1998 Lexus ES 300 - High Dollar Toyota, but Very Nice!

My mother-in-law sold my wife this car as she upgraded to the 2005 Lexus LS 430. The '98 Lexus ES 300, 4 door is a very nice car with a peppy 6 cylinder, 3.0 litre affording you 200 horses under the hood. This is plenty enough engine to get you around, though from 0-60 does take 8.7 seconds. It is an automatic, though.

Why say Toyota in the Title?
Well, they are part of the Toyota fleet, much the same Cadillac and Chevrolet are part of GM. Don't believe they are closely related? Take a peek at the logo on the sunroof glass and see that it says "Toyota" on it. While this is not as bad as the old Porsche 914's that had VW windows, you still wish they would brand it right. This is/was the entry level Lexus Sedan of its time.

This is no knock on Toyota as they do make wonderful cars and trucks, but few would I dare to try to put in the Luxury Class that Lexus has defined itself as.

Comfort:
Front seat passengers are in for a treat as the leather seats are very inviting. There is walnut interior trim and the driver seat's ability to remember the settings for two drivers also adds to the experience. There are cup holders that are retractable/adjustable in size, a nice stereo with a CD player and a center storage place as well as a glove box.

If you did not call shotgun and are over 5'9" (I am 6'2") believe me, you are not in for the same comfort as your buddies in the front and you will be forced to ride, head tilted. Otherwise it is the interior ceiling that will have you regretting every bump on the road. Leaning forward is an option, but still leaves you in a less than comfortable posture.

The sunroof adjusts to either a tilt up or full slide back to get more of a sense of nice weather you may want to enjoy. The illumination of the digital and standard dial gauges allows you to see this info perfectly and can be adjusted.

Driver Enjoyment:
If you are used to a 4-cylinder or a diesel without turbo power, you will like the pick up speed and it will get to well over 100, or so I have heard! It handles very well at all speeds, quite responsive with braking control, acceleration and sudden turns.

It is fairly low to the ground allowing for better than average cornering and added stability when taking evasive measures. All your gauges are in clear view, the odometer is LED, with the tach, speedometer and fuel remaining as dial gauges. They illuminate even during the day, so they are very easy to read.

It comes complete with power windows and you can turn off usage of the rear ones so that the kids can not escape. It is interesting that when you select this, it also prevents the driver from powering them down, unless you turn off the feature. This is the first car I have seen that does this, but it is not a big deal.

Your door mirrors are power adjustable and everything, including the power locks, automatic shifter (between the front seats), lights and wipers are all designed for ease of access.

The stereo does not have adjustments on the steering wheel, which many other cars do. It is a bit more of a chore to operate, especially at first, as it is low causing you to nearly lose peripheral vision to the road while looking at the digital display, tuning in that particular radio station on road trips. The controls are fairly intuitive, but you have to look directly at it to see them.

The stereo does have excellent sound with enough bass to enjoy but prevent the car next to you from being forced to share the experience with you.

The drive is smooth, with very little play in the steering wheel (tight) and on a nice day, with the sunroof open traveling down a desolate, curvy road is a treat.

Safety:
Standard with this vehicle you get driver and passenger airbags. Four wheel anti-lock brakes are standard. As far as accidents, the ES 300 scores well according to NHTSA, 0-5 with 5 being the best.

Front impact:
Driver's side 4 out of 5
Passenger's side 4 out of 5

Side Impact:
Driver and Front seat passenger 5 out of 5
Rear occupant 4 out of 5

If you have a child that rides in a car seat, I can tell you I feel safe with him placed in the middle of the backseat. It is a pain to reach over and get him/her out, but I will endure this to give my son the best chance possible to be uninjured in the event of a crash.


Maintenance:
This one has been pampered and is why she drives so well after 151,200 miles. The latest addition includes 4 new Michelin tires, new brake pads, resurfaced the rotors, synthetic oil change and corrected electrical problems along with every little detail being restored to original as far as functionality. The Lexus dealership charged $1576.00 for this, but it is the first money we have put into her besides the steal of a purchase price and regular oil changes.

One recall of note:
Recall Date: 11/01/1999
It seems the steering wheel nut was not tightened as it should have been. This caused a bad vibration in the steering wheel to the point one might lose control causing an accident. A simple visit to the dealership fixes this for free.

Overall Experience:
I was not a big Lexus fan before as I felt for the price, German engineering was far superior, but must admit the dependability, smoothness of drive and quietness of the ride make this vehicle a superb automobile. It is not one I would drive everyday, but the wife loves it. It is certainly not pigeonholed as a chick car, but taller folk might feel a bit better in a larger vehicle. I have back issues and it tends to make it difficult entering and exiting since it is so low. Now if it was the new LS 430, all pain would subside with the crazy features that beast has. I digress.

I do not mind it on the days we switch vehicles as it is fun to be that low to the ground and putting her through her paces. Undoubtedly, if you enjoy the test drive of this used vehicle, you very well may be happy with making the purchase as it is sporty enough, has pep for a 6-cylinder, looks very nice and is extremely reliable.

Current Value (5/07):
Per motor trend http://www.motortrend.com/cars/1998/lexus/es300/pricing/?mileage=1&condition=average, one in average shape you would expect to purchase at about $8,000 retail and if you had one to trade in, you will likely get around $6,200 for it

Here are the specs of the 1998 Lexus ES 300:
Bucket Seats
Center Console
Fog Lights
Power Heated Mirrors
Keyless Entry System
Lighted Entry System
Overhead Console
Power Brakes
Rear Window Defroster
Tinted Glass
15 Inch Wheels
3.0L V6 DOHC 24V FI Engine
4-Speed Automatic Transmission
Tachometer
Alloy Wheels
4-Wheel ABS
Driver and Passenger Front Airbags
Front Side Airbags
Anti-Theft Alarm System
Leather Seats
Power Driver Seat
Power Front Passenger Seat
Cruise Control
Power Steering
Remote Trunk Release
Tilt Steering Wheel
Air Conditioning
Automatic Climate Control
Intermittent Windshield Wipers
Power Windows
Power Door Locks
Daytime Running Lights
AM/FM/Cassette/CD Audio System

Exterior:
Length: 190.2 in.
Width: 70.5 in.
Height: 54.9 in.
Wheel Base: 105.1 in.
Ground Clearance: 5.4 in.
Curb Weight: 3378 lbs.

Interior:
Front Head Room: 38 in.
Front Hip Room: 53.3 in.
Front Shoulder Room: 55.6 in.
Rear Head Room: 36.2 in.
Rear Shoulder Room: 54.1 in.
Rear Hip Room: 53.4 in.
Front Leg Room: 43.5 in.
Rear Leg Room: 34.4 in.
Luggage Capacity: 13 cu. ft.
Maximum Seating: 5 (if one is a child!)

Fuel Data:
Fuel Tank Capacity: 18.5 gal.
EPA Mileage Estimates: (City/Highway) 19 mpg / 25 mpg
Range in Miles: (City/Highway) 351.5 mi. / 462.5 mi.