Consumer Reports calls Lexus GX 460 unsafe

[Dr.Phool]

Source: MSNBC.com

Consumer Reports calls Lexus GX 460 unsafe
‘Don't buy’ warning is another blow to Toyota's now-tarnished reputation


By Dan Strumpf
updated 21 minutes ago

NEW YORK - Consumer Reports has given the Lexus GX 460 SUV a rare "Don't Buy" warning, saying a problem that occurred during routine handling tests could lead to a rollover accident in real-world driving.

In the latest blow to Toyota's reputation, the magazine said that during a test of the vehicle's performance during unusual turns, the rear of the vehicle slid until it was nearly sideways before the electronic stability control system kicked in.

Consumer Reports said in real-world driving, such a scenario could cause a rollover accident. As a result, the magazine has given the seven-seat SUV a "Don't Buy: Safety Risk" label until the problem is fixed.

"In a real world situation, by that time, the car can hit the curb or the side of the road and that's the situation where, in a vehicle like that, it could cause it to roll over," said Gabriel Shenhar, senior auto test engineer at Consumer Reports, who was one of four testers to experience the problem.

(snip)

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36457556/ns/business-autos/

---

I think my next car is gonna be a Ford.

[Lance_Boyle]

1. Still waiting for the "don't buy: only douchbags drive luxury SUVs" rating. n/t

[WildClarySage]

8. Only douchebags? thanks a lot.

I happen to love my 1999 RX300. Much better vehicle than the 2005 Town and Country I traded it for. The mileage is the same- and some of us need the roominess of a bigger vehicle. That its not new doesn't detract from the fact that its a luxury suv. Generalizations like yours is why I seldom post here anymore and begin to wonder what a 'democrat' is these days.

[TheEuclideanOne]

15. I think that the statement stands on its own merit.

Apparently one definitely of a democrat is that it is somebody who thinks you are a douchebag. Maybe multiple people do. :)

[Lance_Boyle]

25. You're ever so welcome.

From my keyboard to your nozzle.

[axollot]

44. Dude it's ok. I eat meat ;) n/t

[CreekDog]

30. I'm waiting for people to claim Consumers Union always favors Toyota

:eyes:

[pundaint]

51. Until we decide if government exists for the benefit of the People or Ownership rights, let's not

divide ourselves over a freaking car choice.

[dipsydoodle]

2. So switch off the ESP

.

[high density]

3. "In a vehicle like that"

Well, that's the problem with a huge "vehicle like that." Ford knows all about it.

[T Wolf]

4. So, what's the downside of rich assholes who buy gas-guzzlers flipping their toys over?

I would encourage all the rethugs to rush right out and buy one of these. Then test that commie publication's conclusion. I think they are just trying to damage the reputation of one of Amerika's "I am successful" symbols.

[NoGOPZone]

6. Is that the CR conspiracy theory du jour?

I guess it's hard to square this test result with the usual 'CR is biased in favor of Toyota' meme, although I'm sure a few here will try.

[Omaha Steve]

12. Not consumer reports

Consumers Digest! Consumer Reports takes no ads or $ in it's decisions, unlike Consumers Digest!

K&R btw.

[CreekDog]

32. People here argue Consumer Reports is biased in favor of Toyota all the time

in fact, it gets ridiculous...they claim that CR has Toyota specific exceptions that only apply to Toyota and allow for recommendations that no other make gets --not true. Not true, but that doesn't stop them. :eyes:

[goclark]

9. I have two friends that have a Lexus and that is a big brush

you are painting with ~ both are extremely nice people that were able to buy the car of their choice.

[T Wolf]

13. Just because your "friends" are "nice" and are rich enough to spend more on

their automobile than many can spend on a house does not make it OK.

But, in the brave new world of ConservaDem politics, practically anything is OK if a dem (or someone given special dispensation) is doing it.

[Socal31]

16. I am going to go out on a limb and say

while most if not all people on this forum care deeply about the less fortunate, there are several successful people that can afford to purchase what they wish. I am not sure if that would disqualify them as a (D).

[DesertFlower]

49. i agree with you. hubby and

i are both dems. he drives a porsche carrera 911s. it was expensive, but he's 62 years old, has worked hard all his life. doesn't he deserve it? it's not financed. we paid cash.

i drive a mazda miata (not too expensive). we also have a 2001 toyota tundra that we use when we go shopping.

we don't live in a mansion. we live in a nice house in a nice area.

we give a lot to different charities especially the food banks.

we buy our clothes in places like old navy.

do you think we're bad people?

BTW. we're not rich. we're upper middle class.

[totodeinhere]

56. No, you don't deserve it. Tell him to sell that Porsche and use a bicycle.

:sarcasm:

[DesertFlower]

59. thank you for making me laugh. nt

[totodeinhere]

60. You are welcome. And I bet your progressive credentials are better than a lot of the high and...

mighty pontificators around here who go around pointing their fingers at people.

[cui bono]

17. So you're saying that in the US it's not okay to spend how ever much you want of your own money?

Wow.

Would I spend over $50,000 for a car? Absolutely not. Do I think having a huge mansion with rooms you never see in a day is necessary? Nope.

But if people want to buy a luxury vehicle so be it. It is their right to do so. It is okay. Can we dislike it or not agree with it? Of course. But there is a line we shouldn't cross over and judging people just because they are rich and saying it's not okay for them to spend how ever much they want to on a car is definitely over the line.

What if a filthy rich person bought a $100,000 Tesla? Is that not okay with you? It's an electric vehicle so it's good for the environment. There are also hybrid SUVs that get the same mileage as a regular sedan. I thought we were the ones who looked beyond the surface.

[Democat]

22. Some DUers hate all rich people, period.

Your friend could be Bill Gates and donating billions to fight AIDS and some DUers would be ready to burn him or her at the stake. Not sure about the poster(s) on this thread, but there are a lot of those types around DU. I think of them as the "100% taxation on all income above $100,000" crowd.

[totodeinhere]

33. +1

[T Wolf]

26. In a better world, where everyone's needs have been met, surplus could then be used to

buy luxuries.

But in the real world where countless numbers of people die every day because they do not have the bare necessities for survival, I DO see something wrong with this kind of conspicuous, wasteful consumption.

The exact location of that "line" between what is "correct" and what is not is not clear, but at a distance from the "close calls" - the decision is pretty easy. As with everything it depends on whose ox is getting gored.

A caveat - relying on what is legal to define acceptable is just plain stupid, in that the laws are written by the privileged to protect themselves and their possessions. Thus, I can assert that it is my right to do anything and no one can object.

Either there is a social contract or there is not.

[totodeinhere]

36. Just out of curiosity, what kind of car do you drive?

Myself, I live in a rural area where it snows a lot and where you have to drive long distances to get to almost anything including medical specialists. I live here because this is where my job is. I drive a four wheel drive Toyota 4Runner and I make no apologies for that. And that doesn't mean that I don't care about the poor. I bet I donate more money to charities than many at DU do.

[RainMickey]

58. I'm thinking he rides a jackass. n/t

[ronnie624]

68. He makes an interesting and thought provoking argument.

You do not.

[T Wolf]

69. 1995 Dodge Neon, manual transmission. Non-working radio. Non-working AC. But I take public

transit to/from work, so the Neon does not even get driven too much.

As for donations, my charity is my own business. The issue is autos and the American need for lording it over your neighbors (and racing your Ute all across the wilderness, acting all "rural").

[goclark]

24. So you are the decider of which cars to drive?

I get it now.

[Ratty]

27. I just bought an expensive pan on Amazon

One of those All-Clad copper-core ones. Did I need it? Not really. Could I have made do with a cheap pan? Yes. I could have bought one at the flea market for a dollar. But I love to cook and wanted to treat myself. The pan makes me happy. Does that make me a bad person? After all, I could have contributed the difference to charity. Maybe my little contribution wouldn't have made a big difference but if everybody bought cheaper and donated the difference that would change the world. It's not the price of a luxury car, but where is the cutoff? Is it OK to spend, maybe $100 extra on something? Do you put the cutoff at $1,000? $10,000? What's your definition of an obscene amount of money.

Before you go casting stones I'd have a look at your own life if I were you. I hope you darn the holes in your socks and reuse them. Save your washing machine water and reuse it for a second batch of laundry as my mother used to do. Buy everything used, shop at flea markets, and never spend a penny you don't need and give the rest to charity.

[aquart]

29. All-Clad are the best.

[Ratty]

38. It's wonderful but I do feel a little guilty about it

Not that I'm a saint or anything. I've over-spent on stuff before and never really thought too much about it. But this time ... I dunno. Maybe a mid-life crisis or something.

[aquart]

45. I got mine without the guilt.

Once upon a time there was a store in Manhattan that sold closeouts and returns from Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale's and their ilk. Got my 18/8 stainless there. Got my electric blanket. My Searle coat. One day there was a table full of pots and lots of women grabbing. So I joined in. Foolishly, I limited myself to whatever I could find with a matching lid. (I was young.) I'd never heard of All-Clad. I paid $15 and $20 apiece for those pots. They are still my favorites.

[T Wolf]

31. Your attack is the same kind of bullshit the reich wing uses - ala Al Gore living in something

more than a shack negates his environmental activism.

As I said, near the line is a tough call. Far away, not so touch.

[Ratty]

37. And what if this Lexus owner gives more to charity than you do?

Is he a better person than you? Or is it percentage based? What if he still gives a higher percentage to charity than you but also gets a Lexus? Does that make him OK or is he still evil? Be very careful of those blanket judgments.

[Flying Dream Blues]

41. Who needs pans? Just roast it over the fire, you selfish pig!

When everybody has an ironclad pan, maybe you can too.
:sarcasm:

[bigwoolymammoth]

55. Did you ever take into consideration that...

it's none of your damn business what type of car other people drive?

If the lithmus test for a true Republican is where they stand on abortion, apparently the lithmus test for a Dem is how frugal they are when it comes to buying an automobile. Frugality when chosing between more costly organic vegetables and a cheap can of Great Value beans is not an official Party platform.

Some people on this forum really are out there.

[RainMickey]

57. You obviously suffer from Lexus-envy. n/t

[Dreamer Tatum]

11. But I thought CR was bought and paid for by Toyota?

Sorry, I'm confused. I thought the evil CR was corrupt and a sycophant to the Toyota empire. Clearly, CR is just trying to correct its image, right? They probably just picked a Toyota product at random to vilify in a desperate attempt to salvage its own credibility. Ergo, we cannot believe this report, and in fact since you clearly want your political enemies dead, they should probably buy ANYTHING but the clearly safe-as-a-box-of-kittens Lexus SUV.

Right?

[amandabeech]

71. Toyota suddenly found out what the rest of us have known all along--

Toyotas are not made by gods.

[customerserviceguy]

64. The downside

is the people in the Priuses that they flip over onto, who don't have a snowball's chance in hell when some SUV driver decides to go all Rambo on the roadway.

[Lagomorph]

65. It blocks the road.

Come on, think about it.

Not everyone buys a big car for the status.

It depends on what you have to haul around with you as well as the terrain.

[skipos]

5. I just bought my first Ford (Fusion Hybrid) and it is much better than the Prius overall

for me. I am not sure what kind of car you are looking for, but if it a fuel efficient, roomy sedan that doesn't feel as "economy" as other fuel efficient cars, I'd check out the Fusion hybrid. I am averaging about 40 mpg in mine.

[cui bono]

7. Just bought my second Toyota (Prius) and it is way better than any Ford overall

for me. I'd check it out. It's an awesome car, great fuel efficiency and very roomy, lots of leg space in back seats. And it looks HOT! (Barcelona Red 2010.... sexy!!!)

[d_r]

10. yeah, nothing hotter than a prius

[Romulox]

19. Lemme guess. By "Union Yes!" you mean YOUR union, not anybody else's?

:shrug:

[DainBramaged]

35. These people don't deserve to live in the land of the free

what an amazing slap in the face for every one of us who belongs to the UAW.....

[cui bono]

52. Hm. My bad I guess. I am for unions but admit I don't have all info

regarding this situation. Feel free to enlighten me. I try to keep up but I am still trying to catch up on a lot of things since getting into my "pay attention to what's going on" phase. That's why I come here. Most of my friends have an aversion to politics in general so we don't discuss these sorts of things.

I thought it was a good thing to buy a fuel efficient car that I knew I could easily own for 10-15 years without any problems. Now I feel bad. :(

[Romulox]

61. You didn't know that Toyota runs a non-union shop? That defies belief.

I don't believe you. I think you're trying to be cute.

[cui bono]

63. If you don't believe what I post then there's nothing more for me to say. n/t

[DainBramaged]

66. Not worth your keystrokes my friend, not a single one

ANY ONE who claims they support Unions and then goes and buys a fucking japanese car ESPECIALLY an IMPORT doesn't deserve the sweat off of our (insert name of body part here). In the race to the bottom, japan leads in lowest wages paid for the most skilled labor here in the US. The import lovers should ask their japanese buddies why toYOYOta imports their engines rather than build them here for assembly in the cars.

[DainBramaged]

34. So you support Unions (???) yet you bought a toYOYOta

you just instantly made my forever ignore list. What a hypocritical piece of Merry Christmas.

[cui bono]

62. See my post that landed above. Perhaps you could inform rather than dismiss.

I guess I didn't really think about it because the Prius is only built in Japan so far.

Anyway, point taken, albeit too late to change my purchase.


(I know you won't see this but oh well. Some people are happy to become more informed and might even change because of it. If you would just try that approach you might see it's a bit more constructive than your angry knee-jerk reaction.)

[skipos]

39. I DID check out the Prius, and it was very cramped and a little cheap feeling

I spend a lot of time in my car and the Prius is too uncomfortable for me.

Regardless, why are you telling me to check out the Prius?

[cui bono]

48. Oh, yeah, that didn't make sense.

I just wanted to represent the Prius. ;)

[amandabeech]

72. I think that you just lost your union cred. n/t

[Dr.Phool]

14. I bought my wife a Prius 2 years ago.

She loves it. And my dad just bought a new non-hybrid Fusion. Nice car too.

As for today? It's 80 degrees right now. Harley-Davidson!

[KansDem]

23. Man, I wish I was you!

"As for today? It's 80 degrees right now. Harley-Davidson!"

[sailor65]

18. Wait, big SUV's want to roll over?

Who Knew??

This part is especially charming....
"Current GX 460 owners: If you own a 2010 Lexus GX 460, we recommend exercising care when exiting the highway or traveling twisty roads. Obeying the speed limit and being alert for potential road hazards should limit the risk of experiencing a problem, like that recorded at the test track. "

Umm, DUH?

[Romulox]

21. "among the 95 SUVs in its current ratings, no other slid as far as the GX 460." nt

[Romulox]

20. Lexus = Toyota for really insecure people. Lexus SUV = Toyota for really, REALLY insecure people?

:rofl:

[liberal N proud]

28. Is the honeymoon over between CR and Toyota?

[totodeinhere]

40. The seven worst made cars on the road are all made by Detroit's big 3 - Forbes

Four of the seven vehicles on our list of the worst-made cars on the road come from GM brands. And all of the cars on the list -- including Chrysler's Dodge Nitro and Jeep Wrangler -- are made by Detroit's Big Three.

http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/109278/worst-made-cars-on-the-road?mod=family-home

[madrchsod]

50. cars? only the import is a car

the rest are trucks and suvs....i did`t know the jeep wranglers were suv`s.

[totodeinhere]

54. Well regardless of the terminology used, you get the point.

I should have said "vehicles," not "cars."

[amandabeech]

73. Do you actually expect people around here to take Forbes seriously?

Please.

[flvegan]

42. So long as nobody gets hurt, the GX 460 belongs on it's side.

Rubbish car. $70k for underpowered SUV beige-ness.

[axollot]

43. Thank you! American made & Union. That is our #1 reason to stick with them. n/t

[BootinUp]

46. Quite rare. Totyota is really "on a roll" lol.

[Divine Discontent]

47. I prefer a Chevy, although Ford seems better than 10 years ago. And Toyota? you couldn't pay me.

[madrchsod]

53. toyota has a problem with their computers...

it`s either in the coding or the hardware. they`d better get it fixed or they`ll be paying out tons of money.

[SpartanDem]

67. I couldn't be happier to see the truth about Toyota coming out

they got away with making crap for far too long.

[Name removed]

70. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TexasObserver]

74. Toyota-Lexus has some serious problems they've worked to hide.

[defendandprotect]

75. k/r