New Highlander

SW03ES · 09-09-2007, 01:37 PM

I've found that the wood trim in the ES varies widely in shade, mine is darker than a lot of the cars out there and really looks more like a dark cherry. It also looks better with the black interior than with the other colors, which is probably why they went with birds eye maple on the grey and tan interiors and left the walnut for the black interior in 05.

I love that new grey wood with the grey interior on the LS460...

**Tideland Prius** · 09-09-2007, 05:08 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SW03ES @ Sep 9 2007, 10:37 AM) [snapback]509616[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I've found that the wood trim in the ES varies widely in shade, mine is darker than a lot of the cars out there and really looks more like a dark cherry. It also looks better with the black interior than with the other colors, which is probably why they went with birds eye maple on the grey and tan interiors and left the walnut for the black interior in 05.

I love that new grey wood with the grey interior on the LS460...
[/b]

Probably, yeah. I've noticed they've started matching wood with interior colour (well.. except the current IS/ES which have one wood option regardless of interior colour).

Yeah, that grey-stained Bird's Eye looks really nice. I saw it in person when I sat in the LS600h L on Friday.

SW03ES · 09-09-2007, 11:18 PM

Yeah I was surprised they went back to the one color instead of matching it with the interior as they did in the 05-06 ES.

Then again, I was surprised by a lot of stuff they did to the new ES' interior

**Tideland Prius** · 09-09-2007, 11:47 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SW03ES @ Sep 9 2007, 08:18 PM) [snapback]509842[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Yeah I was surprised they went back to the one color instead of matching it with the interior as they did in the 05-06 ES.

Then again, I was surprised by a lot of stuff they did to the new ES' interior
[/b]

Yeah, I've heard mixed feelings from previous ES owners. Some say it's much better, other criticise the "crappy" base leather (I dunno but it feels better than the Camry which I already thought was good for a family car esp. after you see the leather supplied in the Accord and Altima) and the stiffer suspension that's out of place in the ES and so forth. Of course we can't forget the transmission flare too.

Husker4theSpurs · 09-11-2007, 07:52 PM

Sad, but true story ... I probably would've bought a Lexus RX 400h last year if I could've found one w/o wood the way I wanted. I didn't really want to wait 3-4 months for a special order. I disliked the wood THAT much ... I ended up with an Acura MDX with wood anyhow

but it's really dark and not noticeable.

**Tideland Prius** · 09-11-2007, 10:29 PM

Yeah the MDX's wood is quite dark but still in a wood colour (rather than black or grey).

I think the RX now can be ordered in aluminium or wood from the factory (without a special order), right?

**Tideland Prius** · 09-11-2007, 10:29 PM

Yeah the MDX's wood is quite dark but still in a wood colour (rather than black or grey).

I think the RX now can be ordered in aluminium or wood from the factory (without a special order), right?

SW03ES · 09-12-2007, 12:00 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Sep 9 2007, 11:47 PM) [snapback]509859[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Yeah, I've heard mixed feelings from previous ES owners. Some say it's much better, other criticise the "crappy" base leather (I dunno but it feels better than the Camry which I already thought was good for a family car esp. after you see the leather supplied in the Accord and Altima) and the stiffer suspension that's out of place in the ES and so forth. Of course we can't forget the transmission flare too.
[/b]

The quality of the leather is more or less the same I think, the semi-analine leather is very good. The issue I have is the fact that they went from a triple stitched leather to a double stitched leather which is a pure cost-cutting step. I don't have a problem with the design of the interior at all. Some people hate the "horseshoe" center stack but it doesn't bother me. My issue comes with the fact that the previous ES seems like a much more expensive car inside than it really is, while the new car doesn't. They used cheaper plastics, a thinner headliner, thinner carpet, lower cost detailing, and much less wood. The new gauges aren't as trademark Lexus optitron either which is a letdown.

I love everything else about the car. They packed in so many features, and the new exterior is great especially with the UL package and the door trim strips. I love the way it drives too, as smooth as the previous car while being quieter, but also just the slightest bit sportier. The car actually has some character now and the new power is great. Its fun to drive without giving up the trademark Lexus ride. The new LS is the same way.

I would have traded mine on one straight away if it weren't for the interior. I still really go back and forth about it. I drive a lot and my ES is getting up there (I'm gaining on 100k miles) and while its a great car still I don't want to keep it much past 100k. I've seen some wood kits installed on the ES350 which helps warm it up and the interior looks better in black with the UL package and the nav system. What I really want is an LS460, but its such a huge price jump.

Boy...we've really hijacked this thread. Sorry guys...

SW03ES · 09-12-2007, 12:00 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Sep 9 2007, 11:47 PM) [snapback]509859[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Yeah, I've heard mixed feelings from previous ES owners. Some say it's much better, other criticise the "crappy" base leather (I dunno but it feels better than the Camry which I already thought was good for a family car esp. after you see the leather supplied in the Accord and Altima) and the stiffer suspension that's out of place in the ES and so forth. Of course we can't forget the transmission flare too.
[/b]

The quality of the leather is more or less the same I think, the semi-analine leather is very good. The issue I have is the fact that they went from a triple stitched leather to a double stitched leather which is a pure cost-cutting step. I don't have a problem with the design of the interior at all. Some people hate the "horseshoe" center stack but it doesn't bother me. My issue comes with the fact that the previous ES seems like a much more expensive car inside than it really is, while the new car doesn't. They used cheaper plastics, a thinner headliner, thinner carpet, lower cost detailing, and much less wood. The new gauges aren't as trademark Lexus optitron either which is a letdown.

I love everything else about the car. They packed in so many features, and the new exterior is great especially with the UL package and the door trim strips. I love the way it drives too, as smooth as the previous car while being quieter, but also just the slightest bit sportier. The car actually has some character now and the new power is great. Its fun to drive without giving up the trademark Lexus ride. The new LS is the same way.

I would have traded mine on one straight away if it weren't for the interior. I still really go back and forth about it. I drive a lot and my ES is getting up there (I'm gaining on 100k miles) and while its a great car still I don't want to keep it much past 100k. I've seen some wood kits installed on the ES350 which helps warm it up and the interior looks better in black with the UL package and the nav system. What I really want is an LS460, but its such a huge price jump.

Boy...we've really hijacked this thread. Sorry guys...

**Tideland Prius** · 09-12-2007, 12:35 AM

lol.. yeah sorry guys!

Hmm yeah the features are great. The gauges aren't electroluminescent? really?

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09-09-2007, 01:37 PM	#41
SW03ES Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Posts: 1,114 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I've found that the wood trim in the ES varies widely in shade, mine is darker than a lot of the cars out there and really looks more like a dark cherry. It also looks better with the black interior than with the other colors, which is probably why they went with birds eye maple on the grey and tan interiors and left the walnut for the black interior in 05. I love that new grey wood with the grey interior on the LS460...

09-09-2007, 11:18 PM	#43
SW03ES Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Posts: 1,114 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Yeah I was surprised they went back to the one color instead of matching it with the interior as they did in the 05-06 ES. Then again, I was surprised by a lot of stuff they did to the new ES' interior

09-11-2007, 07:52 PM	#45
Husker4theSpurs Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska Posts: 232 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #6 Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Sad, but true story ... I probably would've bought a Lexus RX 400h last year if I could've found one w/o wood the way I wanted. I didn't really want to wait 3-4 months for a special order. I disliked the wood THAT much ... I ended up with an Acura MDX with wood anyhow but it's really dark and not noticeable.

09-11-2007, 10:29 PM	#46
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,765 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	Yeah the MDX's wood is quite dark but still in a wood colour (rather than black or grey). I think the RX now can be ordered in aluminium or wood from the factory (without a special order), right?

09-12-2007, 12:35 AM	#50
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,765 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	lol.. yeah sorry guys! Hmm yeah the features are great. The gauges aren't electroluminescent? really?