Nuluxe Vinal?
01-16-17, 04:36 PM
#16
Lexus Champion
My honest feelings are that this is not a big deal whatsoever. As mentioned, several luxury car brands (whose prices can reach much higher than the ES) offer both vinyl with leather as an option. If one doesn't like/want vinyl you can pop for leather. If you don't like that option move to something with leather only and avoid having to choose. The choice is in the consumers hands.
01-16-17, 04:37 PM
#17
dchar is on point!
You make it seem Lexus is the only luxury carmaker offering vinyl as standard and leather as optional, and those cars cost considerably more than the ES (starts at $38900). Mercedes offers vinyl as standard in the C (starts at $39500), E class (starts at $52150), GLA (starts at $32800), GLC (starts at $39150), GLE (starts at $52000), and GLS (starts at $67000). BMW offers vinyl as standard in the 2 (starts at $33150), 3 (starts at $33450), 4 (starts at $41950), 5-series (starts at $50200), X1 (starts at $32800), X3 (starts at $33100), X4 (starts at $45550), and X5 (starts at $55500). Making vinyl the standard trim is becoming a trend in the luxury market. Most people can't even tell the difference, so why not allow those people to save a bit of money. Cars are getting more expensive due to better tech and more features, so to sell at $40K car makers need to cut cost somewhere. Using Nuluxe isn't that bad of an option.
01-16-17, 06:20 PM
#19
Intermediate
We should also point out that the cost of most leather grades going in cars is no different than high quality vinyl. It is mostly marketing mystique. We have an abundance of dead cows and hides.
A natural leather seat cover, for example, does cost more than one made from cloth or vinyl - but because of the volumes of the various materials which car manufacturers use, the differences in the prices are surprisingly small. The extra you have to pay for a leather interior in your car is more about the perceived difference in the quality of ambiance that is produced over the various cloth and vinyl derived alternatives.
Marketing 101, set the price higher to give the illusion of luxury. Dead cow skin sounds really luxurious to me.
A natural leather seat cover, for example, does cost more than one made from cloth or vinyl - but because of the volumes of the various materials which car manufacturers use, the differences in the prices are surprisingly small. The extra you have to pay for a leather interior in your car is more about the perceived difference in the quality of ambiance that is produced over the various cloth and vinyl derived alternatives.
Marketing 101, set the price higher to give the illusion of luxury. Dead cow skin sounds really luxurious to me.
01-16-17, 06:41 PM
#20
We should also point out that the cost of most leather grades going in cars is no different than high quality vinyl. It is mostly marketing mystique. We have an abundance of dead cows and hides.
A natural leather seat cover, for example, does cost more than one made from cloth or vinyl - but because of the volumes of the various materials which car manufacturers use, the differences in the prices are surprisingly small. The extra you have to pay for a leather interior in your car is more about the perceived difference in the quality of ambiance that is produced over the various cloth and vinyl derived alternatives.
Marketing 101, set the price higher to give the illusion of luxury. Dead cow skin sounds really luxurious to me.
A natural leather seat cover, for example, does cost more than one made from cloth or vinyl - but because of the volumes of the various materials which car manufacturers use, the differences in the prices are surprisingly small. The extra you have to pay for a leather interior in your car is more about the perceived difference in the quality of ambiance that is produced over the various cloth and vinyl derived alternatives.
Marketing 101, set the price higher to give the illusion of luxury. Dead cow skin sounds really luxurious to me.
01-16-17, 07:08 PM
#21
Lexus Test Driver
Who died and turned LS430inDE into the grand arbiter of taste?
Maybe you should drive around in a Nuluxe-equipped car for a few years before ranting about the stuff or even worse, disparaging owners of said cars. Just sayin'.
Maybe you should drive around in a Nuluxe-equipped car for a few years before ranting about the stuff or even worse, disparaging owners of said cars. Just sayin'.
01-17-17, 03:17 PM
#22
Instructor
Leather isn't a symbol of luxury like it used to... you can get leather seats in a Honda Civic for $20k, does that make the Civic superior to an ES with Nuluxe?
01-17-17, 06:44 PM
#23
How about placing your hurt feelings aside, as that would help curb your attack on me? You're a bit confused. I'm not disparaging owners. I'm being critical of Lexus. If you can separate your feelings from your car for just 1 second, your feelings of being disparaged would cease to exist.
01-17-17, 06:49 PM
#24
Great question but you can't compare the 2. If I purchased a Civic with genuine leather for $20k instead of traditional cloth, I'd be proud. Conversely, if someone I was driving in my $40k ES asked me about the 'leather' of my seats, I'd be embarrassed to disclose if it was the fake leather . But that's just ME. To each owner their own. Don't be like the others who get offended if I am critical of an aspect of the CAR. Hope that makes sense.
01-17-17, 07:24 PM
#25
Lead Lap
I agree with Les in that I would also accept Nuluxe in place of leather, but only if I could get the luxury options and all the new safety features. Unfortunately, currently this isn't possible. Maybe Lexus will change this in the near future to keep the starting price low.
01-18-17, 06:13 AM
#26
Lexus Test Driver
Well, if the grand arbiter of taste doesn't want to get an ES, then why is he still posting his rants against Nuluxe and dumb ES owners with "low expectations"?
See quotes below:
---
Regardless all the claims of how durable, ease of cleanup, quality in appearance, etc, I find it absurd Lexus cheapens the car with fake leather.
---
To pay $40k+ for a Lexus with fake leather is identical to happily paying $10k for a diamond looking ring, fitted with a cubic zirconia, from Tiffany. Personally, I find it unacceptable and those who do accept it and are satisfied with fulfilling low expectations.
---
Conversely, if someone I was driving in my $40k ES asked me about the 'leather' of my seats, I'd be embarrassed to disclose if it was the fake leather .
---
What gives? Did Nuluxe run over your dog and steal your girl? Some people like me don't like the feel of leather seats but I don't go around dissing those who do, it's their money and I'm happy that they've spent it on something they like.
See quotes below:
---
Regardless all the claims of how durable, ease of cleanup, quality in appearance, etc, I find it absurd Lexus cheapens the car with fake leather.
---
To pay $40k+ for a Lexus with fake leather is identical to happily paying $10k for a diamond looking ring, fitted with a cubic zirconia, from Tiffany. Personally, I find it unacceptable and those who do accept it and are satisfied with fulfilling low expectations.
---
Conversely, if someone I was driving in my $40k ES asked me about the 'leather' of my seats, I'd be embarrassed to disclose if it was the fake leather .
---
What gives? Did Nuluxe run over your dog and steal your girl? Some people like me don't like the feel of leather seats but I don't go around dissing those who do, it's their money and I'm happy that they've spent it on something they like.
The following users liked this post:
Fman2118 (08-09-21)
01-18-17, 08:01 AM
#27
01-20-17, 09:28 PM
#30
Lexus Fanatic
I think the bottom line is that synthetic leather is becoming the standard seat covering in the luxury space. As has been demonstrated elsewhere every manufacturer does it, and Lexus was late to the party. Starting in 2016, even the GS in 200t package has nuluxe base...more distressing to me than that is that a basic GS200t no longer has genuine wood trim...which used to be unheard of in a Lexus.
Personally, the nuluxe doesn't bother me, and I actually think it feels better than Lexus entry leather such as whats found in the luxury package ES, the semi-aniline leather in the UL would be my choice.
As I said in another thread, the ES is the entry level Lexus essentially, you have the CT beneath it but its sort of a niche car...historically the ES has NOT had standard leather, it has in fact had standard cloth seats. Cloth seats were admittedly very rare, but that was the basic upholstery.
I don't see an issue with them offering nuluxe as long as I can get real leather. If somebody cannot stomach the idea of having imitation leather in their car...simply purchase real leather I don't understand what the issue is...
Anyways, my guess is folks with nuluxe never get asked if its real leather.
Personally, the nuluxe doesn't bother me, and I actually think it feels better than Lexus entry leather such as whats found in the luxury package ES, the semi-aniline leather in the UL would be my choice.
As I said in another thread, the ES is the entry level Lexus essentially, you have the CT beneath it but its sort of a niche car...historically the ES has NOT had standard leather, it has in fact had standard cloth seats. Cloth seats were admittedly very rare, but that was the basic upholstery.
I don't see an issue with them offering nuluxe as long as I can get real leather. If somebody cannot stomach the idea of having imitation leather in their car...simply purchase real leather I don't understand what the issue is...
Anyways, my guess is folks with nuluxe never get asked if its real leather.