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My point was the gathered look still shouldn't look loose, which a 20 year old car with 140k+ miles understandably is. That's why I posted a pic of another LS430 and a car with particularly accentuated gathered leather. Even in his picture you can see the back seat which is properly ruffled but still tight looking.
His is definitely stretched and worn from what it would have looked like new
I owned the car new remember? The leather is gathered. The degree of the gathering varies from model to model, its part of the handmade feel of the car.
From the brochure, you can see the gathered leather on the doors and the seats:
This is an original Lexus stock image:
Yep, it just gets looser as it wears. As I said it still feels great and is comfy as can be, just worn. But like I said, worn like Grandpa's recliner which I personally like that others may not. The car is so old with so much wood and no screens it almost feels antique in an expensive way, the shoe fits. I'm happy.
I've never really been a fan of wood steering wheels. When we bought our RX, we had to search to find one that had the full-leather wheel. My Tundra has a (fake) wood wheel and it's okay but would not have been my preference.
But the new ones, like on the new LS, are much better in how the outside grip is leather and the wood is just on the inside.
What it tells you is that real wood steering wheels cost money....and we are in an Age of Bean-Counters.
I don't think thats the case in $130,000 cars. Carmakers build what people want, the wood wheel for instance is an option, if everybody wanted it Mercedes and Range Rover etc would be happy to fit it and charge the customer $500 or $1,000, but they fit them to less and less cars because of what the dealers are ordering, and they order what their customers want
I don't think thats the case in $130,000 cars. Carmakers build what people want, the wood wheel for instance is an option, if everybody wanted it Mercedes and Range Rover etc would be happy to fit it and charge the customer $500 or $1,000, but they fit them to less and less cars because of what the dealers are ordering, and they order what their customers want
Originally Posted by mmarshall
What it tells you is that real wood steering wheels cost money....and we are in an Age of Bean-Counters.
It’s not bean counting. Wood on the steering wheel and inside most of the car is simply no longer in style. I’m sure S class comes with a wood-delete option somewhere in the world. Maybe with a diesel model? If anything, you actually have more choices than you did in the past.
It’s not bean counting. Wood on the steering wheel and inside most of the car is simply no longer in style
I disagree. Wood or wood-tone inside of vehicles never goes out of style. There are always a good number of those who like it. Real wood, though, costs money....hence the bean-counters look for ways to justify not using it despite popular demand for it.
It’s not bean counting. Wood on the steering wheel and inside most of the car is simply no longer in style. I’m sure S class comes with a wood-delete option somewhere in the world. Maybe with a diesel model? If anything, you actually have more choices than you did in the past.
Most W223 S Classes don't have the wood/leather wheel, most have a full leather wheel. The wood wheel is now only available with certain wood trim options:
Originally Posted by mmarshall
I disagree. Wood or wood-tone inside of vehicles never goes out of style. There are always a good number of those who like it. Real wood, though, costs money....hence the bean-counters look for ways to justify not using it despite popular demand for it.
No offense, but you aren't exactly on the bleeding edge of style lol
These things absolutely go in and out of style. Matte wood is far more in fashion now than glossy wood, and less wood or none. Manufacturers use other trims like carbon fiber and metal and magnesium that are way more expensive than a cheap wood veneer.
Most W223 S Classes don't have the wood/leather wheel, most have a full leather wheel. The wood wheel is now only available with certain wood trim options:
No offense, but you aren't exactly on the bleeding edge of style lol
These things absolutely go in and out of style. Matte wood is far more in fashion now than glossy wood, and less wood or none. Manufacturers use other trims like carbon fiber and metal and magnesium that are way more expensive than a cheap wood veneer.
Knew it! For me, that is absolutely beautiful. I’m just not a fan of wood like I used too. But who knows, things can change.
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