Lexus LS500 reviews and discussion
#361
Lexus Fanatic
I remember your personal review of the car. You said exactly that. I can also see you in a 7-Series etc.. for your next car, however you like to lease these cars so when it comes time to return your current lease and if a 5LS lease was favorable compared to an Audi or BMW, it wouldn't surprise me if you got another Lexus.
#362
Lexus Test Driver
I've searched everywhere for it but maybe it's too new of a commercial. Mercedes has a commercial I've seen multiple times that is 'hip' and showcasing Mercedes CPO. It's pretty catchy and one scene is a young fellow and his lady with a surf board on top of their GLA, both are dressed in short summer clothes, sunglasses looking like typical California beach bums, get out of the car and smiling and dancing and being the envy of other beach goers because they have a Benz, but the point was not all can afford a new Mercedes, but even young folks can attain one. Great advertising.
This is why MB has this prestige that carries their sales numbers up and makes them also immune to hate as well. You rarely see people hate on MB because its a Benz.
I'll go ahead and be that crazy guy who interrupts this sales conversation in the reviews thread and actually post a review.
Car and Driver posted a review of an LS500 AWD F Sport.[B
More here:
[url]https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2018-lexus-ls500-f-sport-awd-test-review
Car and Driver posted a review of an LS500 AWD F Sport.[B
More here:
[url]https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2018-lexus-ls500-f-sport-awd-test-review
Quote:In return for its relatively modest engine and cabin volume, the LS500 F Sport carries a similarly modest price for this class, at $85,215 to start for the all-wheel-drive model. The example we tested added to that a $1000 panoramic sunroof and another $1940 for a 23-speaker, 2400-watt Mark Levinson audio system, bringing the total to $88,155. That’s a fair price for a lovely thing. But while the car delivers on its promise of a distinctly Japanese approach to luxury, the F half-step is less successful in delivering on its promise of Sport.
Last edited by BippuLexus; 05-31-18 at 03:23 PM.
#363
Moderator
iTrader: (16)
This quote says it all and mirrors what I said about the LS500 in my own review. Honestly the LS500 F-Sport version, in both exterior appearance and interior (ugh those seats) would be better suited in/on/as a GS500. The LS500 IMHO needs to at the bare minimum have the interior upgrade package which nets the Quilted-stitch perforated semi-aniline leather and choice of Art Wood Herringbone, Gray Sapele Wood and Aluminum, or Shimamoku Espresso Wood trims. The Art Wood Herringbone is my personal favorite.
#364
Lexus Test Driver
This quote says it all and mirrors what I said about the LS500 in my own review. Honestly the LS500 F-Sport version, in both exterior appearance and interior (ugh those seats) would be better suited in/on/as a GS500. The LS500 IMHO needs to at the bare minimum have the interior upgrade package which nets the Quilted-stitch perforated semi-aniline leather and choice of Art Wood Herringbone, Gray Sapele Wood and Aluminum, or Shimamoku Espresso Wood trims. The Art Wood Herringbone is my personal favorite.
I hope Lexus removes the F-Sport LS500 and adds a LS-F.
#365
Sales targets are only to "save face".
Even Akio knows that 5LS has not had a good start; I'm not sure if discounting will help much.
The 4LS was first on sale mid-2006, and since then, they have had up to 12 years to develop 5LS.
All that time, and all that development money - hate to see that go to waste - and then pointless coming up with excuses after excuses...
Even Akio knows that 5LS has not had a good start; I'm not sure if discounting will help much.
The 4LS was first on sale mid-2006, and since then, they have had up to 12 years to develop 5LS.
All that time, and all that development money - hate to see that go to waste - and then pointless coming up with excuses after excuses...
#366
Lexus Test Driver
Sales targets are only to "save face".
Even Akio knows that 5LS has not had a good start; I'm not sure if discounting will help much.
The 4LS was first on sale mid-2006, and since then, they have had up to 12 years to develop 5LS.
All that time, and all that development money - hate to see that go to waste - and then pointless coming up with excuses after excuses...
Even Akio knows that 5LS has not had a good start; I'm not sure if discounting will help much.
The 4LS was first on sale mid-2006, and since then, they have had up to 12 years to develop 5LS.
All that time, and all that development money - hate to see that go to waste - and then pointless coming up with excuses after excuses...
If you really look into it, the Lexus LS500 is priced/stacked perfectly to compete against the 740i and S450. The Lexus LS with all the bell and whistles come a cheaper price, more luxury and better performance than the 740i and S450. The Lexus LS is definitely a better car than the 740i and S450 but not a better badge - that's the problem. MB/BMW enjoy this prestige that makes them get away with murder even if their products are meh.
#367
Lexus Fanatic
LOL, says who? I own a business and I have sales targets, my sales targets are not to be anywhere near "#1". My sales targets are not to "save face".
Again, says who?
You say its gone to waste yet you have never even driven the car? Its a great car!
Even Akio knows that 5LS has not had a good start
All that time, and all that development money - hate to see that go to waste - and then pointless coming up with excuses after excuses...
#368
The 5LS may go down as the slowest selling generation of LS on debut, relative to the S Class.
#369
Lexus Fanatic
See, to me, that means little if anything. Why should someone spend M-B kind of cash on a new vehicle, just because the directors in Hollywood push it in their big-money films? IMO, anyone with half a brain can see right through that kind of stuff. Vehicles should sell on their merit, not because of entertainers pushing them. I don't buy Buicks just because pro athletes have been pushing them lately in ads. I bought a Lacrosse, for example, because I liked the way it drove. A film isn't going to tell you that...you have to actually go and test-drive the vehicle yourself.
#370
Lexus Test Driver
See, to me, that means little if anything. Why should someone spend M-B kind of cash on a new vehicle, just because the directors in Hollywood push it in their big-money films? IMO, anyone with half a brain can see right through that kind of stuff. Vehicles should sell on their merit, not because of entertainers pushing them. I don't buy Buicks just because pro athletes have been pushing them lately in ads. I bought a Lacrosse, for example, because I liked the way it drove. A film isn't going to tell you that...you have to actually go and test-drive the vehicle yourself.
You have to understand - if something is pushed often enough and reproduced often enough, it'll become a bias within people's heads. This is why racist stereotypes exist - because its been pushed through generations of racism.
The fact is - if a rapper or an actor always pushes a Mercedes or a BMW, people who aren't car enthusiast and who aren't "into" cars will likely start to believe such brand is a good car. IE: "Hey. Drake likes Mercedes - it must be good." "Drake drives a Mercedes - I want to be like Drake and buy one too." etc...
Here's a good example - Aston Martin. People who don't know anything about cars will likely think the Aston Martin is cool because it was in James Bond. People will know that's the "James Bonds car" - this gives it a such prestige. This also happens for MB and BMW because they have insane good marketing.
Last point - of course, we as car enthusiasts, know better and would buy what's "good" and not what's "told to be good". But for the average joe/jane that isn't the case. I mean - these average consumers test drove cars all the time but they probably don't know what they are looking for during the test drive. That or either the already made up their mind about the brand and just want the brand.
#372
Lexus Champion
What?!?!?
I am not a business person yet even I know that sales targets are an extremely important part of a business plan. Without sales targets, how will you know if you can go into and stay in business?
If I sell X number of units at $Y price, can I cover pay my employees and pay myself, and start to pay down my design costs, my production costs, etc.? How long will I have to keep selling before I fully pay down my design and production costs, and start to make a profit? Can I afford to sell this product?
I am not a business person yet even I know that sales targets are an extremely important part of a business plan. Without sales targets, how will you know if you can go into and stay in business?
If I sell X number of units at $Y price, can I cover pay my employees and pay myself, and start to pay down my design costs, my production costs, etc.? How long will I have to keep selling before I fully pay down my design and production costs, and start to make a profit? Can I afford to sell this product?
#373
Lexus Fanatic
What?!?!?
I am not a business person yet even I know that sales targets are an extremely important part of a business plan. Without sales targets, how will you know if you can go into and stay in business?
If I sell X number of units at $Y price, can I cover pay my employees and pay myself, and start to pay down my design costs, my production costs, etc.? How long will I have to keep selling before I fully pay down my design and production costs, and start to make a profit? Can I afford to sell this product?
I am not a business person yet even I know that sales targets are an extremely important part of a business plan. Without sales targets, how will you know if you can go into and stay in business?
If I sell X number of units at $Y price, can I cover pay my employees and pay myself, and start to pay down my design costs, my production costs, etc.? How long will I have to keep selling before I fully pay down my design and production costs, and start to make a profit? Can I afford to sell this product?
Lexus said a long time ago that being #1 was no longer their goal, and that they recognized that the styling and dynamic changes to their cars would cost them sales in some situations. Well, things are turning out exactly as they said that they would.
#374
What?!?!?
I am not a business person yet even I know that sales targets are an extremely important part of a business plan. Without sales targets, how will you know if you can go into and stay in business?
If I sell X number of units at $Y price, can I cover pay my employees and pay myself, and start to pay down my design costs, my production costs, etc.? How long will I have to keep selling before I fully pay down my design and production costs, and start to make a profit? Can I afford to sell this product?
I am not a business person yet even I know that sales targets are an extremely important part of a business plan. Without sales targets, how will you know if you can go into and stay in business?
If I sell X number of units at $Y price, can I cover pay my employees and pay myself, and start to pay down my design costs, my production costs, etc.? How long will I have to keep selling before I fully pay down my design and production costs, and start to make a profit? Can I afford to sell this product?
For example, my 3GS achieved peak sales of 33,000+ units on debut, but by 2012, my 4GS only managed to barely reach its target of 2k/month for 22,000+ units/year.
Here, it almost managed to reach sales targets, however in truth, compared to predecessor 3GS, the successor 4GS sales fell over 30% - at a time when the 5 Series sustained its previous peak sales of 57,000+ units/year, while the E Class actually raised its peak sales to over 69,000+ units/year.
Similar situation with LS here.
The previous four generations of LS's have outsold the S Class on debut.
The current gen S Class debut with over 25,000+ sales, averaging over 2k/month.
New 5LS so far only averaging 1k/month at best.
If all new 5LS is averaging 1k/month now, you wanna guess what it will average in 5 years time???
Like I say - nearly 12 years development - so much time and effort - cast aluminium alloy strut mounts etc - for only 1k/month - when the ageing & more expensive 5 year old S Class still manages 1.5k/month sales.
Come mid-2020 [just 2 years away], and there is the all new next generation of Mercedes S Classes to contend with!!!
Akio is not stupid.
He knows.
Now, they have to be really really careful with their mid-life update 5.5LS product design...
.
Last edited by peteharvey; 05-31-18 at 06:08 PM.
#375
Lexus Fanatic
Originally Posted by peteharvey
The 5LS may go down as the slowest selling generation of LS on debut, relative to the S Class.
Last edited by mmarshall; 05-31-18 at 06:11 PM.