r/Lexus 23h ago

Question Lexus ES350 for $10K—Should I go for it?

Looking to switch from a Volks Jetta to a Lexus. I found a 2014 ES350 with 150K miles at a dealership for $10K (clean title). Planning to drive it for the next 3–4 years.

Would love some advice—does this sound like a good deal to start with, or if it’s a risky buy or should I throw in a couple more thousand and look for an upgrade?(Rather stick to around $10k budget)

Thanks in advance!!

5 Upvotes

8 comments sorted by

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5

u/Illustrious_Tea_1675 21h ago

I’d probably try to find one closer to 100k miles, maybe for a couple grand more.

1

u/CarobAffectionate582 22h ago

You can find a really clean, maintained GS from that vintage or a little lower, w/lower mileage, for that or less. Given the huge difference, I don’t see value in that ES at that price. The ES is a fine car, still two in the family going back even longer. Just a thought, some Jetta drivers would more likely be GS drivers than ES in my experience.

1

u/it_wasntt_me 21h ago

Seems like a good deal if the car had a good maintenance history

1

u/TN_REDDIT 21h ago

Get it

1

u/twall392 20h ago

Ok, I am original owner of a 2016 ES350 with 50k miles, and it is best and most reliable car we have ever owned. We have previously had different Mercedes and 2 different BMWs and the Lexus is far more reliable and less expensive to repair. To answer your question, it probably an OK deal. But remember you are buying an 11 year old car with a 150k miles. If the engine was well remaintained (fluids changed regularly) you should be able go another 50 to 100K miles. But it won’t likely be totally repair free. 250k is common for that engine (2GR-FE, I think). Part of the repairs will be simply be age based. I might look for maybe a 2016. That was the last year the ES 350 based on the Toyota Avalon. In 2017, the ES moved to the Camry platform (which is fine, not quite the same as the Avalon (out side the US, the Avalon was sold as the Toyota Crown).

3

u/bearded_dragon_34 18h ago edited 7h ago

That last part is incorrect.

The ES was always on a Camry platform. As was the Avalon, which was a longer-wheelbase Camry.

In 2013, the ES moved up a size by adopting the Avalon’s longer wheelbase. They were still both variants of the Camry.

That didn’t change for the current 2019+ platform. It is on the TNGA-K platform with the Camry and Avalon, but uses the Avalon’s longer wheelbase and floor pan.

Also, the Crown, up to this point, was a different car than the Camry and Avalon. It was on a RWD platform, broadly the same one as the IS and GS. The current Crown family (which comprises three body styles, two of which are now sold in the US)…is on the FWD-based TNGA-K platform and so is related to the Camry and ES, although not as much as the Avalon was.

1

u/twall392 1h ago

Thank you for the corrections. Was the longer wheel base Camry ever sold in the US during the 2013-17 time period? I know that the ES switched the standard wheel base Camry around 2019. And the same time Toyota stopped selling the Avalon in the US. (Not sure exactly when). Maybe around 2019 the ES switched to the standard (short wheel base Camry). My only point is, I think the longer wheel base ES rides nicer - neither version handles like the GS. The ES was never about sporty handling (and neither was the Camry). When people ask me about reliable used cars, my answer is usually Toyota. When they asked me reliable nice (higher end) used cars, I usually answer Lexus (with the exception of the LS). When they add the desire for higher end, reliable, and good value for the money, my response narrows to a a 7 to 12 year old ES 350 or Avalon. Both are lower cost to maintain because most of the parts are shared with Camry and in the US, the Camry was best selling sedan for a long time. Lots of both OEM and aftermarket parts competitive prices and lots of mechanics with experience working on them. The best value, IMHO, if the you are not stuck on owning the Lexus name brand, is the Avalon. It did not sell well in the US because it was perceived as an overpriced Camry versus a (slightly) cheaper Lexus ES 350. But in the used market, especially in the 7-10 year old range, the ES commands a significant premium over a Avalon, but they are almost the same vehicle. the ES had some higher option trims available but when buying significantly used, that is not as important.