Screw it - I want a Lexus!

[Anonymous]

Skip Audi. Always a high end POS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would recommend a Lexus for a 5 year old used car over other luxury cars such as bmw, Mercedes or Audi which are expensive to maintain at that age.

+1
You can get some pretty nice ES300's for about 15k from private parties. My last toyota lasted 400k, so dont be concerned with cars that have over 50k miles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s funny how people are generalizing that Lexus are not fun to drive. For starters see Lexus GS 350 F Sport. Drive that and you’ll change your mind.

It's not me generalizing, it's the entire automotive press. Lexus is not a "fun to drive" brand. The GS 350 F may be particularly fun for a Lexus, but that's not saying much. The platform is going on 8 years old and the last time there was any interest in it was from 2016:

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a15104392/2016-lexus-gs350-f-sport-test-review/

Not exactly a review that praises the car's fun to drive characteristics. Note that they reviewed the more fun RWD version. The AWD version is even slower and has a 6-speed automatic.

You know what, forget it. People like me are know-nothings. Go get a Lexus GS and have the confidence that you have a fun to drive car.

So what do you suggest, that OP buy a used Audi or BMW and immediately have mechanical problems. Or, go after something like a Mazda 6 or Subaru WRX, or perhaps a Mustang Cobra, or something like that. Sporty is in the eye of the beholder.

I recommended a Civic Si, Golf GTI, or Mazda 3 as inexpensive and dependable options for a fun to drive car. Sure, sporty is in the eye of the beholder, but that Lexus is not known for being sporty is common knowledge. I'm not breaking new ground with a novel opinion here. Also you are severely overstating the dependability concerns with Audi or BMW vehicles. This is not the 90s, there is not a as dramatic difference between reliability of the various brands anymore. Your traditional notions of what brand is reliable is no longer true as well:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2019/11/14/consumer-reports-auto-reliability-study-2020-vehicles/2578463001/

Notice that Acura scores below all of the German brands, though I am certain you would have had no doubt about the reliability of an Acura prior to seeing this link. Do you have concerns of Acuras immediately having mechanical problems? If not, why not? Take a look at JD Power's Dependability list:

https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2019-us-vehicle-dependability-studyvds

In this study, even Honda is ranked below the German brands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would recommend a Lexus for a 5 year old used car over other luxury cars such as bmw, Mercedes or Audi which are expensive to maintain at that age.

+1
You can get some pretty nice ES300's for about 15k from private parties. My last toyota lasted 400k, so dont be concerned with cars that have over 50k miles.

The OP specifically wants a car that's more fun to drive. Recommending a ES300 in this case is like recommending oatmeal to someone who wants to try something spicy.

[Anonymous]

If I were in the higher-end car market, I would not buy a rebadged Toyota.

[Anonymous]

Just purchased my 18 years son the 2020 Lexus IS350 so that he can drive to school. Lexus IS a great car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Skip Audi. Always a high end POS.

+1

Audi = VW

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I were in the higher-end car market, I would not buy a rebadged Toyota.

+1

[Anonymous]

We have 3 Mercedes and a Lexus. Love the Lexus the most. So comfortable so nice and a bit more low key.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just purchased my 18 years son the 2020 Lexus IS350 so that he can drive to school. Lexus IS a great car.

Just what every 18 year old needs, a new premium luxury car. I’m sure you haven’t raised entitled kids, lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just purchased my 18 years son the 2020 Lexus IS350 so that he can drive to school. Lexus IS a great car.

Just what every 18 year old needs, a new premium luxury car. I’m sure you haven’t raised entitled kids, lol.

+1 what is wrong with some people, and don’t explain it under the guise of wanting a safe car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not saying new, but probably something 4-5 years old - think Lexus ES or GS sedan. I'm pretty frugal all-around and my last cars have been reflective of that, i.e., Camry, CR-V, Corolla, etc., all of which I drive into the ground. I'm now late 40s and feeling like I want a car that's more luxurious and fun to drive! Plus, I know that I'll have the car for the next 5-8 years, and feel like there are only so many cars in my future at this point. I hope I do it, but will probably end up with another Camry or Accord, lol. Just sharing, thanks.

I apologize in advance as I am a car guy. I cannot fathom how anyone can feel the sense of desire you appear to have for a 5 year old Lexus ES or GS. It's not even like the guilty pleasure of eating leftover pizza. It's like a can of LaCroix that's been left open for a few hours and has gone flat. Upon discovery, you may drink it if you are particularly thirsty, but to desire it?

And yes, Lexus is the LaCroix of luxury cars, and within the Lexus lineup, the ES GS are the least sporty/fun. And like LaCroix, people seem to be willing to pay an absurd amount of money for this level of blandness. No one will look at you driving a Lexus and think "now there's a guy that's enjoying the finer things in life and having a blast."

If you want to have some fun, go get a Civic Si. It will be fun to drive, reliable, and will hold its value well if you do decide to sell it after a few years. If you don't know how to drive a manual, well it's a perfect time to start. Add some spice and variety into your life. Go on an adventure. Buy a helmet and compete in some weekend autocross races. Other fun-yet-frugal cars: Mazda 3, Golf GTI, Mini Cooper.

Heck, go buy a Jeep Wrangler - many many many times more interesting than a Lexus. Do something exciting for a change.

I loved this response. Funny, well-written, and with content knowledge. A big step up from the usual, "+1", "WTF", "grow up", and other useless, braindead responses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not saying new, but probably something 4-5 years old - think Lexus ES or GS sedan. I'm pretty frugal all-around and my last cars have been reflective of that, i.e., Camry, CR-V, Corolla, etc., all of which I drive into the ground. I'm now late 40s and feeling like I want a car that's more luxurious and fun to drive! Plus, I know that I'll have the car for the next 5-8 years, and feel like there are only so many cars in my future at this point. I hope I do it, but will probably end up with another Camry or Accord, lol. Just sharing, thanks.

I apologize in advance as I am a car guy. I cannot fathom how anyone can feel the sense of desire you appear to have for a 5 year old Lexus ES or GS. It's not even like the guilty pleasure of eating leftover pizza. It's like a can of LaCroix that's been left open for a few hours and has gone flat. Upon discovery, you may drink it if you are particularly thirsty, but to desire it?

And yes, Lexus is the LaCroix of luxury cars, and within the Lexus lineup, the ES GS are the least sporty/fun. And like LaCroix, people seem to be willing to pay an absurd amount of money for this level of blandness. No one will look at you driving a Lexus and think "now there's a guy that's enjoying the finer things in life and having a blast."

If you want to have some fun, go get a Civic Si. It will be fun to drive, reliable, and will hold its value well if you do decide to sell it after a few years. If you don't know how to drive a manual, well it's a perfect time to start. Add some spice and variety into your life. Go on an adventure. Buy a helmet and compete in some weekend autocross races. Other fun-yet-frugal cars: Mazda 3, Golf GTI, Mini Cooper.

Heck, go buy a Jeep Wrangler - many many many times more interesting than a Lexus. Do something exciting for a change.

A Civic si is a crappy little rice burner for the under 25 crowd. The problem is that OP is looking for a luxury vehicle and something that is fun to drive. Honestly, most cars aren't that fun to drive because there is a thing called a speed limit. OP, I would focus on luxury and just buy a Lexus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just purchased my 18 years son the 2020 Lexus IS350 so that he can drive to school. Lexus IS a great car.

Car guy poster here. I think the IS is a decent choice for people who want a somewhat luxurious and fun-to-drive car but with Lexus level reliability. I certainly would recommend it over the GS. I would still rank it behind similar cars from the three big German brands, but hey, at least it's better than an Acura.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a Lexus Rc300 coupe. Sporty, powerful and well appointed. Silky smooth power delivery. Build quality is top notch, and the materials used in the interior are outstanding.

For those comparing a Lexus to a Camry, yes, there may be some shared underpinnings, but a good deal (but not all) of Lexus vehicles are still built in Japan, and the paint quality is many times better than products sold under the Toyota brand

+1. Have owned both Camry XLE and Lexus ES. ES is not a Camry. Big difference in build quality, power train, paint, etc. The ES costs est $10k more and d you can pay it, well worth it over the Camry.