View Poll Results: Do you think Luxury Sports Sedans should have wooden steering wheels?
Voters: 63. You may not vote on this poll
Wood Steering Wheel on a Luxury Sport Sedan - Yay or Nay?
06-25-07, 03:44 AM
#31
Lexus Fanatic
1SICKLEX is correct that Lexus generally didn't get to where it is today by building BMW clones. Though the IS competes with the 3-series to some extent, the 3-series easily trumps it in sales. In fact, if anything, today's Lexus vehicles are TOO much like BMW's...witness the 7-series style trunk lid on the new LS460 and the disappointing drop in ride quality on the new ES350. Even Lexus is starting to worship at the altar of steering response when the majority of its customers probably don't want that type of car.
06-25-07, 07:03 AM
#32
Super Moderator
I really don't care if they have a wood steering wheel on pseudo-sports cars or not 
I won't want one on a corvette, ferrari or Porsche etc. though.
I do think they should give you an option to choose between wood or all-leather steering wheel though (like the E-class).
I won't want one on a corvette, ferrari or Porsche etc. though.I do think they should give you an option to choose between wood or all-leather steering wheel though (like the E-class).
06-25-07, 07:22 AM
#33
Lexus Fanatic
Well, while we argue back and forth over what materials are appropriate for a sport-sedan wheel, don't forget that no matter what materials the factory uses for the stock wheel, those of you who want leather (or prefer leather over wood, vinyl, or other materials) can go to almost any good auto parts store, buy a leather steering wheel cover, and stitch it on yourself. I've done it myself, several times, back in the 70's and early 80's when a lot of cars still came with hard, skinny, uncomfortable plastic steering wheels. It's generally not difficult, except that tucking the stitching overlap in securely and unobtrusively can be a little tricky.
06-25-07, 07:26 AM
#34
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Huh? 
Are you trying to fool the masses into believing that Lexus hasn't been promoting the GS & IS sedans as sport sedans? Because if you are, you're not doing a very good job.
From Lexus.com:
GS: Performance Luxury Sedan
IS: Sport Luxury Sedan
Performance = sport
Sport = sport
Whether Lexus said they were the "say all/be all of sports sedans" is not really the point of this thread (as if a Luxury carmaker would ever even use such immature and ridiculous terms to describe their products anyway
).
Are you trying to fool the masses into believing that Lexus hasn't been promoting the GS & IS sedans as sport sedans? Because if you are, you're not doing a very good job. From Lexus.com:
GS: Performance Luxury Sedan
IS: Sport Luxury Sedan
Performance = sport
Sport = sport
Whether Lexus said they were the "say all/be all of sports sedans" is not really the point of this thread (as if a Luxury carmaker would ever even use such immature and ridiculous terms to describe their products anyway
).As for that last comment, BMW, Audi etc have posted some PRETTY blatant advertisements chastising the competition or flat out trying to say "We are superior, there is no competition".
For GOODNESS SAKES, look at BMW's tagline "the ULTIMATE driving machine"
Yeah, they don't say anything like that.
06-25-07, 07:29 AM
#35
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Lexus management again clearly knows what people want.
Don't worry though, if Lexus did not offer a wood wheel, this thread would be "should a true luxury marque offer a wood wheel"
/Exit Thread for me,
06-25-07, 08:17 AM
#36
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You don't have to say the words specifically sick, it's all in your actions. You seem to get almost offended whenever someone has some criticism for a Lexus vehicle.
06-25-07, 09:27 AM
#37
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Well, while we argue back and forth over what materials are appropriate for a sport-sedan wheel, don't forget that no matter what materials the factory uses for the stock wheel, those of you who want leather (or prefer leather over wood, vinyl, or other materials) can go to almost any good auto parts store, buy a leather steering wheel cover, and stitch it on yourself. I've done it myself, several times, back in the 70's and early 80's when a lot of cars still came with hard, skinny, uncomfortable plastic steering wheels. It's generally not difficult, except that tucking the stitching overlap in securely and unobtrusively can be a little tricky.
But should a customer paying 40k+ for a Luxury Sport Sedan really have to do that?
I know a lot of members here like to modify their cars and that's fine. I personally like to keep my cars stock as much as possible. But regardless of whether or not you like to change certain aspects of a car's appearance/performance, the luxury-buying customer should have as many options available to them as possible. A choice of steering wheels IMO is something the 40k+ crowd should have the option to select, whether it be wood, vinyl, leather, heated, etc. Overall, this seems to be a divided issue among most buyers in this segment and I personally would like to see more wheel options available from all the brands.
Last edited by LetMeShowU; 06-25-07 at 10:00 AM.
06-25-07, 09:41 AM
#38
Super Moderator
Heated wood steering wheels are available for the S-class, Jaguar XJ & the LS460/600hL. It's been reported that the wood steering wheel in the LS heats up quickly & uniformly too.
06-25-07, 09:59 AM
#39
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Really? I was unaware of that. To me, it wouldn't seem as if the wood would be able to transfer heat well enough as some other materials might (leather, vinyl, etc). Anyway, I would still like to see more options available. Regardless of anything, the feel of wood is quite different from anything else and some people simply don't like it. Does it look good? of course. But does it feel as good as some other wheels? that's subjective.
06-25-07, 10:03 AM
#40
Super Moderator
I think wood steering wheels (as with other wood trims in cars) are a thin layer of real wood veneer on top , it's not a whole piece of wood, so I don't think transfer of heat is a significant problem.
06-25-07, 11:05 AM
#41
But should a customer paying 40k+ for a Luxury Sport Sedan really have to do that? I know a lot of members here like to modify their cars and that's fine. I personally like to keep my cars stock as much as possible. But regardless of whether or not you like to change certain aspects of a car's appearance/performance, the luxury-buying customer should have as many options available to them as possible.
A choice of steering wheels IMO is something the 40k+ crowd should have the option to select, whether it be wood, vinyl, leather, heated, etc. Overall, this seems to be a divided issue among most buyers in this segment and I personally would like to see more wheel options available from all the brands.
I know a lot of members here like to modify their cars and that's fine. I personally like to keep my cars stock as much as possible. But regardless of whether or not you like to change certain aspects of a car's appearance/performance, the luxury-buying customer should have as many options available to them as possible. A choice of steering wheels IMO is something the 40k+ crowd should have the option to select, whether it be wood, vinyl, leather, heated, etc. Overall, this seems to be a divided issue among most buyers in this segment and I personally would like to see more wheel options available from all the brands.
Good to see folks who can think outside of the box. Folks who spend 40k plus on a car should have such options as wood, leather, suede steering wheel available for one to choose imo.
06-25-07, 12:26 PM
#42
Lexus Fanatic
But should a customer paying 40k+ for a Luxury Sport Sedan really have to do that? I know a lot of members here like to modify their cars and that's fine. I personally like to keep my cars stock as much as possible. But regardless of whether or not you like to change certain aspects of a car's appearance/performance, the luxury-buying customer should have as many options available to them as possible.
A choice of steering wheels IMO is something the 40k+ crowd should have the option to select, whether it be wood, vinyl, leather, heated, etc. Overall, this seems to be a divided issue among most buyers in this segment and I personally would like to see more wheel options available from all the brands.
I know a lot of members here like to modify their cars and that's fine. I personally like to keep my cars stock as much as possible. But regardless of whether or not you like to change certain aspects of a car's appearance/performance, the luxury-buying customer should have as many options available to them as possible. A choice of steering wheels IMO is something the 40k+ crowd should have the option to select, whether it be wood, vinyl, leather, heated, etc. Overall, this seems to be a divided issue among most buyers in this segment and I personally would like to see more wheel options available from all the brands.
There are, with some vehicles and trim lines, also dealer-installed wood packages for both dash and steering wheels.
06-25-07, 05:12 PM
#45
Super Moderator
I don't like it on sport sedans or sports cars, but do on pretty much anything else. It's fantastic in our RX, but I would be PISSED if my 3-series had it. Same with an IS. It's going to see some spirited driving, the wheel had better be all leather. Everything else in the Lexus lineup is more tilted towards the luxury side, so wood is the appropriate choice.
Now the shift **** is another story--I LOVE the wood **** in both the RX AND the 3 (manual, of course). I can't see wanting anything else in a street-driven car. Track cars should have leather or even metal, but on the street, wood feels fantastic and doesn't detract from even the most spirited "normal" driving.
Now the shift **** is another story--I LOVE the wood **** in both the RX AND the 3 (manual, of course). I can't see wanting anything else in a street-driven car. Track cars should have leather or even metal, but on the street, wood feels fantastic and doesn't detract from even the most spirited "normal" driving.