This is the seam I'm talking about on my LS

 

This is the seam I'm talking about on my GS

 

Probably No.1 reason why people confuse these two from the back are the white stripes on taillights. Same goes when they say LS has 5ers tails. It's because of those thin stripes that are positioned almost same as on 5 or Camry

 

And even my old first gen GS had it.

 

And for comparison, the new GS without this strip looks like a freaking soapbox Toyota.

 

Sure it does. Do you know the GS got reviewed by Automobile and Del Coats in Sports Car International under their design analysis? No other SEDAN has gotten a review from both and its rare a sedan gets reviewed by either.

You are entitled not to like it, but that statement is far off.

 

Looks more like a cheap Nissan to me. Which in a strange, twisted
sort of way is more acceptable to me than if it had looked like a
Camry.

Anyways, I can't deal with those grotesque wheel arches... The Camry
look I may be able to deal with. For now I'll just settle with driving
my 50K Altima

 

I agree totally. Acres of featureless plastic do not a luxury car make.

 

I am not sure it would look better with a silver strip on the bumper, it may actually look worse. You won't scruff the paint as easily with that strip though, even with parking sensors & backup camera's these days, you still can't prevent others from doing that to your car.

 

I have witnessed several people mistaking the new GS for a Altima or Maxima so many times. I think the new GS is a nice looking car except for the ugly rear end but it just does not look like a upmarket luxury car to me and looks more like a car that would be in the Toyota or Nissan lots than Lexus or other upmarket brand. The 2nd Gen GS just looks so much more like an expensive or upmarket luxury car and I don't think many people would mistake it for something that is less expensive or sold as a Nissan or Toyota even if they don't know anything about cars.

I had the opportunity to possibly get a 3rd Gen GS because the Lexus dealer wrote me a letter saying they would give me top dollar for my 01 GS and offer a great deal on a 3rd Gen because of their lack of inventory of 2nd Gens and high demand for my color options etc. I really looked at the 3rd Gen and it just did not do it for me even though it would be great to have a new car, warranty and nicer interior. A couple of my friends came with me to look and pretty much all said the car just did not have a presence like yours and did not look as nice or like a luxury car. After looking it over I just thought it looked too much like a Altima or Maxima and a little bland and did not offer much over the 2nd Gen besides a few more options, a slightly nicer looking interior, and being newer and was not worth all the extra money over my car.

I am not a badge snob and would have bought the 2GS even if it was a Toyota and would have preferred to get the Japan only model with the twin turbo Supra motor. I think at 50K the 2GS was overpriced and I would never spend that kind of money for it new but at least it looks pretty much like a 50K car should from the exterior where the new GS to me doesn't.

Alot of new Japanese cars like the RL, M45, and new GS may look good but to me just do not really like upmarket high priced luxury cars from many angles like the German and British competition but they do have nice interiors. The previous GS and even the previous RL and Legends I think looked a little more upmarket then their replacements. Even though the Mercedes E class gets alot of flak for being overpriced and unreliable it does look like an expensive car inside and out. I just saw a new black E350 a few days ago parked and it was just gorgeous inside and out. I think it is my favorite in this segment as far as looks and the interior just about ties the RL even though the RL uses some higher quality materials. I just would never buy one new because they are so overpriced and all the reliability problems.

The new LS460 is a nice looking car and most likely will be the most reliable in the segment but it just does not have much presence and can be easily confused with lower priced Lexus cars like the E350 and possibly the new Camry because they look pretty similiar although have different details. Every time I drive past the Lexus dealership I look for the new LS but get confused with if what I am seeing is the LS or the E which is not good in this class. With the last LS I never had a problem of confusing it with other Lexus or possibly Camrys or Avalons because it looked so different and had more presence even though it was not very good looking. Most Mercedes models aside from the low end C class, M class, and that hatchback have generally always have had a presence that most makes can not touch and just looked expensive and classy. I think that is why Mercedes has so many die hard fans that will always stay with the brand even though they are way overpriced and unreliable and would not switch to a more reliable Lexus.

 

Dude, it sounds like your asking for automakers to continue with outdated design. Take a look at most new models including the new MB S550.
They are getting rid of the excessive detail which is definatley not a bad thing. The cars now look more sporty, clean, and modern.

Here's the new S550. No need to single out Toyota/Lexus when everyone's doing it.

 

But the difference is you should be able to see the family theme at the same time as being able to identify each individual model. With the current BMW, Audi (slightly less so), and MB line ups this is true. With the exception of the tail lights every Lexus sedan looks like a bigger or smaller version of the same car.

I really have to do a double take to figure out whether I'm looking at an ES or LS.

 

Wut? The MBs all look different as do the BMWs - I do not see design similarity in the 3, 5, and 7 like I do in the Lexus products. (edit - I do find the Lexus products very attractive, however, I do have trouble telling the difference between them)

Holy crap! When did Gates become an engineer?

 

Hi there, thanks for your inputs. I am doing quite well (knock on wood). I am averaging 15-21 cars a month. My #1 concern is to make my customers happy and making sure through the whole transaction everything goes smoothly and MOST importantly after they drive the car away that I will be there in the future if they need any help. Also to point out through the couple of years of being in the industry, I came to realize even though "car salesman" has a bad name, customers can be REALLY messed up. Some customers really treat car salesman as a POS straight from the start WITHOUT getting to know me. Though I keep a smile and just proceed as usual. Thanks for the inputs, appreciate it.

 

Dude, if you can distinguish between all the Benzo's and the Bimmers, you have a great eye.

Consider the ML and the GL?
Or the CLK and SL?
Or perhaps the C and the S?

Or 3 and 5? (Much smaller lineup).