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2009 Changes to Lexus Sedans and Pricing

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Old Sep 5, 2008 | 07:25 PM
  #16  
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ok now, im running out of excuse for not getting the GS450H
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Old Sep 5, 2008 | 07:28 PM
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Originally Posted by LexBob2
Good point. It would be interesting to know. My guess is you're right about the previous gen selling better vs. the ES, IS and LS. Just a guess though.
I think GS sales always lower than ES and LS nomatter which generation...
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Old Sep 5, 2008 | 07:39 PM
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Originally Posted by theanimala
The GS has ALWAYS been a slow seller compared to the other Lexus models. The ES and RX are the models that basically carry Lexus.
I don't have precise numbers, but in my area, there has been an enormous increase in IS sales in the last couple of years...........and many of these seem to be the IS250 AWD. I said, years ago, that Lexus should have done an AWD version of the IS300, and didn't. Now we see the sales that COULD have been made back then....and have waited till now.

The RX, though in my area (as you indicate), though, seems to be the biggest Lexus seller of all, even though we don't have particularly severe winters in this area (Washington, DC).

The ES was once a huge seller around here but has recently seemed to back off, as a lot of buyers are disappointed with it.

Last edited by mmarshall; Sep 5, 2008 at 07:42 PM.
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Old Sep 5, 2008 | 09:34 PM
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Originally Posted by mmarshall
I'm not sure that's a good idea. A cutoff switch for the traction control/stability system, in some unusual cases, can help you get unstuck in snow where the electronics are actually preventing you from moving, but, more often than not, it just serves as a method for allowing non-professional or non-racing drivers to do powerslides and drifting manuvers, which are dangerous on public roads with other traffic around. Most drivers, most of the time, have no buisness doing this kind of stuff in non-track conditions (they just do it to feed their egos), and engineers put those systems in for good reason.

Now, that doesn't mean that I like or agree with ALL electronic safety-nanny systems. The Infiniti Lane Change Departure feature, for example, can be a real pain in the a** with its constant beeping at the slightest one-inch drift towards the center line, even when you are still safe.. I'm more than happy to turn it off on the Infinitis I've driven.
That's the rub isn't it? What if you couldn't turn it off? Sort of like freedom. It means tolerating the things that you really don't like because of what it means if you take that away.

Thank goodness for these types of switches and here's to hoping stupid things like the lawyer nag screens become a thing of the past/configurable as well.
And as I'm sure you know many times engineers are forced to put features in for no good reason whatsoever. They are simply dreamed up by lawyers, marketing or other business line people.
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Old Sep 5, 2008 | 09:50 PM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by Mr Johnson
That's the rub isn't it? What if you couldn't turn it off? Sort of like freedom. It means tolerating the things that you really don't like because of what it means if you take that away.
There are times when turning it off actually benefits you and gives you better traction, but those, like I said, are unusual. Most of the time, it's just a way to show off with powerslides/drifting...and can be dangerous.

Thank goodness for these types of switches and here's to hoping stupid things like the lawyer nag screens become a thing of the past/configurable as well.
And as I'm sure you know many times engineers are forced to put features in for no good reason whatsoever. They are simply dreamed up by lawyers, marketing or other business line people.
They were not cooked up and marketed by lawyers. Modern traction/stability systems were developed in the mid-1990's, primarily by Mercedes-Benz, (with some help from BMW and Cadillac), for safety reasons. Mercedes, along with Volvo, is a noted safety pioneer.
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Old Sep 5, 2008 | 10:29 PM
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Originally Posted by theanimala
The GS has ALWAYS been a slow seller compared to the other Lexus models. The ES and RX are the models that basically carry Lexus. Just look on the road, how often do you see a GS compared to an E class or 5 series. Part of the reason I love the GS is that you do not see them often. If I want a car that sells great I might as well buy a Camry.

Unfortunately I don't have the numbers to post, but the GS has always been a dog sales wise.
must be a NJ thing? here in cali, maybe there are more 5 and E, but i see damn lots of gs everywhere. i drive about 120 miles a day, and any random say i would see no less than 20 GS, E, or 5 (each of them). of course, RX and ES are ridiculous, i lost count

but i am not taking away the fact that lexus does sell ES and RX more than the gs though. that's pretty obvious. however, my point was the bad results of the 3gs don't really have much to do with IS, ES, RX, and LS
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Old Sep 5, 2008 | 10:32 PM
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Originally Posted by spwolf
another year no change? 2008 was facelift model .
Originally Posted by rominl
2008 was facelift already for the gs, i don't understand what you guys are looking for
Yeah, I realize now 2008 was the facelift year, but honestly I didn't know all that was changed beyond the front bumper/trim - I just looked up flipside's helpful post on it and now see they did a lot more.

I guess I did think they might dump the cassette player this year though. Kinda like buying a PC with a floppy drive.
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Old Sep 5, 2008 | 11:00 PM
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Originally Posted by bitkahuna
Yeah, I realize now 2008 was the facelift year, but honestly I didn't know all that was changed beyond the front bumper/trim - I just looked up flipside's helpful post on it and now see they did a lot more.

I guess I did think they might dump the cassette player this year though. Kinda like buying a PC with a floppy drive.
lol, if it took them 19 yrs to put passenger memory seat in the LS (finally comes 09!!!!), you can do the math on when they are taking the cassette out of the GS

while i agree the GS facelift is not anything dramatic, i think it's pretty in line with the E and 5 changes

hey, at least my car has mirror turn signals
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Old Sep 6, 2008 | 05:41 AM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by rominl
lol, if it took them 19 yrs to put passenger memory seat in the LS (finally comes 09!!!!), you can do the math on when they are taking the cassette out of the GS
Correct me if my memory is wrong, but didn't the LS get REAR-seat memory buttons years ago....or was that just recliners?
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Old Sep 6, 2008 | 10:14 AM
  #25  
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Henry meant FRONT passenger memory seat for the LS ...
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Old Sep 6, 2008 | 10:15 AM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by rominl
2008 was facelift already for the gs, i don't understand what you guys are looking for
At least some interior changes, option changes. It is very competitive out there and you have to keep your models fresh to get sales going and to give current customers a reason to stay with your brand.
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Old Sep 6, 2008 | 05:42 PM
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Originally Posted by mmarshall
Correct me if my memory is wrong, but didn't the LS get REAR-seat memory buttons years ago....or was that just recliners?
like andrew said, FRONT passenger memory seat. the LS never had it. ironically other lexus does. plain stupid

Originally Posted by Mixman
At least some interior changes, option changes. It is very competitive out there and you have to keep your models fresh to get sales going and to give current customers a reason to stay with your brand.
08 gs does get interior update. seat, buttons, trims... even the addition of aux input
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Old Sep 6, 2008 | 07:07 PM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by Gojirra99
Henry meant FRONT passenger memory seat for the LS ...
like andrew said, FRONT passenger memory seat. the LS never had it. ironically other lexus does. plain stupid
Well, yes, that was basically the point I was bringing up....perhaps I could have phrased it better. Why would Lexus put multi-memory buttons in the rear seat and not for the front passenger?....to me, that doesn't make sense. That's why something just doesn't look right.
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Old Sep 6, 2008 | 07:22 PM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by mmarshall
Well, yes, that was basically the point I was bringing up....perhaps I could have phrased it better. Why would Lexus put multi-memory buttons in the rear seat and not for the front passenger?....to me, that doesn't make sense. That's why something just doesn't look right.
that's been the biggest mystery in the LS forum (LS400, LS430, LS460). no one could explain it at all
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Old Sep 6, 2008 | 07:22 PM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by mmarshall
I'm not sure that's a good idea. A cutoff switch for the traction control/stability system, in some unusual cases, can help you get unstuck in snow where the electronics are actually preventing you from moving, but, more often than not, it just serves as a method for allowing non-professional or non-racing drivers to do powerslides and drifting manuvers, which are dangerous on public roads with other traffic around. Most drivers, most of the time, have no buisness doing this kind of stuff in non-track conditions (they just do it to feed their egos), and engineers put those systems in for good reason.

Now, that doesn't mean that I like or agree with ALL electronic safety-nanny systems. The Infiniti Lane Change Departure feature, for example, can be a real pain in the a** with its constant beeping at the slightest one-inch drift towards the center line, even when you are still safe.. I'm more than happy to turn it off on the Infinitis I've driven.
Maybe Im wrong but doesnt holding the trac button on the dash until the trac light comes on disables both already on the IS250? Page 172 of the owners manual.

Last edited by MARINE; Sep 6, 2008 at 07:32 PM.
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