As of now, i'm afraid we don't have accessories yet, but they should be arriving soon, so we have no idea what they will be coming up with, although i am aware that the IS does have the most accessories as compared to the other cars, because it is fun to dress up.

 

Carlo, my questions is are there any plans of bringing the GS350/IS350 variant to the local market anytime soon?

 

or the RX?

 

The new RX is due here on March 2009. RX 350 only for around 4.2 Million pesos

Same price as LC 200 with 4.5 liter D-4D diesel engine.

If I were to answer that, I'd probably say that's unlikely atm.

Due to poor quality of fuel here in the Philippines, bringing in Direct Injection engines doesn't seem viable atm.

They could bring in a GS 300 (port-injection version like in the Middle East) but it might pose a threat to the IS 300 as well as the ES 350.

 

I had no idea that we had an Internal events forums. Thanks for letting me know.

Reading the article about the Grand Opening event, it appears to be a huge hit.

 

Keep us posted. I'm hoping you guys will have some JDM goodies.

 

As of now, there are no plans regarding these models. The ones that were brought in were the IS 300 and GS 460 because if we did bring in the GS 350, it would cost only slightly less than the 460, that's because the only thing that was changed was the engine, so we opted for the bigger engine. Same goes for the IS250, the price difference would be very small, so we opted for the bigger 3.0V6.

 

The Direct Injection problem might not necessarily be true, we do have direct/port dual injection units locally, the LS,as far as i know, uses dual injection.

The bigger problem is the fuel consistency. Fuel quality is supposedly ok, the biggest problem is when it floods here, sometimes the water can get into the fuel reservoirs of gas stations, when that happens, impurities get in, and we have problems, especially with high output engines.

 

Welcome to CL Carlo!

 

thanks!

 

Welcome!!!!!!!!

 

Hmm......

Well Dual-VVTI ho siya (actually Dual VVTi-E since the intake camshaft timing is managed by an electric-powered actuator). Yet in any case, port injection ho pa rin ang gamit nya (kasi 342 horsepower ang output nito kasya sa 380 hp ng direct injection version).

This is the reason why Lexus Manila brought the IS 300 instead of the IS 250 (as the latter has direct injection engine that will die with our inferior quality fuels; while the former can work with an octane rating that is even below 90)

Just my two cents

Though I have to agree a bit with you on the inconsistency of our fuel in this country. Nasty stuff does get in which could clog or penetrate the fuel and engine lines. Really a scary thought.

However, I still believe that it also has to do with the fuel quality. Our current regulations are based on Euro-1 emissions so hence the current quality of fuel is only slightly above Euro-2. Not good for direct injection engines that need cleaner quality fuels and demand higher octane ratings.

Just my two cents

 

Welcome to CL



I'll be back in the PI VERY shortly and will need to test drive a car....for about a week!

 

@CARLO_BIG

I've read the memo that Lexus Manila president Danny Isla stated:

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/...0127moto9.html

Lexus owners who got their vehicles from the gray market before Lexus Manila’s official opening, will have to make a one-time payment of P50,000 as membership fee to the exclusive Lexus VIP Club. This entitles them to attend the club’s customer-oriented events and activities. But the more important perk is that they will be charged a flat rate whenever they bring in their cars for servicing. What about those who choose to buy Lexus cars from the gray market after January 14, in spite of Lexus Manila’s presence? Ah, this is where it gets really interesting. Should these Lexus owners wish to bring their cars to Lexus Manila for servicing, they will have to pay a one-time fee of P500,000. That’s just for the right to have their cars serviced by the official Lexus distributor! So, right away, there goes whatever saving they made from buying their cars from independent vendors.It doesn’t end there. Besides the half-million-peso “enrollment fee,” these owners will have to shell out P50,000 every time—yes, every time—they have their cars serviced. And that’s on top of the actual repair bills. That’s the price you pay for dealing with the gray market.

However, I do disagree with a few points here.

In fact here's what a person from another forum has said:

"This is just utter crap.

The reason why people bought Lexus gray market import units before January 14, 2009 was that there was NO Lexus dealership in the Philippines. Now Lexus Manila seeks to tax those pioneering, loyal Lexus fans for the crime of being owners of their brand of cars? What the hell for? It's not their fault they didn't know if or when Lexus was going to open in this country. Is Lexus Manila purposely trying to alienate their own fanbase? They should just welcome those early owners into the fold and treat them as regular customers. "

This is contrary to what Motor Image does when it accepted servicing of grey market Subaru vehicles that were bough before Subaru arrived here. Same goes with Hyundai and the Starex units during the pre-HARI era.

Personally, I guess I wouldn't mind too much either (since 50k pesos though an extra *and unnecessary* expense is plausible to earn)

However, it's the next one that kinda gets irritating:

"For people who bought grey-market Lexus units after January 14-16:
500k pesos one-time fee PLUS 50k additional *PUNISHMENT* fee every time they have their cars serviced."

Here's his response:
"Now I can understand the second part about punishing those who insist on getting gray units after Lexus Manila had already opened. Taxing them with a HALF MILLION PESOS is probably shrewd business practice to protect their investment. BUT further taxing them with a P50,000 punishment fee for EVERY visit? Even for just a friggin oil change? This is just a tad too hostile. If anything, this will compel gray market owners (whether before or after the almighty Lexus arrived on our shores) to demand other third-party service alternatives, and with such demand cause the gray import of Lexus parts, thereby creating a a new marketplace of competing small service outlets and parts vendors. I think all this vindictive behavior is counter-productive for a newcomer who should be trying to introduce itself into the country, and promoting itself as a positive brand. These actions are too much, too harsh and too soon. Maybe after they've sold 500 units or so, they can safely afford to be so smug. But really, right now from the get go? "

Ok lang sana kung EITHER 500k one time fee OR the individual 50k add-on service either.........pero they're charging BOTH. Seems a little too extreme don't you think (considering that Lexus is officially a newcomer here). Now personally, I don't mind this at all........however for others (esp. who bought Lexus units before the official launch or those who didn't know that Lexus is here), this may send a NEGATIVE SIGNAL to them instead of them seeing Lexus Manila as a positive brand.

Guess we'll have to see about that in the coming months.

 

There goes my idea of sending my 2IS back home after I get a new car...