Lexus recalls 57,000 cars

[Whirling_Dervish]

Originally Posted by ben72227

But remember, Lexus built its reputation on a recall...and they know they have flaws. Unlike GM, who puts out crap and lets the consumer suffer, Lexus corrects the problem if they put out junk, just like they did on the first LS 400...

They just had a recent recall in Europe.

ALL affected customers got free loaner cars *and* when they got their cars back they included a free bottle of gift-wrapped champagne for the inconvenience. So hate Toyota if you guys want, but they do deliver their Lexus customers some of the best service in the industry bar none.

[PRO_USA1776]

I was just wondering, why do you guys hang around this site, if I want to say something negative about a foreign car maker, so be it. LEXUS is an overpriced Toyota, However Cadillac and Lincoln were Luxury car makers from the get go.

[T-Type]

Originally Posted by ben72227

No recalls are good, I don't know where you get that from.
GM gets bad press because they have TOO MANY recalls. To the point where you're like "Did a 4 year old kid design this piece of junk?"

Lexus has recalls rarely, whereas GM seems to have some every year...

I'm trying to understand your logic here. As Paul points out there are two distinct issues here:

1. something was done wrong to create a recall.
2. how this mistake is handled.

On the first issue I would agree that Lexus is superior to GM in terms of doing things that won't result in a recall. Where I don't follow is your comment on Lexus building it's reputation on recalls. If I understand you right, Lexus issues a recall and that's further proof that they stand behind their product. GM issues a recall and it's further proof that they don't stand behind their product? I don't get it. What am I missing? The number of recalls is not relevant to issue 2. It only applies to issue 1. Your statement on Lexus reputation was based on issue 2.

[1999 White C5 Coupe]

Originally Posted by paul8488

Arg! We hear all the time about how many recalls GM has, but somehow their recalls are different than Lexus'? How is it that GM recalls are bad and Lexus recalls are good? I understand that it's nice to know a company is standing behind their product... but first and foremost a recall points out that something was done wrong. One recall doesn't mean Lexus builds garbage... but how a recall is handled is the second chapter to the story. The first is that there's a recall in the first place. GM had a record (I forget how many) number of recalls last year, and yet no one is using that as proof that they stand behind their vehicles. I just don't get how anyone differentiates GM recalls and anyone else's recalls.

Speak with any C5 Corvette owner about GM's repeated delays and resistance to recalling numerous C5 model years for a defective steering column lock design. Also ask them about the defective fuel gauge system and GM's delays at providing a fix.

GM delays and fights recalls - thus delaying the repairs and irritating its customers. Lexus immediately deals with a problem and repairs it.

The difference is that Lexus immediately admits the mistake (problem) and fixes it. GM delays and fights it - and doesn't provide a loaner when the car is finally recalled and brought in for repairs.

I've been there.

[Whirling_Dervish]

Originally Posted by PRO_USA1776

I was just wondering, why do you guys hang around this site, if I want to say something negative about a foreign car maker, so be it. LEXUS is an overpriced Toyota, However Cadillac and Lincoln were Luxury car makers from the get go.

Say something negative if you want. Its a free country. I love seeing a difference of opinion. What I don't like seeing is misinformation or outright lies. I tend to defend against that and I do so regardless of the brand. So if you feel Lexus is just an overpriced Toyota, go with that opinion. Others will see it differently.

And technically Lexus has always been a luxury car company. And what they started out with was more luxury than what Caddy made in a 20 year span.

Lastly some come here to read about the train wreck that is GM. Others come here to believe regardless of fact that GM is perfect and they intend to spread the gospel. And others like myself are GM fans and come to read and share information and critiques, no matter how painful so that GM knows what it needs to fix so that they can truly re-emerge as a lean mean market commanding machine.

[importedtuna]

Originally Posted by Whirling_Dervish

So if you feel Lexus is just an overpriced Toyota, go with that opinion. Others will see it differently.

And technically Lexus has always been a luxury car company. And what they started out with was more luxury than what Caddy made in a 20 year span.

From a global standpoint it is. Example for proof: Toyota Harrier = Lexus RX330




The idea that Lexus' "Legendary Quality" is beyond reproach is one cultivated in America, in part by that country club snob sounding voice-over in commercials, good quality, hand picked models that are often the best examples of Toyotas, some that have been in the Japanese market for a bit before being released here, so they can further work out the bugs we never see.

A Toyota Harrier buyer in Japan would not be shocked to see his "Lexus" encounter problems.

[MNdudeswitz]

You can't compare a model sold in another country to one sold in the USA. Toyota is a global company just like GM, where every country it is a little different

[importedtuna]

The point is, the model was a Toyota before it was a Lexus, and is basically a badge switch job, like the Land Cruiser and its Lexus equivalent (LX 470) was for many years. The idea that Lexus is unique to America with incomparable unique product is buying in heavily to the Lexus fanboy-ism that runs rampant in circles I've run in before, and is based on ignorance, not knowledge of global markets and global product offerings.

[Kennyboy]

Originally Posted by importedtuna

From a global standpoint it is. Example for proof: Toyota Harrier = Lexus RX330




The idea that Lexus' "Legendary Quality" is beyond reproach is one cultivated in America, in part by that country club snob sounding voice-over in commercials, good quality, hand picked models that are often the best examples of Toyotas, some that have been in the Japanese market for a bit before being released here, so they can further work out the bugs we never see.

A Toyota Harrier buyer in Japan would not be shocked to see his "Lexus" encounter problems.

Toyota is an every efficient manufacter....
They use the same platform for just about every car they have.
From the Lexus ES330 to the Toyota Camry and the Avalon.
That way, quality controll is stricty enforce.
BTW, you heard Toyota save 1.2 billion in efficient ways of manufacture.

[ben72227]

Ok, so they badge them as upscale Toyotas in Japan and call them Lexus over here?

BFD.

It's not like Cadillac is some great exclusive brand; the DTS is a fancy version of the Lucerne, the Escalade was/is a Denali with Cadillac badges, the Cimmaron was a Cavalier with an emblem, the XLR uses a Vette platform, the CTS-V uses a Vette engine, and I could go on and on and on.

The point is, most huge companies share platforms and badge-engineer to save money. GM does, Toyota does, Ford DEFINATELY does (the whole Mercury line is just Fords with different grills)

I'm trying to understand your logic here. As Paul points out there are two distinct issues here:

1. something was done wrong to create a recall.
2. how this mistake is handled.

On the first issue I would agree that Lexus is superior to GM in terms of doing things that won't result in a recall. Where I don't follow is your comment on Lexus building it's reputation on recalls. If I understand you right, Lexus issues a recall and that's further proof that they stand behind their product. GM issues a recall and it's further proof that they don't stand behind their product? I don't get it. What am I missing? The number of recalls is not relevant to issue 2. It only applies to issue 1. Your statement on Lexus reputation was based on issue 2.

No, what I meant is how they DEAL with the recall. Lexus has fewers recalls, and when they DO have them, they treat customers ROYALLY. They give them free loaner cars, bottles of champagne, no hassle.

With GM dealers, you have to fight tooth and nail to get them to even ACKNOWLEDGE that there is a recall. Unless you shove a TSB in their face, they often will say there's no problem...

[TiburonJT]

Originally Posted by PRO_USA1776

I was just wondering, why do you guys hang around this site, if I want to say something negative about a foreign car maker, so be it. LEXUS is an overpriced Toyota, However Cadillac and Lincoln were Luxury car makers from the get go.

So Lexus is merely overpriced Toyotas, but the MKZ/Zephyr, MKX, Navigator, and Mark LT aren't "overpriced" Fords? And what about the Escalade and Escalade EXT? BTW, I am not saying any of these are just overpriced models from other divisions.

[T-Type]

Originally Posted by ben72227

No, what I meant is how they DEAL with the recall. Lexus has fewers recalls, and when they DO have them, they treat customers ROYALLY. They give them free loaner cars, bottles of champagne, no hassle.

With GM dealers, you have to fight tooth and nail to get them to even ACKNOWLEDGE that there is a recall. Unless you shove a TSB in their face, they often will say there's no problem...

I have to disagree with you here. Look at these links:

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/autom...ta_engine.html
Looks to me these people were getting the run around.

http://yotarepair.com/Sludge_Zone.html
Why would someone bother to create a website like this if Toyota was so good about recalls?

I would argue that ALL manufactures act pretty much the same in terms of handling recalls. Recalls cost a lot of money. If the problem is a small part of the car population, one option is to do nothing and just stonewall the handful of people that are affected. Toyota is no exception to this logic. They are in this business to make money just like everyone else.

[chickenkicker]

Wonder if our IS350 will be part of this recall. Haven't gotten anything in mail yet so we'll see. We need to take the car in for work anyhow. The side mirrors should tilt down in reverse then back up. This used to work then they went down but not back up sometimes now nothing. Also have the same problem with the rear sunshade not going down in reverse anymore. And the illuminated door sills don't always light up. We're donna have the dealer fix these problems, they should the cars only a month or so old.

[genjy]

I don't see how Lexuses are "overpriced" Toyotas. I mean, how much would you expect Toyota to charge for a Lexus IS350? $18K? How about a LS430? $30k? That's nonsense. They are priced according to their specs and features. If anything, Lexuses are underpriced when compared to their competition.

If you went oversea, I would bet that a Toyota Aristo (GS) would cost MORE than our Lexus GS with the same specs and features, because in the United States, we are fortunate enough to buy cars at a relatively cheap price.

[63GrandSport001]

Originally Posted by genjy

I don't see how Lexuses are "overpriced" Toyotas. I mean, how much would you expect Toyota to charge for a Lexus IS350? $18K? How about a LS430? $30k? That's nonsense. They are priced according to their specs and features. If anything, Lexuses are underpriced when compared to their competition.

If you went oversea, I would bet that a Toyota Aristo (GS) would cost MORE than our Lexus GS with the same specs and features, because in the United States, we are fortunate enough to buy cars at a relatively cheap price.

You cant seperate Overpriced and toyota, what the person was trying to say is that the Lexus line are just re-badged Toyota's. I find it funny but when GM does a badge job people get pissed but when Toyota does it people are ok with it.

You can argue that pretty much any luxury car is over priced for what you get, thats because your buying status as well as the vehicle.