jeffnpigs

It starts with the listed changes but then digresses. Look at the last page.

Jeff :snoooorrrtttt:

skperformance:

There is a new owner as one of the last few postings on the "From Lexus, 2004 Es300 List of Changes" topic on this website (currently on page 3 of the index). There is a brief test ride review on another board (I don't know if I can describe it further).

Jeff :whistles:

:P Postings on this and other websites indicate that the new ES330 has arrived, and that we even have some new owners (congratulations ). I would love to get the impressions of people who have had the opportunity to take an extended ride. Most noteably, do you feel an increase in acceleration, is there any change in ride/handling, and is the recurrent (some say alleged) transmission problem still there? Finally, for those who bought, have you been successful in getting a discount off or MSRP? Thanks, Jeff

Steve:

A very Zen approach, and a good one. Those who already have the 03 will get killed financially if they try to slide into an 04.

I know it must feel like :chairshot: for those that have the 02/03 transmission problem, and I sympathize. But...

Jeff

Steve:

Steve,

With the changes in equipment (which are significant to me) and list pricing, I'm going to wait for the December sale. I'm leaning towards "Mystic Gold Metallic." Initially, I wanted "Black Garnet Pearl," but didn't like it as much up close. Also, the gold will probably show less of the pollin for which Washington is famous. My current Saab is black/tan interior, and its always possible I will replicate that choice.

"My only regret" is the lack of radio controls on the wheels. Oh, well, I'll just have to live with it. However, I'd be willing to bet that the 05 model comes with that change. I'll let you know my impressions of my test drive of the 04, which I anticipate will be favorable.

:snoooorrrtttt: Jeff

Based upon the above, it would seem that Lexus will now have to offer major discounts on the remaining ES300's, especially since the transmission problem is still unresolved.

Steviej:

In answer to your question, the main toys on my Saab 9-5 which are not present in the ES300 are:

1. Lots of good controls for the radio are on the steering wheel (but not too many little ones). I'll miss this because I am always changing the settings on my radio. But the reach in the ES300 isn't extreme, and the volume and seek buttons are big which should make things easier. I do think that Lexus is backward in this area (but I do love the 3 spoke steering wheel).

2. The passenger rear mirror automatically goes down in reverse. However, this is a chip which tends to go down, both in this, and in my prior car. Nothing is more frightening than wanting to change lanes to the right at high speed on a highway and finding that you are looking at the pavement. Also, there are many who don't want it to go down.

3. Telescoping steering wheel (this isn't a problem for me, but tends to irk my wife who is 5'0").

4. The Saab has split, folding rear seats. I rarely use this option, but my son and I once brought 3 kayaks back from West Virginia, with the smallest kayak making use of the folded seat.

I would tend to agree with Steve that those who are happy with their current cars might want to wait a year. Or maybe...

Jeff :magic:

Steve:

I took out a 2003 ES 300 for an extensive test drive from Springfield to Rockville (through Tom Lane at Lindsay, who was the guy who gave me the brochure a few months ago). I really like it, and its probably at the top of my list, even though I will have to give up some toys that are in my Saab 9-5. However, the ride (and the seats) are fantastic, and with a bad back these are major factors. 90% of the time the acceleration was fine, and I was able to finesse the accelerator as suggested (I think...). However, there were a few times when I wasn't sure where the transmission was going.

My lease on the Saab ends at the end of October, so I will be able to wait for the ES 330s and compare. My understanding is that the sticker price difference will not be substantial, but the actual price difference between 300s and 330s will be increased by the fact that in the fall the 300s will be "leftovers." I may even wait for the big December sale. :)

Jeff

In 91 or 92 we bought an ES 250 at Lindsey, but of course our salesman is long gone. On this round I simply cruised through Lindsey long enough to pick up an 03 catalogue, but have not taken a test drive. They are convenient to my commute for service purposes. Who have you dealt with in the area?

Thanks :) Jeff

Steve:

I will try driving the 03 using the acceleration method you have written about. That will be hard, because I drive a Saab 9-5, and you have to floor it to get the turbo to kick in. I also live in the Washington region, commuting from Bethesda to "Alexandria" (Eisenhower Ave.). I have lots of highway speed merges, so moving acceleration is important to me. But I will give it a try with an open mind and will let you know.

Thanks, Jeff

P.S. The double clicks don't seem to work. I am at a government computer and the program may have decided that smiley faces are irrelevant.

Steve:

Thanks for being the first to post this information, as you previously promised on my other topic re the ES 330(?). Reading this week's postings on other topics re the 02/03 transmission problems, and the problems with the fixes that have been installed, I have been getting really discouraged. In fact, I told my wife last night that with the problems with the fix, that it probably would not even be worth looking at the 04 since no one was talking changes to the transmission that worked. I am feeling much better today looking at the specs.

So thanks again. By the way, I missed something and cannot get those smilies to click. Right now I'd post the two faces with the two beers. Could you, or someone on the like, give me a quick tutorial so that I could participate. They lighten up our posts.

Jeff

Sorry about the negative tone of the prior post. I appreciate your searching for what information could be found, and recognize that the fact that there may not be much information out there is certainly not your doing. I also appreciate your willinginess to put in your own opinion that the price increase might not be worth the horsepower increase.

Thanks, Jeff

Thanks for your helpful suggestion, SWO3ES. I will use it when test driving the 03 ES300 this summer. I believe, however, that Lexus should not demand that their owners develop a pattern of acceleration that is different from that used in most, if not all, other cars in order to obtain maximum acceleration. I also checked out "steviej" postings on the "other" forum which confirm what you say.

As a newbie I don't want to make a fuss. However, I thought that the coming version of the ES300 would be a matter of more interest in this community. Another site that I read on this forum discussed the matter of "censoring" of postings. Is there something which we are not able to read at this time. As moderator, I appreciate your answer to this puzzle. Thanks.

We test drove the 2001 ES300 when it first came out. We loved the luxury and beauty of the car, but were disappointed by the engine and handling. I have been hearing rumors that the 2004 model will have the larger 330 engine, which should put some extra pep into the car. Does anyone know of any other modifications which we can expect in the 2004 model? I would love to feel that I could buy an ES 300 (330?) which would be able to handle my daily commute. Any comments or insights would be greatly appreciated.