CleanStock

When I went with the Lexus, I was originally researching (for months) the audi a6/audi a7...my wife has a bmw 335i. I wanted the European prestige, but I started looking at long term reliability and maintenance cost and realized if nothing else, the Lexus line was the smarter move long term. It doesn't get the praise it should necessarily, but you see who's laughing in the end and it certainly won't be a euro owner.

ItzFilyO

Yes, when I like to stay low key like when talking to my boss, I told him (and other clueless people) the GS is just a rebadged Camry really, no big deal it's still a cheap Toyota. I can still get a promotion.

sick21

Actually people always refer to Audi as a rip off VW. BMW guys are notorious for making that claim. Same with Infiniti. It really just happens anywhere that's there's a budget brand and a lux brand under one. I would say that it's worse with Lexus and Audi though.

RNM GS3

For many years all Lexus cars were badged as Toyotas outside the US.

Even on US Lexus models the internal parts were branded Toyota......

Lexus has made significant steps to move away from Toyota but Toyota is still making all decisions.

onexcite

Who care what people or haters though?

I would still buy a Lexus if I feel like it and I could afford it even they badge with Toyota. The same for Hyundai/Kia if they give me the best for my money I would buy them.

kmm

Or her Bentley Continental was a VW Phaeton...

ItzFilyO

The Bugatti Veyron is a souped up VW Beetle really.

bclexus

Yep - I have a Bugatti converted to a lawn mower. Barely has enough power to cut the grass...

ItzFilyO

Hahahaaaaaa!

SNiiP3R

iTrader: (3)

kmm

Wow-just looked at the pics of hurricane Sandy damage to your car. My spouse has family on Long Island. They were fortunate and only suffered a power outage for a few days.

One of their friends had fish swimming in their basement-literally.

sydtoosic

i don't know what she drove but the sad part is that she was a toyota sales rep... working at a dealership. would love to hear what she tells her customers and or people who come in to buy cars...

SW17LS

Because it is a Toyota.

Best thing to do with people like that is just agree with them. Its a Toyota, it is. Whether thats a bad thing or not depends on you.

If the acceptance of the press and of other people is a significant motivating factor for you, then you should really buy a BMW or MB. The Lexus is a better car in this class I and a lot of other people think, but its not instant respect like the BMW or MB get when you roll up. The link to Toyota is part of that.

I have a good friend who is a huge BMW fan and chides me all the time about it...we had a conversation the other day about the 5 Series and I told her I drove this car and the 5 Series back to back to back and this is just a better car...in every way other than "being a BMW". She hasn't driven it, and for some reason never takes me up on invitations to drive it

Could have gotten a BMW easily...if anything I'm paying MORE for the Lexus because BMW's leases are so good and maintenance is included.

pacmanmmgs

It's a division of Toyota. That's the way I see it.
Before my last 3GS and my 4GS, I owned a 3 series and a C class. Both received instant respect from the nameplate alone but they paled in comparison to both my GS's. BMW was all sport and not much luxury and the C was all luxury and no sport. Trips to service departments were also too frequent. The GS is a perfect mix of the luxury and sport that I was looking for in the other to brands. There was a reason that I went from BMW to Mercedes, then to Lexus and stayed . Much smarter purchase in my opinion but the other two brands received more respect and I'm just trying to understand why.
I personally feel that BMW and Mercedes owners buy partly for prestige with a little show off factor and Lexus owners buy b/c they are getting a more rounded product for their money. Translation = A smarter buy. That's my take anyway.

NoDak

well if you want to stretch things out that far, the original LS was loosely based off the Cressida and the Avalon was the replacement for the Cressida.