Toyota CENTURY
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,323
Likes: 0
From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
I agree it would be a good candidate for a new flagship... however, only with a ground up redesign using pretty much no carry over parts. I like the idea of a flagship... maybe even a "new line"... as Maybach is to Mercedes. I appreciate the classic lines that are reminscent of cars a couple decades ago. However, this car couldn't be any further away from the current L-Finesse designs. The interior design is very square and reminds me of early 90's MB's. The engine seems to be very outdated and inefficient. Lexus likes to play it somewhat conservative... while that is technically conservative styling... its so far away from its normal designs that it would be a "bold" move.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,553
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
I don't think this is a good candidate at all personally. Lexus/Toyota I'm sure wants a car that will sell, this is not it IMO. Judging from the reaction i'm seeing on this forum I am far from being alone in my judgement.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,809
Likes: 0
From: NYC Raised But ATL is where I stay.
I agree it would be a good candidate for a new flagship... however, only with a ground up redesign using pretty much no carry over parts. I like the idea of a flagship... maybe even a "new line"... as Maybach is to Mercedes. I appreciate the classic lines that are reminscent of cars a couple decades ago. However, this car couldn't be any further away from the current L-Finesse designs. The interior design is very square and reminds me of early 90's MB's. The engine seems to be very outdated and inefficient. Lexus likes to play it somewhat conservative... while that is technically conservative styling... its so far away from its normal designs that it would be a "bold" move.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,474
Likes: 2
From: Tennessee
Honestly I have to wonder how many of you guys would still love this car if you were told it was a 100k dollar 2007 model with a Chevy badge on the front?
In other words, how many of you are just assuming it must be great because it's a super expensive Toyota and a couple of high profile rich/important asian VIPs own one?
I know some of you probably just like the classic look of the car but I'm sure not all of you would be so kind if it weren't a high-$$ Toyota.
Honestly if you showed this to the general public at the local Toyota dealer as a new 2007 model with a 100k price tag I believe 99% of them would start looking for where the hidden camera was for the "candid camera" show.
In other words, how many of you are just assuming it must be great because it's a super expensive Toyota and a couple of high profile rich/important asian VIPs own one?
I know some of you probably just like the classic look of the car but I'm sure not all of you would be so kind if it weren't a high-$$ Toyota.
Honestly if you showed this to the general public at the local Toyota dealer as a new 2007 model with a 100k price tag I believe 99% of them would start looking for where the hidden camera was for the "candid camera" show.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 650
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Honestly I have to wonder how many of you guys would still love this car if you were told it was a 100k dollar 2007 model with a Chevy badge on the front?
In other words, how many of you are just assuming it must be great because it's a super expensive Toyota and a couple of high profile rich/important asian VIPs own one?
I know some of you probably just like the classic look of the car but I'm sure not all of you would be so kind if it weren't a high-$$ Toyota.
Honestly if you showed this to the general public at the local Toyota dealer as a new 2007 model with a 100k price tag I believe 99% of them would start looking for where the hidden camera was for the "candid camera" show.
In other words, how many of you are just assuming it must be great because it's a super expensive Toyota and a couple of high profile rich/important asian VIPs own one?
I know some of you probably just like the classic look of the car but I'm sure not all of you would be so kind if it weren't a high-$$ Toyota.
Honestly if you showed this to the general public at the local Toyota dealer as a new 2007 model with a 100k price tag I believe 99% of them would start looking for where the hidden camera was for the "candid camera" show.
For you, it may be expensive probably because you can't afford it. For me, it's a great alternative to the too-common S-Class and 7-Series. It's definitely not a driver's car, though. However, if one can afford a special car like this, he probably have more than one car and probably with a toy car or two in his stable.
About your last paragraph, that's why this car is a limited production model and is not for the "general public".
Lexus Champion
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,474
Likes: 2
From: Tennessee
The only thing anybody can tell me so far is that it has a severely underpowered V12, an unknown automatic transmission, a design mostly unchanged from almost 40 years ago, and that some really wealthy/important people bought one.
That's just not impressive enough for me.
Show me a car and driver or motor trend review that shows things like dB quietness, suspension dynamics, ride quality, safety tests, etc, like any other car and show me how this car outperforms other cars in the 100k dollar price range and then I'll take it seriously. But if this car is seriously mostly unchanged from its initial design decades ago, I can guarantee you it doesn't stack up well in areas outside of exclusivity.
For you, it may be expensive probably because you can't afford it
100k seems expensive for any car that looks 20-30+ years old inside and out.
For me, it's a great alternative to the too-common S-Class and 7-Series. It's definitely not a driver's car, though. However, if one can afford a special car like this, he probably have more than one car and probably with a toy car or two in his stable.
I guess image does rule the world - that's why you see celebrities paying 20 grand for some ridiculous looking dress that cost 50 bucks to make. Because it has a designer label on it and is one of a kind.
About your last paragraph, that's why this car is a limited production model and is not for the "general public".
Lead Lap
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 650
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Toyota/Lexus has proven it is capable of some great build quality (and some not so great build quality, too), but I'm not sure if build quality alone, IMO, makes any car worth that much money when it has hardly any other impressive merits to stand on in terms of design, technology, and whatnot. Then again, maybe it does have some impressive features, but I sure haven't seen anybody list them out for me.
The only thing anybody can tell me so far is that it has a severely underpowered V12, an unknown automatic transmission, a design mostly unchanged from almost 40 years ago, and that some really wealthy/important people bought one.
That's just not impressive enough for me.
Show me a car and driver or motor trend review that shows things like dB quietness, suspension dynamics, ride quality, safety tests, etc, like any other car and show me how this car outperforms other cars in the 100k dollar price range and then I'll take it seriously. But if this car is seriously mostly unchanged from its initial design decades ago, I can guarantee you it doesn't stack up well in areas outside of exclusivity.
There's quite a large wide open area of financial area where I 'could' afford this car and where I would be so unbelievably wealthy that I just decided to buy it just because I felt like it and already owned one of all the other competing cars on the market.
100k seems expensive for any car that looks 20-30+ years old inside and out.
So, more or less, it primarily appeals to you because it's "exclusive", rare, and still expensive. lol
I guess image does rule the world - that's why you see celebrities paying 20 grand for some ridiculous looking dress that cost 50 bucks to make. Because it has a designer label on it and is one of a kind.
Right, because a car like this would only be successful if you told the wealthiest people on the planet that it was ultra exclusive, which to ultra-rich people is reason enough to pay any price no matter how little they're getting for their money.
The only thing anybody can tell me so far is that it has a severely underpowered V12, an unknown automatic transmission, a design mostly unchanged from almost 40 years ago, and that some really wealthy/important people bought one.
That's just not impressive enough for me.
Show me a car and driver or motor trend review that shows things like dB quietness, suspension dynamics, ride quality, safety tests, etc, like any other car and show me how this car outperforms other cars in the 100k dollar price range and then I'll take it seriously. But if this car is seriously mostly unchanged from its initial design decades ago, I can guarantee you it doesn't stack up well in areas outside of exclusivity.
There's quite a large wide open area of financial area where I 'could' afford this car and where I would be so unbelievably wealthy that I just decided to buy it just because I felt like it and already owned one of all the other competing cars on the market.
100k seems expensive for any car that looks 20-30+ years old inside and out.
So, more or less, it primarily appeals to you because it's "exclusive", rare, and still expensive. lol
I guess image does rule the world - that's why you see celebrities paying 20 grand for some ridiculous looking dress that cost 50 bucks to make. Because it has a designer label on it and is one of a kind.
Right, because a car like this would only be successful if you told the wealthiest people on the planet that it was ultra exclusive, which to ultra-rich people is reason enough to pay any price no matter how little they're getting for their money.
It's ok that you don't like the car, but please don't use words like "retards" to insult the others who like it.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,474
Likes: 2
From: Tennessee
And the 'retard' comment was made in jest in response to the "baller" comment, thus why it had matching sentence structure and a big "
" after it.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: éire
When my father's S-Class was stolen in Hong Kong, I told him to go to the Lexus dealer in Hong Kong and give the LS430 (last gen) a look. After speaking with the sales rep for a while and learning what type of user my father is (he's sitting in the back most if not all of the time, with a driver driving him around, while my father drives his Carrera S on the weekend), the sales rep actually arrange a special test drive with a Toyota Century. My father loves it. It's quiet, roomy, powertrain is smooth, ride is floaty. However, he ended up getting another S-Class because of the "business culture" in HK -- if you are not driving an S-Class or 7-Series in HK, or if you switch from an S-Class or 7-Series to another "inferior" brand, the bankers or the suppliers will think there must be something wrong with the business. Stupid superficial people...
I have a chance to sit in a Century. It's not my taste, but you have to admit that the material is top quality and the workmanship shouts "hand-built by the top craftsman". The exterior is special though. If you want to be different (way too many S-Class, 7-series, and even Rolls Royce in HK) and don't care how the others think about you, and if you have a driver to drive you around, this may be a great car to have. Personally I think it looks better than the last LS. It's really elegant.
As mentioned, the royal family in Japan is using the Toyota Century and also the Nissan President. The first post-1997 CEO of Hong Kong (one of the top 50 richest people in HK) has one as well.
Just want to pitch in a little of my personal experience, because I read some ignorant posts in this thread.
I have a chance to sit in a Century. It's not my taste, but you have to admit that the material is top quality and the workmanship shouts "hand-built by the top craftsman". The exterior is special though. If you want to be different (way too many S-Class, 7-series, and even Rolls Royce in HK) and don't care how the others think about you, and if you have a driver to drive you around, this may be a great car to have. Personally I think it looks better than the last LS. It's really elegant.
As mentioned, the royal family in Japan is using the Toyota Century and also the Nissan President. The first post-1997 CEO of Hong Kong (one of the top 50 richest people in HK) has one as well.
Just want to pitch in a little of my personal experience, because I read some ignorant posts in this thread.