Toyota vs Lexus maintenance sch

[y_p_w]

Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Originally Posted By: y_p_w
Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Originally Posted By: cmorr

- A deliberate plan to target the high end buyer for more fees


Ding!

In all fairness I don't know if its "targeting" so much as it is just acknowledging that the low-end buyer wouldn't do it even if the manual called for it. Its a win-win for the manufacturer: Get the fees from the high-end buyer, sell a new car sooner to the low-end buyer.




I remember a Corolla commercial where the scene was of someone with welding gear who was brazing a Corolla hood at the seams. The tagline of the commercials was "So reliable you could weld your hood shut an forget it" or something to that effect. I always thought it was stupid, because even with 110K spark plug changes, no specified brake/PS/transmission fluid changes, you'd still want to replace the coolant and at the very least change the oil.



YES. That was one of the most offensive commercials I've ever seen in my life (at least to my sensibilities). Its encouraging people to believe a lie- that they can just ignore their car and never open the hood. Thats exactly what's wrong with the bulk of drivers today- at least a basic understanding of how the car works and what it needs used to be necessary to function as a driver. Now its not, and that's why so many cars go to the crusher tens and hundreds of thousands of miles before they should.

I can also point to that commercial as an event that really turned me off of Toyota products for the final time. Yes, its just an ad agency that created it, but it does reflect the myth that Toyota had been cultivating for years prior to that. No thanks, I don't want an appliance. But to each his own- Toyota does still make some good products. No offense to anyone who chooses to buy them. But not me.


Might have been a Honda commercial though. I was trying to find the exact commercial I remember on YouTube, but couldn't find it.

Still - I have no issue with manufacturer's recommended oil change intervals. For my long commute, I think a Toyota on 0W-20 would do fine with 10K mile oil change intervals. It's the lack of recommended oil or transmission fluid changes that worries me. I understand that these systems can function reasonably well until they show obvious signs of needing a fluid change. However, oil has been heavily overengineered over the years and **regular** changes seem to be the key, rather than **frequent** changes.

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Yes, its just an ad agency that created it, but it does reflect the myth that Toyota had been cultivating for years prior to that.


Toyota is risking huge class action lawsuit in the future if many people are stupid enough to do nothing for 100k in their cars and end up with problems.

 

[UNC017]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear
Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Yes, its just an ad agency that created it, but it does reflect the myth that Toyota had been cultivating for years prior to that.


Toyota is risking huge class action lawsuit in the future if many people are stupid enough to do nothing for 100k in their cars and end up with problems.


In all fairness, cars CAN and fluids can go longer and longer without maintenance than ever before. Both because fluids today are better, and because gasket materials are better and leaks are fewer. But the way I see it, there's no need to exaggerate! The simple truth is impressive enough! >100k mile coolant, 100k mile auto trans fluids, 15k oil changes. All very realistic and sufficiently impressive, IMO.

 

[UNC017]

Originally Posted By: y_p_w

Might have been a Honda commercial though. I was trying to find the exact commercial I remember on YouTube, but couldn't find it.

Still - I have no issue with manufacturer's recommended oil change intervals. For my long commute, I think a Toyota on 0W-20 would do fine with 10K mile oil change intervals. It's the lack of recommended oil or transmission fluid changes that worries me. I understand that these systems can function reasonably well until they show obvious signs of needing a fluid change. However, oil has been heavily overengineered over the years and **regular** changes seem to be the key, rather than **frequent** changes.


I agree about oil- its got to be changed regularly, even if infrequently. On the other hand even though people cringe, I think "life of vehicle" auto transmission fluid has been achievable for a number of cars for a long, long time.

Think about it: the engineers at Aisin (if we're talking Toyota) know the total amount of clutch material that a transmission starts out with. If the filtration system can safely catch a known percentage of it (as dust when it wears off the plates) without generating restriction, then by definition the filter will last until the transmission has failed by wearing out. If the fluid doesn't leak and doesn't oxidize, shear, or thicken, then it too can last indefinitely. The things are WELL sealed now, so you'd have to sink the car to get appreciable moisture in there through the vent.

But explaining it that way isn't as dramatic as welding a hood shut in a commercial.

So I guess I'm saying that lifetime-fill automatics don't really bother me as much as the idea that nothing under the hood even needs CHECKING at regular intervals.

 

[wiswind]

"Cost of ownership" is a marketing term used to compare vehicles to each other. Routine maintenance as called for in the owner's manual is a major factor in determination of this.
Also, the rated horse power of a engine must be given for the MINIMUM octane rated fuel as called for in the owner's manual.
I seem to remember reading that the 1MZFE 6 cylinder engine had a 15hp LOWER rating in the Toyota that listed 86 octane as the minimum vs 91 or higher for the same engine in a Lexus.
The owner's manual for my 2003 Toyota states that 86 octane is "acceptable" for for "improved performance octane of 91 or higher is recommended".
In other words, the "computer" is programed to take advantage of higher octane fuels than the minimum "acceptable".
I have experimented with this and found that I do get better performance with higher octane than the minimum.
How much?.....I cannot say.
I do not think that I get enough improvement in fuel economy to offset the increased cost of premium over regular....
I have not done comparison with "mid-grade".

Back to the original question. It is likely a difference in marketing, though how it is expected the the vehicle will be driven may factor in as well.
The other thing to look at is how long the factory warranty is for the Lexus vs the Toyota........or how many buyers purchase the optional extended warranty (from the manufacturer) for each.