You have to remember that much of the information about automobile reliability is from feedback from readers of Comsumer Reports and members of Consumer Union and from extensive testing. Consumer Reports is not an isolated editorial staff that trashes cars and other products without member input and extensive testing.
We have been providing information to Consumer Union about the reliability of cars and many other products through surveys for way over 30 years. I have often been assured and sometimes amused at how the reliability ratings published in Consumer Reports correlates to our own experiences with various products.
It is unfortunate that Toyota Motor Company has allowed their cars - both Lexus and Toyota - to slip in quality. We are stockholders of Toyota and are especially concerned.
Don't blame the staff of Consumer Reports Magazine - they are only the messenger. Full responsibility for their product is with Toyota Motor Company.
Your right about the staff at Consumer Reports Magazine and I didnt not mean to offend them. I do however believe some information gets reported to quickly. If i were giving advise to someone who was about to spend $54,000.00 Canadian on anything, I would want to be sure i can back it with solid information.
I saw the rating and used the Consumer Report Blog to ask them what it was that hurt the ES 350. Looks like it was the transmission issue, which I think was a big embarassment to Lexus and to some extent the floormat recall as well as some issues with the passenger air bag sensor. With the higher quality of all car manufacturers, including U.S., it doesn't take much to downgrade a car line. For owners of Lexus the expectation is appropriately high. I am betting these are fixed on the 2008 and I do really like the car. It will be interesting to see how 2008 owners answer the questionaire--I will be one of them.
