Luxury Institute Survey 2008: Most Prestigious Brands 1) Porsche 2) Lexus 3) Mercedes

Porsche and MB are no surprises. But Lexus in the top 3 for prestige is alarming.

Why?

I've never met anyone who buys a Lexus for the prestige. Many will buy a MB b/c its a Mercedes or a Porsche b/c its a Porsche. But I've never run into anyone that wants a Lexus b/c its a Lexus. They usually buy a Lexus not for lack of money but b/c its a quieter more reliable alternative to the German cars. A "smarter" decision is their motivation.

Reliability, value, quietness are all categories where I expect to see Lexus in the top 3 if not the #1 spot. But its surprising to me to see Lexus in the top 3 for prestige.

"Batman219"

I guess you don't get out much. Lots of people buy Lexus just to say they have a Lexus. It sounds good to the human ear. It's kust somwthing about that name Lexus. Just go to McDonalds and mention Lexus, it will get people's attention.

"Batman219"

You stated people buy Lexus because lack of money????

A national sample of 1,642 wealthy American consumers, with an average income of $349K and average net-worth of $3.7 million, was surveyed.

And don't forget Bill Gates drove a Lexus for many years till he sold it on ebay.

We move with different social crowds. I know my little brother envies the Lexus LS but he's still an undergrad. Most people I run into lust after Porsches, MB, etc. solely for the prestige factor.

I specifically stated people buy a Lexus not for lack of money, meaning that they choose to buy a Lexus not b/c they can't afford a German rival but for other reasons which I stated.

You don't believe people buy Lexus for bragging rights? and brag to there friends like: "My car's an 8-speed and yours not, I have the worlds only hybrid V8, I have the worlds best car -audio sound system (Mark Levinson), My car is world car of the year????" etc...????

Batman:

So you're saying you wouldn't buy a BMW if it's label as a ford?

Just go to McDonalds and mention a Honda with a big wing, it will get people's attention

Mark Levinson = overrated

They use too much false marketing, like Lexus.

Sorry dude, I get that you don't like Lexus. (Hell, we should all get that by now)

But saying the Mark Levinson system is overrated proves you are either supremely biased, stupid, or some unfortunate mixture of both.

Batman, i deboosted you because i thought u were just another german fanboy, sorry..but u are absolutely right. i think most people purchase mb because its a "benz"..and driving a lexus doesnt have that attention grabbing "prestige"..thats the EXACT reason i bought a lexus..for its value and reliability..and its a toyota..i dont care about the badge

"Lots of people buy Lexus just to say they have a Lexus."

im sure those people exist but there are more that buy bmw and mercedes for the same reason..at least where i live

come on , Lexus gives u the softest ride , it has to be luxury ....

All the losers in this board don't even make 1/10 of $349K and they feel they know something about luxury.. LOSERS!! ;-)
I am just a salesman (~70K a year) however I don't pretend to be much more. EL34

You heard me the first time. Mark Levinson is overrated. You should read what they say about it in foreign reviews (French and Spanish for example).

As if foreigners are inherently more experienced in audio.

It's hard to deny that ML makes a great audio system. That's one of the very few quibbles I have with our X5--the RX330's sound system was far superior. I must say, though, that we didn't go with the premium system in the BMW so that we could have an iPod adapter. Strange that they don't come together.

i was in a Lexus showroom once. mostly just looking and sampling the atmosphere; i had NO intention of actually buying.

but the well trained staff treated me as if i were a potential buyer anyway. the salesman sat me in an LS, and we found the battery was flat. he had been demo'ing the ML stereo TOO OFTEN!

at least he felt the ML stereo was one of the strong points about the car.
(and who knows how many sales he made as a result?)

The Mark Levinson system is a fantastic OE audio system. Better than most OE and after market car audio systems out there. But I will agree strongly that the ML brand is OVERRATED in general. Their products are largely considered overpriced fashion statements in the audio world and their price is a direct reflection of that. There are many audio manufactures that beat their products hands down for 1/3 the price while their price competitors just overwhelm them in the performance category.

it should be alarming. alarming to the euro nazi racists who insist that only euro brands are premium and prestigious. in fact they are tired and anachronistic, a legacy of things that never really were.

Where is the rest of the list???

Luxury Institute Survey:
Wealthy U.S. Consumers Rate Most Prestigious Luxury Automobile Brands:

Porsche, Lexus and Mercedes

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - May 7, 2008)
- High net-worth consumers rated Porsche the most prestigious luxury automobile in the 2008 Luxury Brand Status
Index (LBSI) survey from the independent New York City-based Luxury Institute.

Respondents who would recommend Porsche say,"They are world-class sports cars for the true connoisseur," and, "They have a good reputation for performance." Lexus and Mercedes ranked second and
third respectively.

"In a world ridden with blatant commercial bias, the Luxury Institute's surveys are impartial and objective," said Milton Pedraza, CEO of the Luxury Institute.

"We conduct our surveys with independent panels of wealthy consumers with results tabulated by external analytical firms. We have no consulting projects with the brands rated nor do we have advertising dependencies with them. As far as we are aware, this is the only consumer-based survey that can make those claims. Our surveys inform luxury CEOs on the health of their brands in no uncertain terms so they can take action to enhance relationships with prospects and customers. Today more luxury brands rely on the accuracy of the Luxury Institute's survey data than
any other research."

Following are the 12 luxury automobile brands that were rated (alphabetical order):

1. Acura
2. Audi
3. BMW
4. Cadillac
5. Infiniti
6. Jaguar
7. Land Rover
8. Lexus
9. Lincoln
10. Mercedes
11. Porsche
12. Volvo

The proprietary Luxury Brand Status Index (LBSI) survey is the only measure of the prestige of leading brands among wealthy Americans. A national sample of 1,642 wealthy American consumers, with an average income of $349K and average net-worth of $3.7 million, was surveyed online. Survey results are weighted to match demographic and net worth profiles of the same audience according to the latest Survey of Consumer Finances from The Federal Reserve.

"BimmerGuyFL78"

For some reason, they didn't release the rest of the automakers, they only release the TOP 3 in the press release...

Do they say what order they came in judging wise?

Nope.....Would be nice....Only Top 3...

lincoln and Volvo also in di list,r u series>?

well, look at Lexus' line up. there are no silly hatchbacks, MPVs e.t.c and all that other crap. you don't get 1 series nor a-class nor b-class type cars - mercedes vino/vito for crying out loud!!. in my opinion, though these sort of cars increase your market share and profitability through ecos of scale, they definitely kill your brand's desirability. but one thing is for sure. these guys don't consider lexus to be a toyota anymore. the marketing heads at lexus (toyota) should celebrate because they've successfully brainwashed these so called wealthy consumers.

Youa ctually had a decent post until you mentioned the brain wash part.

yeah seriously. i was just about to +1 you but nope. -1

like so many others, you mistakenly think of Lexus' association with Toyota as being a negative. in fact the very OPPOSITE is true.

toyota is "The Lexus of the econo brands!" Lexus' reputation STANDS ON THE SHOULDERS of Toyota.

there is NO VEHICLE that matches the now legendary toyota land cruiser for rugged reliability, on even the worst roads on the planet.

even lesser toyota models, down to their cheapest econobox, are recognized as the most reliable and durable in their respective classes.

i'd speculate that many first time Lexus buyers made the choice largely because they KNEW of TOYOTA's reputation.

Mercedes Benz itself tried an assbackwards imitation of the toyota strategy, when they intro'd the Maybach brand. which proved a failure.

VW also tried a poor imitation, with the Phaeton. but they were too cheap to offer a new nameplate. so the Phailed-ton also phlopped.

despite all the haters and all the criticism, there are no smarter execs and planners than those at toyota/lexus. and the corporate profits prove it.

Actually, it's not all that shocking. Many will argue that Lexus & MB buyers are people with money (older)and the BMW people are those who want to impress and look like they have money (younger). The majority of the people surveyed will obviously be your older and more financially established, and if you open your eyes, you'll see them driving a Lexus/MB as their daily driver, and a Porsche for their weekend car.

Easy there and before you get your undies in a wad, read again. I didn't say these were facts, they are arguments that people have argued with.

i read an article (here at autospies?) that mentioned that MOST people who buy a lexus or mb DO NOT EVEN shop bmw.

(they must detest the boy racer image! lol!)

i consider myself a sporty driver too. but EVEN I sometimes get tired of overly stiff suspensions. ESPECIALLY when i must consistently drive over bad roads.

a sister-in-law in honolulu got an Infiniti with the stiffer "touring" suspension. given the crappy roads in that city, i ofter preferred driving/borrowing her BUICK instead!

what makes you think that people who drive bmw's want to "look " like they have money ????

maybe they actually DO have money ??!!

you can say about any luxury car that people might drive it to " look " like they have money.

Of course there will be exceptions. I'm sure not EVERY person surveyed went with Porsche first, and I'm sure a number of them went with BMW first. I was just rationalizing their study and demographics that THEY did, not me. It's all about what it SEEMS like with the surveys. I was just repeating what a lot people argue with the brands, and it's true in my area if you drive around. The "old money" homes that are established and older (no, I don't live in this neighborhood) you will see a lot of Lexus & MB. Remember, that's not to say that there AREN'T any BMWs. What I was trying to say is this would be the type of people that they are surveying.

i wrote the below prior to reading your post. it IS a valid observation. and i repeat...

i read an article (here at autospies?) that mentioned that MOST people who buy a lexus or mb DO NOT EVEN shop bmw.

(they must detest the boy racer image! lol!)

i forgot to mention , i work with a guy who drives a 2008 bentley continental convertible.

he got the car to convince clients that hes trust worthy. ( it works)

and no, he does NOT have much money !!!

I just can't let this go. You're trying to tell me that a guy purchased a 200k convertible, yet "he does not have much money", yeah, right...

Didn't Bentley just drop the price to lease to about $1,300?

he didnt purchase it..he drives it (lease)

It still costs more to lease a Bentley than to finance a car like an S-Class or A8.

what makes you think that people who drive bmw's want to "look " like they have money ????

because of all the silly blonde college girls that drive a 328i but dont know sh*t about the engineering and effort that goes into the car. Their PARENTS may have money, but they simply have a trust fund.

Well, I mean, it's technically the parents' cars, and THEY do have money. The college girls may have pestered their parents to get the cars they got--but not to look rich, to look RICHER. And to get more friends, of course.

And then there are the people like me, who started lower-middle-class and worked my way up, and I'm going to give my son the car that I would have dreamt of having when I was a kid, because I know he'll appreciate it.

Personally, if we're talking about "prestiege".

1. Land Rover - the Range Rover is the ultimate status symbol

2. Mercedes - the S class has always been the ultimate luxury sedan

3. Porche - the performance benchmark, and an 'Enzyte' alternative for a pathetic few

Range Rovers are just the status symbol du jour. As soon as they disappear from rap videos, they're history.

"Celebs" are trading in the Rovers for Escape Hybrids. LOL

Point is that the Range Rover is far from the "ultimate" status symbol.

Not so much, I find that the affluent in countries across the world put the RR on a pedistal. Specifically in the middle east, ask JUGNU. Part of its aura comes from its off road capability, something the escalade lacks. Besides, escalades are cheesy.

I disagree with Hantra (as long as RRs are the most luxurious SUVs on the planet they'll always have the most prestige), but I also disagree with you M35 in saying that LR is the top in prestige. I don't think so. They just don't have enough products in enough markets, not to mention the blows they've had to endure over gas mileage and reliability.

You're also a clearly biased big-time RR fan (-;

My brain hurts after reading S4's post.

Did you just say:

"as long as RRs are the most luxurious SUVs on the planet they'll always have the most prestige"

THEN say:

"I also disagree with you M35 in saying that LR is the top in prestige."

Owww. . .make it stop!

In terms of SUVs, not vehicles in general.

@S4cabriofoxone

RR is used to refer to Rolls Royce.
Shame... you use it to refer to Range Rovers.

land rover is the least reliable vehicle in the luxury world by far. mercedes benz is right down there with them. voted THE WORLD OVER as one of the least reliable marques OVERALL. damn euro nazis keep repeating the same lies.

no car/truck can best the TOYOTA Land Cruiser for on AND off-road capability, tuffness, and RELIABILITY. range rovers may appeal to those more interested in glitz than roadability. but even TOYOTAS, to say nothing of Lexi, will run them into the ground once the pavement ends. or, looking at reliability records, EVEN ON pavement.

with a reputation like THAT to BUILD ON, it is no wonder that Lexus is now more RESPECTED than all the traditional euro luxury brands.

people DON'T CARE that the Lexus LX570 is based on the Toyota LC. they KNOW they are getting what's already the BEST, with some extra lux coddling added.

going the other way, some Lexus LS drivers think nothing of getting a TOYOTA Avalon (or even camry) for their everyday commuter car.

prestige aside, the most reliable brands on the planet are Lexus, Toyota, Honda and Acura. it's perfectly fitting that Lexus ALSO ranks high in prestige. it doesn't hurt that toyota and honda are ALSO always on the leading edge in engine technology and drivetrains. (other factors in prestige ranking.)

Toyota/Lexus financing is one of the worst in the luxury market to me. Their rates SUCK!!! With perfect credit, I have found that their rates are typically at least 1% higher than the competition. Yet they still sell very well... There must be something there you BMW Fans dont see. Call it a toyota all you want, it does nothing to hurt its reputation. And so what it is made by toyota. Does that mean my Avalon is not worth extra because toyata also sells corollas? Or that my highlander isnt worth as much because toyota also produces Rav-4's? Get over Lexus being made by Toyota. They actually handle and drive and feel very different.

Lexus before Mercedes? This clearly shows that this is an American survey. Americans don't care much (or don't know much) about what brand prestige is.

Brand prestige comes from a very storied history, innovation, racing, asking for ridiculous prices for years and years without fail no matter the economic climate, world records, and just an overall contribution to the automobile itself. Truthfully it also stems from a lot of urban legends/myths too things that people have been led to believe for years and years, even if it isn't true. It is the ability of the company in question to say "we were there" when this happened in the industry. It is many things.

It can't be bought as in the case of Lexus. It is earned. It is something that people who don't even like Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce, Porsche or Ferrari still acknowledge that they have it. It's the highest form of respect.

To me Lexus doesn't deserve to be in second place. They've never struggled like the classic European brands. When you have Toyota to back you up with virtually unlimited cash funds, anything is possible. *Yawn*

"Willis"

I guess you haven't realize what Lexus has been doing for the last decade. Where have you been from 1990-2000??? They have been building prestige...and still doing so..

World's first 8-speed.

Reliability and quality.
The Lexus LS has won the J.D. Power award for "Best High-end Luxury Sedan" 13 years in a row, the most for any manufacturer, in the long-term Vehicle Dependability Study. The Lexus LS has also been the highest-ranked luxury sedan in J.D. Power's Initial Quality Survey for 10 consecutive years. In 2006, Consumer Reports awarded the Lexus LS with a repeat ranking as the most reliable vehicle in the luxury car class, and for vehicles overall.

Safety and security.
In 2007, Auto Bild recognized the LS 460 Pre-Collision system with its 2007 Innovation Prize, finding that its active safety features had a slight edge over rival Mercedes-Benz S-Class due to its collision avoidance system, which in recent tests has been shown to be highly ineffective. Kiplinger's named the 2006 LS 430 as "Best in Safety for Cars $40,000 and Over." In 2001, UK insurance centre Thatcham awarded the LS 430 with its only 5-star theft-deterrence ratings; from 2002-2005, the LS 430 topped the What Car? Security Supertest with perfect 100 scores.

Advanced technology. Automotive research firm TRG found that the 2007 LS 460 offered the most advanced technological features of any vehicle available in North America.[76] The LS has won Popular Mechanics' Automotive Excellence and Popular Science's Design and Engineering Awards. Citing its world's firsts, the official publication of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) named the LS 460 as 2007's Best Engineered Vehicle, and CNET.com named the 2007 Lexus LS 460 L its "Tech Car of the Year."

Best-in-class features.
Edmunds.com named the LS 430's Mark Levinson premium sound system as the "Best Sound System in Cars Over $30,000" in consecutive top 10 lists in 2002-2005. Car Audio and Electronics ranked the LS ahead of its competition in the areas of audio, navigation and ergonomics. Ward's Auto named the LS 400's V8 engine to its 10 Best Engines awards lists from 1998-2000. In its 2002 luxury sedan comparison test, Automotive Marketing Consultants, Inc. found that the Lexus LS had the quietest cabin of any luxury car, with an idle reading of just 31.1 dB in the front seat.

Value and loyalty.
Kelley Blue Book gave the Lexus LS its Best to Hold Value Award in 2001, 2002, and 2003. The LS is also a repeated Intellichoice Best Overall Value awardee in the luxury class, and was R. L. Polk & Co.'s Polk Automotive Loyalty Award recipient from 2001 through 2005 for customer retention.

Luxury car.
In 2007, the LS 460 was named Luxury Car of the Year at the North American International Auto Show and was selected as the Best Luxury Car at the Fleet World Honours. In 2006, Kiplinger's named the Lexus LS as the best luxury car for the sixth time. Consumer Reports named the LS as the highes

Car of the Year.
The Lexus LS has been named Wheels magazine’s Car of the Year, Canadian Car of the Year, Top Gear's Limousine of the Year, and Japan Car of the Year (won by both the original LS 400 and the fourth generation LS 460), among similar awards.

In 2007, the LS 460 was named the planet's best automobile at the World Car of the Year and International Car of the Year awards.

Now lets define prestige:
having or showing success, rank, wealth, etc...

Lexus = success, rankings, and wealth.

Toyota Motor Corporation is the richest auto-maker on the planet...

Yeah, I don't respect a company that opened the "prestige" brands' eyes AND the consumer's eyes when they built their luxury vehcile that was just as good and more reliable than the others. It's just goes to show you that you can't always hide behind the "brand prestige".

Those achievements Lexus has there have been equally won numerous times by Mercedes in the past. Problem for Lexus is that Mercedes has a long and innovative history of being a dominant force in the automotive world and this is where most of their brand prestige comes from.

I'll say it again: This lame survey applies to America only. The rest of the world doesn't care much for Lexus.

Of course it only applies to the US, no one is hiding that. It's lame to say that the world doesn't care much for Lexus when it's not available EVERYWHERE...yet. I can also argue that the US is the most important auto market in the world and Lexus is second.

Americans are not known for their perceptions of prestige. If they were then Lexus, Acura and Infiniti would have gone bankrupt a long time ago.

The rest of the world actually wants to invest money in luxury brands with a name. Something Lexus doesn't have.

if americans were exposed to all the 4 banger models and older smokey diesel taxi MBs sprawled all over europe, their image of MB's prestige would DROP even more!

MB maintains its prestige image here only 'cuz they CONSCIOUSLY AVOID diluting the image by importing lesser models.

in europe, otoh, 'image dilution' actually works to INCREASE sales among the less affluent. and, they haven't been offered the CHOICE of getting a full range of Lexus models until recently.

lexus doesn't offer a lot in europe...

mercedes benz cars are unreliable. period. if you are stupid enough to believe that reliability isnt a major part of luxury then go buy one. even in the benz fanboy forums they warn you not to buy one without an extended warranty. lexus KILLS mercedes from top to bottom for REAL luxury. maybe toyota should buy daimler [they can afford it] so that the quality would be where it SHOULD be.

People who buy Lexus sometime only want the best and don't settle for anything less, and brag to their friends
"I have the worlds best car audio sound system" Mark Levinson
and this car is the World Car of The Year. Some people like to have bragging rights...and glad to say "It's A Lexus."

So what category do you fall into?... the young, smart, wealthy and cool category? I'm sure you do.

^^ for evilm

wannabees buy bmw. it has a better lease rate than lexus.

silver1, I've really tried to want a Lexus (LS460, GS350 AWD, etc), because I like the way they look and I appreciate their features, but I just wouldn't ever be able to bring myself to buy one (at least not a sporty one). I imagine myself driving a GS or LS as a winter car/daily driver and it just depresses me. Some people love being cosseted after work. I prefer a performance automobile. That's what it comes down to. Personal preference. Lexus is definitely not necessarily the "best."

*Correction -- (at least a non-sporty one)

"and this car is the World Car of The Year."

You do realize, of course, that the Audi A6 won the inaugural WCOTY award in 2005 and the BMW 3 Series won it in 2006.

"S4cabriofoxone"

Okay, and thats the past...We are talking about the present. And as of right now Lexus is the champ.

people who buy lexus can spell. they arent teenaged dorks who call themselves evil and think its cool. and they dont drive american cars likely in your case your moms kia minivan. loser.

I still don't know what this "institue" is? Is it anything more than a marketing machine run for profit selling lists to those that need to be on one? They survery people online and find those results to be worthwhile? How many uber rich folks spend time taking surveys online for some institute? I like how they call this the "LBSI" making it sound 'official' or meaningful in some way to someone...My guess is this group is more than what it seems at first pass. Who pays their bills and how do they make money? My guess is that companies like Porsche or MB don't need them, but some brands who have paid their way into the group need all the help they can get to further their agenda and sales..it works, just keep an open mind when reading and digesting these 'lists'..ask a few questions.

Those $$$$ people who took the survey who drives MB, Porsche, Lexus, sometimes actually care about little things that we don't because they are very rich picky people, and they have time because why they are the CEO chilling at home and the under-dogs are running their company...

" Is it anything more than a marketing machine run for profit"

How much you wanna' bet that if your favorite POS made the top of the list you won't even question the legitimacy of this group.

"just keep an open mind when reading and digesting these 'lists'"

Funny you mentioned "open mind". Because it's that group of people that possess it that are the ones not easily swayed by empty fluffy qualities such as "history" and "heritage".

I could care less about the results.

The thing that I do care about pertains to this: "sample of 1,642... was surveyed online." more specifically on the Luxury Institute's website. They of course, weren't happy with just doing that and so they had "independent firm" weight the results to match demography. The result of such an exercise is the amplification of error.

This is a statistical abstraction (same as: the average person has one breast and one testicle) and should be taken with a grain of salt. I have no doubt that those who adhere vehemently to it are having their views reinforced by it, and I also have no doubt that whose who are first to say I am right are those who have their views contradicted by it. That seems to be the way it works on this website.

"the average person has one.. "

That is not to say that the average person has exactly one of each of those.

In fact, I believe that if you follow the demographics, the average person's breast is getting bigger while the testicle is getting smaller. :)

That really should be "I couldn't care less", as I generally try to avoid sacrasm in writing on here. It is misinterpreted perhaps 75% of the time.

omfgwtfbbq where is bmw? haha

They are poor people srubs... They don't have internet access at home..

its there, behind lexus and benz

So are we to beleieve the list is accurate, or because Lexus placed high is the list proven invalid?

I get so confused by you people sometimes.

It's simply because Lexus has beat MB and BMW on Prestige. Articles like this make those German Fanboys jeolous of Lexus, and with them being jeolous, jeolously just brings Lexus more and more prestige because the haters will envy Lexus.

If Lexus were to win all the awards on planet earth they will still say or bring up something negative or something not creditable because it's a "Lexus."

Amen

I'm happy to see Audi on the list and surprise to see Acura on the list..

"Brand prestige comes from a very storied history, innovation, blah blah blah blah blah blah..."

Oh yeah, I'm sure future super-economies like China , India, and Russia really give a flying f*ck about your old world "prestige".

Super Economies??? lol More like growing economies...

I can tell you the Russians and chinese absolutely car about prestige. The car the associate with prestige the most is mercedes. Prestige is built by having cars that the wealthy possess. Because people want to be associated with those people they aspire to have those cars too. Problem now is that most of the luxury brands have affordable cars. The prestige is diluted. I'm sure you won't find too many super rich people driving a 335, c class or IS. That's why the price of the super cars are skyrocketing. The rich people want to show that they are superior to the average millionaire and are buying super exclusive cars and other luxury goods to show their position. We are all wannabes. We buy these luxury cars because we want to be associated with the top of society. So we buy these cars because the hood symbols also happens to be on cars that the the rich are driving.

"the marketing heads at lexus (toyota) should celebrate because they've successfully brainwashed these so called wealthy consumers."

okay... that's like saying your local grocer "brainwashed" to into buying whole wheat instead the usual white bread because he feels that famous brand name white bread contains bleaching agents..

It's actually the other way around. MB and BMW has brain wash us for over a 100 years with garbage horrible cars, and Lexus made us see what the we were thinking when we spent $100,000+ on a transmission that can't last over 1 year.

Ummmm OK...I guess that is why MB and BMW are so desired because they always made crappy cars. GET REAL FAN BOY! Lexus is a fine brand with a strong parent company and is surprising to be Top 3 but I do agree it deserves it with the work that has gone into to Lexus brand.

Porsche has never been perfect but the latest 997 is the best vehicle (quality, fit and finish, ride, etc) of any vehicle I have driven. Def deserves to be high on the list.

Silver1, you're an idiot. BMW and Benz didn't get where they are by making "crappy cars".

Lexus got to where they are because they studied their rivals in depth and had Toyota to back them up with money. What Lexus has achieved is nothing special to me given how easy they've had it. Ring me up when Lexus actually does something interesting.

"Willis"

BMW and MB got where they were because Lexus didn't exist, now since Lexus exist they will be extinct in due time...

Really?

Thanks for showing me what an IDIOT you are. Without Mercedes or BMW, there would be no Lexus. Lexus wouldn't have anyone to emulate since they can't dream up their own solid philosophy.

Moron.

How the heck did Lexus make #2. Lexus is not a prestigious band. Everyone and their mother drives a Lexus, why? Because they are "low class luxury". I have never asociated Lexus with prestigue, fyi its ONLY a Toyota will an "L" on it and they added a couple options and a bigger price tag. Porsche deserves that spot I guess, Mercedes should be bumped up to #2.

My List Top 3

1. Porsche?
2. Mercedes
3. BMW

The survey was for people that make $349K/year, not some schmuck who makes $349K/lifetime.

LOL this guy is serious. dont you know, tonee? you need a sexy name to be successful in this business. wtf is bmw? funny people think breaking down on the road is a luxury.

hey dipshit, you drive a mustang. you know nothing about luxury and you probably work at mcdonalds. nobody cares about your list and most likely about you at all. go get drunk and live the rest of your pitiful life.

Lastly Lexus has gone out of its way to make their Dealerships and sales staff top notch. A significate portion of the buyers experience is when purchasing the car. People like to feel special and Lexus dealerships go the extra mile. I actually like the LS and only the MB S is better. Good job Lexus.

Yes, this level of satisfaction for Lexus' customers is reflected in the top marks they receive every year. Now for the BMW camp, not so much smiling going on :(

Their new mantra should be "not as fun to own, as it is to drive"...

Well said "auto001"

"BMW not as fun to own, as it is to drive"

"BMW not as fun to own, as it is to drive"

I disagree. Although we've only had the X5 4.8i for six months, it's really a joy to have. It looks fantastic through the seasons due to its dirt-hiding deep green paint and modern style. The interior is second to none in its class, handily outgunning the RR Sport, Cayenne S, RX400h, Q7 4.2 and others in interior execution. The engine is a perfect match for the chassis. We have had no reliability issues and even if we do, there's BMW Free Maintenance... and not only that, but my dealer has made it so we just call them, leave it in the driveway and they'll pick it up and replace it with a loaner.

Sounds fun to me. The only real negative I have with the thing is the terrible gas mileage, but what can you expect from a 350hp 5,000lb SUV?

If this were a survey based on the global luxury market - Lexus would not rank in this manner because it is clearly successful only in the American market.

Well this is the top most class of Americans giving their verdict, and they say that they regard Lexus as more prestigious than BMW. All that is all that matters, the voice of these people with money, because they are the only ones who will be buying, not the words of petty pocketed pseudo enthusiasts like us who can not put the cash down. So it's official, to all the Lexus haters: Lexus has class, because, the High Class people think of it so. BMW fanboys quit babbling now.

As a "member" of those statistics, I have never considered buying a Lexus. Have owned two BMW's, each one reliable and joy to drive. My problem with Lexus is the styling and parts sharing with Toyota(Friend is GM of Toyota dealership). Great example is SC430. That car never did anything for me. I am sure it is a good car, but has aged very badly.

Whats wrong with Toyota parts use on a Lexus? (Even though Lexus and Toyota don't use the same parts anymore after the seperation).

Even Toyota Parts last longer and are better quailty than BMW and MB per Consumer Reports and J.D. Power.

silver1 is right.

look at the ratings CR has of manufacturer's long term reliability. most manufacturers' cars get to having 100 problems per 100 vehicles at age 5 or so. (audi/vw even sooner; mb and bmw also fall BELOW the 5 yr general average.)

ford is above average, at 7 years.

toyota/lexus is OFF THE CHART, which only goes to 10 years. by extrapolating, they reach the 100 problems/100 vehicles at about SEVENTEEN (17) years!

further, this chart does not factor in the SERIOUSNESS of the problems. for that, one must refer to the individual model charts on CR's Frequency of Repair summaries.

nearly ALL vehicles start having problems in this rough order: body issues (trim, hardward, integrity), electrical (switches, accessories, power eqpt), then to the more serious brakes, suspension, tranny and engine issues.

by the time most other vehicles are having the more serious problems, toyotas and lexi (VERY little difference) are only starting to have issues in the MINOR areas.

guess at least 4 guys can't face up to basic statistical TRUTHS, and can ONLY reply by deboosts. lol!

Hey, I am fan of German cars but I´m not going deny the reality: Lexus is a great car, But to say "BMW not as fun to own, as it is to drive" Is stupip. I like Benz but if I have to take my car for maintenance and that is for FREE, that´s fun to me, also beside that, the BMW is not overpriced, most of time is cheaper than Benz and for me that´s a Plus beside the free maintenance. Regarding the list, I understand americans because they have reliabilty as number 1 and currently Lexus is the most reliable car.....But honestly, I still prefer MB or BMW over it.

that "Not as fun to own" part kicks in (as well as kick you in the pants) when your "free maintenance" program stop working for you :)

When that´s happen then still you can buy a Lexus or Benz. >:-)

No surprise Mercedes-Benz is in the list, but why Porsche? Sure, Porsche would be in Top 10 but not 1st? Lexus should be dropped back a fair bit.

To be truly neutral here. I'm sure all the people who have purchased a Merc(Like myself), a Lexus(Like myself), or a Porsche would still buy it if it was under a different badge. Their all great cars but their for different people.

Check the demographics and it will show.

Prestige is only in the eye of the beholder. SIMPLE AS THAT.

We argue that we're from different social groups but in reality their all good cars that's why they're even compared to one another.

It also boils down to who is doing this "comparison". Some people have different views on the brands being reviewed.

Sometimes it's not even the brand image but the customer service. There's a reason why MB, BMW, Audi, & nowadays Lexus is at the top. Also we can't ignore Jaguar's efforts. THEIR ALL GOOD!.. End of argument. Styling/prestige is all subjective..

You heard this from a German fan.. =)

*PS* An LS is thee daily driver.

'THEYRE' not all good. at the same price most people would buy an LS or S class over the 7 series or sad XJ. if you want to drive it every day and enjoy it fully and never see your service adviser you have only ONE choice and thats the LS. and its that way in every segment. speaking of the top end, I bet there is a reason why the LS is the daily driver. I miss mine terribly and once my IS 350 lease ends I will buy another one.

I'm not in the official high net worth category (as defined in the article), but pretty god-damned close.
And I don't give 2 craps about luxury and prestige, but I do care about performance, handling & fun and that's why I drive BMWs..

But gas prices took all the fun out of driving.. :(

Not when you're in the near-high-net-worth category..

Oh, well excuse me richy!

No prob, dude..
Everything I have I earned by myself & through hard work, so I'm not embarassed to be well off - and I don't feel I need to apologize for being able to enjoy some of the better things in life..
So even if the current price of gas triples, I'll still be having fun in my BMW.
As Simon Colwell would say - "SOORRRY!"..

heres my list for most prestigeous brands:

Mercedes-Benz
Volvo
Porsche
Land Rover
Jaguar


let the flaming begin!!! (oh dear...)

sounds like what an FOB's list would be.

hey buckwheat, I mean, htay... who cares?

While the LS460 is a very nice, soft, techno barge, just who is it that lusts after an ES350? Same as a Camry with some sound deadening and techno crapola. Lust after an IS250 or 350? Not me. Fortunately, I have a Porsche (Cayman S) and a Benz (CLS) and both have more earned "status" than any Lexus. If one simply wants to float down the highway without any real semblance of handling (part of performance) to lust away. And if anyone thinks a Cayman is a cheap Porsche, think again. I have the same seats, etc. found in a $130k Turbo. Heck, you can bolt on the front end from a GT3RS, Turbo, et al.
The LS 460 is a very good cruiser, that will entertain you with gadgets, but I don't think anyone would be comfortable at 160 on the Autobahn.

most people dont drive 160 mph dope. and the cls is the worst luxury car for sale in america according to the consumer reports most recent car issue. who wants an es350? many more people than want ANY benz when it comes to sales. its good that you dont lust after an IS. you wouldnt know how do enjoy one anyway. the cayman is as luxurious as you are intelligent so who cares? cayman and cls havent 'earned' any status because a: they are too new and b: the cls is garbage.