My LS lease is coming up and considering downgrading to the ES. Never would have considered it, but they do now have AWD and I really am doing a LOT less driving.

It is a nice looking car, and would love to save big $$$$. I wish they made the ES350 AWD, then I would be all in....I'm a little nervous about the engine on the ES250 being too weak!

 

going from an ls500 to a 4 cylinder 225 hp motor, will be a mistake

 

that’s obviously my concern, but I was also not pleased my 8 cyclinder LS went to a 6. Guess I have to test drive and see

 

dont bother you will be miserable, its ok with technology and mpg, but to much of a drastic move
I recemond you move to a genesis v6 turbo not the 2.5 turbo... great car great performance lexus amenities for 50 k

good luck

 

The ES 250 is the same 2.5L engine as the Camry with 203 hp

https://www.lexus.com/models/ES?link[InfoLayer][SHOW_PAGE]=true&link[InfoLayerInner][setActiveTab]=1

 

. Keep us posted on your thoughts from the test drive.

 

Actually I would add some of my own. I have an 2018 GS 350 F Sport and drove a ES 350 F sport as a loaner. I thought it was a competent effort but was surprised how much more refined and sporty the GS, e.g., luxury, ride, build quality, platform stiffness,...etc. Was really surprised since the ES Is a much newer platform.

 

Feel the torque! 1600 rpm is peak torque! 10 speed automatic!

 

I had one as a loaner, you can downgrade like that you’ll never be satisfied. The LS makes the es250 feel like a Toyota Corolla.

 

I can guarantee you the 7ES is worlds stronger body wise than the newest GS. Maybe you're confusing ride firmness with platform stiffness?

Also ES has more combined legroom than newest LS.

 

has nothing to do with stiffness, the rwd vs fwd platform is night and day difference in driving performance and dynamics

 

Agree on the legroom. The 2018 GS platform felt more solid to me and no I am not confusing platform stiffness with ride stiffness. The 2016 and later GS’s are also stiffer than the 2013-2015 models but have a slightly softer ride. The GSF was released in 2016 and structural changes were implemented to improve the chassis stiffness. I suspect that some of these improvements were inherited by the regular GS models.

 

Agree the RWD of the GS makes it a better handling car than the ES. I was still impressed with ES’ balance between luxury and sport but it felt like a lower class car when compared to the GS.

 

The ES is only marginally better than the Camry in the ride compartment.

The material quality is definitely below the GS.

 

So, did give it a test drive. Car is actually quite nice in appearance and decent enough inside. Engine is not great. Perhaps if it was an ES350 AWD, this would be a quick and easy decision, but the 250 is lacking quite a bit of juice between 2nd and 3rd gear.

Now I have to decide how cheap I want to be!

In other news, but 2018 LS which is due to go back apparently has $5K of equity in it. Might be able to collect that from Carvana.