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Innovation means taking a chance that it will take a couple attempts to get it right. It's part of evolution. Copying a mature and stable technology almost guarantees reliability.
Are we were happy with cars as appliances? Some are, some aren't. I would guess that the Pelicans are NOT willing to put up with that milk-toast mediocrity., i.e. soul-lessness.
Mercedes-Benz is one of the great innovators. Look at the technologies in our cars today and most of them were first applied by MBZ. From 1886 until today, they have pushed the envelope. My 1979 Benz 6.9 had ABS, among many other features other manufacturers were not adopting on any wide scale.
There was a time when Benz was ruled by engineers. Today it seems to be run by marketers. Sad. But perhaps necessary in today's market and economic climate. The US dollar to euro doesn't help. Diamler-Chrysler is not the world engineering force it once was.
It appears that the automobile, like many other products and inventions, is approaching the 'maturity' stage of its product life cycle. Innovation isn't radical. Evolution is incremental. Now the products are almost commodities. So we buy based on quality and price. In the fifties, we got excited every year when they changed some chrome and added a fin. The marketing types haven't given up on trying to tell us why product 'x' is better than 'y', but they're still spendings hundreds of millions to sell us 'improved' flavored carbonated sugar water too.
This is a harsh reality for many auto makers.
It seems the big three are struggling with how to suck in new buyers with rebates, gimmicks, and fanfare. They HAVE to keep their plants running, thank you UAW. They waste R&D $$$ on rebates and healthcare. Quality is improving, but they keep having setbacks.
The European makes are still entrenched in engineering to some extent. There are more acronyms and initials in a modern german car than most government agencies.
The Japanese have focused on manufacturing efficiencies. To them, quality is a measure of efficiency. If demand exceeds supply, they cut production to match. They simplify product offerings to minimize the variables. Want a black Honda Accord with Gray leather? Sorry, if you want Black you get tan leather. Want gray leather, buy a Blue one. Don't want a moonroof? Sorry, they all come that way unless you move a model down. The US automakers need to get this. You can 'opt' for more $$ than the base car in some models!
Lexus is not an innovator, as Z-man points out. Pelicanites, and other enthusiasts, appreciate performance and soul, not just efficiency. Does Lexus continually strive for better steering feel? Do they run the Nurburgring looking for that tenth? No.
The buying public (i.e., non-enthusiast) doesn't know or care. They just want a car that will get them from point A to point B in whatever comfort they choose to pay for. To them, a Lexus is just a more comfortable Toyota. Sure, there is still a status factor and they capitalize on it.
All that said, I could care less what you choose to buy with your own hard-earned money. Just be informed. Every car has their quirks, some more than others. Every car breaks, some more than others. Lexus dealers still have service departments and mechanics.
What I often find offensive about Lexus owners is their strongly-held belief that making a different decision (Benz, Jaguar, Cadillac) is surely the wrong choice because Consumer Reports says so.
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