[QUOTE=grp52;11850612]
This generation of ES 350 using the 2GR-FKS engine has been in general use for over 6 years now. Over that time I don't remember anyone posting on this forum anything on having any sort of oil leak issue with their ES 350 2GR-FKS engine.

Six years for the Lexus but much longer in other Toyota cars. I had a 2006 Avalon and a 2013 Lexus with this fabulous V6 engine w/o any issues and by this time it is truly bulletproof.

 

Yep - it's my wife's daily driver now and couldn't be happier with it.

 

Cars are designed for the global market now, not just for the US (which has changed in any event over the decades). Yes, of course, things are tweaked and certain regulations have to be complied with, but as much as possible they aim for the greatest uniformity in design and manufacturing, for that is the best/safest return on their engineering dollars (or yen or whatever). They are also looking long range, something American businesses don’t do well. Globally the trends, due to environmental and mileage requirements, are not favoring retaining these older style power plants like the V6 or V8, however desirable they may be in some markets. Sure there will be very high end makes like Porsche or up to Bentley and RR, for example, still using some of these for a while because there is an undeniable, albeit limited demand for them; but the trend remains what is is, chimerical predictions of gas prices notwithstanding and which are notoriously susceptible to changes from events on the world stage, not just what happens in the US.

Will I miss the V6 in the ES? Absolutely! I’m sadly older now, and when I grew up a four cylinder was always for a penalty box cheap car - I still have that bias, as nothing can really match the smoothness of a well designed V8, IMO. But as with many things the world changes.and my personal opinions are not sufficient to stop that. The power they can produce from the current four pots is pretty amazing, even if it takes a turbo or two and a lot of electronics. But for me and most Americans that great sounding V8 is, or will be, out of realistic financial range now and going into the future as $100K+ cars are niche market in global sales. So it is what it is going to be, but I sincerely doubt that Toyota and other makers will bet their massive investments they have to make in building cars just based on one American election.

 

My 6.2 liter, 500 HP,, C8 Corvette will change your mind

 

We test drove 2 Caddies and 2 Genesis during our purchase journey as well as a Toyota Crown and 300h.
Of all the vehicles, purchased ES350, next consideration would be Crown, 300h, then the Caddies and Genesis bring up the rear in no particular order. Actually very disappointed by Caddies and Genesis(awd and fwd caddies and g80&90 gens)

Definitely test drive any and all considerations.
ES350 ultra is outstanding in our opinion compared to the others.

 

Surprised to hear your reaction to Genesis G80 and G90. I wouldn't buy them based on reliability and maker/dealer nonsupport, but I've always heard they were pleasant and luxurious cars to sit in and drive. Do tell, what turned you off about them?

 

I own 2025 ES350 "Ultra Luxury". There's not much Ultra Luxury about this car. It's just an average sedan and not in the same league as thus big boys. It's more comparable ti an Accord or Sonata.The car has a McPherson strut suspension which is the cheapest suspension you can install in a car. It gives a mushy ride. The brakes are undersized for the car.Brake stoping is below average.It's not an Ultra Luxury vehicle. It is not in the same league as Caddy, Genesis, BMW.

 

The caddies were noisy and buzzy. The 4 cylinder seemed peppier than the six. The Genesis just didn’t live up to the hype. Before buying a car I’m thinking about, I ask people driving them if they would buy it again. Lexus people said yes. Genesis people said probably more often than not. Test driving caddy experience was not impressive. Most all the vehicles were in the same price range except the G90.

 

Given the consistently uplifting tone of your previous posts, a test drive that I'm sure was thorough and perceptive, as well as the obviously comprehensive knowledge you've displayed in making your vehicle choice, I'm surprised to hear of your intense dissatisfaction with your new purchase. When you quickly dispose of this inferior vehicle and leave only us uncomprehending lessers still in possession of ours, I'll miss you.

 

Driving experiences and what one expects/desires are often very personal taste matters. For me I do not find the ES to have a mushy ride, indeed I think it is TOO firm, having fallen victim to the “let’s make everything sporty” mantra. I returned to the ES after a few years with a MB E350 - a fine car in many ways but I tired of the jarring suspension that for me let far too much impact into my rear end. It was just too harsh. The brakes were excellent, a German car characteristic; but I have no issues with the ES350’s brakes in actual terms, i.e, in stopping distance. Yes the pedal feel is longer/deeper (mushy, I guess) than the Benz was but once you adjusted to it I have never felt any lack in the actual performance of the braking system.

The sportier feel imparted to most cars these days is not what I am looking for, but I’m old school. I want to glide over pavement imperfections and not feel every tar strip and transition on the road. Unless you want to spend north of $100K (with more complex suspension elements like air suspension or adjustable shocks) it’s hard to find a sedan that has a good ride. Lexus does it about the best though in its price range. I do miss the older versions for their smoother ride (I had two previous gens prior to my ’22). If they can achieve that with struts and steel components versus aluminum, it’s fine by me - like most vehicles, they are building to a price point and what their traditional buyers prefer. (And most drivers of most cars couldn’t tell you what kind of suspension or transmission or pretty much anything technical about their cars - and couldn’t care less in any event.)

 

Thanks for sharing that.

 

Excellent comment, and I agree with it in pretty much every respect. The ES isn't for everyone—no car is—but for those who value its combination of comfort, reliability and value, it delivers.

 

>The sportier feel imparted to most cars these days is not what I am looking for
Ha, that's why I 'go' both ways: ES350 & IS350 F Sport.
Interesting, I believe that the ES is as fast as the IS, same motor and similar weight, but the experience is completely different.
I have no interest in using the paddles in the ES, but the motor just screams when near redline when using them in the IS.
Plus, the IS has the older interior and still has a CD player.
Score!!
=============================================================
Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car
Oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car
Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall, and
Torque is how far you take the wall with you

 

There's a difference in transmission operation between the ES and IS automatic transmissions.

With the ES automatic transmission, the paddle shifters' operation in D and S mode as well as gear shifter S mode operation just change the top gear for the range of gears the transmission will use (in normal, non-damaging to engine and transmission operation).

The IS automatic transmission doesn't quite operate that way. When the transmission in in D, the paddle shifters change the top gear range when the gear shifter is in D just like the ES automatic transmission. Unlike the ES, the IS automatic transmission has a M mode which enabled the driver to manually shift through the individual gears either with the paddle shifters or the gear shifter's M+ and M- positions. Just like the ES, there's a computer override to prevent engine (e.g., redline limiter) and transmission damage.

 

Why do you think the V6 will remain in 2026?