i'm seriously thinking about selling my 89' max and getting a 94-97 Lexus ES300. what are your opinions. anybody have insight on how fast they are and the handling compared to a max that i could buy for the same price ($16k), or if my car could be modded to get similar if not better performance.

 

Why not spend 16k on your max and have a new engine put in and make it faster than y2kevse no flames now he has one hot max but an 89 with 16k put in it i would love to see it i like that body style

 

Go with the Lexus. It's a newer car, which normally means less problems. Honestly I would consider a 4th Gen if I were you, but if you a more luxurious car go with the Lexus. $16k seems like too much though, you could buy an early 4th Gen and heavily mod it for that much.
-Cyrus

 

yes, putting 16k or even 10k into a 89 would kick some major a** and thats my whole debate with this. it frustrates the H*LL outta me. buy a newer ride or pimp the sh#t outta mine.

 

"fast ES300" is an oxymororn

 

DA-max is right about fast es300s...but its a VERY nice car. i personally really enjoy the look (though the back profile leaves a little somethin to be desired IMHO). plus a lexus will probably have fewer problems than an older max. if you're still lookin for a little speed but want the luxury check out a 4th gen GLE. but the lexus is a fine car.

 

Yeah if you're concerned about reliability in the LONG RUN, go for a nice condition 4th gen Max with leather and all that, I'm sure for $16k, theres a hole bunch out there!!! ES300 is nice, but if you want a "faster" car, then don't get it!

 

i dont think the ES300 is worth it, especially not for 16K. my parents have a 98 with 70,xxx miles and they are trying to sell it. nobody wants to buy and trade in was only 12,5 for it, pretty darn low. ugh, maybe its just me though but i dont like em. too many on the road and low resale value, it seems.

 

The ES300 is not fast. It's just an in-expensive, classy Lexus, or a dressed up Camry.

DW

 

You mentioned handling and performance, but not luxury. So why are you looking at ES300s again? Like DW said, dressed-up camry. If you're not concerned with the extra "plush" elements of the ES300 (not to mention way more on the "soft ride" side of the suspension swing, as opposed to handling), then why not get a Camry? Still, if you're big on handling and performance, I think you should scratch the whole camry/ES300 idea and look elsewhere, depending on your other tastes (reliability, ride quality, resale value, interior quality/design, etc, etc)

 

if I was you Id buy a 4th gen 5spd maxima.


an es300 is just a camry

 

Find a Red 99 SE-L Fully loaded with black interior/ 5-speed

 

yes, this sounds verrry tempting. i have to admit i like the 99 body style as much as my 89 but the way the interior is arranged isn't as comfortable to me. it may sound stupid but i also like my digital dash and other toys a bit better than newer models.

 

 

My mom has a 95 es300, its not as fast as my I30, but it has about the same handling. It is a fast car, but not as fast as a 4th gen maxima. She had to put a new engine in it at 100k miles.

 

I was going to get an LS400...

Lexus are very reliable but when you go to get a part it's $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

That's why I didn't get it. It doesn't seem like you have cash to throw away so.... If you do, get an older GS300 or GS400

 

Now you're talkin, although it'd be tough to find an older GS400 with low enough miles on it to make it worth it (ie, because of the repair costs like you referenced). But the older GS's sure had some style!
That'd be a car I'd accept an automatic in....that'd be a great ride for "rollin" as I'd define it (seat over-tilted, maybe a little gangsta-lean, stereo, nice deliberate turns/acceleration ).

 

Rememeber the 94-96 is d ifferent design than the 97 ES. The 97 is the previous style which was boring, the 95 and 96 ES were nice.

 

Get a 97-99 max instead and call it a day.