Acura vs. Lexus Quality
 

Let me start by saying that I love my '04 TL. My wife and I also own an '04 Lexus RX330. I have to say that as much as I love my TL, I feel that the Lexus product is higher in quality. I can't imagine Lexus putting out a product that does not start right away when you turn the key, or leave butt marks in the leather. Like I said , I am really enjoying my TL, and I plan on keeping it for a very long time, I have just decided that Lexus quality is better than Acura.

I would concur with you on your statement. However having said that, I do love my TL and would not trade it for any Lexus. I got a slight "tacking" noise coming from the passenger door handle, but I don’t care because I love this car (plus being able to drown out the noise with the radio helps as well).

I'm sure no one is going to argue with that, but seriously, is Lexus quality really that much better? Call me biased, but I have never really looked into any other cars other than Honda and Acura. I've own a '00 Celica GTS before my TL, had second and third gen Integras prior to that, and the Toyota cannot compare any Honda cars I've rode it. I couldn't get out of that car soon enough to go back to my beloved Acura.

Anyway, I really want to know if there is a really big difference in terms of quality. Man, I should really just go over to a Lexus dealership and see for myself. It's just that for some reason, I don't really get excited over other car manufacturers cars enough to warrant me to go over to check their cars out like Acura and Honda does. Anything new from Acura and Honda always gets me jumping out of excitement. :D

lexus in general is very high quality all except the IS. hopefully this will improve when they redesign next year.

I'm in the opposite sitch...I've hadn't any problems with Acura (98 TL with 98,000mi) or the short 3K mi on my TL. However, my gf's IS-300 has been a complete rattlebox broken tranny nightmare.

I believe that your feelings serve you well. If the quality is better, it's not by a big enough margin for you to stop lovin your favorite make. If Honda/Acura quality ever drops so low you should reconsider, you'll see it in print.

The difference is subtle, and it is hard to explain, but there is one. Get in to a Lexus and feel the precision in the way things close, the quality of materials and leather, and the design that has gone in to it, is like no other Japanese import, hands down.

where's 1sicklex? he'll be able to explain this in detail.

I happen to think the Lexus interiors are quite a bit nicer than Acura. However, I always like the look of the Acuras interiors better as they are generally sporty and Lexus' have a boring but beautifully finished interior. What am I saying, I just liken Acuras interiors better.

Hah I thought you guys might be right so I went straight to consumer report and looked it up (lexus drivers don't read consumer reports because the publication uses polysyllabic words)!!! Of the 3 year old cars the number one brand is....... ACURA with 21 problems per 100 cars! Toyota and Lexus share 2nd with both 25! Honda is 3rd with32. The avg is 55, BMW is 54; Mercedes gets a crappy 73 and Cadillac brings up the rear 82. As usual KNOWLEDGE IS POWER all else is BS! Acura is number one and if you need more info here's the link, although you have to be a member!

http://www.consumerreports.org/main/...=1077760480844

More sour grapes dear lexus friends!!!!!

o never liked lexus. there not sporty, they try too hard to make them look luxury and they all look to me like badly designed benz's. an the interior isnt bad, but it ant to good either. the first time i saw the TL i said "iam getting this car, so it better perform good with good features. and thats what this car is all about very spory with a good engine and over the top technology.

quality my be a little better on the lexus, but not $20.000 better... IMHO.

lexus cars, just don't make me feel happy like the Acura's do.

yeah i never was a big lexus fan, the cars are not sporty enough. sure the gs430 hauls ass but its kinda bing clunky and looks more luxurious like a benz. i prefer bmw's to benz in the same manner. the mercedes is very nice but doesn't have that same sport feel to me. maybe further down the road i might consider something like that.

First I do love both Acura/Honda and Lexus/Toyota. I owned 4 honda/acura and 3 toyota/Lexus ....

But I have to say, even my 93 Lexus SC 5 speed is alot better quality than my 99 Acura TL.

My cousin has a GS. It's a really nice car, nice interior, very well made, no rattles. However, the GS is a lot more expensive than the TL, comparably equipped.

jmo-

my gf and i are in the same boat as you and your wife. she recently purchased an RX330 and i'm putting in an order for a TL (6MT w/navi) in the next couple of weeks. i was also very impressed with the RX330's quality (and customer service was unbelievable), but like you, i really didn't get the same feeling being in any of the lexus models like I did in the TL (i gotta get me one of these).

i keep hearing how the interiors of the lexus are so superior, but while i appreciate them, i strongly preferred the TL's interior in every respect.

Lexus used to be a great machine fit and finish through and through, but now they just look like real nice Toyota's to me. The only one that has a distinctive body style is the GS but that car is dying for a face-lift. Over all quality of the Toyota product is in my opinion better but I'm not saying by any means that Honda quality is bad. I kind of look at it like this. On the far left you have Toyota, which is very high in quality and provides a more well rounded family look and feel. Then on the far right you have Nissan who's quality is not bad but not up to Honda or Toyota. They provide a sportier look and feel to their products i.e. higher horsepower, bigger rims, and faster cars. Honda/Acura to me is right in the middle. Our Acura's take from both, quality from Toyota and the sporty feel of a Nissan. Acura, master of none, good at all.

Some of this is real funny to read. I just saw the Passion of the Christ so I'll come back here later (mind not all here now).

This just in, Lexus/Toyota plant 1st in the world 2 years in a row.

Robot-filled Tahara sets standard for Toyota, world

Japanese facility puts focus on details

By Christine Tierney / The Detroit News

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It is the benchmark of benchmarks: Toyota Motor Co.p.’s untouchable Tahara plant on Japan’s eastern coast.

In 2003, for the second year in a row, J.D. Power and Associates bestowed its highest honor — the platinum award for best quality worldwide — on the Tahara factory that produces Lexus and Toyota vehicles.

Owners of models built at the plant, including the Lexus GS 300 and 430 and LS 430 luxury sedans, reported 63 defects per 100 vehicles — about one-third fewer than owners of premium cars built at the best BMW AG and Mercedes-Benz auto plants in Germany, according to J.D. Power data.

Conceived during Japan’s economic boom, the plant was filled with robots, amid fears of labor shortages and Toyota’s great faith in automation. As one of the automaker’s newer plants, it also allowed Toyota to experiment with new manufacturing ideas and production methods.

Set on a small peninsula on the Mikawa Bay, the factory was designed to be “worker friendly” to attract a new generation of workers who had viewed factory work as dirty, arduous and dangerous.

“It’s one of the most beautiful plants, and very neat and tidy,” said Credit Suisse First Boston analyst Koji Endo in Tokyo. The setting is lovely, too, with fishing on the quays outside.

Built in 1979, “Tahara was actually considered a mistake because it was much too automated,” said auto analyst Maryann Keller of Maryann Keller and Associates in Greenwich, Conn. In terms of costs, “it was not a competitive factory when they built it.”

The sprawling plant is air-conditioned. Computer-controlled robots do the heavy lifting and dirty work. More than 95 percent of the stamping, welding and painting operations are automated, while plant workers focus on the trim and final assembly — the details a customer notices.

Today, Tahara produces 460,000 vehicles a year in its two body shops and three assembly plants. In addition to Lexus exports, the plant complex assembles Toyota’s domestic luxury car, the Crown, the RAV4 sport-utility vehicle and three other models.

Rival luxury automakers may murmur that Lexus cars are merely “souped-up Toyotas” because the two brands share a wide array of parts. But suppliers to Toyota know better.

Tahara sets and demands the highest standards.

Toyota, already a stickler for quality, will not accept components if defects exceed 50 per million parts shipped. In contrast, for Lexus vehicles, Tahara managers insist on fewer than 10 defects per million parts.

From the outset, former plant manager Kousuke Shiramizu, now executive vice president in charge of product and product engineering, established that the margin for error for Lexus vehicles would be half what it was at Toyota.

On average at Toyota, air leaks from car exhaust systems are held to 100 liters per minute, to reduce noise. On Lexus models produced at the Tahara plant, the ceiling is a stingy 8.6 liters of air per minute.

The plant’s strict quality checks include a final stretch of inspections for cars coming off the line under the unforgiving glare of very bright lights.

Toyota also tinkered with changes in the assembly line organization at Tahara, establishing several sub-assembly lines so temporary stoppages would not halt all production.

“Tahara’s the next plateau,” said consultant Dennis Pawley, former manufacturing chief at Chrysler. “Rather than having one continuous line, they’re going against the old adage and breaking up the line.”

Living up to Tahara’s standards keeps everyone at Toyota plants around the world on their toes.

Well, I just visited JD Power. Acura has never won an Award. WHile Lexus is #1 year round. Just go to their site and look yourself.


http://www.jdpower.com/cc/auto/index.jsp

Terms like "Lexus-like" are used throughout business now. Never heard of Acura-like have you?

Hell, read your own forum. Problems, rattles, trannies, subwoofer blown (this just in!). The cars are okay but nowhere near Lexus in execution.

For Smoothness, Quietness, a Lexus ES330 will do
For cars with Compromise of Quietness and Sportyness, a Acura TL will do

all you have to look at is the IS300. they've had some pretty sh!tty problems too

Lexus has its problems too.

I think the deal with Acura/Honda is that people expect high standards and are far more prone to complain.

Overall, I would say Lexus is the best and Acura/Infiniti tie in #2.

I dont think lexus as a line is significantly better than acura. having driven both the gs and ls the gs is grossly overrated regarding interior and comfort and quiet. tl is a better car. acura however has no answer for the ls 430. thats one great car. believe the hype and better yet, drive one.

While I agree that......
 

......the actual build quality and reliability of Lexus products (especially the LS 400) may be a few notches above Acura (there is less of a quality gap between Lexus and NEWER Acura products such as the '04TL and '04TSX), that would not be a good enough reason for me to buy a Lexus product over the Acura that I currently drive. Let me give a small example.

I was seriously considering an RX 330 as a second vehicle, but when I test drove it I was in for A BIG SHOCK. The engine in that vehicle is SO NOISY, it's almost UNBELIEVEABLE!!....and isn't this supposed to be the same company that prides itself on making some of the quietest vehicles on the planet?? :rolleyes: .... FYI, it's much noiser than the old RX 300 (and way noiser than my MDX :wow: ). This is especially obvious on hard acceleration, almost sounding like a chain saw.

The second issue I had was with the Navigation System. It CANNOT TOUCH the Acura Navigation System if it's life depended on it!! I had called Lexus (the company that claims "the passionate pursuit of perfection" :rolleyes: ) and told them exactly what the shortcomings with their Nav system were, a year ago........and trust me, there were quite a few, and if anyone here needs to know, I can elaborate on the specifics. Then, recently, they introduced a "second generation" Nav system on the LS 430, ES 330 and LX 470, and the same flaws continue to exist!! The Point-Of-Interest database has supposedly been increased to over 7 million, but more than 2 million of them are only accessible if you have the PHONE NUMBER of that particular POI. If I have the FRIGGIN PHONE NUMBER, why would I even need to look up that POI?? :rolleyes: .....and how often does one have a phone number and need to look up a name of a POI?? :rolleyes: .......whose intelligence are these people at Lexus trying to insult?? Certainly not those customers believing in the "passionate pursuit of perfection", I hope??

Now dealership CUSTOMER SERVICE, that's a whole other story. Lexus is LIGHT YEARS ahead of Acura in that respect :wow:

Some facts
 

KEY LEXUS MILESTONES

Since the Lexus nameplate was established in 1987, the luxury division of Toyota has strived to establish itself as a leader in the prestigious automotive market. The achievement of this status is a result of years of research and development, and takes its roots from the tradition established more than 50 years ago by its parent company, Toyota Motor Corporation.

The story of how Lexus evolved from an idea proposed at a secret meeting in 1983 to the premier luxury nameplate in the world is an impressive one, with several key milestones and the top of the automotive world.

Aug. 1983 -- Toyota Chairman Eiji Toyoda, keenly aware of Toyota's long and outstanding history, decides the time had come for the logical next step. At a top-level, top-secret meeting of Toyota management, strategists and engineers, the question is posed, "Can we create a luxury car to challenge the very best?" The answer was not only a resounding "yes," but the conviction that this challenge must be undertaken.

Fall 1984 -- The "F1" project is well underway. The project is designated "F1" to denote F as "flagship" and 1 as a luxury sedan of the highest order. Chief engineers Shoiji Jimbo and Ichiro Suzuki and a full team of general managers and engineers supervised the development of all aspects of the automobile, from handling, brakes, traction control, engine, electronics, and corrosion.

May 1985 -- Lexus conducts its first tests of the American waters. A study team headed by Jimbo attended focus groups and interviewed dealers in San Francisco, Houston, Miami and New York in an effort to "get to know the American customer." A separate five-person design team moved to Laguna Beach, Calif., to study lifestyles and integrate design concepts suited for the American luxury car buyer. This team spent the entire summer in Southern California and worked closely with designers at Calty Design, Toyota's American design studio.

July 1985 -- The first of 450 running prototypes is built. It represents the work of 60 designers, 24 engineering teams, 1,400 engineers, 2,300 technicians, and 220 support workers.

May 1986 -- Tests are performed on the Autobahn in Germany.

Sept 1986 -- Ten months of extensive evaluation on American roads begin. This testing resulted in improvements in F1's handling and suspension. Other evaluations during the next several months include traction control testing in Sweden, audio system testing and long distance road testing in America.

May 1987 -- The final design of the F1 is approved, after eight previous presentations to management, far more than customary.

Nov 1987 -- Saatchi and Saatchi, Toyota's advertising agency, creates a separate entity to handle Lexus' advertising. Team One is officially established November 10.

Jan 1988 -- Lexus and the "L" logo are introduced at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Feb 1988 -- Lexus makes its Midwest debut at the Chicago Auto Show with artist's renderings of the cars, a teaser videotape and general product information. The Southern debut at the Atlanta Auto Show and the Eastern debut at the New York Auto Show followed.

April 1988 -- Lexis, a legal information network, files suit in New York challenging the use of the Lexus name.

May 1988 -- After a demanding selection process, the first 80 Lexus dealerships are named.

Aug 1988 -- Roger Penske, race-car driver, team owner and soon-to-be Lexus dealer goes to Japan to test drive the F1.

Aug 1988 -- Clinics in New York and Los Angeles are held inviting current luxury car owners to view the F1 along with competitive models from Mercedes Benz, BMW, and Lincoln. Design plans for Lexus dealerships are unveiled. Lexus of Columbus in Ohio is the first Lexus dealership to break ground. The use of the satellite communications network is introduced.

Nov 1988 -- The F1 is designated the LS 400, "LS" meaning luxury sedan, and "400" for the 4.0-liter V8 engine. The smaller Lexus sedan is
named ES 250, for executive sedan, 2.5-liter engine.

Dec 1988 -- Lexus teams with Nakamichi and Pioneer to produce the sound systems in the LS 400.

Dec 1988 -- Friday, Dec. 28 -- New York lower appellate court rules Lexus does not have right to name. Monday, Dec. 31 -- Lexus earns a stay and can proceed until further notice.

Jan 1989 -- The LS 400 and ES 250 debut at Detroit Auto Show. One day later, a similar debut takes place at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Jan 1989 -- J. Davis (Dave) Illingworth is named Lexus Group vice president and General Manager. He had been with the Lexus division since its inception.

Mar 1989 -- Lawsuit with Lexis is resolved in favour of the auto manufacturer.

May 1989 -- First production LS 400 rolls off the assembly line at Lexus' Tahara plant, amid much celebration.

Sept 1989 -- The LS 400 and ES 250 go on sale to the public and are very well received. In the first month 2,919 LS 400s are sold and 1,216 ES 250s.

Fall 1989 -- Lexus begins its tradition of sponsoring fine events including the Champions for Charity Golf Tournament, the San Francisco Opera, the Concours d'Elegance, Phantom of the Opera, and the Dallas Opera.

Dec 1989 -- Lexus initiates a special service campaign. Although aware of only one consumer contact regarding a cruise control malfunction and several complaints of stop light housing distortion, Lexus elects to recall all 8,000 LS 400s sold to check items. Dealers contact owners individually and quickly make repairs. Rather than being viewed negatively, Lexus is credited with setting a new standard in personalized service.

Jan 1990 -- The LS finishes first in all categories, including overall satisfaction, in Car & Driver's 1990 New Car Buyer's Study.

Feb 1990 -- Motoring Press Association names LS 400 "Best Imported Car of the Year."

Mar 1990 -- The LS 400 is awarded the "Best Luxury" car title in Motor Week's Drivers' Choice Awards.

July 1990 -- Lexus nameplate tops the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study. The LS 400 in its first eligible survey, ranked fourth overall and second in it's segment. The ES 300 ranked 12th overall.

Oct 1990 -- Lexus exceeds its first 12-month sales goals of 60,000 cars by more than 3,000.

Mar 1991 -- Lexus is ranked first in J.D. Power's Dealer Attitude Survey.

April 1991 -- In an effort to ensure all Lexus associates understand the Lexus mission of complete customer satisfaction, a comprehensive certification program, the industry's first, is introduced.

May 1991 -- Lexus unveils its first addition to its product line, the SC 400 sport coupe. Designed at Calty Design in Newport Beach, Calif., the stunning SC tradition of Lexus luxury. The first coupes go on sale in June.

Aug 1991 -- Lexus tops the J.D. Power and Associates Sales Satisfaction Index, completing a sweep of the three major studies conducted by Power. Lexus had already been named the top nameplate in the Customer Satisfaction Index and in the Initial Quality Study.

Aug 1991 -- The SC 300 sport coupe joins the Lexus family.

Sept 1991 -- Lexus unveils another addition to its line, the ES 300 sedan, replacing the successful ES 250.

Nov 1991 -- The SC 400 makes the honour rolls of Car and Driver, Automobile, Popular Science, and Playboy.

Dec 1991 -- Lexus becomes the No. 1 luxury import by selling 71,206 cars, more than Mercedes Benz or BMW.

Feb 1992 -- The SC 400 is named "Import Car of the Year" by Motor Trend and by the Motoring Press Association.

May 1992 -- LS 400 named model with fewest problems after three months in J.D. Power and Associates' Initial Quality Study.

June 1992 -- LS 400 and ES 250 finish one-two in J.D. Power and Associates' Customer Satisfaction Index, which gauges satisfaction after one year of ownership.

July 1992 -- Lexus named top nameplate in J.D. Power and Associates' Sales Satisfaction Index.

Sept 1992 -- "Freshened" LS 400 debut with more than 50 changes, many as a direct response to dealer and customer requests.

Dec 1992 -- SC 300 is named to the Car and Driver 10 Best List and Automobile's All-Star List.

Dec 1992 -- SC 400 and ES 300 are named two of Motor Trend's Best Buys. Personal Finance lists the LS 400 as the best buy in the $30,000+ category and the ES 300 a best buy in the $20,000-$30,000 category.

Jan 1993 -- The Lexus GS 300 luxury performance sedan makes its debut at the Los Angeles and Detroit Auto Shows.

Jan 1993 -- George Borst becomes Lexus group vice president and general manager.

Mar 1993 -- American Automobile Association (AAA) names the SC 300 and LS 400 as the best 1993 models in their price ranges.

Mar 1993 -- Consumer Reports calls the LS 400 "Benchmark of Quality. The ES 300 is also listed as best in the mid-sized class.

May 1993 -- Lexus sweeps the J.D. Power and Associates' Initial Quality Study with the LS 400 and SC 400/300 finishing 1-2 with the fewest reported problems. Lexus was once again the top nameplate in the study.

June 1993 -- Robb Report names LS 400 the Best Import Car for 1993.

July 1993 -- Lexus ranks first in J.D. Power and Associates' Customer Satisfaction Index for the third year in a row.

Dec 1993 -- SC 300 is named to the Car and Driver 10 Best List and Automobile's All-Star List for the second year in a row.

Feb 1994 -- Lexus is ranked first in the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Performance Index reflecting satisfaction of customers with three-year-old cars.

Feb 1994 -- Intelli Choice, a national automobile product information company, names the LS 400 "Best Overall Value of the Year" in the over $40,000 luxury class and ES 300 "Best Overall Value" in the under $40,000 luxury class.

May 1994 -- Lexus sweeps the J.D. Power and Associates' Initial Quality Survey (IQS) by having all four models place in the top 10 in overall car rankings. The LS 400, GS 300 and SC 400/300 finished 1-2-3 respectively, while the ES 300 tied for 10th place. Although no longer reported by J.D. Power and Associates, the Lexus nameplate finished first overall with a score of 54 with an industry average of 110. The LS 400 tops itself after setting an industry record low of 54 problems per 100 last year, it received an astounding 32 problems per 100 this year.

June 1994 -- Lexus takes the top ranking in the J.D. Power and Associates' Sales Satisfaction Index study. Having captured the title three of the last four years, Lexus scored 157 points, resulting in the highest score ever achieved by any nameplate -- 35 points above the industry average.

July 1994 -- Lexus is ranked as the No. 1 car brand for customer satisfaction for the fourth consecutive year as reported by J.D. Power and Associates' Customer Satisfaction Index study. While improving on last year's top-ranked score, Lexus captured all major J.D. Power and Associates customer satisfaction studies for which the division is eligible.

Nov 1994 -- Completely redesigned second generation 1995 LS 400 goes on sale.

Dec 1994 -- The all-new Lexus LS 400 is designated "The Best of What's New" by Popular Science.

Jan 1995 -- Lexus closes 1994 as the number-one import luxury nameplate for the third consecutive year.

Jan 1995 -- Lexus LS 400 receives Popular Mechanic's 1995 Design & Engineering Award.

Jan 1995 -- Car and Driver names SC 300 one of 1995's 10 Best Cars.

Jan 1995 -- Lexus is recognized as the automotive industry's 1995 "Best of the Best" in customer management by Arthur D. Little, the leading international management consulting firm.

Feb 1995 -- SC 300 is designated one of Automobile Magazine's All-Stars.

Feb 1995 -- Intelli Choice ranks the Lexus ES 300 "A Best Value" in the under $40,000 luxury car category.

Mar 1995 -- In its first year of eligibility, Lexus tops all makes with highest J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Index (VDI) score in the study's history. Among individual models, LS 400 registered fewest problems during the last 12 months after five years of ownership.

April 1995 -- James E. Press becomes senior vice president and general manager of the Lexus Division.

April 1995 -- Lexus announces plans to enter the sport utility market in early 1996.

May 1995 -- Strategic Vision, a consulting and research firm measuring how consumers rate their cars in terms of least troublesome and most pleasurable ownership experiences found Lexus LS 400 the "Best of the Best" in the import luxury car category.

May 1995 -- U.S. Trade Representative Mickey Kantor threatens 100 percent tariffs on selected Japanese luxury vehicles, including the entire Lexus line, in an effort to settle a long-standing U.S./Japan trade dispute. Proposed tariffs threaten more than 7500 American Lexus jobs with minimal potential impact on Toyota's Japanese operations.

June 1995 -- 11th hour agreement is reached between the United States and Japan averting a potentially disastrous trade war.

July 1995 -- For an unprecedented fifth consecutive year Lexus tops J.D. Power and Associates Customer Satisfaction Index. The five-year winning streak is the longest in the study's history.

July 1995 -- Lexus premieres an innovative "infomercial" to showcase its industry-leading Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles program.

Aug 1995 -- Lexus sales rebound after trade dispute uncertainty with the division enjoying the best August in its history.

Jan 1996 -- Lexus total sales since its inception reach 500,000 units.

Jan 1996 -- The LX 450 Sport Utility Vehicle goes on sale, launching Lexus into the popular sport-utility market.

Mar 1996 -- Lexus announces the launch of the Lexus Centre of Performance Art, the luxury automakers Internet world wide web site. The new web site offers consumers a personal library of information about Lexus and is the first to offer direct links to dealership and Certified Pre-Owned vehicle web sites.

Mar 1996 -- Two months after its debut, the Lexus LX 450 climbs to the top of the luxury sport utility vehicle segment, surpassing Range Rover in units sold.

April 1996 -- Lexus and Coach, the renowned manufacturer of distinguished leather products, announce a partnership to produce a distinctive limited edition ES 300.

June 1996 -- Lexus finishes 1-2-3 in the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Survey (IQS). The SC 300 and SC 400 Coupes scored a noteworthy 45 problems per 100 cars, the best single vehicle model in the study, followed by the Lexus LS 400. The ES 300 ranked first in the entry-luxury segment.

June 1996 -- Toyota Motor Corporations Tahara plant, home of the Lexus LS 400 and GS 300 sedans, captures the J.D. Power and Associates Gold Plant Award among Asian manufacturing facilities.

June 1996 -- Lexus posts its best-ever retail sales for the month of May and fifth best-selling month in division history. Sales were led by the ES 300, up 21.4% over May 1995, despite being in the fifth year of its current generation.

June 1996 -- Lexus shares the top ranking as Best Overall Nameplate for Sales Satisfaction (SSI) in the 1996 J.D. Power and Associates Sales Satisfaction Index. Lexus also ranks first in the Vehicle Dependability Index for the second year in a row. Since the Lexus brand was established in 1989, the marquee has captured 17 out of 22 major J.D. Power and Associates awards for which it has been eligible.

Aug 1996 -- Lexus introduces its companion dealership program, an alternative means to providing a Lexus dealership in markets which would otherwise be too small to support a separate dealership. Lexus of Maplewood (Maplewood, Minn.) is established as a companion to Lexus of Wayzata (Wayzata, Minn.).

Sept 1996 -- Lexus introduces its next-generation ES 300 entry-luxury sedan. The totally redesigned ES receives a sleeker appearance by adopting more sharp and solid forms and an increase in overall length of 2.4 inches. Value is strengthened with a reduced price over its predecessor despite the addition of many luxury features normally reserved for more expensive luxury segments.

Dec 1996 -- The all-new ES 300 wins the American Automobile Association (AAA) "Top Car" award as the best all-around car in the $25,000 to $30,000 price category. Lexus has been a AAA "Top Car" recipient in every year of the awards existence.

Jan. 1997 -- Lexus introduces the HPS (High Performance Sedan) concept vehicle at the 1997 Detroit International Auto Show. The HPS is a dramatic hint of the all-new GS 400/300 performance sedan to be launched as part of the Lexus model line up for 1998.

Feb 1997 -- Lexus reveals its latest concept project, the Sport Luxury Vehicle (SLV) at the 1997 Chicago Auto Show. The SLV is the luxury carmakers vision of a new blend of mid-sized sport utility vehicle (SUV) characteristics combined with more luxury-sedan comfort and on-road performance than seen before in SUVs.

Feb 1997 -- The all-new ES 300 is named the Best Overall Value of the Year in the under-$30,000 category by the research firm Intelli Choice¨. In addition to the ES 300, the LS 400 and GS 300 sedans were named Best Overall Values in the Luxury car class and the LX 450 sport utility vehicle (SUV) was awarded Best Overall Value for large SUVs.

Mar 1997 -- Lexus and Coach, the renowned manufacturer of distinguished leather products, announce the continuation of their partnership with the production of a distinctive limited edition LS 400 sedan. The partnership began one year earlier with the successful limited edition ES 300 sedan.

Mar 1997 -- Lexus announces the official production name of its new luxury sport utility vehicle (SUV). Based on the Sport Luxury Vehicle (SLV) concept unveiled one month earlier, the mid-sized luxury SUV will be called the RX 300. The RX 300 is slated for production in the first half of 1998.

Mar 1997 -- For the third consecutive year Lexus tops the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Index (VDI) as the No. 1 Nameplate in Long-Term Dependability among all car and truck brands. Lexus has won the VDI award every year it has been eligible.

April 1997 -- The LS 400 sedan is ranked No.1 one in the luxury segment of the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Survey (IQS). The LS also records the highest score among all cars and trucks in the study. The LX 450 sport utility vehicle ranks No.1 in the large SUV segment.

July 1997 -- For the sixth time in its seven years of eligibility, Lexus ranked as the No. 1 Car and Truck Line in the J.D. Power and Associates Customer Satisfaction Index Study (CSI). Since introducing its first model in 1989, Lexus has ranked at the top in 30 of the 40 major J.D. Power and Associates surveys for which the brand has been eligible.

Aug 1997 -- Lexus sets a division sales record for the month of July. Sales were led by the all-new ES 300 which recorded is best sales month ever.

Sept 1997 -- Lexus reports the best sales month in its history with total August sales of 11,117, a 41.1 percent increase over the same period in 1996.

Sept 1997 -- Lexus introduces its next-generation GS 400/300 luxury performance sedan. New powertrains featuring Variable Valve Timing/intelligence (VVT-i) and five- and four-speed automatic transmissions, produce 300 horsepower in the V8 5-speed GS 400 and 225 horsepower for the 4-speed six cylinder GS 300. "Something Wicked This Way Comes" advertising campaign is acclaimed for its dramatic impact.

Sept 1997 -- Lexus introduces a redesigned LS 400 featuring VVTi engine for higher performance, dozens of additional features and freshened styling. Despite the numerous upgrades the LS price remains the same as the previous year, enhancing its overall value.

Sept 1997 -- The classic SC 400/300 sport coupes receive improved performance for the 1998 model year. This is accomplished with the addition of Variable Valve Timing/intelligence (VVT-i) in both six- and eight-cylinder engines and a five-speed automatic transmission in the SC 400 and a four-speed automatic transmission in the SC 300.

Sept 1997 -- Lexus is named a total value leader in the luxury and near-luxury car segments by the research firm Strategic Vision in their 1997 Total Value IndexTM.

Oct 1997 -- The all-new GS 400/300 high performance sport sedan is named a "Best Buy" in the luxury car category by Consumers Digest. The GS 400 is given "Best of Whats New" status by Popular Science.

Nov 1997 -- The GS 400 wins the American Automobile Association (AAA) "Top Car" award as the best all-around car in the $40,000 to $50,000 category.

Dec 1997 -- The GS 400/300 high performance sedan series is named Motor Trends "Import Car of the Year." Motor Trend editors noted "the â98 Lexus GS series surely will surprise a lot of buyers -- not only with its pur sang performance but with the seamless manner in which its muscular acceleration and sports car handling meld into a soothing travel cocoon."

Dec 1997 -- Lexus introduces the all-new redesigned LX 470 at the Los Angeles International Auto Show. The new LX features a powerful new V8 engine, roomier size and sophisticated adjustable-height hydroneumatic suspension.

Dec 1997 -- Lexus debuted its one-of-a-kind Street Rod at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Based on a 32 roadster, the Lexus Street Rod was created to showcase a specially modified Lexus GS 400 V8, producing more than 400 horsepower.

Dec 1997 Lexus set a new all-time sales record with 97,593 units in 1997 -- a 20 percent increase over 1996 calendar year sales.

Jan 1998 -- Lexus unveils its second entry in the sport utility market, the 1999 RX 300, at the North American International Auto Show. This new breed of SUV combines the most desirable aspects of both luxury sedans and 4x4s. It provides off-road ground clearance and available full-time four-wheel-drive for poor weather and road conditions, yet step-in height is lower than other SUVs for more convenient entry and exit.

Jan 1998 -- The GS 400/300 is honoured as one of Car & Drivers 10 Best.

Mar 1998 -- The LX 470 and RX 300 go on sale at Lexus 174 dealers nationwide.

Mar 1998 -- Lexus announces its participation as presenting sponsor of Eric Claptons 1998 U.S. Tour. The sponsorship offered Lexus unique opportunities for innovative and effective marketing, as well as the opportunity to contemporise the Lexus brand and generate excitement both at the national and local dealer levels.

April 1998 -- Bryan Bergsteinsson is named Lexus Division group vice president and general manager.

April 1998 -- Lexus was named the number-one nameplate in long-term dependability after five years of ownership by J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Index (VDI). Lexus has earned this honour every year it has been eligible.

April 1998 -- Lexus sets a new division record in the month of April with sales of 12,364. Some of this increase can be attributed to new hot-selling RX 300 mid-sized SUV.

May 1998 -- For the second consecutive month, Lexus sets a division record with May sales of 14,620, an improvement of 100 percent over the same period last year.

June 1998 -- The LS 400 and ES 300 swept the Luxury Car segments for Premium Luxury car and Entry Luxury Car in J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study (IQS). In addition, the LS 400 earned the best score of any vehicle in the study, an honour it has achieved five out of six years.

July 1998 -- Lexus ranked number-one in the J.D. Power and Associates Customer Satisfaction Index Study (CSI) for the seventh time in eight years of eligibility.

July 1998 -- Lexus again reported its best-ever month with July sales of 14,673, a 57.9 percent increase over July 1997. Year-to-date sales totalled 83,041, up 55 percent over the period last year. Lexus was the best-selling luxury brand in the United States for the first time in its nine-year history, outselling Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Cadillac and Lincoln.

Aug 1998 -- Lexus sets another all-time monthly sales record of 16,949, an improvement of 52,2 percent over the same period last year. 1998 calendar year-to-date sales of 100,000 surpassed total 1997 sales of 97,593. This represents a 54.6 percent increase from last year.

Sept 1998 -- The RX 300 is named Most Appealing Luxury Sport Utility Vehicle, and the LS 400 earns the title of Most Appealing Premium Luxury Car in the J.D. Power and Associates APEAL Study.

Oct 1998 -- The RX 300 is named the inaugural Sport/Utility of the Year by Motor Trend magazine. This marked the first time the magazine separated its Truck of the Year award into two categories, truck and sport utility vehicle (SUV). This change reflects the continued popularity of SUVs.

Dec 1998 -- The GS 400/300 and ES 300 are named "Best Buys" by Consumer Digest, and the GS 400 wins the American Automobile Association (AAA) "Top Car" award as the best all-around car in the $40,000 to $50,000 category.

Dec 1998 -- Lexus posts best-ever annual sales of 156,260 units, representing a 60 percent increase over 1997 and a 90 percent increase over 1996.

Jan 1999 -- The GS 400/300 is honoured as one of Car & Drivers 10 Best.

Jan 1999 -- The Lexus IS compact sport sedan is shown at the Detroit Auto Show, and it is announced that it will debut in the United States in mid-2000.

Jan 1999 -- Automobile Magazine names the LX 470 the "All Star" in the large sport utility vehicle category.

Mar 1999 -- Lexus ranked first in J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study (VDI) for the fifth consecutive year.

Mar 1999 -- For the first time ever, Lexus finished the first quarter of 1999 as the top-selling luxury nameplate outpacing Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Lincoln and Cadillac.

May 1999 -- The LS 400 and LX 470 received top honours in their respective segments in the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study 2 (IQS2). Additionally, the LS 400 had the fewest problems of any vehicle for the sixth time in seven years.

May 1999 -- Lexus set an all-time new record with May sales of 18,110 units.

June 1999 -- Lexus finished the first half of 1999 as the No. 1 selling nameplate in the luxury arena.

July 1999 -- Lexus ranked No. 1 in the J.D. Power and Associates Customer Satisfaction Study (CSI). This marks the eighth time in nine years that Lexus has received the top ranking.

Sept 1999 -- Lexus celebrated the 10th Anniversary of its first vehicle going on sale in the United States.

Sept 1999 -- The LX 470 was ranked the most appealing luxury SUV in the J.D. Power and Associates APEAL Study. Additionally, the RX 300 finished second to the LX 470 in the same category.

Sept 1999 -- Lexus remained the No. 1 selling luxury nameplate through the first three-quarters of 1999.

Oct 1999 -- Lexus unveiled the Lexus Sport Coupe concept vehicle at the Tokyo International Motor Show.

Nov 1999 -- In early November, Lexus surpassed its 1998 sales record of 156,260 units.

Nov 1999 -- Lexus sold its millionth vehicle in the United States.

Dec 1999 -- For the fourth consecutive year, Lexus posted best-ever annual sales. 1999 sales 185,890 units represented a 19 percent increase from 1998 and a 90 percent increase from 1997.

Jan 2000 -- Lexus debuted the 2001 IS 300 compact sport sedan at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Jan 2000 -- Lexus unveiled the 2001 LS 430 flagship sedan at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Jan 2000 -- Lexus 1999 sales set a new all-time record with 185,890 luxury cars and sport utility vehicles sold.

They've been the top selling luxury brand 4 years in a row now.

Why Acura Isn't Keeping Up

http://www.forbes.com/2004/02/23/cx_dl_0223feat.html

Acura was a surprising success after Honda Motor introduced it to the U.S. market in 1986. Now, 18 years later, Honda's upscale brand is struggling to keep up with its rivals.

In April, Acura will introduce its overhauled RL flagship sedan at the New York International Auto Show. Doubtless, it will take the opportunity to brag about how 2003 was its best year ever for sales in the U.S. If you break the numbers down, however, they tell a different story. True, overall sales were up 3% last year, thanks to 4,000 extra sales of its MDX sport utility and the introduction of its TSX sedan, which sold 19,000 units, but sales for every other Acura were down (see table below).

The division has a nice roster of high-quality, comparatively inexpensive luxury vehicles--but customers don't think Acura plays in the same league as German luxury brands like BMW and DaimlerChrysler's (nyse: DCX - news - people ) Mercedes-Benz, or even the Lexus division of fellow Japanese automaker Toyota Motor (nyse: TM - news - people ). In 2003, and from 2000 to 2003, Acura's sales grew at a slower rate than those at Lexus or Infiniti, the premium division of Nissan Motor (nasdaq: NSANY - news - people ). Lexus outsells Acura by around 40%, roughly the same rate as Toyota division (all Toyota vehicles minus Lexus and Scion) outsells Honda (nyse: HMC - news - people ) division (all Honda vehicles minus Acura) in the U.S.


What do you think is Acura's biggest problem?
A bland image
An underperforming dealer network
A lack of SUVs
No engines bigger than a V-6
No one could stop the Lexus/Toyota machine

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Reply
Acura cars are well-built and have excellent reputations. Acura's weaknesses are an unexciting image fueled by boring designs, a limited range of vehicles and an underperforming dealer network. The brand's biggest problem, though, is the issue of whether it can build vehicles that people will want to buy as much as Lexus' cars.

Acura had a three-year head start on the other Japanese luxury brands. Its first cars were the three- and five-door Integras, which were like fancy Honda Civics, and the Legend sedan, which was essentially an upmarket Honda Accord. However, sometimes being first on the market is a disadvantage. In Acura's case, Lexus and Infiniti had the opportunity to see how Americans would respond to a Japanese carmaker's radical attempt at introducing upscale cars and simultaneously challenging established luxury makers like Mercedes.

When Lexus and Infiniti entered the market in 1989, they came in with guns blazing, offering outstanding products and a clear strategy for what sort of models to feed the dealers and when. The first Lexus, the LS 400, was a particularly well-built classic that lives on today as the LS 430. In 1991, its third year on the market, Lexus outsold both Mercedes and BMW in the U.S.

To fight back, Acura has tried to craft a reputation for quality and high technology. The company claims the first all-aluminum production automobile, the NSX, as well as the first in-dash satellite-linked navigation system, standard DVD-audio surround system and standard Bluetooth hands-free phone system. What Lexus offers, though, is a roster that includes more vehicles and larger sport utilities than Acura's, one of the main reasons that Toyota's luxury brand is beating Honda's.

For example, Acura has only one truck or sport utility: the $36,000 MDX SUV. Even though the MDX is a superb vehicle, Lexus offers three SUVs and will add a fourth with the RX 400h, a hybrid derivative of the RX 330, this fall.

While Acura's MDX and Lexus' RX 330 are competitors, Lexus' two extra SUVs, the GX 470 and LX 470, brought in 40,000 sales for Lexus last year--15% of the division's overall sales--and never mind the fact that their sticker prices, $45,000 for the GX and $65,000 for the LX, make for fat profit margins. Lexus' overall SUV sales were up 58% last year.

For Toyota and other companies, "all of this growth and profit has been in these big, luxury SUVs," said Philip Guziec, equity analyst for Morningstar.


How The Japanese Luxury Divisions Stack Up In The U.S.
Brand 2003 Sales 2002 Sales % Change % Change, 2000-03 Dealers*
Lexus 259,755 234,109 + 11% + 26% 206
Acura 170,918 165,552 + 3% + 20% 263
Infiniti 118,655 87,911 + 35% + 51% 169
*As of Dec. 31, 2003; Source: Manufacturers


To be fair, Toyota has more than $40 billion in cash, and "if they want to bring out new models and to spend a lot of money to market those, they certainly have the resources to do it," said Mark Igo, general manager of Infiniti. Acura has its work cut out for itself in other ways if it wants to follow Lexus.

"They need to upgrade the customer's experience when shopping for an Acura," says Tom Libby, director of industry analysis for the Power Information Network, a JD Power affiliate that spun off from the company in 2003. "In terms of satisfaction with the shopping experience and the salesperson, Acura is not competitive with Lexus."

Acura's dealers are simply not returning the sort of numbers that Lexus dealers report to Toyota, perhaps because they need some bigger, edgier products to push. In 2003, Lexus sold 259,755 vehicles in the U.S. and Acura sold 170,918--but Lexus did this with fewer dealers, 206 versus 263 at Acura. This means that Lexus sold 52% more cars than Acura did in the U.S. last year--but the average Lexus dealer sold 94% more cars than the average Acura dealer. The problem could be the cars.

"Acura has a very well-defined product in entry luxury," said Libby, referring to the company's RSX coupe and TSX and TL sedans. "They have a middling product in mid-luxury [the RL] and nothing in premium. Perhaps if there were more balance and if they were less strong at the lower end, people would stop thinking of [Acura] as a glorified Honda."

Acura has no flagship sedan above the RL. It has no sexy two-seat, high-end roadster like DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes-Benz SL-class, General Motors' (nyse: GM - news - people ) Cadillac XLR or Lexus' SC 430 (Infiniti's Igo has remarked that he "would love to" have a vehicle like this in his stable). From a performance standpoint, why are there no eight- or ten-cylinder Acuras? Why is the NSX, which has a volume in the 200s, the only Acura with rear-wheel drive?

The answer to questions like this is usually that there are not many large or performance-oriented Honda vehicles on which to base Acura derivatives. Acura's need for larger, more expensive vehicles--particularly SUVs--speaks to a bigger problem at Honda.

Let's look at just SUVs: Like Lexus and Acura, Toyota division has two more SUVs than Honda division. Of Honda's three SUVs, one is the new Element and one is the low-price CR-V. Honda division does not have a single SUV with a base price of $30,000 or higher. Toyota division has the Sequoia, which starts at $32,000, and the $55,000 Land Cruiser. Simply put, Honda is not in much of a position to donate the mechanical underpinnings of larger vehicles to Acura. The same holds true for cars as it does for SUVs; Honda makes nothing bigger than the Accord.

Honda is an intelligent, competitive company, and must know it can help Acura by developing more platforms, the structural underpinnings of cars, for larger vehicles. Morningstar's Guziec said the company can save money while doing this by: 1) developing more than one vehicle off of a new platform; 2) sharing a new, bigger platform between Honda and Acura; and 3) putting both SUVs and cars on one large platform.

"Another option," he said, "is for Acura to remain a niche player with mostly smaller car- and SUV-based vehicles--and not to pursue that large market--and just be very efficient at what they do. Tastes do change, and we've been riding the large SUV wave for a long time now. If fuel economy legislation becomes more aggressive, Honda would be especially well-positioned because they would have a large fleet of vehicles that they would not need to restructure to meet the fuel economy requirements."

They can go this way if they want. But from our perspective, if Acura wants to make more money, it needs to think bigger.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

* July 1990 - Lexus nameplate tops the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study (IQS) in its first-ever sales year.

* March 1991 - Lexus is ranked first in J.D. Power and Associates' Dealer Attitude Survey.

* Aug. 1991 - Lexus tops the J.D. Power and Associates Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI), completing a sweep of the three major studies conducted by Power that included the IQS and Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI).

* July 1992 - Lexus named top nameplate in J.D. Power and Associates' SSI.

* May 1993 - Lexus becomes the top nameplate in J.D. Power and Associates' IQS for the second year in a row.

* July 1993 - Lexus ranks first in J.D. Power and Associates' CSI for the third year in a row.

* Feb. 1994 - Lexus is ranked first in the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Performance Index reflecting satisfaction of customers with two-year-old vehicles.

* May 1994 - Lexus sweeps the J.D. Power and Associates IQS by having all four models place in the top 10 in overall car rankings.

* June 1994 - Lexus takes the top ranking in the J.D. Power and Associates SSI for the third time. Lexus scored 157 points resulting in the highest score ever achieved by any nameplate - 35 points above the industry average.

* July 1994 - J.D. Power and Associates' CSI study ranks Lexus the No. 1 nameplate for the fourth consecutive year. While improving on last year's top-ranked score, Lexus captures all major J.D. Power and Associates' customer satisfaction studies for which the division is eligible.

* Jan. 1995 - Arthur D. Little, the leading international management-consulting firm, recognizes Lexus as the automotive industry's 1995 "Best of the Best" in customer management.

* March 1995 - In its first year of eligibility, Lexus tops all makes with the highest J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Index (VDI) score in the study's history.

* July 1995 - For an unprecedented fifth consecutive year Lexus tops J.D. Power and Associates' CSI. The five-year winning streak is the longest in the study's history.

* June 1996 - Toyota Motor Corporation's Tahara plant, which builds the Lexus LS 400 and GS 300 sedans, captures the J.D. Power and Associates Gold Plant Award among Asian manufacturing facilities.

* June 1996 - Lexus shares the top ranking as Best Overall Nameplate for Sales Satisfaction in the 1996 J.D. Power and Associates SSI. Lexus also ranks first in the VDI for the second year in a row. Since the Lexus brand was established in 1989, the marque has captured 17 out of 22 major J.D. Power and Associates awards for which it has been eligible.

* March 1997 - For the third consecutive year Lexus tops the J.D. Power and Associates VDI as the No. 1 Nameplate in Long-Term Dependability among all car and truck brands. Lexus has won the VDI award every year it has been eligible.

* July 1997 - For the sixth time in its seven years of eligibility, Lexus ranks as the No. 1 car and truck Line in the J.D. Power and Associates CSI study. Since introducing its first model in 1989, Lexus has ranked at the top in 30 of the 40 major J.D. Power and Associates' surveys for which the brand has been eligible.

* Sept. 1997 - Lexus is named a total value leader in the luxury and near-luxury car segments by the research firm Strategic Vision in their 1997 Total Value IndexTM.

* April 1998 - Lexus captures the title of No. 1 nameplate in long-term dependability after five years of ownership by J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Index (VDI). Lexus has earned this honor every year it has been eligible.

* July 1998 - Lexus ranks No. 1 in the J.D. Power and Associates CSI study for the seventh time in eight years of eligibility.

* March 1999 - Lexus ranks first in J.D. Power and Associates VDI for the fifth consecutive year.

* May 1999 - The Tahara plant, which builds the LS 400 and GS luxury sedans, shares the J.D. Power and Associates Platinum Plant Award with GM's Flint, Mich., plant.

* July 1999 - Lexus ranks No. 1 in the J.D. Power and Associates CSI study. This marks the eighth time in nine years that Lexus has received the top ranking.

* July 2000 - For the ninth time in 10 years, Lexus is ranked No. 1 in Customer Satisfaction with Dealer Service in J.D. Power and Associates' annual CSI study.

* May 2000 - The Kyushu car plant, where the ES 300 is built, earns the J.D. Power and Associates Platinum Plant Award.

* Nov. 2000 - Lexus ranks first in J.D. Power and Associates' VDI for the sixth consecutive year.

* May 2001 - For the second year in a row, the Kyushu car plant earns the J.D. Power and Associates Platinum Plant Award.

* July 2001 - Lexus once again ranks No. 1 in J.D. Power and Associates' CSI study for the 10th time in 11 years.

* Nov. 2001 - Lexus ranks first in J.D. Power and Associates VDI for the seventh consecutive year.

* May 2002 - Lexus is the only luxury nameplate to rank first in any luxury segment of J.D. Power and Associates IQS. The Araco plant in Japan, which builds the LX 470, receives the Platinum Plant Award. It is the fourth year in a row a Lexus plant has earned the top award.

* November 2002 - Lexus ranks highest in long-term dependability for the eighth consecutive year in the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Index.

* November 2002 - Lexus is named No. 1 nameplate in customer satisfaction for certified used vehicles in the J.D. Power and Associates Used-Vehicle Sales and Certification Study.

* May 2003 - Lexus vehicles ranked highest in 4 of 16 segments of the 2003 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study (IQS), topping every segment in which they compete. The LS 430 had the fewest problems (only 76 problems per 100 vehicles) of any vehicle in the study for the seventh consecutive year. In addition to the LS 430, the GS 430/300, ES 300, RX 300 all ranked first in their respective segments.

* July 2003 - For the ninth consecutive year, Lexus is the top-ranked nameplate in the 2003 J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS). Also for the ninth consecutive year, the LS 400 had the fewest problems per 100 vehicles of any car in the study. The RX 300 and ES 300 also ranked highest in their respective segments.

* July 2003 - For the second year in a row, Lexus Certified Pre-Owned vehicles ranked first in customer satisfaction in the 2003 J.D. Power and Associates Used Vehicles Sales and Certification Study.

So with me just stating facts, it is clear Lexus is the best built and most reliable car in the world. THat is one of their key selling points.

Its just lovely when the ignorant just regurgitate idiocy. (regurgitate: to bring back up from the stomach). Sorry but lexus fans are language deficient! JD POWER is a PROMOTIONAL agency set up by a consorcium (Consorcium select group that gets together for strategic planning) of automobile companies of which GM and Toyota were the main partners. Significantly, Honda was not part of that group. Ergo, (Ergo=Therefore) JD Power is not an independent entity but just another commercial advertising agency for the members of the select group. Furthermore their "assesments" measure 90 day satisfaction and not reliability since they don't have any instruments for measuring reliability for any vehicle! The only entity that measures automobile reliability besides car companies themselves is consumer reports which has a pool of hundreds of thousands of reader who fill out detailed questionaries every year regarding the function of their cars. I know their linguistics is slightly above your fourth grade reading skills but you could have somebody interpret it for you! So.... since you deflated your BS supply, we can have our honda fun while you waddle in your lexus excreta (excreta=sh*t) :piss2:

1SICKLEX...crosspost much? Jeez....more cut 'n' pasting of press. We can all pick and choose our press clippings.

How much is Toyota paying you anyway?

In any event...in my household there are both Acura's and Lexus...and the Lexus is a nightmarish piece of CRAP that the dealerships WON'T fix. Acuras...troublefree.

You could can cut and paste all the rhetoric you want...those quotes aren't fixing my gf's IS300 transmission, or the zillion of problems it has.

anyone who references jd power is an idiot

Lexus is overpriced, bloated, poor performing crap. Anyone who would buy one is just looking to get that "L" on their hood and has more money than brains.

Those who think it's great that they can get close tolerance on the 2 piece rubber dash should pay more attention to the fact that they just dropped $37K on a rebadged Camry.

Guys, guys Peace!!!! He's just a little ignorant lexus troll with not much to do!

1SICKLEX = Thank you for your input. Everyone here knows that toyota/lexus is a good company. Their quality is known to be reliable, but so is Acura.

I think Acura makes one helluva engine and tranny for the price. Acura's reliablity shouldn't ever come to question.

You could have stopped posting after the lexus and jd powers award timeline, but you had to go and paste what they said about acura. You know Acura has good quality and performance, and those article about SUV's and future outlook of the company was not the topic of the tread. None of us here hold any share of the company. As long as the car we purchased is perfect as they come, we have no problems with future of Acura.

Well said. Very considerate to boot! :thumbsup:

Actually, JD Powers sends out survey as well. I have filled out a couple of them a few months following car purchases including that of a Honda product.

Consumer Reports is great, its what my wife uses when she is picking out a microwave, iron, or vacuum. For cars, I stick with those who study them for a living. Oh yeah, C.R. has a facinating report on stackable washers/dryers this month--I can't wait to crack into it. I am sure that your favorite is the cordless phone edition--right VTECHbrain. Unfortunately, the Vtech brand doesn't usually fair to well that must make you sad.