+1 Lexus has always prided themselves with using the same wood and the amount of engineering and attention to detail put in for the wood trim. I have a video but can't post it since I'm on my phone.

 

LOL, I'm done.

For the record, Dad's dead so his fingers aren't oily anymore.

To the OP, good luck. If it bugs you do take it back.

 

Wow, this thread is absurd now. And by 'now', I probably mean 'by page 2'.

Thank you to everyone for your input. Sorry to half of you for the ranting and attacks my question may have sparked. I'll admit, this has been really funny to read, though.

Most importantly, I really want to go get an LS and have the Shimamoku wood. Holy crap, that's nice.

 

We'll let it slide this time

Keeps things interesting though!

 

What ranting?

Fun(ny) to read? That's really the point, isn't it? I think mods tend to miss this aspect of "rants" and "attacks." Without the spice of life, what's the point?

Good luck with your (future) LS.

 

As long as we're not calling each other filthy names I say no harm no foul LOL

 

Another set of high-end pics for you, Steve.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...d-in-dash.html

 

heres the video of woodgrain as promised

 

Notice the disclaimer that appears (inconspicuously) at 0:26

"Does not apply to steering wheel and gear-shift ****."

From the horse's mouth as they say...

 

These pics actually highlight what I was saying.

Look at the shift ****, note it is lighter up on top than it is further down towards the base. It matches well down there, not to much on top. I bet that driver constantly rests their hand on it when driving. Its lightest all the way at the top, and gets darker as you go down.

 

I think you may be right! I heard somewhere that most, if not all, LS drivers are secret KFC customers (with an occasional defector to Church's). That explains how the normally wide variation in finger oils found in humans results in EXACTLY the same hue and grain of gear-shift **** wood in every single LS vehicle. As even the most junior biologist knows, chicken grease will suck the color and grain out of wood faster than you can blink! I think we have finally found something in common, Steve - mental illness!

 

Come on...look at the shift **** and if you are at all objective you'll see what I am saying. Its markedly lighter and more faded at the very top...where its handled...than it is down at the base...where its not.

I drove a LOT of LS's when I was shopping CPO's and did not see that variation is all of them, in some yes...especially older higher mileage ones. I also have not seen that variation in brand new LSs.

My 2010 ES had the same shift **** with no such variation in color along the **** or between the **** and the console wood.

What explanation do you have for why the wood is faded at the top, but not at the bottom of the same piece?

 

Watch the video posted above and NOTE the disclaimer on the screen! THAT should be all the explanation any reasonable person would need. In your case, head on over to the Lexus dealer AGAIN and check out his inventory of LS460s. Record wood color and mismatches. I'll do the same in my neck of the woods. We'll combine notes and see if we can't get statistical truth on my side as well as the common sense and chicken grease already there. Game?

 

I see the disclaimer...and as I have said at least a dozen times in this thread you can clearly see a difference in the grains, I have heard of multiple cases of steering wheels matching poorly on brand new cars and Lexus replacing the wheels under warranty, and the OP should take his car back if he is really dissatisfied. I have said it OVER AND OVER AND OVER again but you refuse to let it register, you keep purporting my position to be something that it completely is not.

I have also said that wear and use on heavily handled portions of the wood on the wheel and shift **** cause lightening and discoloration to these areas over time based on 400,000 miles and 20 years of combined ownership experience with two Lexus sedans. I have also said repeatedly that this has nothing to do with the OP or the people who had poor matching of brand new steering wheels and shift ***** but was simply an observation of older cars.

WTF is it that you want from me?!? Just because you refuse to acknowledge that I have said these things repeatedly and seem to want to continue to browbeat me and ridicule me while taking what I have said completely out of context does not make it true. You seem to want nothing more that to have some sort of argument with me...

ENOUGH

 

Watch the video again. Read the disclaimer AGAIN. Listen to the characteristics the marketer is pointing out. While you're listening, REMEMBER the disclaimer. What he says does NOT apply to steering wheel or gear-shift ****. It MAY be necessary to repeat this exercise until a sudden burst of illumination appears.

Then, evaluate your posts where you claim Lexus matches all wood and variation, especially in color, is due to environmental factors such as sunlight, abrasion, and chemical contamination. Then, look in an actual vehicle at the wood that the marketer says is perfectly matched. See if you can find ANY evidence of color or grain mismatch due to sunlight, abrasion, or chemical contamination. You won't. Then, come back here and admit your advice that people with mismatches between panel and steering wheel and/or gear-shift **** should complain to Lexus is wrong and that the mismatch was created at the factory and is in NO WAY due to any environmental factors. That's all I'm looking for. It's called the TRUTH!