Anyone in the US get an ALL leather steering wheel?
#1
Driver
Thread Starter
Anyone in the US get an ALL leather steering wheel?
Hello,
I'd much much rather have an all leather steering wheel instead of the wood option. Anyone manage to get an ES with the all leather steering wheel? Some people say they have on other forums but I've never seen an ES at a dealership with an all leather steering wheel.
I'd much much rather have an all leather steering wheel instead of the wood option. Anyone manage to get an ES with the all leather steering wheel? Some people say they have on other forums but I've never seen an ES at a dealership with an all leather steering wheel.
#2
Lead Lap
Even though the wood steering wheel is, technically, an option, the production runs for the ES include vehicles with predetermined packages and combinations of other options, and the vehicles that are typically sent to dealerships are vehicles with those predetermined equipment combinations. I just went onto the Lexus site, and it isn't even possible there to configure an ES via the site without the wood steering wheel option.
Some of the available option combinations can vary, I think, from one region to another, but my guess would be that the only likely way to get an ES without the wood steering wheel would be to do a special order. With a special order, though, not only would you be waiting some time for your vehicle, but it is unlikely that you would be able to get nearly the same level of discount as you would be getting if you bought a vehicle out of a dealer's inventory.
Some of the available option combinations can vary, I think, from one region to another, but my guess would be that the only likely way to get an ES without the wood steering wheel would be to do a special order. With a special order, though, not only would you be waiting some time for your vehicle, but it is unlikely that you would be able to get nearly the same level of discount as you would be getting if you bought a vehicle out of a dealer's inventory.
#3
Driver
Thread Starter
Yeah the lack of bargaining would be a big deal for me. I'm sure it would cost a fortune to get it replaced. I see Lexus is planning on offering super deluxe models soon and was hoping that would come with a leather steering wheel but the super deluxe models are going to be white - WTF. Every time I see a white car I think rental because rental places buy the cars that don't sell -namely the white ones.
#4
Lead Lap
See included equipment and other details here.
http://pressroom.lexus.com/releases/...+delegance.htm
Last edited by lesz; 08-30-14 at 04:03 PM.
#5
Lexus Test Driver
Opposite situation in China, the lowest spec ES comes with a grayscale display, all black leather steering wheel and piano black trim. Only the midrange and top spec models get bamboo trim for the ES300h or dark maple for the 250 or 350.
Mine's the poverty-spec ES300h with dark gray Nuluxe and dark gray dash. It's a bit like the Batcave in there but the dark trim looks classy, and I love the grippy wheel.
Maybe Lexus spec things differently for different markets affording to price, age group, perceived image etc. To me, wood trim doesn't go well with the younger buyers that Lexus is supposedly targeting with the ES.
Mine's the poverty-spec ES300h with dark gray Nuluxe and dark gray dash. It's a bit like the Batcave in there but the dark trim looks classy, and I love the grippy wheel.
Maybe Lexus spec things differently for different markets affording to price, age group, perceived image etc. To me, wood trim doesn't go well with the younger buyers that Lexus is supposedly targeting with the ES.
#6
Driver
Thread Starter
Agreed - maybe I think the wheel would be more at home on a 1950 chris craft motor boat. Maybe I'm just too logical and want something that can be warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer and more comfortable to grip year round. I'd rather the interior of my car was all one color instead of a hodgepodge, trying to look luxurious.
Last edited by boe; 08-30-14 at 08:18 PM.
#7
Lexus Fanatic
Could have bought a different car
All kidding aside, buying a car and then complaining that its a "hodgepodge" and "trying to look luxurious" doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Lots of cars you could have bought that would have had a monotone interior and less or no wood trim.
Lexus isn't trying to target younger buyers at all with the ES. The ES is the model left in the lineup for the older set, average age is about 65. Think of the ES as a Japanese Buick, thats really what it is.
The IS is meant to target younger buyers in that price segment. Come to think of it...you could have bought an IS. GS is also more youthful, sportier. 2 out of three trims on the GS have an all leather wheel too.
All kidding aside, buying a car and then complaining that its a "hodgepodge" and "trying to look luxurious" doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Lots of cars you could have bought that would have had a monotone interior and less or no wood trim.
Originally Posted by chromedome
To me, wood trim doesn't go well with the younger buyers that Lexus is supposedly targeting with the ES.
The IS is meant to target younger buyers in that price segment. Come to think of it...you could have bought an IS. GS is also more youthful, sportier. 2 out of three trims on the GS have an all leather wheel too.
Last edited by SW17LS; 08-30-14 at 10:39 PM.
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#8
Lexus Test Driver
The ES is the cheapest Lexus model (barring the CT200h). Younger buyers definitely appreciate that
I think Lexus themselves mentioned targeting younger buyers with the new ES in their press materials. The harder suspension in the new model compared to the floaty old model and the sportier handling bias for the ES300h all point towards this. I got the ES because it was the cheapest Lexus with the largest passenger space and the most efficient hybrid powertrain. It's a unique combo that no other manufacturer offers, in the Chinese market at least. The IS costs more for less and the GS costs even more for mostly similar features.
I think Lexus themselves mentioned targeting younger buyers with the new ES in their press materials. The harder suspension in the new model compared to the floaty old model and the sportier handling bias for the ES300h all point towards this. I got the ES because it was the cheapest Lexus with the largest passenger space and the most efficient hybrid powertrain. It's a unique combo that no other manufacturer offers, in the Chinese market at least. The IS costs more for less and the GS costs even more for mostly similar features.
#9
Since there are about 7500 Lexus dealers in the US, that means most dealers will not get even one of them.
#10
Lead Lap
Even with about 7 of the Crafted Line ES vehicles per dealership, I'm still confident in the guess that there will be people willing to pay a premium price to get one.
#11
Lead Lap
Actually, a comparably equipped IS is likely to price out a bit lower than a similarly equipped ES. An IS250 RWD will be a bit less than a fairly basic ES, and even an IS350 AWD will be quite a bit less than a generously equipped ES. On the other hand, a loaded IS350 AWD will price out at a fair amount more than a basic ES.
#12
Lexus Fanatic
The ES is the cheapest Lexus model (barring the CT200h). Younger buyers definitely appreciate that
I think Lexus themselves mentioned targeting younger buyers with the new ES in their press materia The harder suspension in the new model compared to the floaty old model and the sportier handling bias for the ES300h all point towards this. I got the ES because it was the cheapest Lexus with the largest passenger space and the most efficient hybrid powertrain. It's a unique combo that no other manufacturer offers, in the Chinese market at least. The IS costs more for less and the GS costs even more for mostly similar features.
I think Lexus themselves mentioned targeting younger buyers with the new ES in their press materia The harder suspension in the new model compared to the floaty old model and the sportier handling bias for the ES300h all point towards this. I got the ES because it was the cheapest Lexus with the largest passenger space and the most efficient hybrid powertrain. It's a unique combo that no other manufacturer offers, in the Chinese market at least. The IS costs more for less and the GS costs even more for mostly similar features.
As for the IS and the GS, you're paying for the more sophisticated platform, RWD layout. The difference is substantial. Having a harder suspension doesn't make a car sporty, it just makes it ride rougher.
That doesn't make the ES a bad car at all, it just is what it is. If you think it's sporty or that it's at all comparable to an IS or a GS in terms of handling ability, etc you need to experience some other cars to compare.
#13
Lexus Champion
Sorry, but the ES doesn't have a sporty bone in its body. I had two, extensively drove the new one. It's a great car, but it's not a sporty or youthful car in any way shape or form. If it weren't for the interior of the new ones I'd have a third.
As for the IS and the GS, you're paying for the more sophisticated platform, RWD layout. The difference is substantial. Having a harder suspension doesn't make a car sporty, it just makes it ride rougher.
That doesn't make the ES a bad car at all, it just is what it is. If you think it's sporty or that it's at all comparable to an IS or a GS in terms of handling ability, etc you need to experience some other cars to compare.
As for the IS and the GS, you're paying for the more sophisticated platform, RWD layout. The difference is substantial. Having a harder suspension doesn't make a car sporty, it just makes it ride rougher.
That doesn't make the ES a bad car at all, it just is what it is. If you think it's sporty or that it's at all comparable to an IS or a GS in terms of handling ability, etc you need to experience some other cars to compare.
#14
Driver
Thread Starter
And yet I kind of want both - ES to get the hybrid, IS to get a leather steering wheel and something that could be more fun to drive. If only I could have both in the US.
#15
Lexus Champion
Have you considered a turbo diesel? There are more and more of them available and they offer very good fuel economy and performance equal to, or better than a hybrid.