This is a nice upscale touch to the Lexus luxury experience, evidently reserved to Japan. My interest was piqued after reading the cover story in the Lexus Luxury dealer Summer 2005 newsletter. This excerpt is from that article:



Despite some mention on these forums, I was not fully aware of the customization options possible for Lexus models until my recent visit to dealerships in Japan. It was neat to see how next to each vehicle in the showroom is a customization display case, such as this:



I examined several and as you can see, the top are the paint samples, then wood options, the drawer underneath has leather samples; evidently you can mix and match. It's not just for show. As pointed out in this thread from PhilipMSPT:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-...le-sc430s.html



You can choose from the leather options, wood selections, and even select the stitching used!

I do wonder about the above article's 'push to send order' concept, whether that was implemented or not, but the vehicles indeed are built to the owner's specifications, not already pre-loaded and the owner selecting from available allocations and packages as here in the U.S. The "Lexus Gallery" system is interesting as well, I suppose the computer displays at the owner/salesperson desks contain them at Lexus Japan dealerships.

Since Lexus Japan began in 2005, I imagine that the division execs were able to build a fully upscale buying experience, not to mention taking advantage of domestic production ties.
Lexus USA has operated for 20 years now and of course they started with a much simpler lineup, just the LS/ES, and little in the way of owner customization. Probably they feel that there is no need to offer more choices, but I'd bet customers are willing to pay for having their Lexus built to order. Of course, most US luxury buyers don't know about the options Lexus Japan provides.

There are similar options photos in Lexus Japan trip reports here:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...n-goodies.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/the...apan-trip.html

 

Imo that's what lex was missing in us market. giving us the consumers the option to make the car almost like a coach made car would bring in more sales from the typical mercedes buyer.

 

It's really what Lexus USA should do.....

 

That is amazing, thanks for sharing. They have more IS-C options as another exmaple

The GS you get to choose your wood option no matter the leather color.
http://translate.google.com/translat...ial%26hs%3DP1h
RX gets a blackwood option
http://translate.google.com/translat...ial%26hs%3DP1h
The IS-F has some other option besides the aluminized console (not sure what it is, like a blue wood)
http://translate.google.com/translat...ial%26hs%3DP1h

We have seen the IS/GS passionate series. Amazingly America actually has the GS PB(Passionate Black now)!! Sadly hardly anyone knows it exits
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...ght=pAssionate






CL member in Canada

 

So I guess we get the short end of the stick here in the US?

 

short end of the stick it is it seems.

 

The problem that I see is that people are not willing to wait for thier cars. I ordered my cars down to the what type of leather I wanted( LS600, Celsior)
and those cars took months to arrive. Also the Lexus cars over there are far cheaper with all currency conversions taken into account and that was when the US dollar was way more attractive than it is now. I mean I could almost buy two IS-F's from the States and import them for the proce of one IS'F over here, yes your cars are that CHEAP!!

I think you will find that Japanese people are much more willing to pay for extra little things like god like service , private rooms for VIP's and many of the other of the services that you guys don't get. Of corse this ups the price of the car and I don't think many people other than Japan would accept that fact. Unfortunately the market is dictated buy the majority of the buyers. Just as an example, my dealer comes and picks my cars up from work when they need a free service and if I need a loaner they give me what ever car I want.

So let me ask you all this,
Are you willing to pay and extra, lets say 15% on top of the cars price now? So that you could recieve the service that we recieve here, b/c the money to do these thnigs have come from somewhere... Remember that.

 

I can tell you right now my answer is no.

I am positive that although most of the people would like to have that option but at the end of the day when their hard-earn money is on the line they'll be more than happy to forfeit that option and save the 15%, possibly more.

Toyota/Lexus is the master of market research, they KNOW their buying demography. If there is a market for this kind of thing here in the US they'll bring it over in a heart beat.

 

wow that GS is somewhere in my city... the way it seems its somewhere in Dollard or Kirkland or Beaconsfield.

I would like to see custom order Lexus's. Seeing there some options I do not really need in some models and just want the ML soundsystem.

 

American like Lexus more than Japanese consumers. Why do they do this to us???

 

if i was "rich", yes i would pay the 15% premium for customization and VIP service. you get what you pay for. after all, "money" talks.

 

Exactly, and that is the reason why lexus is much cheaper in the States, b/c you forfeit some of the expense we do pay for.
As I said above ,the cars are much cheaper in America, hense the number of sales per capita being higher (that is if they are higher , as I have no stats on that) . I think you are missing the big picture.

Eg, when tax and everything is accounted for an IS250 can cost as much as an IS-F in the states with all currency converted.

Personally I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

Simply put, the more options made available, the more Lexus of North America has to pay Lexus HQ for for the more complex ordering process.

The reason is exactly what you think: the more customizable the car, the more expensive it is to sell.

Ever wonder why Porsche options are horrendously expensive? Now you know...

 

i am pretty torn on this. on one hand, limited selection but cheaper price than competitors, i like that idea. but sometimes not able to get the exact setup i like, it's a tiny set back

 

I'll take the red stitched steering wheel as it matches my shifter



BMW has been doing this for quite some time including the ability to track your vehicle through out the build. They also up'd the ante even further with the individual program.

The we make them you take them way of building/selling cars is getting dull fast. I want my red interior hurry up with the build.. oops