Ask the Car People.SM


Toyota on the mend?

16275 messages,  Last post on Jun 12, 2013 at 7:18 AM

You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota, Automotive News

    

Messages Page 1607 of 1628

#16057 of 16275 Re: Anyone catch this? [ateixeira] by fintail

Jan 09, 2013 (8:04 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 09, 2013 5:18 pm)
Seeing as the people who buy it today often don't care about design or driving, does it really matter? Some will buy it no matter how it looks, just for the badge, same with all higher lines. Buying something and liking it doesn't really mean it is good design - and even you, the perpetual devil's advocate said the front and rear aren't so hot.
 
Hell, people buy ZDX, CrossCabrios, X6s and 5er GTs, etc.

#16058 of 16275 Re: Anyone catch this? [berri] by fintail

Jan 09, 2013 (8:01 pm)

Replying to: berri (Jan 09, 2013 6:28 pm)
I think Lexus has channeled the spirit of Virgil Exner.
 
Acura has the beak, Lexus has the Predator maw/61 Plymouth grille. Something conservative like the new Accord is an exercise in elegance compared to either.

#16059 of 16275 Re: Anyone catch this? [fintail] by hpmctorque

Jan 10, 2013 (7:53 am)

Replying to: fintail (Jan 09, 2013 8:01 pm)
That's it, you nailed it. I knew I'd seen that Lexus grille before, but couldn't remember where. The '61 Plymouth. We all know what a hit that was, but at least it was original.

#16060 of 16275 Re: Anyone catch this? [fintail] by ateixeira

Jan 10, 2013 (9:28 am)

Replying to: fintail (Jan 09, 2013 8:04 pm)
people buy ZDX
 
Very, very few.
 
Yet the X6 sells well. There's no accounting for bad taste.
 
The old IS had that bulky area under the C-pillar, pointy headlights, and sort of an anonymous look overall.
 
This is definitely bolder. At least people will react to it, good or bad, but they'll get off the fence. The interior is where the biggest improvements went. I think it'll sell pretty well.
 
To be honest I'm more interested to hear what power trains they'll stuff in it, especially the IS-F.

#16061 of 16275 Re: Anyone catch this? [ateixeira] by fintail

Jan 10, 2013 (10:04 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 10, 2013 9:28 am)
I suppose a person spends more time looking at the inside of their car than the outside. Kind of like the GS, nice inside while a combination of bland, inoffensive, and weird outside. The 1961 Plymouth lineup was bold too - but it didn't have the reliability/masked badge snob ideal going for it.
 
I see the same bulk under the C-pillar in the new one - due to the upkick in the window/belt line that has become a Lexus theme - adds visual interest for some I guess. Actually now that I look at the details more, new IS has too many lines going upward at rear, trying to make it look jaunty I guess.
 
IS-F seems to sell about like the ZDX. Tough to compete with C63 and M3 in that niche.

#16062 of 16275 Re: Anyone catch this? [fintail] by ateixeira

Jan 10, 2013 (10:10 am)

Replying to: fintail (Jan 10, 2013 10:04 am)
The upkick is there but the sheetmetal below is doesn't look bulky like the old one did. It made the car look heavy and big, even though it was quite small.
 
Neither of us is the target market, so what matters are what existing and prospective Lexus buyers think. I bet 90% of the people who are critical are not shopping for a Lexus anyway.

#16063 of 16275 Re: Anyone catch this? [ateixeira] by fintail

Jan 10, 2013 (10:16 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 10, 2013 10:10 am)
The upkick angle is lower, but there's still a space there. Maybe it is to make the car look bulkier, cut off some light inside - the typical automatic IS250 driver probably equates that with safety.
 
Neither of us are running to buy one, but that didn't stop you from initially being critical either - only seems to be a problem when there is more to say. Really, that "matters" bit is only in the context of Toyolex profits - bad or ugly design can still sell. We all have to see them on the road, so any opinions "matter", even those who think it is a masterpiece of design (ha). Devils advocate doesn't need to be played everywhere.

#16064 of 16275 Re: Anyone catch this? [fintail] by ateixeira

Jan 10, 2013 (11:44 am)

Replying to: fintail (Jan 10, 2013 10:16 am)
Not just them - I've noticed green houses getting smaller and smaller with almost every new model. Gotta look "chopped" to be cool, I guess.
 
I find it annoying. What happened to actually being able to see out of a car?
 
No need, we'll just add extra cost bird's eye view to compensate for a designed-in visibility deficiency.
 
//end rant
 
Having said that, the green house here looks airy and I like that about it. The rear door handle, door seam, and gas filler neck break up the sheet metal so it no longer looks chubby back there.
 
The lights are trying too hard, front and rear.
 
I'd say the same thing about a lot of cars. The new E AMG's face is also just too "busy":
 
http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/10/mercedes-benz-e63-amg-gains-4matic-grip-still- -barking-mad/
 
There is a light within a light within a light, and the outer grille looks like a dog's cheeks blowing in the wind.
 
AMGs were subtle, what happened?

#16065 of 16275 Re: Anyone catch this? [ateixeira] by fintail

Jan 10, 2013 (1:15 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 10, 2013 11:44 am)
Looked chopped, but no shorter - just taller beltlines. Try driving a modern car with your elbow out the window. I suspect safety junk plays the bigger role. The cameras can fill 2 roles then - make up for visibility defects, and provide a little safety too.
 
I don't like the coupe grille on upright MB sedans with its lack of hood ornament, and those headlights are really busy. But, at least it isn't Predator's mouth
 
AMG hasn't been subtle for about a decade now. Money likes to be brash, and IIRC, AMG sells several hundred percent more cars than it did at the beginning of the century. M/RS/F aren't really subtle either. The overpaid middle aged wannabe racers and spoiled trust funders who buy them new want to be seen. Depreciation is still high, anyway.

#16066 of 16275 Re: Anyone catch this? [fintail] by ateixeira

Jan 10, 2013 (1:30 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Jan 10, 2013 1:15 pm)
Even my Miata suffers from a higher beltline. Can't rest the arm on the door as with the NA model.
 
Ironically I think the more "styled" CLS AMG gets a prettier mug:
 
http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/10/mercedes-benz-cls63-amg-gets-same-awd-power-b- oost-as-new-e63-mo/
 
Still more jewelry than I'd wear but the design is cleaner.
 
I'm not the target buyer for either, anyway, so I doubt they care!

Messages Page 1607 of 1628

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement