Are Lexus just rebadged Toyotas?

[tim1830]

I've worked in the parts dept of a Lexus/Toyota dealer in the Uk

For trim parts, yes they are different, for mechanical they are just the same.

We simply used the letters L or T in front of a part number to decide what side of the parts dept it went.

If a wiper, or an oil filter or brake pads had the same part number, it fitted both vehicles.

I can tell you the same mechanic worked on both T or L, on the same ramp, using the same tools, but one was double the hourly rate.

[Esceptico]

DaveyBoyWonder said:

I think you're a little confused. You're saying a Mini is a BMW but a Lamborghini isn't a VW even though both brands were very much seperate companies before being boought out?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini_(marque)

According to Wiki the first new Mini was designed by an American working for BMW in Germany and the car was then developed in Germany by BMW. I don’t think it started production until BMW has sold off the Rover Group ie it was produced solely under BMW ownership. So how is it not a BMW?

The Aventador uses a development of the Lamborghini V12 that predated the acquisition by VW. So some connections with the past.

[swisstoni]

tim1830 said:

I've worked in the parts dept of a Lexus/Toyota dealer in the Uk

For trim parts, yes they are different, for mechanical they are just the same.

We simply used the letters L or T in front of a part number to decide what side of the parts dept it went.

If a wiper, or an oil filter or brake pads had the same part number, it fitted both vehicles.

I can tell you the same mechanic worked on both T or L, on the same ramp, using the same tools, but one was double the hourly rate.

I’m not aware of any joint Toyota/Lexus service facilities.
I thought Lexus had their own, separate from Toyota even if they are physically on the same plot.

[CABC]

Esceptico said:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini_(marque)

According to Wiki the first new Mini was designed by an American working for BMW in Germany and the car was then developed in Germany by BMW. I don’t think it started production until BMW has sold off the Rover Group ie it was produced solely under BMW ownership. So how is it not a BMW?

first MINI is not a BMW design and has a lot of BL history to it before late project management undertaken by BMW staff. Frank Stephenson was the designer...
The R50 is a modern classic imo. BMW have gradually transformed it into a fwd small BMW. 'Worse' and yet a lot 'better'. vastly different cars.

[captain.scarlet]

tim1830 said:

I've worked in the parts dept of a Lexus/Toyota dealer in the Uk

For trim parts, yes they are different, for mechanical they are just the same.

We simply used the letters L or T in front of a part number to decide what side of the parts dept it went.

If a wiper, or an oil filter or brake pads had the same part number, it fitted both vehicles.

I can tell you the same mechanic worked on both T or L, on the same ramp, using the same tools, but one was double the hourly rate.

My observations are that a lot of trim is shared as well. E.g. instrument panels, door handles etc.

I spotted the below last night and as with my previous observations over the years, I can't really see Lexus and Toyota differing much in many instances. Even today, the Camry is physically and mechanically very similar to the ES.

[Rbha027]

Bit of column A, bit of column B.

There's some older stuff that is basically exactly the same with different badges (potentially Japan only, but we have access to both here in NZ)

- LS400/430 vs Celsior
- IS200 vs Altezza
- ES300 vs Windom

However, while I'm sure there's a bit of crossover mechanically, other than maybe the ES they all seem to at least have unique bodystyles over the last little while...

[KillerHERTZ]

I always thought they got the name from:

Limited EXport US

[Esceptico]

CABC said:

Esceptico said:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini_(marque)

According to Wiki the first new Mini was designed by an American working for BMW in Germany and the car was then developed in Germany by BMW. I don’t think it started production until BMW has sold off the Rover Group ie it was produced solely under BMW ownership. So how is it not a BMW?

first MINI is not a BMW design and has a lot of BL history to it before late project management undertaken by BMW staff. Frank Stephenson was the designer...
The R50 is a modern classic imo. BMW have gradually transformed it into a fwd small BMW. 'Worse' and yet a lot 'better'. vastly different cars.

Perhaps you should contact Wikipedia as the current entry for the new Mini says something different:

“In 1998, BMW set out on creating the production Mini. The first aspect that was considered was the design, which was chosen from 15 full-sized design studies. Five of these designs came from BMW Germany, another five from BMW Designworks in California, four from Rover and one from an outside studio in Italy. The chosen design was from BMW Designworks and was designed by American designer, Frank Stephenson. Stephenson penned the new Mini One R50 and Mini Cooper leading the team which developed the E50 car in Munich (parallel development in England by the team at Rover having been dropped in 1995).[19] “

[dvs_dave]

No, they aren’t, because reasons.
Yes, they are, because reasons.
ad infinitum.

If only there was a poll to settle it…..oh I see.

[tim1830]

swisstoni said:

I’m not aware of any joint Toyota/Lexus service facilities.
I thought Lexus had their own, separate from Toyota even if they are physically on the same plot.

this was early 2011, but most definately did share the workshop.
The sales dept, they were off site, very seperate.

Cambridge area

[Superflow]

captain.scarlet said:

Superflow said:

As above, Lexus are next level up from Toyota and indeed from most other brands also.

When I bought my new NX I looked at the RAV4 as an option, in the end it came down to the unique modern looks of the NX against the generic boxy RAV4 along with knowing how far ahead the level of service from Lexus dealers is.Nothing to do with having anything against Toyota as a brand.

Lexus know their market extremely well as their customers are mostly solvent,successful individuals who will buy the car outright as they have the disposable income to do so.To put it another way if I see someone driving a 2/3 year Lexus they probably own it and are a successful individual,however if I see someone driving a 2/3 year old Audi/BMW/Merc I make the probably correct assumption that they are paying a monthly lease on it while living with their parents and eating out of their mothers fridge.

"Lexus know their market extremely well as their customers are mostly solvent,successful individuals who will buy the car outright as they have the disposable income to do so.To put it another way if I see someone driving a 2/3 year Lexus they probably own it and are a successful individual..."

Although I had to fight myself to not burst out laughing at that, I must say that what you've written there is probably one of the most prejudgemental and, with respect, blinkered things I've ever come across anywhere by anyone. Your yardstick for success is a Lexus and your yardstick for failure is a Mercedes. Great logic there. A tad insecure, mind, and not all leases are 2 or 3 years, you know. Not everyone who drives a Lexus owns one either. Unless you've got market research to demonstrate otherwise.

I had a guy come over to my house regarding insulation last year to see what he could do by obviously rinsing the Green Homes Grant. He rocked up in a brand spanking new Lexus. Successful and a grafter? Owning the car outright and not leasing it? Please. We all know what many of these companies and the people running them are all about and what their backgrounds are.

You'd better come up with a way to salvage your howler of a comment.

Jeez.. chill out Captain Serious and the Mysterons.

Some of that post was tongue in cheek.

I could see Colonel White driving an LS,though I doubt he’d be selling insulation from it.

[donkmeister]

KillerHERTZ said:

I always thought they got the name from:

Limited EXport US

I understand that's a backronym, like Ford standing for Fix Or Repair Daily.

I've never seen an official etymology but it could be the similarity to "lux" along with the fact Toyota seems to like Latin-sounding names (Supra, Celsior, Corolla, Celica).

Hyundai went for "Equus" when they brought out a V8 S-class competitor for similar reasons of a prestigious sounding Latin name (possibly combined with the history of naming cars after equines).

[captain.scarlet]

Superflow said:

captain.scarlet said:

Superflow said:

As above, Lexus are next level up from Toyota and indeed from most other brands also.

When I bought my new NX I looked at the RAV4 as an option, in the end it came down to the unique modern looks of the NX against the generic boxy RAV4 along with knowing how far ahead the level of service from Lexus dealers is.Nothing to do with having anything against Toyota as a brand.

Lexus know their market extremely well as their customers are mostly solvent,successful individuals who will buy the car outright as they have the disposable income to do so.To put it another way if I see someone driving a 2/3 year Lexus they probably own it and are a successful individual,however if I see someone driving a 2/3 year old Audi/BMW/Merc I make the probably correct assumption that they are paying a monthly lease on it while living with their parents and eating out of their mothers fridge.

"Lexus know their market extremely well as their customers are mostly solvent,successful individuals who will buy the car outright as they have the disposable income to do so.To put it another way if I see someone driving a 2/3 year Lexus they probably own it and are a successful individual..."

Although I had to fight myself to not burst out laughing at that, I must say that what you've written there is probably one of the most prejudgemental and, with respect, blinkered things I've ever come across anywhere by anyone. Your yardstick for success is a Lexus and your yardstick for failure is a Mercedes. Great logic there. A tad insecure, mind, and not all leases are 2 or 3 years, you know. Not everyone who drives a Lexus owns one either. Unless you've got market research to demonstrate otherwise.

I had a guy come over to my house regarding insulation last year to see what he could do by obviously rinsing the Green Homes Grant. He rocked up in a brand spanking new Lexus. Successful and a grafter? Owning the car outright and not leasing it? Please. We all know what many of these companies and the people running them are all about and what their backgrounds are.

You'd better come up with a way to salvage your howler of a comment.

Jeez.. chill out Captain Serious and the Mysterons.

Some of that post was tongue in cheek.

I could see Colonel White driving an LS,though I doubt he’d be selling insulation from it.

Hold my hands up. Too many of a certain type on this forum to sometimes be able to tell the difference. At times it's like...dare I say it...Mumsnet.

It wasn't Colonel White driving the Lexus though that day. It was definitely Captain Black given the underlying mischief!

[Superflow]

captain.scarlet said:

Superflow said:

captain.scarlet said:

Superflow said:

As above, Lexus are next level up from Toyota and indeed from most other brands also.

When I bought my new NX I looked at the RAV4 as an option, in the end it came down to the unique modern looks of the NX against the generic boxy RAV4 along with knowing how far ahead the level of service from Lexus dealers is.Nothing to do with having anything against Toyota as a brand.

Lexus know their market extremely well as their customers are mostly solvent,successful individuals who will buy the car outright as they have the disposable income to do so.To put it another way if I see someone driving a 2/3 year Lexus they probably own it and are a successful individual,however if I see someone driving a 2/3 year old Audi/BMW/Merc I make the probably correct assumption that they are paying a monthly lease on it while living with their parents and eating out of their mothers fridge.

"Lexus know their market extremely well as their customers are mostly solvent,successful individuals who will buy the car outright as they have the disposable income to do so.To put it another way if I see someone driving a 2/3 year Lexus they probably own it and are a successful individual..."

Although I had to fight myself to not burst out laughing at that, I must say that what you've written there is probably one of the most prejudgemental and, with respect, blinkered things I've ever come across anywhere by anyone. Your yardstick for success is a Lexus and your yardstick for failure is a Mercedes. Great logic there. A tad insecure, mind, and not all leases are 2 or 3 years, you know. Not everyone who drives a Lexus owns one either. Unless you've got market research to demonstrate otherwise.

I had a guy come over to my house regarding insulation last year to see what he could do by obviously rinsing the Green Homes Grant. He rocked up in a brand spanking new Lexus. Successful and a grafter? Owning the car outright and not leasing it? Please. We all know what many of these companies and the people running them are all about and what their backgrounds are.

You'd better come up with a way to salvage your howler of a comment.

Jeez.. chill out Captain Serious and the Mysterons.

Some of that post was tongue in cheek.

I could see Colonel White driving an LS,though I doubt he’d be selling insulation from it.

Hold my hands up. Too many of a certain type on this forum to sometimes be able to tell the difference. At times it's like...dare I say it...Mumsnet.

It wasn't Colonel White driving the Lexus though that day. It was definitely Captain Black given the underlying mischief!

Haha good call on Captain Black

[saaby93]

Your brand of car says how much money you've managed to make at other people's expense