1997 - 2001 Lexus ES 300 Pre-Owned Review

Who Needs a Warranty?

What would your neighbors say if you drove up to your home tomorrow in a nice shiny Lexus? "Did you win the lottery?" or "Did you get a promotion?" While new examples of the brands least expensive model start at over $40,000, a pre-owned Lexus ES 300 can be had for the price of a new subcompact.

Normally the pragmatic reason to by brand new is either to take advantage of the executive lease plan the company you work for offers or to rest assured in the comfort and convenience of a new vehicle warranty, but if your job isnt about to give you the benefit of a car allowance the 1997 through 2001 Lexus ES 300 was and still should be so reliable that a warranty wont be an issue.

I cant say I was in love with the cars styling when it was introduced, but its fair to say Lexus didnt have someone in their mid-30s in mind as the ideal customer anyway. Those that never paid attention to the Lexus brand might not have noticed the car was new at all, as the changes made were as subtle as complete redesigns get. In a nutshell, the 1997 ES 300 appeared cleaner and less cluttered than the outgoing 1996 model. Its profile was more wedge-like, which in-turn improved the cars coefficient of drag from 0.32 to 0.29, extremely slippery even by todays standards.

The flush design of the ES 300s new headlamp clusters were an integral part of this slippery new attitude, also having been upgraded from projector beams to multi-reflector lamps providing an 18 percent improvement in vision after dark. Lexus tweaked the styling again in model year 2000, adding two horizontal ribs to the grille design and a matching set integrated into the lower front fascia. Personally, I like the less-is-more attitude of the earlier car, but in the auto business facelifts are important even if just for the sake of change itself.

Back to 1997, the all-new ES was a major improvement over the 1992 through 1996 version it replaced, delivering up greater refinement, better performance, increased interior volume, a more rigid body structure, and enhanced standard and optional features.

Now such niceties as leather upholstery and memory-equipped power seats were added to the standard features list that also included power windows, locks, mirrors, etc, while traction control joined standard ABS to enhance the cars active safety at no charge as well.

The brands luxury biased clientele appreciated the addition of more authentic wood accents, while the placement of the cars climate control interface made for less of a stretch from the drivers position.

I remember particularly liking the large dials comprising the analog gauge cluster, well laid out, easily legible day or night, and aesthetically pleasing. The car is also extremely easy to see out of in all directions, due to a greater proportion of glass when compared to the older model visibility. Interestingly, a protective coating was added to the windows reportedly capable of shielding occupants from up to 90 percent of ultraviolet rays. Also improved was where Lexus also put the pop-out cupholders further back in the center console to be out of the way of the shifter, improving usability.

The ES 300s seats were extremely comfortable, yet supportive enough to hold driver and front passenger in place during light-duty performance driving. And to that end car did reasonably well, with the biggest improvement coming from the unibodys 30 percent increase in structural rigidity. Its added strength allowed for a more refined suspension setup without compromising handling, despite a 2.0 inch increase in its wheelbase. That added length was a bonus when it came to its ride too, as longer wheelbase cars inherently soak up bumps better than short-wheelbase models. Of course, the extra inches improved rear seat legroom to what are merely adequate levels. Those stuck in the back wont be overly compromised, but the following generation ES that is being sold new today takes care of taller rear passengers better.

The new ES was quieter inside than the outgoing model too, again attributable to the stiffer structure. That bodyshell also improved its crash worthiness from all angles, allowing it to achieve safety standards which were upgraded toward the end of the 90s.

Under the skin the ES 300 was, and still is an upgraded Toyota Camry. But thats not a bad thing, of course, as the venerable midsize sedan is regularly at the top of the sales charts year after year, due mostly to its refinement and dependability. The 97 through 01 Lexus shares the same smooth running 3.0-liter V6 its Toyota cousin, improved from 188 horsepower in the old 1996 model to 200 in the improved version, while maintaining a respectable fuel economy rating of 19 mpg in the city and 26 on the highway.

Lexus upped the ante again in 1999 to 210 horsepower, plus modified the 4-speed automatic transmissions gear ratios while adding shift logic for improved performance. While just over 8 seconds from standstill to 100 km/h at its 1997 inception, the ES 300 could attain the same velocity in the mid 7-second range after its engine upgrade, which is quite respectable even among todays 6-cylinder luxury sedans. Whats more, the upgraded engine experienced no negative effects in fuel consumption.

Lexus chose not to update the suspension throughout the models lifespan, other than minor adjustments to improve ride quality and handling. Side to side transitions will bring attention to the cars soft ride bias, although it shows nothing to be embarrassed about when the four-lane narrows to two and starts to wind. In its first year, the ES managed 0.81 Gs on the 300-foot skidpad, which is quite respectable.

Steering effort is on the lighter side, and some drivers will find the ES to be a little dead at center. Such will be seen as a bonus to some Lexus buyers of course. What was also appreciated is a trait common to Lexus, a tight turning radius. The ES managed a complete circle in 36.7 feet.

Optional, but well worth paying a little extra for on the used market, is the luxury automakers Adaptive Variable Suspension system (AVS). Depending on road conditions, vehicle speed and driver inputs it continuously changed each wheels shock absorber damping rate. It also let the driver select between Sport and Comfort modes, one for when the spouse is in the car and another for when theyre not.

The ES 300 featured ABS-equipped four-wheel disc brakes, offering excellent performance at just over 138 feet from 60 mph to a complete stop, albeit at the expense of some nose-diving. In model year 2000 a few of the cars minor improvements were the addition of Brake Assist, a system that senses a panic braking situation and automatically takes over from the driver, clamping down fully on the binders in the process. The ES braked just shy of 131 feet from 60 mph due to the new feature.

Less meddling was the addition of memory-linked mirror settings in 2000, plus Lexus added panache to the cabin with additional real wood trim. The Japanese automaker added a Coach Edition to make the models final year more enticing, featuring plusher leather seats and trim, plus even more wood, this time in rich, red mahogany, along with a nice set of Coach luggage, in leather no less.

While practicality was the cars strong suit, the 1997 ES actually featured a slightly smaller trunk at 13.0 cu ft than the 14.3 cu ft "boot" in the outgoing 96. No complaints were heard by those who traded up to the new car however, as the lift-over point was lowered to ease access.

The ES 300 only experienced one recall in its five-year existence, and that one due to a faulty brake vacuum hose being relatively minor and effecting only 4,825 cars during its first year of production.

As I inferred at the beginning of this article, theres no reason why you shouldnt be behind the wheel of a pre-owned Lexus by tomorrow - well other than a serious shortage of cash that is. Youll need at least $10K to get something that runs, but for a 1997 model in good shape youll probably need to be willing to part with $15,000. Prices for 2001 models go up beyond the $30K mark, which is a little on the expensive side for cash buyers. Fortunately, most lenders will have no problem "risking" capital on a sensible purchase like a well kept Lexus ES 300.

That last point in mind, the ES is about as sensible a luxury car available on the pre-owned market, and as long as it has been well cared for will serve its owner well for many years and many more miles.