LEX-SV

Good point on cheap Honda Civic parts, especially compared to premium cars. Even common maintenance stuff like brakes and tires are much cheaper.

I see the challenges for Lexus with the LS as a challenge for Lexus and its entire lineup. Maybe to get new members involved some form of this discussion should be in General Chat section. Today (post recession) Lexus in the #3 position in North America shows some ground lost and much work to be done. I think the leadership at Lexus has a pretty good understanding today as to what it takes (certainly a better understanding than prior years). Let's see how the actual execution plays out...

Thanks. After nearly 4 months of ownership, the fun to drive/handling and refinement exceeded expectations. The economy and reliability was pretty much as expected.

Nicely done, glad you got to keep the best LS.

^ Still running the H&Rs on your AWD 250? How's ride and handling?

$3.059 Chevron regular Friday 11/26, usual 15cent uplift for premium.

3 months ago I replaced my commuter Honda Civic with this 2010 Honda Civic CNG (white HOV stickers for solo access to carpool lane).

I've listened to Lexus execs flap their lips (both in person and via the press) for last couple years with somewhat limited results. I'm expecting more and I'm hopeful that Lexus will deliver over next couple of years. I have a Mercedes C250 w/Sport Package PLUS, it's reliable/lux/efficient and suprisingly rewarding to drive. I have some form of the RC coupe on my radar (to replace IS350) in 2015/2016...

Pretty much agree with author's comments.

Thanks, and wishing all at LOC the best!

Like Mercedes now (fwd CLA), Lexus has always sold well into lower end with the fwd ES. US market offerings by Mercedes are different that ROW, now those differences are narrowing. The Mercedes badge is still the envy of nearly every major automaker as they continue a tight sales race with BMW, a first class challenge for an auto business to say the least. Despite the ups and lately the downs of reliability at Mercedes (CLA and S-class per CR have dragged down overall brand reliability lately), the perception of value in the lux car business is quite good. For Lexus with a better LS to take a serious chunk of the new S-class business would be a great achievement. The 7 series BMW today will get left for dead, not desirable in the lucrative import-rich areas of California for example. I am looking forward to seeing a exciting LS. When I see how Mercedes shook up the lux car business with the CLS, it shows being bold can be lucrative.

sansui - Welcome to LOC. Thanks for good report, I hope the fix is good now. btw - How many miles on your 07 IS350?

So the guys with 20's and "ride is fine" and "far better than stock" are not telling us the magic configuration of tires/wheels/suspension that achieve this....

Yes I really like the small details standard and common in premium cars including Lexus, MB, BMW, Jag. Such as fully lined trunks, subwoofers, power seats (both driver and passenger) to name a few.

$3.079 for Chevron regular today 11/22.

Was the pic that should show the LF-C2 Concept? Super nice, I hope it can make it to production close in a form very close to what we see in the pics from LA auto show...

Sorry to hear of your non-starting IS250. Any success on finding the cause?

11/19 dropped to 3.099 for Chevron regular.

Show us more from 2014 SEMA show please.

In this class of super lux big sedans, the S-class is doing best. And the ugly Panamera has surprised many with its sales success. If Lexus sets its sights on those 2 and plans on "exceeding", this could get real interesting. The coupe market is a bit fickle, but RC could be a hit, I'm considering one later. Lexus needs to breath on the 3.5L V6 a bit (for an extra 10% more power or so), because 306 horsepower today doesn't have the same market impact as 306 horsepower in model year 2006. 4 series and A5 are the current benchmarks for this class of coupe, C-class coupe is outdated and due for redesign on new platform.

Good and about time. An attractive version of Panamera could be a big hit in this lucrative class.

So what was replacement car? Maybe without moonroof or pano roof.

For a perfect fix, replacing entire front bumper is usually best. This is typical of insurance job with more substantial damage.

Wow, reasonably tasteful too.

Nicely done, looks great. I assume the clearcoat finish is gone, but periodic polish/wax should keep up the look.