If you want a luxury or full-size American-badge sedan, consider one now.
12-07-17, 03:31 PM
#61
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
An American nameplate does not necessarily even mean "designed in America". Some vehicles with American nameplates are simply rebadged imports....or vehicles designed (and sometimes built) overseas with American nameplates. The best examples I can think of are the smaller, German (Opel)-designed Buicks, such as the Cascada, Regal, Encore, and the now-discontinued Verano, but there are also others. The American Ford Escape, for example, was actually designed and first sold in Europe as the Ford "Ka". The recently-discontinued Dodge Dart was developed from an Italian Alfa Romeo platform, using Fiat Engines.
12-07-17, 03:34 PM
#62
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
edit: they now have the Ka+ i see... still, no escape sized vehicle
https://www.ford.co.uk/cars/ka-plus
12-07-17, 03:39 PM
#63
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
I meant the European Ford Kuga.
12-07-17, 05:27 PM
#64
With today's parts-contents laws, there is no such thing as a truly American, European, Japanese, Chinese, or Korean vehicle any more. That's why the country-of-origin of major components (engine, transmission, etc..) is required on today's price-stickers.
When one speaks of a vehicle's nationality nowadays, it is simply the nameplate and little else.
When one speaks of a vehicle's nationality nowadays, it is simply the nameplate and little else.
Just a personal preference.
Only way I am buying American is if it's AT LEAST 30% less $$ than a competitive Japanese car. (Honda Accord vs Ford Fusion).
I actually considered leasing an Encore few months back. Only because I wanted a car for city-driving, and it fit the bill at $120/month lease..
EDIT: I place FIATs at the bottom... They are modern day Yugo's
12-07-17, 05:33 PM
#65
Lexus Fanatic
I've been fairly unhappy with aspects of the build quality of my last 3 Lexus products, so I'm not of that camp as much any more.
12-07-17, 06:30 PM
#66
Lexus Fanatic
I understand it. At the end of the day, no matter where the car is made, I place American AUTOMAKER's cars at the bottom of the list.
Just a personal preference.
Only way I am buying American is if it's AT LEAST 30% less $$ than a competitive Japanese car. (Honda Accord vs Ford Fusion).
I actually considered leasing an Encore few months back. Only because I wanted a car for city-driving, and it fit the bill at $120/month lease..
EDIT: I place FIATs at the bottom... They are modern day Yugo's
Just a personal preference.
Only way I am buying American is if it's AT LEAST 30% less $$ than a competitive Japanese car. (Honda Accord vs Ford Fusion).
I actually considered leasing an Encore few months back. Only because I wanted a car for city-driving, and it fit the bill at $120/month lease..
EDIT: I place FIATs at the bottom... They are modern day Yugo's
12-07-17, 06:33 PM
#67
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
EDIT: I place FIATs at the bottom... They are modern day Yugo's
12-07-17, 06:38 PM
#68
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Haven't owned one (except for the 2001 IS300 I had).......but, from reviews and test-drives, I noticed a distinct change in how many Lexus products were designed and built, starting right around 2006-2007.
12-07-17, 06:41 PM
#69
Lexus Fanatic
12-07-17, 07:03 PM
#70
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
In general, lighter/thinner materials in the design, elimination of the nice 3.0L in-line 6 for V6s, slightly firmer suspensions/underpinnings, somewhat less "thunk" in the door-closings, some paint colors, particularly black, getting at least some noticeable orange-peel (though other colors, in the Lexus tradition, remained mirror-smooth), Less-impressive wood trim inside, more plastic in the interiors, deletion of some formerly standard features like the first-aid kit in the trunk (on some models, it is now an option), deletion of standard body-side moldings, replacing real spare tires with temporary spares or donuts, an increasing reliance on dash-electronics, less sound-insulation on some models (not all), substitution of fake leather for the real stuff (though, to be honest, the NuLuxe substitute is excellent), lower-profile tires that didn't absorb bumps as well, and a general change in the way Lexus products were advertised and marketed....you didn't have the smooth-sounding "Mr. Lexus" James Sloyan ads any more. While some of this, of course, is subjective rather than fact, personally, I tend to prefer the way Lexus products were done before that period, rather than after it.
While the CT, in fact, did sell pretty well under the Lexus nameplate (one cannot deny that), I still stand by my earlier statements that I don't think it should have been marketed as a Lexus, but rather as a Toyota. Except for the nice NuLuxe upholstery, which was superb, I just did not think it had the refinement, road manners, and feel that a Lexus product needs...I feel, to some extent, the same way about the NX.
While the CT, in fact, did sell pretty well under the Lexus nameplate (one cannot deny that), I still stand by my earlier statements that I don't think it should have been marketed as a Lexus, but rather as a Toyota. Except for the nice NuLuxe upholstery, which was superb, I just did not think it had the refinement, road manners, and feel that a Lexus product needs...I feel, to some extent, the same way about the NX.
Last edited by mmarshall; 12-07-17 at 07:06 PM.
12-07-17, 07:38 PM
#71
Lexus Fanatic
In general, lighter/thinner materials in the design, elimination of the nice 3.0L in-line 6 for V6s, slightly firmer suspensions/underpinnings, somewhat less "thunk" in the door-closings, some paint colors, particularly black, getting at least some noticeable orange-peel (though other colors, in the Lexus tradition, remained mirror-smooth), Less-impressive wood trim inside, more plastic in the interiors, deletion of some formerly standard features like the first-aid kit in the trunk (on some models, it is now an option), deletion of standard body-side moldings, replacing real spare tires with temporary spares or donuts, an increasing reliance on dash-electronics, less sound-insulation on some models (not all), substitution of fake leather for the real stuff (though, to be honest, the NuLuxe substitute is excellent), lower-profile tires that didn't absorb bumps as well, and a general change in the way Lexus products were advertised and marketed....you didn't have the smooth-sounding "Mr. Lexus" James Sloyan ads any more. While some of this, of course, is subjective rather than fact, personally, I tend to prefer the way Lexus products were done before that period, rather than after it.
While the CT, in fact, did sell pretty well under the Lexus nameplate (one cannot deny that), I still stand by my earlier statements that I don't think it should have been marketed as a Lexus, but rather as a Toyota. Except for the nice NuLuxe upholstery, which was superb, I just did not think it had the refinement, road manners, and feel that a Lexus product needs...I feel, to some extent, the same way about the NX.
While the CT, in fact, did sell pretty well under the Lexus nameplate (one cannot deny that), I still stand by my earlier statements that I don't think it should have been marketed as a Lexus, but rather as a Toyota. Except for the nice NuLuxe upholstery, which was superb, I just did not think it had the refinement, road manners, and feel that a Lexus product needs...I feel, to some extent, the same way about the NX.
12-07-17, 08:01 PM
#72
Lexus Fanatic
My main issue has been interior rattles.
12-07-17, 08:04 PM
#73
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
What did I consider an improvement? That, of course, depends on what one consider an "improvement". In general, I liked the older Lexus models more than the newer ones, but several improvements did come about. One was more efficient, multi-gear transmissions for better gas mileage. Another was expansion of AWD-availability in the sedans for better winter traction. Another was the beautiful Matador Red paint. And, of course, the defect-rate in new Lexus vehicles dropping to what is arguably the lowest in the industry.
I'll agree with Steve, BTW, on the interior rattles. I forgot to list that earlier.
I'll agree with Steve, BTW, on the interior rattles. I forgot to list that earlier.
12-07-17, 08:08 PM
#74
Lexus Fanatic
Technology and features have much improved as well, Lexus were always pretty lean cars when it came to features and by and large thats been addressed.
12-07-17, 08:22 PM
#75
Lexus Fanatic
I would say color palettes for the interior, HP, hybrid availability, features, standard safety, style. Interior design, materials, wood material, leather are all better.