MM Full-Review: 2016 Lexus GX
05-22-16 | 09:33 PM
#49
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4,592
Likes: 28
From: TN
That matte finish woodgrain in the Volvos looks great. My 1992 SC300 has that similar "matte finish" walnut veneer, it looks great as well.
I think where people get mixed up on the "fake wood" thing in cars like the new GX is that the woodgrain is real, but its a very high gloss finish. People think back to their grandpa's Olds 98, Lincoln Mark VII or Cadillac Brougham that had similar high gloss, but fake wood. I've owned a couple of vintage Cadillacs, and can tell you that they had the best fake burl walnut money could buy. The stuff was pretty convincing, even though I knew it was fake. The stuff in the GX, yes its real, but it has that same sort of "fake wood" high gloss look about it as your 80's Cadillac.
I think where people get mixed up on the "fake wood" thing in cars like the new GX is that the woodgrain is real, but its a very high gloss finish. People think back to their grandpa's Olds 98, Lincoln Mark VII or Cadillac Brougham that had similar high gloss, but fake wood. I've owned a couple of vintage Cadillacs, and can tell you that they had the best fake burl walnut money could buy. The stuff was pretty convincing, even though I knew it was fake. The stuff in the GX, yes its real, but it has that same sort of "fake wood" high gloss look about it as your 80's Cadillac.
05-23-16 | 03:04 PM
#50
i no longer care if automotive 'wood' trim is real wood or not, as fake wood has come a long way. 
it's like in home decors now... 'wood flooring' is now often tile, and it's amazing (AND harder wearing).
it's like in home decors now... 'wood flooring' is now often tile, and it's amazing (AND harder wearing).
05-23-16 | 03:11 PM
#51
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 58,081
Likes: 2,786
From: Maryland
I still feel that in a luxury vehicle, materials you touch should be genuine. If they make it look like wood...it should be wood. If they make it look like leather...it should be leather. If they make it look like metal...it should be metal.
If I go and buy a nice leather looking wallet from Coach, I expect it to be made of actual leather.
If I go and buy a nice leather looking wallet from Coach, I expect it to be made of actual leather.
05-23-16 | 03:27 PM
#52
Thread Starter
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 91,613
Likes: 89
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
I feel the same way about the Lexus NuLuxe (as do obviously the cows LOL)....Lexus seems to have really mastered the art of making fake leather. No other manufacturer makes as convincing a fake leather.....and some, from the Germans, are basically just old-fashioned vinyl.
05-23-16 | 04:16 PM
#53
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 31,680
Likes: 73
From: ON/NY
I feel the same way about the Lexus NuLuxe (as do obviously the cows LOL)....Lexus seems to have really mastered the art of making fake leather. No other manufacturer makes as convincing a fake leather.....and some, from the Germans, are basically just old-fashioned vinyl.
05-23-16 | 05:30 PM
#54
Thread Starter
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 91,613
Likes: 89
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Toyota and Lexus have been using faux leather on parts of the seats for years. The entire seats are not full leather, its just recently that they have started putting faux leather on the seat cushion part in part of the Nuluxe line. The manufacturing process of the seat is a little different than leather seats, but full leather seats are not common.
Take the CT200h, for instance. Despite the use of CT in your own avitar-name, you have stated that you actually didn't care for that vehicle. Overall, when I reviewed one, I didn't either (I found it unrefined, noisy, and hard-riding by Lexus standards)......but the NuLuxe was one of its few truly outstanding features. The then-new CT was the first I time I had ever seen the substance, and I was extremely impressed with it. Still am....as are the cows.
Last edited by mmarshall; 05-23-16 at 05:33 PM.
05-23-16 | 07:13 PM
#58
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 31,680
Likes: 73
From: ON/NY
Well, that was my point, Jill. The NuLuxe is so good that, IMO, one does not NEED real leather.
Take the CT200h, for instance. Despite the use of CT in your own avitar-name, you have stated that you actually didn't care for that vehicle. Overall, when I reviewed one, I didn't either (I found it unrefined, noisy, and hard-riding by Lexus standards)......but the NuLuxe was one of its few truly outstanding features. The then-new CT was the first I time I had ever seen the substance, and I was extremely impressed with it. Still am....as are the cows.
Take the CT200h, for instance. Despite the use of CT in your own avitar-name, you have stated that you actually didn't care for that vehicle. Overall, when I reviewed one, I didn't either (I found it unrefined, noisy, and hard-riding by Lexus standards)......but the NuLuxe was one of its few truly outstanding features. The then-new CT was the first I time I had ever seen the substance, and I was extremely impressed with it. Still am....as are the cows.
05-23-16 | 07:16 PM
#59
Lead Lap
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,585
Likes: 24
From: Washington
I'm probably being a bit harsh.
Usual Land Rover body hardware nonsense.. breaking door handles, rattles, etc. Surround camera issues, brake hydraulic issues (Master cylinder/booster went bad, ABS light from a bad speed sensor).
Few little electrical issues; window regulator, rattling speaker, etc.
It's the truck that won't go away. I got pissed off at it last year and tried selling it privately, only offers I got were less than wholesale so I sent it to the auction, it did blood money and I was happy
Until some idiot at the auction lost the title. By the time we realized this it was 11 days after the sale. By the time I had time to go and get a duplicate the car was returned. Screw it, I kept it.
The engine is the same 5.0L V8 in my beloved Jaguar XF and it's been perfect aside from a water pump leak. It has fuel economy similar to a Boeing as the LR4 has the aerodynamics of a brick and it weighs as much as a house.
If you can put up with their occasional annoyances Land Rovers are wonderful SUVs but they are not for people without a reasonable tolerance level for service costs and broken stuff.
Usual Land Rover body hardware nonsense.. breaking door handles, rattles, etc. Surround camera issues, brake hydraulic issues (Master cylinder/booster went bad, ABS light from a bad speed sensor).
Few little electrical issues; window regulator, rattling speaker, etc.
It's the truck that won't go away. I got pissed off at it last year and tried selling it privately, only offers I got were less than wholesale so I sent it to the auction, it did blood money and I was happy
Until some idiot at the auction lost the title. By the time we realized this it was 11 days after the sale. By the time I had time to go and get a duplicate the car was returned. Screw it, I kept it.
The engine is the same 5.0L V8 in my beloved Jaguar XF and it's been perfect aside from a water pump leak. It has fuel economy similar to a Boeing as the LR4 has the aerodynamics of a brick and it weighs as much as a house.
If you can put up with their occasional annoyances Land Rovers are wonderful SUVs but they are not for people without a reasonable tolerance level for service costs and broken stuff.
05-23-16 | 09:39 PM
#60
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 49
From: CN