33 Votes

Toyota Sales Drop 4.5% In April, Lexus Sales Plummet 17.1%

Agent009 submitted on 5/1/2008 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 1:57:27 PM

76 user comments | Category: Misc News | Source: www.autospies.com

Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc today reported April sales of 217,700 vehicles, a decrease of
4.

5 percent from last April.

    "Smaller vehicles are going over big," said TMS President Jim Lentz. "With oil prices at record levels, compact cars and hybrids continue to lead the way."

    The Toyota Division posted April sales of 194,350, a decrease of 2.7 percent from last April. The Lexus Division reported April sales of 23,350 units, a decrease of 17.1 percent from the year-ago month.

    Toyota Division

    Toyota Division passenger cars recorded April sales of 121,097 units, up 7.2 percent over the same period last year. Passenger-car sales were led by Camry, which posted April sales of 40,016 units. Camry Hybrid reported sales of 6,678 units in April, up 40 percent over April 2007. The Prius hybrid gas-electric mid-size sedan posted best-ever April sales of 21,757
units, an increase of 53.8 percent over last April. Yaris reported best-ever April sales of 11,434 units, up 45.9 percent over the year-ago month.

    Toyota Division light truck sales were down 15.7 percent, with April sales of 73,253 units. Light truck sales were led by the Tacoma mid-size pickup, reporting April sales of 15,587 units. The Tundra full-size pickup posted April sales of 13,350 units. Highlander and Highlander Hybrid posted combined sales of 10,008 units in April. The Highlander Hybrid gas-electric
mid-size SUV reported April sales of 2,578 units. Sequoia posted sales of 2,675 units for the month, up 24 percent over the same period last year.

    Scion posted April sales of 11,260 units, up 41.5 percent versus the year ago month. The xB urban utility vehicle led the way with April sales of 4,220 units, an increase of 232.1 percent over last April. The tC sports coupe, in its fourth model year, posted April sales of 4,119 units. The xD reported all-time best-ever sales of 2,913.

    Lexus Division

    Lexus passenger cars reported April sales of 13,766 units, a decrease of 22.1 percent from April 2007. Passenger-car sales were led by the ES entry luxury sedan with April sales of 5,439 units. The IS entry luxury sport sedan reported combined sales of 4,550 units. The LS flagship luxury sedan reported combined sales of 1,992 units. Sales of the GS luxury sport sedan reported combined April sales of 1,568 units.

    Lexus Division light trucks reported April sales totaling 9,584 units, down 8.6 percent from the year-ago month. The all-new LX 570 enjoyed sales of 799 units, an increase of 207.3 percent. The RX luxury utility vehicle posted combined April sales of 7,160 units. The RX 400h hybrid luxury utility vehicle reported sales of 1,624 units for the month, up eight percent over the year ago month.

    TMS Hybrids

    TMS calendar-year-to-date hybrid sales totaled 101,334 units. TMS posted April sales of 32,841 hybrid vehicles, an increase of 42 percent from last April. Toyota Division posted sales of 31,013 hybrids while Lexus Division posted sales of 1,828 hybrids.

    There were 26 selling days this month, as compared to 24 selling days last April.

Toyota Sales Drop 4.5% In April, Lexus Sales Plummet 17.1%

About the Author

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User Comments

Would you say the same of GM that a drop is good news? Why so much hate? Why is it okay for GM to be the largest manufacturer but not Toyota?
— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 4:56:55 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

I agree, it is about time Toyota diserves a drop since they cars are not what they claim.
— bestofallcad (View Profile)

Posted on 5/2/2008 11:40:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

Another hypocrite who's never owned a Toyota.
— sector (View Profile)

Posted on 5/3/2008 2:10:49 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

I think everyone else did better than Lexus except for Acura though..
— jt716 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 2:09:47 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5

43le it is because toyota and lexus people have been bragging and down grading the american cars for so long and think toyota is invinceable. So yes they do diserve this for pete sake it is not even a American company, so why not. I know that when GM sales are down toyota people on the bang wagon about that.
— bestofallcad (View Profile)

Posted on 5/2/2008 11:44:45 PM | | Votes: 0

only 1 way to go when your at the top
— LexusKindaGuy12 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 2:11:39 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

one... try two. You could go down, or you could go up some more...
— ThierryHenry14 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 4:26:45 PM | | Votes: 3

I am in the Texas market and we had record sales for April. Maybe some other parts of the country just need real salesmen.
— Notjustlex (View Profile)

Posted on 5/2/2008 10:46:56 AM | | Votes: 2

Poeple are still buying the Camry's....and the Lexus IS, I wonder why? 23/32 maybe the answer...
— silver1 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 2:12:03 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Double digit drops are enough to scare the pants off any Company's CEO
— w209w114 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 2:15:32 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6

you could say the same for american automakers when the made crap back in the day.
— Htay7500 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 6:18:15 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4

Yea what about the recalls my ex wife owned a BMW and a Lexus and both cars had to be in the shop for over 2 weeks because they do not recall their cars when there is a problem they just make the customer waite for that time, GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE! Both the BMW service advisor when he told us that the car was not going to finished for 2 weeks the reason he said quote "we do not recall our cars and that is why the part to fix your car is on backorder" same story was told to me by the lexus advisor. So asked both of them I will take my Cadillac anyday over this I can not believe you are going to make us waite 2 weeks because you wont recall your cars when you know there is a problem, again qoute no we do not.

some customer service.
— bestofallcad (View Profile)

Posted on 5/2/2008 11:52:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

Honestly, (and I am no toyolex fan at all). I am not sure you can really bash them too much for this. Their small cars are going to sell well, but people have less money to spend on cars cause it is going into their tanks. Also, with the credit problems that a lot of people have because they bought more than they could really afford, people are really not running out and buying new cars.

Trust me, I can't stand toyota or Lexus, but I really can't knock them for this
— Targa (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 2:27:45 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

good observation. and note how people buying the top of the line models are NOT FAZED AT ALL!

"The LS flagship luxury sedan reported combined sales of 1,992 units. Sales of the GS luxury sport sedan reported combined April sales of 1,568 units."

the LS is outselling the GS by MORE THAN 25%!

"The all-new LX 570 enjoyed sales of 799 units, an increase of 207.3 percent."

speaks for itself.

who else has $60 - 70,000 cars with a 207% sales increase!?

— ChicaneShooter (View Profile)

Posted on 5/2/2008 3:42:52 AM | | Votes: 0

"The RX 400h hybrid luxury utility vehicle reported sales of 1,624 units for the month, up eight percent over the year ago month.

"TMS calendar-year-to-date hybrid sales totaled 101,334 units. TMS posted April sales of 32,841 hybrid vehicles, an increase of 42 percent from last April."

8% and 42% INCREASES! meanwhile, everyone else selling trucks and suvs are seeing huge DROPS.

— ChicaneShooter (View Profile)

Posted on 5/2/2008 3:51:54 AM | | Votes: 0

An adjective used towards toylex that's anything less than praise; not surprising panties are getting twisted.
— tattedtwice (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 3:51:37 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

doesn't sound like anyone's getting twisted panties.

otoh, seems like the toylex HATERS are all GETTING WET PANTIES, having lost control gloating! LOL!

— ChicaneShooter (View Profile)

Posted on 5/2/2008 3:35:30 AM | | Votes: -1

Why do you defend them so much? are they putting money in your pocket! Not! defend products of your own country instead of knocking them. Sh*t when econimic bad times hit our country is Toyota going to come the rescue Not!

START LOOKING OR ATLEAST BEING OPEN MINDED ABOUT THE AMERICAN AUTO MAKERS, GIVE THEM CREDIT WHEN CREDIT IS DUE WHY DO YOU TOYTOTA AND LEXUS PEOPLE ALWAYS HAVE TO KNOCK THE OTHER AUTO MAKERS WHEN A BAD REPORT COMES OUT ON THE CAR YOU CHOOSE TO DRIVE.

I DO NOT SEE ANY ONE THAT LOVES A TOYOTA EVER GIVING CREDIT TO A AMERICAN CAR, ONLY KNOCKS, ATLEAST THE GERMAN AUTO BUYERS STAND UP FOR THE AMERICAN AUTO'S WHEN THEY HAVE SOME NEW AND EXCITING CARS OUT AND ARE DOING WELL, THEY GIVE THE DOMESTICS CREDIT WHEN CREDIT IS DUE, HOWEVER YOU TOYOTA AND LEXUS BUYERS DO NOT, YOU ARE ALWAYS DEFENDING THE TOYOTA AUTO MAKER LIKE THEY ARE A GOD OR SOMETHING.

I ALWAYS SEE DEFEND TOYOTA AND LEXUS BY KNOCKING ALL OTHER PRODUCTS OUT THERE, YOU WILL NEVER SEE ME BUY A TOYOTA OR LEXUS BECAUSE OF YOUR ARROGANCE YOU HAVE, IT REALLY TURNS ME OFF WHEN YOU HAVE TO DEFEND A PRODUCT BY KNOCKING ANOTHER..... MAN, JUST DEFEND YOUR PRODUCT AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DO THIS BY KNOCKING THE COMPETITION IT SHOWS ME YOUR AFRAID OF THE COMPETITION................
— bestofallcad (View Profile)

Posted on 5/3/2008 12:21:42 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

AMEN BROTHER !!!

The cadillac CTS, the Malibu, the Pontiac G8 are all great products compared to previous offering from GM.
I'll take any of those before a Toyota or a Lexus. Besides the fact that many Toyotas are built in the US when GM products are not always. But GM is coming back, and even if I drive German products, I can appreciate and be happy about GM coming back.
Like I said in a previous forum, I will buy a Pontiac G8 before I buy a BMW 5-series.
— 1evlaudi (View Profile)

Posted on 5/3/2008 11:33:39 AM | | Votes: 1

Second...err...thirds to that. It's funny, you mention how their fans berate and knock other car companies, but thats exactly how their salesmen sell the cars. In the few times I've been in a Toyota dealership, they never tell me how good their cars are, they tell me how bad everyone else's is. Way to go.
— komododave (View Profile)

Posted on 5/3/2008 6:24:05 PM | | Votes: 1

Toyota is actually up 3.4% while Lexus is down 10.2% based on monthly sales rather than DSR.
— TataPower (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 4:09:24 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

BMW just passed Lexus. So much for the Lexus sales domination
— BMW4me4ever (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 6:03:04 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3

One month does not make "domination". It's the 8 consecutive years of topping the sales chart that made it. 2008 will be the 9th.
— TataPower (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 6:11:19 PM | | Votes: 2

Tata ... BMW has always sold more cars in the US, than Lexus. Lexus has though outsold BMW 3 to 1 in SUV sales and for that reason alone is why Lexus sold more than BMW> But the time has changed and their reign is all but over. BMW out sold Lexus by about 7k more cars and 3k more vehilces overall ... That is a big swing.
— BMW4me4ever (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 6:28:27 PM | | Votes: 0

do the bmw figures include Mini sales?
— ChicaneShooter (View Profile)

Posted on 5/2/2008 3:46:11 AM | | Votes: -1

BMW sold 3,000 more vehicles than Lexus this month, but BMW is down about 4,000 for the year. However, that is a gap which is quite easy to close, especially when Lexus is dropping and BMW is still on the rise.
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 6:22:29 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

Bmw is buying market share,Lexus is using their incentive money wisely.When its time to get down and dirty Lexus will smoke Bmw.BMW has 20k incentives on the POS 7 series.The 3series has lease incentives of about 5k a car.Their not making any money.
— autopro (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 7:26:57 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4

You are right, that is why Lexus if offering killer deals on the leases of their RX, ES & IS cars. The BMW 7-series is being replaced. I would rather take a hit now in profit on the 7-series, rather than take a hit later when the new model gets closer. As would most manufacturers. Same thing Lexus did when the LS was about to be replaced.
— BMW4me4ever (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 9:05:35 PM | | Votes: 1

First off, it's a $5k incentive on the 7-Series, not $20k. Second, as far as incentives go, if you don't think Lexus did the same thing when the old LS was being replaced by the new one and Mercedes did the same thing when the old S-class was replaced with the new one, you're out of your mind. All manufacturers do. It's better to get what you can on remaining inventories now than have them stockpiling on dealer lots when the new car comes out.

Look at it this way -- if the manufacturer didn't make getting an outgoing model attractive with incentives knowing the new one was coming, everyone would just wait for the new one. So their choices are to:

A) incentivize the outgoing model, or
B) raise the price a ton on the new one.

Is that what you want every single time a manufacturer replaces a model? For them to raise the price a bunch so the old one is now attractive? Or would you rather them give deals on the outgoing models and keep the new ones priced pretty close to the same? Because you know, you absolutely KNOW people would be pitching a fit on here if the new model costs a ton more than the old one.

I guess you just can't please some people. Give a deal on the outgoing model, people bitch. Make the new one a lot more expensive instead, people bitch. It'd be nice if they could charge the same amount for the outgoing one, sell them all without incentives, and then charge the same for the new one, but consumers aren't going to go for that. So since you're obviously a genius automotive marketing guru, what's your solution?
— JRobUSC (View Profile)

Posted on 5/3/2008 6:07:47 PM | | Votes: 1

BMW4me4ever.. what are you smoking, Lexus has been number 1 luxury seller in USA for the past few years..
— mpls (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 8:19:10 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

mpls ... #1 luxury overall but if you look the numbers in each segment for cars by themselves or the SUV's by themselves. BMW sells more cars than Lexus does by a wide margin. Lexus sells more SUV's than BMW does by a even wider margin. Take a look at the figures ... Lexus although has always come out on top in overall sales. BMW has been a close second. That has changed and in 1 month, BMW overtook Lexus by more than 3k cars & SUV's combined and the year to date totals are less than 2k vehciles .... BMW has the 1-series, M3, X6 and the diesels hitting the market this year ....
— BMW4me4ever (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 9:03:13 PM | | Votes: 0

Number one over all BUT BUT BUT. It is just as you said numbr one OVVVVVEEEERRRRR AAAALLLLL. That means OVER ALL!!!!
— Notjustlex (View Profile)

Posted on 5/2/2008 10:51:26 AM | | Votes: -1

not in the month of April 2008. BMW is #1 overall ..
— BMW4me4ever (View Profile)

Posted on 5/2/2008 11:31:48 AM | | Votes: 0

Lexus is not doing anything as strong as bmw.They have cheap money factors,but their residuals suck.BMW has cheap money factors and high residuals to maintain market share.
— autopro (View Profile)

Posted on 5/3/2008 5:10:23 PM | | Votes: 3

lexus has only been number one as a brand...largely because of the 100k+ RXs sold each years.

lexus has NEVER outsold BMW in cars in the united states.
— enthusiastx11 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/3/2008 9:31:22 PM | | Votes: 1

Hmm. buying market share !

BMW driving dynamics.. so most people get their BMWs in Auto, and it's atotal waste on the bug fat straight roads of USA..
— mpls (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 8:20:23 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Paging Larry, paging GoObama, hello ? Anybody home ?

hahahah
— 1evlaudi (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 9:55:26 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Just goes to show Lexus can't sell their cars as fast as BMW can give theirs away.
BMW lease rates in Canada right now are all under 4% (most are 2%) except for the 650i and M6. $399 leases in the US and BMW's poser customers still default on them.
Makes one wonder how many of these "sales" will be repo'd after the summer.
— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 11:36:26 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

huu ... so how is your lexus cool-aide taste today? How bout the Lexus Rx lease for $369 a month, or the ES350 for $359 a month, or the IS lease for $359 a month? That is what they are advertising in the US. Oh wait Lexus is superior. lol .. Yep they are in second overall for the first time and you are the first to cry foul. Is the sky falling too?
— BMW4me4ever (View Profile)

Posted on 5/2/2008 10:21:38 AM | | Votes: 0

You get so excited over one months numbers. I guess when you are always looking up at the leader it is finally nice to see over the egdge for once.
— Notjustlex (View Profile)

Posted on 5/2/2008 10:55:07 AM | | Votes: 0

Notlust lex. Lexus over the past 8 months is down about 15% as compared to last year. That is a very bad trend to have happening. As a Lexus fan, that is what I would be concerned about. Lexus has not had a positive gain for 8 months in a row. They are losing more and more ground at an alarming rate. Pretty soon Lexus will be number 2 and working close to dropping down to #3 in the US.
— BMW4me4ever (View Profile)

Posted on 5/2/2008 11:34:20 AM | | Votes: 1

TALK ABOUT DEFAULTED LOANS, TOYOTA MOTOR CREDIT IS THE HIGHEST IN DEFAULTS.

THEY GIVE PEOPLE WITH GOOD CREDIT, NO CREDIT, OKAY CREDIT, MARGINAL CREDIT, BAD CREDIT, AND HORRIBLE CREDIT WITH TOYOTA MOTOR CREDIT YOU WILL GET A LOAN, AND THAT IS WHY THEY HAVE BEEN HIGHEST IN SALES IN THE PAST. NOW IT IS A DIFFERENT STORY!!!

WHY TOYTOA SALES HAVE GONE DONE IS THEY FINAILLY HAD TO TIGHTEN THEIR BELTS BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE DEFAULTED LOANS TOYOTA MOTOR CREDIT HAS CURRENTLY ON THEIR BOOKS, SO NOW IF YOU HAVE BAD CREDIT AND ABOVE YOU CAN BUY A TOYOTA OR A LEXUS.

AGAIN YOU TOYOTA PEOPLE HAVE TO KNOCK SOMEONE ELSE TO DEFEND YOUR STUPID CARS..............
— bestofallcad (View Profile)

Posted on 5/3/2008 12:46:46 AM | | Votes: 0

huu:

where are you getting your bizarre ideas?

i just leased a 335i sedan. had three dealers competing for my business. the best deal i could get was $630/month (drive off only).

— enthusiastx11 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/3/2008 9:35:59 PM | | Votes: 0

Just saw the numbers, Jaguar has posted a sales increase of about 17%.
— farabira1 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/2/2008 3:31:33 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

These cars will rot your brains!!!
— lexusrox123 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/2/2008 8:58:49 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

^^^^ignore that! some one just hacked into my account. i 'd never say that
— lexusrox123 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/2/2008 9:00:59 AM | | Votes: 1

YES LEXUS WILL ROTT THE BRAIN!! IF YOU HAVE ONE MUST NOT YOUR A LEXUS FAN!
— bestofallcad (View Profile)

Posted on 5/3/2008 12:51:22 AM | | Votes: 0

what??drop??does it mean GM is in numer 1 again?Oh, No!!!
— dikarockz (View Profile)

Posted on 5/2/2008 11:26:09 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

TO ALL YOU LEXUS AND TOYOTA FANS!!!

YOU MUST BE AFFRAID OF GM SINCE THEY ARE THE AUTOS THAT YOU KEEP KNOCKING!!!!!!! OH THATS RIGHT YOU ARE KNOCKING THE BMW AUTOS AS WELL!!!!

I FORGOT THAT IS HOW YOU DEFEND YOUR PRODUCT, KNOCK THE COMPETITION!!!!!

THIS REPORT WAS A NEGITIVE ON LEXUS AND TOYOTA NOT ON GM OR BMW!!!!
— bestofallcad (View Profile)

Posted on 5/3/2008 12:57:56 AM | | Votes: -1

"I FORGOT THAT IS HOW YOU DEFEND YOUR PRODUCT, KNOCK THE COMPETITION!!!!!"

and yet, the LOUDEST KNOCKING all seem to come crazycadman! he musta been QUIVERING in his boots since the end of 2007, when toyota shot past gm to be No. ONE over the whole planet!

— ChicaneShooter (View Profile)

Posted on 5/4/2008 3:25:47 AM | | Votes: 0

bmw4ever,
Care to show me where the RX is $369 a month?
The cheapest I can find from www.lexus.com is $609/month. Your offer might be with $15,000 down.

Here are BMW's national offers, there's actually a 328i for $369/month ($2500 down). You sure you weren't looking at this one instead when you were thinking of the RX?
http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Content/FinancialServices/LeaseOffers/Default.aspx

So yeah, put up or you know, shut up.

Just as an aside, my car payment (last one is next month) is $813/month. BMW wishes they had me.
— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/2/2008 10:20:14 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

BY THE WAY YOU ARE SO ARROGENT WHO THE HELL CARES WHAT YOUR PAYMENT IS!!!!!!

I BET YOU LEXUS WOULD WANT ME AS A BUYER I PAY CASH!!

2008 CADILLAC CTS
— bestofallcad (View Profile)

Posted on 5/3/2008 1:01:24 AM | | Votes: 0

turn on the tv huu.
watch the ads.

by the way, i checked lexus.com and they don't have ANY of their lease deals on the site...just full list rates.
— enthusiastx11 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/3/2008 9:39:01 PM | | Votes: 1

BTW I think this is really cool;
http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/0805_2008_dodge_challenger_SRT8_vanishing_point_one_lap/index.html
— 1evlaudi (View Profile)

Posted on 5/3/2008 11:48:00 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Sales are down across the board, it is also ridiculous to base it on last years reported results. This is a temporary set back, it's only noticeable because Toyota and Lexus sell so many to begin with. They produce the best quality, trouble free vehicles out there, people will always buy them.
— sector (View Profile)

Posted on 5/3/2008 2:07:44 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

bestoffall,
Shows how little you know. Autmakers LOVE people who finance, that's where the money is.
Toyota doesn't give preferntial pricing to people who pay cash and I'm sure most companies don't.

I have to commend you on the CTS though, good choice. What year?
— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/3/2008 3:13:48 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4

Gonna have to agree with that. I sold cars for two years and I had so many arrogant pricks coming in trying to get a deal and then laying down the line "I'm paying cash, so how much more can I get off now?" Nothing you idiot. We make more money when you finance, so bite me. cash means nothing anymore
— komododave (View Profile)

Posted on 5/3/2008 6:31:54 PM | | Votes: 1

for once, you're right huu. the big money in automotive is in the financing.
— enthusiastx11 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/3/2008 9:40:41 PM | | Votes: 1

Lexus was dumb not to focus on 24 month leases.
— Godgore (View Profile)

Posted on 5/3/2008 6:32:19 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

uh oh.

looks like the pursuit of perfection is having serious troubles.

makes sense that lexus sales declines are greater than bmw or mercedes as lexus buyers are value shoppers who are more likely to tighten their belts in a soft economy.
— enthusiastx11 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/3/2008 9:32:48 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

only true of ENTRY models. at the top of the price heap, the LX570 is UP 207%. and the LS outsells the mid-range GS.
— ChicaneShooter (View Profile)

Posted on 5/4/2008 3:32:11 AM | | Votes: 0

the LX is a brand new model that replaced an ancient one. sales SHOULD be way up. this is no amazing accomplishment.

and the GS is a SALES FAILURE. the 5-series outsell it by 4+ times in the US. so why would you compare the LS to it?
— enthusiastx11 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/4/2008 1:17:54 PM | | Votes: 1

and, yes, even LS buyers are value oriented. the LS starts at $61,000, the S550 at $87,000. that's a 40% premium for the base S and we're haven't even touched on the extravagant options list on the S.

— enthusiastx11 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/4/2008 1:19:43 PM | | Votes: 0

i would also guess, that both toyota and lexus sales will tend to SWING MORE over time than other brands, especially in recessions.

reasons:
1) greater proportion are BOUGHT rather than leased. hence, far more toylex buyers are NOT TIED to fixed periods. and dealers don't get a CAPTIVE LESSOR pool.
2) additionally, FAR FEWER toy/lex owners get paranoid about escalating costs once the warranty runs out. hence, they are more prone to just hang on to their cars, rather than trade every 2 or 3 or even 4 years.

if you exclude the fleet of LEASED cars turned over every year, i would make an educated guess that both lexus and toyota dealers take in much OLDER cars (of the same brand) than anyone else. (conquest sales of course, will see cars of ALL ages, from less durable/reliable brands.)

whenever the economy gets shaky, these will get even older on average. including cars of ALL ages, toy/lex has a far broader and DEEPER owner base of potential customers. at all times, a smaller proportion will feel the NEED to buy a new car.

— ChicaneShooter (View Profile)

Posted on 5/4/2008 3:53:52 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

lexus sales swing more in recessions because they are bought by VALUE SHOPPERS...the people who tighten their belts in slower economic times. the rich are always rich.
— enthusiastx11 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/4/2008 1:21:34 PM | | Votes: -1

that may be true, but it is SECONDARY to my point, which is: toyota and lexus owners DO NOT GET QUEASY once the warranty expires. which is far more than can be said for the majority of euro brand owners.

i know more than a handful of folks still happily tootling along in toyotas that are OVER 20 YEARS old. lexus of course, hasn't been around that long.

but look at the classifieds in ANY newspaper. you'll see far more bmw and mb owners trying to UNLOAD their problem child than you'll see lexus ads. (and most of these, are by dealers.)

— ChicaneShooter (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2008 9:33:59 PM | | Votes: 1

enthusiast,
Why are so many BMW "owners" defaulting on their cars then considering BMW cars are actually cheaper than Lexus cars now.

Lexus focuses on pride of ownership which have payments up to 2x higher while BMW focuses on €pride of posership which eveidently is too expensive for some.

Lexus also hasn't had to resort to entry level cars like the 1-series, A3 and B-class.

As I said before, if you can't afford to buy a Lexus, lease a BMW.
— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/4/2008 3:18:50 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Wouldn't you consider the ES an entry level Lexus? The rest of the automotive world knows that it is simply a dressed up Camry. That is not to say it is a bad car, but let's face it, if it weren't for the Camry, there would be no ES. The Camry benefits by having Lexus refinement at a Toyota price, but at the end of the day a large portion of the Toyota parts are interchangeable with the Lexus.
— Agent00J (View Profile)

Posted on 5/4/2008 3:37:01 PM | | Votes: 2

huu:

please do share these default rates you speak of for bmw.

also, where are you getting your numbers that lexus cost TWICE as much to drive as a BMW?

oh...and almost all lexus cars are entry level. ES, RX and IS are more than 75% of the brand.
— enthusiastx11 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/4/2008 7:39:55 PM | | Votes: 1

x11--

so these are NOT entry models? 1-series, A3 and B-class.

and in overseas markets, you even get FOUR BANGER versions. for considerably less than $30,000.

other than the diesel IS offered in europe, there ARE NO 4-cylinder lexi. and all lexi in the u.s. are at least $30k.

— ChicaneShooter (View Profile)

Posted on 5/14/2008 9:25:59 PM | | Votes: 1

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