Does the factory have any mechanism for getting suggestions from owners on what improvements/features should be added to their cars? Or maybe they just read this BBS?

 

Lexus/Toyota Marketing has focus groups from which they draw feedback. These focus groups may include the dealerships and/or customers. Lexus Marketing also gets out and talk to the customers. For instance, they will be at our SoCal ClubLexus Meet.

There are also independent marketing firms which invite the public for feedback for future automotive designs. You may have received these invitations in the mail before offering you a few bucks for a couple of hours session with them.

 

I bought my GS400 with Navigation system option ,, no rims to rear wing nada ,,, just the car and its Navigation system... frankly I dont trust factory spoilers and you can get aftermarket ones for 1/4 the price of the factory and look the same,,, anyways I got full sets of spoilers from Vielside, 19inch wheels from O.Z raceing... so basically I make the factory spoilers look cheap and worthless....

 

Wow, you are indeed my hero.

I've been lurking around here for the past year since I got my GS400. But your post has to be one of the most arrogant one I've seen yet. The originator of this post just asked for suggestions/advice, you come out insulting Lexus owners that choose to purchase factory options/accessories. I chose to purchase my spoiler from factory - as cheesy as you think it might be, I like the factory spoiler.

 

The point of my original post is that I've owned my GS430 for a few months now and I have some suggestions on making the car better (not the usual "more HP, wider tires, harder suspension, stuff). Actually, what I have in mind would cost very little and would make the car more user friendly.

How can I get my suggestions to Lexus?

 

I'm betting that if you call Lexus customer service they'll know how you can offer input to Lexus U.S. Marketing.

 

Am i the only one getting letters from Lexus? I have gotten 1 every year since i had my car. They ask me for my opinions and i give it to them. Next time i get one i will post here for suggestions.

 

Would be nice to get a bigger coin holder. Tired of my change falling out all over the floor!

 

Yup, the coin holder is one of the very annoying features (lack of) with the car. And how about no light in the center console and a pathetic excuse for a light in the glove box (the CD changer blocks most of the light from the bulb that is there).

The cargo net really sucks, as well. Lexus should check out the arrangement in the Chrysler 300M (Ok, the 300M is crap, but it looks good, it's fast, and it has a good cargo net). Lexus should also check out the rubber strips that BMW puts in the trunk floor of their 5ers. Little miracles, they are. Put something one 'em and the object stays put, even during some relatively vigorous driving.

What about slide out extenders for the sun visors? Penniesto add, but way nice when the sun is just at the right angle where it shines in your face between the end of the visor and mirror. Or the end of the visor and the B-pillar.

Man, for a car of this ilk, stuff like this should go without saying. The car would be more user friendly with 'em and the "extras" I'm talking about would add next to nothing to the cost of the car.

A compass that is visible regardless of what mode the nav screen is in would be really nice, as well.

There are other things, too, and the suggestion to call Lexus customer service and ask 'em where to find the suggestion box is a good one. I think I will.

 

I'll tell you what. Since we'll see Lexus Marketing at the SoCal meet on 5/19, why don't everyone post their "reasonable" suggestions on this thread and we'll give it to them then. The "cost very little" factor is important. They have already heard all the"more HP and harder suspension stuff" already as you have stated.

 

Hehe, took a post from someone else a year or so ago to for me figure this one out: Pull the visor away from it's bracket. Yep, the whole sun visor moves back and forth. There's your extender.

Brian

 

Holy crap, Batman! I went directly to my car after reading the above post and the whole visor really does move. I can't wait to see if that works as well as an extender -- am not sure if it will just move the sun blazing in my eyes from the around the right side of the visor to around the left side. We'll see soon enough, I expect.

I read my manual fairly thoroughly when I bought the car, so if this little trick is in there, I missed it. If it's there, I likely just skipped over the section entitled "Sun visor operating instructions". I mean, jeez, how many ways can there be to work 'em? (Answer: one more than I thought of on my own.)

 

Here is my list, QBranchCars. Most of my suggestions are really cheap to do and only one or two might cost a few bucks. Even those are likely around only $50 - $100/vehicle. Thanks for getting this to the factory guys.

1. Better glove box light. The CD changer blocks much of the light from the existing bulb.

2. Lights in both the upper and lower compartments of the center console. I shouldn't need to turn on the overhead lights to find something in the console at night.

3. Coin holder. This is so elementary, it hurts. And the little bin to the left of the steering wheel doesn't count. While it is better than nothing when used as a coin holder, it is marginal at best. It doesn't keep the various coin denominations separate and the coins fall out of the bin very easily.

4. Lights to illuminate the interior gas filler door release and trunk release levers. Even in the daytime, they are difficult to see and at night it is very hard. It is very annoying.

5. Different floor mat anchors. The anchors that are there are awful. While then will keep the mats in place through a nuclear explosion, they are very difficult to release. I very quickly grew so tired of fighting with 'em every time I wanted to vacuum the car that I finally gave up on using them. I just lay the mats in place and don't fasten the anchors.

Check out the mat anchors used by BMW on the Z3. Cheap and convenient to use.

6. The cargo net is not much beyond useless. While small objects can be put in it, things like grocery bags usually cannot. The net should be anchored at the top and bottom and there should be about 8" - 1' of space between the back of the trunk and the net.

That way, grocery bags and other object can be put between the net and the back of the trunk. Check out the Chrysler 300M. Yes, I know that the 300M is not exactily a competitor of the GS, but the car has a few good features.

7. The trunk floor should have 2 or 3 rubber strips running side to side to hold packages in place. My '95 BMW 5er had that set up and it was so convenient I cannot understand why all cars don't have them. When a package was placed on the strips, it would stay in place even during semi-vigorous manuvers. The strips (similar to a rubber bungee cord) were removable, so if someone didn't like 'em, it took about 5 seconds to get them out.

8. A numerical key pad on the door handle to allow keyless entry to the car. I had a car with this feature a few years ago and it was incredibly convenient because you didn't need to carry keys if you were at the beach or somewhere else where you don't have pockets or don't want the bulk in your pocket. Check out the Ford Taurus or the Nissan Maxima. Again, the cars are not competion for the Lexus GS, but they still have a good idea or two.

9. The compass should be visible in every mode on the nav/stereo system.

10. The center console lid should be hinged on the right side, not the rear. It is hard for either the driver or passenger to rumage through the console with a rear hinged lid because the upright lid restricts your arm movement (you hit your elbow on it).

That is not a problem with a right hinged lid. While the right hinged lid may be marginally less convenient for the passenger to use than for the driver, it is more inconvenient for the passenger and the driver to use the rear hinged lid.

I really hope that the factory boys check this console lid hinge thing out because it is the single most annoying feature on the car.

11. Ok, this next one isn't cheap, but I want to mention it, anyway. What ever happened to the E-shift on the GS430? It is still available on the GS300, but not on the 430. Not even as an option, I was told by my dealer. What gives?

 

Deeper cup holders. most drinks and bottles tip during cornering.

power outlet outside the ash tray and the console for telephone.

Power outlet and storage space above windshield for radar detector.

Two more inches of head room (this probably costs too much but it sure would be nice).

 

I agree with NVRENUFHP on 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 11 (on his list)...here's some more...

1) *** A DIAL FOR TEMP SELECTION *** Pushing the f*cking up or down arrow a THOUSAND times is ANNOYING at best. The Dial (like in the ES300) is SOOOOOO much better.

2) Center Console - Like NVRENUFHP said, the rear hinge is lame. The Q45 (new and old) has a center console lid that hinges to the right AND left! What a trick. Why doesn't the top of the line LS have that? And what the hell is with the weak center console on the IS300? PATHETHIC.

3) Better rim choices. 17" and 18" with more designs. Lower the factory price on the chroming...$1900 for chrome? Are you guys just stupid? (actually, people who pay that are!) BMW offers great looking rims...is Lexus not as good as BMW when it comes to rim designs?? Hmmmm???

4) L-Tuned Steering ECU should be stock. Don't advertise the GS as a "sport" sedean when it handles like a Cadillac. No, it handles like a Crown Victoria.

5) Better trunk hinges...what with the low-tech Yugo trunk arms? You guys can do better.

6) Center dash CD changer...the IS has it, the LS has, the GS should have it...or add a single CD slot in the head unit...I LOVE this feature. Changing my CD's in a magazine is a real f*cking bitch when I'm trying to drive. How about a CD that can read CD with MP3's? It's the wave of the NOW. Even MAZDA has it.

7) Memory rear view mirror.

8) AUTOMATIC DOWN SIDE MIRROR WHEN REVERSING. It makes parking your GS SO MUCH EASIER (especially when you have rims)

9) Auto folding side mirrors like the LS430

10) MANUAL Headlight level adjustment (like the Q45).

11) Trunk access from within the cabin (like the ES300)

12) Bigger sub...12".

13) Grey wood for black interiors...optional Carbon Fiber on the "Sport" model.

14) More aggressive front and rear bumper from L-Tuned...at least a add-on lip!