This car looks so moderne even today. Great looking interior, great front facia, not those ridiculous over sized grills. Good looking! And stick shift.
I was in the 5th grade when this car first came out. Now in today's time if you see any on the road it's almost impossible to find one that looks good. But then again most Toyota and Lexus owners never take care of their cars, cosmetically at least.
I can not believe this is a 30yr old design, inside and out. It still looks fantastic. A timeless design. (Edit..2 years later) Man, I love that manual transmission/V6 combination! I know it isn't fiscally responsible for a company to build one with such a low take-rate. But, when they do, it shows they do "get" drivers.
@@MotorMaster_Stunticon It's pretty much the same, just a clay model with no complete interior, but exact exterior. No engine in it. Have the same for the SC coupe (1988) and LS 400 (Feb 1987). It's already out there online, but I do have another design studio photo in color somewhere.
I had to own 2 the '95 & '96 both white pearl/grey my first Lexus in 2008 the most durable cars I've owned & i remember how impressed people were & they always assumed they were newer than '96 & '95
My first car was a 1993 “CamRay” and I definitely recognize quite a few shared parts: door handles, steering wheel, sunroof controls, etc. But the overall execution of this car’s design is beautiful. I really liked my Camry too. One of my favorite cars.
This appears to be from the era where John was beginning to leave that odd pronunciation behind... just still slightly there. The "CamRay" was much more evident in the '80s..
It’s a trend that started with the debut of the Mercedes-Benz W126 in 1979. They were commonly referred to as “Sacco panels” (named after Bruno Sacco, the chief designer at Mercedes-Benz at the time). Soon, all the other carmakers started copying them.
I’m looking for this in a manual. Very hard to find. A guy had it on FB market and I don’t know why I didn’t get it. I have a V6 Camry with a manual tho. Same motor. It’s quicker than 7.9 seconds to 60 mph.
I believe the nineties was the decade in which car makers like Acura and Lexas really shined. Acura had some beautiful and fun cars with the Legend and Integra. All of Lexus cars including this ES were really attractive. With the stuff that Lexus has put nowadays I would never even think of buying one!
Such a handsome car and a PERFECT color combination on this test unit. Plus the manual transmission makes it so much more desirable. Good luck finding one, though. The take rate was hopelessly low and the stick was sadly dropped after '93.
I hate the CVTs in new cars nowadays. They’re so unreliable (at least at the moment). That’s mainly turns me off about new cars. Bring back the autos and manuals!
Funny thing , these were SO RELIABLE, you still see them on the road today! Unlike most cars from that area. These cars were high quality from the factory, fit and finish was impeccable and if you can get one with low mileage today, GET ONE, besides typical things that wear out like Plastics and stuff the engine and transmission will keep on going to 400k miles +!
I think its because it lacks LSD. But then this isn't the sort of car to roast tyres anyway (still funny to do it though haha). Notice the front right wheel spins way more than the front left wheel when launching as well.
Well I agree with John Davis. This Lexus "CamRay" is a fine automobile back then and now. I was suprised by the manual transmission.. Most of my friends had automatics in their 300s...
Love the startup on this! We use to have 94’ one which I grew up in and this car made us Lexus loversfor life! Lexus in my opinion is the #1 luxury brand in the world!! I still get goosebumps going to the Lexus dealership even at 30years old. Love the smell of a new Lexus.
I fell in love with the ‘92 Lexus ES at 10yo when my best friend’s mom upgraded from her green ES250 to the ES300 in the Rose Shadow Quartz color, and still remember how the morning dew fell on the front fascia in the sunlight before school one day on their road trip visit. The aesthetic of that car always far surpassed its direct competition, in my opinion, similarly to the first-gen Oldsmobile Aurora that succeeded it. I bought one in 2008 and absolutely loved that car every moment I owned it, babying it. Unfortunately after hitting a deer, it gave me serious cooling system issues and I subsequently scrapped it after blown head gasket issues and a crazy quote of $18k to fix everything. I would still buy another in a heartbeat if I could find one fully loaded in great condition as that one was - maybe one day.
@@rahimi4762 Yeah I had one of these too (1995) and it bored me to tears. The design looked pretty good though even at 10 years old when I bought it. Traded it after a year for my '06 Acura TL that I still have today.
I always love the Lexus Gs300 model from 1993-97. Still looks moderate to this day. They are so hard to find. Ive seen people put supra engine and transmission in it.
I've got one from 2001 in metallic charcoal grey. It's a timeless design and the leather is amazing. Just give it a wipe down with a leather conditioner and it looks brand new. The overall interior material choice is superb and holds up really well with time. No cheap rattling plastics to be found. They did away with the quad wrap around headlight design and only include two zenon bulbs along with a drl which I've never seen before around that time. The trunk line has also been cut down in the center between the tail lights to help with putting large items into it easier. The only issue is you cannot see around the back very well because the trunk is actually bigger than it looks and it's not tall people friendly. If you're over 6 feet watch your noggin. Also, pilarless doors are a nice touch on a sedan of this price point. Although, the rubber does tend to wear out a bit and you will get rain water sucked into the cabin along the b pillar on the windows. I love the futuristic 3 spoke wheel design. Also, my car in particular, struggles with the air flow in the cabin so the heater is not good nor the air con. I may need a cabin filter cleaning. Other than that, I get lots of compliments on it and people always follow up by stating "it'll last you for ever". It still has the original price tag paper work in the owners manual which was 35,995 for the base model.
One thing that annoyed me with Motorweek and other publications of this era is their constant putting down of the ES300’s Camry underpinnings; but they always praised all the badge jobs that GM did (i.e. Blazer > Bravada).
yeah at least these cars had different personalities and wasn’t blatantly obvious, the only difference between those pos GMs is literally the headlights that are overall still the same
I'm not from the USA but aren't Camrys quite renowned over there for being well made and long lasting cars? Wonder why we never got the ES300 over here (UK)? We got the GS300 and LS400 then later on the IS-series of cars, we generally buy "smaller" luxury cars like this ES here. Plus it came with a manual (which was popular here at that time) and since it's from a Japanese company it was even originally designed to go on the same side of the road/have the steering on the wrong side same as we use!
@@ZIGZAG12345 The Lexus ES was sold as the Toyota Windom in the rest of the world until it was discontinued in 2005 when the Lexus brand finally was introduced to Japan for the 2006 model year. If you wanted a Lexus ES back then in Europe you could have maybe gotten a Toyota Windom imported from Japan. I think Toyota wanted the Lexus ES to compete more in the American market than Japan or Europe. Now that the Toyota Avalon will be discontinued after the 2022 model year the Lexus ES has an even more important role in the American market, so does the Lexus LX since the Toyota Land Cruiser is no longer available in America.
@@ZIGZAG12345 Generally yes! They are considered to be very well rounded cars over here. Reliable, sizable enough to carry people in the back comfortably, and since they sold around 500k of them each year on average, replacement parts are cheap and plentiful. They get alot of criticism from the automotive press as being bland or built for people who don't like cars, but one could do much worse with picking a daily driver.
@@ExiledWolf84 Some of that criticism is well-deserved. The automotive press prefers cars that are engaging and fun to drive, like the VW GTi and Honda Accord. I've driven a few Camrys and have always come away disappointed with how numb the controls are; mushy brake pedals, numb steering, floaty ride (same with the Chevy Malibu, btw). Yes, they're well made and reliable, but if you're into driving as more than just transportation, there are better choices.
I remember when my mom picked me up from school in her new 96 Lexus ES300 Coach Edition! I fell in love with those projectors! My Dad had a 93 Cam-Ray SE V6 that was faster tho lol
Every single time I see one of these (which isn't often any more!) I'm struck by just how thin the roof pillars are and how small and dainty it looks in comparison to today's behemoths. Still a stunning car and I'm still in love with those sexy projector beam headlights EDIT: and how about two-tone paint jobs? This one looks great and I kinda wish they'd make a comeback ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I miss the openness of the 90s interior w the big windows and thin pillars. I grew in the 90s w the boxy Volvo and grand caravan - 2 cars w extremely large windows. I find cars nowadays too claustrophobic.
@@jerrybarrax5618 I swear these days, a '90s Chevy Suburban with a two-tone paint job will get just as big of a "OOHHHH" from me as anything else on the road. It can be done so well!
Seeing this also puts Lexus' success in perspective considering the list of former competitors who failed in the market. I'd completely forgotten about the Mitsubishi Diamante and Mazda 929.
It's a shame because the 929 and the Diamante were both much more special cars, and were bespoke platform and interior cars unlike this Camry based ES. The 929 was rwd with more luxurious features and more style/power, and the Diamante was unique as well.
This car has definitely outlasted most of it's competitors! They laughed at Lexus, but little did they know that this company would dominate the luxury car market.
I remember seeing one of those cruising in my rear view mirror on a long road trip back when it was new. It was such an elegant design, I watched it for miles. But 185hp from a 3 liter v-6 and that front axle hop on take off are clear indicators of how far the industry has come since then. Retro Reviews help me appreciate the state of modern automotive manufacturing..
That 3.0 V6 with the manual feels more than 185 HP because the car is relatively light weight. I have the Camry version with a V6 manual and because it’s light it feels like a 270 hp modern heavy car.
I still see these driving around quite often. Speaks volumes of lexus engineering and quality. I would be happy to own one of these today especially with the black interior and manual trans
It took me 20 years but I finally realized what a damn good looking and ahead of it's time car this entry level Lexus was....projector headlights in 1992!
@@rahimi4762 You didn’t own any of these cars new, so who are you to talk as if your opinion is somehow special and relevant? Rather hear anecdotally from someone who paid near MSRP or leased one of these new in 1991-93, than some random secondhand or thirdhand driver.
The original ES showed its Camry roots very clearly. This was a huge improvement; it felt much more substantial, closer in look and feel to the LS. This was a much-needed smaller model that would appeal to those who wanted a Lexus, but could not afford an LS or wanted something more practical than an SC.
These were the days, no large computer screens , unnecessary complications, switches ,real gauges ,natural aspirated engine with a manual , all kinds of vehicles choices, wagons, coupes, extended caps, small trucks.
We bought a second hand 2000 ES300 in mid-late 2000s, and it was a brilliant car! Very smooth and reliable, high quality materials and sleek design. One of the best Cars Lexus ever made.
You can say that again. There's so much going on with every single new car that my eyes just say "f!ck it, I don't even what to look at it any more". Angles on angles, fake vents and real vents, black plastic everywhere, and it all just blends into one automotive mess.
30 years later, this ES300 exterior design still looks elegant, fresh with character effortless. Unlike today's 4-door sedan, trying hard to look cool and special, but still feeling boring.
My dad had a 1992 Lexus ES300 in Dark Emerald Pearl (6M1) on Black Leather. It had the dealer-installed gold trim package and was originally sold by a Lexus dealer in Southern California (we’re in Northern California). It was automatic, but a very nice car. He bought it from my cousin in 2001 and sold it in 2003 for a brand-new Toyota Camry XLE (a much less interesting car). I wish I could find it and buy it back, if it has survived. These were great-looking cars.
I love the Lexus two tone paint options. And a manual, wow! My small town had a lot of wealth in it (and poverty), and it was amazing seeing these new LS, SC, and ES models in the 1990's. They were a leap ahead of everything else, and they still look fantastic (or even better than today's models). It was crazy seeing high school kids driving around their parents' LS's back then too. A friend of mine eventually picked up an old , first gen LS, and it was still perfect.
@N B The JDM Camry back then was different from the export version as it was classified as a 5-number size class and was thus shorter. Toyota did offer the USDM Camry (esp. the wagon variant) for JDM as the Scepter. The JDM Windom continued where the Camry Prominent (roughly the first-gen ES) had left off and lasted three generations (ie. up to 4th-gen ES).
Lexus cars are sold as Toyota in Japan. It's just in the US that they needed to create a new brand to attract customers with the luxury idea, cause they thought a Toyota badge is a cheap and boring car... My dream car has been the JDM RHD Altezza RS200 with the Yamaha engine for a long time. the JDM counterpart of the Lexus IS300 Or the Bluebird SSS-R Attesa, or the R31 Skyline specially the sedan without B pillars. All of them are JDM
@@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess No problem setting a luxury brand division for export markets like USDM. Conversely however it would be difficult and risky to "re-import" such brands back in Japan. Even Toyota waited till 2005 to finally deploy the Lexus sales network back in JP and became the only example for such cause, with success. Not quite so with Honda and Nissan though. Honda scrapped plans for JDM Acura sales network after much deliberation, while Nissan had little luck implementing its Infiniti CIs on some of its JDM vehicle lineup (esp. the Fuga and V35 Skyline)......
@@theKevronHarris I wouldn't call that Vista an entry model but rather a sister model with minor design differences, possibly sold at a different Toyota dealership network from the Camry's......
My father purchased a '95 ES300 off a friend about a year ago. His friend took maticulous care of it and Dad got it at a steal. Well after his diagnosis, he handed it off to me and I have to say it is a FANTASTIC car to drive. And I had NO idea this generation was offered with a manual, although I think they were phased out by 95. Now I must find one.
While I still see these ES’s regularly, their headlights are always so faded that I forgot they had dual projectors, lol. Also, the axle hop on the test track was hilarious. Could you imagine a current ES owner’s reaction to that if it was in a 2021 ES? They’d be on the shoulder, holding the Lexus Enform button to call for a tow while calling their doctors office to schedule having their cheek implants reseated.
If it had the 4 speed auto, you wouldn't have that axle hop. These were destined to have automatics all along which were nice and slushy gear shifts but man were they slow as heck with long ratios.
I bought a 1999 Lexus ES 300 in July, For 900 dollars, From some one who was going in a nursing home, Family wanted to get rid it , In excellent condition, White and gray two tone garage kept, The owner never used the 💿 player in it, I have all the services records, I had six people wanting to buy it from offers between 5000 and over seven thousand dollars 💸 The leather seats are in mint condition, A car flipper offered me six thousand dollars cash, He said he would not sell it, He keep it for him self, Finding this car was like winning the lottery 🚘🙂
Beautiful, Beautiful car. One of my first jobs was at a Toyota dealer in Melbourne, Australia in 1997. The Dealer Principal drove an LS400 and the General Manager had an ES300 just like this one. It was red with the darker red lower side cladding and all beige interior. I used to get to drive that a lot and I fell in love with both the LS and ES. The ES was always so much nicer than the Camry and people who say 'it's just a tarted up Camry' don't really know the cars too well.
If the Japanese ever made a timeless classic beauty, this is it. So understated, but mature, yet sporty but not gaudy. This car is just fantastic. Always loved how the engine completely overwhelmed the chassis, you can see it in the monstrous axle hop when accelerating, but far far more fun to drive than any luxury car with soft suspension had any right to be. A perfect 10/10 for me.
@@kz1000ps if the driver had dentures... He would have had a toothless grin by the end of that run...🤣🤣🤣. Quick car, but the axle hop even on the automatic was quite violent. Hahaha.
That design holds up beautifully nearly thirty years later.
I was thinking the same thing. It actually looks better than the current Lexas sedans.
i always thought it look futuristic
Totally agree. It doesn’t look 30 years old… maybe 10.
Lexus should have kept with that design and rounded headlamps. Very nice and clean, for today...
No it doesn't.
This car looks so moderne even today. Great looking interior, great front facia, not those ridiculous over sized grills. Good looking! And stick shift.
over sized grill sell well, so stop
@@allentoyokawa9068 I didn’t say anything about selling or not. To me it looks ugly. Cars look like giant fish with open mouths.
This looks old as f
I was in the 5th grade when this car first came out. Now in today's time if you see any on the road it's almost impossible to find one that looks good. But then again most Toyota and Lexus owners never take care of their cars, cosmetically at least.
Idk about modern, but it definitely does look anachronistic, like it was from the early 2000s
I can not believe this is a 30yr old design, inside and out. It still looks fantastic. A timeless design.
(Edit..2 years later) Man, I love that manual transmission/V6 combination! I know it isn't fiscally responsible for a company to build one with such a low take-rate. But, when they do, it shows they do "get" drivers.
33 years old, as even though this episode aired in October 1991, I have a photo of it from 1988 per Toyota HQ.
@@jmin8400 can you provide the photographs
@@MotorMaster_Stunticon It's pretty much the same, just a clay model with no complete interior, but exact exterior. No engine in it.
Have the same for the SC coupe (1988) and LS 400 (Feb 1987). It's already out there online, but I do have another design studio photo in color somewhere.
@@jmin8400 got it, thanks.
I had to own 2 the '95 & '96 both white pearl/grey my first Lexus in 2008 the most durable cars I've owned & i remember how impressed people were & they always assumed they were newer than '96 & '95
My first car was a 1993 “CamRay” and I definitely recognize quite a few shared parts: door handles, steering wheel, sunroof controls, etc. But the overall execution of this car’s design is beautiful. I really liked my Camry too. One of my favorite cars.
This appears to be from the era where John was beginning to leave that odd pronunciation behind... just still slightly there. The "CamRay" was much more evident in the '80s..
@Max Smith and I bet it’s still somewhere running too! Lol
@@DiRF hahaha you can tell he's really having to try to not say it the first few times before giving up at the end of the voiceover
This 92-96 camrys were nice. Coupes or sedans. The gold package added a nice touch
@@MandusahRamirez I’d bet! Saw the old girl a few years back driving past me.
I love the two-tone color combination of the Lexus ES.
a super 80s/90s thing 😆 I love it too
Agreed. It's classy.
It’s a trend that started with the debut of the Mercedes-Benz W126 in 1979. They were commonly referred to as “Sacco panels” (named after Bruno Sacco, the chief designer at Mercedes-Benz at the time). Soon, all the other carmakers started copying them.
@@ShervinsGarage Very beautiful this Lexus ES200 1992. Luxurious, comfortable and solid car
I love those projector beam headlights...way ahead of their time. Back in 1992 almost no car had those.
Same deal back in 1991, when this episode aired.
Me too! I have no idea why they got rid of those come the third generation.
Never see these in manual, almost forgot it was an option.
Hoovie's Garage got one dirt cheap a couple years ago you can find the video
I’m looking for this in a manual. Very hard to find. A guy had it on FB market and I don’t know why I didn’t get it. I have a V6 Camry with a manual tho. Same motor. It’s quicker than 7.9 seconds to 60 mph.
When I turned 18 I saw one and I wish I had gotten it.
@@Tool0GT92 I remember that
Awyes. A manual lexus. Those are mythical creatures.
Tyler Hoover had one in this exact same red color on his UA-cam channel, “Hoovies Hoopties” a couple of years ago.
@@gedaman And he sold it for $2100. After he got it sorted. My god.
@@gedaman believe it or not i hqve the same exact car as hpovies
@@lunchonthehood5675 i bought mine for $600 back in 2018. Shes manual too and same color. U can see her on my youtube profile
@@gedaman I was watching this and thinking what If this is that exact same one
4:13 when he took off that backseat headrest was like oh geez here we go aagggaaiiinnn 😂😂😂😂
I believe the nineties was the decade in which car makers like Acura and Lexas really shined. Acura had some beautiful and fun cars with the Legend and Integra. All of Lexus cars including this ES were really attractive. With the stuff that Lexus has put nowadays I would never even think of buying one!
"Two types of leather" - that's because one of them is vinyl. Most manufacturers used that for the parts of the seats you didn't actually touch.
That wheel hop at 4:27 is even shaking the front seat through the floor pan.
30 years later and you still see these on the streets even if they are a little roughed up there still going ... But some in immaculate condition
Such a handsome car and a PERFECT color combination on this test unit. Plus the manual transmission makes it so much more desirable. Good luck finding one, though. The take rate was hopelessly low and the stick was sadly dropped after '93.
Didn’t even know they made these with a stick. Any Lexus with a manual is a needle in a haystack.
fortunately the camray carried on with the stick
the black interior is nice but that red and grey exterior looked odd. they should have used grey and black
I never knew these cars were sort of sporty. I always assumed they were just floaters like the LS.
Yepp thats why im never letting go of mine, 92 manual transmission same color as this which made me think they might be the sqme cars
Car looks like it came out in 2011. Very ahead of it's time.
Lol no it does not
I'd say at most, it looks early 2000s
I hate the CVTs in new cars nowadays. They’re so unreliable (at least at the moment). That’s mainly turns me off about new cars. Bring back the autos and manuals!
Funny thing , these were SO RELIABLE, you still see them on the road today! Unlike most cars from that area.
These cars were high quality from the factory, fit and finish was impeccable and if you can get one with low mileage today, GET ONE, besides typical things that wear out like
Plastics and stuff the engine and transmission will keep on going to 400k miles +!
The design holds up very well. That wheel hop though, hahaha. Lots of progress has been made on that front.
Did you notice how the reclined passenger seat wobbled off the line?
@@jonathankleinow2073 yeah saw that too. Super janky haha. Didn't expect that from a Lexus
Yeah. Surprised this is FWD. If this were RWD, would be truly special (especially in a manual).
@@thrillhousecycling7260 Really? Must be born yesterday or plain obtuse. The most obvious FWD premium nameplate.
I think its because it lacks LSD. But then this isn't the sort of car to roast tyres anyway (still funny to do it though haha).
Notice the front right wheel spins way more than the front left wheel when launching as well.
Well I agree with John Davis. This Lexus "CamRay" is a fine automobile back then and now. I was suprised by the manual transmission.. Most of my friends had automatics in their 300s...
This generation of ES300 aged phenomenally, when I see them around now I love them so much .
It’s amazing how john’s mispronunciation of “Camry” still rocks peoples’ worlds so much. If only my life were that empty.
The manuals were fairly common the first couple years but seems like dealers quit ordering them later in the 90s
@@blairwilliams136 I saw a Lexus coupe from Around 92/93 on the road yesterday!
My favorite par is how quiet the cabin is. It's got virtually no engine noise inside. You just hear the tires and the wind.
Love the startup on this! We use to have 94’ one which I grew up in and this car made us Lexus loversfor life! Lexus in my opinion is the #1 luxury brand in the world!! I still get goosebumps going to the Lexus dealership even at 30years old. Love the smell of a new Lexus.
I hated mine but I was coming from an Acura Legend though. This drove like a Buick and too much Camry
I fell in love with the ‘92 Lexus ES at 10yo when my best friend’s mom upgraded from her green ES250 to the ES300 in the Rose Shadow Quartz color, and still remember how the morning dew fell on the front fascia in the sunlight before school one day on their road trip visit. The aesthetic of that car always far surpassed its direct competition, in my opinion, similarly to the first-gen Oldsmobile Aurora that succeeded it. I bought one in 2008 and absolutely loved that car every moment I owned it, babying it. Unfortunately after hitting a deer, it gave me serious cooling system issues and I subsequently scrapped it after blown head gasket issues and a crazy quote of $18k to fix everything. I would still buy another in a heartbeat if I could find one fully loaded in great condition as that one was - maybe one day.
Solid have replaced the radiator and the fans... derp
I wanna meet your BFF's mom!
You threw away a car cuz it had a busted radiator lol
I hated mine. I was coming from a Legend though. Too much Camry
@@rahimi4762 Yeah I had one of these too (1995) and it bored me to tears. The design looked pretty good though even at 10 years old when I bought it. Traded it after a year for my '06 Acura TL that I still have today.
This is a gorgeous car. I still see 1990s Lexus cars in New Jersey
One of the best luxury cars ever made.
Naw.
Yeag
I always love the Lexus Gs300 model from 1993-97. Still looks moderate to this day. They are so hard to find. Ive seen people put supra engine and transmission in it.
I’ve had a manual 92 ES and currently own a 93 GS 🙏
@@xFactoryUSA not to be pedantic but it already has a Supra engine in it. Just not a Supra turbo
@@777jones I’m aware, I looked for 5 years before I found mine.
I loved the smirk on the front end of these..
Nearly 30 years on and this Lexus still has a better looking interior than any 2021 Cadillac save the new Escalade.
I've got one from 2001 in metallic charcoal grey. It's a timeless design and the leather is amazing. Just give it a wipe down with a leather conditioner and it looks brand new. The overall interior material choice is superb and holds up really well with time. No cheap rattling plastics to be found. They did away with the quad wrap around headlight design and only include two zenon bulbs along with a drl which I've never seen before around that time. The trunk line has also been cut down in the center between the tail lights to help with putting large items into it easier. The only issue is you cannot see around the back very well because the trunk is actually bigger than it looks and it's not tall people friendly. If you're over 6 feet watch your noggin. Also, pilarless doors are a nice touch on a sedan of this price point. Although, the rubber does tend to wear out a bit and you will get rain water sucked into the cabin along the b pillar on the windows. I love the futuristic 3 spoke wheel design. Also, my car in particular, struggles with the air flow in the cabin so the heater is not good nor the air con. I may need a cabin filter cleaning. Other than that, I get lots of compliments on it and people always follow up by stating "it'll last you for ever". It still has the original price tag paper work in the owners manual which was 35,995 for the base model.
I still drive my 98 ES 300 with 81k miles, always garage kept!!! Thank you Mom for selling this car to me and may you rest in peace 😭.
I liked the way the back windows roll down on these cars. It's interesting
One thing that annoyed me with Motorweek and other publications of this era is their constant putting down of the ES300’s Camry underpinnings; but they always praised all the badge jobs that GM did (i.e. Blazer > Bravada).
yeah at least these cars had different personalities and wasn’t blatantly obvious, the only difference between those pos GMs is literally the headlights that are overall still the same
I'm not from the USA but aren't Camrys quite renowned over there for being well made and long lasting cars?
Wonder why we never got the ES300 over here (UK)? We got the GS300 and LS400 then later on the IS-series of cars, we generally buy "smaller" luxury cars like this ES here. Plus it came with a manual (which was popular here at that time) and since it's from a Japanese company it was even originally designed to go on the same side of the road/have the steering on the wrong side same as we use!
@@ZIGZAG12345 The Lexus ES was sold as the Toyota Windom in the rest of the world until it was discontinued in 2005 when the Lexus brand finally was introduced to Japan for the 2006 model year. If you wanted a Lexus ES back then in Europe you could have maybe gotten a Toyota Windom imported from Japan. I think Toyota wanted the Lexus ES to compete more in the American market than Japan or Europe. Now that the Toyota Avalon will be discontinued after the 2022 model year the Lexus ES has an even more important role in the American market, so does the Lexus LX since the Toyota Land Cruiser is no longer available in America.
@@ZIGZAG12345 Generally yes! They are considered to be very well rounded cars over here. Reliable, sizable enough to carry people in the back comfortably, and since they sold around 500k of them each year on average, replacement parts are cheap and plentiful. They get alot of criticism from the automotive press as being bland or built for people who don't like cars, but one could do much worse with picking a daily driver.
@@ExiledWolf84 Some of that criticism is well-deserved. The automotive press prefers cars that are engaging and fun to drive, like the VW GTi and Honda Accord. I've driven a few Camrys and have always come away disappointed with how numb the controls are; mushy brake pedals, numb steering, floaty ride (same with the Chevy Malibu, btw). Yes, they're well made and reliable, but if you're into driving as more than just transportation, there are better choices.
I remember when my mom picked me up from school in her new 96 Lexus ES300 Coach Edition! I fell in love with those projectors! My Dad had a 93 Cam-Ray SE V6 that was faster tho lol
Every single time I see one of these (which isn't often any more!) I'm struck by just how thin the roof pillars are and how small and dainty it looks in comparison to today's behemoths. Still a stunning car and I'm still in love with those sexy projector beam headlights
EDIT: and how about two-tone paint jobs? This one looks great and I kinda wish they'd make a comeback ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
They did make a Comeback, loads of suv's and hatchbacks have it, aswell as some sedans
I miss the openness of the 90s interior w the big windows and thin pillars. I grew in the 90s w the boxy Volvo and grand caravan - 2 cars w extremely large windows. I find cars nowadays too claustrophobic.
I guess the black plastic fenders found on crossovers are the modern day two tone
I love the two-tone look. It was one of the things I loved about my 86 Ford Taurus LX. Yeah, I wish this would come back too.
@@jerrybarrax5618 I swear these days, a '90s Chevy Suburban with a two-tone paint job will get just as big of a "OOHHHH" from me as anything else on the road. It can be done so well!
Seeing this also puts Lexus' success in perspective considering the list of former competitors who failed in the market. I'd completely forgotten about the Mitsubishi Diamante and Mazda 929.
It's a shame because the 929 and the Diamante were both much more special cars, and were bespoke platform and interior cars unlike this Camry based ES. The 929 was rwd with more luxurious features and more style/power, and the Diamante was unique as well.
This car looks 10 years ahead of its time
The Slickest Lexus ES sedan to date, maybe the most handsome front wheel drive sedan from Toyota.
I've totally forgotten all about them making the Lexus ES with the 5 speed manual, shame they didn't sell very well.
I have one!
I have one too!
A Camray with hilarious wheel hop. I've now seen a car have a seizure lol.
0:29 This test model was so new, the window sticker was still in the rear window.
As a matter of fact, the vehicle tested and the one featured in the intro were two different cars! Just noticed the tan interior.
One of my friends had one of these in a stick shift. Good car, lasted him a while.
I love frameless door glass these had.
Imagine getting one of the few of these that came with a manual. Awesome
Im lucky enough to have exact same one as the video
I bought my 1993 es300 lexus in 2009 still driving it in 2022
Gorgeous timeless design!
But that front end during the 0-60 test 😳😂
This car has definitely outlasted most of it's competitors! They laughed at Lexus, but little did they know that this company would dominate the luxury car market.
I remember seeing one of those cruising in my rear view mirror on a long road trip back when it was new. It was such an elegant design, I watched it for miles.
But 185hp from a 3 liter v-6 and that front axle hop on take off are clear indicators of how far the industry has come since then. Retro Reviews help me appreciate the state of modern automotive manufacturing..
I was wondering if he was going to mention all that front end hop but then I remembered that every car hopped like that back then.
@@timothyhh Yep.
@@timothyhh Every front wheel drive car anyway.
You're not wrong but you could launch that thing 80,000 times in a row and it would be consistent. And never break.
That 3.0 V6 with the manual feels more than 185 HP because the car is relatively light weight. I have the Camry version with a V6 manual and because it’s light it feels like a 270 hp modern heavy car.
I still see these driving around quite often. Speaks volumes of lexus engineering and quality. I would be happy to own one of these today especially with the black interior and manual trans
I have one
holy wheel hop batman.
Always loved this and the CamRAY of the same era.
I agree. That is still my favorite Camry generation.
Love the cricket noise when the camera’s waiting for the vehicle to approach.. so classic!!!
That cooling fan is a trip. Has any other manufacturer used a fan driven by the power steering pump?
It took me 20 years but I finally realized what a damn good looking and ahead of it's time car this entry level Lexus was....projector headlights in 1992!
1991
My wife enjoyed her 1996 ES 300 automatic. I didn’t know a manual was available.
Thanks for the flashback.
The car shakes so hard taking off at 4:27. Lol
In my opinion still the best looking ES Lexus ever made
This was my first car almost 17 years ago 🥰
That is one of the best cars made by Lexus..
True, but the real groundbreaker was the original SC 300/400, although it wasn't a big seller like the ES and LS.
Naw. I hated this car. I owned one from 1999-2006. I came from a 1990 Acura Legend and got a Volvo S60 to replace the ES
@@rahimi4762 i loved mine and still do. I hate hondas
@@rahimi4762 You didn’t own any of these cars new, so who are you to talk as if your opinion is somehow special and relevant?
Rather hear anecdotally from someone who paid near MSRP or leased one of these new in 1991-93, than some random secondhand or thirdhand driver.
The original ES showed its Camry roots very clearly. This was a huge improvement; it felt much more substantial, closer in look and feel to the LS. This was a much-needed smaller model that would appeal to those who wanted a Lexus, but could not afford an LS or wanted something more practical than an SC.
This one also looks a lot like the Camry, just at a higher trim level.
Hands down one of these best looking cars from the 90's...Very timeless.
Crazy. I have never seen a manual Lexus before.
2:58 the fact that my 2015 land cruiser has those same exact seat controls... damn.. 😂
Had one of these while stationed in Japan. Over there it's the Toyota Windam. Best car I ever had!
30 years later still looks good 👌
These were the days, no large computer screens , unnecessary complications, switches ,real gauges ,natural aspirated engine with a manual , all kinds of vehicles choices, wagons, coupes, extended caps, small trucks.
Gorgeous, the design never gets old and the quality 👌. From scale 1 to 10 this is a 100.
We bought a second hand 2000 ES300 in mid-late 2000s, and it was a brilliant car! Very smooth and reliable, high quality materials and sleek design.
One of the best Cars Lexus ever made.
Still a great car today. So much value for money. One of the best used cars on the market.
My first car was a beige 1992 Lexus ES300 that I bought for only $30 from a longtime owner. It was very reliable and nice!
The best Lexus model they ever made.
Timeless styling that still looks good today. Everything these days is overdesigned
You can say that again. There's so much going on with every single new car that my eyes just say "f!ck it, I don't even what to look at it any more". Angles on angles, fake vents and real vents, black plastic everywhere, and it all just blends into one automotive mess.
"A little front plow.." car everywhere lol
But great car indeed that aged very very well.
That wheel hop though..
Lexus, that comfortable feeling ,that you are not going to break down.
Toyota's golden years! I'm very fortunate to be alive and had the opportunity to buy them new.
These old Toyota V6s were a million times smoother than the current ones. This was a great car, and I remember seeing them everywhere on the roads.
30 years later, this ES300 exterior design still looks elegant, fresh with character effortless. Unlike today's 4-door sedan, trying hard to look cool and special, but still feeling boring.
Still looks great today. Very clean design.
Junkyards are filled with these and Infiniti I30s nowadays. For 30k vs 50-60k for a LS400 or Q45 these sold like crazy.
i had same 1995 ES, back in 2004. my first car . still looks cool
A Camry in a tuxedo.
My dad had a 1992 Lexus ES300 in Dark Emerald Pearl (6M1) on Black Leather.
It had the dealer-installed gold trim package and was originally sold by a Lexus dealer in Southern California (we’re in Northern California). It was automatic, but a very nice car.
He bought it from my cousin in 2001 and sold it in 2003 for a brand-new Toyota Camry XLE (a much less interesting car).
I wish I could find it and buy it back, if it has survived. These were great-looking cars.
I’ve been waiting for this one for years, yay!
Take a shot every time John says Cam Ray
Those where good looking cars, even today still holds up!
I love the Lexus two tone paint options. And a manual, wow!
My small town had a lot of wealth in it (and poverty), and it was amazing seeing these new LS, SC, and ES models in the 1990's. They were a leap ahead of everything else, and they still look fantastic (or even better than today's models). It was crazy seeing high school kids driving around their parents' LS's back then too. A friend of mine eventually picked up an old , first gen LS, and it was still perfect.
those early lexus feature were stunning
The Lexus ES300 is known as the Toyota Windom in Japan.
@N B The JDM Camry back then was different from the export version as it was classified as a 5-number size class and was thus shorter. Toyota did offer the USDM Camry (esp. the wagon variant) for JDM as the Scepter. The JDM Windom continued where the Camry Prominent (roughly the first-gen ES) had left off and lasted three generations (ie. up to 4th-gen ES).
Lexus cars are sold as Toyota in Japan. It's just in the US that they needed to create a new brand to attract customers with the luxury idea, cause they thought a Toyota badge is a cheap and boring car...
My dream car has been the JDM RHD Altezza RS200 with the Yamaha engine for a long time. the JDM counterpart of the Lexus IS300
Or the Bluebird SSS-R Attesa, or the R31 Skyline specially the sedan without B pillars. All of them are JDM
@@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess No problem setting a luxury brand division for export markets like USDM. Conversely however it would be difficult and risky to "re-import" such brands back in Japan. Even Toyota waited till 2005 to finally deploy the Lexus sales network back in JP and became the only example for such cause, with success. Not quite so with Honda and Nissan though. Honda scrapped plans for JDM Acura sales network after much deliberation, while Nissan had little luck implementing its Infiniti CIs on some of its JDM vehicle lineup (esp. the Fuga and V35 Skyline)......
@N B The JDM Camry had an entry level twin called the Vista.
@@theKevronHarris I wouldn't call that Vista an entry model but rather a sister model with minor design differences, possibly sold at a different Toyota dealership network from the Camry's......
My father purchased a '95 ES300 off a friend about a year ago. His friend took maticulous care of it and Dad got it at a steal. Well after his diagnosis, he handed it off to me and I have to say it is a FANTASTIC car to drive. And I had NO idea this generation was offered with a manual, although I think they were phased out by 95. Now I must find one.
Wow projector headlights in 1992 it was well ahead of their time
1991, read the episode description.
I had a 92 five speed in green. It was my first luxury vehicle.
Great car. Hated the CD changer but an otherwise solid ride.
While I still see these ES’s regularly, their headlights are always so faded that I forgot they had dual projectors, lol. Also, the axle hop on the test track was hilarious. Could you imagine a current ES owner’s reaction to that if it was in a 2021 ES? They’d be on the shoulder, holding the Lexus Enform button to call for a tow while calling their doctors office to schedule having their cheek implants reseated.
If it had the 4 speed auto, you wouldn't have that axle hop.
These were destined to have automatics all along which were nice and slushy gear shifts but man were they slow as heck with long ratios.
I own a 1992 ES300 in the same color as the one in this video, it has 155k and still runs, drives and rides like a dream!
A manual! I’m blown away! This would be a spectacular gem to find.
I have same exact as this one 1🥰
4:26 freaking Wrong Wheel Drive!
I never knew they made this in a manual! Ill be on the lookout
I bought a 1999 Lexus ES 300 in July, For 900 dollars, From some one who was going in a nursing home, Family wanted to get rid it , In excellent condition, White and gray two tone garage kept, The owner never used the 💿 player in it, I have all the services records, I had six people wanting to buy it from offers between 5000 and over seven thousand dollars 💸 The leather seats are in mint condition, A car flipper offered me six thousand dollars cash, He said he would not sell it, He keep it for him self, Finding this car was like winning the lottery 🚘🙂
Those headlights way ahead of its time!!!
Beautiful, Beautiful car. One of my first jobs was at a Toyota dealer in Melbourne, Australia in 1997. The Dealer Principal drove an LS400 and the General Manager had an ES300 just like this one. It was red with the darker red lower side cladding and all beige interior. I used to get to drive that a lot and I fell in love with both the LS and ES. The ES was always so much nicer than the Camry and people who say 'it's just a tarted up Camry' don't really know the cars too well.
Never knew these came in a manual , now I want one.
If the Japanese ever made a timeless classic beauty, this is it. So understated, but mature, yet sporty but not gaudy. This car is just fantastic. Always loved how the engine completely overwhelmed the chassis, you can see it in the monstrous axle hop when accelerating, but far far more fun to drive than any luxury car with soft suspension had any right to be. A perfect 10/10 for me.
Classic Japanese beauty of the same era - RX7 fd
That axle hop is amazing... 4:13 look at that passenger seat dance! Lol
@@kz1000ps if the driver had dentures... He would have had a toothless grin by the end of that run...🤣🤣🤣. Quick car, but the axle hop even on the automatic was quite violent. Hahaha.
These cars looked like spaceships back then.