Why I Drive A Lexus

Here’s the thing about cars.  I didn’t even learn to drive until I was almost 30 and my first car, a 1967 Coupe de Ville, was 12 years old. 

I had an Australian boyfriend once who drove a TR6 that he was very proud of and was sure it was the reason he caught my eye.  But it wasn’t that at all.  He was tall, dark and handsome, like Rock Hudson.  Coincidentally, much later, it turned out he was also gay.  I didn’t even know what a TR6 was. 

My father had a Mini Moke when we lived in Sydney.  I don’t think they exist anymore.  Instead of proper doors, it had flaps that you snapped down.  

I am sure that helped with the cost, my father being the sole supporter of a wife and five kids.










Long before that, when we were still in New York, he had a VW Kombi with a back, a back back, and a back back back.  The four kids would fight over who sat where.  The further back you sat, the more nauseous you became, so clearly, the back back back was for the losers of all coin tosses.  Beyond that, I knew nothing about cars. 

 

When I returned to the USA as an adult, and married my husband, who, coincidentally also once had a TR6 but was totally not gay, I started to get a bit spoiled.  Just before we got married, I traded in my Coupe de Ville for an orange VW Bug, more in keeping with my political leanings.  After we were married, he talked me into my first new car.  It was an American car, a Plymouth Reliant.  We both got one and quickly renamed it ‘Plymouth Unreliant.’ 

 

It was the last American car we had for years.  Today though, my husband drives a Ford.  We both feel good about that.

But back to Lexus.  It was not even on my radar screen before I got my job at Glendale Community College.  I was not into prestige/luxury cars.  In fact that was a big turn-off for me.  Remember, my parents were Communist leaning Quaker/Jews.  Snob stuff never did it for me.  I thought designer labels gave you washing instructions for your shirt, skirt or whatever.

The first thing I remember about Lexus was when I went through the Glendale Chamber of Commerce Leadership Training, which I totally loved.  This was a few months into my new job as Executive Director of the Foundation that raised money for the local community college.  During the training, we explored all the nooks and crannies of Glendale, and met some of the outstanding leaders.  One of them was Johnny Harrison at the Lexus of Glendale dealership.  He already had a reputation for helping the Glendale school district with innovative programs that raised an amazing amount of money.  Like his carwash program.  The schools got all these coupons that they could sell for $15 each, cars were washed at the Lexus of Glendale dealership (any car) and Johnny would donate the entire amount back to the school of your choice in Glendale.  That program raised over $1M for the Glendale Unified School District. 

I wished he were connected to Glendale Community College, but somehow, we were not on his radar screen.  Until, one day, two and a half years ago, during an event on the college campus that matched high school students with adult mentors in a variety of professions.  I decided to be a mentor that year and in my little group was  . . . Johnny Harrison of Lexus of Glendale.

I immediately made a bee-line for him and told him I had met him several years before in the Leadership of Glendale group.  I told him how impressed I was with everything he was doing for Glendale schools, and how I wished we could get him involved here at the college.  Well, he said, he had tried a few years back and gave up because of a poor response.  I looked back at him, horrified that he had tried to connect but had been rebuffed.  I told him that I never knew that but would love to connect Lexus and the College.  He seemed enthusiastic.  I followed up immediately, turning up the next week for a pre-arranged meeting in his office at Lexus of Glendale with my board President and the Sports Information Director at the College. 

Two and a half years later Johnny introduced the carwash program to raise money for our Athletic Department.  He also helped to make our Golf event in 2013 the best in five years, and this year, 2014, the best EVER!  He donated our top auction items:  Golfing for two at Pebble Beach, and a real 1916 Model-T Ford.  He underwrote our online auction.  He even purchased several online and live auction items himself.

So, you can understand, when I realized I had three more years to buy out my current car, an Infinity (which by the way does nothing to help the Glendale community)  that I jumped at the opportunity to take advantage of the great deals Lexus of Glendale was offering that  4th of July.

My experience at the dealership was better than any car dealership I’ve ever been to:  well-trained staff, no heavy pushing, very helpful, very Lexus.

And now, parked in our garage, is my brand new leased 2014 hybrid ES Sedan.  The fact that it’s a hybrid makes me feel a lot better about going up a bit.  But that gets me the whole Lexus experience, plus rewarding a philanthropic company that excels in helping its local community.  Hey, it’s a work thing!  Seriously.  In fundraising, they say that people give to people they like.   It also, of course, has to be a cause they believe in.  I really like Johnny and his commitment to philanthropy.  But, in all honesty, I also like the car.  It rides like a dream.  I get to experience a beautiful piece of artistry—a Lexus hybrid.  And it goes 650 miles on a tank of gas.  Who can argue with that? 

 

Think of all the money I will be saving on gas!