rudyH

It's OK to buy other cars. We all want change at times. I don't find anything more compelling than Lexus. I buy the steak, not the sizzle. I think that's what I mean. I don't see myself being anything else.

sojah

iTrader: (1)

sorry about ur dad.

but the other point i'm not sure we are talking about the same thing. i thought you were saying that anyone who had the means would clearly buy the newest model. if that is your point i'm disagreeing with it and saying that i had the money and chose to get an older model on more than one occasion. newer to me is not always better. with some stuff yes, like boxer shorts and gym bags, but with cars i am not in agreement that newer is better.

if someone handed me an LS460 with no strings attached for free, yes i would take it, but i would definitely not get rid of any of my current 3 cars for it. i would add it to the collection.

sojah

iTrader: (1)

i completely agree with you. my first lex was the 2nd gen GS400 and then i moved into an 05 LS430 UL. these were the best lexus cars every made in my opinion.

before moving to japan in 2012 i had an LS430 and could not force myself to get an LS460 (still can't). when i moved to japan i found the crown line and immediately bought an 05 Toyota Crown Athlete (if you don't know what they look like i encourage you to google them), which had almost the exact same interior as my prev LS430 but updated/refreshed since it was the newer gen (push button start, tech package etc). i recently sold it and still couldn't find anything in the lex lineup that i loved. so i bought an 08 toyota crown majesta.

in my opinion the toyota crown with the Athlete being like the GS line and the Majesta being like the LS line are so much better successors to the stateside 2GS (aristo) and LS430 (celsior) than what lexus did. i just wish we had had those options stateside.

lexus just changed course for me in 2006 and i think we are growing apart. i still love lexus as an idea and especially the older generation models (and toyota for sure), but i feel like they have entered some weird denial stage like a 40 something year old who goes out and get a new spiky posh hairstyle, a tattoo, and some skinny jeans.

i know a lof of folks won't agree, but they might be the ones wearing skinny jeans right this moment...

sojah

iTrader: (1)

so this just in, got my wife next to me checking lexus forums in japanese in a similar section to this one and she is saying that there are many many complaints on the same thing. people saying that they are not happy with the new sharp extreme looking re-designs and that they miss the old lex.

i wish that would be a sign of softening changes in the future but with the Crown and Mark X variants here in Japan at least people have other options here.

Overall Japanese people are complaining on the interior and exterior getting cheaper in feel and style than what it used to be and are saying that presently lexus is lacking any sort of clear direction.

the toyota Mark X line is better looking to me than the current lex IS. don't get me wrong there are a ton of different models of cars here in japan and some come and go after only 1-3 years of being in production, cuz they are really ugly and no one buys them, but some are better than what is offered in Merikah and i hope they could bring the Mark & Crown lines for sure.

chromedome

I see a lot of Crowns and Mark Xs from the current and previous generations here and compared to current Lexus models, they're much more conservatively styled. Lexus is a global brand though. To compete with German and American cars, they need distinctive designs that would appeal to their global target market - affluent 30-50 year olds I think

Maintaining the status quo isn't an option. Imagine if BMW hadn't used Chris Bangle's designs or if Audi never tried the Nuvolari grille... They would be accused of rehashing the same car over and over, like what Jag did with the first all-aluminum XJ.

mmarshall

If "cheaper", in this instance, means thinner, lighter-feeling materials, I agree.

blacksc400

iTrader: (4)

But even current Crown line design is getting out of hand :/

dseag2

My pop's been gone for a while now too, but he kept his '91 LS400 for 8 years and traded up for a '99 LS400 right before he passed away. He had been retired for 10 years, but he was a car guy 'til the end! I inherited the gene.

SW17LS

Thank you, I appreciate that.

No, I even said that having the means and being motivated to spend the money are different things...it always comes down to money though.

I could go out and buy an S550 tomorrow...but I choose to drive my GS instead. I choose that because of money.

So was mine! He loved cars.

G Star

iTrader: (2)

Its the same on every internet car fan forum, car fanatics will always be polarized and hold strong opinions either way.

The market speaks louder than the forums because online fan community is a massively niche minority.

For every positive fan commentary, there will be a negative fan critique. Every time a new design comes much of the online community will criticize it, then be neutral, then eventually when they see it in person or see others driving it, they'll accept it.

Sales is the most important thing, if the market is vocal (through sales) about hating the new RX, you can bet Lexus will listen.

rxonmymind

Smooth yes, quiet no. I just spent 12 taking apart the cargo area putting down sound deadener & CCF(closed cell foam) attempting to quiet it. It would have been a LOT easier to have done it right at the factory first. All there is underneath is sheet metal, no padding and a sorry excuse of outdoor penny(or less actually) thin carpet. Next week I'll address the floor from the back seat to the firewall.

sojah

iTrader: (1)

i just feel that overall lexus has lost their class and elegance. the class that lexus used to have it what drew me to them, and since it is not there anymore i feel that i will most likely start looking elsewhere such as MB for my next big bodied sedan, when i am back stateside and have a garage to park it in.

just a shame that the grandson had to ruin such a great thing...

tex2670

"Many many complaints"--what is that? Posts on internet forums do not accurately represent the opinions of the mass car buying market. Even though I don't love the current spindel grille design across the board, I have to have faith that a company like Lexus has researched this design element, and they know what they are doing. That doesn't mean that they are 100% correct in their market research--Acura shows that design blunders can be made. Internet posters are a small percentage of the car buying population, and likely the most opinionated.

I think Lexus is going to do just fine with the current design, and I'm confident they know what they are doing.

SW17LS

You don't own any of the cars I'm talking about, and neither of your cars is within 5 years old your experience is not applicable.

Again...sales are up...not down. Sorry you don't like them anymore but plenty of people do. Go buy something else.

tex2670

You should purchase whatever car is best for you, and if Lexus doesn't do it for you anymore, then you should find a car that works for you. However, claiming that Lexus quality is down because you "feel" it that is the case is not an objective standard that anyone can measure.