Lexus ES350

[Kal Choudhury]

So I’m currently in Dubai and anytime you use UBER or Careem the most popular ride hailing services in this city, You are greeted with a driver in a White or Black Lexus ES350. 
Sitting in the back I cannot help but notice how smooth and silent the car is and how it glides along the road! I asked the driver the year and mileage of the car, he tells me it’s a 2015 with 672000 miles on the clock. “How much??” “672000 sir”

Unreal. The car felt brand new! No squeaks no rattles. He told me he has only ever serviced the car (not at Lexus) and recharged the AC once and changed tyres and pads. 
Makes me wish they did a ES350 here id buy one in a heartbeat. 

[Kal Choudhury]

To add to the above, I was just dropped off by a Lexus es350 2014 model with 790000km on the clock. Again the car felt lovely silent smooth and the rest. As the road network in Dubai is all motorway (Sheikh Zayed road being a 6 lane a side super highway) Twinned with the fact that these guys operate 24 hours, the cars don’t stop and the miles rack up. 

[royoftherovers]

Your first entry referred to miles and you now refer to kms. Please explain.

What you have reported is very interesting and speaks volumes for Lexus build quality and reliability.

It is certainly a confidence booster-----should any of us need it Kal.

[Kal Choudhury]

Sorry 1st post should be km not miles. Still a fair few miles though! 

[VinnyB]

Hi i am also in dubai but all taxis i see and use are the toyota camry new based on the lexus E300/350 platform are you sure its not these you mean As they look like lexus 

[Kal Choudhury]

Hi Vinny, 

The normal taxis are Toyota Camry’s with a taxi sign on the roof. But if you use Uber or Careem you will be picked up by a black or White Lexus ES 350 or a new 300h. You’ll see loads driving around Dubai anyway. If you do get collected by one, ask the driver the mileage, you’ll be pleasantly surprised! 
 

On 1/1/2020 at 6:29 AM, VinnyB said:

Hi i am also in dubai but all taxis i see and use are the toyota camry new based on the lexus E300/350 platform are you sure its not these you mean As they look like lexus 

 

[Linas.P]

On 12/30/2019 at 8:28 PM, Kal Choudhury said:

So I’m currently in Dubai and anytime you use UBER or Careem the most popular ride hailing services in this city, You are greeted with a driver in a White or Black Lexus ES350. 
Sitting in the back I cannot help but notice how smooth and silent the car is and how it glides along the road! I asked the driver the year and mileage of the car, he tells me it’s a 2015 with 672000 miles on the clock. “How much??” “672000 sir”

Unreal. The car felt brand new! No squeaks no rattles. He told me he has only ever serviced the car (not at Lexus) and recharged the AC once and changed tyres and pads. 
Makes me wish they did a ES350 here id buy one in a heartbeat. 

I have always said ES really sounds like perfect taxi....and that is pretty much it - it is good for passengers in the back and terrible if you want to drive the thing.

[LexIS200Sport]

7 hours ago, Linas.P said:

I have always said ES really sounds like perfect taxi....and that is pretty much it - it is good for passengers in the back and terrible if you want to drive the thing.

Depends what your benchmark is... RC-F? 😉

 

[Linas.P]

Any car with decent driving dynamics, steering feel, balance... I think I should give credits due - ES is great passenger car...

[RgrWynne]

On 1/27/2020 at 11:40 AM, Linas.P said:

I have always said ES really sounds like perfect taxi....and that is pretty much it - it is good for passengers in the back and terrible if you want to drive the thing.

I am on holiday in Australia for the next 8 weeks and have hire cars booked in various locations, with a Camry specified, so if I get one to drive, I will let you know. As an aside, in Sydney now and the whole taxi fleet, of which there are many , all seem to be new Camry’s

[royoftherovers]

2 hours ago, RgrWynne said:

I am on holiday in Australia for the next 8 weeks and have hire cars booked in various locations, with a Camry specified, so if I get one to drive, I will let you know. As an aside, in Sydney now and the whole taxi fleet, of which there are many , all seem to be new Camry’s

Have a great holiday Roger and do not forget to take your camera with you at all times....a camera for the Camry` !

[Linas.P]

16 hours ago, RgrWynne said:

I am on holiday in Australia for the next 8 weeks and have hire cars booked in various locations, with a Camry specified, so if I get one to drive, I will let you know. As an aside, in Sydney now and the whole taxi fleet, of which there are many , all seem to be new Camry’s

It just makes sense I guess ... Not sure what new you going to tell me thought - I know exactly how under-powered FWD car feels to drive.

[RgrWynne]

On 12/31/2019 at 7:28 AM, Kal Choudhury said:

So I’m currently in Dubai and anytime you use UBER or Careem the most popular ride hailing services in this city, You are greeted with a driver in a White or Black Lexus ES350. 
Sitting in the back I cannot help but notice how smooth and silent the car is and how it glides along the road! I asked the driver the year and mileage of the car, he tells me it’s a 2015 with 672000 miles on the clock. “How much??” “672000 sir”

Unreal. The car felt brand new! No squeaks no rattles. He told me he has only ever serviced the car (not at Lexus) and recharged the AC once and changed tyres and pads. 
Makes me wish they did a ES350 here id buy one in a heartbeat. 

I have literally just returned in a Camry Taxi to our hotel in Sydney and casually asked the driver what mileage the vehicle had done. It all looked in good condition , no squeaks  or rattles and a 2014 hybrid model. He told me apart from brakes etc, and a new starter Battery everything was original, it ran 24 hours and he showed me the odometer 761000 kms. He did say he changed the engine oil every 2 weeks.

[royoftherovers]

473,000 miles, wow !

[rich1068]

But what he's saved on cars he's spent on oil!

[RgrWynne]

On 1/29/2020 at 11:00 AM, Linas.P said:

It just makes sense I guess ... Not sure what new you going to tell me thought - I know exactly how under-powered FWD car feels to drive.

Well , probably good for you, because you weren’t interested anyway, I was given a pretty naff Holden Commodore, as that was all that was available, so until next car hire in a few weeks time you will have to wait .....sorry.😜

[Linas.P]

I think that is called Vauxhall Insignia... is it 3.6L AWD?

[RgrWynne]

No I think a 2L Turbo. Does the job, but wanted a Toyota as used to the controls, as I keep using the wiper switch when I want to use the indicators 😂

[RgrWynne]

On 1/31/2020 at 8:33 PM, Linas.P said:

I think that is called Vauxhall Insignia... is it 3.6L AWD?

Just handed back the Holden, did 1650 km and tbh got to like it, it was I think a 2 litre with a 7 or 9 speed auto. Only did mainly long motorway trips, but I loved the apple CarPlay which I doubt is available in the Camry. Averaged 43 mpg which is not bad. If I get a Camry next I’ll be able to compare, but it won’t be a hybrid in any case, they only seem to be available for taxis.

[ThomasD94]

I agree the ES is a sublime car!

[RgrWynne]

On 1/29/2020 at 10:30 AM, Linas.P said:

It just makes sense I guess ... Not sure what new you going to tell me thought - I know exactly how under-powered FWD car feels to drive.

Well at last got to drive a Camry, and tbh was very disappointed. It was pretty new 30k miles, and very bland. It is probably typical Toyota in that it will do squillions of trouble free miles, but I was not at all inspired and did not find it very comfortable. Did longish journey of about 300 miles across Aussie outback, got 40 ish to the gallon, but not a particularly pleasant or relaxing car. Because I have been away from my LS430 since mid Jan, I kept comparing, but of course there is no comparison in ride quality, or for that matter build quality. Ironically both myself and wife enjoyed the Holden. Got another car next week for 5 days so will see what that is. Cheers, Roger