Lexus...I'm so confused

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch) 10/06/2020 at 11:19 • Filed to: Cruisin, Lexus

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It’s not that I’m mad...but why and when did Toyota decide to make Lexus the off-road brand? They just announced the J201 concept as a follow up to their GXOR

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Like... Toyota is clearly the off-road brand and Lexus is the fancy brand .  Why else would it have that grill that is completely unusable off-road? The GX made sense because they are popular used but the LX makes no sense. I guess someone at Toyota has decided that Lexus is going to be the one to spend the money on these builds.

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It’s a neat build, but just like all XO builds...its way over the top and stupidly expensive. It’s basically only something that a sponsored team would have because this is at least a 150 grand truck retail.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > HammerheadFistpunch 10/06/2020 at 11:26

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All that work and it’s still not going to have the approach angle of the Land Cruiser twin.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 10/06/2020 at 11:27

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People accuse Jeep owners of being mall crawlers, but we all know these things won’t see any dirt until their 15th owner

HammerheadFistpunch > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 10/06/2020 at 11:28

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Exactly. It was clear that in the design brief the spindle needed to remain intact as much as possible

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > HammerheadFistpunch 10/06/2020 at 11:30

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I’ve never understood their brand strategy either— all the “halo” sports cars with a “LEXUS” badge on them similarly make my head hurt.

So LEXUS is “luxury” but “sports cars” and now “serious off roading”

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > HammerheadFistpunch 10/06/2020 at 11:32

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Because some people will pay for this look on a Lexus even though it will never see dirt...

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 10/06/2020 at 11:33

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I’m pretty sure Lexus is about making as much money as they can, wherever they can make it.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > HammerheadFistpunch 10/06/2020 at 11:33

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Overlanding is Very Fancy Stuff. Toyotas are not Very Fancy.

benjrblant > HammerheadFistpunch 10/06/2020 at 11:34

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.

adamftw > HammerheadFistpunch 10/06/2020 at 11:36

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I was thinking the same thing. I assume it’s because Lexus is almost 100% USA only and they probably have a lot more independence in their operation and marketing than Toyota USA does.

HammerheadFistpunch > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 10/06/2020 at 11:36

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But...so is Toyota.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > HammerheadFistpunch 10/06/2020 at 11:38

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Yep.

I guess the rationale is they don’t want to lose any potential sales to Land Rover?

HammerheadFistpunch > benjrblant 10/06/2020 at 11:38

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I’ve heard that rumor too, and I don’t believe it. Toyota has finally figured out off-road is big business in the US and they aren’t going to the effort of making an LX and not make the Toyota version. I’ve heard good reports that those rumors aren’t true.

HammerheadFistpunch > adamftw 10/06/2020 at 11:39

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I’d bet thats a big part of it. Getting toyota to sign off is a big deal but Lexus might have their own marketing budgets and goals that are slightly more independant. Lexus dealers aren’t dummies, they are seeing built GX come in for service left and right.

Textured Soy Protein > HammerheadFistpunch 10/06/2020 at 11:39

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Because overlanding is now a trendy branded instagram hashtag and Lexus is a fancier brand. Kinda looks like they chopped off the bottom of the front bumper to help with approach angle?

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > HammerheadFistpunch 10/06/2020 at 11:39

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Yeah, and the MBA programs are pretty much in alignment that “off brand” is never good for profits long term.

That’s the core of the Jeep DNA (and why it’s the money machine for FCA)— every, single Jeep has some pretensions of being off-road capable.

With Lexus, it’s all over the map.

gettingoldercarguy > HammerheadFistpunch 10/06/2020 at 11:39

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Profit margin from premium brand. SUVs are hot right now.

HammerheadFistpunch > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 10/06/2020 at 11:40

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Toyota needs to drop the LX from the land Cruiser platform and make it its own thing.  

HammerheadFistpunch > Textured Soy Protein 10/06/2020 at 11:41

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as much as they were allowed im sure. 

HammerheadFistpunch > gettingoldercarguy 10/06/2020 at 11:41

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The price difference between the LX and Land C ruiser is tiny.

adamftw > HammerheadFistpunch 10/06/2020 at 11:44

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Thats the rumor with the LC300, isn’t it?

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > HammerheadFistpunch 10/06/2020 at 11:45

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Do you think anyone doesn’t buy a Land Cruiser because of the Toyota badge? Other than exterior styling, what are the material differences between the Land Cruiser and the LX (are the materials inside a step up)?

Base MSRPs are just $1000 different! LOL

adamftw > HammerheadFistpunch 10/06/2020 at 11:47

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I’ve only seen two in the wild here, and both have been 470s. One was years ago before it was even a thing and it was AWESOME seeing one done up. The other is a kid, must be a new driver and a friend of another kid in my neighborhood because I’ve seen it a few times recently.

But for west coast dealerships I’m sure they’re all over it. All the built ones I see on the internets are mainly in Colorado and further west.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > HammerheadFistpunch 10/06/2020 at 11:47

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I’m not even sure the PR Dept know what “salient” means, frankly...

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > adamftw 10/06/2020 at 11:48

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I think Lexus is big in the EU as well.

HammerheadFistpunch > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/06/2020 at 11:48

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LX? yes. GX and Land Cruiser? You would be surprised.

This was in the showroom of the local lexus dealership. They may not go hardcore wheeling, but they will want to be able to go to moab with the trailer and explore the trails a little.  

HammerheadFistpunch > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 10/06/2020 at 11:51

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very important retreats. 

Ermahgerd! > HammerheadFistpunch 10/06/2020 at 11:51

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They probably realized that the off- road community likes the GX, particularly since it is based on the Land Cruiser Prado, which isn’t sold here.

HammerheadFistpunch > adamftw 10/06/2020 at 11:51

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yeah out here you see a lot of built LX, but like you said, all 100 series.  people are starting to build 200 series though.

HammerheadFistpunch > adamftw 10/06/2020 at 11:52

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not sure.  

HammerheadFistpunch > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 10/06/2020 at 11:54

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T hey are basically the same...but...the LX gets a few things that make it more desirable to some.

AHC hydraulic suspension that raises and lowers the entire vehicle as well as allows for suspension modes.

A better looking dash (arguably)

nicer seat leather

better sound system

I think it boils down to either not minding or loving the spindle.  

HammerheadFistpunch > Ermahgerd! 10/06/2020 at 11:55

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yeah, the dealers have figured out that the GXOR community is starting to get pretty big.  They want in.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > HammerheadFistpunch 10/06/2020 at 11:59

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That last line - yup.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > HammerheadFistpunch 10/06/2020 at 12:00

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The Lexus service experience must also be considered.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > HammerheadFistpunch 10/06/2020 at 12:01

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Unfortunately. Because marketing departments have no grasp on the real, physical world.

I still don’t understand the desire for a unifying “company face”

Jb boin > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 10/06/2020 at 12:01

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Well, i was about to say that they are not but it seems like they are : https://carsalesbase.com/europe-lexus/

According to this , 96% of their sales in western Europe are hybrid and they more than doubled their sales in 6 years.

Still, i don’t know anybody that ever owned one and most of the peoples would not know what it is if they saw one and i am discovering the model names by reading the press release, UX and ES don’t ring any bell to me.

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As a comparison, DS which is now a 10 year old brand has sold only 200 less cars last year than Lexus .

HammerheadFistpunch > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 10/06/2020 at 12:02

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oh, I forgot that.  I actually wrote it down in a differently worded response and it was accidentally omitted.  

HammerheadFistpunch > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 10/06/2020 at 12:04

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Im okay with it...IF...the product was designed for the company in question. The GX and LX are just straight Toyota workhorses reluctantly dressed up for the ball and they look every bit as out of place as the premise suggests.  

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > HammerheadFistpunch 10/06/2020 at 12:04

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Ummm okay I guess? Listen, you’re not Rolls. You are allowed to speak like the normies that buy your vehicles.

gettingoldercarguy > HammerheadFistpunch 10/06/2020 at 12:12

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You can’t option out the Toyota like you can the Lexus. I think the ceiling for a lexus customer is higher than a Toyota customer. Then there’s the fact that they’re looking at Lexus and not Toyota and are in the premium brand. Psychologically people won’t want to step down to Toyota once they’re in Lexus. Not everybody, but the shallow image conscious people will that premium brands lover to pander to.

HammerheadFistpunch > gettingoldercarguy 10/06/2020 at 12:17

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There is about 10 grand difference between the 2 when fully optioned, and most of that is wheels and the nicer stereo along with silly things like LX projecting mirrors and a color HUD.

Not saying you are wrong at all, just saying that if you are going to drop 90 grand on a Land Cruiser, I don’t know how concerned you will be about dropping an extra 10 on the LX, and given the volumes, I don’t think Toyota cares either.

Svend > HammerheadFistpunch 10/06/2020 at 12:21

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Probably because they know people would pay more for a Lexus.

Personally I’m not keen on the Lexus grille.

Give me the Toyota Land Cruiser any day.

2021 Land Cruiser. 

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > HammerheadFistpunch 10/06/2020 at 12:22

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They do look awkward, but I’d say the GX is significantly less so. 

HammerheadFistpunch > Svend 10/06/2020 at 12:27

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yeah, and im glad they toned down the prado grill too.  The old ones were...so/so

Svend > HammerheadFistpunch 10/06/2020 at 12:41

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I don’t think it looks too far from the current Land Cruiser.

Current and 2021.

By far not as big a change as some were thinking several months ago. Lol.

ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy > HammerheadFistpunch 10/06/2020 at 12:57

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Folks that have the time and money to do the trendy #Overlanding can afford a Lexus.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 10/06/2020 at 12:58

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Toyota axed the Land Cruiser in the US due to the minor distinction between the two. Mind you, I’d be more comfortable buying the Toyota-branded one instead, though our local Toyota dealer sucks compared to the local Lexus dealers. I’d rather have the same amenities with the mainstream badge...

ibRAD > HammerheadFistpunch 10/06/2020 at 15:05

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Do people who build their own GX actually go to the dealer for service?

HammerheadFistpunch > ibRAD 10/06/2020 at 15:11

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yup.  Same price as the Toyota dealership but better service. The lexus dealer near me costs as much as my land cruiser guy, but far more consistent work.