Toyota Camry slapped 👋🏼 With a big “L” on its Grill
R18honda
Those 2nd n 3rd gen will always have a special spot with me. That 2nd gen front end with the projector’s tho 🔥
HiTork
I remember reading an article in one of the big American automotive magazines where the writer speculated the presence of the ES in the Lexus line-up is something that is holding back the brand, right from day one. I believe the ES came to be because Toyota didn’t want to sell the LS alone when Lexus launched. Unfortunately, many consumers saw that the ES was a Camry in disguise and Lexus got a reputation for being rebadged Toyotas at the beginning, even though the original LS was a far more bespoke design that didn’t share as much in common with mainstream Toyotas.
nik4idk
My dad had one but did a bad job at taking care of it. Shame cause it was really nice
ChasedWarrior
OK the first ES was a rebadged Camry. I’ll give you that. But after that the ES was based on the Camry but it became it’s own car
RunnerLuke357
I actually liked the 5 different GM rebadge tiers. The interiors were different enough from their counterparts in most of them to justify the differentiations. (the GMT platforms maybe not but cars for sure)
Seeking-Direction
Taurus/Sable: 1st generation: I like both. 2nd generation: I MUCH prefer the Sable (SHO notwithstanding). 3rd generation: I slightly prefer the Taurus. 4th generation: I prefer the Sable. 5th generation (rebadged 500/Montego): I don’t really have an opinion.
Seeking-Direction
Ford Explorer and its rebadges: 1st generation – I prefer the Navajo to the Explorer. 2nd generation – no strong opinion. 3rd generation – no strong opinion. 4th generation – I prefer the Explorer to the Mountaineer. 5th generation – Flex>Explorer>MKT (I know, not quite rebadges, but very much platform-mates). 6th generation – Aviator>Explorer.
Time-Bite-6839
I wonder how many ES’ *aren’t* on the road anymore.
Strength-Certain
Say anything about rebadged vehicles. Okay.
Almost any Mercury was better looking than its Ford counterpart. The same goes for most GMCs being better looking than their Chevy cousins.
Any_Honeydew9812
frameless windows on the 2nd gen es300 were such a vibe.. and the headlights.. also the badges on the tail lights instead of the trunk lid were a nice touch. I loved mine! It was my second car just as i was graduating high school.
Typical-Machine154
Telling someone what they have is just a better camry is like telling me fillet minion is just a better steak.
Like, okay…your point?
Half of Caddilacs lineup is built on Chevy platforms, Lexuses are just Toyotas, Lincolns are fords, a Porsche SUV or even a Lambo SUV is actually just a fancy Volkswagen, Alpha Romeo SUVs are fiat platforms.
Like sure is a Mercedes built on its own platform, yes. But you give me the choice of a C class or a top trim ES and I’m taking the ES. I don’t care what that C class has in it, the ES takes normally priced and available parts.
I’d rather have something with parts commonality with a normal car. I don’t want to hand over my wallet just because it’s a nice car. I want to own a nice car and use my money to buy other nice things.
Which is why I bought an Avalon. (They didn’t have any ES in stock that had the nice sound system)
McFancyPantsuguu
I kinda like how GM decided to take a SAAB 9-3, make it more boxy, ruin any resemblence of handling, and call it a Cadillac BLS.
And how the first two generations Volkswagen LT/Crafter and Mercedes Sprinter were sold as the Dodge Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter in the US, because Mercedes-Benz didn’t want the Americans to think less of MBs “luxury image”. 😂 Third (current) gen. was still available as a Freightliner Sprinter until 2021.
Dreamcasted60
Hmm. Why did Geo make the rebadging worse? Well in some cases. I love my Storm but compared to it in earlier model Isuzu impulse that I’ve seen and compared (not going to the ’80s waffle ones) GM really stripped out all the good electronics that were in there and made them cheap and thin as hell. With every new thing I replace I got to find new gauge wire to put in. I’m sure it’ll be a brand new car by the time I get through it xD
I think the Spectrum was okay as we owned the one model year that it was under Geo (I really love that car I don’t know why we sold it..) but definitely was a cheap car c:
Can’t comment on the Metro or Tracker as I didn’t have either of those.
I love the Mercury Tracer so much and still kick myself for missing out on a station wagon version that they had for sale. I was on my way and everything in the guy sold it to a family member -_-
The ’90s Capri is so unusual and yet I love it so much. Definitely an interesting case of importing from Australia (?)
![[Ford GT] in southern Indiana](https://www.evshift.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/k58v1k7sy11d1-770x515.jpeg "[Ford GT] in southern Indiana")
14 Comments
Toyota Camry slapped 👋🏼
With a big “L” on its Grill
Those 2nd n 3rd gen will always have a special spot with me. That 2nd gen front end with the projector’s tho 🔥
I remember reading an article in one of the big American automotive magazines where the writer speculated the presence of the ES in the Lexus line-up is something that is holding back the brand, right from day one. I believe the ES came to be because Toyota didn’t want to sell the LS alone when Lexus launched. Unfortunately, many consumers saw that the ES was a Camry in disguise and Lexus got a reputation for being rebadged Toyotas at the beginning, even though the original LS was a far more bespoke design that didn’t share as much in common with mainstream Toyotas.
My dad had one but did a bad job at taking care of it. Shame cause it was really nice
OK the first ES was a rebadged Camry. I’ll give you that. But after that the ES was based on the Camry but it became it’s own car
I actually liked the 5 different GM rebadge tiers. The interiors were different enough from their counterparts in most of them to justify the differentiations. (the GMT platforms maybe not but cars for sure)
Taurus/Sable: 1st generation: I like both. 2nd generation: I MUCH prefer the Sable (SHO notwithstanding). 3rd generation: I slightly prefer the Taurus. 4th generation: I prefer the Sable. 5th generation (rebadged 500/Montego): I don’t really have an opinion.
Ford Explorer and its rebadges: 1st generation – I prefer the Navajo to the Explorer. 2nd generation – no strong opinion. 3rd generation – no strong opinion. 4th generation – I prefer the Explorer to the Mountaineer. 5th generation – Flex>Explorer>MKT (I know, not quite rebadges, but very much platform-mates). 6th generation – Aviator>Explorer.
I wonder how many ES’ *aren’t* on the road anymore.
Say anything about rebadged vehicles. Okay.
Almost any Mercury was better looking than its Ford counterpart. The same goes for most GMCs being better looking than their Chevy cousins.
frameless windows on the 2nd gen es300 were such a vibe.. and the headlights.. also the badges on the tail lights instead of the trunk lid were a nice touch. I loved mine! It was my second car just as i was graduating high school.
Telling someone what they have is just a better camry is like telling me fillet minion is just a better steak.
Like, okay…your point?
Half of Caddilacs lineup is built on Chevy platforms, Lexuses are just Toyotas, Lincolns are fords, a Porsche SUV or even a Lambo SUV is actually just a fancy Volkswagen, Alpha Romeo SUVs are fiat platforms.
Like sure is a Mercedes built on its own platform, yes. But you give me the choice of a C class or a top trim ES and I’m taking the ES. I don’t care what that C class has in it, the ES takes normally priced and available parts.
I’d rather have something with parts commonality with a normal car. I don’t want to hand over my wallet just because it’s a nice car. I want to own a nice car and use my money to buy other nice things.
Which is why I bought an Avalon. (They didn’t have any ES in stock that had the nice sound system)
I kinda like how GM decided to take a SAAB 9-3, make it more boxy, ruin any resemblence of handling, and call it a Cadillac BLS.
And how the first two generations Volkswagen LT/Crafter and Mercedes Sprinter were sold as the Dodge Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter in the US, because Mercedes-Benz didn’t want the Americans to think less of MBs “luxury image”. 😂
Third (current) gen. was still available as a Freightliner Sprinter until 2021.
Hmm. Why did Geo make the rebadging worse? Well in some cases. I love my Storm but compared to it in earlier model Isuzu impulse that I’ve seen and compared (not going to the ’80s waffle ones) GM really stripped out all the good electronics that were in there and made them cheap and thin as hell. With every new thing I replace I got to find new gauge wire to put in. I’m sure it’ll be a brand new car by the time I get through it xD
I think the Spectrum was okay as we owned the one model year that it was under Geo (I really love that car I don’t know why we sold it..) but definitely was a cheap car c:
Can’t comment on the Metro or Tracker as I didn’t have either of those.
I love the Mercury Tracer so much and still kick myself for missing out on a station wagon version that they had for sale. I was on my way and everything in the guy sold it to a family member -_-
The ’90s Capri is so unusual and yet I love it so much. Definitely an interesting case of importing from Australia (?)