LS 460 v Mercedes E350
02-22-17, 01:39 PM
#33
Lexus Fanatic
02-22-17, 04:56 PM
#36
Lexus Fanatic
02-22-17, 06:31 PM
#37
Lead Lap
While I totally respect the G90, I just don't think I could ever purchase one. While I know folks often equate early Japanese offerings to early Hyundai, maybe it is my age (almost 40), but I have such terrible memories of the Excel that ever since I refuse to even rent a Hyundai/Kia.
I know this will engender controversy as the Koreans have made massive strides including poaching Audi's Design Chief and the reliability scores are legit, but something about them just does not appeal to me.
Another issue I find with equating late 70's to early 80's Japanese cars to say the Excel (and other early examples of the late 80's to early 90's), is with the exception of the massively more expensive Mercedes of that era, those were the dark ages as far as American cars go as they struggled to meet the new EPA rules and the change to unleaded fuel and especially Honda with its CVCC engine was uniquely positioned for the post OPEC boycott.
I realize at this point my bias against the Korean brands is not entirely rational, but considering the abundance of choices in the American marketplace, it is not like I am lacking for options when the time comes to replace my 460.
I know this will engender controversy as the Koreans have made massive strides including poaching Audi's Design Chief and the reliability scores are legit, but something about them just does not appeal to me.
Another issue I find with equating late 70's to early 80's Japanese cars to say the Excel (and other early examples of the late 80's to early 90's), is with the exception of the massively more expensive Mercedes of that era, those were the dark ages as far as American cars go as they struggled to meet the new EPA rules and the change to unleaded fuel and especially Honda with its CVCC engine was uniquely positioned for the post OPEC boycott.
I realize at this point my bias against the Korean brands is not entirely rational, but considering the abundance of choices in the American marketplace, it is not like I am lacking for options when the time comes to replace my 460.
02-22-17, 07:25 PM
#38
The days of large displacement are coming to an end. Their just too inefficient. I'm not disappointed with the supercharged 3.0 V6 in my Audi A8 L in the least. It is rated at 18 / 28 but I am getting 31 - 32 MPG keeping her around 70 MPH on the highway. This is impressive on winter fuel. Guys with the TDI version can get over 50 MPG. The G90's MPG ratings are also not too hot but I will admit Hyundai has come a long way.
Last edited by Lexuslsguy; 02-22-17 at 07:48 PM.
02-22-17, 07:29 PM
#39
Lexus Fanatic
While I totally respect the G90, I just don't think I could ever purchase one. While I know folks often equate early Japanese offerings to early Hyundai, maybe it is my age (almost 40), but I have such terrible memories of the Excel that ever since I refuse to even rent a Hyundai/Kia.
I know this will engender controversy as the Koreans have made massive strides including poaching Audi's Design Chief and the reliability scores are legit, but something about them just does not appeal to me.
Another issue I find with equating late 70's to early 80's Japanese cars to say the Excel (and other early examples of the late 80's to early 90's), is with the exception of the massively more expensive Mercedes of that era, those were the dark ages as far as American cars go as they struggled to meet the new EPA rules and the change to unleaded fuel and especially Honda with its CVCC engine was uniquely positioned for the post OPEC boycott.
I realize at this point my bias against the Korean brands is not entirely rational, but considering the abundance of choices in the American marketplace, it is not like I am lacking for options when the time comes to replace my 460.
I know this will engender controversy as the Koreans have made massive strides including poaching Audi's Design Chief and the reliability scores are legit, but something about them just does not appeal to me.
Another issue I find with equating late 70's to early 80's Japanese cars to say the Excel (and other early examples of the late 80's to early 90's), is with the exception of the massively more expensive Mercedes of that era, those were the dark ages as far as American cars go as they struggled to meet the new EPA rules and the change to unleaded fuel and especially Honda with its CVCC engine was uniquely positioned for the post OPEC boycott.
I realize at this point my bias against the Korean brands is not entirely rational, but considering the abundance of choices in the American marketplace, it is not like I am lacking for options when the time comes to replace my 460.
02-22-17, 07:54 PM
#40
Lead Lap
Lol it may be to you, but early Toyota's while perhaps inexpensive, were not poorly engineered in the way that the Excel was. Moreover, even in the 60's Toyota had cars like the 2000GT. So I find it to be an apples to oranges to apples comparison. Moreover, Lexus is the number 1 selling luxury brand in the US.
02-22-17, 08:30 PM
#41
Lol it may be to you, but early Toyota's while perhaps inexpensive, were not poorly engineered in the way that the Excel was. Moreover, even in the 60's Toyota had cars like the 2000GT. So I find it to be an apples to oranges to apples comparison. Moreover, Lexus is the number 1 selling luxury brand in the US.
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Junglequac (02-22-17)
02-22-17, 08:43 PM
#42
Lead Lap
While I actually agree with what SW is saying when talking about the upper tier models like the LS and how brand conscious buyers would have misgivings when spending $70,000 plus, the RX and ES sell unbelievably well.
That said, with the LS460 being now 10 years old as a model (not for a second arguing that there were not big changes with the 2013 redesign), all I can say is it will be interesting to see how the LS 500 sells. And the LC 500 for that matter.
Last edited by Junglequac; 02-22-17 at 08:47 PM.
02-23-17, 12:05 AM
#44
Lead Lap
It is also why I specifically wanted to thank you for the information as like I said in my initial post about this, be it 5000 or 50,000, Lexus lost the spot and I was wrong. I have no ego when it comes to wanting to know the fact of the matter and I hope to goodness that it did not come off crass to point out the disparity. If so, my absolute and sincere apologies.
Best,
JQ
02-23-17, 06:01 AM
#45
Lexus Fanatic
I'm not saying that they are, I'm just relaying the argument against Lexus that I have heard from people as somebody who had a Lexus fairly early in the existence of Lexus as a brand was strikingly similar to your argument about the G90. People argue things all the time that aren't true or don't make sense.
Bottom line is, in the 70s and 80s Toyota made a lot of crappy economy cars people hated, they started driving them because they had to for economy's sake. Did you ever watch That 70s Show? Obviously it's a comedy but the dad buys a crappy Toyota economy car that he hates because of the gas crisis and gives the kid the big American station wagon. "Last time I was that close to a Japanese machine it was firing at me", so on.
Having owned a Hyundai/Kia product I would buy another without hesitation. Only thing that would keep me out of a G90 is brand snobbery, not concerns about the car or the company that made it.
If you look at the number of Hyundais and Kias on the road, I think insofar as the mainstream they've overcome their negative stigma.
As for Lexus, just FYI it hasn't been the #1 selling luxury make in the US since about 2011. It's been #2 and even #3.
Bottom line is, in the 70s and 80s Toyota made a lot of crappy economy cars people hated, they started driving them because they had to for economy's sake. Did you ever watch That 70s Show? Obviously it's a comedy but the dad buys a crappy Toyota economy car that he hates because of the gas crisis and gives the kid the big American station wagon. "Last time I was that close to a Japanese machine it was firing at me", so on.
Having owned a Hyundai/Kia product I would buy another without hesitation. Only thing that would keep me out of a G90 is brand snobbery, not concerns about the car or the company that made it.
If you look at the number of Hyundais and Kias on the road, I think insofar as the mainstream they've overcome their negative stigma.
As for Lexus, just FYI it hasn't been the #1 selling luxury make in the US since about 2011. It's been #2 and even #3.