Any 1992- 2000 Lexus es300 owners out there?

[needsducktape]

I am considering buying a low mileage (85K) 1993 ES300 with the rare 5 speed option.

Can any owners share the experience with the ES 300

I'll probably fall asleep driving it considering the SAAB was very quick and before that I've owned a few BMWs
but the car looks very close to mint and I like the idea of 5 speed in a car that is better known for Automatic.

As with most used cars the previous owner is one of the biggest considerations but I am curious to know the joy -or lack there of in driving/owning.

 

[moto94536]

wow. thats pretty low mileage for 1993. If I were you, I will inspect the car very carefully.

I have camry v6 1mz-fe engine is same as lexus es300. I have 258,000 miles on it, and no problem.

If the car is TRUE 85,000 miles, It will get 300,000 t0 400,000 miles easy.

 

[The_Jeff]

I like the sound of it initially. Barring rust everything else is fixable.

 

[needsducktape]

Honestly I have seen 2 year old cars look worse.

Its near perfection:

Underneath the car is completely rust free, paint is original, not even bug chips on the front even the headlights than normally yellow or fog are completely clear.

I will post pics soon.

 

[moto94536]

I will pay somewhere around $3000-$3600 for that 1993 lexus 85k with 5 speed manual in good condition...

 

[needsducktape]

I paid 4000 -more than I would have liked but the car is exceptional.

Also there are brand new (still boxed!) factory rims and NEW Eagle GT tires coming with it -seems to be worth the extra $500

 

[The_Jeff]

Pics!

 

[L_Sludger]

The 1993 ES300 does not have the 1MZ-FE motor, it has the last year of that series' 1 or 2 or 3VZ-FE motor, known among other things for lunching head gaskets.

 

[rjundi]

Astonishing resale. Hopefully it works out for you. That is an old car.

Congrats!

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: L_Sludger
The 1993 ES300 does not have the 1MZ-FE motor, it has the last year of that series' 1 or 2 or 3VZ-FE motor, known among other things for lunching head gaskets.


Is that the same V6 that was in the pickups and 4Runner around that time? Toyota had a recall for the head gaskets on those back in the 1990s and was replacing them free of charge years outside of the original warranty.

 

[rjundi]

Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
Originally Posted By: L_Sludger
The 1993 ES300 does not have the 1MZ-FE motor, it has the last year of that series' 1 or 2 or 3VZ-FE motor, known among other things for lunching head gaskets.


Is that the same V6 that was in the pickups and 4Runner around that time? Toyota had a recall for the head gaskets on those back in the 1990s and was replacing them free of charge years outside of the original warranty.


Hopefully not. My father had two replaced under warranty that blew again in his 1990 4runner. Finally in 2004 he paid out of pocket $1100 for a fix that actually worked. That had to be the weakest engine with poor MPG to boot.

 

[moto94536]

well I don't know. I have a 2006 year of 1mz-fe motor. It is strong, 190-210 HP ?? I never had issue with the engine. Just regular stuff like timing belt, water pump, spark plug at 100k.

I get like 30-33 mpg hwy, not bad for a v6. It is very reliable.

good luck.

 

[bowlofturtle]

the manual trans es300 only came with a 3vz. 1mz es300 never had a manual option.

those cars around chicago are poor man beaters. Just because they require so little work to run. I wanted one around 05 and they had an average of 125k back then.

 

[needsducktape]

Whoa These blow head gaskets??

Great...

Picked it up today- will post pics soon.

 

[brelandt]

I see the ES300 come into the shop with 300 to 400K. Still running nice and smooth!