Lexus ads are driving me up a wall!!!!

[kovachian]

Re: Lexus adds are driving me up a wall!!!!

I am not to sure that Audi is completely seperate from VW. VW still maintains control over the big boy and isn't the Phaeton the same thing as the A8? And the Passat the samething as the A6?

Who ever said Audi was completely seperate?

 

[wltsm]

Re: Lexus adds are driving me up a wall!!!!

The two brands share some things, such as engines and platforms for some of the cars, but Audis are definately better cars than VWs!

 

[Beemer B773ER]

Re: Lexus adds are driving me up a wall!!!!

I think it is rather immature from some of you to come here and bash Lexus just because it is attempting to compete with the car manufacturers that we dearly love.

I personally like Lexus and would consider purchasing one, however, even if I didn't like them I would show some sort of respect in some way or form and not come here for comic relief or for some other reason to bash their marketing.

We are know that most commercials and marketting departments today in days are not really out there to get you to purchase or love their items. They are simply trying to get you to get a good laugh at their product or something to that effect. Take a look at the Sprite commercials that have been out for about a month or so in the US. They are so weird, and make no sense. They do not make me want to go drink Sprite over anything else nor make me thirsty in the first place.

Lexus has come far and one day may surpass many german car brands. So, if some of you want to sit here and bash or critique Lexus just because it has a german name that means 'luxury', or because the guy in the commercials sounds to 'refined' then you don't have any appreciation for any car manufacturer, which should be the first and upmost held rule by any enthusiast, and are extremely biased and only prefer your brand or manufacturers from a specific origin.





Matt I am sorry but I cannot agree with you here. Americans buy more 'get-rich-schemes' than any other country out there. Americans buy more things and pamper themselves even if they cannot afford it on a daily basis. Why? Because some products that are marketted have the tendency to portray themselves as highly qualified upper class products. That is why they purchase such products, so that they can have a status symbol! Come on! Look at the BMW, MB, AUDI brand. Do you think that the average doctor or lawyer buys the car because it has a high level of craftsmenship or because it won several races? I highly doubt it. They buy it because it is way more powerful as a symbol than it is under the hood.

Thank You BMWFREAK. Only one of a handful of members here who have respect for what Lexus is all about.
Everything said there is well explained.

Just to add, some Lexus buyers purchase the Lexus simply because it offers the best compromise between comfort/price/image. It may not be the most comfortable, may not be the brand with the best brand image and it may not be the best priced... BUT, it offers the best mix of the 3. So in saying that, why do people opt for a Mercedes, BMW or Audi over a Lexus when it offers the best compromise of the three? Because they don't want to compromise on a certain aspect. For MB buyers, they don't want to compromise comfort, for BMW drivers it's driving dynamics which they don't want to have a limit on, and for Audi drivers... well, I'm guessing they don't want to compromise on interior quality. And ofcourse, all three offer high brand image too (not too sure about Audi in USA though).

Also, what Matt said earlier about Lexus emphasising new technology in their vehicles when the German's already have that technology present in their vehicles. Well, I had the same mindset a few years back when I saw a billboard ad for the Lexus RX330 and they were highlighting the fact that it has 'see around the corner' lights (sorry, forgot what the actual name is, I think Adaptive Headlights maybe) ... but yeh, when I saw that, I got a little peeved off since the E60 5er introduced that tech' to the automotive industry a handful of months previous to Lexus.
But you can't get mad at Lexus for simply promoting a technology which is new to their range of vehicles.... who you should be getting angry at is BMW for not emphasising such 'breakthrough' technologies. I'm sure BMW did promote that lighting technology, but it wouldn't have been to the mass media as Lexus did with the billboard campaign. Now I think about it, it's clever that Lexus emphasised such technology to the mass media instead of only putting ad's in business publications and so on because it builds their public image... and although at that present moment many motorists may not be in the target market of Lexus, sometime in the future when they have increased disposable income, buying a Lexus may become an option, and instilling a positive image so early in the 'average motorists' mind can give Lexus that mental favourtism in the new buyers mind.

Anyhoot, if Lexus ad's are driving you up the wall, then dont watch/listen/read the ad's.

 

[Michael]

Re: Lexus adds are driving me up a wall!!!!

Who ever said Audi was completely seperate?

In answering your question I will say the following: I was under the impression that Yannis, a fellow member here, was trying to say that Audi and VW are more seperate than what we think. However, I was trying to ask a question.

So, anyone have the answer one by the platform such as the Phaeton and the Passat at the same as the A8 and the A6 respectively?

 

[Michael]

Re: Lexus adds are driving me up a wall!!!!

Thank You BMWFREAK. Only one of a handful of members here who have respect for what Lexus is all about.
Everything said there is well explained.

Just to add, some Lexus buyers purchase the Lexus simply because it offers the best compromise between comfort/price/image. It may not be the most comfortable, may not be the brand with the best brand image and it may not be the best priced... BUT, it offers the best mix of the 3. So in saying that, who do people opt for a Mercedes, BMW or Audi over a Lexus when it offers the best compromise of the three? Because they don't want to compromise on a certain aspect. For MB buyers, they don't want to compromise comfort, for BMW drivers it's driving dynamics which they don't want to have a limit on, and for Audi drivers... well, I'm guessing they don't want to compromise on interior quality. And ofcourse, all three offer high brand image too (not too sure about Audi in USA though).

Also, what Matt said earlier about Lexus emphasising new technology in their vehicles when the German's already have that technology present in their vehicles. Well, I had the same mindset a few years back when I saw a billboard ad for the Lexus RX330 and they were highlighting the fact that it has 'see around the corner' lights (sorry, forgot what the actual name is, I think Adaptive Headlights maybe) ... but yeh, when I saw that, I got a little peeved off since the E60 5er introduced that tech' to the automotive industry a handful of months previous to Lexus.
But you can't get mad at Lexus for simply promoting a technology which is new to their range of vehicles.... who you should be getting angry at is BMW for not emphasising such 'breakthrough' technologies. I'm sure BMW did promote that lighting technology, but it wouldn't have been to the mass media as Lexus did with the billboard campaign. Now I think about it, it's clever that Lexus emphasised such technology to the mass media instead of only putting ad's in business publications and so on because it builds their public image... and although at that present moment many motorists may not be in the target market of Lexus, sometime in the future when they have increased disposable income, buying a Lexus may become an option, and instilling a positive image so early in the 'average motorists' mind can give Lexus that mental favourtism in the new buyers mind.

Anyhoot, if Lexus ad's are driving you up the wall, then dont watch/listen/read the ad's.

Very true Beemer Boi. I personally think Lexus is a great brand and I would presonally by from them as many of the members here would. Look, like are attempting to compete with BMW, Audi, and MB...let them. Is it hurting you? It shouldn't and even if they out do the german brands it will probably be with good reason. That reason is reliability. I am not vowing that Lexus is the most reliable, however, I do know that Toyota, its parents company, is very good when it comes to reliability and it has been emphasized over at Lexus as well.

 

[SDNR]

Re: Lexus adds are driving me up a wall!!!!

Audis are definately better cars than VWs!

I'm not sure about that ..... the Phaeton is a very fine car, I would consider it to be the equal of the A8, 7er, and S class as far as market segment goes.

BTW, just curious ...does the Phaeton have an all-aluminium body like the Audi A8?

 

[kovachian]

Re: Lexus adds are driving me up a wall!!!!

Excuse me I believe we have not met? Are you a new member?

In answering your question I will say the following: I was under the impression that Yannis, a fellow member here, was trying to say that Audi and VW are more seperate than what we think. Howeve, I was trying to ask a question rather than to simply be met with an uninformative statement like the one which you posted. Hmmm...sad.

So, anyone have the answer one by the platform such as the Phaeton and the Passat at the same as the A8 and the A6 respectively?

Careful with your choice of words there. There's a strong difference between asking a question, and making "uninformative statements". That very difference is summarized in the form of a question mark, as evidenced here...

 

[Michael]

Re: Lexus adds are driving me up a wall!!!!

I'm not sure about that ..... the Phaeton is a very fine car, I would consider it to be the equal of the A8, 7er, and S class as far as market segment goes.

BTW, just curious ...does the Phaeton have an all-aluminium body like the Audi A8?

I have been trying to ask these very same questions actually. There is obviously something shared between the VW line and the Audi line.

 

[Michael]

Re: Lexus adds are driving me up a wall!!!!

Careful with your choice of words there. There's a strong difference between asking a question, and making "uninformative statements". That very difference is summarized in the form of a question mark, as evidenced here...

I apologize for coming off defensive.

Maybe I should have picked a different word maybe one along the lines of a non-contribution. Kovachian I don't have time for this. If you are going to come into a thread and post a remark which obviously has some sort of intuition behind it then but no elaboration expect members such as myself to repond in such a manner.

Lets take a look at what fellow member said on this thread: Yannis "Audi has it's own management , designers, engineers ect. Audi also existed long before VW did so it's not the same thing."

What does that mean to you? If it has its on management, designers, engineers, etc. it means that it is extremely seperate from VW and VW on holding the position of a parent company.

Then I responded with this: BMWFREAK "I am not to sure that Audi is completely seperate from VW. VW still maintains control over the big boy and isn't the Phaeton the same thing as the A8? And the Passat the samething as the A6?"

I am basically saying that VW has more to do with Audi that what Yannis' comment makes it seem. Followed by that you can see that I am directly asking--from what anyone could see is an assumption that I have of how VW is involved with Audi in which they seem to have similiar platforms--about certain models in the VW line and the Audi line and what they have in common.

 

[Snake Vargas]

Re: Lexus adds are driving me up a wall!!!!

IIRC, the A8 is largely the same as the Phaeton. The A3 is largely the same as a Golf. The new Passat is more Golf than anything Audi. The A4 and the old Passat were related, but no longer, with the old Passat's demise.

---

Saying that there is no South African Lexus CEO is a bit silly - there is no Ferrari CEO in Australia (IIRC, we only have an importing agent), does that mean the company doesn't exist? Similarly, having the same dealers is also a bit of a red herring. Car companies generally don't own dealerships, they're franchises to whoever wants one. There are separate Lexus and Toyota dealerships in Sydney.

Lexus and Toyota sharing some mechanical parts is as good as Audi and VW sharing mechanical parts.

I don't think you can say that Lexus or Toyota have the same designers or engineers without proof. There's so many of those guys anyway, who cares?

Toyota existed long before Lexus did, so it's not the same thing?

See if you can clarify your criteria for companies being "separate" and the we can see what's what. Or, as an alternative, we can stop this childish name-calling game and talk about the cars.

 

[SDNR]

Re: Lexus adds are driving me up a wall!!!!

IIRC, the A8 is largely the same as the Phaeton.

I'm not so sure about that SV ...the Phaeton has more in common with the Bentley Continental GT actually.

 

[SDNR]

Re: Lexus adds are driving me up a wall!!!!

I have been trying to ask these very same questions actually. There is obviously something shared between the VW line and the Audi line.

I just found out the VW Phaeton has a galvanized steel construction ....it is technically quite different from the Audi A8.

 

[kovachian]

Re: Lexus adds are driving me up a wall!!!!

You could've asked me to elaborate and I gladly would have. I just think you got the wrong impression from someone stating that Audi has it's own president, board of directors and whatnot. We all know Audi isn't independent, although I believe that Audi has a little bit more playroom with VW than Lexus has with Toyota. I could very well be wrong that's just the way I see it.

 

[Michael]

Re: Lexus adds are driving me up a wall!!!!

You could've asked me to elaborate and I gladly would have. I just think you got the wrong impression from someone stating that Audi has it's own president, board of directors and whatnot. We all know Audi isn't independent, although I believe that Audi has a little bit more playroom with VW than Lexus has with Toyota. I could very well be wrong that's just the way I see it.

Maybe you are right about the impression, however, the person who said it didn't elaborate himself, so I had to go with what he said.

Roberto, I did not know that which you mentioned about the Phaeton. Nice find.

I wonder if it would be possible to have a side-by-side comparison of the "look a likes" in audi and vw and see how much they are related.

 

[notic]

Re: Lexus adds are driving me up a wall!!!!

here's the one i was previously talking about:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMkt77bIsvs

sure it could be used to sell a lot of things other than cars, but still, i think its a nice ad.

 

[Matt]

Re: Lexus adds are driving me up a wall!!!!

I think I made it pretty clear that its the Lexus ADs that bother me, not the product. I like what the make, especially the IS. The Ads bother because instead of portraying they're product as being a great one they portray as being a status symbol which lexus isnt.

Its kind of like someone trying to be cool but really isnt. The more they try to be cool the less they are. Lexus is trying to be something its not. Its a good reliable luxury car but not a status symbol.

And of course we get the "voices of reason" who come to this thread just to sound intelligent instead of making a good argument. Lexus is a glorified toyota. It uses the same parts the same engineers and the same management so what else is it??? Its great product, just like toyota.

 

[Beemer B773ER]

Re: Lexus adds are driving me up a wall!!!!

And of course we get the "voices of reason" who come to this thread just to sound intelligent instead of making a good argument.

Which members are u referring to ?

 

[warot]

Re: Lexus adds are driving me up a wall!!!!

here's the one i was previously talking about:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMkt77bIsvs

sure it could be used to sell a lot of things other than cars, but still, i think its a nice ad.

You know, it's a great ad, but I just remembered something. Mercedes Benz had an ad that showed the Benz being a loyal servant, through good times, bad times and so on. In the ad, they showed some Benzes from the 70's and even earlier to presents cars. This has almost the same idea. I don't know, the two ads seem a bit too similiar, can anyone remember what I'm talking about?

 

[Michael]

Re: Lexus adds are driving me up a wall!!!!

And of course we get the "voices of reason" who come to this thread just to sound intelligent instead of making a good argument. Lexus is a glorified toyota. It uses the same parts the same engineers and the same management so what else is it??? Its great product, just like toyota.

Which memebers?

Either way, Matt you are a cool guy and you have a right to dislike Lexus' ads...hey! you came to the right place of the forum to complain. If you read closely--and all members should do this-- you will notice that this section is under Exhaust Pipe which truly entitles a member to just 'blow up' and say what he wants to...to a certain extent. However, you will see many members come here and reason with you or simply share their opinions.

 

[Mr. M]

Re: Lexus adds are driving me up a wall!!!!

I just found out the VW Phaeton has a galvanized steel construction ....it is technically quite different from the Audi A8.

Yeah, but to add on some details, the engine cover and doors, in addition to miscellaneous parts of the car is made from aluminium.

The VW Phaeton is technically quite separate from the A8, but yet... From experience, both cars share a 'feeling' that is hard to describe. It's how VAG cars are built, I expect. Both cars exude the feeling that is dissimilar from both BMW's and MB's uniqueness.

That said however, the VW Phaeton is better said to be related to the Bentley Continental GT & Flying Spur, more so than being related to the A8. The A8's all-aluminium space frame remains a novelty for its cars.

You could also say the Phaeton is homogenised from both the A8 and the Bentleys. Although the chassis is a distant similarity to the Bentleys, the VW's V8 engine is shared with the A8, as with the W12 engine. However, the W12 in the Phaeton is naturally aspirated and hence, produces 'only' 450PS.

And BMWFREAK, no matter how similar Audi and VW might be, they're distancing themselves as much as possible now that Audi competes aggressively with MB/BMW while VW attempts mid-level luxury to economical cars. The Phaeton's future is still in question.

That is to say, put in a sentence, the Phaeton is an enigma.

About the Lexus ads, I think radical marketing gets the last laugh.

Saying Toyota and Lexus is the same thing is a touchy thing to say indeed. And it definitely isn't true. The new generations of Lexus cars are quite different from Toyota cars in the sense of design in both the exterior and interior. However... I do agree, some parts of these Lexus are straight of a Toyota's parts bin.