Really?! I've never seen an IS without a power tilt/telescoping wheel...

Thats for weight and longevity, but at least its real wood and looks like wood.

But we're not there yet...I have never seen any imitation wood trim that looks real.

 

Let's be honest, fake is fake. Lol

High end cars should have REAL carbon fiber, wood, and leather, and etc.

Make it fake and you just got robbed.

If I know something is fake, ok I bought it knowing that.

Or if I'm in an econo box with would trim and think it's real, that may be on me for being naive with unrealistic expectations. Lol

But a high end car with fake stuff?
Uhh Its not ok. Lol

Just IMO of course!

 

I have amended my feelings on this because there are people out there who don't want real leather for cruelty to animal reasons, and manufacturers have developed really great synthetic leathers that I have no issue with being available. If they had "grained trim" and real wood trim available for people who wanted to have a more eco friendly vehicle that i would be okay with.

My wife for example doesn't care about the wood, but she would rather have a synthetic leather than real leather, she would pay extra to have that.

 

Hi Sw,

I can totally appreciate that and know where you are coming from when it comes to a personal decision on those things.

I was only trying to say deception is wrong if that is the intent to percive high cost if using cheap materials.

Plz let me explain, this is not just in cars.

The Schwinn bicycle was a name brand quality bike back in the day but from what I understand got bought out by another company.

I bought my wife a Schwinn bike thinking it was quality. All the parts looked aluminum aka will not rust in humid in Florida.

After a two years it was rusted junk and I rolled it to the road for the garbage man to take.

All the aluminum was fake using impressivr techniques to brush and spray the metals to make cheap iron look like high quality aluminum.

Thats the kind deceptive fakery I was talking about.

Vegan leather and fake wood I have no problem with if disclosed of course.

Gosh, I dont know. Lol

ps- sorry for off topic, I just realized. I just got to thinking this stuff should maybe be a new thread just on that. Maybe Ill do another thread unless someone else does.

 

In the 70's when we wanted a good quality, light weight 10 speed, the top of the line then, we purchased Raleigh or Peugeot bicycles, they were much better than the cheaper and heavier Schwinn models.

 

I think what you found Margate was you expected a "Schwinn" to be a certain level of quality, and we expect a "Lexus" to have a certain level of quality. "A Lexus" should not have fake wood trim, "A Lexus" should have certain features...what happens when they erode that is people, like me and you, are put off by those omissions.

Now with that said, this GX is an amazing vehicle and as enthusiasts we should be happy we have it. Its just that rapidly "a Lexus" is starting to mean that its a car that looks good on the surface but when you dive deeper is pretty disappointing...this vehicle delivers in product design but I would be very disappointed to get into a $60,000 GX and find it had no power steering wheel, memory seats and fake wood trim. I find it frustrating Lexus can't seem to deliver a product that hits on all cylinders.

 

And this is how shrinkflation manifests itself in the automotive industry, de-content.

 

Yep, totally

 

I think the color and character are there because of the leather choice. I sat in a black interior and it looks completely different, nothing stands out.

Yeah but the real leather smell though. BMW's new synthetic leather feels soft and nice. But missing the leather smell isn't a complete new car experience IMO. But you're right, these are all personal choices and at some point, leather may be a thing of the past. Tesla does have reasons for people to buy but they should make their expensive models more luxurious. The interior of the model X is ridiculously cheap for 100k IMO. Even the brake and acceleration pedals. Dang why do they have to have chrome (?) there?

I need to correct myself. My wheel sometimes moves up, other times, moves up and in. I'm not sure what the condition would set one way or the other.

 

But at least you have the option of a color that pops is the point...

 

SW, our old IS350 (2011) didn’t have a power wheel but it was an option.

 

With the exception of wood, these features are available. You just have to pay more than a base model. Is a Land Rover Defender available with more options at a cheaper price? We’re you going to buy the base model? I never buy a base, so it doesn’t bother me at all. Some people may want a base GX to actually off-road or mod for cheaper. Yes, the there is Toyota, but they do not have the service of a luxury dealer. Different strokes for different folks. They give you the option. I don’t see a reason to be put off by anything but the interior trim.

 

I would buy the option with the power tilt wheel, but it still should be standard since this is not an entry level vehicle.

 

Yes it’s true. In the 3rd gen IS if you got an F-Sport you could not get memory seats or power tilt, it wasn’t even an option. In 2017 I heard they changed that and it was optional but I’m not 100% sure of that. When I bought my 2008 IS250 I bought the luxury package so I could have memory seats and power tilt. [/size]

 

Our local LR dealer had a Defender I looked at, I believe it was listed in the 70's. Steering wheel was manual, lever underneath to adjust. This was last year's model, but I'm sure on the more loaded models it can be power. I remember as I couldn't get the wheel/seat combo comfortable for me.