General Discussion

abelenkpe

(9,933 posts)

43. A mechanic friend of mine

Sat Jan 25, 2014, 01:01 PM

Jan 2014

who used to work for a toyota dealership for about 15 years said the same. He now works for a VW Audi dealership, top mechanic, has done so for years. I usually ask his advice when looking for a new car. He says Lexus is essentially the same car as the toyotas and Audis are the same as VW. If you want a label that gives you the appearance of prestige buy the more expensive car. I never tell this to my friends who drive Audis or Lexus' because no one needs to hear that but I really don't think my friend is lying about this. He never buys the more expensive models for himself or his wife even though he could afford to do so. Bottom line is buy what you enjoy driving, cause you're gonna be in that car a lot. Same goes for a good pair of shoes. You want to spend 100 for a pair of sneakers vs a 25 dollar pair of converse. Go ahead. I prefer converse tho

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Lexus: the car of the pretty wealthy. [View all] leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 OP

Lexus= Toyota + $15,000 and woodgrain finish NightWatcher Jan 2014 #1

A mechanic told me once that Lexus have a Toyota engine. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #2

Lexus is Toyota hack89 Jan 2014 #19

And Infinity is the Nissan Luxury line of autos... TheDebbieDee Jan 2014 #33

And I had a Datsun 240Z before Datsun became Nissan. WinkyDink Jan 2014 #52

My sis had one PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #54

Yes, it was fun! Sadly, the floor literally rotted out from under my driver's seat. Driving one WinkyDink Jan 2014 #75

That was a common thing for cars in the '70's anyway. Spider Jerusalem Jan 2014 #140

A friend of mine from college, way back in the early 1960s, MineralMan Jan 2014 #65

I used to drive a Datsun, too! DFW Jan 2014 #67

Mine was 1972; learned to drive on it! WinkyDink Jan 2014 #73

Mine was 1975, so not far off. DFW Jan 2014 #78

I have a Nissan Z - it's nicer than the same year/trim level Infiniti G35 inside REP Jan 2014 #103

But they are good cars. Hissyspit Jan 2014 #102

Agree REP Jan 2014 #104

At least Nissan markets their supercar as a Nissan.. sir pball Jan 2014 #112

Exactly, that is the same as Caddilac/Chevy CatholicEdHead Jan 2014 #34

I had a Chevy Cavalier and my wife had a Toyota Corolla in the mid 1990s. They had identical toyota Ed Suspicious Jan 2014 #79

Not to be a stickler...... Rocket_Scientist65 Jan 2014 #109

Yeah, he might be thinking Nova. Atman Jan 2014 #131

You're right. It was a Nova. Memory fail. Thanks for the correction. Ed Suspicious Jan 2014 #159

Memory failed me. It was a white chevy nova and a blue toyota corolla with a hatchback. Thanks for Ed Suspicious Jan 2014 #160

the prizm had the toyota engine also Liberal_in_LA Jan 2014 #158

Lexus cars are sold as Lexus in Japan Art_from_Ark Jan 2014 #167

Then they have changed hack89 Jan 2014 #172

Yes they have changed Art_from_Ark Jan 2014 #175

A mechanic friend of mine abelenkpe Jan 2014 #43

European shoes PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #51

REally? I gotta check Danskos out then abelenkpe Jan 2014 #91

Italian shoes rock. Manifestor_of_Light Jan 2014 #115

i ordered a pair of 'Alpro' pipoman Jan 2014 #141

The S4's are different wilt the stilt Jan 2014 #132

Good to know! abelenkpe Jan 2014 #134

they weigh wilt the stilt Jan 2014 #135

We own a Lexus and a camry. The Lexus has the camry beat by more than the woodgrain finish. nt ladjf Jan 2014 #31

Your Lexus is made by Toyota hack89 Jan 2014 #37

I was addressing the comment that implied the only difference between a Lexus and a Toyota was ladjf Jan 2014 #44

I have a Camry. What would be 2 major differences? WinkyDink Jan 2014 #53

The seats. My hubby can't get comfortable in a Camry. mainer Jan 2014 #77

OK, thanks. My husband has a disc problem; can't get comfortable. WinkyDink Jan 2014 #93

I have an 18-yr-old Lexus. We have also owned a Camry. The Lexus seats are Nay Jan 2014 #182

I know a guy with 300,000 miles on his Lexus mainer Jan 2014 #187

Mine had 190,000 miles and is still a baby. Lexuses and Toyotas go 300,000 Nay Jan 2014 #188

Sorry - next time I will read more closely. Nt hack89 Jan 2014 #58

The Avalon Mosby Jan 2014 #60

My boss's Avalon hybrid is very luxurious. ronnie624 Jan 2014 #68

There are luxury Toyotas Art_from_Ark Jan 2014 #168

Not sold in America. Nt hack89 Jan 2014 #173

The American market equivalent is the Toyota Avalon Art_from_Ark Jan 2014 #177

Weirdly we also own a Lexus and a Camry PCIntern Jan 2014 #129

You got that right. n/t wandy Jan 2014 #83

AGREED Mr Dixon Jan 2014 #148

Actually a Lexus = Toyota + $5,000 and woodgrain finish - folding rear seats. Glassunion Jan 2014 #163

My Kia turns its own lights off Warpy Jan 2014 #3

I don't think I've seen any Porsches. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #5

Understood Warpy Jan 2014 #13

I'm with you Warpy. indie9197 Jan 2014 #105

I had a real fancy Jeep loner once. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #145

Mine, too. And mine is one of the cheapest new cars MineralMan Jan 2014 #16

Low to mid level Lexus and BMW's are in the affordable price range of upper middle class folks. stevenleser Jan 2014 #4

Well, that seems pretty wealthy to me. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #6

Here in L.A., that is not wealthy PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #9

My parents lived in LA in the early 70's. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #11

Yep PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #15

Wealthy to me means top 1% of wealth in the US, which means assets in excess of around $16 million. stevenleser Jan 2014 #14

If I really stretched it PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #17

Yup, I can see that. You need post-housing disposable income in the 30-40K+ range to do it. stevenleser Jan 2014 #22

It would have to be a used Lexus, too.....n/t PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #27

We bought a 3-yr-old Lexus 15 years ago for $23,000, thinking that a used Nay Jan 2014 #184

I really like the Mazda 3 alarimer Jan 2014 #69

You could get PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #81

Got one, and love it! flvegan Jan 2014 #118

Wow, cool! PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #123

Very nicely. flvegan Jan 2014 #124

Lucky PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #125

A Nissan Leaf costs $29,000 mainer Jan 2014 #72

It does... jmowreader Jan 2014 #136

Really not that hard to deal with. jeff47 Jan 2014 #151

My commute is zero miles; I live three blocks from work jmowreader Jan 2014 #153

And my point is such a city car/country car situation jeff47 Jan 2014 #154

Why would it make sense to spend thirty bills on a city car? jmowreader Jan 2014 #156

So your answer is "It doesn't work for people in different situations than you're talking about". nt jeff47 Jan 2014 #157

Let's see here jmowreader Jan 2014 #164

The Leaf has really simple mechanics. mainer Jan 2014 #186

What a price difference between the USA and here! DFW Jan 2014 #76

I saw that. Prices for cars in Europe, even European cars are much higher than here. stevenleser Jan 2014 #84

Partially, but you don't have Value Added Tax there DFW Jan 2014 #89

What about used cars in Europe? Art_from_Ark Jan 2014 #169

A used Lexus can be had for a reasonable amount PeoViejo Jan 2014 #179

Yep. That's what we did -- buy used and keep forever. My Lexus is 18. nt Nay Jan 2014 #185

According to Used Car Dealers, the Lexus brand isn't the status symbol it was PeoViejo Jan 2014 #189

That certainly may be true now, but there was nothing like a Prius around when Nay Jan 2014 #190

Good point. PeoViejo Jan 2014 #191

Lots of people just lease these cars... PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #7

I see a lot of Range Rovers around. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #10

Those may be Hummers you are seeing PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #12

Not Hummers. I know what those look like. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #146

Yes PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #149

That's it. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #150

Rovers PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #18

Lucas parts abelenkpe Jan 2014 #94

I've considered a BMW, but.... Adrahil Jan 2014 #8

I drive a Bentley Mulsanne BKH70041 Jan 2014 #20

Why on earth would an owner of a Mulsanne sink to the level of the front seat? sir pball Jan 2014 #47

cos .... just a guess ... Tuesday Afternoon Jan 2014 #59

The base price of a Bentley Mulsanne is two hundred ninety-eight thousand dollars. sir pball Jan 2014 #61

if by facetious you mean Liar. I will agree. On the internet all men are Tuesday Afternoon Jan 2014 #62

Well technically, yes, he's lying. sir pball Jan 2014 #63

yeah and his sigline is hilarious, too. Tuesday Afternoon Jan 2014 #64

Reading the hidden post, I'd say lying. kcr Jan 2014 #99

Yeah, I'm with you on that one. Ikonoklast Jan 2014 #137

Payments would be on the order of $10,000 a month on a 5 year loan, or $120K/yr stevenleser Jan 2014 #82

Post removed Post removed Jan 2014 #86

LOL, OK, Wasn't 100% sure your earlier post was satire, now I get it. nt stevenleser Jan 2014 #88

Shenanigans on the hidden post. sir pball Jan 2014 #107

if your sig line is true, thank you renate Jan 2014 #171

Just because you are fairly wealthy doesn't mean you have to have a Lexus Major Nikon Jan 2014 #21

I have to have PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #26

For a few people, certain accessories or design elements are a requirement Major Nikon Jan 2014 #30

Same here PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #35

Ditto for my hubby. His bad back requires a Lexus mainer Jan 2014 #74

I love Volvo seats! PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #97

I'm very similar. I hate driving.. Point A to Point B is all I care about, and that it will do so glowing Jan 2014 #28

I certainly spend money on some frivolous things Major Nikon Jan 2014 #32

When it comes to cars, if I can't pay cash, I can't afford it. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2014 #41

I'm not a good mechanic anymore Major Nikon Jan 2014 #49

The trip can be the means for me. sir pball Jan 2014 #111

That's why I was careful to say that's just my thoughts on cars Major Nikon Jan 2014 #113

Oh, I wasn't trying to argue at all. sir pball Jan 2014 #114

I understand completely Major Nikon Jan 2014 #116

90 percent of Houston drives a Lexus, regardless of their income level. ScreamingMeemie Jan 2014 #23

Probably 75% lease one instead of buying. Then wonder why B Calm Jan 2014 #40

That's what some would like you to think. flvegan Jan 2014 #24

I'm a car nut PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #45

a small point sweetapogee Jan 2014 #138

I'm going to be really nice here for a change. flvegan Jan 2014 #142

that is sweetapogee Jan 2014 #143

I used to drive 3 different models of Corolla. They cannot compare to a base 3 series. Glassunion Jan 2014 #162

What, no Maybachs? GeorgeGist Jan 2014 #25

And no mention of dipsydoodle Jan 2014 #120

We have lots and lots of Toyotas around here�Lexus, yes�but Prius even more. Tikki Jan 2014 #29

I still see PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #38

Interesting fact..wiki says the original Prius was designed by a California design team for Toyota!! Tikki Jan 2014 #46

Yes, the Insight PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #48

There are so many Prius' in LA it's like they are every other car on the road abelenkpe Jan 2014 #90

For many years now cars have been the main SheilaT Jan 2014 #36

There is a flip side to that. Glassunion Jan 2014 #165

Yeah, we all make specific choices about how we spend our money. SheilaT Jan 2014 #166

Lexus is a great car taught_me_patience Jan 2014 #39

Agree. It has the only seats my husband can comfortably sit in. mainer Jan 2014 #70

Audi all the way... Surprised they aren't mentioned. Agschmid Jan 2014 #42

I mentioned PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #50

Hmm... Agschmid Jan 2014 #55

My Toyota gives me everything I need. Nye Bevan Jan 2014 #56

Our pretty wealthy Aunt left us a 2001 Lexus when she passed. librechik Jan 2014 #57

Not necessarily alarimer Jan 2014 #66

We buy GM and Ford. Ilsa Jan 2014 #71

Yep, the best thing about our 2010 Mustang is KatyMan Jan 2014 #152

Japanese and American cars are expensive here DFW Jan 2014 #80

Me, too, mnhtnbb Jan 2014 #98

Mercedes is the official sponsor of the Prick. Marr Jan 2014 #85

This clip is for you then... abelenkpe Jan 2014 #92

In my area PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #96

And in my area, Art_from_Ark Jan 2014 #170

You know it's a Toyota with gold emblems Boom Sound 416 Jan 2014 #87

I have a mercedes 240d betterdemsonly Jan 2014 #95

LOL - Fun thread. I inherited a 2002 Cadillac D/T in Red OKNancy Jan 2014 #100

It's fun having a car thread! PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #101

I drive an Acura myself bhikkhu Jan 2014 #106

They're the official car of boring people. LeftyMom Jan 2014 #108

Most commonly associated with assholes, IMO. Barack_America Jan 2014 #110

Amen CFLDem Jan 2014 #119

And pick-up trucks are the official vehicle of rednecks? mainer Jan 2014 #122

A summer home I worked performing landscaping had a carriage house Full of the top of line adirondacker Jan 2014 #117

In the Uk dipsydoodle Jan 2014 #121

Ever seen a Lexus hauler? It's all covered, unlike a normal car hauler trailer. n/t brewens Jan 2014 #126

I wonder if they lost their jobs would they have to sell their Lexus? Rosa Luxemburg Jan 2014 #127

I was in line at the gas station yesterday behind a jaguar. LWolf Jan 2014 #128

I think Jaquars are beautiful. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #147

According to the Repugs, all you have to do is go become an illegal alien, Tierra_y_Libertad Jan 2014 #130

I've never really wanted one of the luxury-brand cars. dawg Jan 2014 #133

I don't know about all sweetapogee Jan 2014 #139

Most cars have timed lights, unless you accidentally set them to keep the lights on (you can bluestate10 Jan 2014 #144

This message was self-deleted by its author Initech Jan 2014 #155

This message was self-deleted by its author Glassunion Jan 2014 #161

My BIL talks about how their Infinity isn't as nice as his company Mercedes ileus Jan 2014 #174

There are two levels of BMW and Mercedes liberal N proud Jan 2014 #176

Here's my vehicle: Brigid Jan 2014 #178

Way cool. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #181

I drive a Kia (Toyota, Mazda, Hyundai, etc.) Why O why won't you support *MY* union????????? Romulox Jan 2014 #180

My wife and I are extremely wealthy...and we drive a Volkswagen hatchback. brooklynite Jan 2014 #183