Say Hello To My 276k Mile Lexus With Manual Transmission

"djgreenlava" (greenlavaproductions) 10/20/2017 at 15:13 • Filed to: lexus, save the manuals

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I would like to thank my eBay alerts for helping me to locate this one owner, full service records, 276k mile and five speed manual 1993 Lexus ES300. My search wasn’t necessarily for this but I was looking for a cheap manual sedan and this fit the bill. Just hours after this car was listed I made the call to the dealership, fumbling with some questions but ended the call with me coming in the following days with a trailer. The trailer wasn’t needed but my friend with a Ford F-250 wanted to showcase its diesel prowess. The car appeared how it did in the photos and the interior looked even better. I was given the keys and took it around the industrial area. While rowing through all the gears my passenger was testing every button and it all worked. Except the passenger seat heater. The transaction went smooth and I was able to enjoy perusing this dealership, that I will talk about later.

This vehicle is a real statement for longevity when its been cared for by one owner. Since I purchased this car from a dealer I was even able to keep the original title. Projector headlights and fog lights make this to me, ahead of its time. Yellow fogs and blueish projectors make for a striking combination. The working six disc CD changer and eight speaker stereo make up for the lack of modern connectivity. This is my first car with a seat heater and the lower air vent blows right at your lap. The shifter throws are long but all gears gate easily. The shift knob shows the most wear in the interior and will soon be replaced. The brochure calls this car an “executive sports sedan but that claim is bolder than its styling circa 1991.

I’ll enjoy cruising around in this semi pillar-less sedan until Toyota decides to buy it back from me at a million miles. Who knows what states and stories it will see. Maybe I’ll even do something crazy like auto and rally crossing it.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > djgreenlava 10/20/2017 at 15:21

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RWD? Will it drift?

Dasupersprint - base trim is enough > djgreenlava 10/20/2017 at 15:21

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Really nice find!

Discerning > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 10/20/2017 at 15:23

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ES300 is FWD. Basically a fancy camry

djgreenlava > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 10/20/2017 at 15:23

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FWD. Basically a V6 Camry with nicer amenities and rear suspension design.

djgreenlava > Dasupersprint - base trim is enough 10/20/2017 at 15:23

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Thank you

Chariotoflove > djgreenlava 10/20/2017 at 15:26

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Good job. Glad it went off so well.

Captain of the Enterprise > djgreenlava 10/20/2017 at 15:30

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Very nice! Looks great!

djgreenlava > Chariotoflove 10/20/2017 at 15:32

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I’ll have some updates from the past couple weeks sooner or later.

djgreenlava > Captain of the Enterprise 10/20/2017 at 15:33

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Thank you. It does photograph better than it looks in person.

cmill189 - sans Volvo > djgreenlava 10/20/2017 at 15:35

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Nice. The era that Toyota/Lexus wasn’t fucking around.

E92M3 > djgreenlava 10/20/2017 at 15:36

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I see a black and grey one around here every so often, still in mint condition. I wish two-tone paint schemes would come back.

djgreenlava > E92M3 10/20/2017 at 15:39

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I wonder if it’s this guy on the ES Facebook group, yes there is one, that bought a 61k one owner from his neighbor. I like the Mercedes two tone the best. The hard edges look even better.

djgreenlava > cmill189 - sans Volvo 10/20/2017 at 15:40

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When Lexus was giving you most features as standard that you’d have to pay much more for from the German rivals. The only option I’m missing is the car phone.

arl > djgreenlava 10/20/2017 at 15:46

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She’s a beaut!

Mercedes Streeter > djgreenlava 10/20/2017 at 16:06

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That wouldn’t be hard to recreate that photo, they were barely moving! lol

I love the car! Happy to see another fun and successful eBay transaction. :3

djgreenlava > Mercedes Streeter 10/20/2017 at 16:28

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Those are breakneck speeds for a Lexus. Me driving the speed limit is venturing into parts unknown for AARP.

djgreenlava > arl 10/20/2017 at 16:41

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Thank you

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > djgreenlava 10/20/2017 at 17:27

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I had a ‘99 Camry, 4 cyl 5 speed. Terrible thing to drive because the throttle body was always herky-jerk with the manual trans. So I sold it and bought an ‘89, which I’ve since driven 100k miles and replaced almost everything. The engine compartment is a Denso show room.

HPoz - I like Honda Fits and I cannot lie > djgreenlava 10/20/2017 at 17:56

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I really genuinely love the look of that generation of ES/Camry

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > djgreenlava 10/20/2017 at 18:52

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Hello.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > E92M3 10/20/2017 at 20:26

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Two tone paint, level belt lines, full color interiors, rear windows you can see out of. All things that need to come back.

functionoverfashion > djgreenlava 10/20/2017 at 21:03

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Nice find! Way ahead of its time, or at least an excellent car that’s been cared for so it will be money well spent. Enjoy!!

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > djgreenlava 10/20/2017 at 21:30

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I owned one of these for a little while and sold it with something like 150k on it. Mine was a ‘93 5-speed in the two tone brown and tan. They hold up well - especially the interiors seem almost immune to wear and tear - but aren’t immune to some expensive issues. Keep an eye out for hydraulic leaks. The fan is hydraulic so if you get a leak in your power steering system you will also overheat. A new rack ran me about $2500 parts and labor back in ‘07. All the gauge needles on the dash will burn out. If you’re lucky they’ve already been retrofitted with a more robust LED setup. If not get ready to replace them soon and often if you don’t switch to LED’s. The needles aren’t that expensive but obviously the install is a pain. Overall it was a really good car and I miss it but I sold it due to intermittent overheating issues even after getting the hydraulics repaired (probably head gaskets) and needing something to move me across the country. Even with all those miles it still drove really well, had plenty of power, and was stupidly comfortable. Enjoy!

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > djgreenlava 11/21/2017 at 12:11

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THIS IS NOT MATT FARAH’S MILLION MILE LEXUS

djgreenlava > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 11/21/2017 at 12:15

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It has the same badge and leather. This Lexus may have had some fun on Sunday carving corners and bouncing off rev limiter. 

Takuro Spirit > djgreenlava 11/21/2017 at 17:43

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I remember when Jalopnik tried to do this and it failed miserably.

djgreenlava > Takuro Spirit 11/21/2017 at 17:55

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I don’t remember seeing any articles about this. At least I’ll be able to find out what not to do and do it better. I’ve taken care of some preventive maintenance already.

Takuro Spirit > djgreenlava 11/21/2017 at 21:40

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Ha! Found it!

https://jalopnik.com/heres-what-happened-when-i-rallycrossed-a-600-lexus-1668728493

djgreenlava > Takuro Spirit 11/22/2017 at 11:24

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It looks like I should add an oil pressure gauge then. When I rallycross, it will be in the snow so there will be less ruts to destroy the car. Also I will be mounting my Civic snow wheels and tires which I’m told will raise the car one and a half inches.