LOL! Surely you jest.!!!!!!!!!

Well I work for a major supplier to Toyota - in Japan and America. I have been to US (TMMI and TMMK) and Japanese plants (including Tahara and Hino facilities) and have seen many Lexus and Toyota models come off the assembly lines. Slightly different design requirements for some components between Lexus and Toyota, but major components are the same. While components are the same, some plants do have tighter quality requirements for some models. For example, most plants will not accept components if defects exceed 50 per million parts shipped. In contrast, for Lexus vehicles, Tahara managers insist on fewer than 10 defects per million parts.

The GX470 is only built in the Tahara plant at this time. It's 4Runner "cousin" is built in both Hino and Tahara facilitties and quality requirements are the same.

The last I heard the ES and Camry are built in the Katashiki plant (not Tahara). (Perhaps I should say that my Tahara built 4Runner is built to better quality standards than the Katashiki built ES?)

The product we manufacture (exterior paint) in both the US and Japan is EXACTLY the same for use at Japan and US plants. The only difference between Toyota and Lexus models is a higher clearcoat film thickness. While Camry/ES and Land Cruiser/LX, Highlander/RX, and 4Runner/GX are are all basically the same platforms (engines, frames, transmissions) the Lexus models do offer more amenities such has more insulation, higher grade interior materials, thicker windshield glass, etc.

The consumer has the choice depending on what he/she values and is willing to pay for. "You pays your money and takes your chances"

Personally, I drive a 2004 4Runner Limited and my wife has a 2007 Camry V6XLE. While I value quaity and reliability above all else since I keep my cars for 8 - 12 years, I also know that a vehicle is not an investment and is subject to all the human and non-human elements that are out of my control.

Hope the bubble is still intact somewhat

 

What????
ES's come off the Windom assembly line in the Tsutsumi Plant.
Katashiki isn't a plant. Katashiki is some wierd term for the model code for Toyota vehicles! LoL!




I sure hope you guys know that this explains why there have been Echo steering wheels on LS's as of late & I'm telling Toyota yall are the ones causing the screw up over there!
bawahahahahahahahahaha

 

Yes, you are right the plant is in Tsutsumi. Katashiki is the generic designation for the new models. Japanese isn't up to par yet. Windom is Japan's model desigantion for the ES.

 

It's all in good fun!
Honestly. We've been over the Camry platform relations so many times now.

 

Fellas, I don't work for Lexus but I could. I know the cars share parts, I OWN a 1992 ES 300 MANUAL.

What I meant (and excuse me for not clarifying) is even though the Camry and ES are based on the same platform and share the V-6 engine, inside and out is all different. Its not a rebadge, ala GM or Nissan.

People are quick to say "its just a Camry" but the Toyota has always done a terrific job ensuring there are no body panels shared outside the roofline and the interiors are all different except maybe turn signal stalks and other minor items.

Hope this clarifies what I was trying to say.

To me, being based off the Camry is a damn good thing, as its the best selling car in America with excellent quality and the 2007 model shames some luxury branded cars in build and features.

 

I need everyone to sign up for LEXFEST www.lexfest.net and we can discuss in person in September!!

 

I think the interior on the Lex , looks a hell of a lot better then the camry. my 2cents

 

For me, its all in the details. Sure, both start with the same engine and trans, but for me it really ends there.

I'll take the smoother suspension, better styling, resale and quietness of the ES. I love the execution of the design (inside and out) and how everything just 'works'. The material select of leather and plastics is great. The seats and layout just say quality. Then throw in all the little touches like LED interior lighting, sunshade, keyless entry, footwell and puddle lamps, memory everything and auto dimming mirrors all around.

I sit in the ES and wish for nothing more. I've driven and sat in the new Camry and just wondered what car I was in and how they could possibly be related. I think you could conclude there was similarities before between the two in the execution of the product, but not anymore. I feel like this thing is a mini LS. They should almost change the name to something else like TS

I'm an IT guy. I can take the same CPU and mainboard and built you a noisy, cheap but reliable PC. I can also take those same pieces and craft it into something quiet, beautiful and something you appreciate using every time you turn it on and use it. Which one would you choose? I'll take the latter.

 

Ive rode in a Camry and rode around in a ES 300/330 prior to my purchase of 07 ES 350 and never once felt like it was related. Its only when I was really researching the details that I started to I did think that the shape..the lines had the same feel. But the inside was way..way..different. The ride for one thing is a totally different experience. I believe that alot of manufacturers do share platforms and parts of one vehicle as a basis for another vehicle, etc. I see alot of cars on the road that look "similar".....

But the point to me is....is it worth the extra money? And it is to me. I think we all get touchy because we paid more and to have others call the ES a vamped up Camry is a bit harsh, including me at times.

To me it is half and half. Yes, its "like" the Camry but ultimately it is not the same thing. The service, ride, amenities and the feel of the car is all different.
Well, just my two cents......

 

I agree. It's the little touches that make all the difference. I'll add to wanderer99's list. There's also leather wrapped overhead assist grips, felt-lined interior door grab handles, better plastics on the rear of the seat (the Camry one is hard plastic), real wood, thicker windows (with two laminates... is that the Thinsulate thing?), acoustic windshield (hell, the IS' sunvisor was designed acoustically to enhance the music in the vehicle).

 

I have this one car; it has a driver seat, passengers seats, a dashboard, steeringwheel, an engine, four wheels, a gas tank... omg my car is exactly like your car... they are all alike /sarcasm

stop bickering over semantecs and provide us answers--like what limitations does having a camry frame give us? does this mean suspension mods are more car-like verses trucks?

when i browse through these forums i lose interest in researchig anything about my car because all i see are posts about "you shouldve bought that car"...

 

LOL! this thread has been dead since 06.

 

Zombie themes are popular these days.

 

Think of 1969 Camaro and 1969 Firebird. Same platform, different trims, sheet metal to an extent. They had different engines (versus ours sharing the same Toyota engine) but most everything else was shared like radiators, transmissions etc.

 

every time someone asks me what i drive i tell them a Lexus they say oh you mean a toyota im like maybe mechanicaly my ES is the same as a Camry when it comes to the Drive trian
but when you get inside you feel the difference

if you want cheap interior plastic parts and that stuff thats going to make noise creak and also not be as quiet get a camry
i think the extra amount for the lexus is worth it
i don't hear wind from outside when driving on highway over 55 mph i can touch parts of the interior and feel the nice feel to it not the bland rental car cheap plastics in a camry