lol...
Lexus no matter what anyone says with developed from the ground up to be a Lexus. Toyota DID NOT rebadge Cresseda's and Crowns and call them a Lexus.

Over 1 billion dollars in the 1980s was spent on the F1, "LS" project alone.

Toyota is the parent company, Lexus is NOT a Toyota. The simple rebadges are the ES 250 and LX.

Lexus then debuted worldwide as Lexus in 1989. Only in JAPAN were they still badged Toyotas.

Of course some will call them Toyotas to this day which is fine.

 

The GX sold in the U.S. is not all that different than the top of the line Prado assembled in mainland China. It's mainly a marketing and equipment thing - just like Ford/Mercury/Lincoln or Chevy/Buick/Pontiac -- they are mostly the same cars except for options and trim. It can certainly be argued that, over the years, the top trim level Toyota badged Celsior sold in Asia was far nicer and better equipted than the very top LS that sold in the U.S.

Regardless of whether they are called Toyota or Lexus, they are still damned fine vehicles and that is why we are shareholders and not just owners of Toyota and Lexus cars. Toyota ADRs have been a great investment -- look at the five year trend -- you can buy TM ADRs at any broker ... http://finance.google.com/finance?q=TM

 

They spent the cash on the LS.

Other than that, the rest are really just rebadged Toyotas.

 

SC, GS? RX was the first of its kind.

The GX is Prado based, good points there.

 

People in America have problems with status. There are plenty of people who would buy cars for their name and nothing else. Toyota is seen as a brand that delivers affordable and reliable automobiles. People do not want to be associated with "affordable" because they feel they need to have something that the majority of the people dont have. Take the lexus badge and replace it with the toyota badge and I guarantee you that a good amount of current lexus owners wouldn't buy one in the first place. No one can deny that America has a problem with identity. The japanese have no problem with buying an Aristo or Celsior under the Toyota name. People would be hesitant to pay $50k for a toyota sedan back then.

I really dont care about the brand name. My only requirements for buying my car at the time was that the car had to be a reliable sedan with rwd and V8. That limited me down to the LS430 and GS400/430. I would sport the Toyota badge no problem, but some people aren't willing to accept that their lexus is a Toyota with a few nice touches.

 

It is not just America though I agree its to the point Euro companies don't send us all their cars like 630 BMWs and S350 S-classes.

Europe is WORSE than us. They even comment in reviews "I can't buy it b/c of image". Top Gear is a prime example.

Japan is JUST AS BAD, they would rather be seen in a Euro car than a Japanese car b/c of IMAGE.

Image is a big deal to the majority of luxury car buyers and successful luxury marques know how valuable it is to have!

 

I have always respected the parent company in Japan. If I had my way, Acura would still be Honda, Lexus would still be Toyota, and Infiniti would still be Nissan. The badges means little to nothing to me. The car itself is what I respect. I always say, if the car is good the car is good. It doesn't really matter what plastic badge name is on the grill or trunk. However, the USA is all about status. Nothing wrong with that, just some people are more into it than others.

 

When I drove a Lexus, I considered it a Lexus, not a Toyota. Sure Toyota is the parent company, but Toyota dealers sold NOTHING like my GS400 and are more a mass market outlet.

Maybe Toyota will eventually drop the Toyota brand entirely, just as GM doesn't sell 'GM' cars, they sell Chevys, Cadillacs, Buicks, etc. Toyota already has Scion and Lexus so they're on their way.

 

uhh...we've had lexus since the current IS debuted.
my dad owns a Zero Crown Athelete. Its a Toyota, but I think its a damn nice car...i mean it is bascially an IS350.

 

I know. It debuted in Japan in 2005 as a Lexus. Been a Lexus everwhere else sine 1989.

Chris, the USA is NOT the only country about status. Europe, the Middle East, Japan are on par if not WORSE when it comes to image and status.

When I took the badges off my GS 400 and had no emblems on the car, most people thought I was nuts, including gear heads. I could have cared less.

 

yeah, my parents are that way too. Ever since we had a car stolen, they're all about making their cars discrete as possible. I've always debadged mine, and I like the difference of the people's initial reaction from seeing it, and after I tell them what it is. The vast majority has no idea about cars, all they know is what the marketers tell them.

 

STATUS exists everywhere and it's in all different forms... for other people who live in different part of the world, having a few pigs or cows or even wives is considered major status...

 

I have a beautiful friend who grew up and was born in Nigeria. She is a model here in America. In Nigeria she is considered crap. Seems the bigger you are the better there.

Pics are in teh TLN thread if you can find em

 

Great points made by both you and Newr.