jgcec

I drove a LS 430 yesterday with the regular suspension (not air), (for the first time in 7 years) with 70k miles
and it was just fantastic compared to the ES 350s that I have been test driving.

I have also test driven about 5 ES 330s with 60-100k miles on them and they were very good also.

Why is the suspension in a ES 330 or LS better than an ES 350?

I leased a new 2010 ES 350 for two years and it had a very good ride.
Maybe it didn't have as good of a ride as I remember?

Or maybe because it was new, it had a slightly better ride than used 5-10 year old ES 350?
Now I just can't find a 2007-2012 ES 350 that has a great ride like the ES 330 or LS 430 or 460.

What components are different in an ES 350,
than in a ES 330 or LS to make it ride different?

I have not test driven a LS with air suspension.
How much better is the air suspension than the regular.
How many miles or years will it last until major
and I am assuming very expensive repairs?

What are the pros and cons of air suspension?
I am assuming better ride vs cost.

Johnhav430

I wonder if this is subjective? I don't think the LS430 has a good suspension, meaning for road feel. For pillowy cloudness, it is up there, maybe 9/10. So I wonder if you perceive things the opposite that I do, meaning you want that smooth pillowy driving, which maybe the ES350 doesn't have? Personally, I like having cars with differing characteristics. Like rather than have 2 LS430s, I'd rather have 1, and 1 BMW. This way we can try to be objective, although it's hard. Jump into a BMW, and one feels the steering is so heavy, and the car is always responding to input. Not everybody likes that either, it depends on what you like. But to keep things honest, the last rental car I had was a 2017 Malibu. It was a sport sedan when compared to the LS430. And in the big picture, there's not much sporty about a 2017 Malibu....my .02.

On the air suspension, I would want it on a 2017 car, as there is an activeness to them, rather than passiveness. But on a 10 y.o. car, I hear they cost about $1k per corner to replace, so again, is that worth it...although just ordinary struts/shocks are pretty pricey on the LS430, with the sports being cheaper which imho is nice....

2KHarrier

I would think the 350 is a different platform from the 330. And obviously different again compared to the LS. Beyond that, there's suspension geometry, weights of the vehicles, sport suspension VS. touring suspension.

BradTank

Size of rims would be my first guess. It's pretty standard now for a newer Lexus to start out with 18" plus rims.
I had an ES300 and it had a better ride than my LS430 does, but it also had the factory 15" rims. It rode like it was on a cloud.

Large rims really hurt ride quality.

Also, Lexus has decided to be more "German" and less American over the years in how they are setting up their ride bias. So better handling and more road feel and less ride comfort, because that's what magazine editors say car buyers want. I tend to think people buy a luxury car to have a luxury ride.

So the smaller rims option is one easy way you can make a more isolated ride. I'm not sure on this, but you could probably put 16" Camry rims on an ES and get the more traditional ride you are looking for.