the roads. If you live somewhere where the road problems are only minor imperfections then you would think that they are close. But if you live in NYC which is full of potholes and basically like third-world driving on the moon then it makes a huge difference. Hitting a pothole or the many speed bump like repairs they do around here on the highway doing 70 MPH, it feels like you hit a truck when you hit those bumps w the 18's.

RXGS

iTrader: (2)

Figured I'd update this. The day we were supposed to pick up the UL, it was sold. So came in a few days later, drove a 300h and a 2014 GS350 and ended up getting the GS

JRBZ

i bought a 13 ES300h UL and I'm loving it...as far as i know it had every available option. Sticker was 50k I think

fscoblete

I have 18's on my UL package. Yes, the ride is firmer. Physics cannot lie.