OT - Looking to buy new car?
 

I was looking at the Lexus ES 300 this morning and was wondering if anyone here has had or have a Lexus.

Any thoughts or opinions would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks,

Eric

Now that's a great Idea. Now that the economy is crap. Let's all go buy a foreign vehicle. :confused:

Should he wait until the economy gets better before he buys his Lexus? :p :D

Definitely:D :D

What does the economy have to do with him wanting information about a new car? It sounds as if he's asking for real-life experience with the ES-300, not about the economy.

At any rate, I don't have any experience with the Lexus...what other cars in the same price range are you looking at? Nissan and Infiniti both make a great car as well and I would assume each have a model similar in price to the ES 300.

Either way....good luck!

I woul look at the Acura CL and TL.. the CL can be had w/ a 6 speed manual tranny.

Hmm lets, at least 65% of all dodge parts are made in Japan (look at the underside of a viper mirror some time) Chevy's are running honda and toyota motors in some their now, 95% of ALL vehicles sold in US are at least assembled in the US. Whats the problem? Don't get me wrong, American cars are great cars and I'm as Patriotic as the next person. I just look at consumer reports and Magazine articles. Form there I decide what I want to test drive, from the test drive I decide what I like best.

I'd go with the Infinity G35 sedan. Great car, better than the ES 300 boat anchor, and looks better too. Rated car of the year in several magazines, beating out BMW, Lexus, Cadilac and Audi. Great car, go test drive one.

Oh BTW I test drove the ES 300 and the IS 300 (?) (the american version of japan's Toyota Altezza) I like the ride, the price, and the apearence of the Inifinty better.

Check out the Infiniti G35. You won't have a problem finding it in the parking lot. That's my next car. Infiniti service is awesome.

Yes, but when you buy a car from a foreign carmaker doesn't the money ultimately end up in Japan,Germany,Korea,etc?
I really don't believe that 65% of Dodge parts are made in Japan either.

Ever take apart a dodge before? Cause I have, look at the underside of a viper mirror. Says MADE IN JAPAN right underneath it. Ever seen a Chrysler Seabring? Its a Mitsubishi eclipse with different body panels on it and chrysler badging. Its got the 6G72 3.0l Mitsubishi motor. Dodge avenger, Japanese motor. Dodge Neon, mitsubishi 420A motor, MADE IN JAPAN stamped on the ECU, the windsheild wiper motor, the alternator, power window motors. Chevy Malibu Honda V-tech 3.0 motor, Chevy Vue Toyota motor. Need I go on? Its a totally different world out there then back in the 70's.

I work for a forien owned company and Erie is right. Revenues that are made in the US are sent to our Corperate offices as "Fee's" for the administration. They try and keep as much profit out of US as possible because the taxes in Asia are much less. I hear its even worse in the UK.

Regardless, people are getting payed IN THE USA to put these cars together and soem of the money is going to American companies. Either way anytime a ANY car is sold, somebody in Japan is making money.

Back to the subject. My wife was given a brand new ES300 as a loaner while her 430 was being serviced, so I drove it. What a nice car for its class. A little pricey for some people, but if you keep a car for a while, it should be worth while. Does require premium gas, but otherwise its great. I myself bought a new CTS and I'm fairly happy with it, but the price was really great, under 30K. I couldn't get any kind of deal on a G35. If I had it all to do over again I think I would go with the GT 400 Lexus sport sedan...

Eric,

I sent you a private message...

Although we don't have the ES300 we do have an '01 LX470. The truck as 40,000 miles on it and the only thing done to it is changing the oil. Our experience with the local dealer has been very good, each time my wife has taken the car in for scheduled service they handed her the keys to a shiney new RX300 and said we'll see you later. Customer service from our dealer has been perfect.
I also have a 94 Toyota pickup with 100K on it that has only had the oil changed and a set of front brakes.

Whether we like it or not, he's absolutely right, I have one:D

Here's what Ford Motor Company does with it's profits
 

Update - Ford Motor Company, UAW, dealers respond to national tragedy


March 4, 2002, Dearborn, Mich : To assist the nation after the attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C., Ford Motor Company, the United Auto Workers and dealers are doing the following:
(newest information listed at top)

$300,000 donation to "Chefs Across America," which is coordinating fund raising dinners in seven U.S. cities.

$1 million donation to the Robin Hood Foundation's relief efforts.

Employees from Ford's New York region office are volunteering at local restaurant to provide meals to the police, firefighters, and the rescue and recovery workers at Ground Zero.

Ford Fund donated $5,000 to the Farmington Hills Police Benevolent Association to cover participant expenses for the Farmington Hills Firefighters' "Bridge to Bridge, Side-by-Side" Walk from the Ambassador Bridge in Michigan to the Brooklyn Bridge in New York.

The UAW and Ford Lima Engine Plant hosted the "Celebrate America" event on Oct. 14. Six NY firefighters participated and some 6,000 people attended. More than $100,000 was raised for the NY Firefighters' Widows and Children Relief Fund.

Ford Venezuela Assembly Plant collected $2,800. The company will match.

Employee blood drives in southeast Michigan exceeding Red Cross goal by 51 percent.

$37,500 raised at "Ford Cares" Concert at World Headquarters in Dearborn. The company will match.

Plants collecting employee donations and raising significant amounts; e.g. $33,550 at Kansas City Assembly Plant and $25,000 at Kentucky Truck Assembly Plant in Louisville. The company will match.

Jaguar donated computer equipment to the American Red Cross in Manhattan.

Jaguar sold American flags and pins to employees with proceeds and dollar-for-dollar company match to the American Red Cross.

Hertz Rent A Car will donate 20 vehicles to transport families of deceased firefighters and police to funerals.

Hertz Equipment Rental donated two construction forklifts and a variety of work equipment (hard hats, first-aid kits, safety glasses, respirators, work gloves, safety vests).

Mazda North American Operations is matching employee contributions to the "September 11 Fund" - established and administered by the United Way and New York Community Trust.

Ford Customer Service Division delivered hundreds of engine air filters for ambulances and police cruisers to NYPD to expedite vehicle maintenance.

A moment of silence was observed at Ford locations around the world on Wednesday, Sept. 12.

In observance of national Day of Remembrance on Friday, Sept. 14, U.S. and Canadian plants released employees at the time of their local lunch break to attend memorial services. And salaried employees were granted extended lunchtime.

The company is donating $1 million to the American Red Cross.

UAW-Ford National Programs is donating $1 million to the Salvation Army.

$500,000 from the New York Ford Dealer Advertising Fund and Ford Division. ($250,000 from FDAF with dollar-for-dollar match by Ford Division.)

The company's southeastern Michigan facilities, working through UAW regions, are coordinating ongoing blood drives and fund raisers with local chapters of the American Red Cross and Salvation Army.

The company will match all employee (salaried, hourly and agency/contract) contributions to the American Red Cross.

New York area dealers are providing transportation, collecting rescue supplies and assisting with local blood drives.

Edison Assembly Plant is coordinating donations of rescue supplies from Ford plants around the country. To date, some 25,000 pairs of work gloves, breathing masks and other rescue supplies have been shipped.

Ford Financial created a Wall of Remembrance at local branches around the country as a fund-raising rallying point. More than $5,000 was collected Friday, Sept. 14, at Ford Financial world headquarters.

The company has offered to meet other emergency and long-term needs of New Yorkers, including up to 48,000 square feet of office space for displaced government employees.

60 vehicle donations or loans include:
Four heavy duty vehicles to Salvation Army in New York City

10 Ford Excursions to the New York Fire Department

Six vans (Ford Econolines and Cargo Vans) to shuttle police, fire and medical personnel by Manhattan Auto Group, the company-owned dealership in New York

14 Lincoln Navigators and two Ford Econolines to shuttle New York Stock Exchange employees in and out of Wall Street area

15 Ford Rangers and two Ford Explorers to the New York Port Authority from Edison Assembly Plant

Five walk-in vans to New York City Fire Department in collaboration with Utilimaster Corp. (The chassis are built by Ford and the vehicle bodies are built by Utilimaster of Wakarusa, Indiana).

How much did Toyota or Nissan give?

Then there's the General
 

2001 CONTRIBUTIONS WORLDWIDE (in millions)
Types of Contributions GM Foundation GM Corporation* Total 2001
Health & Human Services $25.7
Education $17.2
Civic & Community $7.9
Public Policy $4.4
Environmental & Energy $1.2
Arts & Culture $2.7
Other $4.8
Total Cash Contributions $63.9
In-Kind Donations
— $7.6 $7.6
Total Contributions $37.3 $34.2 $71.5
Charity Events — $11.2 $11.2
Total $82.7 MILLION DOLLARS


* Includes North American Operations, International Operations, Hughes Electronics Corporation and General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC).
Note: Contribution focus area categories may overlap and hence appear to understate others, since contributions can only be reported in one category. For example, our "Earthtroop" environmental education program may be categorized as "education," when it also clearly represents an "environmental" contribution.

The import domestic thing really is old news and has been beat to death. Profits from a company get returned to the economy in several ways, wages for the employees, money to vendors and dividends to the shareholders. Of these the employees assembling the autos are in the US for the ES300 as well as many of the vendors where Lexus buys thier materials. As far as dividends, anyone from any country can buy the stock. Sure the execs in Japan get paid but Ford and GM assemble many of their vehicles in Canada and Mexico. There is no perfect solution.

As far as Lexus cars, my wife has a 2002 SC430 and it has run flawlessly. The customer service from the Lexus dealership has been the best I've experienced. They drive a loaner to her office some 30 miles away and pick up her vehicle for a $20 oil change. She has had a ES300 as a loaner a couple of times and they were very nice.

your still stuck driving an american POS!! never owened american and NEVER will( except big blocks for the boat!!)... poor engineering, design, quality, handling and RESALE

oh as for lexus my dad wants out of his 01 E55 AMG M-B for another Lexus or audi

A blurb from the American Red Cross
 

BMW
$1 million contribution to the American Red Cross
donated 10 SUVs with an estimated worth of $445,000 for American Red Cross relief efforts

Ford Motor Company
$1 million contribution to the American Red Cross

General Motors
$1 million contribution to the American Red Cross

Harley-Davidson, Inc.
$1 million contribution to the American Red Cross

Honda Family of Companies
$969,442 contribution to the American Red Cross

Mitsubishi International Corporation
$1 million contribution to the American Red Cross

Nissan North America, Inc.
$500,000 contribution to the American Red Cross

Toyota
$1 million contribution to the American Red Cross
Toyota's North American affiliates, including Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Toyota Tsusho America, Toyota dealerships and Lexus dealerships raised a total of $891,746.93 for the American Red Cross

Subaru of America, Inc., and its parent, Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.
$532,000 contribution to the American Red Cross

dreamer...whaddaya gonna tow the boat with? a Toyota Tocoma? :)

HEHE:D Maybe he Rack Stores at a marina that uses a Toyota Forklift :p :p :p :p

Re: A blurb from the American Red Cross
 

Ok he just made you eat $hit.

But this is absolutely nothing to do with what we were discussing. Why you brought it up Erie is beyond me. Grasping for straws? Did I ever bad mouth American cars?

What is better, American company that offshores all it's labor but the profits come back here or a foreign company that employs Americans here in the US?

Fact, car makers such as Honda, Toyota, Mercedes to name a few produce cars here in the US employing American workers. Sure the profits go overseas but Americans are working and making a living. Then you have US compannies like AT&T, Motorola and IBM that offshore their labor to India, cutting American worker jobs and American worker salaries. The profits come back here with the US company but who is benefitting from these profits?

Personally, I'd rather buy from a company that I know is giving a job to fellow American and allow US corps that replace Americans with offshore labor to rot in hell.

I have a 2001 Lexus IS300 that has never had a problem. It runs like a dream and is clearly well built. Lexus customer service is awesome (often throwing in a free wax job when the car is in for routine service). They usually give me an ES300 loaner car for the day when they are servicing my car. Seems like a lot of car for the money....very luxurious.

Oh, and all the people that work at the dealership appear to be American citizens so I think some of my US dollars went into their pockets and remained in this country.:rolleyes:

That is one ignorant statement. You can say you will never own one, that is your own dumbazz perogative, but to call all american autos a POS is pure stupidity. By your own statement you have never owned or driven EVERY American auto out there!

My 99 Ford truck has 122,000 miles on it, and the only thing I've replaced is an alternator at 110,000 miles. Never changed a sensor, the original spark plugs, original fluids. If that's a POS, I'll take a POS everyday. As a matter of fact, I buying a new FORD today.

Why don't you do something constructive like go ride around in daddy's car.:mad:

I've never had problems with an American car that you wouldn't expect to have with any other vehicle. You admit to NEVER owning one, but can pass a blanket judgement??

I always have a problem with this notion of "German Engineering"

They hide behind the luxuries provided by their marketers that allow them to not concern themselves with cost (the market expects them to be expensive, and to have high maintenance costs). Any outfit can make something good to be a little bit better. The true challenge is to make it better, cheaper, and get it done sooner. Of those 3, better is the easiest to accomplish and cheaper requirers the most tradeoffs.

HOLY CRAP!!

I thought I was asking a simple question about cars and a USA vs. everyone else fight breaks out.;)

Living in the south, many "foreign" cars are manufactured in the USA. For example, there is a large Mercedes factory outside of Talladega, AL. My little opinion? I would rather have a "foreign" car made in the USA rather than an American car made overseas.

I appreciate everyones thoughts on the Lexus/Toyota Corporation. Personally, I believe they make great vehicles, whether it is a Camry, Lexus, or a Tundra. All excellent vehicles.

For the record, I am trading in my FORD Explorer and my wife drives a 2003 FORD Expedition.

I try and spread my money (what little I have) to everyone!;)

Just to set the record straight, I have no problem with people buying foreign vehicles, it was just Dreamer's total condemnation of American vehicles that pisses me off.

Good luck with whatever you choose.:)

American cars poor engineering? Hmmm GT racing, Dodge Viper is the winningest car of the series several years in a row after its debut. Beating out porsche audi and BMW. Sounds likea pretty good car to me!

I never said they were bad cars, I'm just saying if your not buying foriegn because you think its taking money from Americans you're being ignorant in not paying attention to current events.

Hatter,
Yes the companies pay for things in the US like wages and parts. Ultimately the Corperate taxes are paid in foreign countries.
Eric,
Buy whatever the hell you want, it's your money!

check this out notice something?

consumer reports

I hate to generalize, but it seems like most of the people who tell me stories about the reliability of their American cars just don't have anything else to compare to. I.E., they've only owned American cars.
I've owned plenty of both, and the foreign ones set the standard for the American ones to be compared to in my case.
Cuda - not to single you out, but you mentioned 120K trouble-free miles on your F-150. That's great, but if you had already owned a few 250K mile Toyotas and Hondas, you would expect nothing less. Now on the other hand, let's say your last truck was like my last POS Yukon. It ate a tranny at 60K, and had far too many other problems to list here. Not to mention all the general squeaks and rattles that piss me off to no end. If you were comparing those two, you'd be thrilled with the 150.
I could honestly care less whether someone buys an American or foreign car. Presently, I own both - an Excursion and a Prelude. What really does get on my nerves is when someone says that I should buy American, and American only, even if it isn't the better choice for what I want. That's just plain ignorant, especially with the huge "Blur" between what actually is American or foreign.
Sounds way too much to me like UAW workers thinking they have a "Right" to a job, rather than believing they should make a superior product that will help insure that job.

and dreamer can now be seen driving around cleveland in his 2000 Honda Odyssey...it did make the list so it must be and egineering marvel...

:) :) :)