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Autoliv Receives Three Awards from Toyota
04:33 a.m. 02/26/2007 Provided by
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Feb 26, 2007 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- At Toyota's 2007 Annual Global Supplier Convention in Nagoya, Japan, Autoliv - the global leader in automotive safety systems - was honoured with three awards for its contributions during 2006 to Toyota Motor Corporation. The awards were given to Autoliv by Katsuaki Watanabe, President of Toyota Motor Corporation.
Autoliv received an Award for Quality Performance.
Then, a second Award was given for Technology & Development. This was in recognition of "the world's first frontal airbag for rear seat occupants". This Seat Cushion Airbag (SCA) has been developed in cooperation with Lexus/Toyota and is currently being introduced on the world market in the Lexus LS460. Finally, Autoliv received the prestigious Global Contribution Award in recognition of supporting actively wordwide the Toyota global production development.
This airbag development ia a really valuable feature in my opinion
"2007 Lexus LS 460's Retro 1990 Trunk Lid Mechanism "
http://www.brokerblogger.com/brokerblogger/2007/02/lexus_ls_460s_r.html
As far as I know, the fobs for any of the keyless entry cars on the market probably should not be kept on/in the car since the signals will be received by the car and allow for entry through the doors/trunk and starting the ignition.
I got news today that my car will be in by late april. For anyone that custom orders, your dealer gets a twice a month (sometimes weekly) update of your cars build status. I need to extend my lease 1 more month to bridge the late april delivery. I went back down to Lexus today to test the car. I actually went to a different Lexus dealer (same owner, just his other dealership) and drove the LS460L. Brakes were excellent again so that's now on two different LS460L cars + the LS460 (as i drove that also in the past). I e-mailed Lexus about brake sizes as a fit with the air suspension and/or 19" wheels and am waiting to hear back. I'll let you know what I hear. They are already late in responding. Forget the local sales guys as they are lost. If you know any of the guys in your Lexus service shop they will know the answer of whether any air suspension or 19" wheel optioned cars (if any other than the touring car) get the bigger brakes.
So much for the red carpet royal treatment, eh?
Seriously, I am glad that you are taking the initiative to determine the facts regarding the different size brakes and when they are equipped and when they are not. Hopefully you will get an answer that leaves no room for doubt.
TagMan
for having extraordinary sales.
Here is corroberation in this brief report on Lexus sales for February (Toyota Motors release):
Lexus passenger cars reported best-ever February sales of 13,491 units, an increase of 27 percent over February 2006. Passenger car sales were led by the ES 350 luxury sedan with February sales of 5,286 units, up 64 percent. The all-new LS 460 reported sales of 2,423, an increase of 138.7 percent.
for having extraordinary sales.
I believe he has some financial association with Lexus, so I don't think he is a completely objective source.
BTW, he owns over 300 dealerships?! I guess he doesn't have to worry whether Social Security will be there for him.
A reader complained about R&T's 0-60 and quarter mile time results of a tested IS350 being far slower than later reviews (also done by R&T and others). Those later reviews showed the car to be more than a second faster on both counts.
R&T's response to the question was that they originally tested a pre-production IS 350. The updated test was a post production model and are much more representative and accurate of what a buyer will get. Of course it would have been nice to see that as a retraction rather than have a reader notice it and ask the question, But at least they did answer the question. Bottom line - C&D's testing of a pre-production LS460 in a comparo like the one they did was absurd and yielded results on the car that can hardly be trusted. It makes me wonder how many reviews, particularly the ones with high brake stopping distance figures, were done with a car that was pre-production rather than the production cars being sold.
The only way to be successful in the long term for these mags is for them to have absolute integrity. Once they lose their ability to be objective in their reporting they are finished as far as I am concerned.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
That's also why I have to laugh at the dislike of CR's results. Here's a company that is non-profit, objective, buys and negotiates each car the same way a consumer would (so it gets a road production car every time and the same one any customer will buy) and rates the cars the way 95%+ of the public drives them and they get ridiculed for that. Their testers live with cars for a long time rather than a very short test (sometimes no more than an hour) by a reviewer. They also don't test an optioned sport configured car either, they test the dominant market car sold in each brand's model. But then their survey, which is far and away the largest (and getting bigger every year), gets ridiculed by those that don't like what those surveys, reported on by the very owners of the vehicles, say. What's even more remarkable is the data is stable and says the same thing with only slight changes in variability every year. That is the signature of a great database. Meanwhile the auto reviews are night and day on the same car tested within months of each other. That's as unstable and untrustworthy as data or a database can be.
Why? - maybe they just can't deal with Toyota's success. Most likely it's internal L/T bias that favors what the reviewers and editors loved in the past. Hey - I still give the first major customer I ever had the most favored financial rates in my business. Again - it's human nature to favor those who got you started.
There is no question some automotive writers are either in the tank for certain manufacturers, or have been somehow slighted, or perhaps not appropriately courted, by others and consequently will never be given a fair review. That dolt Jay Shoemaker immediately comes to mind (http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=2636). He begins his review stating, "Driving a Mercedes E63 AMG just prior to testing the Lexus LS 460 was a big mistake." Unfortunately he goes on to make many others.
Maybe automotive writers should be forced to make full disclosure, just like the SEC makes stock market advisors do!
I think you have the right idea, but in reverse. They're negative on the LS because Lexus doesn't advertise in their magazine enough.....
I am tired of the magazine discussions...can't we get more posts about real experiences?
For example, I would like to hear from somebody if there is a practical way of learning how to skillfully use the park-o-matic feature other than tying up a busy street. My first attempt was a quiet street where I identified a parking slot (so I thought) to get the feel for it. The damn thing did not recognize a high curb while backing in, and I now have a few scratches on the left rear fender skirt. I thought I understood the theory; position the car for the desired slot, press "ok" and let Lexus take over...WRONG!! There must be a way of using plastic trash cans, or some other non-marring devices to help nervous Nellies like me use it confidently.
Every 460L I saw before buying was equipped with this accessory. Rather than worrying about C&D motives for their reporting, I wonder what Lexus has in mind for future use of this technology. On the surface it seems like a dumb idea involving rather sophisticated hardware/techniques. Or, perhaps is it no more complicated than getting a lot of free publicity and pocket several hundred more $$ for each sale.
Any thoughts or comments?
I ordered my LS460. Noble Spinel Mica, Cashmere Interior, Nav/ML/Adv. Parking Guidance, Comfort Package, Pre-Collision and Dynamic Cruise Control, Power Door and Trunk Closers, and Preferred Accessory Pkg.
The dealership doesn't send in their orders until late in the month, so the expected delivery isn't until late June or July. So I also have time to change my mind about the color. I've been struggling between the one I selected and the Black Sapphire Pearl and the Mercury Metallic. My wife disliked the Sapphire Pearl and liked the Smokey Granite and Golden Almond. What happened to the good ole days when all you could order was black!
Well, all I can do now is sit and wait.
Now after reading tricky and ljflx, I'm starting to rethink whether I should go with the LWB. I really didn't consider it just because its just my wife and I and there was no need for extra rear legroom. However, the air suspension and the larger brakes are definitely something I would appreciate. Also, I plan on keeping this vehicle a long time (my current car is a '95 Infinit Q45a), so the extra cost will be amortized over many years. I estimated the extra cost at about $8300.
The Q45a has the active suspension so it handles extremely well. Before that I had a Nissan 300ZX, and the Q45a almost matched it in handling in spite of its greater size and weight. I can imagine that I could become disappointed with a vehicle that didn't at least come close to it.
All you guys do is cause trouble!
1. Buy the right color. Color is important on resale. I'd stay away from that gold color as the car just doesn't sit right in that color. I once saw an MB S600 in an ugly green color and wondered what the owner was thinking when he dropped $130K on a car in that color. I was wondering what MB was thinking in even offerring that color and likewise I wonder what Lexus is thinking with the gold color. This color has gotten worse and worse over time. it wasn't bad in the orinal LS400 days but it worsened repeatedly in 2001, 2004 and now in 2007. But if your heart just loves a color that is unpopular then it's your heart vs your wallet loss on resale. Color can mean a $2-4K diffference in value in a few years. I do think the car looks great in crimson, much better than I expected, but it's unlikely to be a "money" color.
2. Buy what you are going to enjoy and have no fears about. If you blow it on a lease you can make it right in 2-3 years time. But blowing it on a purchase means a potential big loss. So if you get in an air suspension car and wish you had gone for it you'll be sorry. On the other hand you may get in an air suspension car and wonder what the fuss is about. Personally I think the two best riding cars I've ever driven are the current S550 and the LS460L with air suspension. They are both serene, the ultimate in luxury and best in class in my book. The LS 460L w/o air is great but a tad short of the other two IMO. The LS460 rides great too but I like the stretched look of the LS460L in this current design.
I believe that ljflx and perhaps others were going to investigate to see if one could order this option with the regular air suspension. I do not think this is an option and that the vehicle being tested by AutoWeek had the standard breaks since they were testing the plain air suspension instead of the sport suspension. So, has anyone heard for sure?
Also, can anyone answer my latest question about the LS600HL on that forum (post #84)? I am asking you here to please check it out since there is very little activity there.
That's a pretty pricey option. I'm going to call my dealer tomorrow and see if they have an air suspension car available that I can test drive. As you said, I might just question what the fuss is about. Truth is, I just don't drive with the aggressiveness that I used to, so while a better suspension is desireable, it just doesn't have the immediacy that it once did for me.
As for the color, to me the right color is the color the buyer likes best. It truly is the old standard that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Certainly unpopular colors can reduce a car's resale value, but considering I'll likely have this car many years, that is not a consideration for me. My only wish is Lexus had a darker tan leather interior. Infiniti has a tan leather they call bourbon and it is just gorgeous.
Here is a link to an article that reviews the car in my color -
http://www.familycar.com/RoadTests/LexusLS460/
I have indicated earlier one of the standard features of the L series is laminated glass in the side windows...makes a difference in interior noise level. Also it helps to know which suspension is on the car.
To repeat myself, before buying my 460L w/Touring Package (TP), I drove 3 versions; 460SWB, 460L w/standard suspension, and 460L w/air suspension. I was unable to test a 460L w/TP, but reasoned my choice on the 460L w/air suspension even though it did not have larger brakes and wheels included w/TP.
My standard for comparison was to the 2006 430 w/Euro suspension I had owned for about 6 months. IMHO, the only car that offered a more pleasing ride and handling for geezers is the 460L w/air suspension. If you do not need the backseat amenities included w/460L sans TP, one gets the larger brakes and 5-spoke wheels for $6-$7K less just by ordering the TP!
The LWB is $71,000, plus $2530 ML, $2985 Touring Pkg. $2850 Dynamic CC, $500 Int. Parking, $700 Park Assit, $227 Pref. Acc. Pkg, and $715 destination, total MSRP $81,507.
The two would be outfitted the same except for the extra length, the shark-fin antenna and the laminated side glass, and of course the Touring Package. So that's where the $8300 approx. difference comes in. Since the TP is the only meaningful add-on to me, for me it is as if I paid all the extra just for the TP. Hope this clarifies it.
IMHO
it's ride is significantly better and I (and my wife) think it is significantly quieter.
Again, just another persons HO.
It has been just as good as my previous Lexus cars, which each had one problem that was serious...I has the little mmi screen opening and closing gears get out of whack, which they fixed in a couple of hours...My car is an 06 model, short wheel base.....I would visit the dealer and if you are not comfortable in any way ,then I would move on...My dealer is in a new building, and they are in the process of buiding the dealership...I expect a bit af a delay getting service as they do not have many mechanics, but they have a loaner if I were to need it--so in time I expect quicker service....Over on the Audi board you can read of my`ne and other peoples experiences...Lexus has the best dealership experience here in Charleston S.C, and as I understand it pretty much everywhere....Since mid 2005 Audi is a different company . If you get to the place where you want to buy an Audi I can give details of my experience, which I find different and not very immediate Tony