Advice sought: ES 330 - buy or no? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

magurt · 05-26-2005, 10:14 PM

I am in the market for a new car (will likely buy in the next few weeks). I currently drive a 1998 BMW 740i, and while beautiful is nothing short of a money pit (or, as I like to call her, my land yacht). I find the cost of maintenance on the BMW to be cost prohibited (a routine service is $600+), new battery 200, replaced hose $150 - truly insane. Coupled with the maintenance expenses, she takes premium unleaded gas only, but is a V8 with horrendous mileage (plus, with a 22 gallon tank I fill my tank, at an average cost of $65.00 weekly for my daily commute of 20+ city miles a day.

Thus, I want a good car that has the size of my 740i (which is the short bodied 7-series not the longer iL) without the agony of the cost.

So - any ES330 owners... Do you consider the cost of service on your car to be high? What is the average price you pay for a routine maintenance?

What kind of gas mileage do you get? Must you only use supreme unleaded gas or can you use a middle range?

Are there any caveats (warnings) you'd like to tell a potential buying - something you wish someone warned you about?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks in advance!

***84Cressida*** · 05-27-2005, 12:37 AM

This review should give you a pretty good insight. http://auto.consumerguide.com/Auto/N...3/Act/Showall/
I've never owned an ES330, but I must say they are damn fine automobiles.

magurt · 05-27-2005, 01:00 AM

Thank you for the article. I did not know they were planning on redesigning the body style for release in March...

Does anyone have a link to the new body style (I assume it'll be the same curvature as the newly designed IS and GS body styles.... but I would like to see the new body style to understand how much the car will change.

VVT-i Owns · 05-27-2005, 01:55 AM

I think the GS would suit you much better. In general Lexus service will cost a bit more than Toyota but no where near that of your BMW.

The ES330 can take midgrade but premium is recommended, you will lose performance and milage with midgrade.

Woogee · 05-27-2005, 02:00 AM

going from a 7-series to an ES330 isn't the best thing in the world. I think you'd be better off with the new GS.

magurt · 05-27-2005, 02:32 AM

I think the GS would suit you much better. In general Lexus service will cost a bit more than Toyota but no where near that of your BMW.

Very important to me - thank you. Is the LS worth a look? Or are they releasing a new body style next year for that one too?

(I test drove the ES330 - with navigation system and perks it's not bad - it's smaller so it'll get better gas mileage which short of buying a hybrid - and I hate all the hybrids on the market save the new Toyota Highlander, which I am considering also - but my mechanical difficulties... I've had the 740 for 5 years and it's not worth the luxury of the car)

Course I read that they are totally redesigning the body style of the Highlander to look more like the Nissan Murano than an SUV - that should be released sometime next year too.

Toysrme · 05-27-2005, 10:19 AM

ClubLexus.com

Slightly used LS400/430 would be the best fit comming frm a 7 seires. GS400 would be a good choice, but not as good I don't think. Skip the GS300 with it's 2jz-ge. You might as well get the upgrades that come with the v8 engine, as they get the same gas mileage if you keep your toe off the floor.

BOTH engine's get 17-24 city/highway. You might as well go with the better cars. If you're just concerned with gas, the ES 330 will kill them both in mileage. 21-29

Seriously. 400 / 430 is the better way to go. I say an LS since it's bigger, more pimp, and a great car.

***84Cressida*** · 06-01-2005, 12:44 AM

Have you decided yet?

RICO8458 · 01-06-2006, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magurt

I am in the market for a new car (will likely buy in the next few weeks). I currently drive a 1998 BMW 740i, and while beautiful is nothing short of a money pit (or, as I like to call her, my land yacht). I find the cost of maintenance on the BMW to be cost prohibited (a routine service is $600+), new battery 200, replaced hose $150 - truly insane. Coupled with the maintenance expenses, she takes premium unleaded gas only, but is a V8 with horrendous mileage (plus, with a 22 gallon tank I fill my tank, at an average cost of $65.00 weekly for my daily commute of 20+ city miles a day.

Thus, I want a good car that has the size of my 740i (which is the short bodied 7-series not the longer iL) without the agony of the cost.

So - any ES330 owners... Do you consider the cost of service on your car to be high? What is the average price you pay for a routine maintenance?

What kind of gas mileage do you get? Must you only use supreme unleaded gas or can you use a middle range?

Are there any caveats (warnings) you'd like to tell a potential buying - something you wish someone warned you about?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks in advance!

Buy a 2002 GS300 with under 45,000 miles and CPO...

Tideland Prius · 01-06-2006, 12:14 PM

Try the RX400h? or GS450h if you want the power of your 7 series but with much more fuel savings than a regular Lexus V8 will give you.

And yes, they're redesigning the LS too. It'll be shown at the NAIAS. The ES will looks similar to the new Camry shown (like how the current one has the general shape of the current Camry but has different lights, grilles, door panels etc)