does Lexus offer an Asian delivery program like Mercedes, etc?

 

no, I talked to Lexus dealer before, and they don't do any custom order, not to mention Asian delivery.

 

Now that would be interesting, I'd pick it up in Singapore...

better yet, does Lexus actually allow customers to order cars? When I inquired at Infiniti, you're not actually ordering the car, the dealer is on an allocation, and then the dealer says this one is sold to you (but anything can happen). With BMW, it's your car, you can have it delivered in Europe, the performance center in SC, or another dealership. BMW has your name associated with the VIN.

 

As far as I know the only custom ordering Toyota/Lexus has ever done (as far as options only within whatever allocation was available to a dealer) was for the LF-A. Other that one temporary exception in their history it is just whatever Toyota/Lexus decides they want to allocate for this region or that region of a given market based on their own internal metrics or whatever agreements they might have with some of their dealers.

But they really should do their own version of what BMW and Mercedes does with a personalized ordering and delivery process. Scouring a continent's dealer network for a specifically optioned model as you would prefer to have ordered it from the factory is more hassle and hit and miss than being allowed to order what you want from Lexus in the first place. I'm sure some people would enjoy a total "delivery experience" a la BMW as well.

Comparatively (not to Lexus but with asian market manufacturers in general) I believe Mazda allows custom ordering of their models. Subaru doesn't. Honda may but I am not sure. Acura does at least with the new NSX (for which there is a full customer viewable build process in Ohio and a delivery program much as GM offers for the Corvette). Not sure about Hyundai's position on custom ordering or whether or not their newly formed Genesis brand will allow custom ordering of their models or a customer delivery program. Nissan... I don't think so unless the customer is buying a GTR. Infiniti I have no idea but as with Lexus, Infiniti should really consider doing this as well.

I've yet to hear of any custom ordering allowed even for the LC500 or its hybrid twin.

 

BMW also has a Performance Center Delivery in South Carolina which can be done in addition to European Delivery or separately. Obviously for X models, there is no European Delivery.

Lexus should at least setup something like that. It really helps to develop customer enthusiasm and loyalty.

Porsche also has a great program.

 

Both the BMW PDC and European Delivery programs sound like great experiences.