2007 Lexus Es350 Base Sedan 4-door 3.5l on 2040-cars

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What does a million-mile car really tell us?

A million miles. Nearly every car brand and motor oil company plays the million-mile marketing racket at some point. The typical recipe is to take a car that experienced a ton of low-stress highway miles, and make it a rolling testament to the long-term qualities of whatever reputation you're trying to prop up. Saab, Lincoln, Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chrysler. It's a tired game that I would normally just consider one of the pointless ranking exercises of our time. But the truth is, when it comes to a car's longevity, it's almost always the owner that makes the real difference, not the brand. Like a pitcher at a baseball game, the owner mostly determines the victories and the defeats for his car. Some specific models are the basement dwellers of our time – I'm looking at you, Chrysler car with the 2.7-liter engine! But a lot of cars and trucks hit right around the average that is a powertrain whose longevity is mainly determined by that person who turns the key and hopefully learns that patient art of long-term ownership. The best owners are the ones who deserve the attention. So with that in mind, let me introduce you to Matt Farah's Million Mile Lexus. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. This Lexus could be written off as another cynical marketing exercise in this business, performed by those who didn't do the real driving in the past and have no plans at all on doing the bulk of the driving in the future. Matt's actually doing a few things that are genuinely cool, though. Letting other auto journalists and enthusiasts drive it along the way and giving Regular Car Reviews a crack at it. Focusing on the rare virtues of the first-generation Lexus, which, to be frank, can out-diesel a diesel. There is a great story to be had with this car. This isn't a car that was "going to the junkyard" and magically given the kiss of life. That story is far more vast than a guy who bought a high-mileage car in great overall condition. This isn't a car that was "going to the junkyard" and magically given the kiss of life so that it can endure the ages. This Lexus, like all other high-mileage models worthy of our love, has been given one hell of a good maintenance regimen by the prior owners. It was taken care of and primarily maintained at the dealership, where it probably received the best parts and service, thanks in enormous part to owners who were willing to pay that exorbitantly high bill.

Lexus ES 350 vs. Lincoln MKZ

Despite a lineup of well-received crossovers on the Lexus showroom, the midsize Lexus ES 350 four-door continues to appeal to consumers. Many of those customers are older, so you won't see marketing budgets directed toward them; no one, other than the pharmaceutical companies, is spending money marketing to baby boomers. But a midsize, moderately expressive sedan with an easy buying experience and almost coddled ownership still has its fans, and the Lexus ES 350 delivers those attributes in spades. We'd like to say Lincoln's MKZ (pictured above) is hot on the Lexus' heels, but Lincoln's lineup remains a work in progress. The Fusion-based MKZ offers a nice mix of attributes, but Lincoln's dealer count has shrunk, and many Lincoln outlets are located within – or immediately adjacent to – Ford stores. If a Fusion-based Lincoln credibly aspires to Lexus-like attributes, the same won't be said for the Ford showrooms. Here are the offerings: The Lexus ES 350 team has, over the sedan's several variations, worked hard to separate the volume Lexus from Toyota's similar Camry, and in 2017 that separation might actually be quantifiable. To its credit, the ES 350 (pictured at left) comes with but one non-hybrid drivetrain, a 3.5 liter V6 connected to a six-speed automatic driving the front wheels. With it, the ES 350 delivers a motoring experience bordering on the sublime. With the exception of its now-predictable big mouth grille, the balance of the ES sheetmetal is responsibly muted, inoffensive to the eye and should wear well through the typical payment cycle. Access to its moderately upscale interior is easy, and once inside you'll find expansive room (some 100 cubic feet) for four, along with adequate space for the occasional fifth. With a curb weight of just 3,600 pounds, the V6's 268 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque is responsive, and that's evident in the four-door's 7-second sprint to 60. This isn't a track day or autocross weapon, but if part of your day is a stressful commute, this will make it less so. With a base – albeit well appointed – spec, the ES 350 retails for just under $40,000. We would order ours in Atomic Silver, even if "atomic" seems so last-century. If you can forget – for a minute – the Matthew McConaughey connection, know that Lincoln's MKZ is fully credible as a midsize, mid-fashion sedan. If you like your Fords with more expressive interiors and additional driving refinement, there's a lot to like in Lincoln's MKZ.

Lexus to reveal new concept in Geneva

When Lexus rolls in to the Geneva Motor Show this year, it will have some exciting metal to show off to the Old World crowds. Both the GS F performance sedan and the LF-C2 concept will be marking their European debuts at the Swiss expo. But it will have a new concept to showcase, as well. Just what form that concept will take is anyone's guess at this point, and Lexus isn't saying. The Japanese luxury marque's lineup consists primarily of sedans and crossovers, with the RC coupe and CT hybrid hatchback thrown in for good measure. The likelihood is that we'll be looking at either a new compact model or a large crossover, but that's all up in the air at the moment. Recent show cars from Toyota's upscale brand have included the RC F GT3 racer, the aforementioned LF-C2 convertible, the LF-LC sports coupe and the LF-NX concept that previewed the new NX compact crossover. Watch this space for more. Related Video: 03 Feb 2015 LEXUS AT THE 2015 GENEVA MOTOR SHOW • European Premiere of the new Lexus F-performance model, the 477PS GS F • European Premiere of the LF-C2 concept • World Premiere of a new Lexus concept Brussels, Belgium - The 2015 Geneva Motor Show will host a European introduction of the recent addition to the Lexus high-performance F-brand, the new GS F. World Premiered at this year's Detroit MS, the GS F is a refined four-door coupe with the speed and agility of a premium sports car. Equipped with a normally-aspirated 5.0l V8 engine, the GS F produces maximum power of 477PS and maximum torque of 530Nm. The GS F is the first Lexus to include the new comprehensive Lexus Safety System +. World Premiered at 2014 Los Angeles Motor Show, the LF-C2 concept will also have its European Premiere at this year's Geneva MS. The concept is a design study in the form of a 2+2 roadster that explores key styling themes involved in the Lexus brand's future, bolder styling direction. The LF-C2 is a luxury Grand Touring concept inspired by Lexus' passion for driving. Its open-air design derives from a pure sports coupe idea. Finally, during the Lexus press conference, a new Lexus concept will have its World Premiere. The Lexus Press Conference will take place on March 3, at 12:30 at the Lexus stand (number 4211) in Hall 4.