2000 Lexus ES300 ES review from North America

Before reaching 40,000 miles, the following 'defects' were discovered and have been replaced:

Complete A/C system

Transmission

Total Engine

Rack / pinion steering.

Also, due to wear, the brakes and bushings have been replaced, as well as two new sets of tires.

This is the third ES300 I've purchased from our city's (only) Lexus dealership, trading in my 1997 ES300 and paying the balance in cash. The defects began to surface by the second year of ownership. Nevertheless, last December, after the engine had to be replaced and I tried to trade in the car (with another Lexus because, with that history, no one else wanted it), Lexus (corporate) would not give any more than blue book value. All work has been under warranty and only the Lexus Service Department has touched the car. Each time it was repaired, I was told the car was now a "new car." However, the "new car" concept does not apply to trade in value.

This is my only means of transportation, and I'm just a bit uneasy about its reliability. I now own a car with 47K miles (and climbing) that has been rebuilt in the Lexus Service garage. And, since no other dealership / individual wants it, I have little choice than to buy another Lexus (?!). Call me old fashioned, but I had also expected to drive my car for a while, and hadn't planned and/or budgeted to replace it so soon.