And the speed, if the collision is less than 35mph it would do more harm than saving life with the air bag deploying

 

No doubt that MB are "safe" cars when involved in any accidents. Heck, remember the ML where an 18 wheeler toppled over and the driver survived It's their electrical systems and other annoyances that suck.

Those pictures were obviously not a head-on collision, hence the front airbag didn't deploy. I don't think it would be safe if it did deploy when the car rolls over-is it? Airbags pop at 200mph while head and body are thrown around like a rag doll . Maybe an expert on airbag can fill in.

 

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reposted from the edmunds forums...


LEXUS/TOYOTA DESIGN/BUILD/QUALITY/COST

Toyota designs cars in an entirely different way from other manufacturers. They design it from the bottom up that is mostly from already proven components from other models. New technology is applied but always with backup components throughout most of the design process. Therefore, regardless of costs, new car models will be consistently reliable. Other manufacturers primarily design a car from the top down with comprehensive specifications, which drive too much new design throughout all the components. The result is poor long-term reliability, but bunches of new technologies spread throughout the car. The bottom line is that Toyota knows how to blend new technologies with proven components, regardless of costs.

Toyota and Honda operate 6 sigma production target facilities and give workers the ability to shut down the line if components don't fit or meet spec. They design their cars to be assembled only one way - the right way. Suppliers are driven mercilessly. They carefully track when, where and from which supplier faulty parts come from, so Toyota can return them. If the supplier defect level is too high, they shut them off. The amazing thing about the process is that the supply chain grows and learns to be very responsive and very competitive. It's even working in the U.S. where turning out crap and sending it to Detroit was a way of life for suppliers long before Toyota and Honda showed up. Toyota and Honda have the 'platform' approach to design, where a basic engine/transmission and drive train / chassis is targeted at a wide variety of market segments. Small changes in tuning, transmission ratios and engine computer horsepower / torque curves are mated to chassis/suspension to meet performance needs. Toyota and Honda amortize the significant R&D over a very large volume to achieve cost effectiveness. Look at the FWD 3.0 V6 ULEV engine/drive train platform that goes into the Camry, Solara, Sienna, Avalon, RX300, ES300, and Highlander. I think the annual volume for these vehicles is somewhere north of 750,000 in the US alone.

Toyota will always able to make cars cheaper because they have suppliers bend backwards for them. I am an electrical engineer, every time we ask for a price quote, distributors ask for annual quantity. Why? Because the more you buy, the cheaper the per unit the cost. They drool every time you say 250K instead of 100K per year. Again, the reason why Toyota can get parts cheaper is that they share components with Lexus. How can BMW and MB do that? (OK MB maybe can do that with its Chrysler division now). Also your cost for tooling is more when, for example, BMW makes a mold for an engine that they make about 50K engines as compared to Lexus+Toyota that churn maybe 100K or more.

http://www.edmunds.com/

 

anyone who thinks Lexus is still benchmarking MB is seriously retarded.

Lexus has no competitor to the AMG's
Lexus cars are quieter and smoother.
Lexus interiors look nothing like MB's.
ML/NAV is superior. We'll wait and see if MB has caught up.

so what exactly is Lexus benchmarking from MB?

5valve/cyl designs?
active air suspension?

I can think of very little MB has that Lexus needs to bother imitating.

 

This is true. However, Lexus and Infiniti is still chasing the BMW 3 series in the performance category. Every time an auto publication writes a report about the IS or the G, they always compare them with the 3 series and they always fall short. I love my new IS but I think I may be going through a bout of buyers remorse.

 

why?

do you listen to the critics when you buy CD's, or go to the movies. I'd hope not.

Leave the 3er for sorority girls, and other poseurs.

 

If performance is what u are after than I can see where buyer's remorse might set it. However, every time u start to feel that way, just think about how many more trips to the service dept those BMW owners are gonna have to take.

I realize that looks are subject but I feel that the current IS is much better looking than the current 3 series (not necessarily the last generation, mind u) on the outside and espeically on the inside.

I had some postpartum blues after my last vehicle purchase but then I realized it was too late & no point in worrying over it. Just learn from your mistakes on the next ride ....

 

Has anyone noticed the heavy marketing/rotation of "Dr. Z" commercials in the latest Daimler Chrysler ads, both print and media in the last few days?

 

I don't think Lexus was ever know for their performance, I'll always consider Lexus as the luxury bang for the buck.

 

First, DCX needs to give Bosch/Conti/Siemens/Eaton/Lear/Magna and it's own Mopar a wake up call. Then they need to work on quality. I like how MBZ designs cars, but even the older ones can be a service nightmare.

even a freakin a Mexican-made VW Jetta has less problems than a S-Class built in Sindelfingen!

 

Here's more Dr Z marketing: http://www.askdrz.com/

 

Huge, GIANT fallacy in this arguemnt. Toyota WORKS WITH suppliers and is the only company to do so. If the supplier cannot make the part they want or need at the price, instead of telling suppliers they BETTER meet the price or go to ANOTHER supplier, Toyota WORKS WITH suppliers to ensure they meet price and keep the quality.

Everyone else squeezes the suppliers nuts like an orange for orange juice, thus they do meet price but the part is sub-par.

Also, Benz sells over 1,000,000 cars a year to Lexus maybe 400,000 worldwide and Benzs share parts as well.

Its not the fact Lexus is cheaper and you get a cheaper or less well built/features product (like its Japanese compeitton), Lexus is cheaper b/c they know how to control costs WITHOUT it glaring at consumers like with cheap inteirors or differet driving platforms.

There is truth that is does work well since they share parts with Toyota, no doubt about it. However, your not getting a sub-par product, your amazingly getting a equal if not class leading one.

 

DC beat Lexus in quality? Pssshhh that's like me selling buying an MB...never gonna happen.

 

I don't need critics to tell me that the 3 series performs better that the IS. I knew that from the start. When I bought the IS, I figured it would be somewhat close to performing as well as the 3. I was wrong.

 

That's exactly what I have to do at this point.