Lexus ES 300 2001 $8,900

COACH Edition., , The Lexus ES 300 delivers a seamlessly smooth and reliable driving experience. It's one of the most refined cars in the so-called near-luxury class. Add dealer satisfaction that's consistently rated among the best, and the ES 300 becomes a hard bargain to beat., , There is only one trim level, and only one powertrain, a 3.0-liter V6 coupled to a four-speed automatic transmission., , New for 2001 are several optional packages, mostly combining leather trim with sound-system upgrades and other luxury items. Buyers can realize significant savings by checking off the package rather than ordering the same items a la carte., , Front side-impact airbags that deploy from the seat bolsters are standard, along with the requisite dual front airbags., , Introduced in late 1996, the ES 300 shares its basic architecture with the highly competent Toyota Camry, but it is far more polished and more luxuriously trimmed. The ES 300 is more stylish as well, with its frameless windows and blacked-out center pillar simulating the look of a hardtop coupe; its aggressive, multi-refractor headlights; its perfectly matched body seams and gem-like paint., , The look has become familiar, but Lexus massaged it a bit last year with a new grille, featuring a wider chrome frame and two chromed horizontal bars instead of three black ones. The front bumper was reshaped for a more chiseled look, while High-Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights became a new option. In back, redesigned tail lamps adopted clear lenses., , One of the Lexus trademarks has been superior fit and finish for its dashboards, door panels and other interior surfaces. ES 300 meets that standard. None of the plastic or vinyl surfaces look hard, brittle, or cheap. Judicious use of walnut trim and an outside temperature indicator add an expensive feel. The electroluminescent gauges pop in the brightest sunlight, yet are easy on the eyes in pitch dark. Nearly all switches fall intuitively to grasp with little distraction, and they work with a firm, satisfying click., , Most manufacturers still mount their CD changers in the trunk. Lexus, on the other hand, has found a way to put the ES 300's optional changer in the dash, within easy reach of the driver or front passenger. And there's still adequate storage space for odds and ends in the cabin., , There is even an Automatic Sound Level feature on the stereo, which adjusts volume according to ambient noise, and an auto-dimming electrochromic inside rearview mirror and driver's side-view mirror. Optional heated seats feature two temperature settings., , The trunk is larger than many in the class with plenty of room for a couple of golf bags., Driving Impressions, , The overriding impression one takes from the ES 300 is that it's smooth and quiet. Noise and vibration control in the ES 300 cabin matches cars that cost $10,000 more., , Its 60-degree V6 engine design is inherently smoother than a 90-degree V6. Lexus takes that a step farther with electronically controlled engine mounts that change dampening rates as engine speed changes., , The 3.0-liter 24-valve V6 delivers 210 horsepower and 220 pound-feet of torque. Equipped with variable valve-timing (VVT-i), the engine provides strong low-rpm power, unlike a lot of other multi-cam, multi-valve engines. About 80 percent of the ES 300's peak torque is available from 1600 rpm all the way to the tachometer's redline., , So, no matter how fast the car is going, when the driver steps on the gas, it gets going faster in short order. With variable valve timing, there's a deep well of torque at all engine speeds. Off-the-line response is excellent, and the ES 300's 0-60 mph times (in the low eight-second range) rank near the top of the class. Jab the accelerator at around 45 mph, and the four-speed electronically controlled transmission drops to a lower gear immediately. The ES 300 accelerates with a nice shove in the small of the back, and 75 mph arrives in a whoosh., , **Vehicle Skid Co

• 4 Door
• Front Wheel Drive
• Fog lamps
• Heated Windshield
• Sun/Moon Roof
• Air Conditioning
• Bucket Seats
• Center Console
• Cruise Control
• Heated Seats
• Leather Seats
• Power Door Locks
• Power Mirrors
• Power Seats
• Power Steering
• Power Windows
• Rear Defrost
• Alarm
• AM/FM Radio
• Anti-theft
• Automatic Headlight
• CD Changer
• CD Player
• Daytime Running Lights
• Keyless Entry
• Memory Seats
• Steering Wheel Controls
• Stereo/Tape
• Trip/Mileage Computer
• Driver Air Bag
• Passenger Air Bag
• Side Air Bags
• Traction Control