The 2004 Lexus ES 330 Is A Dependable Budget Lexus For A Price Conscious Shopper 

Happy Sunday everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Our newest member of the team, Martin was kind enough to let us borrow his latest daily that he picked up earlier this year. The Lexus ES was never the most exciting car in its class, but it was always one of the smoothest, quietest, most comfortable, and reliable and this week, were in San Diego to drive the redesigned Camry, which should follow suit with a redesigned ES in 2026. Stay tuned for lots of new content coming up this week, including our First Look video on the redesigned 2025 4Runner on 4/9!

Thanks for having me on again! 👍🏼

I love old car reviews from Sofyan. Brings me back to the good old days of this channel!

I LOVE these old-used car reviews! At a time when new car prices are just insane, I think a HUGE part of your audience could use reviews like this to know what great values can be had at such affordable prices.

Just bought for this car for 3000 bucks. 197,000 miles and drives like a dream. Made in Japan! Had a choice to put down 4000 for a Lexus 2018 gs with a monthly payment of 350 a month for 4 years or 4000 down for a Model 3 2019 with a monthly payment of 400 dollar a month for 4 years . Glad I bought this car. Love the 6 disc CD changer and cassette tape deck too. 😅

These things are bulletproof. My dad kept his 2002 for SIXTEEN years. I had to pry it out of his hands. He ended up getting a new 2018 ES.

I used to think these were so ugly. But now as an adult I’ve grown to like them. Always thought the rear power retractable sunshade was cool plus heated & cooled seats on a “fancy Camry” made it even better. Love these retro reviews! Hoping you get your hands on a 1st Gen Scion TC, everyone in high school wanted that car.

I like this older car review... Either a budget buy or a first car for someone young.. Thanks for this!

3 years ago this month i bought my 1 owner 2002 ES300 with "only" 160k miles. Black on black leather, with same California Walnut wood trim. Best sedan car I've ever owned, now with 180,600 miles its still goin strong. the 4th gen ES was one of the best quality ES's ever built. Whisper quiet, solid like a tank and just enough power. The 1MZ-FE engine is one of the best V6's ever made. There is one on RU-vid posted about 4 years ago with at that time 596k highway miles on the original engine and transmission. I installed a Alpine touch screen and hardwired backup camera. Original owner had the timing belt/water pump changed at 87k miles at a Lexus dealership and I'm due for a replacement soon. They simply don't make them like this anymore. Plenty of people say its just a glorified camry, wrong. The amount of insulation/sound deadening material is unbelievable. Also, the front strut tower brace and the bracing behind the rear seats sets this apart from a camry. The owners manual recommends 93 octane, and thats what i use. never used 87 and i get 30-32 mpg on the highway. I'll be retiring in 4 years and I'll be holding onto this one for many many years. Mine has optional HID headlights and i installed yellow fog lights. I also replaced my hood strut just a few months ago. There's no doubt you lose plenty of power using regular gas. He got a great deal at $2,250. I paid $4,495 with 160k miles, 3 years ago during the height of Covid, still a great deal.

I had an 2005 version of this car in 2013. I sold my Cadillac for that car and since then I have consistently bought Toyota or Lexus. Man I miss that car.

Keep the old reviews coming!

My mom had one of these. Best car ever and super reliable.

2 years ago I sold my 1998 camry v6 to my friend very reliable he is still driving until now no oil leak the car have over 300 000 kilometers on it thanks for sharing your video take care bye from milton Ontario Canada

I’ve got one of these with 334,000 miles in almost mint condition. 05 ES330, Gold / tan fully loaded. Power sunshade, mark levinson audio, chrome wheels, touch screen nav, auto rain sense wipers , heated and ventilated seats. Super Luxurious! Mine has the sport suspension !! Little dial next to the shifter and power sunshade button. I always keep it in comfort haha. So smooth. The sport does help on twisty roads with body roll mitigation.

My 2005 is still rolling around. Only major repairs it ever had were a new alternator, and exhaust flex pipe replaced. Outside of new plugs, timing belt, filters and fluids… it’s all original. Only one bulb has ever burned out on it… the third brake light.

Excellent presentation. These are the type of cars I drive, cheap and reliable. No new cars for me.

Can’t go wrong with these or the Camry/Avalon’s of this era. 6 years ago we picked up a ‘98 Avalon that was one owner, 140,000, retiree owned with complete service history for $2,500 to use as a disposable commuter car. The paint quality, the interior quality, the ride quality is all great and it is so low maintenance. 6 years later and despite other new vehicles, we still drive this regular all 4 seasons. They last forever. We joke about it being a Japanese Buick too. 😆

my parents bought theirs new and we still have it at 305k miles. it got my brother and i through driving lessons and college. these things can’t be beat!

Seems like he's going back to his roots! Which is how i found his channel originally

I love the older car review 😊

Cant go wrong with an older Lexus ES if you want a cheap, used, and reliable car with some luxury thrown in.

Glad you’re giving the people what they want, keep the retro reviews coming 🙏

Please keep making the older car reviews! Love them 😁

This is a great review. I appreciate you not bashing it for being an ancient interior. So many reviewers are spoiled from all the new stuff they get and so they think everything before 2020 is from the dinosaur age. Really well done

My mom had her 2004 ES330 for 18 years. Near mint condition, 140,000 miles on. She gave it to me 2 weeks ago. It is beautiful!!!!!

I bought a new 2002 Lexus ES300 when they first came out - Alabaster Metallic w/beige leather & Mark Levinson sound (7-speakers). That car was super creamy smooth and quiet. The quality of materials and assembly were perfect and I got an average of 26mpg during 4 years of ownership. The styling then (and now) was rather bland but the car rode so well and I never had a lick of trouble out of it. Sold it 4 years later w/25K miles - a great car that is probably still on the road today.

I’m loving these “retro” reviews keep them up!

The review is spot on!!! I have an 06 ES330. I also have an 06 LS430 so waiting for that review. These things just keep running and never break.

Love this older review! Would like to see more unique/reliable used vehicle reviews on the channel sprinkled in between the newer reviews and reveals.

Sofyan, I'm so happy you brought back older cars to your channel. Keep em' coming! I still remember watching hour Celica review years ago ❤ I got a couple weird cars in my fleet too if you want to take them for a quick shoot brother. Love these ES's. Comfy, reliable, and well built. The Camry of that generation was equally very well built. My mother bought one brand new in 2005 and still has it till this day. Only thing that has failed was the CD player.

I had one of this back in 2016, I sold it for $2,600. One of my biggest regrets was selling it, that car was confortable, reliable, good on gas, still missed 😢

I actually sold a 2004 es330 about a year ago. Only had 78,000 miles on it. It was my grandma's. Loved that car

I have my 2005 Camry which shares the same chassis as this Lexus ES. Amazing car. Over 19 years old and with over 350,000 kms. Smooth car and solid. Toronto, Canada.

OGs remember Sofya preferred the Acuras of this generation to the Lexus

I had this but 2005 as my first car! Was a hand me down from my grandfather and it had 317,000 miles when I got it!! I drove it till it was almost at 400,000 and then sold it to a coworker for his son to have as his first car! They are BULLETPROOF! My favorite car ever. I now have a 13 es300h and love that too!

I have this car and it drives like a dream! Keep these old car reviews coming ❤

I totally love this idea. This works for folks who are looking into used cars or for car enthusiasts. 🎉 Thanks for doing this. Hope you do more. 🎉🎉

2 years ago, I bought a 06 Infiniti M45s with 150k one owner, dealer maintained and garaged. It came with an entire book of maintenance records every 3k oil change. I keep it the exact same way and it’s got about 179k miles now. I love reviews like this.

Lexus es version of Toyota Avalon and Camry

My ES300 is on 225k miles, running like a champ. Best $1,600 we ever spent.

This is my exact daily beater and its not a car... its a tank. Literally cost nothing to run and maintain. Plus the car won't die or show its age. One of the best used car gems 💎 you can buy on the used market. Shares all same parts from a camry so parts are always cheap and available.

189k mark Levi and moonroof in silver been flawless for me 7 years later . I love my 04 es330

2-4 year used Lexus models are always a safe bet for long term reliability and overall driving pleasantness for duration of ownership.

These cars are so hard to break down. My 2014 E350 still drives like it’s only a year or two old. One of the last true and trident V-6 vehicles.

I listened to this review in my car literally as an ES330 was in front of me in traffic, didn't realise they were relatively limited production. What you said about the handling and body roll is true though. I watched that man hustle that thing at 45mph through a corner and it looked like it was about to catch air lol

One of the best used cars & I should buy this.

I used to have one 2004 which I sold in 2016. I miss it since then. What a great car for sure.

Awesome! Love to see these retro reviews.

Thanks for doing these older car reviews! Really enjoyed this one

Got one 4 months ago, 04, silver 330 at 209,000 miles 😳 6000 mile (full warranty) and now at 213,000 and had to have a transmission replaced, glad I got the warranty 😭 it’s a sweet automobile

Thank you for doing these used car reviews. In these times of ridiculous new car prices this is a great service to people who could never afford a new automobile anymore.

My image with older Lexus vehicles is always that they’re mechanically bulletproof but a lot are justifiably totaled on the interior because they last so long and you can drive them for a very long time. Not as much on the sedans but definitely so on the SUVs. So the important part is finding one that isn’t torn up.

Loving the older car reviews, would love to see a video with your recommendations of older luxury SUVs that are dependable

This video was a pleasant nostalgic surprise!

The video is so nostalgic my grandma bought one brand new in this exact color. I was 8 and I remeber it very vividly. *Sigh* would love to go back to this era

Loved these older car reviews!!!! Really appreciate how "analog" they were compared to the newer cars, as much as I enjoyed the tech that comes with it.

Mine was a beast that would not die. I finally sold it to a friend who drove it to nearly 300k.

Sofyan, This is as classy as a FWD can get. 🤩Too bad Martin no longer has the Vibe. 😐

Yes yes yes redline! I love these reviews. Please keep these up. I used to watch a lot, these are going to bring me back! Love your review style, the used market is popular. Thank you

keep up theses old car reviews! there great

This video was fantastic! Please do more of these!

Love these older car videos! I have a 2012 ZDX technology package would be a cool car to review again!!

2004 Solara V6 owner here. Man, these engines are built like tanks. Mine has 240k and it sounds like the day it was released. The timing belt kit replacement is one thing that'll hurt your wallet (I paid $1700 in today's market, crazy). Other than that, no issues whatsoever. Materials are on par with ES330.

Wow - great price! For that price, you can spend another $2K to recondition and it will look new.

Yessss !!!!! More videos like this please. I love how you're reviewing old vehicles that a lot of people can afford. Or for people who have a weekend car but need a daily driver. But no matter what, I love all your videos. Thank you!

I have a 2006 Toyota Solara (Same engine and transmission) I’m at 240k miles and zero issues. Bullet proof cars

When you came to a stop in those cars it was dead silence, you couldn't tell the motor was running!

As a Chevy Guy, I’ve always had a soft spot for the Lexus ES this thing is a tank

I love this!!!!! Keep reviews like this coming!

This video was such a treat. Nostalgic. I had a 2003 Lexus ES 330 silver/grey leather. I LOVED that car and loved the wood in it. I traded it in for a 2007 Lexus LS460.

I've had mine for 4 1/2 yrs, it had 94, miles for 3,000 and now 2024 STILL running great!

Excellent presentation)))

Fantastic, guys! I so enjoyed this. Bravo for showing a good buy of a quality piece of Lexus. ;)

We just bought this exact car a couple weeks ago. 113k miles on it, $7k. Wife is over the moon happy with it.

I love that you mix in some older car reviews

You just can't beat the quality, dependability and reliability of a Toyota/Lexus vehicle.

I have the last year model. 2012 es 350. I got it back in 2015 with 40k miles on it. It now has 150k miles on it.. black on black... I put the yellow HID's on mine

My dad has this same year and model. 48,000 original miles, always in the garage, battery on trickle charge in the winter. I drove it 6 months ago… like floating on air and it is perfect.

Love the used car review!!! Need more of them

This generation of Lexus was just incredible the es the GS the SC and the LS all stupidly reliable amazing vehicles

I really like these used cars reviews. It reminds me of the early days of the channel.

The infotainment upgrade he did looks really good! You would never know that wasn’t an original piece.

It’s crazy the difference in engineering from 04 es to 06 an is250 years later technology advanced like crazy

I had that car up until last year. It holds up pretty well compared to cars nowadays, but the fuel efficiency could be better. Its rated for 21 combined, but I'd say in real world usage, its closer to 17

My grandmother handed down this exact same car to my brother and I. Color and year identical, 331k in the rust belt and hasnt skipped a beat.

After 332,746 thousand miles. A couple of transmission control shift sensor modules gave out on me. Engine still ran, transmission just wont shift. Got myself a newer lexus now. Those were good enough miles in my eyes

Sometimes feel like to go back to era of absolute zero tech, simple flip phones, simple cars without touch only buttons.... basically zero touch screen device in the home!

300k and still running strong 💪

Love the older car reviews 😊

I like driving a pre 2011 Lexus ES because I get to play all my mix cassette tapes in 2024.

We had ours for 20 years, 155k miles. This car has the original head unit with a cassette tape player and cigarette lighter with ash tray. The cars still runs fine.

It's true. We have a 2003 es with over 250,000 miles. Only done repairs that are expected with age like alternator, starter anything with rubber like a cv axle... mines fully loaded too even has an old touch screen & adjustable suspension. The thing just won't die ! Leather interior is still mint with practically no care or conditioning.

Marty Lexus legend 🤌

I own a 2006 ES 330 in Oasis Green decked out with navigation, 6 disc cd changer, moon roof, heated and ventilated seats, heated mirrors, rear sunshade, and the list goes on. Insane vehicle with 254k miles and just won't die. Love my car and no, it is not for sale! lol

I remember when my mom used to have that car except it was the 300

Nice review brother!

OK Sofyan you reminded me of when I first started watching your videos what 10 years ago LMAO I love ES330’s , I guess I’m an old spirit🤷🏻‍♂️ I do like the refresh a lot more. The restyled bumpers, sides skirts, the 17 inch rims and the projector headlights look fantastic. And you could also get adaptive dampers on the ES 330 and I believe the ES300.

I have a 2005 same color with 272k miles with the same engine. I absolutely love this car. But one thing for sure the engine makes a knocking sound with 87 octane. I used to pump premium but now I’m using mid grade. My baby will run an additional 100k miles easily. Great review thank you !

I own a 2004 ES330 and a 2016 ES350. And i can tell you, the build quality on the ES330 is way better than the 350. Lexus build quality was on a different level in the early 2000's. I am never selling my ES330!!

Redline review pls be showing more of these older cars❤, review more of these older cars.