Analog clocks are a complete anachronism in the 21st century.

Love the green digital clock on my Lexus.

 

Have to disagree. Analog clocks are not only easier to read at a glance, but, if done correctly, are also a whole lot classier than digital clocks. Notice the success of analog-clock trademarks in many upmarket vehicles. Infiniti, for example, considers them a necessary part of their interiors.

 

Wonder why analog watches are still more popular.

But regardless, I don't have a problem with a digital clock in a car, I just think the Lexus flagship should have a nicer or better one.

How about having a clock that adjusts for daylight savings? Could make it listen to the atomic clock signals or use cell tower clocks...

How about using a color LCD that can be adjusted - select color, font, brightness?

How about making the display big enough it can EITHER be digital or analog? And maybe display the day and date, too?

Just ideas to go beyond the el cheapo clock.

 

I wish my car had analog clocks. My digital one looks the same as a 1980s Toyota corolla's clock.

 

easier to read at a glance? i mean, if anyone has a tough time to glance through ANY clock and know the time within a second, that person has issues...

 

LOL when i read this post i couldn't stop laughing...

i'm also a fan of the 560SEL, i used to own a bulletproofed one. My grandfather still has his and it's got about 340,000 miles on it. He calls it his batmobile. These had analog clocks lol.

Oh yeah, I hear you about the tape deck thing. Holy smack. That just bugs me to no end. We're in an era of MP3s, even CDs are kinda getting bleh. The tape deck is way too old.

 

Yes. This works well in Japan but I suspect it wouldn't work very well in the US and it would be a total flop in Europe. Americans and Europeans associate Toyota with "mainstream cars", not premium.

I do understand what you mean, though. Toyota was wise enough to create Lexus after all.


Agreed. Well said.




Sure, different tastes.

It's just that traditional European luxury sedans have had analog clocks for ages and it has burned itself into my head as appearing more classy and elegant. Digital clocks in luxury cars just lack a certain, what shall we call it, appeal? Classiness? In my opinion, of course.

 

Thanks you.

I'm just trying to be objective. It also creates interesting discussion.

 

Part of it is their history and heritage, but Lexus can be part of this too. All it takes is adapting to the market, not have the market adapt to them. This means that in markets where fuel economy is important, Lexus can afford to offer their products with smaller, less powerful but more fuel-efficient motors. Their cars will still sell, because they will perform adequately and be frugal with fuel and be in-line with the local automotive taxes on engine capacity and such.


I said "small boat".

Obviously a small yacht is out of the question (then you'd probably go for a GL or something along those lines), but a small boat that can comfortable fit four passengers for a small lazy afternoon on a lake is what I have seen being towed by a B class. Most likely we're talking about a torquey diesel engine here or one of those higher specification gasoline engines.

Don't be fooled by their appearance. They might be small on the outside, but they're surprisingly spacious on the inside. My girlfriends parents drive one and I've ridden in it. It feels more spacious than a Lexus IS or MB C class inside. No joke.



This is one factor that forces brands like Mercedes to create smaller vehicles. Also, Mercedes has traditionally been very good at reading market trends (best examples are the 190 and first generation A class) and they foresaw a need to create a small premium car that would be ideal for city conditions and ideal for luring in younger and older buyers alike.



If there's one thing I learned from being here, it's that there is no shame for a luxury manufacturer to offer smaller, compact cars. Everyone is doing it - with the exception of Jaguar, Cadillac and Lexus (Infiniti?). Lancia is to Italians as Mercedes is to Germans: a premium car manufacturer. Lancia offers the Lybra and Thesis sedans on sale, which are midsize and large cars respectively. At the same time they're offering cars like the Miura, which can count as an A class competitor and the Ypsilon, which can be classified as a Smart competitor.

Lexus can enter this market without shame. It's bad enough that they have no real brand heritage compared to their rivals - and in certain markets that can be a very serious disadvantage.


Yes, but unlike America, your typical European Toyota customer won't necessarily go to Lexus once they're financially capable of getting one. And that's the problem.

Why do people buy Toyotas? The main reason is most likely because they're affordable and well-made and reliable. If people were interested in design, sport or something fun, then Toyota would most likely be near the bottom of a list. So, we know that in Europe, Toyotas are affordable and reliable. Someone who needs a reliable car to get from A to B will be interested in one, regardless of how it looks or drives. As time passes, they might be interested in getting a premium car. And despite having been loyal Toyota clients, they feel that a Lexus is just not what they're looking for.

The Lexus name carries little allure in Europe. People with money prefer to spend it on a brand with a name created through heritage, history, motorsport, innovations in safety and technology and the likes. Mercedes is a first in this regard, followed by BMW. Lexus is basically competing with some well-established rivals in this markets who basically control the market and are not sleeping but watching Lexus closely.





It's simple marketing and economics. PRESTIGE PRICING. BMW and Mercedes have the prestige, brought about through their heritage and history, innovation, motorsport success and even classic cars (a testimony to how long they've been around). Global appeal also creates prestige and BMW and Mercedes are very appealing cars in that sense. I hear a lot of people answer "Mercedes" or "BMW" when asked about a luxury car. It's the first thing that comes to mind, just like when you'll most likely say "Colgate" when asked about a toothpaste or "Coke" when you're questioned about a sugary beverage.

So, these two brands are appealing and desirable. That means there are people willing to pay the asking price. You'll notice that Lexus has begun raising prices in the US (and Europe) too. In the US, I suppose it is acceptable since they have more prestige in that market than anywhere else. People are willing to pay.

The Lexus GS receives no changes for 2008 but the price rises by $300 - people will pay for it.


The original SC is one of my favorite Lexus products ever. I felt that they should have continued with this philosophy of offering a sporty, yet luxurious coupe. The SC300 and SC400 were worthy of being compared to a BMW 8 series or theoretical 6 series if there had been one available at the time. I suspect Lexus was still trying to discover the market and themselves because of the addition of manual transmissions for these cars.

Instead, they brought us the SC430. Man, how I despise that car. No offense but this is easily the worst Lexus currently on sale in my opinion. The only real things it has going for it are a cheaper price and reliability. Comfort, handling and fun-factor wise it is clearly at the bottom in every review. And it looks like a blob next to the gorgeous Jaguar XK8, Mercedes SL and even the Cadillac XLR.


When I first came here, I didn't understand why Mercedes or Audi were offering such cars like the A class or A2 as I thought it diluted their image. But I tried to understand the situation here and now I understand it. I've even become something of a little fan of the B class because the parents of my girlfriend have one and I was very impressed with it.


Perhaps the market research that Lexus conducts tells them that the Germans have a better chance in this market due to perception. I don't know, but Lexus will most likely have a good reason for not entering certain markets.

What I want from Lexus is a car that can take on the BMW Z4 and Audi TT and MB SLK. Something small, compact that handles and is fun to drive. There are many advantages to such a car. First, many female buyers will flock to Lexus dealers. Second, many young, middle aged and older buyers will flock to Lexus dealers as these types of cars appeal to people of all ages. I honestly think Lexus is missing out here. Then again, maybe their market research knows better than me.




LOL, thanks.

This is fun.

 

Thanks.

Yes, the Germans are very diverse in Europe and Asia and even in markets like South Africa and the Middle East. I personally want Lexus to be more diverse with some of their products, especially the IS and GS which to me have a lot of potential in other markets.



You owned two!?

I adore the W126. Such a beautiful and perfectly balanced design. When I see one on the street I can't help but move my head with it as it passes by because the design is still so stunningly handsome. I found these shots a long time ago on a W126 website and this makes me love the car even more.











We had a 300SD Turbodiesel in my family, which was sadly stolen. I do hope that whoever stole it is enjoying many happy miles with it. LOL

I never could stand the W140 and the S class after that, but the current S class is awesome as are its rivals.

 

Well said.

I agree with others that Lexus wants their interiors to look futuristic and modern, but an analog clock adds a feeling of class and timelessness to the dashboard. Lexus interiors are well-made, but I honestly cannot name a single one of them which is classy in one way or the other. Perhaps the ES and GS come closest to having the most elegant Lexus interiors.

Again, my opinion.

 

Some of the posts in this thread are just ridiculous. A close friend of mine had a 2007 S550, complete with all of the option packages. The person who mentioned that they are cheap cars that have poor reliability just to get you back to the dealer is a complete moron, sorry. This car is quite possibly one of the best put together cars in the world. Everything, everything is designed to the absolute highest standards. The rear seats exude elegance. They are fully powered, cooled, heated, have power sunshades, and a huge panorama roof. This is a classy car with not just classy features, but brilliantly designed ones. Between the nightvision and the endless amount of luxury options, this car goes beyond what the LS offers - It offers timeless Mercedes Benz class with Mercedes-Benz quality. I have never been a fan of the previous generation S-Class, but this car IS the class-benchmark for everything from the interior design to safety. You can look at all the pictures online you want and call the dashboard "minivan-like", but frankly, until you go drive one and sit in the drives seat, you really don't have a clue. It is a truely brilliant car. I have NOT driven the current generation Lexus LS, but the last generation I drove felt more like a boat than a world class Luxury sedan. The person who mentioned not carying about handling in this price range is so off base I don't even know where to start. In this price and class range, every facet of the car should be world class, and that includes the handling. Paying these prices doesn't mean forgetting about driving dynamics and focusing soley on a poorly implemented self-parking feature (which is found on $25K volkswagens FYI). The current generation LS has been targeted by every automotive publication for its floaty steering and boring nature, so even though it may be a superbly built car, it is not entirely the same package that the Germans offer. And no, the LS600 is not in the same leauge as the V12s.

This is a truely beautifully built car and anyone who even hints otherwise is either very ignorant or just has a big bias. Give respect where it is due. The Lexus LS is a wonderful car, I'll be the first in line to say, but don't undervalue the competition simply becuase you have a bias.

You know what happend to this Mercedes? A woman on her cell phone crossed through and intersection and collided into the car, at 40mph, as my friend was sitting at a stoplight. The four people inside the S550 walked away without injury. All of the airbags went off, the doors unlocked, the seats went upright, the hazards activated, teleaid called the police. They said: "Oh, you're in a German car - no wonder your fine". The woman went to the hospital with some broken ribs, she was in a Ford Expedition. He is now back to driving a 750iL. The car is very nice as well, not as luxurious as the Mercedes, but I still feel that it is a superior driving car. BMWs always are. Point is, these are superbly built and engineered cars, some of the safest in their class - The S-class always has been.

 

I'm not a big fan of current hybrids, but I'd like to know what 'lies' Lexus has perpetrated.

And the hybrid RX400h definitely has more get up and go on the highway than the non-hybrid. Plus your brake pads never wear out.

 

That W126 interior pic you showed has seats worse than today's Yaris for one thing. Now don't get me wrong, the old Benz's are built like tanks but to me it feels about as luxurious as an industrial robot. And the steering wheels on those old ones were GIGANTIC and the steering was like the Titanic's.

Not sure of the point of comparing 1989 and 2008 models.

It's easy to over-simplify, but the new C uses 'hard' plastics (as does Lexus today on a lot of models, apparently partly due to cutting environmentally unfriendly emissions) and the LS400 interior (and my old GS400) felt very soft all over.

 

I agree and said so earlier in the thread... very confused message.