let me get this straight… a $65,000.00 lexus is better than a $40,000.00 Lincoln or a $35,000.00 Ford?

say it isn’t true!!! I would hope to God that the top-of-the-line lexus is better. Ford does not even pretend to compete against it.

As far as the Jaguar XJ competing against the Lexus, it is a worthy competitor, but offers sport as opposed to appliance, which falls on individual wants/needs. Neither is especially better than the other as far as competing in the $60k+ luxury market; the two simply offer different driving dynamics.

The XJ is as sporty as a yeast infection in actual driving dynamics. It’s nice but shouldn’t an aluminum 380hp XJR be able to keep up with a 400hp M5 (late model)? The answer is yes but the result is no.

savedsol, there are MANY more aspects that go into driving dynamics than HP numbers. Your comparison is beyond flawed.

Ford is really screwed if the new CEO thinks a LS430 is the finest car in the world. Lexus has the finest marketing in the world, Lexus has the finest product placement that they buy in movies of any car company. But buying a brand image through the relentless pursuit of advertizing doensn’t mean a $65,000 sedan is the finest thing in the world, it just means the new CEO is apt to steer Ford into building vehicles that are just as boring as Lexus. As if they’re not already doing that.

Right now, Ford can’t even pretend to compete with ANYONE. You could easily flip it around and compare an Avalon with the best lincoln. With Mulally’s salary and benefits, I really don’t think he cares about a “measly” extra $25k or $50k. It’s HIS opinion what is best and many others would also agree when doing an overall comparison of “best”.

I think this (he) is great for Ford. I could care less if it was another European or Japanese brand. What Ford needs is a wakeup call and a guy just like Mulally…..a REALIST. Not a dreamer hoping things will get better.

The sad thing is neither Ford n or GM could, today, build the original 1st generation LS400 that started it all. Even if they bought the tooling from Toyota.

I think its good that he drives what may be the best built car in the world under $100K. He can constantly be reminded how to improve the cars.

I would love to be a fly on the wall at a union meeting on the CEO’s ride.

The point of the whole thing is, since non of you are from Detroit let me help you, the point is that Detroit is a company town. and there are only 3 companies…. this is a town with a nobility and they drive around in escalades and mark LTs not a Lexus. people in Detroit have pride in there town and there industry… although its hard to see in there cars… just go to any festival in Detroit and you’ll know… so since he isn’t driving an American car.. more specifically a ford, he is in effect distinguishing himself from the typical ford and Detroit executive.

The Lexus LS430 IS the best car in the world for non-enthusiasts.

Unfortunately, by hiring a guy who feels that way as the top dog, Ford has resigned itself to be the non-enthusiast brand. With the demise of SVT and very little funding going towards performance-oriented vehicles, Ford is set to become to budget/non-enthusiast brand. Sort of the K-Mart of carmakers.

Fine with me as long as they let Mazda and Volvo do what they do best: produce sporty (Mazda) and luxurious (Volvo) cars that are of world-class quality and design. No current Ford-branded product comes close.

Toyota flashed this in an email ’round the World. But it’s Ford who payng him $36,000 a week. Oppps. Detroit News will have fun with this.

j i m

Id like to agree w/ foster, Lexus is NOT the finest car in the world. I think that statement is ludicrous. There are many other brands I would put ahead of them, granted they do make a FINE car. Fine being they lack personality, drive, and real character. But they are quiet and made well. On a larger note I think american auto companies are quite capable of making cars just as good as the Japanese or German (I do drive two German cars). Honestly though, the Ford cars in Europe for instance are light years ahead of the cars they sell here. You could point to the unions. They force the manufactures to produce so many cars regardless if they sell or not, forcing the companies to cut corners just to make what little profit is left. It is no wonder they are cutting so many jobs. Give them an equal playing field and im sure America can be extremely compeditive…I still wouldnt buy one tho. LOL how messed up is THAT!? I kill me.

That is specifically the point, DetroitRockCity, distancing himself from the stagnant 1970’s complacency of Old Detroit.

He is driving the *target* — and it is up to Ford engineers, Q&A and assembly workers to build a better car for cheaper.

Ford is good at feel/feedback. When they want them to, their cars are fun to drive.

Ford is NOT good at everything Lexus is good at. And they need to be. So I think it’s great that they’re led by someone who understands (or at least appreciates) quality and refinement.

Keep the Ford character, strive for Lexus quality, and you’ll have winning products.

I envy the new Ford CEO because he can view the matter objectively. In addition, when he has a objective veiws on products, I think Ford still has hope for its future. However, I just hope that there are no stupid died hard “Fans” of Ford within the Ford pulling he legs.

Hold up hold up hold up, Let me get this right. This guy think that the LS430 is the best car in the world even beating –

Mercedes S Class
Mercedes E Class
Maybach 57/62
Rolls Royce Phantom
BMW 7 Series
BMW 5 Series
Bentley Arnage
Bentley Flying Spur
Audi A8
Audi A6
Jaguar XJ

…….. and thats without getting into detail.

ON THE BASIS OF HIS COMMENT FORD IS DOOMED IF THEY HOLD ONTO HIM. HIS JACQUE NASSER PART 2 SACK HIM WHILE YOU STILL IN FRONT FORD

The LS 430 is certainly a good benchmark for any car manufacturer to strive for. It says all the right things to the Board of Directors, the engineers, the designers, purchasers, and assembly plant workers. ” Hey we are in the car manufacturing business, check out they way this car is built!”

Its not too ostentatious, (he could probably pay cash for a RR Phantom), yet it is one of the most finely crafted cars in the world. I think it is boring, but for some it is perfect.

OK… I think we are too infatuated with his statement that the Lexus LS430 is the best car in the world. I mean, granted, that’s how a lot of stupid auto consumers think, and I always hate to tell them that the Toyota Corolla is NOT fun to drive, the Camry has not become more than a car, and certainly the Lexus LS430 is not the best car in the world. But guess what, those are consumers that Ford must go after.

The key here, though, is that Mulally isn’t going to chase them by making photocopies of Lexus or Toyota or Honda or Acura. He’s going to chase them by making a *quality product* that strives to be better than anything made by Toyota or Honda or Nissan. And he’s going to do that because (and here’s the hard thing for all those real car guys out there to understand):

HE DOES NOT THINK LIKE DETROIT.

No more incremental improvements. No more band-aids. No more “just good enough.” No more fleet cars. No more trying to match demand to capacity.

Mulally has absolutely NO, ZERO allusions that Ford is some shining car company that just needs to wait until the import fad goes away or gas prices return to $1.00 a gallon or until consumers will opt for a less expensive even though it might suffer 15 recalls. Why? Because he’s not from Detroit. was not raised in Detroit, and doesn’t carry the baggage that Detroit carries.

For all those reasons – and yes, because he, like so many other consumers out there, for some reason thinks Lexus is the pinnacle – Mulally is *right* man to lead the effort to turn Ford’s financials, service and product around.

Well he did drive a Lexus.
Maybe with some of his $18M signing bonus he will get a Ford.

A Lexus is certainly a good starting point. And the LS was a landmark car for the brand as a whole, a car that put the likes of Merecedes on their toes when it arrived.

Amazing how just a year ago I would have put Cadillac on top as a marque to strive for but after my recent fiasco with a 60,000 SRX, my fondness for the brand has wained. There are better marques to strive for and Ford has a better chance of succeeding with some Lexus infusion over what they’ve currently been using.

In terms of business models, Lexus is the one to strive to be. In 15 years they toppled the big 3 germans and toyota crushing the domestic big 3. i mean lets be realistic folks, you might not like toyota/lexus, you may even hate them, but they are doing things right. plus with them around, every other car maker is going to try to be more competitive as well.

I find this to be amusing, but not surprising. I’m glad he drives a Lexus as every day it will remind him that this kind of quality & craftsmanship is what Ford should be striving for. I wish him & the rest of the Ford team the best of luck.

I’m a little bit worried now by this latest Mulally statement. As long as he doesn’t turn Ford into another appliance maker, fine. Let ‘em drive what he wants/likes.

Yes, I do think Lexus LS is one of the finest in the world. Tell me which mass market car has the reliability, fit and finish, driving dynamic, style, safety, NVH, technology, and price all so nicly packagedd together as the LS? If I can only buy a car to drive for the rest of my life, I’d certenly not get a Farrari, Rolls Royce, Bentley, Jaguar, Mercedes, Audi, BMW, Cadillac…. but a Lexus LS.

I wouldn’t agree with the Lexus being the best car in the world. It isn’t but the quuality is very very good and Fords quality is worse than ****ty.. i only owned one ford in recent years and it was HORRIBLE, I got rid of it before it had 30,000 miles on it because it was in the shop more than I was driving it.. and the service on the warranty was in a word pathetic…

I think Lexus crafts a fine appliance. But the concept of “finest car in the world” is too subjective to be quantitatively determined. Mulally would have been better off to say that it’s a well made quality product focusing on the execution of producing a vehicle with as few tangible defects as possible. Whenever someone makes a subjective statement as Mulally did it is nearly always in the context of what’s best for their individual requirements, whatever they may be. Obviously in Mulally’s case those attributes are aligned with what Lexus is perceived to deliver.

Arguing that an Lexus LS is or is not “better” than anything else is pointless because unanimity is impossible.

Is that why the Audi A6 won awards for being the best car in the world?

I find all this best car etc stuff just silly anyway. My best car is not your best car. Lexus is more reliable then most German cars and has a nice fit and finish. I would personaly take an Audi A6 over anything Lexus makes and I would also put BMW’s before Lexus. To me Lexus is boring, but I Like cars.

I think one thing we should be able to agree on is that Lexus makes a quality car, the inside is well done and it rides smooth. The issue is normally that it seems uninspired and that I would agree with.

He is soooo getting keyed in the parking lot….

That Ford guy has a different opinion than I as to what the “finest car in the world” is. He is a moron jackass retard etc. etc. etc. Ford is doomed! Bah.

The guy is just trying to stir the pot, apparently he has succeeded. Do you really think be belives the LS 430 is the finest car in the world? He is just sending a message that changes are in store.

My favorite comment so far – “As long as he doesn’t turn Ford into another appliance maker, fine”

If Ford isn’t an appliance maker now, what are they?

There are several ways to motivate. If I was the coach of the Yankees, I wouldn’t walk into the clubhouse and announce that the Red Sox were my favorite team. I might however, not so subtly point out that some of our competetion is out performing us on a daily basis.
I have mixed feelings about his method, but am glad he is setting the mark high. IF he drives a Lexus on a daily basis then he is really going to feel the difference when he takes a 500 out for a spin. That kind of contrast can help big time in product development.

its good that he said something like this

but its bad it had to be about a piece of **** lexus

Well if it takes a Lexus owner to make Ford stay in business and make profits, then let’s hope they can become the Kenmore of the automotive industry. Maybe Ford needs to have their executives drive Lexus’. It certainly would let them know more about the competition. But Nah..this is Detroit!! Ain’t gonna happen. Detroit didn’t get to where they are today by learning about the Japanese products!!! They want to live in the Good Ole days. Rots of Ruck.

Fastrat –”If he drives a Lexus on a daily basis then he is really going to feel the difference when he takes a 500 out for a spin. That kind of contrast can help big time in product development.”

I was thinking exactly the same thing. The contrast between the two cars can only help.

More than just he CEO needs to do this. The whole exectutive lot should.

Lexus may not be an enthusiasts’ brand, but MOST car buyers are NOT enthusiasts. Lexus represents the world’s best compbination of luxury, reliability, mass-market styling, value for money at purchase and retained value over time. Better Ford should be run by a guy who understands that than a fringe-element car nut who thinks the “best car in the world” is a Bentley Arnage or a Jag X8 and tries to make Fords come out the same way. The company would collapse.

I think it’s GREAT that Mulally can walk into Detroit, where everyone PRETENDS Pontiac Bonnevilles and Chevy Uplanders are great cars, and drop a wake-up bomb like that. It’s the MOST appropriate signal he could have sent. Ford should DREAM of building ONE car as comfortable, reliable or desirable as a ten-year-old Lexus before the year 2020 hits. With this guy maybe they have an outside shot.

The nerve of some people. Hoping he gets fired simply because he drives a Lexus?

The Lexus is probably the best benchmark that Ford could have!. Quality, reliability, luxury, value, high resale/low depreciation, etc…

Imagine how much uglier and unreliable Fords would become if he drove a BMW!

LMAO! This dude is comparing a Lexus to a BMW! Hahaha! Boy, BMW is lightyears ahead of the japs.

In what? Reliability? Quality? Looks?

Performance is all BMW has left, and not for long, the Japanese are cathcing them quick. The G35 and IS350 from Infinti and Lexus have both already been praised for out-classing the 3-Series in terms of quality and speed, among other things.

1c3d0g, don’t bother posting the above comments if you can’t get into details which may put you in a very vulnerable position for us to shred you apart. If we can get a “Lexus” from a Ford, all the better for the world.

Webran61 — “The G35 and IS350 from Infinti and Lexus have both already been praised for out-classing the 3-Series in terms of quality and speed, among other things.”

Last time I checked the 3-Series was still at the top. Performance is all BMW has left? Well, what else were they known for? They wrote the book on the small performance sedan.

Those Jap cars are real nice. They just lack a certain intangible quality that can only be called “Germanesque”. Whatever it is, you can feel it. I really wanted to like the G35 more than a 3 series, but it just did not deliver for me in terms of ‘feel’. It was only a few thousand less, and in my opinion, not worth the savings.

Most magazines of late feel the same.

“Germanesque” is the suspension. BMW suspension is unmatched. comfort and sport in one.
Nissan goes sport and tosses comfort.
Toyota goes comfort and tosses sport.
The Japanese companies have not marketed a suspension as adaptable as BMW’s.

But the #1 concern of consumers is build quality and reliability. Lexus would be a good benchmark.
You can see on the streets that people could care less about an adaptive suspension that’s good for both sport and comfort. Just go with comfort.
The real modern meaning of “sport” is in the fashionable styling.
Only very few buyers will test the “sport” handling of a car.

Renton- “Performance is all they have left? Well what else were they known for?”

So you agree that BMW is not a “luxury” brand like Lexus and Mercedes?

Though I don’t agree with the assessment that Lexus is “the finest car in the world,” I do agree with the CEo’s right to drive whatever he wants. It should shake things up in Detroit…a place where a shakeup is desperately needed. Besides, driving a car with a decent interior and a stellar service record could only help Ford to improve…

I wonder how long he is going to hang on to the Lexus because Bill Ford will be obviously annoyed with the scene of a top Ford honcho driving a competitor’s car. Maybe Ford would issue an Aston Martin Rapide to him if Ford didn’t sell Aston. Me thinks he will definitely swap cars without a glance LoL!

First off, what makes you think Lexus is a competitor to FORD?

carlissimo is right – Ford cars have character, (mmm cossie, stang, rst etc… ) But they need quality to match… (cossie, stang, rst etc )

“Last time I checked the 3-Series was still at the top. Performance is all BMW has left? Well, what else were they known for? They wrote the book on the small performance sedan.”

You lost me there Renton, so you’re admitting that the only thing the 3 series has over the IS350 or G35 is in performance? It’s still at the top for what? Top handling that the mag reviews praise about? Everyone knows about the cheapo interior plastic they use in the new generation 3 series. Until I compare the sales numbers….

Lexus’ may be a great car, but ugly is still ugly.

“Lexus’ may be a great car, but ugly is still ugly.”

Since both Lexus and BMW are selling pretty well even though they look horrid, then the market really doesn’t care does it?

BMW makes a bad-quality car on top of the fact that they’re ugly! There’s no excuse.

Germans don’t know how to make cars..so they are relying on Mexico, United States and etc..
Even if it’s made in Germany..They are exporting the problems…
Since when German cars built reliable cars? Maybe when Toyota Co. take over BMW, VW, Audi, and MB…

The 5 series with the inline 6 is reliable, the X5 with the inline 6 is reliable, the 3 series is reliable, the X3 is reliable, and the Z4 is reliable. the 7 and 6 seriers, alas, are not. however thats not a bad percentage there of reliable cars.

mercedes benz makes 0 reliable cars.

vw makes basically no reliable cars, as does audi. unfortunate really.

Which is why they should be used no longer than 5 years. By then the rubber linings on the doors would have split and cracked.

Germans don’t know how to make cars?Elaborate.Mercedes makes bullet proof utilitarian vehicles.VW makes probably the most loved cars(social & pragmatic)in the world. BMW(minus Bangle) makes vault solid racing cars for the street.Porsche is a sports car in the purest form.Audi is an ultra refined sophisticate.You are completely irrational.Germany is the birthplace of rocket science.All their top dog engineers are in the automotive field because they don’t have a space program at the moment.Not one like the USA,anyway.Grab some clues!