SW03ES

It would be huge, and with the ES being a platform shared car with the Camry, it would require a lot of reworking of the platform and drivetrain to accommodate AWD.

It all depends on your driving habits. For instance if you've been highway driving and then drive around town for a few days, the average mileage will drop little by little as each day goes by because you're obviously getting lower mileage around town than on the highway. My guess is thats the issue. Welcome to the LOC!

Yeah we used them (not specifically Scott's, but a bigger chain) when we used to live in Bethesda and had a yard. The quality varies, but overall they do a good job. Be sure to let them know that its sod, it might change the way they approach it...

The M isn't an S Class, LS, 7 series competitor. I've never seen them claim that, its comparable in size, equipment, performance, and price to the 5 series. Clearly aimed at the 5. You should drive one. The M is way nicer inside than the previous generation GS for instance IMHO...way nicer inside than the 5 series too IMHO which is cold and stark.

Even if I were to buy a sedan that had an AWD option, like a BMW, Infiniti or an LS...I wouldn't get the AWD. The average age of an ES driver is in their upper 60s. I would take your bet that most ES drivers would prefer AWD all day long. Most ES drivers probably don't even know which wheels drive the thing...or care. Like I've said before, the ES is not a sporty car. Its a big, old people cruiser car. Like a well made Buick.

Have you driven an Infiniti M? Nothing entry level about the interior of an Infiniti M, very nice.

No, I don't need my ES to be AWD. No interest in it whatsoever. I think a much better car for you would be a Maxima or Acura TL...

Absolutely...get a second opinion...

Yes! That looks much better...

I have a sneaking suspicion that it'll look better in person. I was very critical of the new GS but the more I see it in person, the more I like it... Also obviously wait to see better pictures. If you like the GS interior, no reason not to like this interior...they're very similar.

I just drove it today, I too was very impressed with the car, and I must say every time I see it in person I like the styling more than the time before. Interior is great, and the handling is superb without really giving much up in the area of ride comfort or noise. So overall, I'm a fan... -Steve

That's you, I don't think the primary demographic of the ES cares about AWD. We've discussed how your desires in a car don't really jibe with the ES in the first place. They tried doing away with the chrome and wood in 07...and brought it back in 10. The ES is NOT a sporty car. The whole point of separating the IS and ES is so each can be what it is. I actually think our ES looks sportier than this car:..at least everywhere but the front. I think my issue with this car is the same problem I've had with the new GS. The front end doesn't look like it belongs on the same car as the rest. The front is really sporty, the rest of the car is very plain. Weird combination.

Could very well be...

My guess is September, that's when it's always been launched. Could be earlier since its been delayed though.

It's the picture, there's actually more wood than on our cars. The area around the shifter is wood, and there's a nice wood strip across the dash between the cream and brown part, wheel is wood.

Yeah the XTS Caddy is beautiful...

From this angle: I would have moved the grille up a little as well...aded maybe one more slat to the grille...not good enough at photo editing to do that...

Kind of crude, but you see my point:

It looks a little better from this angle: I just really don't get why they chose to break the hood that way...I'd rather them incorporate the grille into the hood and see the seam be under the grill how Lexus always used to do it than do this...

Not my experience...

The side really looks like a Hyundai Sonata to me... Sadly to say, I think it looks like a lower trim Sonata actually...

Linkable pics: My guess is thats what its going to be. I'm not feeling the exterior. I don't care for the fact that the front hood seam is above the grille...don't quite understand why they don't line up. Down the sides we've stripped all the chrome off again like they did in '07 which makes it look like an economy car, no chrome at the bottom of the doors, no chrome handles. The fact that they added the chrome trim in 2010 means buyers wanted it. The wheels are devoid of any panache. I like the interior, but the front end looks awful IMHO the way the grille interfaces with the hood. Reminds me of the Corolla and Yaris...definately a Toyota styling trait, not a Lexus trait: I think this might signal the end of the road for me and Lexus.

If a Lexus dealer did it there would be a sticker on the inside of the hood showing the date and mileage...

Family is #1 my friend, glad to see someone else who sees it the way I do...

How's the ride?