It’s hard to believe I’m already getting the first maintenance performed on my 2013 ES350; it’s even harder to believe that this is my sixth Lexus. My first one, a red IS300, will always be a sentimental favorite. It had unique styling for Lexus, created for the performance-based driver, with racing cues on the interior.  There were so few of these cars on the road; I took pride in knowing that mine was one of only 3 red ones in the area.

I was so enamored with this car that I broke up with my then-boyfriend because he wanted to drive it, and I didn’t want to share. (There may have been some other reasons to break up, but they seem inconsequential and fuzzy today.) The only thing I did not like about this classic Lexus sedan was the dangerously hot metal gear shifter; it required an oven mitt in order to put the car into gear during the scorching Georgia summers. The engineers who thought it looked cool and sporty must have lived in Minnesota or something.

After the red IS, I enjoyed a series of great Lexus vehicles, including a red IS350, a silver IS250, a blue ES350 and a silver ES350. My current gold ES350 (or “Satin Cashmere”, as they say in Lexus-speak) is the new favorite, because the changes that Lexus made to the 2013 generation ES have taken it to the same stratospheric level that they reached with the RX350 in 2010. You drive a 2010 RX compared to a 2009 RX, and you will feel like you are in a vehicle that costs $10,000 more. Same with the 2013 v. the 2012 ES. The fit, finish, amenities, styling and ride of these upgraded models amazes me.  Here is a picture taken right before I bought my ES, in late December.

I told Kevin that I had to buy this car because as the Jim Hudson Lexus PR girl, I needed to represent the latest and greatest model, which is true. I consider it my duty to drive vehicles which inspire others to notice the product, much like when I worked for Clinique and they asked us to wear the new lipstick colors. Kevin gave me his blessing, as he is always kind to do, and by Christmas I was tooling around in the nicest car ever to grace my driveway.

In addition to the styling and the smooth driving performance, I fell in love with this car for the same reason I fall in love with most people: the little things. I will share a few of the countless small things I enjoy in this Lexus, which I must mention cost very close to the same price as my last 2 ES350’s.

1. Back-up camera: while not new to the ES, it is a first for me and I LOVE it. I am a notoriously bad parker, and the red lines show me when I’m heading in the right direction.

2. The appearance of the dash. The stiched trim and the contrast of beautiful materials is strikingly elegant.

3. The control knob which allows me to navigate vehicle functions-I use it to change settings, radio stations and more- it functions much like a mouse does on a computer, which is what cars essentially are these days.

4. The display feature which tells me everything from how many miles I have left on a tank of gas, to how much pressure is in each tire. There is a world of vehicular information at my fingertips, and sometimes I scroll through all of the options, just because I can.

5. Satellite radio. Again, not new for the ES or even for me, but the way the song info is displayed is something I really like. I am a consistent channel-changer, always seeking the next great song or joke, so the functionality of the audio screen with the control knob is a good fit for me. (Yes, I actually took a picture of the screen during a Barry Manilow song.) For the record, my most favorite XM channels are 7, 8, 17 and 32.

While I could continue to go on about favorite features of my Lexus, I think it is clear that although I now have 5,000 miles on my car, I truly am still in love. I will close with the feature that ultimately sold me on the car, and it will seem silly, but I think it adds the classiest touch of all. It is the ultimate in elegance, and makes the interior look entirely fresh and classic: the clock. This is the real reason I had to buy my sixth Lexus. (Don’t tell Kevin.)

With so much to love-big and small- I have to say I made a good decision with the 2013 ES. I think I will keep this Lexus for awhile.