Choosing between two older Japanese luxury cars?

[Elkins45]

Neither of them has sold and I’m still thinking I’ll buy one of the two.

In doing some reading I have learned that although they both have the same engine the Lexus requires 91 octane while the Toyota says 87. Is that just Lexus being snooty or do they actually have different ECU settings?

 

[Frankrank]

Neither of them has sold and I’m still thinking I’ll buy one of the two.

In doing some reading I have learned that although they both have the same engine the Lexus requires 91 octane while the Toyota says 87. Is that just Lexus being snooty or do they actually have different ECU settings?

It's Lexus being snooty. Exact same engine. When I inherited my mother's 2007 es350 6 years ago it's run fine on regular for 60,000 miles.

 

[GR_CoB]

Neither of them has sold and I’m still thinking I’ll buy one of the two.

In doing some reading I have learned that although they both have the same engine the Lexus requires 91 octane while the Toyota says 87. Is that just Lexus being snooty or do they actually have different ECU settings?

Get the Avalon. If they were $500 apart, then ES350 option is worth it. But at $2k apart - Avalon is the winner. And it has more room for rear passengers. I had a 2010 Avalon, and it was the only vehicle where I constantly got compliments from rear passengers about comfort and leg room. And that's with me (6'1" & 350lbs) having the driver's seat in full lounge mode. ES350 will be shorter, just like a Camry.
It's amazing how a sedan the size of Avalon gets 24-25MPG in town effortlessly, with 30-32MPG on highway being the norm, while loaded to the brim with people and their belongings, and PLENTY of passing power on tap. Some members here got as high as 35MPG on highway with the ES350/Avalon/Camry platform, that 2GR is a great engine. Don't forget the ATF replacement though, that automatic isn't as forgiving to neglect as older ones were.

 

[macarose]

You're looking at the wrong ingredients. The maintenance history is really what should be your deciding factor between the two.

 

[Elkins45]

You're looking at the wrong ingredients. The maintenance history is really what should be your deciding factor between the two.

The history is great for both. That’s a tie.

Get the Avalon. If they were $500 apart, then ES350 option is worth it. But at $2k apart - Avalon is the winner. And it has more room for rear passengers. I had a 2010 Avalon, and it was the only vehicle where I constantly got compliments from rear passengers about comfort and leg room. And that's with me (6'1" & 350lbs) having the driver's seat in full lounge mode. ES350 will be shorter, just like a Camry.
It's amazing how a sedan the size of Avalon gets 24-25MPG in town effortlessly, with 30-32MPG on highway being the norm, while loaded to the brim with people and their belongings, and PLENTY of passing power on tap. Some members here got as high as 35MPG on highway with the ES350/Avalon/Camry platform, that 2GR is a great engine. Don't forget the ATF replacement though, that automatic isn't as forgiving to neglect as older ones were.

I’ve almost pulled the trigger two or three times but the bad dash is the thing making me consider the Lexus. I’m not one to really care about aesthetics (especially for a beater) but this is ugly, only going to get worse, and will be a pain to stabilize or repair.

Me being me I’ll probably wait until one sells and then run to buy the other LOL.

 

[GR_CoB]

The history is great for both. That’s a tie.

I’ve almost pulled the trigger two or three times but the bad dash is the thing making me consider the Lexus. I’m not one to really care about aesthetics (especially for a beater) but this is ugly, only going to get worse, and will be a pain to stabilize or repair.

View attachment 245986

Me being me I’ll probably wait until one sells and then run to buy the other LOL.

Obviously there is something on the ES350 that is preventing you from pulling the trigger on it. Is it the price? If so, then maybe expand your search radius until you find the perfect ES350, that's closer to the price of the Avalon?

 

[Elkins45]

Obviously there is something on the ES350 that is preventing you from pulling the trigger on it. Is it the price? If so, then maybe expand your search radius until you find the perfect ES350, that's closer to the price of the Avalon?

Considered by itself the Lexus is (I think) a good deal even if I can’t talk them down a bit, and the interior is nice. The only thing stopping me is my inner skinflint who keeps saying “the Toyota is good enough and it’s such a bargain!”

My inner skinflint is penny wise, pound foolish sometimes. Intellectually I know that in two months I wouldn’t even remember the cost difference but my gut always drags me toward the cheap option…so that after I die my wife’s new boyfriend can spend the paltry amount of money I saved on something he wants.

Hey, I think maybe I just talked myself into the Lexus LOL.

 

[meep]

I’m all over the Lexus because it’s RWD, the way it was intended by the heavens. Does that matter at all?

 

[Elkins45]

I’m all over the Lexus because it’s RWD, the way it was intended by the heavens. Does that matter at all?

ES350 is FWD. it’s the Lexus version of the Camry. I think the IS and GS models may be RWD?

 

[meep]

ES350 is FWD. it’s the Lexus version of the Camry. I think the IS and GS models may be RWD?

Yes, but isn’t he talking about an LS?

 

[Elkins45]

Yes, but isn’t he talking about an LS?

That was a mistake on my part (I’m the OP) because I meant ES 350. I can’t go back now and edit the original post. There’s no such thing as an LS 350.

 

[meep]

Ohhhhhhhh!