Lexus Tops JD Power Vehicle Dependability Survey 2006

PlanoA4 submitted on 08/09/2006 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 2:48 PM
from: www.jdpower.com

[85] user comments | category: Misc News

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Lexus

JD Power VDS

Lexus Tops JD Power Vehicle Dependability Survey 2006

The gap in long-term quality between luxury and non-luxury brands has been cut in half during the past four years, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Vehicle Dependability StudySM (VDS) released today.

The study, which measures problems experienced by original owners of 3-year-old (2003 model-year) vehicles, finds that there is an ever-smaller gap in reported problems between luxury and higher-volume brands—averaging 15 PP100, down from 31 PP100 in 2003. Quality improvements with non-luxury brands are seen primarily in two categories—ride, handling, braking, and engine and transmission—which both have a strong impact on customer satisfaction.

The presence of several non-luxury brands among the top-ranking brands in the industry further underscores the shrinking dependability gap between luxury and non-luxury brands. While Lexus is the top-ranking brand in vehicle dependability for a 12th consecutive year and luxury-make Cadillac ranks fourth, three of the top five-ranking brands in vehicle dependability are non-luxury makes. Mercury and Buick, respectively, follow Lexus in the brand rankings, and Toyota ranks fifth.

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razzy23 - 8/9/2006 3:13:18 PM

-5 Boost

thats the only thing they'll ever top. besides the fact that you fall asleep driving one of these boats.

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BMW530i - 8/9/2006 3:23:55 PM

-1 Boost

I'm going to buy one right now!

Sarcasm intended...

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shiftright - 8/9/2006 3:41:16 PM

+4 Boost

How horrible for Lexus to ONCE AGAIN top the vehicle dependability survey!!
How many do they have now? A dozen?
They should send one to Merc and another to BMW so their second rate engineering, manufacturing and assembly people can at least touch this award that they will never be good enough to obtain on their own merit.

Only the completely blind would find fault with Lexus for winning the dependability survey. Folks you pay good money for your vehicles.....they ought to be dependable. Not a very complicated idea. And looking at the ever increasing sales of Lexus it looks like most buyers understand it very well.

True luxury, as Lexus states, is indeed peace of mind.

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00JT - 8/9/2006 3:53:12 PM

+2 Boost

Not a surprise at all. Lexus has one the JD Power Dependabuility Survey ever since they've been eligible for the award. Shame that the first two posts were of pure bias.

Shiftright, "How horrible for Lexus to ONCE AGAIN top the vehicle dependability survey!!" probably what some of Lexus' compeititors are thinking. ;)

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BMW530i - 8/9/2006 3:54:57 PM

-1 Boost

Shiftright, you sound like a total Lexus troll with your comments.

You are basically implying that BMW or Mercedes CAN'T build reliable cars. Why not examine the industry a bit and then post a smart comment.

BMW has been affected by the German economy. They had to release a few workers here and there and CUT COSTS. Sadly, someone there cut costs in the wrong area (R&D), hence the slip in reliability. There was a power change at MB, Schremp ordered cost-cutting in R&D too, as a result, quality slipped. IMHO, it's getting better at both these companies. Plus, look at their sales.

Keep your trolling to yourself.

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chewy - 8/9/2006 4:23:11 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

You have to consider the survey itself, wasn't Porsche 2nd last year, but they are 22nd now. How does that happen?

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jackpot - 8/9/2006 4:55:23 PM

+2 Boost

porsche dropped in rankings solely because of the cayenne... the 911s and boxsters are fine...

BMW530 - the fact that companies "cut costs" in R&D is not a good enough reason to build sub-par quality cars. it EXPLAINS it but does that mean we should accept this - no. when you pay over 70K+ for a car - you SHOULD expect it perform w/o problems... i'm not saying that the lexus is a better car to drive and i personally drive an 2005 X5. this article simply indicates that lexus is more reliable...and i hope it sends a msg to the germans to get their act together.

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PlanoA4 - 8/9/2006 4:55:23 PM

+3 Boost

Chewy- Porsche slipped from 2nd to 22nd because they had one more issue per car over 3 years than the prior year. That is how tight these surveys are, or how insignificant the difference maybe. However you want to view it.

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Rupert - 8/9/2006 4:56:45 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

quel suprise.....
and so exciting! lexus is reliable, something we all know! i'm so excited and stimulated by lexus i could just....(head hits table, does not wake. official cause of death: boredom induced stroke)

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mkk21 - 8/9/2006 4:58:39 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

BMW530i...I don't think you are the best spokesperson for BMW or Mercedes. You are practically backing up Shiftrights statements. You're pretty much saying that BMW or Mercedes aren't able to build reliable cars but they can if they want to if they make some changes to the company. We're trying to defend German imports here.

Speaking of defending defending titles. We all aren't the best at everything. Yes Lexus wins all these reliablity awards. But the German's take all the design and handling awards. So pick what is most important to your tastes.

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SixxFive - 8/9/2006 6:02:21 PM

+2 Boost

Speaking of reliability among German luxury brands, Audi has the lowest ranking.

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kart1 - 8/9/2006 6:08:49 PM

+1 Boost

There should be no excuses. BMW, MB, and Audi should build more reliable cars. However this is question to be asked, does the more performance in German cars causes less reliability naturally? In the end all of this hurts BMW, MB, and Audi and helps Lexus.

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kart1 - 8/9/2006 6:12:01 PM

+1 Boost

mkk21 you are right, a person should buy based upon their tastes. Drive the car and then buy, forget the awards.

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kart1 - 8/9/2006 6:13:20 PM

+1 Boost

Hyundai is ranked quite low despite being #3 in IQ

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Rupert - 8/9/2006 6:16:56 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

m-b (in the top gear survey of customer satisfaction) came 32nd out of 36, audi came 13th, bmw 10th, jag 9th, porsche 8th, mini 7th, then subaru, toyota, mazda, honda, skoda, lexus.
this isn't a reliability survey though, it concerns handling, performance, reliabilty (engine, elctrical separate), load carrying, squeaks and rattles, fit/finish, customer care, ownership costs, and brakes/suspension/steering.
skoda being second is pretty good though.

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crackityjones - 8/9/2006 7:28:36 PM

+2 Boost

Let's let Lexus have its day in the sun.

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stimling - 8/9/2006 8:06:32 PM

0 Boost

The hyundai wasn't #3 in IQ three years ago. This report is about problems over the last 3 years.

Likewise I'm sure the 2009 Dependability study will show audi doing better than the bottom third.

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BMW530i - 8/9/2006 8:56:42 PM

+1 Boost

Where do I claim that I am the spokesperson for German car fans here? I'm not, nor do I want to be.

Too many people here assume that the German brands are unreliable because they "can't build reliable cars". This statement has no proof, none whatsoever. Before the mid-1990s, German cars were some of the most reliable cars on the roads.

I view the slip in quality of German cars from an economic point of view. When the two Germany's were reunited in 1990, the poor Eastern half put a huge drain on Western Germany's cash reserves (fixing up the East). Let's skip the detail and get to the point. This event caused the German economy to suffer, and businesses suffered as a result. What do businesses do in such situations? They cut costs by releasing workers or saving wherever possible. In this case, Schremp at MB cut costs in the R&D department. This is well documented BTW. BMW also was foolish enough to follow suit and hence the drop in quality.

Can they make reliable cars? Yes. But these changes can't happen overnight. In the gigantic business of cars, these things take years to show up.

Also, buyers of BMW's or MB's have HIGHER EXPECTATIONS of their cars. When something goes wrong, they're less forgiving. I know someone who complained about the "cheap quality" of a Bosch battery in his BMW because the car wouldn't start. Blame Bosch, not BMW, in this case...

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BMW4me4ever - 8/9/2006 8:59:54 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

where are the all the Audi pro-people now?

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00JT - 8/9/2006 9:03:55 PM

0 Boost

BMW 530i,

"Also, buyers of BMW's or MB's have HIGHER EXPECTATIONS of their cars."

Has it ever occoured to you that Lexus owners have owned other brands, BMW included? And vice versa? If anything the expectation of a Lexus is just as high as that of a BMW and Mercedes.

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SSP350 - 8/9/2006 10:19:40 PM

+1 Boost

Ok, reliability? What does that mean? Well, to start, it means mechanical quality. It' doesn't break down easily. It also means that the fit and finish is of expected quality. It also means the ride is of expected quality. It also means, something like the cover of an ashtry opener doesn't break off easily when flipped open. It also means the car doesn't go to the shop once a month. All you German car lover folks, does this sound familiar? I've owned a 1998 BMW 530i and did I need to go to the shop 5 times in the first 2 years of my lease for something like a strut problem?..No!..I now drive a 2005 Nissan 350z, granted it doesn't have the quality finish of a BMW but it at least drives like one, and I didn't pay another 20K for it either. So if BMW makes such a "Drivers" car...Why make it so fit and finished? It's not reliable anyway. The fact that they cut down on costs doesn't excuse anything. If a customer spends 50K+ they should expect everything in working order, right? I'm not a big Lexus fan, but whats with all the extreme bias?...

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PlanoA4 - 8/9/2006 11:46:29 PM

+2 Boost

BMW4me4ever- The Audi boys are right here. Dunno what you are talking about though. Audi only has one more potential problem than a BMW over the course of three years of ownership. Even JD Power says the margins are very tight from top to bottom. You gotta read the facts for what they are The scores are totals per 100 cars so the statistical margin "appear" to be greater to those who are impressed by big numbers.

Basically the Lexus is quite impressive with a little over 1 issue of somesort over three years of ownership.

The worst is Land Rover with a little over 4 issues over the same 4 year period.

No where does JD Power indicate what the typical issue is, is it a massive failure or a loose knob? Really there is a difference from best to worst, however they still are pretty trivial overall over the course of three full years of ownership for like marquees.

No one says these issues are actually repairs, they are issues. A sticky interior light switch can be an issue, so can a total transmission failure. Also more complex vehicles by nature can have the higher QC standards but have more issues by their more complex design. So a higher quality design can still have more issues. VDS is a very small portion of the overall ownership experience. Those who base their decisions solely on this survey are not educated on the facts.

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cynic - 8/10/2006 12:32:49 AM

+4 Boost

Truth be told, if any of the German manufacturers had taken top spot, all of the people who had sarcastically complimented Lexus for this achievement would have been singing the virtues and superiority of "german engineering", guaranteed, and you know it.

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00JT - 8/10/2006 1:22:55 AM

+1 Boost

Cynic - Here! Here! Very true.

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crackityjones - 8/10/2006 1:22:56 AM

+1 Boost

"I'm not a big Lexus fan, but whats with all the extreme bias?..."

Well said. The world is big enough for these top brands to have their strengths. We are, after all, talking about the top 1% of car marquees: BMW, Merc, Audi, Lexus, etc. And lots of car people intershop.

The thing about the BMW-only people... or Audi only for that matter... don't you have a Chevy in the garage?

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IamEvilHomer - 8/10/2006 2:26:24 AM

+2 Boost

shiftright and all the lther Lexus fans- JD power is an american survay. Lexus is the best car in the American designed cars. They reason Lexus does so well becides the fact that their customers are easy to please (all over 95 yeras old) is that Lexus is made to please the US market. BMW, MB and Audi are made for other markets but do well in this market. Audi does very well in JD power for the US but the USA is the 4th largest market for Audi.

Same issue with crash test. Lexus designes their cars to "pass the test" not to be safe at 100 mph as you drive everyday on the Autobond. <sp> Don't tell me anything Lexus sells is as safe as a BMW or Audi.

And yes there are bad brands but for the most part MB, Lexus, Audi, BMW and several others are reliable cars for the most part.

Stay away form SAAB, Landrover, and anything British (still made by british)

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IamEvilHomer - 8/10/2006 2:33:13 AM

+1 Boost

BMW4ME4Ever- what are you saying? So bmw averages less the .4 problems less then Audi WOW

Audi had some early CVT issues that are mostly gone and the old A6 is there. Aren't you gladd the 745 came out 4 years ago so you don't cound thoes customers? That car had the higest "lemon law" buy back % of about any car ever built.

I sell Audi's and usualy hear of few issues. Audi tope for initial quality and customer satisfaction for Germans so get over your self

Did you start a new name because you were banned BMW4Ever?

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IamEvilHomer - 8/10/2006 2:36:43 AM

+1 Boost

AMEN Plano you said it 100 times better then i did

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maikoazu - 8/10/2006 3:19:21 AM

+1 Boost

guys guys, if you want dependability, get a corolla. I much rather be seen in a BMW. Beside, the other day, I pull over the side of the 101 freeway to make a phone call and 5 minutes later a nice handsome young man (claimed to be freeway patrol service) pull in front of me and ask if I needed any help =)

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BMW530i - 8/10/2006 4:29:50 AM

0 Boost

The only thing Lexus has going for them is reliability and customer service. It offers absolutely nothing else what other brands offer, especially in regards to history and prestige.

Audi: Quattro, sport
BMW: Driving dynamics, sport, IMAGE
Mercedes: Safety, comfort, IMAGE
Jaguar: IMAGE

Now please stop telling me "Ohhh but Lexus is like so reliable, that's prestige...". It's not, it's a feature. All these brands I mentioned above have tradition - a rich history behind them. Lexus doesn't. Lexus to me is NOT YET a prestige brand. They make good cars, but let's face it, they're not prestige - YET. And this isn't a rant, it's a sincere opinion of mine.

Worldwide, Lexus is flopping, especially in Europe and even Japan. People there don't want American luxury (power power power), they want smaller engines, diesels, cheaper trim levels - Lexus isn't offering this. Also, ask your average world citizen which luxury car he would one day want to own, they're most likely going to say MB and then BMW or Jaguar.

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M53R - 8/10/2006 4:59:13 AMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

Lexus and corolla? that sounds familiar! Oh coz their from the same family. U really showed me a good point will, Lexus is an oversized Corolla.

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BMW530i - 8/10/2006 6:05:24 AM

+1 Boost

I am not a frustrated German car fan. I am frustrated with some of the mindless trolls here who diss anything German while proclaiming that Lexus is the second coming of Christ.

Back in the late 19th century, the world heard about Benz and Daimler: because they invented something revolutionary. From this time to the 1920s and 1930s, the company (merged in 1926) had made a name for themselves through innovation, motorsports, aircraft and ship engines etc. Look at what historical and famous cars BMW and Mercedes and Audi have released. Does Lexus have a 2002 Turbo? A Quattro GT? A 300SL Gullwing or 500K Special Roadster?

What has Lexus done? Seriously, let's be honest here. They take existing ideas and perfect them. Lexus even had the nerve to claim "they developed a safety system that can detect potential accidents..." - copied from Mercedes PRE-SAFE. Oh, I saw the ads alright.

THIS IS NOT A RANT AGAINST LEXUS. I am just trying to talk some sense into some of the Lexus fanboys here. Reliability and good customer service is all Lexus has. The competition is waking up too. The future will be a battle.

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M53R - 8/10/2006 7:38:24 AMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

Will.

At least a Mini doesnt look like a BMW , on the other hand, Lexus is a Toyota.

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BMW530i - 8/10/2006 8:17:44 AM

-1 Boost

Will,

Your use of all caps is a direct contradiction to your claim. Lexus isn't the second coming of Christ, and neither is BMW. I guess this arguement is a stalemate, because the same way you feel that Lexus is ooverrated, I believe the same thing about BMW.
------------------------------------------

I never said Lexus is overrated. I am saying that people here overrate Lexus. Usually fanboys. Yes, we have German fanboys here too.

Give true credit where it is due! Lexus does not have a 2002, or a Gullwing, but they have an LS, an ES, an RX, an SC, an IS, the list goes on. Every Lexus model that has been released has been noted as being on par, if not better in various ways than their European competition.
----------------------------------------------

First of all, I always give credit where credit is due. But Lexus has really done nothing new except take existing ideas and better them. Perhaps the hybrid stuff is something I can give them credit for, but other than that, they've done nothing. They see something from the competition, and they study it, and perfect it. This goes not only for technological aspects, but also things like customer service etc.

About the cars...

IS: Supposed to be a BMW 3-series rival eh? The top model doesn't even come with a manual, and yet the Lexus ads claim it as being a sports sedan. What gives? In this kind of car, I want a manual. Heck, even the Mercedes C-Class C350 comes with a stick, and Benz is stingy when it comes to manuals.

SC: Where is the front? This car looks really awful IMHO. The engine is so super quiet eh? I've heard complaints from automotive journalists that the engine is so quiet, there is no fun behind the wheel. Granted, it is a luxury GT car, but it feels like a sleeping pill I suppose. No engine sound? Boring.

RX: The moment it starts raining, this thing will get stuck. Better than the competition? It might be super reliable, but it can't go offroad and that automatically makes it a POSER car for me. An SUV should be able to go offroad. I have no interest in poser SUV's that can't go offroad. The X5 was designed for the road, but it can perform offroad too, but not as good as the Q7, Touareg or ML.

LS: Another vanilla design. Great value, comfortable etc. but just boring to look at (and probably drive). I realize the target market of this car cares more about the ride quality, but it doesn't offer anything else. The S-Class comes with more engine choices, AWD options etc. The A8 has Quattro etc. The 7-Series (yes it is ugly) is sporty. All the LS offers is being a reliable big luxury car.

Name another brand that has released hit after hit so elegantly? Name another brand that has reached such a high level of status in nearly only a decade?
-------------------------------------------------

Only in the USA. Not in Europe, not in Japan, not internationally. To be a true global player, they have to succeed in these areas. And with their curre

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BMW530i - 8/10/2006 8:23:28 AM

+1 Boost

Look, I didn't want this to sound harsh. I'm just voicing my opinion and I think of myself as a pretty objective guy.

Sorry if I insulted the SC etc. a bit, I lost my nerve there. ;)

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Lexlover - 8/10/2006 9:11:25 AM

+1 Boost

Look Mercedes and BMW fans it's ok to be jeolous Lexus just builds better cars Mercedes has tereble electrical problems and My Uncle has a X5 that has died 3 times and had the heated seat malfuntion and burn a hole through his pants

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BMW530i - 8/10/2006 9:13:05 AM

-3 Boost

Go on the Lexus forums Lexlover and read about complaints about the new GS. Shitty brakes and an engine that dies the moment you leave the dealership.

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lewissalem - 8/10/2006 10:13:03 AM

+1 Boost

Toyota builds one hell of a luxury cruiser. However, I prefer to shift myself.

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AUDIMAN4 - 8/10/2006 10:50:07 AM

+2 Boost

I agree with the posts about Lexus copying existing technology and then claiming it to be their own, aka bootlegging. As examples, I cite the Hybrid system--Audi was in fact the first to create a Hybrid prototype way back in the late '80's, and also was the first to bring it to the market with the DUO, in 1997.

Fast forward to 2005, and Lexus "invents" hybrid. What a crock of $hit. Of course, the blatantly ignorant buy into this propoganda and buy these bootleg Toyota's.

Another example: Toyota's ripoff of Keyless Go--something that Mercedes has had since 2000.

Another example: Self-parking. Done by VW in 1991 on a concept but deemed litigous and was never applied to passenger cars. Fast forward to 2006, and the LS concept is the "first" for this technology (which btw the new S-class had before).

Lexus was introduced in Australia, Canada, and the UK after the US launch I believe in 1990. Despite this, the brand still lags in sales and prestige compared to Audi, BMW, and MB.

So all you talking about how Lexus gained so much prestige in a short period of time are obviously clueless to the fact that internationally, Audi, BMW, and MB are all that matter. Lexus doesn't even do half the volume as these brands.

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maikoazu - 8/10/2006 10:59:04 AM

+2 Boost

Go ahead and paid over $10k for a similarly equip Toyota (ES = Camry RX = Highlander GX = 4Runner LX... ahh you know "the list goes on") If that "will" make you happy.

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MercBasher - 8/10/2006 11:09:58 AM

+1 Boost

So many Lexus haters, its great to read how you guys develop such convoluted excuses for why the German brand's are better even though:

they are less reliable
they often have weaker performance in their mainstream models
they are losing their "prestige" fast

But please continue in your delusions, because you make me laugh so much. You guys are so out-of-touch with where the market is going.

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AUDIMAN4 - 8/10/2006 11:32:47 AM

+2 Boost

Audi's problems specifically in the US can be traced back to the Audi 5000 hoax and illegetimate, shady journalism by 60 Minutes in '86, which was proved completely false.

In the US, Audi spends virtually no money on advertising. In Europe, and specifically Germany, a recent survery found that Audi is more desirable aka prestigious than BMW and MB, and is currently outselling both.

Quattro AWD is simply the best. The A4 Quattro beat out 7 cars in a recent R&T comparison, including the IS.

If Lexus is so prestigious, explain why in all of the other countries it has been launched in since 1990, that it has not gained the status, as you put it, of the Germans?

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AUDIMAN4 - 8/10/2006 11:43:37 AM

+2 Boost

So let's get this straight. Audi outsells Lexus in every market except the US, including Toyota's home market, Japan, yet these ignorant Toyota fans claim that it is a more status worthy brand.

1. Audi's R/RS performance brand. No Lexus alternative.
2. Audi's W12 engine. No Lexus alternative.
3. Audi's investment the most advanced diesel technology, which trumps Lexus hybrids (and outsells them).
4. Audi's global position. Go anywhere in the world, and Audi is recognized. Lexus is virtually unknown.

Audi = sophisticated, international luxury.
Lexus = bootleg, American luxury.

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BM3W - 8/10/2006 12:08:52 PM

-1 Boost

Just try driving a Lexus at 120 mph for a two hours and see how reliable they really are. All of the German autos would pass this test with flying colors. So tell me why does JD think Lexus is number 1 on the boring chart.

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hobbes974 - 8/10/2006 12:32:42 PM

+2 Boost

Will: Your statements are hollow. Where’s the fact to back this up? Do some research before you post.

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AUDIMAN4 - 8/10/2006 12:40:52 PM

+1 Boost

Will: Go to Connecticut, or Vermont, or upstate New York--the truly wealthy states, and nobody knows what a Lexus is.

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BM3W - 8/10/2006 1:59:02 PM

0 Boost

Will...

I've driven my BMW fast and hard for the last four years from low speeds (25 mph) to very high speeds
(130 mph) for many hours at a time and have one small problem. The exhaust air sensor needed to be replaced. So, not sure where JD Power gets it's data but, lets just say I'm skeptical of what they are reporting. What I do know is that Lexus and for that matter any Japanese auto cannot be pushed that hard without getting tired. In my personal opinion the short/long distance sprinters Audi, BMW, MB, and Porsche makes the strongest most reliable cars on the road.

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stimling - 8/10/2006 1:59:57 PM

+2 Boost

Mass market cars like the Lexus and BMW can never be real prestige cars anyway.

Range Rover, Jaguar, Lambo, Ferrari... those are prestige cars. So what if they're unreliable. It means your rich enough to have expensive regular maintence. Now that's prestige. :-)

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hobbes974 - 8/10/2006 2:03:08 PM

+2 Boost

The fact that you state "Just try driving a BMW at 55mph(or any other average speed) for a couple of months and see how reliable they are" I know for a fact BMW simulate their cars for months even years at high speed in Germany, the country where they can legally drive triple digit speed, but I don't have the time to dig this up for you. Do your own homework. I have to get back to work right now.

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MercBasher - 8/10/2006 3:26:52 PM

+2 Boost

All you Euro-nuts, keep the insults coming about the typical US market and its love of Lexus. We in the US are so smug because we buy fully loaded large engine vehicles [BMW, Mercedes, Lexus et al] for the price of your cloth seated, base taxicab models - and we buy lots and lots of luxury vehicles.

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Rupert - 8/10/2006 4:22:38 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

stimling, you got it exactly.

go to england. if you have a lexus, you are devoid of taste.
an audi, you are intelligent, and confident. a merc, rich, a bmw, intelligent, and confident.
bmw is on par with audi here.
lexus have two engine choices normally, no diesels (bar a very rattly one), all because they need to be seem as upmarket, as everybody here knows that they aren't. the sc is a pig, the gs a another pig, the ls is like a mirrored ceiling (shiny and brash), the rx alright, the is alright.
no es, lx or gx, we wouldn't take such an obvious rebagded toyota.

will, if audiman4 doesn't then i will.

americans are stupid.(why all the tourist stories if it's not true?)
especially in north carolina

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PM34231 - 8/10/2006 4:29:25 PM

+2 Boost

Congratulations to Lexus. Im not a fan of the cars, they are beautifully presented and appointed. My experience is that they lack character. They are a Toyota with sophistication. They are reliable, safe and- the after sale experience at our local dealer is phenomenal.If all Lexus customers are treated as well as the ones I know, Lexus worked hard to earn the honor of this award.

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maikoazu - 8/10/2006 5:23:09 PM

-1 Boost

Will, I am sorry you just found out your shiny new Lexus is actually a Toyota and that you over paid for it and now trying to bash others to make yourself feel better.

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Rupert - 8/10/2006 5:26:07 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

smart enough to buy the ford f-150....
and the endless rebagded versions of ford and chevvy.
smart enough to make 40% of the population obese.
smart enough to invent mcdonalds
smart enough to have a war with most countries
smart enough to vote bush into power and give him control over a nuclear arsenal?
and smart enough to let people own guns?

and out comes the number 1 superpower point.....
et non, je ne suis pas francais

ban me on what basis?
i said something bad about the fattest country in the world?
parce que, c'est vrai. les americans sont tres gros et a mon avis, stupide. le president n'est pas un bon example de la population de que est problement le plus puissant pays, mais un pays puissant qui a beaucoup de problemes et qui est guidé par religion beaucoup. l'Amérique c'est un pays merveilleux, mais trop de tout est mauvaise. j'ai droit à mon avis.
i'm english by the way.

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Rupert - 8/10/2006 5:51:48 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

oh great now i'm vertically challenged, an idiot, an insult to mankind, french, AND should be banned from autospies?

talk about a bad day....

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Rupert - 8/10/2006 5:53:02 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

logical......words escape me.
mental midget?

??????????

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I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 8/10/2006 6:29:40 PM

+1 Boost

Sorry guys but Rupert is correct.
Percentage of population wise, USA has the highest amount of VERY STUPID People.
You can rant and rave all you want but the rest of the world knows this fact, The funny thing is if you ask the intelligent people in the USA, they will be the first to tell you this is TRUE.
The WE ARE THE NO 1 SUPERPOWER argument is so old. Noting lasts forever, Once it was the Romans, then the Anglo-Saxons, at some point the USA the future CHINA.
Non of this changes the fact that the average NORTH AMERICAN is completely IGNORANT of the outside world and world current affairs and unashamed of this fact.
In The USA, IGNORANCE IS BLISS, correction(IGNORANCE IS ORDAINED BY GOD)
As i am sure the President will agree with me :)

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Rupert - 8/10/2006 6:50:06 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

people misunderestimate the lack of intelectualated minded intelligentics in the united states of armenia

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orvillecox - 8/10/2006 7:41:32 PM

+1 Boost

For all you Lexus lovers; Just wait until MB starts mass producing it's new electrical switch. It has positions of; DIM, FLICKER and OFF!

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CPILLAR - 8/10/2006 10:00:23 PM

+1 Boost

Audi bringing up the rear amongst the Germans?

WOW..."Always Follow" is their new slogan...

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PlanoA4 - 8/10/2006 11:00:18 PM

+2 Boost

Will - you place all of your emphasis on "reliability". It is only one factor in entire ownership experience. To buy a car strictly on that factor alone shows either an unhealthy paranoia of the unknown, or the inability to separate fact from fiction. You do realize that the total sum of issues for say even a SAAB is only two extra issues than the top Lexus. That is a VERY trivial difference.

Correct me if I am wrong, (like you would let it pass) but to me 90% of the Lexus guys tout the following: lower price, high resale and reliability as the main factor to but a Lexus. For me those are very low of the list of priorities. You guys also seem to confuse reliability as the single most important indicator of quality. Far from the truth.

A diamond is symbol of quality, but it has inherent flaws. Cubic Zirconia looks almost the same at a much lower price and typically is flawless. However the diamond is the real deal, the CZ is the cheap imitation. Lexus is a cheaper copy but never been the the true leader in anything other than a singular survey.

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PlanoA4 - 8/10/2006 11:12:29 PM

+1 Boost

Rupert- I am red blooded American, however you do point out some painful facts. We Americans are too easily sold by marketing hype rather than facts. Toyota has done a stellar done of analyzing American desires and wants. And found that basically they can put a world class marketing spin on a plain jane car and sell in as a world contender. This is why Lexus sales outside the USA are lukewarm at best. The better educated automotive buyer in other countries sees the vehicle for what it is and says, “a Toyota + $20K”. They then look for a car that actually fits their needs.

In America we fall victim to allowing marketing to tell us what we need. If you look at Lexus core audience you see that basically the income levels are far lower than that of the true Premium Brands. Lexus has provided a "short cut to the top", and true to form the typical Lexus buyer takes that short cut and assumes they have made it!

Since the VDS is an indicator of 2003 models, the latest run of recalls and issues will not surface until the 2008 VDS. That is unless JD Power does not consider a safety recall an issue.

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sulev - 8/10/2006 11:13:33 PM

+1 Boost

Hahaha..

It is interesting to read the comments from top to bottom. What started as a plain and simple statement has grown completely out of context. You should read it once again and giggles on the posted comments.

This statement is purely based on facts, and we all admit that. Lexus has the least problems compared to other rivals (not just German brands). It’s not about how cool I would look in a German brand cars compare to Lexus, it’s not about how fast a Lexus compare to others, and it’s surely not about how luxurious Lexus brand compared to others. The arguments stated Lexus is a luxurious brand was never claimed by the author by the article. It is you guys who rattle in wary that Lexus may threaten the supposedly luxurious German brands.

Please read the article back, and make a healthy argument that would base on facts, not by emotional and clouded fanaticism. I hope you defend your partner (or family) this fierce like you defend your favorite ride.

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00JT - 8/11/2006 1:38:10 AM

+1 Boost

Will - "which would leave BMW stuck in the middle: not the best luxury features, but not the best performance either."

Very true, considering that most of the 3 and 5 Series sales are the models that end with "25." At that point, for the price there are a lot more cars that offer better performance for the money.

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00JT - 8/11/2006 1:55:15 AM

+1 Boost

Plano A4 - "Toyota has done a stellar done of analyzing American desires and wants. And found that basically they can put a world class marketing spin on a plain jane car and sell in as a world contender."

Since when was the IS, GS, and new LS a "plain Jane" car? Even the old LS was designed to have Lexus standards. Lexus spent hundreds of millions of dollars in producing the first LS. If they just wanted to copy another Toyota they would have just rebadged the Crown. Would have saved them a lot more money, but then what would be the point of Lexus?

Also, reliabuility is a key factor in buying a car. Especially when you pay a premium for a luxury car it should be pretty darn close to being flawless. Of course other factors may also be considered such as:

How luxurious the car is - Lexus has that part down
How good the fit and finnish is - Lexus also nails it.
How it looks - Of Course subjectable, but many people like their designs, especially of late.
How good it performs/drives - Not as good as a BMW perhaps, but its far from being a land barge.
Overall value - Lexus undercuts BMW and Mercedes in price
And lastly reliabuility - As we can tell from this article, Lexus' are very reliable.

As you say us Lexus fanatics place an emphasis on "reliabuility" but in no way is it the sole deciding factor when purchasing a car. If we're so concerned with reliabuilty then whats with you guys with "road feel?" I'd say 75% of my driving consists of straight freeways where at-the-limit handling is not needed. Therefore Lexus is the one that suits me the best.

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lexusis350 - 8/11/2006 2:13:59 AM

+1 Boost

What can I say? Lexus has everything going on for them.

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BMW530i - 8/11/2006 5:10:11 AM

0 Boost

Lexus IS350

What can I say? Lexus has everything going on for them.
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Very informative post! Thank you!

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mkaresh - 8/11/2006 9:41:24 AM

+1 Boost

The VDS only includes problems that occurred in the third year of the car's life, not those that occurred in the first year or the second year. So it only covers a single year.

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