pow

Looks good, but not worth the premium. The regular tC is a downright steal at $16,300... it's a very substantial and well-equipped car, despite being decidedly unsporty.

The RAV4 is a good buy lightly optioned and with the V6. It hits 60 mph in less than 7 seconds, which is pretty impressive for any $22K family cute ute.

Oh yea, those were the obvious ones anyways (and can't forget the firebird either, of course, I guess that doesn't really count). But I just happened to notice, most of the cars you see on the freeway are primarily GM. I remember seeing GM vehicles (like an olds and a tahoe for example) getting creamed in the movie.

I believe the entire freeway was built for the sole purpose of that chase. And, yes, every car on that freeway was a GM car, including the Aurora that ____ landed on. Off the freeway, there was a E32 7-series that split in half.

Interesting... a Civic is only $440 more (!).

Sorry I had to put it....

$200/mo seems like a good deal... many economy cars have lease specials for that much.

Thanks for the review. The 3900 may be improved, but I can't think of one person who aspires to own the car it's attached to.

I priced one and looked at several on eBay, and it seems awfully expensive for something so cheap looking. The Mazda5 and HHR are all better choices, IMO.

I like the interior, but the generic-Euro-look of Opel is getting tiring. The Tigra looks more interesting, IMO.

Enterprise has a great selection of cars... I've seen everything from MINI Cooper S convertibles to Toyota Priuses with Enterprise plate frames.

Hell, I'd spend $2K more and get a Mazda5.

My buddy and I put a 87" full sized sofa in his same sized 01 Olds Silouette so it can't be all that small and the Buick with a 3900 and side curtain airbags is a pretty decent buy if you can get some money off the sticker. Hopefully GM has dealt with some of the 05 models quality issues. Other than an intake manifold gasket at 100K my buddys Olds has been pretty trouble free and it drives really nice.

The CSVs don't offer side curtain airbags because the door rail cuts into the interior.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drive...cleId=109687#12

Still not a chromed-up Camry

By Josh Jacquot Email

Date posted: 03-20-2006

If being noticed is your thing, the 2007 Lexus ES 350 isn't the car for you. It disappears into Southern California's mass of suburbia like a Caprice in Detroit. It's not an image car. So Newport Ned, all blue chips, high horsepower and big ego, won't want one. But his mother, Newport Nancy, probably will. She's more concerned with comfort than visibility, more worried about the way the journey feels than being noticed at the destination. She's practical, enjoys a smooth ride, an agreeable seat, the perfect temperature and easy listening.

If you're anything like Newport Nancy, then Lexus' ES 350 is your car. This Camry-based sedan traditionally combines the practical attributes of its less-expensive sibling with luxury features that make a Lexus a Lexus. The new car continues that convention.

From the outside, the ES 350 is completely updated. Its body has a slicker shape with a longer hood and shorter rear deck. It's a mild departure from the relatively conservative lines we've become used to in the Lexus lineup. Dimensional changes designed to increase usability and performance accompany the new body. There's also a new engine, transmission and multiple safety features designed to keep Nancy as secure as she is comfortable.

Changes for the better

Lexus was smart about increasing the ES's usability without making the car unwieldy. The new car hasn't grown in overall length, but its wheelbase is up 2.2 inches (to 109.3 inches) over the previous ES.

The platform, which is tweaked in size rather than fully redesigned, has reduced overhangs and more space for the doors, which eases ingress and egress. Overall width is up only 0.39 inch while the track width increases by 1.2 inches, producing a proportionally larger footprint. These new dimensions put the ES securely in the realm of other midsize players like the Nissan Maxima, Saab 9-5 and Volvo S80.

Despite the longer wheelbase, Lexus wasn't able to defy physics with the ES. It might be easier to get in and out, but interior space is almost identical to that of the old car. In fact, front legroom is the same as the previous ES and rear legroom is increased only 0.3 inch. It's also heavy. At 3,580 pounds the ES bears no small burden on its powertrain.

New powertrain, better performance

Under the hood there's an updated 3.5-liter V6 good for 272 hp and 254 lb-ft of torque. The dual-overhead-cam design utilizes four valves per cylinder controlled by variable valve timing hardware. This latest version of VVT-i adjusts timing on both the intake and exhaust cams, which increases power and fuel economy while reducing emissions.

There's also a new six-speed automatic transmission which delivers the power to the front wheels and is smaller, using 20 percent fewer parts than the previous five-speed. Shifts can be manually controlled using the sequential-style sport shifter. The tranny also adjusts shifts to account for engine conditions, driving habits and component wear.

In measured testing, the ES's newfound power paid off. Mash the throttle and there's no denying that it has significant thrust for a luxury sedan. Despite its rather hefty curb weight, the ES hit 60 mph in 7.1 seconds and went on to record a quarter-mile time of 15.2 seconds at 94.6 mph. That's only 0.2 second slower than the Acura TL, a decidedly sportier car.

Even during maximum acceleration with the throttle pinned and the tranny fluidly linking gears, you're reminded this is a luxury car. It's exceptionally quiet, engine noise is barely perceptible and there's virtually no road discord. Drive like a normal human being, and you'll be in one of the quietest environments we've tested during a 70-mph cruise (67.5 decibels).

Chassis changes

Little has changed about the fundamental suspension design of the 350 — it still uses struts front and rear. The previous car's Adaptive Variable Suspension option is replaced by conventional dampers tuned to meet a specific comfort/performance trade-off.

It works. On the road, the ES has noticeably better ride control than we expected. Even over small rises at triple-digit speeds it maintains composure. There's a subtle but controlled frequency to its chassis pitch which strikes the precise balance a car in this class should have. It is exactly what it claims to be: a perfect compromise between the couchlike driving experience of an American luxury car and the well-damped ride of a Japanese sport sedan.

Seven-spoke 17-inch wheels come standard with the ES, but our test car was fitted with the optional graphite-finish 10-spokers which come with the ultraluxury package. Each wheel on our test car wore a 215/55-R17 Michelin Energy MXV4 S8 all-season tire. Summer tires are available on the standard wheels.

Through the slalom, the ES's weight was obvious, and body roll was abundant on its way to a 60.9-mph pass. That's slower than most cars its size, but faster than the last Toyota Avalon and Buick Lacrosse we tested.

The ES 350 is fitted with four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution. Featuring 11.7-inch front rotors and aluminum rear calipers, the ES brakes hauled the sedan down from 60 mph in 123 feet — a respectable number for a car in this class.

The Lexus cocoon

Inside the ES is a combination of indulgent shapes and textures that are as functional as they are pampering. There's real walnut trim in the center console and door panels, and optionally, on the steering wheel. Leather, which is added with the premium package, is available in three colors: Cashmere, Light Gray or Black.

The ES has perhaps the most functional ventilated seats we've experienced. If you're buying this car for its luxury features, go all the way and get these seats. Their leather is the most flowing, ductile material we've ever experienced in a car seat. Its perforations allow cooling air a direct shot at the target, making them as functional as they sound. Seat heaters were also great at quickly and evenly warming the goods on cool mornings.

Ten-way adjustability makes finding the right driving position easy. But in a car like the ES, it's the details that matter. Our test car was fitted with the power cushion extender which increases or decreases the length of the seat bottom cushion underneath the thighs, allowing support for both long- and short-legged drivers. As if that wasn't enough, the ES can link seat position to two different key fobs. Using this feature, position is automatically adjusted according to which key fob is used to access the car — another example of custom tailoring.

Even with the pamper factor in overdrive, Lexus hasn't lost sight of Camry-like usability and safety. There are eight standard airbags hidden in the cabin plus two optional side airbags for the rear seats. The shifter is a familiar Toyota job that's housed in walnut trim. Gauges are straightforward and easy to read, with an 8,000-rpm tachometer on the left and a 160-mph speedometer on the right. Still, the ES doesn't share a single dash panel or material with its less expensive Toyota sibling.

A new standard

If you ask Newport Ned he'll tell you that Lexus isn't the world's most exciting carmaker. He's right, because the new ES isn't going to blow you away with insane speed or outrageous curves. What it will do, however, is up the ante for other manufacturers competing in the segment. It offers more power, more convenience and more luxury than the car it replaces, and it should have an almost identical base price.

As of this writing Lexus hasn't announced official pricing for the ES 350 although the outgoing ES 330 starts at $32,300. "Expect little change in the base price," said John Hanson, Toyota's national manager of product communications. "There will be higher-priced option packages, however."

An ES 330 equipped similarly to our 2007 Lexus ES 350 test car will set you back $37,925. When the cars arrive in April, we predict you'll be able to get a car like our tester for less than $40,000. And that's about what Nancy wants to spend.

There was no where to go with the Altima besides up. The interior was a joke (If this was a GM'er it would be ridiculed up and down for no good reason) and OHC engines suck. The V6 is a buzz bomb compared with my G6 and clear tail lamps are cheap looking. Nissan should just give up the idea of making a G6 wannabe. Are they going to match the sexy G6 coupe or one of the nicest performance convertibes around this side of the XLR and Vette? This thing is just going to end up being another rinky dink Piece of crap import that should be recycled before even making it to the dealership.

I'll put my G6 up against this cheap imitator any day and leave it in the dust. C&D, MT and CR will most likely gush all over this glorified 1986 Sentra and the import humping public will foolishly buy up the things in droves... 

The Altima existed before the G6, so there's no way it can be a "G6 wannabe."

It's infinitely cooler than the xB.

Oh how I wish they made the CTS-V with that paint... it looks perfect like that, especially matte.

Giada De Laurentiis

I agree.....

IF I had to buy a G6....I'd probably buy a 5-speed/2.4L DOHC 16-valve combo over the pushrod 3.5L and 4-speed auto GT version.....

Same with the Aura, which I won't consider if the base powertrain is a 3500 OHV V6 and four-speed automatic.

™

Of course, NO mainstream media coverage...

No $h! sherlock?!?!?!?! They suffer ALL the time because media idiots like you believe EVERYTHING the import companies say as GOSPEL!!!! If they're not being honest in respect to something AS BASIC AS horsepower ratings, then WHAT ELSE are they LIEING about?!?!?!

Oh geez.... The "dismiss it as not a big deal" disclaimer from an industry "analyst"

Weak ass OHC motors

Okay...

1) OF COURSE NOT!!! They're Honda and Toyota, our saviours and masters.

2) What a stupid reason to sue a company for, and one that I (SURPRISE!!!) hadn't heard about. Americans will do ANYTHING for $$$.

READ: all 59 of you.... A their reputation isn't DAMAGED, it's "chipped"

A day short and a dollar late... AS ALWAYS!

Oh, what the F*ck ever..... Just wait until that new Tundra comes out. THEN we'll see that this statement was a calculated LIE just like 90% of Toyota's PR.

Nope... They're MINDLESS drones who buy them because they're told to and they haven't got the sense to GET A LIFE and test drive for themselves.

I'd love to meet this 29 year old loser.... I bet he still lives with his parents, wears vanilla khakis and sweaters and hasn't been laid in 10-12 years.

Oh, and I love the "let's screw Detroit's perception over" there at the end of this paragraph. It's akin to saying "Toyota and Honda are still better because" with your nose up in the air.

More Detroit good sportsmanship that gets them nothing but SCREWED OVER.

Wow... Did he have the script in his hand when he read that line?

LOL... Yeah, I'm sure of it.... [damage control mode: ON]

But, if that were the case, why not BE UP-FRONT with those customers in the first place?????????

Well, if "pretty darn competitive" doesn't count for GM (according to the media) then it sure as hell shouldn't count for you.

:rotflmao: !!!!!!!!

There you have it!!!! A tried and true TOYOTA fan/representative!!!! LIES ABOUT HIS CARS DEFICIENCIES, PULLS THE WOOL OVER THE EYES OF THE CONSUMER 'JUST BECAUSE', IS SO OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY IN HIS TOYOTA MINDF*CK THAT EVENTHOUGH SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE TELLS HIM THAT HIS PERCEPTION ISN'T RIGHT HE STILL CONTINUES TO STICK TO IT LIKE A SALTED SLUG AND FURTHERMORE, IF HE DOES BELIEVE THE SCIENCE, BOTCHES THE NUMBERS IN TOYOTA'S FAVOR ANYWAY

HEY CONSUMER REPORTS!!!!!!! I found you a new editor!!!!!!!!

Frikkin' BEAUTIFUL!!!! I couldn't ASK for a better example.

**** This is just a PRIME example of SHADY BACK HANDED Asian business practices. Detroit plays fair, the asians DO NOT. And it's high time that either someone INFORMS the world of that fact OR Detroit stops being a fair handed pansy.

LOL...

WIDETRACK!

This is getting radiculous.  GM's reps are crying that CR is treating them "unfairly".  Okay, then tell me, what products are GM giving us, that would make car critics choose theirs over world-class vehicles Japan Inc are offering us.  Cost cutting, and pushing out half-ass efforts like the CSV vans and a cheap Cobalt/Pursuit where the hoods and truck lids never line up, is the main reason whey their products don't match up with vehicles from Toyota and Honda.  If I was them, I would stop whinning, like most of them are, and actually go back to the drawing board, otherwise your cars will always be considered second-class vehicles.  Plus, if you are offering us second-class vehicles, stop pricing them as if they were first-class.  Heck, I think, if they want to win back customers, they should price these things BELOW the Korean offerings.

Cobalt starts at $12,990... you can't get much cheaper than that. I'd take a subpar compact over an average subcompact any day.

VW Phaeton one day..

This seems to have Chinese LaCrosse written all over it. I can wish, can't I?

If they do send it over, Lexus wouldn't be too happy...