ES Official: 2010 Lexus ES
- Thread starter Shining Star
- Start date
cawimmer430
Piston Pioneer
Wow! This car is an inspiration! Seriously! 
Nothing screams ultra luxury like a Lexus ES!
Nothing screams ultra luxury like a Lexus ES!
loco@circo
Parking Lot Prodigy
I don't know that one from Europe, but as I see it for the first time now, it's simply bold and not nearly as elegant and sleek as an IS, GS or LS.
cawimmer430
Piston Pioneer
Don't forget that over 90% of people who buy these are over 90 years old and have severe eyesight problems.
On a serious note, I think Lexus interiors are generally so damn overrated. I look at the ES interior and think to myself: "What is so special about it?" It looks so plain and very Toyotaish. Lexus doesn't really have a solid design language when it comes to interiors IMO.
bmer
Tire Trailblazer
Giannis
Staff member
To be fair, we also have to judge Lexus from another point of view, rather than only from the german car fan/driving enthusiast POV.
First of all, Lexus is a marketing exercise. Trying to sell upscale Toyotas as luxury cars based realistically only on the marketing science is extremelly difficult. And succeeding in doing so is even more difficult. Lexus is made for the average american customer and noone can deny that. It's clear that Lexus is a success in the US market and pretty much a failure in the rest of the world. That's not a bad thing. That clearly demonstrates the target group of their products.
I say that their products are designed for the average american. But what does the average american want? In my opinion these are the characteristics of the american market:
Lexus offers all these and with a great price! While german cars don't look much more luxurious, nor have all that equipment as standard, yet they cost way more. So Lexus is the winner. It takes a great mind to market a completely new brand in such a way, so that in less than 10 years it becomes a market leader.
For those reasons, from a strictly bussiness point of view, I admit that Lexus is a hell of an achivement. But as a european customer and driving enthusiast (the fact that I drive a Volvo has absolutely nothing to do with that) I cannot buy a Lexus, as it's exactly what I do NOT want.
I want to pay more for the attention to detail that makes the german luxury car makers be a step above every other luxury brand and I am also willing to pay the extra money to feel good, because the man who created my brand was the one who invented the automobile, or has a great racing history, or has invented the safety belt 50 years ago, or whatever. These values are not important in the US market.
The european and the US market have many differences! And that is a fact. And because Lexus is made for a different type of drivers, rather that our type, it doesn't mean they are shit. Also, not because the dumbass responsible for the floor mats didn't think twice about his creation, means that an IS (for example) is not a dependable and descent car to have. Sure it won't have the edge that a 3er has in the driving dynamics department, nor it will have Mercedes levels of interior quality, but still it's a good car to own, and it will bring a smile to many faces. But in our eyes, an A4 2.0TFSI will still be a better car.
That said, I don't agree with those people who see Lexus as shitty cars. They are great cars for what they are supposed to be!
But as long as I am a german car fan, I can brag that Audi, BMW and MB are run by engineers and not marketing guys!
PS. Sorry for getting of topic.
First of all, Lexus is a marketing exercise. Trying to sell upscale Toyotas as luxury cars based realistically only on the marketing science is extremelly difficult. And succeeding in doing so is even more difficult. Lexus is made for the average american customer and noone can deny that. It's clear that Lexus is a success in the US market and pretty much a failure in the rest of the world. That's not a bad thing. That clearly demonstrates the target group of their products.
I say that their products are designed for the average american. But what does the average american want? In my opinion these are the characteristics of the american market:
- Supreme interior quality and design is not the No1 priority. Most american cars have tragic interiors and noone really cares.
- The exterior design must be very toned down to appeal to the generally conservative buyer.
- Descent engines of big volume, but not necesserily of 100hp/lt
- RELIABILITY! And this is a synonim with the Toyota brand
- Lots of buttons in the interior. The more buttons it has the more luxurious the car LOOKS.
- Good price compared to the german offers that LOOK only slightly more luxurious in the eyes of the average buyer.
- The history and the backround of the brand won't influence the customer at all.
- It has to have a lot of crome and be shiny and shouty without being bold. Lexus succeeds in doing so.
- It doesn't really have to handle great. Americans are more of the straight line speed, than on the art of taking corners.
- It has to have tons of equipment as standard.
Lexus offers all these and with a great price! While german cars don't look much more luxurious, nor have all that equipment as standard, yet they cost way more. So Lexus is the winner. It takes a great mind to market a completely new brand in such a way, so that in less than 10 years it becomes a market leader.
For those reasons, from a strictly bussiness point of view, I admit that Lexus is a hell of an achivement. But as a european customer and driving enthusiast (the fact that I drive a Volvo has absolutely nothing to do with that
) I cannot buy a Lexus, as it's exactly what I do NOT want.I want to pay more for the attention to detail that makes the german luxury car makers be a step above every other luxury brand and I am also willing to pay the extra money to feel good, because the man who created my brand was the one who invented the automobile, or has a great racing history, or has invented the safety belt 50 years ago, or whatever. These values are not important in the US market.
The european and the US market have many differences! And that is a fact. And because Lexus is made for a different type of drivers, rather that our type, it doesn't mean they are shit. Also, not because the dumbass responsible for the floor mats didn't think twice about his creation, means that an IS (for example) is not a dependable and descent car to have. Sure it won't have the edge that a 3er has in the driving dynamics department, nor it will have Mercedes levels of interior quality, but still it's a good car to own, and it will bring a smile to many faces. But in our eyes, an A4 2.0TFSI will still be a better car.
That said, I don't agree with those people who see Lexus as shitty cars. They are great cars for what they are supposed to be!
But as long as I am a german car fan, I can brag that Audi, BMW and MB are run by engineers and not marketing guys!
PS. Sorry for getting of topic.
Merc1
Premium
Good summary as to what Lexus is and does. The fact they've struggled for years outside of the U.S. really does tell the story. I don't get it. If diesels are the key to success in Europe why won't Toyota build a good one? They have the money even now they still have it. All hybrids isn't going to work if they want volume.
In fairness though the IS350 and the IS-F are cars I could live with, quite easily actually. It is the ES, LS, RX that Lexus made their name/image on and those are still their best sellers, another telling fact.
Why I like the LX570 is a mystery for it is nothing more than a Land Cruiser with a better interior and swollen fenders.
Lexus has its place just like every other brand in the U.S. The one Japanese luxury brand I can't see why anyone would buy is Acura. They're ugly as hell and every single car they sell is based on the Honda Accord. Every one of them are based on either the American or the European Accord (our Acura TSX). Even Lexus not to mention Infiniti have their own platforms now, V8s, RWD etc. things that separate them from their Nissan and Toyota brethren. I'd take a Lincoln MKS over any Acura.
M
In fairness though the IS350 and the IS-F are cars I could live with, quite easily actually. It is the ES, LS, RX that Lexus made their name/image on and those are still their best sellers, another telling fact.
Why I like the LX570 is a mystery for it is nothing more than a Land Cruiser with a better interior and swollen fenders.
Lexus has its place just like every other brand in the U.S. The one Japanese luxury brand I can't see why anyone would buy is Acura. They're ugly as hell and every single car they sell is based on the Honda Accord. Every one of them are based on either the American or the European Accord (our Acura TSX). Even Lexus not to mention Infiniti have their own platforms now, V8s, RWD etc. things that separate them from their Nissan and Toyota brethren. I'd take a Lincoln MKS over any Acura.
M
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Lexus
Lexus is the luxury vehicle division of the Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation.
Founded in 1989, the Lexus brand is marketed in over 90 countries and territories worldwide
and is Japan's largest-selling make of premium cars. Lexus is headquartered in Nagoya, Japan.
Its operational centers are in Brussels, Belgium, and Plano, Texas, United States.
Official website: Lexus
Official website: Lexus
