How's the ES350 Selling...?

[David Z]

..I don't see too many of them on the road.

Also, any ES350 owner experiences?

[Mike Piacente]

I live in Northern Virginia near Dulles Airport and I've seen one since
Sept/Oct 06 when they first came out.

The car's gotten good reviews in car magazines and newspapers.

Post by David Z
..I don't see too many of them on the road.
Also, any ES350 owner experiences?

[Max]

On Sat, 3 Mar 2007 20:21:55 -0500, "Mike Piacente"

Post by Mike Piacente
I live in Northern Virginia near Dulles Airport and I've seen one since
Sept/Oct 06 when they first came out.
The car's gotten good reviews in car magazines and newspapers.

Post by David Z
..I don't see too many of them on the road.
Also, any ES350 owner experiences?

My wife got one for a loaner while her 300 was in for sched
maintenance.

She fell in love with it. Very nice. Very quiet and interior is
very refined.

[DaveW]

Post by Max
My wife got one for a loaner while her 300 was in for sched
maintenance.
She fell in love with it. Very nice. Very quiet and interior is
very refined.

I also had one as a loaner when my GS was being serviced, and I was
very impressed. Much nicer to drive than the previous generation,
which I didn't care for much, and the engine is great.

[David Z]

Post by DaveW

Post by Max
My wife got one for a loaner while her 300 was in for sched
maintenance.
She fell in love with it. Very nice. Very quiet and interior is
very refined.

I also had one as a loaner when my GS was being serviced, and I was
very impressed. Much nicer to drive than the previous generation,
which I didn't care for much, and the engine is great.

From what I read on Edmunds.com, some folks are buying the ES350 for 10%
off sticker. That seems like a pretty good discount for a car that was
completely redesigned about, what, a year ago? However some folks
(apparently on the west coast) are complaining that they're only getting
about 3% off.

Does anyone know how the ES350 is selling compared to Lexus/Toyota
expectations?

[FKS]

Post by Mike Piacente
I live in Northern Virginia near Dulles Airport and I've seen one since
Sept/Oct 06 when they first came out.

I live in Westchester, NY, where the roads are covered with Lexus's & BMW's.
I've seen only one in Aug/06.

[Pappy]

I had a loaner for a couple of days and gave it a good workout. What follows
dissuaded me to replace my 04 ES330. The interior was too spartan for my
liking (not much wood) compared to older models. The ride seemed not as
smooth and silky. Seemed noisier too. On the plus side the 350 was peppier
and I liked the cool air coming out of the seats. I don't buy Lexus' for
peppy, there are better alternatives out there.

Post by FKS

Post by Mike Piacente
I live in Northern Virginia near Dulles Airport and I've seen one since
Sept/Oct 06 when they first came out.

I live in Westchester, NY, where the roads are covered with Lexus's &
BMW's. I've seen only one in Aug/06.

[Xplant]

Post by David Z
..I don't see too many of them on the road.
Also, any ES350 owner experiences?

I noticed that the ES350 and LS460 both made The Wall Street Journal's
"What's Hot on the Lot" list yesterday 3/8/07). It's a list of the cars
with the least amount of inventory compared to the sales rate.

[mcbrue]

Sorry but I gave up reading the WSJ when it went to 10 sections. But
it sounds like Lexus is keeping its inventory low so that a medium to
low sales rate results in a low "inventory compared to sales rate"
figure. In other words, I think that Lexus is not building many of
these models so that it looks like they are in high demand. So far, I
have not met anyone who drives one of the new LS460s. I have seen
maybe one or two in town! So my conclusion is they are not selling
well but not much inventory is available anyway.

[Ray O]

Post by mcbrue
Sorry but I gave up reading the WSJ when it went to 10 sections. But
it sounds like Lexus is keeping its inventory low so that a medium to
low sales rate results in a low "inventory compared to sales rate"
figure. In other words, I think that Lexus is not building many of
these models so that it looks like they are in high demand. So far, I
have not met anyone who drives one of the new LS460s. I have seen
maybe one or two in town! So my conclusion is they are not selling
well but not much inventory is available anyway.

The automotive industry refers to vehicles in inventory vs. sales rate as
"days supply."

I have met several people who drive the new LS 460, including my dad, and I
have seen quite a few around town.

Lexus division reported it best month ever in January, 2007 (I have not seen
February 2007 sales numbers), with sale of the 2007 LS 460 up 142% over the
previous January.

Toyota and Lexus do not manipulate inventory just to make it look like their
vehicles are in high demand because that is not how the automakers make
money. Automakers make money by making cars that sell.

[Xplant]

Post by mcbrue
Sorry but I gave up reading the WSJ when it went to 10 sections. But
it sounds like Lexus is keeping its inventory low so that a medium to
low sales rate results in a low "inventory compared to sales rate"
figure. In other words, I think that Lexus is not building many of
these models so that it looks like they are in high demand. So far, I
have not met anyone who drives one of the new LS460s. I have seen
maybe one or two in town! So my conclusion is they are not selling
well but not much inventory is available anyway.

OK mcbrue...

From an article on Toyota February sales on the Club Lexus homepage (ref:
http://www.clublexus.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=461&Itemid=183)

"Lexus Division
Lexus passenger cars reported best-ever February sales of 13,491 units, an
increase of 27 percent over February 2006. Passenger car sales were led by
the ES 350 luxury sedan with best-ever February sales of 5,286 units, up 64
percent. The all-new LS 460 reported sales of 2,423, an increase of 138.7
percent. "

From sales detail figures: (for month of February, 2007):

ES 350 (Feb 07) 5,286 (Feb 06) 3,223

Year to date: (as of Feb end)

ES350ES 350 (2007) 10,606 (2006) 6,556

[Max]

Post by mcbrue
Sorry but I gave up reading the WSJ when it went to 10 sections

..actually you gave up reading the WSJ when they cut down on the
pictures.

Post by mcbrue
. But
it sounds like Lexus is keeping its inventory low so that a medium to
low sales rate results in a low "inventory compared to sales rate"
figure. In other words, I think that Lexus is not building many of
these models so that it looks like they are in high demand. So far, I
have not met anyone who drives one of the new LS460s.

..that's because the people in your trailer park buy beat up pickups

Post by mcbrue
I have seen maybe one or two in town!

,,you've just counted to two! You've been taking night classes
haven't you, you sly dog!

Post by mcbrue
So my conclusion is they are not selling
well but not much inventory is available anyway.

..another "scientific" observation brought to you from the
alt.autos.lexus village idiot.