Hello Everyone,
I'm coming from an Audi A4 2010 and finally let it go. I really like the Lexus ES 350 F-Sport, I got my wife a 2021 Lexus NX F-Sport and it drives fantastic.
I'm seeing some good deals ~37k USD for 2021 models /w Navigation. The navigation is mandatory for the larger screen but is there anything else I should look at?

I like the F-Sport the most because I find their seats are the most comfortable.

 

'22+ models have touchscreen infotainment. '23+ drop the trackpad. I can't think of much else since the difference between trims (premium, F sport, Luxury, Ultra-luxury) hasn't changed a whole lot year to year, and so it's all personal preference.

FWIW, I did test drive an F sport and an UL back-to-back while shopping and I found the UL ride to be noticeably smoother and quieter. You might try driving a few different trims to see what overall package best suits your needs.

 

Not really, you're looking at one of the most reliable vehicles out on the road. As mentioned above, the biggest difference you'll see is the location of the screen and whether it's got a trackpad or not.

I have a 22 300h F Sport and it still drives as smoothly as it does day 1. The bigger wheels and lower profile tires make the biggest difference when it comes to ride quality between all the trims, at least imo. You're also coming from an A4, so jumping to a hybrid 4cyl will be a much smoother experience compared to your old Audi. Driving dynamics, for sure Audi beats it, even for a 14yr old vehicle, but I feel the ES hides its size and weight well.

I know you're looking at the 350, but give the 300h a shot. I personally found it on my test drive to be of enough power and I don't really miss the V6 I used to have. Couple the smoothness of the car plus getting double the mpg I used to, it's definitely an upgrade.

 

It is a nice looking and sporty vehicle that meets my needs, and the driver seat wraps around to keep a driver in place. A bit disappointed with ML 17-speaker sound system and feel it is overrated; With the amplifier and speakers it should sound like an orchestra in the cabin. Also, 14-gallon tank and 24 mpg means regular visits to fuel stations. For me, a dependable car that meets my needs for now.

 

My only thought would be, how long do you want to keep the car?

I bought my 2023 ES 350 about six weeks ago for $40K with 9200 miles. I tend to keep cars for a very long time but, if something comes out that I just can't live without, I wanted this car to have things that would help with resale. Things like the large touchscreen, wireless phone charger, updated center console, etc.

 

AVS is an option - I opted to avoid it for fear of the replacement cost later on. If the car has SPORT+ on the Frankenstein right side ****, it has AVS. Other than that, mine is a 2019 and has been trouble free for five plus years and 73K miles. The trans is a bit jerky if you do stop and go driving.

 

I bought a 2024 ES 350 F Sport Handling in December 2023. I love sports cars. I was considering a Mercedes or BMW but the cost, reliability, and maintenance costs made the Lexus more attractive.

My wife and I have turned it into our road trip car it’s so comfortable. We leave her 2020 GMC Denali in the garage now. The only “con” is the small gas tank but we use those stops to stretch our legs.

 

Thank you! That's exactly what I wanted to know.
I want the 2021 because it still has a few months of warranty with Lexus so incase the 1st owner missed something I can always go back.
My wife has the 2021 NX and I don't mind the trackpad. Her screen is also touch when the car is in P but I've touched the screen maybe twice in 3 years lol
The 22 and 23 still have a huge premium.

I really like the F Type seats BUT I'm worried about the ride on 19'' rims. Maybe I can look for some 17s or 18s. I'm worried about the HUGE potholes in South Carolina that can swallow up a little car that might dent the rims.
Where can I find the specs for 17 and 18inch rims?



I really like the look of the Type F and the seats. There isn't a 300H Type F

How is the gas mileage on it? As long as I can get over 300miles per tank i don't mind.

I just go rid of my 2009 A4 Audi if that gives you an idea
I also HATE the new thing car companies are doing with one big screen. I like BUTTONS, so I want to keep this car for a long time. Hence Lexus and not another Audi.

Oh I had Dynamic Suspension on my A4. NEVER AGAIN! One shock cost more than all 4 regular and it needed calibration at the dealer... not worth it if I'm going to keep the car long term. It's also not a sports car and I'm not going to drive it that way.

My Aunt has a 2006 Lexus ES and the only thing she had go wrong is the headlight fogging up. That's it.... My Audi.... let's just say the warranty paid off more than the MSRP of the car over the the 4Years + 4 Years extended warranty.

 

If you get the hybrid, you will not go wrong with any of them. The V6 is OK except for the transmission, which is not that well balanced and smooth.

 

I wasn't gonna say anything about Audi but, as a former BMW owner, I know exactly what you mean

 

Ohh...550i, I can just imagine...

 

With 360hp and 360 torque it was awesome....for about five years. Then the inevitable happened LOL.

 

Just found a 2021 ES350 F-Type /w Navigation + ML & 3 Beam HL with 38k Miles for 36,000$. Took it on a 24hr test drive... This thing is REALLY NICE!!!!
I'm 99.9% going to buy it except if i hear any issues while driving it around tomorrow.

My only complaints are the rear seats don't fold back or if they do I can't figure it out.
The head lights seem to be pointing too low to the ground. I need to figure out how to adjust/calibrate them to point up.

 

Of course, this is not an Audi. FWIW, the dynamic shocks on this car are provided by prominent shock absorber supplier KYB, which I believe developed them.

The other thing worth mentioning is the Mark Levinson stereo. One poster on this thread disparaged it, but some others feel it's very good. I suggest you bring along your favorite listening material, whether that's your phone or a USB drive or even a CD, and listen for yourself to judge whether it's worth it for you. Many say the difference between the ML and the perfectly decent 10-speaker base stereo is more noticeable the higher the fidelity of the source material is.

 

We just got a '21 F Sport about 6 weeks ago. Don't let the 19" wheels scare you. I was worried about it after reading the reviews as well but now that I have one, it's not an issue at all. Would you feel a little rougher ride in an F Sport vs UL; probably if you drove them back to back but I think the F Sport drives great and that's coming off a 9 yr almost 100k mile run in an LS430. I love the LS430.....and I love the ES350 F Sport! Two totally different cars that give me two different driving experiences. Having to give up my LS430 has honestly been the hardest car I've ever had to let go in the 30 years I've been driving but the ES350 makes it a much easier pill to swallow.

With the plan of keeping the ES for 8 - 10 years, I wanted to make sure I got all of the options that we wanted and we got lucky enough to find an '21 L-Certified F Sport with every option you could get on one that year model. The only option that I would have liked that we didn't get is a touch screen, but as you mentioned, the '22-'24 prices a still commanding a higher price. We paid $37k for one with 20k miles, L-Certified (factory warranty until 7/2026), ML stereo, Triple beam headlights, Nav, Heads up display, brand new set of tires, brand new battery, and 2 years of oil changes through Lexus. I feel like we got a really good deal....and the F Sport looks damn sexy. I think we hit that sweet spot for price vs year vs mileage vs options. It still has the brand new car smell to it.