Faults:

Oil leak from the valve covers.

That's it!

General Comments:

Bought the car from a car lot. It was looked after very well. The day I bought the car, I had to put in a new battery. Fair enough considering it was a 14 year old car. I noticed a small rattle in the rear, easy to hear as the car is so quiet. It was worn rubber bushings for the rear sway-bar, $40 from the dealer. About 2 years later I noticed an oil leak from the valve covers - $60 in parts, did it myself.

Apart from these items, I have done nothing other than oil changes. Still the same brakes as when I bought the car (brakes were done by the car lot). The leather interior has no visible wear, other than a slight wrinkling of the driver's seat bolster, very common for leather seats. All electrics, bells & whistles are working as new. The car has been 100% reliable, not even a flat tire or burnt out light bulb.

Overall, the car is great around town and on the highway. Quiet and smooth. The only things I that could be improved on is the headroom in the front. I'm 5'10" and my head JUST clears the headliner. My son who is 6'4" reclines the seat and just manages. Also the LCD display for heater controls and radio are difficult to read at times depending on the lighting. More visible from the passenger's seat, go figure.

Faults:

Flex pipe was bad when purchased (180k), front axles and alternator recently replaced (220k), otherwise just maintenance.

General Comments:

We purchased this for our teenaged sons to share for $1000 in 2007, expecting it to last a year and we'd be happy. 3.5 years later, it's still running well.

We hit a rough spot a couple of weeks ago with the electrical system. We were told it wasn't the alternator, based on the meter readings, but after exploring every other possibility, we decided to spend $40 on a used alternator and see what happened. Worst case scenario, it doesn't work and we junk the car, still being satisfied. It's been running great again since. My son's think it's invincible, not thinking twice about driving it into Boston about an hour away.

We had purchased a used Taurus for $2000 earlier, and it was the biggest hunk imaginable. It lasted for about 3 months before we just refused to spend any more money on it, and sold it for $500 to put towards the Lexus. Absolutely the best choice we ever made, but then again, we're a Toyota family anyway.

Faults:

Cracked radiator.

Cam seals.

Rear window motor.

Driver's side door won't open from outside.

General Comments:

This was my first Lexus--I paid $3000 for it in 2005. It has the smoothest transmission of any car I have owned. I have never been stranded in it (when the radiator went I was less than half a mile from my house). I thought I would be able to get 200K miles out of it when I got it, but now I'm thinking it will make it to 225K. Very little rust for its age. Brakes are great.

I would definitely purchase another one, despite the problems I have had--I expect them in a 15-year-old car! Definitely have gotten my money's worth, even if it went today.

WAY BETTER than my Mercury Sable!!!

Faults:

Instrument cluster needles flicker.

Air conditioning system just puked requiring overhaul.

Finally it needs a clutch!

The usual brakes (the first time @115K miles), shocks & timing belt replacement.

Power window cable retainers break occasionally.

General Comments:

This ES300 Lexus is the rarest they made: Manual shift, cloth seats (that are wearing VERY well) and NO moon roof (which my height demands) - the wife & I love it!

5 speed & stiffer rebuilt shocks make for a performance ride at 20+ MPG around town & 30+ MPG highway!

Toyota/Lexus paint is the best! 15 years old and still looks new!

We survived a sideswipe by a swerving U-haul trailer on an icy road with minimal body damage - good side intrusion protection and handling.

The wife took it off-road in a snowstorm and forged on through - ABS & FWD worked great.

The power window cables break occasionally & can be repaired, but Lexus doesn't sell the parts individually!

The flickering instrument needles are easy to replace, but you can't buy them new!