The Nicest Dealership You'll Ever See

Are you actually surprised that it's a Lexus? Lexus Bellevue to be exact. I'm officially a little bit depressed that their customer waiting lounge(s) have far nicer furniture than anything in my home. Not to mention multiple flat screen televisions. Oh, and a garage that I didn't even have the capacity to dream about until today. Did I mention the escalators? Or the hotel lobby thing? Just amazing.

Original link from The Car Lounge, with pictures from Car Domain (lots more pictures at the Car Domain link):

Infiniti Dealers Really Need To Just Shut Up And Sell Their Own Product

Was in an Infiniti dealership today, to get some information on the G35 sedan. It's a vehicle I've had my eye on for a bit now, and I wanted some comprehensive stuff on packages, features, and most importantly, pricing. It's all going fine at first. I appear to have a salesman who knows his vehicle very well, is very polite and courteous, and seems to have a grasp of the competition out there.

And then he started going kooky.

The first issue was that he wouldn't shut up about the most recent Motor Trend mag comparo that gave a victory to the G37 coupe over the BMW 330i coupe (mostly because the BMW was too expensive and needs an oil cooler badly). Umm excuse me, I'm not looking at a G37 coupe- I'm looking at the G35 sedan remember?

The second issue was that he kept bringing up residuals on the G35. The residual on a 2007 G35 Sport on a 48 month lease with no money down works out to be about 21k CDN. His argument was that most G35 sedans from 2003 (4 years ago) retail for around 28k CDN, making the G35 residual a great thing. But... he's wrong. A 4 year old G35 in good condition with about 100,000 kilometers runs, wait for it, about 21-22k. And he wouldn't shut up about this, heaping scorn upon BMW in particular for having such high residual values. I mean, who would want a vehicle that has a lot of value when you want to sell it.... right? Please note my sarcasm there.

Third, he tells me that the 2007 G35 uses the same VQ as the Altima et al. I even gave him a chance to backtrack on this, and he insisted (okay, so this is more me being a know it all bastard, but I digress).

And then this happens.

Him: So one of the other vehicles you're looking at is the Lexus IS?
Me: Yeah, it seems to be the Lexus most closely aligned with what the G35 is.
Him: Oh yes, but it's quite a bit more expensive.
Me: I understand that.
Him: It's also smaller.
Me: I understand that.
Him: Did you know that the IS250 is based on the Toyota Corolla, and the IS350 is based on the Toyota Camry? Why pay a premium for that?
Me: Huh?

He kept insisting this. In a way, I can understand the Camry thing- after all, the ES is on the Camry platform. But the IS? A rear wheel drive car? And bringing the Corolla into the picture? For the exact same vehicle but with a smaller engine?

At this point, I realized I was working with an idiot, and mentioned that I wouldn't want a luxury sedan so closely associated with the 350Z. And he flipped out, saying that the Z was on a completely different platform from the G35. And then I threw the Altima and Maxima out there just for shits and giggles to get him really riled up.

Needless to say, the domestic manufacturers are not alone in employing idiotic sales people.

Ford : Home Of The Original Styling Cue

See that Lexus up there? In the US, it was sold as the Lexus IS300, the Lexus answer to the BMW 3 Series. In Japan it was sold as the Toyota Altezza. Sales started in 1998. It had some issues- namely, it didn't have that big of an engine, and the interior really wasn't all that Lexussy. It was a case of Lexus trying to be BMW a bit too hard. It even had an inline 6. What it DID have going for it was its looks- it's a handsome car from all angles, and even managed to look good in wagon form- a rarity. Notice those tail lamps? The IS300/Altezza started a trend in 98- 'Altezza' lights, which are basically clear casings with lots of chrome bits showing through. A more common sighting of Altezza lights would be Nissan, which cribbed the idea to an extreme in 2002 with the Altima (now in extra large versions with the current gen).

Well driving around this morning, it struck me just how hard the American makes are trying to make the rear ends of their vehicles look like Altezzas. It's quite funny actually. Especially in light of all the brouhaha they make about 'traditional American style' being the key area where they can trump the Japanese. The entire Saturn lineup is starting to look like Nissans from behind now... but the biggest offender is Ford. Who are methodically turning the front of their cars into Mach 3 razor blade replacement cartridges, and the rear of their cars into 1998 Toyota Altezzas. From the Fusion (which started it) to the yet to be released Focus, all the new Ford coming out are cribbing this styling element. Without grace or style I might add. Even moreso than the Altima, which was a shameless offender in previous gen guise in terms of a 'tacked on look' to the tails, the current Ford products look like 2 different designers had a go at the car- one at the front and one at the back.

Bear witness:






All of them with ultra glitzy rear ends for no other purpose than to copy the Japanese. Who would have thought the day would come where American style would be influenced by the Japanese? Well, it's here.

Everyone Take Your Tops Off And Jump In The Pool!

From Jalopnik by way of VWVortex -

Got damn!

Apparently there's a G37 convertible on the way, not to mention an Altima convertible, and a Lexus IS convertible. Nissan in particular is looking to expand their sales with their two 'halo' mass production cars (yes, I know the GT-R and the Z are the 'true' halo cars), and convertibles would be the next logical step since both now have sedan and coupe versions. As for Lexus, they play the BMW monkey see, monkey do game- expect a coupe in addition to the convertible too.

In the last year alone, that means the midsize convertible segment has gone from the Sebring, and uh, nothing...to the Sebring, the Altima, the Eos, the G6 and the Solara (assuming Toyota redoes it).

Of course, the tastier news is that the G37 and the IS will get convertible variants.

Something else to consider- if they're going to do a G37 convertible, does that make room for another model on the Infiniti horizon? I'm talking a 6 Series competitor as a pseudo-coupe and convertible, in both 3.7 VQ and 5.0 V8 trim- the rebirth of the J (J37 and J50 do sound good don't they?)?

MF Drives The 2007 Lexus LS460

In the battle of "Japanese" luxury companies trying to belong to the big boy club, I can admit that I have always been on the side of Infiniti. Acura never really made anything that seemed more than a tarted up Accord to me (yes, I know, please shut up NSX lovers), and Lexus always seemed to play it safe. Oftentimes too safe for my tastes. Nothing exemplified that more than the flagship vehicles that Infiniti and Lexus gave to the public from day one. Lexus went the conservative route, aping many of the features and comforts found in the big boat Mercedes' of the day, while Infiniti took a more haphazard approach that tried to incorporate a lot of Japanese luxury elements.

The winning decision hasn't been too hard to figure out. While Lexus has gone on to become a juggernaut of a luxury brand, Infiniti floundered for 10 years before getting a shot in the arm with the G35.

Putting history to the side however, before I go off on too far of a tangent, the original Lexus LS vehicles were quite amazing vehicles- they offered luxury on par with anything that ze Germans had out there, while undercutting them on price by thousands of dollars. It was a winning formula, and one that Lexus has stuck to over the years- as the competition has tried to one up eachother in the pursuit of making the ultimate luxury/driving/handling/speed machine, Lexus has kept the LS a model of traditional luxury- RWD, supple suspension, lots of gizmos, and adequate power mixed with sedate looks. If it ain't broke, don't fix it right?

Well, consider the the LS460 an attempt to fix the unbroken.

In recent years, Lexus has taken the criticism of their lineup to heart. No soul you say? They respond with the IS350. No identity you say? They respond with the first hybrid luxury vehicles in the industry with the GS and RX. What's interesting though, is that the LS isn't really an overt reaction to criticism- it seems AND feels more like a future direction for the brand... a compass if you will.

Outside, the LS460 drops the pseudo MB facade of the previous generation for a more lithe and agile look as Lexus applies the L-Finesse philosophy to the kingpin of their lineup. To my eyes, it's right there with the A8 as the best looking range topper in the class, devoid of the boy racer appendages of the S-Class, and the ugly Bangling of the 7-Series.

One place where Lexus never needed to take a back seat to ANYONE was the interior, and in this regard, once again, Lexus does not disappoint. Rich textures and soft surfaces are everywhere inside this vehicle, and the attention to detail is astounding. Check the door panels and the beautiful stitched leather for prime examples. Lexus rejigged their center stack design a few years ago with the IS, and the LS is a close cousin of that, but much larger. And with much more in the way of goodies. Unlike the competition, there is no 'i-Drive' do-it-all interface to muck up things, so people without physics degrees should be able to navigate things easily inside the LS460. The downside to all of this is that there are a LOT of buttons inside the LS, and sometimes they are placed in not so easy to reach places. Someone out there at some point needs to find the perfect balance between the blank space of the S-Class/7-Series and the buttons in the LS- until then, all the vehicles in this segment will be hamstrung in one way or another in this regard.

Speaking of feature sets, the LS has just about anything and everything your heart could desire- the particular vehicle I drove had the works- the premium package which includes a thumping Mark Levinson sound system complete with 19 speakers, and the technology package which includes niceties such as the much ballyhooed parking system. If you want even more goodies, you can upgrade to the long wheelbase version, where essential things such as 4 zone climate control with infra-red occupant monitoring are available.

So the comfort part is nailed down. No surprises there right? What about the drive?

Well, it's a mixed bag.

If you're expecting a BMW, you're not going to get that. If you're expecting an upgraded LS430, the LS460 is the ride for you. Now from what I've heard, the long wheelbase version, which comes with the adjustable air suspension is much better (and my experience in an LS430 with the air suspension confirms the difference) but for THIS particular review, we're looking at a regular spec version LS. And the regular spec LS is a supreme bump absorber. You won't feel a thing. In the grand tradition of American luxobarges of the past, a drive in the LS460 is like riding on a cloud. What's NOT in the grand tradition of American luxobarges of the past is that the body motions are controlled and the steering remains tight with a fair amount of feedback. However, through it all, one never feels 'connected' to the road the way you would in a BMW or even the Audi A8. Detached attachment if that makes any sense- everything is communicative and responsive, but none of it to the point of becoming boisterous at any time. As far as power goes, the obvious comparison is to the previous generation- and the previous LS430 made do with a 280 HP 4.3 liter V8 that was helped quite a bit by smart gearing, but was getting long in the tooth. The current LS460 needs no such smartness. How does a 4.6 liter V8 making 380 horsepower sound? Of course, if one DOES need a touch of smartness, Lexus has gone and one-upped their competition with the first 8 speed automatic in the world as well. If you drive sedately, absolutely nothing filters into the cabin- not a peep. Dip your foot into the pedal and the auto kicks down a few notches and... well, still not much sound. What you may hear however is your head hitting the headrest. The thrust is incredible and is only magnified by the lack of sound coming from the engine bay. Rest assured, one can get to very illegal speeds very quickly with the LS460.

What does this all add up to? Easy. The best value in the segment (again) and a vehicle that if one blindly cross-shops versus ze German competition, would probably win out 8 times out of 10. It's that good. The badge boys will complain, but that's the honest truth. If you're looking for sporty, go to BMW. If you're looking for a badge, go to Mercedes. If you're looking for style, go to Audi. But if you're looking for the best combination of all three (with a definite nod towards comfort unless you get the long wheelbase model with the air suspension), plus the best quality in the industry the LS460 is the vehicle for you.

The $104,000 Question- Is Lexus There Yet?

Lexus has unveiled the LS600h L — a performance hybrid version of its new flagship sedan — at the 2006 New York International Auto Show. Scheduled to arrive in Spring 2007, it will be the world's first vehicle of any class or category to feature a full hybrid V8 powertrain. The LS 600h will combine an all-new five-litre V8 gas engine with combined massive, high-output electric motors and a newly designed large-capacity battery pack. It will deliver a peak, combined output of more than 430 horsepower. As a SULEV-rated (Super Low Emissions) vehicle, LS600h is estimated to produce just 20 per cent of the smog-forming emissions of a conventional five-litre V8. Power is delivered to the wheels via a 2-stange ECVT transmission. It also has the first LED front headlights of any production vehicle.

http://www.leftlanenews.com/lexus-debuts-20072007-lexus-ls-600h-l.html

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And just like that, poof, the last bunker of the Euro marques is penetrated.

What's been amusing is all of the chatter following the announcement of the pricing of the LS600.

• The domestic fans, clutching their hearts in unison because Cadillac/Lincoln don't have a vehicle to compete with the GS, nevermind the LS, have been throwing out the 'I'd take a Corvette Z06 and an Aura for that kind of money OMG LOL!!!'
• The European fans (MB, BMW and Audi fans I'm looking straight at you) have begrudgingly given kudos to the vehicle while still being snarky and saying 'well it doesn't have the cachet of a Euro brand, and plus it's just a Toyota OMG LOL!!!'

Do either of these generic comebacks make any sense? Seriously?

Lexus is officially in the big boy club now. Alongside Mercedes, BMW and Audi- they've finally made the leap.

A breakdown if you will-

Exotic Luxury
Bentley
Rolls-Royce
Maybach

Pretty much well the 'we have so much money that we can spend it on $10,000 paint upgrades to match our favorite polo shirt' club.

A-List Luxury
Mercedes-Benz
BMW
Audi
Lexus

I'm still not entirely convinced that Audi belongs in this group, but the interior design and craftsmanship puts them in here in the end. This group is basically the 'you've arrived' segment of the luxury market. The Alpha Dogs of the industry if you will. They've got sales, full lineups, and a brand cachet rivaled only by the exotics. They also have a very forgiving audience- BMW, and moreso MB, have been coasting on their quality reputations in recent years, but the strength of their brand perception has been strong enough to let them overcome any possible bad stigma overall.

B-List Luxury
Infiniti
Cadillac
Jaguar (and sliding)

Infiniti made the jump very recently by coming out with some world class sedans- prior years saw them down there with Acura...and even more prior years, in the D-League. Cadillac is on a downward slide (they'll need more than the CTS), and Jaguar is one failed product cycle away from oblivion and fond reminiscence at the next Barrett-Jackson auction show. They're all very competent luxury cars, but they're missing the cachet- pretend to own one of these for a day, just tell people you drive an Infiniti, Caddy or Jag... and most won't even bat an eye.

C-List Luxury
Acura

Acura gets their very own luxury segment to themselves. Not quite at the level of the B's, but not an also-ran. At the end of the day, the perception of Acura vehicles as very very well engineered Honda vehicles has been a hard perception for Acura to shake. The vehicles in the segments which they compete in are all competitive, and sometimes class leading- it's the brand that needs work now. The worst move they ever made was dropping model names- the Acura Legend, Vigor, Integra et al were great brand builders, and they were all dismissed without any long term planning.

D-List Luxury
Volvo
Saab
Lincoln

The end. Lincoln is almost done at this point. Saab and Volvo have never really been 'prestige' luxury makers- just solid performing vehicles with a good safety record. Not a true luxury car in my opinion, but more of a 'premium' set of brands.

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