Well, not as cool as the '00 SLS was, but still a good ride. And at around 700-800lbs lighter it is definitely more fun in the twistys. This will do until I get a CTS Coupe in a few years.


http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/slingblade10/th_0128081725a.jpg (http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/slingblade10/0128081725a.jpg)http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/slingblade10/th_0128081725.jpg (http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/slingblade10/0128081725.jpg)http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/slingblade10/th_0128081724a.jpg (http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/slingblade10/0128081724a.jpg)http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/slingblade10/th_0128081724.jpg (http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/slingblade10/0128081724.jpg)http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/slingblade10/th_0128081723a.jpg (http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/slingblade10/0128081723a.jpg)
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/slingblade10/th_0128081723.jpg (http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/slingblade10/0128081723.jpg)http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/slingblade10/th_0128081722b.jpg (http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/slingblade10/0128081722b.jpg)http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/slingblade10/th_0128081722.jpg (http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/slingblade10/0128081722.jpg)http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/slingblade10/th_0128081659a.jpg (http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/slingblade10/0128081659a.jpg)http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/slingblade10/th_0128081722ab.jpg (http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh300/slingblade10/0128081722ab.jpg)

DEFECTOR! DEFECTOR!

Just kidding, enjoy. :)

shoulda went to an STS if you wanted handling fun...

shoulda went to an STS if you wanted handling fun...

Yeah, I would of wanted a newer one though. Not enough cash.

understandable
i paid 16500 for my 03 with 45k

That was the only ES300 body style I ever liked. Nice car for what it is.

It'll never leave you stranded.

shoulda went to an STS if you wanted handling fun.................coulda had the maganaride!

Very nice shape. I own a 2000 LS400 with 59k, and they go forever.
It looks like you have 135k on her ... I'm guessing the t-belt and wpump have been changed by now.
You should be able to drive it for 2 years and pretty much get back your investment.

If you want to modernize it a little bit, there are only really two things worth upgrading...

First look through the salvage yards and ebay to locate a pair of the Xenon headlights, which are semi rare but eventually you can find them.

Then look for the wood and leather steering wheel which also started a couple of years later.

That lexus is going to run forever. Probably the best body style too.

Nice ride, sucks that to have luxury and dependability you need to get an import but things are what they are. Good luck with it.

Nice ride, sucks that to have luxury and dependability you need to get an import but things are what they are. Good luck with it.

That's not necessarily true. I would put a mid-90's Fleetwood up against an ES300 anyday and I assure the Fleetwood would be just as reliable if not moreso than the Lexus, and get almost equal fuel economy! (Somehow, im still not sure how they pulled that off and cant replicate it now).

Lest we forget the late 90's six cylinder Toyotas were notorious for sludge issues that almost always meant an entirely new motor.

The difference of course, as anyone can clearly see in those pictures is how the materials hold up. That Lexus looks absolutely brand new, especially the interior, where domestics have a really tough time not falling apart.

Fleetwood Brougham.....by far the most reliable car Cadillac has put out in a very long time.

That's not necessarily true. I would put a mid-90's Fleetwood up against an ES300 anyday and I assure the Fleetwood would be just as reliable if not moreso than the Lexus, and get almost equal fuel economy! (Somehow, im still not sure how they pulled that off and cant replicate it now).

Lest we forget the late 90's six cylinder Toyotas were notorious for sludge issues that almost always meant an entirely new motor.

The difference of course, as anyone can clearly see in those pictures is how the materials hold up. That Lexus looks absolutely brand new, especially the interior, where domestics have a really tough time not falling apart.Yeah ok, I can agree with pretty much all of that. Except I thought it was only the 4 banger Toyota's with the sludge issues. I know both my '00 Camry's had the problem and I bought those new. The old Fleetwoods, even the newer ones were old school cars not something the buyer of a mid size V6ES300 would probably even consider. Cadillac could have had that Fleetwood reliability with all their cars if only they kept them RWD and used LS motors instead of N*'s.

I didnt know the 4's did it too. I am certain that the sixes definitely did though. I had a buddy try to buy a very nice 98 Toyota 4Runner a few years ago and he was luckily able to return it after he discovered the motor full of sludge. At that time the sludge problem wasn't known about yet, he and the dealer simply assumed the truck hadnt been maintained.

I didnt know the 4's did it too. I am certain that the sixes definitely did though. I had a buddy try to buy a very nice 98 Toyota 4Runner a few years ago and he was luckily able to return it after he discovered the motor full of sludge. At that time the sludge problem wasn't known about yet, he and the dealer simply assumed the truck hadnt been maintained.4 bangers definately had it, trust me, I had to deal with it twice. First car was done under warranty and the second one (wifes) they refused to fix under warranty cause it had just run out. During our ownership Toyota even sent us a letter informing us that this is a known issue and to take it to the dealer but then the dealer plays dumb. Anyway, I may buy a Lexus with a V8 someday but other than that I dont see me buying a Toyota again.

4 bangers definately had it, trust me, I had to deal with it twice. First car was done under warranty and the second one (wifes) they refused to fix under warranty cause it had just run out. During our ownership Toyota even sent us a letter informing us that this is a known issue and to take it to the dealer but then the dealer plays dumb. Anyway, I may buy a Lexus with a V8 someday but other than that I dont see me buying a Toyota again.

Yea, the V8's seemed oddly immune to this issue. Never had any problems with my LS400 or short ownership of my LS430, and I know Ted_tcb's is solid as a rock.