PRE-OWNED WHEELS
2008-12 Lexus ES 350
Don’t look now, Lexus, but your working-class Toyota roots are showing.
It’s no secret that Lexus’ entrylevel ES 350 sedan has been built on the front-drive Camry platform over five generations, stemming back to the brand’s inception in 1990. Every iteration of the mid-size luxury car used the Camry’s optional V6 engine, cloaked under enough styling flair to justify its ambitious pricing.
Along with that borrowed Camry goodness, however, came some inherent Camry malevolence, as we’ll see.
CONFIGURATION
Tailored for North American tastes — Europe and Japan don’t get the model — the ES has always plumbed the comfort side of the luxury-car segment, emphasizing premium furnishings, serene isolation and an absorbent ride. One owner characterized it as a “rolling Valium.”
Along with the donor Camry, Lexus’ bestselling car was redesigned for 2007 with crisp styling, more power and added technology. The new ES gained about 6 cm. in the wheelbase compared to the outgoing model (a boon to rear-seat passengers), but little elsewhere.
The four-door sedan body was the product of the brand’s new L-finesse design philosophy, which was intended to convey, um, “seamless anticipation.” Its sleek design incorporated a fastback profile, sharper character lines and a lower grille.
True to the Lexus doctrine, the ES cabin was warm and inviting with richly finished leather, wood and metallic surfaces. Owners roundly applauded the optional ventilated seats for their effective cool air circulation. The back seat had grown roomier and a large trunk with a pass-through enhanced cargo capacity.
“The car really is a couch on wheels,” summed up one ES owner online. But a chesterfield with surprisingly limited headroom, taller drivers griped.
The ES 350 got its handle from its DOHC 3.5 L V6, which replaced the 218-hp 3.3 L V6 in the previous ES 330. The larger six produced 272 hp and 254 lb.-ft. of torque working through a new six-speed automatic transmission with two overdrives and 20 per cent fewer parts.
Antilock braking and traction/an- tiskid control were standard, along with a plethora of airbags, including front knee airbags. Newly optional was a pre-collision system, which readied airbags, seatbelts and brakes when sensors detected an imminent crash or economic downturn. There were no significant updates until 2010, when the ES 350 received interior and exterior styling tweaks and new features, including rain-sensing wipers and a driverseat memory system. For 2011 the V6 was downgraded to 268 hp and 248 lb.-ft. of torque, but the engine no longer quaffed premium-grade gasoline — a happy trade-off.
ON THE ROAD
With its robust motor, the ES could climb to highway velocity in a prompt 6.2 seconds. While 272 horses may be on the cusp of having too much power directed to the front tires, few drivers noticed sig- nificant torque steer. In terms of handling, the chassis was not damped enough and body motions were pronounced. Its over-assisted steering didn’t help matters as the ES was prone to wander. In a published comparo of four “near-luxury” models, the ES 350 finished second behind the overachieving Hyundai Genesis sedan. At least the ES provided class-leading isolation when it came to cosseting occupants from road and wind noise. Fuel economy was better than average, too.
WHAT OWNERS SAY
As the perennial top-ranked automaker in J.D. Power and Associates’ dependability studies, Lexus has raised consumers’ expectations sky high. Fortunately, it largely meets them. Owners rave about the ES’ decadent comfort, willing engine, luxury features and perceived safety and quality. Yet despite the Lexus reputation, or perhaps because of it, the made-in-Japan ES has disappointed some owners.
The biggest complaint describes a sharp increase in r.p.m. when the automatic transmission shifts between the third and fourth gears shortly after a cold start. The condition is called “shift flare,” and it’s familiar to Camry owners. Remedies include a computer reflash (update), a valve body replacement and, if required, complete replacement.
“After only 1,600 km on my onemonth-old Lexus the first of two transmissions was replaced,” reads a grim post.
Vibration or a droning noise emanating from the engine compartment may require replacement of the active control motor mount. Others point to a diesel-like rattle at start-up, which might be traced to piston slap.
Other reported lapses in quality include oil leaks (in small numbers), poor sounding radios, soft paint prone to scratches and a cacophony of interior rattles. Skip the inaugural 2007 ES 350 and sample a newer one. We would like to know about your ownership experience with these models: Honda Civic, Chevrolet Impala and Volkswagen Routan. Email: toljagic@ca.inter.net