By: I.Nelson

I.Nelson — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:39:36 +0000

I think it’s harder for the average Japanese person to enter a Lexus dealer out of fear of being rejected. I have a new 2008, and everyone just goes nuts and say how rich I must be, which I am definitely not. Toyota is not going for the average consumer here. I used to joke about Lexus when I used to go back home in the U.S.A. Lexus was a big deal for them, but I knew that they were actually autos that already existed in Japan, and were not that special. That will not work here in Japan because you cannot get a Lexus from a dirty 1 room discount dealer. You can get a Mercedes, or BMW from one though. When you go to a Lexus dealer, you feel you have to dress up. I did the first few times. I was lucky to be a non-japanese buyer. I’m expected to be different. But, I was also lucky to get a fantastic salesman who bent over backwards to ensure my satisfaction. And yes, everybody looked at me as I exited the dealer(must be somebody famous)! The only way for Lexus to dominate in Japan, is to change all of the Toyota emblems to Lexus, and lower the price. Believe me when I say, that’s not going to happen anytime soon. The one thing that used to be special about driving a foreign car in Japan was that the steering wheel was on the opposite side. Even a raggedy old Buick was somewhat of a status symbol. It was the steering wheel that set you apart from the ordinary driver. I really don’t think Lexus will ever sell well to the general public here, until Lexus loses the ’snob’ image. Yet, it is without a doubt, one of the best cars I’ve ever driven in my life.

Comments on: Lexus struggling on home turf, still not ready to give up

By: I.Nelson