Will Toyota $375,000 Cars Sell?

[autumngal]

Lets face it car sales have not been the #1 item to purchase this year. Now we have this Toyota sports car, labeled a Lexus LFA with aprice tag of $375,000. Still who would have imagined a Toyota to have that type of price tag? weird.

With sales going great for cars in other countries such as China and India, auto manufacturers here are not exactly dismissing their first round of goof ups with making affordable and better mpg vehicles, are they?

[everyman]

I was expecting to find a $375K Toyota at that link and all I got is a recycled article on China. What gives?

I have no doubt some fools will buy the Toyota. I'm sure my neighbor, the flimflam man with the bible quotes chiseled on his foundation, would squander his ill gotten gains on one in a heartbeat. Lord, he's bought just about everything else!

As for manufacturing leaving the country--what choice do they have? Under these conditions they can't raise prices to offset any increased costs. If you can't put up a tariff wall or restrict imports in some way, all they have to keep profitability is cost cutting or productivity increases. I don't foresee any improvements in manufacturing and I suspect they are reaching the limit of what they can cut in labor and benefits. I suppose they can beat a little out of their suppliers but since most of that is being shipped offshore, they are probably already at the limit there too.

[autumngal]

Link is fixed.

That's an incredible amount of money for a car. Still have sticker shock here, during these times too?

[everyman]

Well it certainly isn't a Lamborghini, is it? I don't see anything that makes it stand out. Sure, the composites increases its cost as well as the limited hand production. All I see is a long wait for a spare part or body work. I don't even think "Mr. Big Shot/Big Show" behind me would bite on this.

Come to think on it, I'm pretty sure I read about this car a while back but it sure didn't cost $375K then.

[autumngal]

So is it safe to say this is not a rod everyman has a desire to own?

Well that is what is confusing to me. I know I am a gal and all, but not blind to this car really has no appeal that is that sticker price.

[everyman]

Originally Posted by autumngal

So is it safe to say this is not a rod everyman has a desire to own?

Well that is what is confusing to me. I know I am a gal and all, but not blind to this car really has no appeal that is that sticker price.

I'm not a car guy. I just look at them as necessary nuisances so I couldn't get excited over it even if it was priced at $13,500.

It essentially is just a concept car they decided to try to sell a limited number of. Rich collectors will most likely be the only takers--guys like Jay Leno.

[O Death]

They'd be hard pressed to get over $3,750 for a brand spankin' new Toyota now.

[autumngal]

Originally Posted by O Death

They'd be hard pressed to get over $3,750 for a brand spankin' new Toyota now.

How crazy is all this stuff with Toyota now? One thing after another being recalled. A big ouchy for their company.

[O Death]

Originally Posted by autumngal

How crazy is all this stuff with Toyota now? One thing after another being recalled. A big ouchy for their company.

Sounds like opportunity is a'knockin' for GM to get in there and absorb some disgruntled Toyota owners serious deals.

I have an '06 Toyota Tundra and will buy another Toyota when I run this one into the ground.

[everyman]

The supposed fix for the accelerator problem didn't take. (But at least I learned from the article that you can put it into neutral.)

On my drive home I heard a local talk show host state that all the "black box" data from the problem cars are not being shared with the NTSB. Furthermore, the host cited some source (didn't catch it) that claims that there is only one laptop in the country capable of analyzing the software in the cars.

It doesn't appear as if Toyota is taking the problem as seriously in actions as they claim in words. I think they just tossed their aura of technological superiority down the toilet.