Lexus convert

[lobsenza]

I can't understand the Town Car comparison. I would never consider anything closely resembling a Towne Car.....

 

[RickyBobby]

90% of IS sales is for the IS250.

Can you stop making up numbers and provide some hard data? SMH at the internet lol

 

[YEH]

Can you stop making up numbers and provide some hard data? SMH at the internet lol

When have I ever made up numbers?

Why don't you show us all if you can (you won't).

Unlike you (who just makes conclusions based nothing on irrational conjecture), I use hard facts.

Couldn't find the article earlier this year which cited the 90% IS250 sales breakdown, but here is an Auto News article showing the breakdown of the previous IS.

The sales split of previous IS sedans was nearly 90 percent for the base engine, but Lexus hopes to bump the IS 350 to about 20 percent of sales. Pricing will be announced closer to the time the redesigned IS arrives in showrooms in midsummer.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20130325/OEM03/303259995/lexus-is-is-heavy-on-carryover-still-strong


Lexus was hoping to achieve 20% IS350 sales, but based on the more recent article I had read, doesn't seem that Lexus has achieved that (and the previous gen IS had the IS-F and the IS250 still made up 90% of sales).

But let's be generous and say that IS 350 sales make up 16-18% of IS sales, that's still pretty pathetic considering how the IS 250 has been lambasted by the automotive press (including Consumer Reports) for being severely underpowered.

But then again, Lexus buyers, generally, were never that interested in performance to begin with - hence, Lexus dropping the V8 powered GS (yes, I know - there is a GS-F coming).

Like I stated, Lexus buyers have always been value buyers - hence the dominance of the cheaper FWD-based models for Lexus sales and the decline in sales of Lexus's higher end RWD sedans (despite still being cheaper than the competition from MB and BMW).

 

[Aquineas]

I think the latest Lexus grills are... polarizing.

 

[Mithridates]

The IS250 is going the way of the dinosaur in favor of plopping Lexus' new 2.0T mill in the IS chassis (http://blog.caranddriver.com/turbo-time-lexus-is200t-to-replace-is250/). This ought to address many of the reviewer complaints with the 250 and make the "little brother" IS a legitimate competitor to the lower trim 3-series and MB C-class. The IS chassis is wonderfully sorted and (so long as one likes the look of the car) I have no trouble at all recommending it.

 

[amartz]

I think the latest Lexus grills are... polarizing.

The same can be said for the G2 Genesis grill...

 

[Dai Uy Ted]

The same can be said for the G2 Genesis grill...

Genesis: Rather bland.
Lexus: Definitely polarizing, to the point of "No way can I be seen in that!"

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Couldn't find the article earlier this year which cited the 90% IS250 sales breakdown, but here is an Auto News article showing the breakdown of the previous IS.

It's definitely not difficult to believe the IS250 outsells the IS350 by such a margin. The less expensive variant of any car sells quite a bit more. I don't know the exact numbers but I'm sure it's similar for the Camaro, Mustang, 5-series, E-Class, CTS and so on...

I found it odd that the Lexus GS lost it's mainstream V8 model but you do have a point when you say most Lexus drivers aren't looking for performance. And, if they are, they can opt for the GS-F.

People are choosing the S-Class and 7-Series of the LS460 because Lexus let has let the drivetrain rot beyond belief. Nobody wants to buy a brand new, expensive car with crappy performance compared to everything else in the segment. No, the LS isn't a performance car but it's big and heavy and if/when you want it to move - you don't want to wish you were in another car after you hit the gas.

I think the latest Lexus grills are... polarizing.

A lot of people do. A lot of people also love the new, aggressive look. Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder.

The same can be said for the G2 Genesis grill...

I don't think so at all. I'm at the other end of the spectrum and think the second generation Genesis is so nice, so unavoidably beautiful that I had to have one. I didn't feel that way about the first generation. Sure - it was very nice - but it didn't catch my eye like the second generation.

The IS250 is going the way of the dinosaur in favor of plopping Lexus' new 2.0T mill in the IS chassis (http://blog.caranddriver.com/turbo-time-lexus-is200t-to-replace-is250/). This ought to address many of the reviewer complaints with the 250 and make the "little brother" IS a legitimate competitor to the lower trim 3-series and MB C-class. The IS chassis is wonderfully sorted and (so long as one likes the look of the car) I have no trouble at all recommending it.

Yes, I imagine that 2.0 liter turbo four will give the IS200 the power it needs.

Genesis: Rather bland.
Lexus: Definitely polarizing, to the point of "No way can I be seen in that!"

So many differing opinions on the looks of the Genesis but we all have different eyes. I don't see the Genesis as bland AT ALL. But - I also find the new Lexus design quite nice... To each his/her own...

 

[Aquineas]

The same can be said for the G2 Genesis grill...

I hear you, and it's a good point. Personally I've grown to love the 2nd gen nose, moreso than I did on my first gen. Mine looks tight.

Conversely, I think the Lexus grill would look better on an all black car.

 

[amartz]

I don't think so at all. I'm at the other end of the spectrum and think the second generation Genesis is so nice, so unavoidably beautiful that I had to have one. I didn't feel that way about the first generation. Sure - it was very nice - but it didn't catch my eye like the second generation.

You are making my point for me. I said polarizing, I didn't say good or bad. I do have my opinions on that though. There's no accounting for taste, and some people actually like the 2G treatment! ;-)

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[Sal Collaziano]

You are making my point for me. I said polarizing, I didn't say good or bad. I do have my opinions on that though. There's no accounting for taste, and some people actually like the 2G treatment! ;-)

I see, I see.

 

[YEH]

It's definitely not difficult to believe the IS250 outsells the IS350 by such a margin. The less expensive variant of any car sells quite a bit more. I don't know the exact numbers but I'm sure it's similar for the Camaro, Mustang, 5-series, E-Class, CTS and so on...

Think the V8 makes up a big chunk of Mustang sales (much more than 10%).

A while back ago - Edmunds had a chart breaking down the V8 take-rates for the midsize luxury sedans and the Germans were above 10% (in particular BMW) and the 1G Genesis was at a whopping 40%.

Now, this was before gas prices shot up and before the engines updates (GDI 3.8 and the 5.0 Tau) - after the updates, the take-rate for the Tau dropped to around 30% and now w/ AWD being only available for the 3.8, the V8 take rate for the 2G Genesis is probably in the low-mid teens (which doesn't necessarily mean that a lot fewer 5.0 Genesis sedans are being sold, just that a lot more of the V6 model are being sold - hence increasing the % rate for the 3.8, tho sales of the V8 probably has decreased some, but w/ low gas prices, maybe not too much).

The diff. w/ the IS is that the IS250 is just simply pathetic in this day and age.

Heck, I wouldn't be surprised at all if the BMW 320i is quicker to 60 than the IS250 and the 320i was BMW's quick answer to the CLA and A3.

And 335/340 and M3 sales make up a good bit more than 10% of BMW sales (and one also has to factor in the total nos. as BMW sells a lot more of the 3 Series than Lexus does the IS).

 

[Aquineas]

<snip>
The diff. w/ the IS is that the IS250 is just simply pathetic in this day and age.

Heck, I wouldn't be surprised at all if the BMW 320i is quicker to 60 than the IS250 and the 320i was BMW's quick answer to the CLA and A3.

And 335/340 and M3 sales make up a good bit more than 10% of BMW sales (and one also has to factor in the total nos. as BMW sells a lot more of the 3 Series than Lexus does the IS).

I'm curious who the target demographic is for the IS250? In my completely unofficial mostly useless observations, an appreciable percentage of ownership appears to be late 20s and 30s professional women. It could be that's the very market they're targeting: Luxury transportation that's a little bit sportier than the ES, compact in size, with Lexus bulletproof reliability. I'd argue that's not a bad market to pursue, while leaving the IS350 for those women and men who want more performance.

On a complete tangent, remember this commercial for the GS400? Lexus was onto something here and they kinda backed away from it.

 

[amartz]

Is it me, or are there a lot of ladies buying the Genesis Coupe?

 

[Aquineas]

Is it me, or are there a lot of ladies buying the Genesis Coupe?

lol that's funny, because I told my wife this would be her next car (in red, because of course red!!), but then came the chilluns.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

On a complete tangent, remember this commercial for the GS400? Lexus was onto something here and they kinda backed away from it.

"The fastest automatic sedan in the world"... That's awesome... Yes, 0-60 in 5.9 seconds". I thought the Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe with it's 300hp Northstar was fast at 0-60 in 6.6 seconds. I was shocked when I learned of the Lexus GS400's power years later...

Is it me, or are there a lot of ladies buying the Genesis Coupe?

Yes! They are. I see a LOT of young women driving the Genesis Coupe. It's a nice car so why not? I definitely DON'T see it as a "feminine" car but, at the same time, it's not too masculine for a women to want to own. It's just an all around nice coupe...

 

[amartz]

Yes! They are. I see a LOT of young women driving the Genesis Coupe. It's a nice car so why not? I definitely DON'T see it as a "feminine" car but, at the same time, it's not too masculine for a women to want to own. It's just an all around nice coupe...

For a woman that wants a 2-door car that can perform, but is *not* a pony car, and has lots of luxury features, it hits the mark pretty well, I think.

 

[YEH]

^ Even the V6 pony cars do well with women.

The V6 'Stang was referred to as the secretary's car (a bit sexist, I know).

 

[amartz]

^ Even the V6 pony cars do well

Sorry, but that's an oxymoron. V6 and Pony car in the same sentence? Yeesh!!

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Sorry, but that's an oxymoron. V6 and Pony car in the same sentence? Yeesh!!

Well, technically, all a pony car is - is an affordable, compact, highly styled car with a sporty or performance-oriented image.