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Comments
You can tell it's for Europe. Too long and too technical for an American audience.
At the most recent MBCA gathering I attended, a few of us gathered around a W220 and talked about why we wouldn't touch one if it was free. The club literature endlessly addresses problem areas, and often encourages DIY repairs. Haven't seen any shenanigans
I'm also in a brand owned AMG specific group that requires a VIN to join, and there too problems are discussed and "secrets" (how to fully disable traction control, etc) are discussed, haven't seen anything blocked.
I go to a few MB specific gatherings a year, including a regional show...haven't seen anything like that from the L.
Nice try though, explain away the lack of Lexus content in the enthusiast world...
I haven't seen anything about membership numbers on any MB forum, kind of irrelevant. But with so many people supposedly (huge grain of salt there) viewing IS forums, one would think they'd be more popular.
A base IS 250 is no more exciting than an ES to me, and really, the same ability of driver around here seems to go for it, just younger. No more exciting than the blandest leased C300 or 328i either. The F is seen on the road as often as legit supercars, and the LFA with its bloated price, weird styling, and bizarre purchase scheme, is almost just a dream.
But carry on with the defensive devils advocate for the most boring brand in the world, one that is desperately trying to shed that image that even it knows exists, it's a free world :P
Wow, really? So even Buick or Lincoln are more exciting? Or GMC? Does a DTS with FWD, wire wheels and a cloth roof get your juices flowing more than any Lexus model?
You may be the first person I've ever heard say that Lexus would be more boring than what's availible from China, Russia or India. lol, did you mean the "in the world" part or were you just being facitious?
Me, I still prefer German (or Infiniti) if I want a performance car from a true performance brand. I won't argue that Lexus survives on a ton of RX and ES sales, but with the bank account that Toyota has to throw at the brand, and the strides they are making with the "F" line and LFA models I wouldn't count them out for building some serious street cred against the Germans down the road.
Who knows, maybe fuel efficiency will drive the next round of performance vehicles? Hybrid power being tapped to build the next lineup of AMG fighters rather than big V8's and V12's?
Nobody leads in hybrid tech more than Toyota does, so if gas does get to 6 - 7 bucks, or more, then Toyota already has a jumpstart on everybody in experience, lessons learned, advancements, etc.
But, I'll bow out of this discussion and just continue as a reader. I respect both yours and juices opinions and you had some great points/counterpoints going about the subject before I interrupted. :shades:
Actually I founded the Subaru Crew right here on Edmunds, est. 1999 or so. We're mostly virtual but have had several in-person gatherings. Subaru has invited a few of us to several short-lead events, too, which was nice. NAIAS 2006 and 2007, the Legacy/Outback intro at Vegas Speedway (fun to drive a GT on the oval), and the Tribeca intro in PA (got a Murano up on 2 wheels, scary). I was invited but missed a private event to intro the Impreza at NYIAS this year, bummer. RSHolland went, he's the other Community Leader.
Lots of nice freebies, but if anyone doubts my independence search for my last name on WSJ's Smart Money magazine and see what I said about their latest Navi system. :lemon:
Cars as a hobby takes a lot of time away from the family, so that limits the amount of time I spend on it.
No offense but I sort of cringed about checking VINs to join that AMG club. That alone would keep me away. Why exclude the poor teenager who is passionate about cars, but can't afford one yet?
I use the term "Badge Snob" jokingly, but that is quite literally an official club of badge snobs. Wow!
Club Lexus has 9 local chapters, not that you'd care to search. I found 5 events in May and June in my region.
Unlike many M-Bs, at least you can get one with a manual transmission.
What's more boring than an ES?
Third world brands are likely more exciting, maybe not intentionally so :shades:
Does Lexus offer manual in anything the competition doesn't? Of course not.
The next generation AMG models are twin turbo. After that, who knows...maybe nothing as it will be after 2012 :shades:
The sport hybrid will be a toughie indeed.
Sounds like Subaru sanctions a little for that club. As it should. Better marketing than a lot of the garbage carmakers put on TV.
I checked out ClubLexus, a "Toyota Owners Festival" is the most touted local event. But anyway...
It
What's more comfortable?
It's not meant to raise your pulse. It's meant to coddle its occupants, and it does that job well. The back seat is quiet and isolated.
It fulfills its missions well. Not every car is designed to your personal tastes (or mine). Owners love them and are more loyal to Lexus than other luxury makes, resale is also better.
They do what they do well.
Before you ask, I have.
And they're aiming for more fuel efficiency, right?
See, Lexus has influenced even AMG.
Detroit, Philly, New York, DC, and Baltimore. Got invited to Chicago (by Motorweek, not Subaru) but couldn't go.
Funny thing is Lexus offers 2 IS models with a manual - the IS sedan and the IS folding hardtop convertible, too.
Also, it's Lincoln that doesn't offer a manual, not Lexus.
I guarantee you could have more fun in an IS manual, IS convertible, or off roading in a GX or LX vs. in any Lincoln.
Right.
These engines are also more powerful. It's technology, it marches on.
Get back to me in 40 years or so and I might appreciate the isotanks a little more. Until then, the insanely large majority of the lineup is for people who really don't like cars or like driving.
The ISC being a legit different model is a stretch. Will be rarer than a manual Camry.
About the only car in Lexus' lineup that has any appeal to me is the LS460. Even that has diminished in recent years. I liked the LS when they copied the previous Mercedes S-Class better than the bland look it now sports.
Yes it is - for those buyers.
The ES had the most comfortable back seat I sampled at an auto show a while ago, minus Maybach and Equus type cars.
Yes, but others do, and you imply they don't have the right have those desires. That's ridiculous.
Your AMG is complete overkill for the USA, who won't ever drive more than 85mph or so. For most buyers it's a lawn ornament to show off their wealth, not a track car used as intended by the designers.
Intent = meaningless outside of the context of Autobahn driving.
If anything the ES is at least used as intended.
Some of us aren't going to YouTube to watch an ad, even if a cute child actor is playing Darth Vader.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ox4ZtRuICs
I wonder how the LS has sold overall since it departed from paying homage to a great...
Where have I implied there is no right for Lexus lovers to isolate themselves? Please ante up a quote.
The ES is intended to drive in the left lane at 58mph? :shades:
CT aint luxury...
ES more comfortable than LS, S-class, etc? Hard to believe. I tend to drive myself, and in the ES I have driven, it was smooth and numb, but not remarkably comfortable otherwise. Like a fancy version of my mom's Camry. Oh wait...
He's back, opening the plant in TN:
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/25/tiny-darth-vader-brings-the-force-to-vws-chat- tanooga-plant/
Cute marketing, and effective, too.
Me too.
I watch some tv, skip past most commercials using tivo. Am still seeing the stupid car commercials of cars sliding sideways, every which way. Got to think, who, besides teen-age boys do these commercials appeal to?
OK. If it were Amerian branded cars in these spots, and seeing how top management drove 2 US companies into the ground, then you say they don't know what the h--- they are doing. BUT, respected brands such as Honda and Mercedes continue with this nonsense. Teen-age boys do not buy new cars.
I saw the still from the video. :shades:
Funny thing was, he got to drive at 10/10ths, while the Bimmer owners didn't really get to do that.
Cadillac-LaSalle Club
At least there's no gas guzzler tax.
Lexus should do a heritage commercial like so many other brands have done. It sells. Many who were too young to afford cars like the first SC when new can buy a new Lexus now. Of course, Lexus then needs to make a worthy follow-up.
The F team has proven they can tune worthy cars. The conservative leadership just has to let them loose on a few more models.
Perhaps the new IS and GS ought to have REAL sport packages, and not just for the IS-F style models.
The Lexus IS came first in the long-running survey, while the RX took third position, helping the manufacturer take a record eleven years at the top.
In the UK, no less.
The door's open, customers are receptive to the brand. Lexus has a good opportunity to penetrate the market with a solid redesign of the IS and GS models.
LS hybrid is pointless.
No diesel GS = failure in Europe. And if the rumored appearance is true, it will be marginal here too, so bland.
Why would the leadership stop high prestige cars from being made? The AMG/M/S-RS series have infinite clout that trickles down throughout the brand.