View Poll Results: What should the next LS go after?
Voters: 158. You may not vote on this poll
Next Lexus LS (2018 model)
10-05-16, 01:46 PM
#676
Lexus Fanatic
Originally Posted by bitkahuna
i believe this to be factually incorrect in many ways. the toyota supra from what 1994 on, was not a bland universally acceptable car. even the celica wasn't. the entire hybrid line-up. the cressida, and on and on... toyota does take many chances. even their mainstream cash cows like camry has changed radically over the years, for better and worse as we all chime in about.
How has the Camry changed radically? Here in the last couple years I agree that the styling has become somewhat radical but thats a part of this shift I'm talking about. How has a Camry changed radically between say, 1995 and 2014?
a co-worker got an ES300 when it first came out. we had to go on a business trip and he drove. i was astonished. the bright white illuminated needles on black gauges were unlike anything i'd seen. the smoothness and quiet were unlike anything i'd experienced. the audio was great (certainly given its price point), etc. it was a game changer.
i believe the ml came out a year before the rx so the rx was in development long before the ml was launched. the original ml was a piece of junk made in alabama. the rx was LOVED and RAVED about and sold like crazy. i bought one and loved it. it was unlike anything i'd ever seen or driven. i believe it had the shifter setup in a way that provided some floor space between the front seats. the rear seats reclined. the quality was impeccable. the 220HP V6 at the time was considered very powerful. the exterior look was very unique. it was a game changer.
Like I've said, I've been around Lexus a long time, I don't think anybody would try and say that I'm not a big Lexus fan, clearly I am...but I don't see how anybody looks at Lexus as a company thats been on the cutting edge during its history, it hasn't been. Lexus cars have always been long on quality, and short on features and gizmos. If you compared a Lexus to a comparable BMW or Mercedes or even a Cadillac or Lincoln there were always more feature rich, and they still are.
Last edited by SW17LS; 10-05-16 at 03:39 PM.
10-05-16, 03:55 PM
#677
I don't think any automaker is though. All of them have held the spotlight for a bit or shared it at times, but no one has held it for a century, or even half a century. Maybe a decade here and there of overall great products but mostly just for a few years until the envelope is pushed by someone else. It's like a teeter totter. If there's no one to play then you'll just be stagnant.
10-05-16, 04:07 PM
#678
Lead Lap
i don't know why ANY prospective buyer would care at ALL what 'platform' the new LS or ANY vehicle is on. you test drive it, you like it, you find a combo of price/features you can live with and you buy or lease it. 'platform' is also an incredibly vague term too because several models typically share various same aspects for their own 'platforms'.
10-05-16, 06:37 PM
#679
Lexus Test Driver
You also claim to be a Lexus fan and know its history but then you dismiss the importance of the 2GS like it was nothing. lol
Here are only SOME of the great achievements the 2GS garnered when it came out: (This doesn't include numerous Magazine covers, Movies, Rap videos etc it made appearances in. It helped put Lexus on the map with Enthusiasts and a younger generation that never even considered Lexus!)
- GS was the world's fastest production sedan when it came out.
- It was on Car and Driver's magazine's 10Best List from 1998 through 2000. http://www.caranddriver.com/features...300-400-page-9
- It was Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year for 1998. http://www.motortrend.com/news/1998-...r-of-the-year/
Last edited by RNM GS3; 10-05-16 at 06:41 PM.
10-05-16, 07:15 PM
#680
Lexus Fanatic
Is it the only car that's ever been on the 10 best list? What was Motor Trends Import car of the year in 1999? How many years has the BMW 5 series or 3 series spent on the 10 best list? How many cars became the worlds fastest production sedan afterwards? How many were before?
look I'm not saying it wasn't a great car, but what is the lasting impact the 2GS has had on the industry? How has it shaped the future of the brand? What can you point to and say this exists within Lexus because of the 2GS?
look I'm not saying it wasn't a great car, but what is the lasting impact the 2GS has had on the industry? How has it shaped the future of the brand? What can you point to and say this exists within Lexus because of the 2GS?
10-05-16, 07:22 PM
#681
Lexus Test Driver
What are you saying right now???
Back then - this was HUGE for Lexus, this was only their 7th/8th year as a Brand. The GS made a very big impact in the Luxury Sport Sedan segment which was owned by the Germans. There was no such thing as a Japanese sport sedan, it paved the way for the Lexus IS, Infiniti G35 / M35, Genesis etc. It was a pioneer that Japanese can make an exciting sport sedan that was BETTER in many way than Eclass and 5series. Even the bias magazine writers had to admit it.
MT's Import Car of the Year and C&Ds 10Best List - what Lexus car has won any of those since???
Back then - this was HUGE for Lexus, this was only their 7th/8th year as a Brand. The GS made a very big impact in the Luxury Sport Sedan segment which was owned by the Germans. There was no such thing as a Japanese sport sedan, it paved the way for the Lexus IS, Infiniti G35 / M35, Genesis etc. It was a pioneer that Japanese can make an exciting sport sedan that was BETTER in many way than Eclass and 5series. Even the bias magazine writers had to admit it.
MT's Import Car of the Year and C&Ds 10Best List - what Lexus car has won any of those since???
Last edited by RNM GS3; 10-05-16 at 07:27 PM.
10-05-16, 07:27 PM
#682
Lead Lap
For whatever reason you seem to think that your OPINION outweighs FACTS.
You also claim to be a Lexus fan and know its history but then you dismiss the importance of the 2GS like it was nothing. lol
Here are only SOME of the great achievements the 2GS garnered when it came out: (This doesn't include numerous Magazine covers, Movies, Rap videos etc it made appearances in. It helped put Lexus on the map with Enthusiasts and a younger generation that never even considered Lexus!)
- GS was the world's fastest production sedan when it came out.
- It was on Car and Driver's magazine's 10Best List from 1998 through 2000. http://www.caranddriver.com/features...300-400-page-9
- It was Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year for 1998. http://www.motortrend.com/news/1998-...r-of-the-year/
You also claim to be a Lexus fan and know its history but then you dismiss the importance of the 2GS like it was nothing. lol
Here are only SOME of the great achievements the 2GS garnered when it came out: (This doesn't include numerous Magazine covers, Movies, Rap videos etc it made appearances in. It helped put Lexus on the map with Enthusiasts and a younger generation that never even considered Lexus!)
- GS was the world's fastest production sedan when it came out.
- It was on Car and Driver's magazine's 10Best List from 1998 through 2000. http://www.caranddriver.com/features...300-400-page-9
- It was Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year for 1998. http://www.motortrend.com/news/1998-...r-of-the-year/
BMW is a top 10er
BMW 3 series 22 years running
5 series 6 years running
Lexus does have good years when the rest of the map designs something out of brand persona, but to what degree it leaves a lasting impression on the industry is questionable and highly opinion based.
Ex: This generation of 5 series and GS .The 5 came out docile out of the gate. The GS had the special sauce. However sales were dismal of the GS, and still are, the 5 series still sold like hotcakes, and gathered positive reviews after a Mid cycle refresh. While the GS absolutely began the internal Lexus change to bringing sport a little bit higher then the comfy ride of lexus of old, it still hasnt done much industry wise beside.
10-05-16, 07:33 PM
#683
Lexus Fanatic
So what within the segment that is lasting can you direct to the 2GS? I don't discount that it was a great car at the time, well loved and brought attention to the brand, but has it left a permanent mark on Lexus As a brand?
10-05-16, 07:41 PM
#684
Lexus Test Driver
Lexus now had CREDIBILITY that it can deliver a Sport Sedan to rival Germans and it allowed them to expand to the entry level sport sedan segment much quicker than they even planned.
The current F line could be tracked back to the original GS400 that established Lexus Performance capabilities and also Ltuned brand which was a predecessor to Fsport. (You really need to learn your Lexus history!)
It also paved the way for Infiniti to develop the G35 coupe/sedan and M35/45 which were very popular.
Without the GS breaking that barrier - I highly doubt that Infiniti would ever make those cars.
Last edited by RNM GS3; 10-05-16 at 07:47 PM.
10-05-16, 09:17 PM
#686
Lexus Fanatic
I wonder what the chances of a LS350 coming to North America are.
Last edited by Toys4RJill; 10-05-16 at 09:20 PM.
10-08-16, 11:29 AM
#688
Lead Lap
In regards to a 2 prong approach to the 5th LS. The only way this would make sense is to have 2 motors that click in at 2 price points maybe $10k apart. However with everyone in Germany pushing their entry point close to 100k or above, the only way Lexus can be good is to only have a limited price increase into their 1st prong model, and the F version of the model with an insane powertrain 2nd prong.
10-23-16, 10:21 AM
#690
Lexus Test Driver
There was a study that was just released about a slight shift towards comfort and large saloons.
Actually, here it is: http://www.autonews.com/article/2016...car-sales-fall
The same aging group that pushed the expensive sports car market (because frankly this was the demographics who could afford them) are getting older (bye bye midlife crisis) and now starting to crave the smooth, comfortable saloons like the LS. Of course, this hasn't manifested itself I guess, but the author seems to think there's a new trend.
While I'm a middling Gen Xer, I chose this car because it is comfortable, smooth and ultra quiet. That said, I'm really forward to the next iteration.
As quickly as these large sedans fell out of favor, they could definitely come back. The automotive industry is very cyclical and frankly, if you want to stand out of the crowd these days, in a sea of SUVs, there's nothing better than a large saloon like the LS.
Actually, here it is: http://www.autonews.com/article/2016...car-sales-fall
The same aging group that pushed the expensive sports car market (because frankly this was the demographics who could afford them) are getting older (bye bye midlife crisis) and now starting to crave the smooth, comfortable saloons like the LS. Of course, this hasn't manifested itself I guess, but the author seems to think there's a new trend.
While I'm a middling Gen Xer, I chose this car because it is comfortable, smooth and ultra quiet. That said, I'm really forward to the next iteration.
As quickly as these large sedans fell out of favor, they could definitely come back. The automotive industry is very cyclical and frankly, if you want to stand out of the crowd these days, in a sea of SUVs, there's nothing better than a large saloon like the LS.