Good Old Kentucky Reliability?
Rookie
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 82
Likes: 7
From: KY
My father works at the Georgetown, Ky plant. Has since 1994. The quality controls are quite strict, even more so for the Lexus lines. Just one example, if they cross thread something wrong in an engine that is supposed to go into a Lexus, even if it is repaired before it leaves the line, they will pull that engine out and place it into a camary instead. Everything is as perfect as perfect can be. Now obviously there will be issues here and there, mathematical there has to be, especially teething issues on first new model years. But I think you are very safe to buy a new Lexus that is made in Kentucky.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 215
From: Texas
I deal with this sort of thing every day with products that we have made in China. With Lexus, ALL of the US factory processes are defined by the Japanese, and are likely the same as Japan with few exceptions, the exceptions being anything that does not follow US law/labor laws. There is likely the same oversight, same robotics, etc. In Deming fashion, they've taught the US factory workers what they need to know and do, including all checks and cross-checks. The biggest difference, as Wilson said, is culture. The reason Lexus/Toyota, Honda/Acura, etc are more reliable cars is mostly due to culture, and that a Japanese person on average tends to not accept work that is not near perfect. We have the opposite problem in China, where they tend to do the minimum they can possibly get away with, again due to culture.
Pit Crew
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 175
Likes: 30
From: NC
I have owned two ES's: a 2014 and now a 2017 both very similarly equipped. Because the 2014 was built in Japan and the 2017 in Kentucky I really contemplated buying the 2014 when the lease was up. However I got such a good deal on the 2017 I decided to take a chance and have not been disappointed. In fact I would say that the 2017 not only matches the 2014 in quality but perhaps even supersedes it. My current lease is up in May and I am seriously considering buying the 2017. I would not hesitate to buy an ES simply based on its point of origin. Regardless they are both quality cars.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 215
From: Texas
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 69,222
Likes: 4,220
From: Maryland
I just like a well made car, I don't care where it was made as long as its well made. I don't see any difference between US made and Japanese or German made cars I have spent time with. There are obviously differences between say a Ford, or a Chrysler and a Toyota, but then there are also huge build quality differences between a Ford and a Chrysler despite both being made in the US. And you have Nissans which have been made in Japan that have never been as reliable as Toyotas made in Japan.
The company that designs and produces the car matters a lot more than where it was produced.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 901
Likes: 266
From: Delaware
I didn't notice it before but wow. I guess someone went from a Lexus fanatic to a Daimler Chrysler lunatic? /s. Interesting to see such a switcheroo.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 215
From: Texas
In SW17LS’s defense, the Pacifica is not his vehicle, it’s his wife’s & that’s what she wanted. In an entire thread he repeated over & over that he is not a fan. We have to keep the peace in our families if we all want a “happy wife, happy life”.
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Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 69,222
Likes: 4,220
From: Maryland
The Pacifica is a very nice van as long as its running lol
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 257
Likes: 42
From: CA
The TMMK plant in Kentucky won (actually tied with Toyota's Kyushu plant) the JD Power platinum award for initial quality (which the Tahara plant has won multiple times); meaning it has the highest initial quality of any automotive manufacturing operation in the world. Toyota continues to rank at or near the top of JD Power's initial and long-term quality ratings notwithstanding the fact that probably 70% of the cars it sells in the US are made in the US. For the launch of the US built ES350 the only discernible difference noted between the US and Kyushu built models was that the leather smell in the US model was slightly sweeter; while the Japan model had a hint of pine to it.
All three of my Lexus cars are built in Japan but my parents have had 2 US built cars (an ES350 and an RX450h) which have had zero issues and in my mind have the same or better quality than the Japanese cars I've seen.
I hold Toyota out as an example when people claim that quality cars cannot be made in the United States. They can be made anywhere with the right management, engineering, and production quality control. That's why it's called the Toyota Way not the Japanese Way.
All three of my Lexus cars are built in Japan but my parents have had 2 US built cars (an ES350 and an RX450h) which have had zero issues and in my mind have the same or better quality than the Japanese cars I've seen.
I hold Toyota out as an example when people claim that quality cars cannot be made in the United States. They can be made anywhere with the right management, engineering, and production quality control. That's why it's called the Toyota Way not the Japanese Way.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 215
From: Texas
The TMMK plant in Kentucky won (actually tied with Toyota's Kyushu plant) the JD Power platinum award for initial quality (which the Tahara plant has won multiple times); meaning it has the highest initial quality of any automotive manufacturing operation in the world. Toyota continues to rank at or near the top of JD Power's initial and long-term quality ratings notwithstanding the fact that probably 70% of the cars it sells in the US are made in the US. For the launch of the US built ES350 the only discernible difference noted between the US and Kyushu built models was that the leather smell in the US model was slightly sweeter; while the Japan model had a hint of pine to it.
All three of my Lexus cars are built in Japan but my parents have had 2 US built cars (an ES350 and an RX450h) which have had zero issues and in my mind have the same or better quality than the Japanese cars I've seen.
I hold Toyota out as an example when people claim that quality cars cannot be made in the United States. They can be made anywhere with the right management, engineering, and production quality control. That's why it's called the Toyota Way not the Japanese Way.
All three of my Lexus cars are built in Japan but my parents have had 2 US built cars (an ES350 and an RX450h) which have had zero issues and in my mind have the same or better quality than the Japanese cars I've seen.
I hold Toyota out as an example when people claim that quality cars cannot be made in the United States. They can be made anywhere with the right management, engineering, and production quality control. That's why it's called the Toyota Way not the Japanese Way.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 901
Likes: 266
From: Delaware
Racer
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 215
From: Texas
This. It is a cut throat business and the drive to keep lowering the cost and if you keep pushing the suppliers they will cut corners one way or another. This can deal to lower sales numbers for the automaker and in turn the bean counters will push harder to save money. It is a vicious downward spiral.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 69,222
Likes: 4,220
From: Maryland
This. It is a cut throat business and the drive to keep lowering the cost and if you keep pushing the suppliers they will cut corners one way or another. This can deal to lower sales numbers for the automaker and in turn the bean counters will push harder to save money. It is a vicious downward spiral.
