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The second salesman I dealt with last summer who actually got the vehicle right and let me drive the car I asked to drive, the GS430, was the best salesman I ever had the pleasure to meet.
Compared to him, the BMW people I have encountered have a long way to go.
He had encyclopedic knowledge of the car but was totally relaxed with no sales pressure.
I was so impressed, I sent him a referral and he closed a deal on the GS430 with that person, even though I didn't.
When the new LS 460 comes out, I will be calling him for a test drive, that's for sure.
I plan on driving the A8 too. Curious to experience the Audi dealership treatment.
The GS430 had adaptive steering which I couldn't "adapt" to and grabby brakes.
I did really want to like that car. Major disappointment, last summer. And I really did like that salesman.
Toyota Crown models were the ultra prestige cars in Japan for years. I believe there have even been V-12 Crowns (somebody can correct me if I am wrong).
The switch from Toyota to Lexus in Japan will be tough.
I previously mentioned the driver's seat not being very comfortable but at 6'2", this is usually a problem across the board.
I believe the only car I had no issue with the seat and legroom was my much lamented, dark maroon 1967 Impala.
I'll break this synopsis into two sections. First will be a timeline capsule of the LS400.... Second (later post) will be the creation of the LS. Happy reading.
Timeline Capsule of the LS400
08/1983: Toyota Chairman decides it's time for a luxury arm for the company.
05/1985: Design team and study team are put together in the US.
07/1985: A running LS400 prototype is made
05/1986: Autobahn testing began
09/1986: More testing on US roads
05/1987: Final approval for LS400 design from management
01/1989: At the Detroit and LA auto shows
09/1989: LS400 goes on sale
01/1990: Named C&D 10 Best
02/1990: Named Best Imported Car of the Year (Motoring Press Assoc)
Well, it took less then a year for everyone in the automotive industry to change their attitude and give this car the respect it deserved. Lexus became the standard by which other cars are judged. Only the Mercedes S Class and the BMW 7 Series could rightly claim to be better cars. But they cost $10,000 to $20,000 more than the Lexus LS400 which had a starting price of under $38,000 in 1990."
Read the whole article http://www.familycar.com/RoadTests/Lexus1stGen/Lexus1stGen.htm
There's a synopsis, the rest can be found in many business books and articles written since 1990. I'm sure some of it found its way into college textbooks.
On a side note, there is one little slice of Mercedes Benz that is an ICON for all time. It was (and still is, although "modernized"):
one of the most famous and fabulous FRONT GRILLS OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</b
I will always admire it!
TagMan
Well, Designman, between the timeline capsule and the synopsis from Len, you get the picture... The rest of the research is up to you, if indeed you'd like to know more
The Century with options can top the $100,000 mark in Japan. It has a vvti 48 valve V-12 and very formal body style. See the picture and specs at thus link.
http://www.cars-directory.net/specs/toyota/century/2001_5/5837/
On another note, I really like the styling of the Toyota Century and lament the fact that no company is choosing to pursue and preserve that classic look. It’s all about trying to create the future these days and the only thing they wind up with is ephemeral fashion, most of which fails miserably. What a shame. I welcome the manifest destiny of technology but we cannot throw Shakespeare, Rembrandt and Beethoven into the trash. Impossible, they are immortal. Likewise, I would like to see certain distinct elements of classic styling preserved. It would seem this should fall into the hands of HELMs first, but it isn’t happening. You have no idea how disappointed I am in the styling of most cars today.
If Lincoln offered a modern version of their 1961-67 Continental (including the 4-door convertible) their showrooms would be busy!
From article in Forbes about German manufacturers: worth a read.
http://www.forbes.com/columnists/2006/01/13/volkswagen-bmw-germany_cz_jf_05germa- - - ny40_0117flint.html
Anyone have those Numbers? U.S. only or N. America
TagMan
As well, the Century is the choice of many succesful business executives and politicians in high office. People see a Century and think 'that must be someone famous'.
http://toyota.images.free.fr/images/japon/toyota/2004_crown_majesta_2.jpg
The Mark X is also very nice inside.
http://toyota.images.free.fr/images/japon/toyota/2005_mark-x_2.jpg
Yes. The emphasis of course is on a manufacturing business model. But many elements from a desire and goal to sweep qualitative awards within a short period of time for brand recognition and establishing precision and quality from the more expensive buildout to the more economical buildouts in order to distance the quality of those products (in this case cars of course) from the competion can be utilized in any industry. This is why I was saying last night that the real flow here was from Lexus to Toyota - not the other way around. Business stories I've read like to deal with the details and the step by step execution of a truly long-term plan in dealing with the Lexus achievement as a blueprint for other new product development efforts.
read the article and from my standpoint the arrogance will hurt them long-term unless they adjust to market conditions which will be different across the globe. In the end the customer dictates what the manufacturer will do once there is sufficient competition in the market. There is much more competition than ever and it will increase a lot further from here. Arrogance works in monopoly or near monopoly situations but serious competition changes arrogance quiclky as can be seen by the cupholders, power windows and many other features they were reluctant to put in the cars. This fits any industry and sooner or later everyone is humbled. I don't view that arrogance as an asset, I view it as a large liability.
Different industry topic but here's a good story on German copanies in todays NY times. Enjoy and by the way I have a great amount of respect for how Germany and German businesses unified the extreme differences between East and West Germany in such a short period of time. Tremendous achievement.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/17/business/worldbusiness/17comeback.html?adxnnl=- - - 1&adxnnlx=1137550442-XNiuRnGO7laIgZO+to0Iew
The article about Heidelberg was most interesting to me. Thank you. My company utilizes Heidelberg equipment in our production facility. I will share with you a brief story about the reason we use genuine German Heidelberg equipment and not, say, Ryobi, or other Japanese equipment. Years ago, during one of our expansion and upgrade phases of our company, we purchased some Japanese equipment. It might have satisfied some, but our standards were VERY high in terms of quality. Ultimately, we rid ourselves of the equipment and purchased Heidelberg. The difference in quality was very real. I realize that printing equipment is not the same as an automobile, but I will tell you that there are very few pieces of industrial equipment that require the machined precision as that of a large commercial printing press. I will not take the room here on this post to explain, but believe me, the tolerances are every bit as much and MORE than an automobile and its engine. Price tags are seven digits and up. When we got to another point in time for another upgrade, we looked at the latest from Japan again, and the automation and technology was incredible, but once again the Japanese machinery was not as precise as the German machinery. Does this have anything to do with cars? Maybe. Maybe not. But I do know first hand every day what those German machines can do, and what those Japanese competitors can't do . . . under some of the most rigorous requirements you could ever imagine.
Arrogance hurts, of course, but the genius lies elsewhere, and it still shines through . . . sometimes as bright as the sun itself. Thanks again.
TagMan
http://www.nissan.co.nz/images/vehicle/maxima/gallery/9b.jpg
Our Maxima:
http://www.jalopnik.com/cars/images/nissan_maxima_review_int.jpg
I am very concerned about the 2000-2005 reliability record, and wonder if the previous model (1997-1999) was a simpler, so more reliable car.
Thanks
If I had a nice Chysler and someone called it a Mercedes I would be darn mad.
Lathes, milling machines, lasers, etc: the German stuff is top shelf if you are willing to pay the price.
For 50+ years the most prestigious cars in Japan have been Toyotas. All the cars sold here under the Lexus name are Toyotas in Japan.
Note: I have no idea why Mercedes launched a new brand name for their top luxury cars. Maybach is a flop: it reminds me of the 'new Coke' fiasco.
Now, to the technical part, Toyota manager gave me a DVD that show how they car is built and tested, its just amazing!! its a 12V, 5 L engine, super super smooth, it evens beat Lexus LS for smoothness!! the engine is fixed on a mobile system that absorb shocks and vibration (like the LS but more advanced), and you saw the interior, what amazing is this, the car is hand-made, it is fully customized, even the wood is hand polished, the chrome and so, it like a RR with better quality, it has the latest technology, and they test every car for 100 KM, they even use a stethoscope to check for the wind noise and so!! every delivered car have a booklet, this booklet includes all the names of the workers, with details about each one work and so, so if any thing goes wrong they know who is resposible, it even have the pic of each worker!!
Well, concerning how it looks, yes it isnt flashy, but this is how they wanted it to be, you know, all those that own it want it this way, its a politician car not a POP singer car!! its conservative but elegant, it has the latest tech but it is tradational, this is the Japanese soul car. One more amazing thing, there is a bird like sign in front of the car and inside it, ITS HAND MADE, they carve it and gold plate it and polish it!!!
This car is just amazing, its a car you have to respect
Lexusi
I believe the voluntary limit is currently 288 HP.
It is listed at 288 HP.
Kind of reminds me of April, 1970 when the 101st was told to hold Hill 927 at all cost: "Mens(sic), I'll be right there with you" said the base camp NCOs.