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Sedans Lexus LS 460/460L Lexus LS 460/LS 460L Styling Impressions
3321 messages, Last post on Apr 22, 2007 at 12:29 PM
You are in the Lexus LS 460/460L Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
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Replying to: tagman (Aug 13, 2006 5:07 pm) I also hope that Lexus improves on the driving dynamics but I'm not sure that they want to. Too much of their core audience is from the Caddy, Lincoln group who could be turned off to a car that offers more road feel and is a bit more sporty to drive. I wish they would at least offer an option for sport seats (firm and supportive) and a tighter steering and suspension. I could be wrong but if they price the LS similar to comparably equipped S Class and 7 series, I don't think that they'd be nearly as successful. And I don't think they will vary from their tried and true formula. It may be a bit early in the game for them to command the same premium in status and perceived image as BMW and MB. It's amazing that they've come as far as they have in such a short time.
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Replying to: topspin628 (Aug 13, 2006 5:28 pm) That is exactly correct, my friend. A major component of the Lexus LS success story is the price advantage over the competition. Add to that a vehicle with highest reliability ratings and it appeals to the rational side of the brain. Never mind that the competition may be more attractive or drive with quicker response, or have other desireable features, as these other attributes become overshadowed by the "value" of the LS. Lexus has some of the best marketing strategy on the planet. You are right to mention that they would be foolish to change course. Remember, however, that as their models evolve, so will the marketing. An example of this is the LS600hL which will receive a new and exciting marketing approach, not seen on the regular LS. Also, the IS model is getting legitimate kudos for performance, and the Lexus marketing group will be tuning into that more as time goes by. Masterful. And value is key. And, if you stop and think about it, it is a great thing, because where on this planet do you get genuine value all that often any more? TagMan
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Replying to: tagman (Aug 13, 2006 6:17 pm) And they sure could use another product or two so how about a large coupe based on the LS to rival the CL and 6 series.
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Replying to: topspin628 (Aug 13, 2006 6:57 pm) Both. While Toyota can be credited with performance know-how, they are not pioneers or leaders in the field. Particularly with regards to a performance sedan, which is what we are talking about here. BMW and Mercedes are much further ahead in the area of performance as is relates to a sedan vehicle. The second half of the answer is about the cost . . . and performance, especially as it is enhanced, comes at a cost. The initial engineering comes at a cost, and then the implementation of that engineering has additional costs associated with it. Consider the cost of the AMG or M variants. Of course, these are extreme examples, but they make the point. As performance is enhanced, a cost can generally be associated with it. Personally, I think that the typical LS buyer is not as concerned with enhanced performance. The standard ride of the LS is good enough for most LS buyers. It is, afterall, a luxury vehicle, and there are other vehicles out there for those that want the driving dynamics AND luxury all in the same car. The success of the LS's "soft" ride is testimony to that, IMO. TagMan |
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It's funny, but a lot of people in these chat rooms talk about sporty drive, road feel, and overall driving dynamics. Now say Lexus sells 15,000 LS460s in the coming year. Of those 15,000, how many do you think were people who chatted on this site or other's like it? I guess my question is, are these desires for a sportier feel felt by most LS drivers, or are they just felt by the car enthusiasts who take the time to chat on different sites. If you look at demographics, the older generations (50+) are not as prevalent on these websites as the younger generation(20-40s). Now, the LS's target audience is definitely people in their 40s but mostly people in the 50+ range, considering those are the people who can spend 60-70K on a car. On a side note, my dad (50+), who drives a 3.5RL was forced to drive my 2004 TL, and said he couldn't stand the ride. He said he felt the road way too much, and preferred the comfort and loftier ride of the 3.5RL. So, the question comes down to, are these the people who Lexus is targeting w/ the LS? Are the people on these sites who are complaining about sportiness on an 80K car the actual target audience? In my opinion...I don't think so, but I could be wrong. It won't be the first time...
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Replying to: atlas7 (Aug 11, 2006 4:43 pm)
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Replying to: uvawahoo (Aug 13, 2006 7:33 pm) Read my post 2306, last paragraph. I think the answer is pretty clear. Most LS buyers are quite content with the ride of the LS, and rightly so. Performance enthusiasts are a large group, however, but not the primary demographic target for the LS. TagMan |
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Replying to: tagman (Aug 13, 2006 5:07 pm) Actually yes, for 2 weeks. Then, I ordered one. But that was before I ran into the LS. After driving that, and noting that there were 13 defects in the new S-Class that needed fixing, and 0 in the Lexus, I cancelled the S and bought the LS the same day. I do freely admit, however, that the S-Class was more fun to drive, more comfortable, and more stylish, inside and out. The Navigation was awful though, and as I said, lots was wrong with the Demo I drove. Not impressive. I'll give up the little extra fun for the reliability and lower price.
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Replying to: uvawahoo (Aug 13, 2006 7:33 pm) |
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Replying to: nvbanker (Aug 13, 2006 8:48 pm) I had a similar experience with the last gen S Class. I went for a test drive and just before we left the dealership, I tried to tilt the steering wheel down and it would not go. The salesman said that there was a problem with a fuse. Then the windows wouldn't operate properly. I couldn't believe that this was in an 80K car. That car drove so great and looked so good to me that I still almost pulled the trigger but then, like you, I drove the Lexus and my "brain" took over. That said, I think that cars are emotional purchases and in the end you should get the one that delivers more on that emotion since even if you have a few problems, the vast majority of the time you will be driving what you like and will enjoy it. I go back to my wife's BMW X5 which twice had electronic malfunctions that required it to be towed. Terrible right? But you know what? It's her favorite vehicle of all time. That's because for the other 99.99999% of the time, she loved the way it drove. With the LS, Lexus delivers astonishing reliability and quality but is somewhat devoid of emotional attachment. I've had mine for 2 years and I can't say anything bad about it. Nor can I rave about how enjoyable it is. It does what it says it will do and does it every time. It just does not "stir one's sole". Just my opinion.
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