Other premium and luxury import makes do this already. You can order your BMW, Benz, Volvo, Saab, etc. and when it's ready, go pick it up at the factory in Europe. You get to drive it around for a couple of weeks then drop it off for shipment back to the U.S. In most cases, even factoring in the cost of the trip, you actually save money doing this. Plus you get things like a factory tour, performance driving school, or other perks that the manufacturer throws in.

Since Lexus is doing absolutely everything "right" in terms of becoming a world-wide respected luxury brand, when (if ever) do you think they'll set up such a program? Who here WOULDN'T like a tour of the Lexus plant or a free Japanese vacation when buying their car?

The main appeal of Euro delivery for German cars is the fact that you get to drive your car on the autobahn and/or Nubergring. Why would anybody want to drive through the cramped streets of Japan?:uh: I wouldn't mind visiting the country, but from what I've heard, driving is the last thing I would want to do while I was there

Plus don't they drive on the other side of the road in Japan? I don't know how well LHD cars would work in that environment

I would go for it for sure, to see the plant, get a "JD" discount hopefully, & even take a drive on their test track is enough :D , & I haven't visited Japan yet.

I seriously doubt they would offer something like that anytime soon though . . .

It would be nice but at the same time the plant tour would be very limited ive been to the Toyota plant in Kentucky theres alot of stuff they wont show you due to corporate espionage.

there are plenty of LHD cars in Japan. And I'm sure they would let you drive around Nagoya (Toyota's hometown) and not Tokyo. I drove around Tokyo every once in a while for a few years, and its really scary. But there's not to much to see in Nagoya for tourists.

I don't know if it is still the case but LHD vehicles - especially luxury ones - were quite popular in Japan as it allowed the driver to cruise past pedestrians on the kerb side, showing off as it were. Anyway, driving on the wrong side of the road isn't difficult - you Americans manage it perfectly well. ;).

its still allowed. Some European manufacturers (and maybe American) offer LHD and RHD from dealers.

and driving with a LHD car in a mostly RHD community is actually pretty hard.
My grandfather had a LHD car in Japan and he had one of those toy robotic arms to get parking tickets and get tickets for highways (before iPass).

I don't know if it is still the case but LHD vehicles - especially luxury ones - were quite popular in Japan as it allowed the driver to cruise past pedestrians on the kerb side, showing off as it were. Anyway, driving on the wrong side of the road isn't difficult - you Americans manage it perfectly well. ;).

to me the visit to toyota town alone is probably worth the trip for JD already. but then like others said, i probably don't want to drive the car there too much -- way too hard to drive a LHD in the RHD place (not to mention if you don't do that often, you might just crash it before "taking delivery") and traffic

My Lotus Seven is RHD and other than passing I managed OK around Portland although it hasn't been on the road for many years. Strange experience none the less. Having driven in England on several occasions I often found myself in the wrong lane after turning a corner.

I agree that a tour, visit, etc. would be great but I don't think I'd want to drive.

I was reading a BusinessWeek article about the European car delivery tours, and it sounds like a very interesting option for luxury brands to offer. I think Lexus should offer such an option, although that might clash with their ruthlessly efficient manufacturing process. Plus such a program would lack the autobahn or the allure of a European vacation.

However, if they combine it with, say, a stay at a Japanese spar resort, or visit to tropical-like vacation spots, or cultural tours, that might indeed be very attractive.

Last time I went to Japan, I saw a 328ci coupe. Thought there was something strange about it. Then it dawned on me: in the land of RHD, this BMW was a LHD! I was like "wtf..........was this imported?"

Ditto what others said about Japan Delivery. Sure, some rural roads in Japan are nice. But driving a LS460 in rush hour of Tokyo with the cramped alleys and traffic could spoil the trip.