Wait until next year, says Lexus to the competition
11-16-11, 11:05 PM
#19
Lexus Test Driver
Much of the article is BS excuses to save face. I do not believe inventory shortages are directly responsible for their decling sales. Lexus's models are old and overdue for replacement. That is the MAIN reason numbers are down. Sure the disasters did not help with selection, but what cars dealerships did have, were still not moving swiftly. It is popular and common for many manufacturers to blame things on outside reasons, but realistically, most major brands are built strong enough to weather natural disasters without huge sales consequences. I've noticed over the last four years many companies jumping right to the, "it's not our fault, we had a natural disaster" excuse. Now if there's a downpour, the whole world has to come to a stop. BS. In general, this is weak and has rarely been a legit factor in the last twenty years of auto building.
11-17-11, 02:37 AM
#20
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Much of the article is BS excuses to save face. I do not believe inventory shortages are directly responsible for their decling sales. Lexus's models are old and overdue for replacement. That is the MAIN reason numbers are down. Sure the disasters did not help with selection, but what cars dealerships did have, were still not moving swiftly. It is popular and common for many manufacturers to blame things on outside reasons, but realistically, most major brands are built strong enough to weather natural disasters without huge sales consequences. I've noticed over the last four years many companies jumping right to the, "it's not our fault, we had a natural disaster" excuse. Now if there's a downpour, the whole world has to come to a stop. BS. In general, this is weak and has rarely been a legit factor in the last twenty years of auto building.
On the other hand I don't think Lexus made up the Law Suits and the stupid pedal recall that made bigger news than it should have been. Also Earth Quakes and Floods can't be made up. Japan is a small country and congested, so recovery will take longer. Overall, there sales are down because of old models but come one it's only been a couple of months that they lost sale numbers out of 11 years!
11-17-11, 04:35 AM
#21
What's this old model junk you guys are talking. The current Benz S class has been around about 10 years and people still buy it although it had a jillion recalls.
The current CL seems like it's been around 8 years as well...with minor refreshes. The SL seems likje it's been around 12 years with a headlight change in the middle.
Those might be too long. I like the way Lexus has been doing things in that regard. Models last long enough to keep cars from being dated too quickly but then changes them before things get stale.
The Camry and Accord seems to change every 3 years. That would **** me off. That's not how it's done with higher end cars.
Look at the 911. Basically the same shape forever. It just gets bigger.
The new Bentley coupe barely changed.
Frequent change is not the key to success. There was a quake in Japan. The economy sucks in the US. There are reasons sales decreased that don't signify the need for panic and upheaval.
Change is not always good. The car pictured above for instance. I believe it's the new GS sport or GSF (not really paying much attention). I'd be shocked if that thing sells well. The front looks like the Predator wearing a Darth Vader helmet.
The current CL seems like it's been around 8 years as well...with minor refreshes. The SL seems likje it's been around 12 years with a headlight change in the middle.
Those might be too long. I like the way Lexus has been doing things in that regard. Models last long enough to keep cars from being dated too quickly but then changes them before things get stale.
The Camry and Accord seems to change every 3 years. That would **** me off. That's not how it's done with higher end cars.
Look at the 911. Basically the same shape forever. It just gets bigger.
The new Bentley coupe barely changed.
Frequent change is not the key to success. There was a quake in Japan. The economy sucks in the US. There are reasons sales decreased that don't signify the need for panic and upheaval.
Change is not always good. The car pictured above for instance. I believe it's the new GS sport or GSF (not really paying much attention). I'd be shocked if that thing sells well. The front looks like the Predator wearing a Darth Vader helmet.
Last edited by Ice350; 11-17-11 at 04:41 AM.
11-17-11, 06:01 AM
#22
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What's this old model junk you guys are talking. The current Benz S class has been around about 10 years and people still buy it although it had a jillion recalls.
The current CL seems like it's been around 8 years as well...with minor refreshes. The SL seems likje it's been around 12 years with a headlight change in the middle.
Those might be too long. I like the way Lexus has been doing things in that regard. Models last long enough to keep cars from being dated too quickly but then changes them before things get stale.
The Camry and Accord seems to change every 3 years. That would **** me off. That's not how it's done with higher end cars.
Look at the 911. Basically the same shape forever. It just gets bigger.
The new Bentley coupe barely changed.
Frequent change is not the key to success. There was a quake in Japan. The economy sucks in the US. There are reasons sales decreased that don't signify the need for panic and upheaval.
Change is not always good. The car pictured above for instance. I believe it's the new GS sport or GSF (not really paying much attention). I'd be shocked if that thing sells well. The front looks like the Predator wearing a Darth Vader helmet.
The current CL seems like it's been around 8 years as well...with minor refreshes. The SL seems likje it's been around 12 years with a headlight change in the middle.
Those might be too long. I like the way Lexus has been doing things in that regard. Models last long enough to keep cars from being dated too quickly but then changes them before things get stale.
The Camry and Accord seems to change every 3 years. That would **** me off. That's not how it's done with higher end cars.
Look at the 911. Basically the same shape forever. It just gets bigger.
The new Bentley coupe barely changed.
Frequent change is not the key to success. There was a quake in Japan. The economy sucks in the US. There are reasons sales decreased that don't signify the need for panic and upheaval.
Change is not always good. The car pictured above for instance. I believe it's the new GS sport or GSF (not really paying much attention). I'd be shocked if that thing sells well. The front looks like the Predator wearing a Darth Vader helmet.
11-17-11, 06:52 AM
#23
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Much of the article is BS excuses to save face. I do not believe inventory shortages are directly responsible for their decling sales. Lexus's models are old and overdue for replacement. That is the MAIN reason numbers are down. Sure the disasters did not help with selection, but what cars dealerships did have, were still not moving swiftly. It is popular and common for many manufacturers to blame things on outside reasons, but realistically, most major brands are built strong enough to weather natural disasters without huge sales consequences. I've noticed over the last four years many companies jumping right to the, "it's not our fault, we had a natural disaster" excuse. Now if there's a downpour, the whole world has to come to a stop. BS. In general, this is weak and has rarely been a legit factor in the last twenty years of auto building.
They are still 3rd with all that bad news. Quite amazing actually.
What's this old model junk you guys are talking. The current Benz S class has been around about 10 years and people still buy it although it had a jillion recalls.
The current CL seems like it's been around 8 years as well...with minor refreshes. The SL seems likje it's been around 12 years with a headlight change in the middle.
Those might be too long. I like the way Lexus has been doing things in that regard. Models last long enough to keep cars from being dated too quickly but then changes them before things get stale.
The Camry and Accord seems to change every 3 years. That would **** me off. That's not how it's done with higher end cars.
Look at the 911. Basically the same shape forever. It just gets bigger.
The new Bentley coupe barely changed.
Frequent change is not the key to success. There was a quake in Japan. The economy sucks in the US. There are reasons sales decreased that don't signify the need for panic and upheaval.
Change is not always good. The car pictured above for instance. I believe it's the new GS sport or GSF (not really paying much attention). I'd be shocked if that thing sells well. The front looks like the Predator wearing a Darth Vader helmet.
The current CL seems like it's been around 8 years as well...with minor refreshes. The SL seems likje it's been around 12 years with a headlight change in the middle.
Those might be too long. I like the way Lexus has been doing things in that regard. Models last long enough to keep cars from being dated too quickly but then changes them before things get stale.
The Camry and Accord seems to change every 3 years. That would **** me off. That's not how it's done with higher end cars.
Look at the 911. Basically the same shape forever. It just gets bigger.
The new Bentley coupe barely changed.
Frequent change is not the key to success. There was a quake in Japan. The economy sucks in the US. There are reasons sales decreased that don't signify the need for panic and upheaval.
Change is not always good. The car pictured above for instance. I believe it's the new GS sport or GSF (not really paying much attention). I'd be shocked if that thing sells well. The front looks like the Predator wearing a Darth Vader helmet.
I agree frequent change is not the key. What Lexus is doing which is smart is spreading out the new releses instead of them all within 2 years of each other.
11-17-11, 06:56 AM
#24
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What's this old model junk you guys are talking. The current Benz S class has been around about 10 years and people still buy it although it had a jillion recalls.
The current CL seems like it's been around 8 years as well...with minor refreshes. The SL seems likje it's been around 12 years with a headlight change in the middle.
Those might be too long. I like the way Lexus has been doing things in that regard. Models last long enough to keep cars from being dated too quickly but then changes them before things get stale.
The Camry and Accord seems to change every 3 years. That would **** me off. That's not how it's done with higher end cars.
Look at the 911. Basically the same shape forever. It just gets bigger.
The new Bentley coupe barely changed.
Frequent change is not the key to success. There was a quake in Japan. The economy sucks in the US. There are reasons sales decreased that don't signify the need for panic and upheaval.
Change is not always good. The car pictured above for instance. I believe it's the new GS sport or GSF (not really paying much attention). I'd be shocked if that thing sells well. The front looks like the Predator wearing a Darth Vader helmet.
The current CL seems like it's been around 8 years as well...with minor refreshes. The SL seems likje it's been around 12 years with a headlight change in the middle.
Those might be too long. I like the way Lexus has been doing things in that regard. Models last long enough to keep cars from being dated too quickly but then changes them before things get stale.
The Camry and Accord seems to change every 3 years. That would **** me off. That's not how it's done with higher end cars.
Look at the 911. Basically the same shape forever. It just gets bigger.
The new Bentley coupe barely changed.
Frequent change is not the key to success. There was a quake in Japan. The economy sucks in the US. There are reasons sales decreased that don't signify the need for panic and upheaval.
Change is not always good. The car pictured above for instance. I believe it's the new GS sport or GSF (not really paying much attention). I'd be shocked if that thing sells well. The front looks like the Predator wearing a Darth Vader helmet.
11-17-11, 07:20 AM
#25
I wonder... why do Lexus models like the GS and the LS seemingly take a nose dive in sales a year or two after the new model is released? Lack of marketing or front-loaded sales? The only model that is exempt from this is the RX it seems.
11-17-11, 07:23 AM
#26
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After you do that, then make that statement so its supported by documentation.
Thanks
11-17-11, 07:38 AM
#27
I'm excited to see what Lexus has in store. I'm liking the new GS more after seeing the F-Sport version. My only issue is when Lexus will be coming out with a proper coupe!??!! Bring back the SC, dammit and do it correctly!
11-17-11, 10:19 AM
#29
double standards is more or less a subjective view anyway. one fact i can say for sure is recent lexus models (outside of rx and maybe es) take quite a hit on sales numbers after 2 years or so after debut. that's one pretty interesting phenomenon that we don't see a lot on bmw and mb (there are examples, i am not saying it doesn't happen).
sometimes i wonder if it has anything to do with lexus having more "buyers" and lessees". buyers tend to keep their cars for longer, so when a new lexus model comes out, they switch (spike on sales) and then they drive the cars for years until next generation is here. but for bmw and mb, there are more people leasing the cars, so every 2-3 yrs they have to change up anyway.
from that sense, i don't know if it's a good or bad thing for lexus. regardless though, i think the bottom line is lexus needs to find a way to maintain consistency on their sales numbers on each model over years. to me this is pretty important in maintaining a steady brand image moving forward
