Why does a lot of people hate Lexus and call it a wanna be?

Question

They insist that it still hasn't got the prestige, has it?

Answer 1

those are people who A. never sat, drove, rode in a Lexus or B. are so blinded by title alone they don't know what is good.

If we went on title alone, then that means Alpine stereos are still the best on the market.....and they aren't.

Benz is old school.....they don't impress me at all, and I work in the business. BMW to me has zero ergonomics and some of the cheapest leather on the market. Infiniti....ha! don't even get me started, they have a long list of flaws.

But Lexus....I have worked for them, am certified in them (along w/ the others) and have seen how they are engineered. There is no match in quality, fit, function, quality of products used, etc. For all the others, they use plastic to make it look like wood interior trim, Lexus actually uses real wood, and not just any wood, but some of the most expensive on the planet. Same with their leather.

Most just see Lexus as a off shoot of Toyota. Like Acura is of Honda, Infiniti is of Nissan, etc. But Lexus is its own entity. Sure they borrow parts from Toyota but they are not built as Toyota's.

I've been around cars my entire life. Dad was a Snap on Tools guy for his career and I was a detail expert and now a paint and finish expert. I don't have to think twice when I say Lexus is the best on the market, in all categories, hands down. Its sad others can't match them, but Lexus has a simple way of doing things the others forgot.

They build a car....then every year, then perfect that car. The LS model is an original Lexus from 1989, same with the ES. That is why these cars are so good, each year every bug is removed and enhancements are added.

Where all other car makers make a car for about 3-5 yrs, scrap it, what they learned, and they start all over again with a new model. How did they learn anything? How did they make a quality product by just re-learning the wheel over n over again? Why? the wheel was already invented, just enhance it to perfection. Hence the slogan....... relentless pursuit of perfection.

Answer 2

Lexus most certainly has prestige. The definition of prestigious is "influence arising from success, achievement, rank, or other favorable attributes". That applies to Lexus in every aspect. They've had major success. They're the number one luxury car name in the biggest automarket in the world. They've also achieved a great deal by inventing new technologies that have revolutionized the car industry and they've made them at an affordable price. They have a high rank in society. Most people see a Lexus and know that the person driving it is a higher rank person. They're great cars all around. The only people who call it a wannabe are those who feel like Lexus is taking away attention from their favorite brand of car. The people who do this the most are those who favor Mercedes, BMW, and Audi. They feel threatened by Lexus and try everything in their power to make others think they aren't as good as a German vehicle when in all reality, they're of equal or greater value.

Answer 3

I think Lexus just got it right in the last 2 years.

The redesigns they have come out with the last few years (I have an IS350) have been phenomenal. I traded from an IS300, which WAS actually a toyota with Lexus badges. I felt the interior was a little lacking, but overall, i liked the car and service. When i went to the new IS350, it is a completely different class of car. completely. there is nothing i can compare between the two. The IS350 is VASTLY superior, and from what i have seen of the other new models, most notably the LS460 (it is unbelievable), the redesigned models are now tops among technology and quality.

Does your Benz have air-conditioned seats, dynamic radar cruise control, touch screen nav system, 306 horsepower, etc...not for anywhere near the price.

Lexus new models are the best quality with the most bells and whistles for the money i think...and i have done quite a bit of research...I've never had problems mechanically, yes the salesguys can be obnoxious sometimes, but they can do that anywhere you go. I must have been lucky and found a good one. They have sent me Christmas, Birthday, and my car Birthday cards every year since i've been an owner...I have never had a complaint with them...

But to boil down, I think people that try to bash the 2006+ redesigned models are saying it out of envy :)

Hey, its ok, the is350 IS a damn sexy car :)


and to address the guy who saying Lexus cant compete...see the Car and Driver ratings below, and note where the IS came in on the rankings. I'll grant it came in 2nd behind BMW, but for me personally, the IS beats BMW hands down. I think the interior of the IS is much more luxurious and well thought out, and it outperforms the BMW 330 as well with 306 hp. I've driven both. Go try it and you might change your mind!

Answer 4

They call it "a wannabe" because it is an attempt by that manufacturer to compete with the true luxury vehicle market (notably Mercedes and jaguar and of course BMW...etc) but while well made in a lot of respects it is still a Toyota underneath.... and although many hail Toyota as a good car, the reality is that they are really not in the same league even if they are trying to be in the same price bracket.... the large part of prestige is in the name and reputation of the brand and Lexus just doesn't cut it at the end of the day to those who know the difference.....

Answer 5

We own a Lexus RX 300 and love it! I don't care about the wanna be crap. I bought it used and because it was a Toyota.

Answer 6

Lexus=OVERPRICED TOYOTA. most of the american lexus products are sold as toyota in japan. A perfect example is the lexus is300, in japan it is the toyota altezza. American price, 33,000 new. Japanese price 18,500 new. Yes these amounts are both in american currency. Most toyota and lexus cars share alot of the parts in one another, basically you are getting a toyota in a different body.

Answer 7

I don't know about Lexus being a wannabe....

but

I would never own one. When car shopping, I visited a Lexus dealership and the salespeople were snobby jack-holes. Don't care if they're all like that or not, it soured me on the whole brand.

Answer 8

want prestige? buy a benz.