marc_cage

Are you sure it was a '10? My local dealer is telling me it is not available this year and I couldn't find it on the Lexus web site as an option like I can for the LS series.

I don't see the upgrade as that significant either way. What I do find frustrating is that they have taken away the Mark Levinson Sound system!!!!! Definitely lowered my interest in this car.

Hi, Maybe I can help this topic that seems to go on and on. I know the manager of the Toyota plant in Georgetown, KY where they mainly build Camrys. The engine they use come from plants in either Lafayette, Ind., Troy, Mo. and Jackson, TN. The engine shipped to them is ready to go into the Camrys. However the Lexus that uses the same engine is built in Japan and has one major difference that no amount of "brilliant" electronic can overcome with too much use of lower octane gas. The engine for the Lexus ES 350 has a DIFFERENT camshaft! The timing is not all electronic. It is mostly engine hardware! The manual says you may use 87 if premium is not available. The car can use this, up to a point. Using 87 WILL cause pre-ignition in the engine. It may be hard to hear because of all the extra sound dampening on the Lexus. The engineers building the car design it to handle 87, but only on a limited basis. If used regularly you WILL HAVE ENGINE damage and they will know and NOT honor warranty repairs on that. The electronic on the value timing adjustment cannot fully compensate for the different camshaft. I suggest you follow your car's manufactures' advice and use the correct fuel.