mmarshall

Check this one out, folks. Here's a video designed to try and compare the LS500, in refinement, to the original LS400 of 30 years ago. I thought parts of it were funny...but it does not appear to be a real Lexus factory-ad, unless one believes in Joe Isuzu LOL.

Stroock639

this is akio Toyoda and he's perfectly demonstrating the difference between current lexus and lexus, a once serious top notch product is now a joke

mmarshall

OK......didn't recognize him at first, but you're correct. That is indeed Akio.

Notice the huge difference in the tires between the two vehicles. The LS400 had a LOT more sidewall in the rubber. That alone gave it an ability to soak up bumps.

Most of you are probably aware of this, but, for those who are not, James "Mr. Lexus" Sloyan, the actor who did those first smooth-talking commercials 30 years ago, quit and went to Mitsubishi, where he later did ads for them.

Stroock639

the very fact that you actually questioned whether or not a video containing the literal CEO of lexus was a real lexus ad properly demonstrates the current state of things lol

mmarshall

I've seen so much B.S. from auto manufacturers and even their CEOs over the years that it's sometimes hard to tell fact from fiction. In general (but not totally), I'd say it started with Lee Iacocca in the early 1980s, if you remember his TV ads. He touted those vehicles as good or better than Japanese cars.....my experience (and I owned several of them) is that they started falling apart almost overnight. I finally had enough of them, and moved on.


In other ads, he also spoke loudly against Japanese imports......while carefully hiding the fact that Chrysler itself sold several rebadged Mitsubishi products.

RXSF

This was indeed real and it was designed to make Akio look less stuffy and show that the company has humor. I dont think it ever debuted on TV but was on YouTube. Lexus marketing used to be on the of the best, with their pursuit of perfection ads. Now, they dont really do anything well.

mmarshall

I think the part where drops the glass and where he giggles at the RPMs climbing were the funniest moments. The step-ladder he climbs up trying to fit the top glass, and the long extension-handle he uses to reach it, seem to be a sop to the typical Asian being shorter than the typical Westerner.

LeX2K

Dropping the champagne glass perfectly illustrates his leadership. Well done Lexus that's what I call truth in advertising.

Fizzboy7

Cheesy and corny video. Making the guy look like a fool with his lingo and behavior. Much prefer professionalism if I was dropping big coin.

Stroock639

lmao perfect

natnut

Impressive that the LS500 has such large wheels with much smaller sidewall yet the ride is just as serene as the much larger sidewall LS400.

mmarshall

Well, they certainly made it look that way in the video, but I won't believe it without sampling it for myself.

natnut

Unless they faked it, those champagne glasses stacked up on each other on the hood and not falling seems pretty objective evidence.

RXSF

Does the sidewall even matter in the a test like this? Its on a dyno or rolling road so road imperfections aren't even an issue here. This is strictly testing engine vibration.

SW17LS

It isn't lol. The LS400 rode much better than the LS500.

When a car is rolling on precision machined cylinders on a dyno there aren't any road imperfections to smooth out. What they are showcasing is the refinement of the powertrain, and that powertrain is also nowhere near as refined as the one in the LS400. My guess is most cars put on that test would perform similarly. In the end...its an advertisement.

Toyoda is a clown...I really have developed a dislike for him.