LATimes Slams New Lexus LS460

[ml]

For the record my last LS430 had the transmission and fuel pump replaced before the vehicle was one month old. (factory recalls) My first one had zero problems. Needless to say, the car was an awesome car but after less than a year with the second one I sold it. It did everything well but it never inspired passionate driving. My SC430 was the same. It was a nice car (and even kind of cool to look at when it first came out) but neither car compared with the "barn burners" that Mercedes and BMW and Porsche put out. It always felt kind if heavy and was not very fast with only 300hp. Every time i drove it i wished it had more ponies.

 

And while Mercedes, BMW etc market low volume, high performance versions, they still sell a bunch of cars. They use these versions to build brand image/prestige/passion/excitement/loyalty. Many of the technologies they use on these cars eventually trickle down to the cheaper versions. The person who drives a 3 series dreams of driving an M3 some day. Its excitement, its passion, its a little in your face...but thats what "prestige" car companies are looking to create. If Lexus wants to compete head to head with the German car companies, they are going to have to create a preformance division. Having said that, I dont think they need to. They build an awesome car that does very well at a very good price in comparison. Let the BMWs, Mercs and Audis compete with themselves. There is more than enough business to go around and Lexus has a large number of very satisfied owners who have no interest in owning a race inspired automobile.

[RichardJensen]

Actually, I was referring to the article itself, and to certain comments by others.

I think that racist stereotyping of Asian products cuts both ways, I believe that when Hyundai and Kia first arrived, there were some assumptions that these car companies, being Asian, would produce quality product. Ditto the Chinese cars when they arrive. These assumptions proved to be ridiculously unfounded. However, they persist, and I believe they have helped buoy the rise in consumer perception of Hyundai and Kia. I do not believe that GM, Ford, and Chrysler would get a comparable boost if they suddenly started offering 10 year warranties. Americans simply have no faith in the ability of other Americans to manufacture stuff--as a general rule.

 

As for the missing heritage of Lexus, well, it's true, and it shouldn't, in the end, matter. As the Boss said, "poor men wanna be rich, rich men wanna be kings, and a king ain't satisfied until he rules everything", I think Toyota is making a mistake trying to reach with the LS. They've got the most successful luxury franchise in the U.S., they sell scads of profitable entry-level lux units, and it's not enough. Rather than retrench against competition from Ford (far be it from Toyota to take the MKZ and MKX seriously), and others, Toyota is chasing rainbows, looking for acceptance from people that simply don't want to buy what they're selling.

 

Better, IMO, would be a radical rethink of the Camry platform which is currently the second oldest platform in the segment, after the GM W-body, and which underpins the Camry, Avalon, Highlander, RX and ES. The most important and most profitable core of the Toyota/Lexus lineup.

[TampaCharlie]

You asked "So is Ford making cars now that are more reliable than Hondas? "

 

The answer is Yes.

 

You may have missed the latest reliability report, Mercury, Buick, Cadillac were all rated better in reliability then Honda or Toyota.

 

Ford, Lincoln and Mercury were all rated above average in Reliability.

 

Ford, Lincoln and Mercury all beat Nissan and Subaru and Mercedes and Hyundai and VW and Porsche and Kia and Saab and Chrysler and Chevy and Mazda and Jeep and Audi and on and on and on/

You might have also missed Ford beating Scion in quality by a significant margin.

Glad I could help answer your question.

 

Hahahahahahahahaha Glad you could stay in your state of delusion. Long term reliability, Ford is nowhere near Toyota or Honda. Not even remotely close. Everyone that is not a silly fan of a car brand knows this. Enjoy your buggy whip

[StevenJ]

Hahahahahahahahaha Glad you could stay in your state of delusion. Long term reliability, Ford is nowhere near Toyota or Honda. Not even remotely close. Everyone that is not a silly fan of a car brand knows this. Enjoy your buggy whip

 

 

I've had a friend with a 'new' Corrolla had his airconditioning system fail at about 30,000 miles so STUF. What about all those wonderful Honda automatic trannies that blow up because they can't handel their V6 engines?

 

I guess all thoose wonderful Ford's that have lasted over 150k don't count either. Plenty of folks, here and else where have gotten their Crown Victorias, Grand Marquis, Ford Explorers, Rangers, F-150s etc. over 150k miles without much in the way of problems. You can research it, it is all there. There are plenty of Ford vehicles that can last in the long run.

[jcopin]

My Ford Escort's transmission died after 43k miles. $1200

Mustang didn't even last that long......

 

Honda Civic went to 110k miles before selling it to a friend. No problems whatsoever, Iand I was brutal to that car.

Acura TL now with no problems whatsoever.

Both Honda products I have driven harder and both have delivered more in performance and reliablility.

 

But that's OK for you. Unreliable pieces of trash are the new buggie whips. May Ford keep making those buggie whips with pride! Go Ford Go! And don't forget your important part in subsidizing them. God Bless you.

 

 

why the fuck are you even on a ford site?? id take a ford with 5 problems over 5 years than a honda with the same problems over the same years

 

anyone notice these ford bashers that pop up with 4 or so posts??? morons go to a honda site www.iloveplastic.org or some lame toyota site

 

and of course lexus is not a glorified toyota its a toyota with a L on it ... now just hold that L above your head and youl fit it perfectly

[mettech]

I'm sure that somewhere between all of this, the truth can be found.