That's a really tough decision. Both are good cars.... well I'll just leave it at that.
But amf, you said your friend could get a GS for the price of a ES? huh, well I had a different situation with the 4Runner decision.
When i was in the market for a non-luxury vehicle to add-on, This is how it first started:
1. Honda CRV (my mom didnt like it, too small)
2. Honda Pilot (wow, payments are a little too much)
3. Honda Odyssey (but there's less options, compared to a Sienna)
4. Toyota Sienna ( more options than an Odyssey, ah but wait)
5. Toyota 4Runner
It was just out of curiosity that I asked how much the 4Runner was going for, that i ended up getting one. The sales person told me that they were running a special on the 4Runner. So when the figures came back, the 4Runner seemed like the winner.
Toyota Sienna ($26,900 unit)
Toyota 4Runner ($30,200 unit)
lease rate of the 4Runner, was only $9 more than the Sienna!!! :o
Add to that, I went to the second dealer in town for a price comparison, and they had this "crazy larry" (he's the gsm, general sales manager) and the price of the exact 4Runner was about $10 cheaper a month, compared to the Sienna from the other dealership. CraZy!!
Although it kinda seemed like comparing apples and oranges (Sienna van vs. 4Runner SUV) but pricewise, that's the main comparison. I know the Pilot should have been the comparison, but the figures were extremely more than the 4Runner. ;)