Toyota Goes On The Offense - Ponders Purchase Of Aston Martin

...You better hope this does not happen or the game will be OVER! However, no matter how you see it, Lexus will make a better car than Aston Martin one day soon!

If they are smart (and they will be) they will leave it alone but use the better economy of scale provided by Toyota

Just like VW does with Bugatti, and Lamborghini.

When are we going to hear the naysayers start with the "Aston Martins are just Toyotas" just like they do with Bugatti, Lamborghini, PORSCHE and so on which they claim are only VWs?

Purchasing Aston Martin would be:

Great for Toyota: pairing Lexus & Aston Martin in the same showroom
Bad for Aston Martin: dilutes the brand image and will begin the marques end

Prediction:

Aston Martin & Lotus form partnership => Toyota buys share of joint venture =>
A.M. & Lotus flounders => Toyota buys all => Toyota takes Lotus knowledge, sells the Lotus name, keeps Aston Martin in an attempt to increase Brand

I really think Toyota should do it because it's a win win situation for both companied. Aston Martin get to stay in business and with Toyota help it can become a much much much more reliable sports car or Sport GT.

I don's see why not? BMW own Roll Royce's, MB has Maybach and McLaren and Audi has Bugatti, Lambo and Bentley under it brand.

,,,,

.....If theB are smart! Toyota (Lexus LFA) has already proven they are The Worlds Best Maker of Any Car of Any Type or Class. Not to mention they make the Worlds Top and best fuel efficient Hybrid cars known as the Prius....So dont even bring up that economy crap 009 to make it appear as though Toyota should stick with economical vehicles. Just about every one on the Planet knows Toyota is the best Automaker. Period!

LoL! @ Lexworld as his statements "the Planet knows Toyota is the best Automaker. Period!" Best? Really? At the highest number of recalls? Or at the greatest number of cars sold?
Is that why TM have never been able to break into any other markets like they have done here in the USA?
"The Worlds Best Maker of Any Car of Any Type or Class". According to who? You? LoL! What about the GTR, less expensive and about the same level of performance. Many other car makers can make that claim.
Like I said before, they make good reliable cars for the MASSES, nothing "premium" like you claim; since they are for anybody and everyone. Are you on drugs when you make statements like this?
LoL! Too early in the morning to be laughing this hard.
This is good one: My daughter's MINI is the BESTes car in the world";)

-USNA1999, Yes those in denial or other wise pretty much have the same fate. What about the GTR? The 2012 yr model is a little quicker than the LFA, which is technically in a class all by itself. The LFA was designed to be an exclusive exotic GT track-car (road racer). No one ever claimed the GTR was or is the best made, engineered or refined high performance car but it is no doubt possibly the most bang for you buck. Nothing premium from Toyota or Lexus you say? Well, let me give you a hint buddy: A fully loaded Limited Tundra is somewhere around 50k, Platinum Sequoia is about 55K, An Iconic Toyota Landcruiser starts around 59K, a Lexus LX560 fully loaded is somewhere around 100K,a Lexus LS600L Hybrid fully loaded is around 125K and the Lexus LFA starts @ 375K. Are you an idiot or something? There is nothing ordinary for the mases about Toyota or Lexus. Oh yeah the mases however do purchase a Toyota or Lexus but at a premium price. Have you ever heard the saying: You Get What You Pay For! That simply means: If you want a premium product you have to be willing to pay the PREMIUM PRICE! By the way, the Lexus LFA only made 500 units and they are all sold out. The car was destined to be so exclusive and rare, besides being protected by Lexus so car collectors would not buy them all up quickly for future hoarding, Lexus set them up for a min 2yr lease before you could purchase them and they (Lexus) selected only high profile individuals to qualify for purchase. No I'm not on drugs but you dont know what the hell you are talking about. If you are going to challenge some one who does, at least do some homework and be prepared to contest ligitimate claims, as you say.

...Oh yeah, those so called hightest number of recalls were pretty much over ruled as false claims or in other words driver errors, with the exception of a few knuckle head drivers who carelessly neglected to position their floor mats properly to keep them from somehow jamming the accelerator or somthing like that. You sure you were not one of those people who tried to capitolize on Toyotas success during that horrible scandaleous period -USNA1999?

lexworld let me remind you that I own a LEXUS but most auto enthusiasts just don't agree with your statements. Have you ever thought on why you need to continue defending TOYOTA/LEXUS? Is it because you sell them for a living?
The same could be said for VW. People are willing to pay a "PREMIUM PRICE" for much less of a car. Have you ever wonder why? Freedom of choice maybe? At least the models from TOYOTA and LEXUS (Japanese cars as a whole)tend to bring all the bells and whistles for much lower prices when compared to EUROPEANS and AMERICANS (more value for the money); nothing "premium" about VALUE. Those are the benefits of economies of scale and that is one of the main reasons people flock to them including myself. Yes my neighbour's wife has a SEQUOIA Platinum that they paid $55K for it, does the bigger tab makes it a "premium" car because they paid a lot more that we paid for our TOUAREG? Maybe stupidity or just personal choice? BTW he has even accepted that our TOUAREG is much nicer and rides better. The LFA is a niche that TM has lost lots of money, created a as "HALO CAR" in other words a "statement". Isn't TM's strategy to lead global sales? Yes, car for the masses!

lexworld why the obsession with TM? Do you work for them or are you just trying to justify your poor choices because you cannot afford anything better? TTYL I have to go work out and run a few miles.

One more thing, ever wondered why TM created LEXUS? Yes, because in order to compete in the luxury markets and change perception TM needed a "premium" brand. That is why they switched the badges here in the US because their customers were NOT willing to pay the "premium" for a TOYOTA. "Are you an idiot or something?" LoL! You don't even know what you sell.

Toyota would leave A.M. alone and just pony up money as needed. Japan would then use Aston's engine and marquee know-how on Lexus, atleast on the LS anyway.

I would argue American brands stuff more value into them at lower prices.

Value isn't premium? Funny, Autospies has been trying to tell us Hyundai is all about premium luxury and nothing to do with value.

...-USNA1999, I doubt very seriously that you own a Lexus. Because if you did, we would not be having this conversation. As I've mentioned befor: You understanding of the points I made about TMC are taken very personally. Personal opinions aside, the facts have been documented. I just looked at a few top reviews on the VW Touarge vs the Sequoia. Personal preference is where consumers will differ. However, the fact remains the Tourage is no match for the Sequoia in terms of Dependability, which is a result of overall quality and engineering design. Anyway, I wont waste any more time with your bashing TMC, they are the number One Automaker and number One in sales. Their can really one be One Number One in which all others are compared. I have owned both Toyota and Lexus vehicles for almost 20 yrs. No I dont sell them, just a loyal consumer for life and love the idea that Toyota is not trying to be something they are not. What they are is the Worlds Number One Automaker. That they have and will continue to take to the BANK! Good Luck with your ownership of the so called Toy/Lex made for the masses.

....Come on where my TMC bashers at! Bring it on and let the world know who you are!

lexworld unlike many, I don't hide behind a keyboard. You are more than welcomed to come and visit and see where I live and what I drive. Shoot, I might take you out to lunch, show you how much I earned and paid in taxes last year and my "I love me wall" from 20+ years in the Navy. Easy to figure out, Plantation Estates at Julington Creek Plantation (ZIP 32259). My house has a TOUAREG V8, LEXUS LS 460 and a MINI. The LS is probably the only one being driven around with a surf rack on its roof.
Unlike you and because of personal preference I am opened to purchase what I like and what I can afford which is about 90% of what is on the market. I doubt I will ever stick to one brand, life is too short not to experiment and enjoy the finer things. Good luck living without taking any risk and or taking different options.

No one could pay me to have lunch with you simply because I think you are so typical of MOST Military Personel I have met along lifes journey. Arrogant and full of conceit. I knew their was something about your character that was causing you to react so negatively against my opinion, as it were even though I know I'm right about a JAPANESE product is made better than any EUROPEAN product to date. I bet that probably ticks you off as well. I still find it very strange that a person could own or have a LS 460 in their drive way and are not convinced a Lexus is not a better made product than any of the other brands they've ever own unless You just dont want to admitt it! Come on dude, anyone with any understanding of the Japanese culture knows that there are a few things they do extremely well on Planet Earth. First thing is Electronics. Second is Automobiles. Thirldy, Take a wild guess! Trust me Sir, if you have served our country we all Salute you and honor you hopefully by our gratitude and making America a better place for you be comforted, assured and rewarded for all the good you've done. Let me remind you however, serving is a priviledge, life is a priviledge and even being a hero is a priviledge.....Dont abuse it by making others feels less priviledged or dihonored by not serving our country for the cause of freedom. So dont give me that crap about good luck living without taking any risk or taking different options. The Fact is the best vehicle in your drive way is that Lexus LS 460....AND YOU KNOW IT!!

Now stick to the subject...If Toyota deems purchasing Aston Martin is of a great good secondary intrest to their portfolio, they will buy shares...No question about it!

"typical of MOST Military Personel I have met along lifes journey. Arrogant and full of conceit" Yikes! Harsh words. I wonder who have you met. Are you from Santa Cruz? I felt a lot a hatred like this against us when I was working on my MBA the two years that I lived in Monterey.