Taste of Lexus Performance Edition Event 9/18

JohnnyDaJackal · 09-18-05, 04:27

Hello all:

I posted about this event maybe a month back, i'm not sure if people weren't interested in it, or were too far from it, but i'm now posting a follow up and post-event post. I signed up with my friend, I would have invited my other friends and cousins but they were all under 21, and I didn't think they'd wanna spend a whole day waiting in lines to ride shotgun. So anyway my friend and I embarked on a nice ride through the city(NYC) and had minimal difficulty finding the place, Belmont Park.

From the second we got in we were kindly assisted by a very nice and friendly Lexus staff

. Main reason why we came was to test drive the Lexus. First thing we hit up was the RX300h, hybrid model, because of the short line. A very nice truck IMO. When I got in I didn't even know the car was on it was so quiet. This had a short course but you still got to feel it had a very nice amount of power.

After this we went to the main event; the IS Grand Prix. Here you can drive three different cars; Lexus IS250, IS350 and BMW 330i all on the same course to see how they did. According to the announcer there are only 20 new ISs (both 250 and 350) in the world and 16 of them are in the states, and 5 of them were at the event. That was pretty cool that we really were some of the first from the public to drive these cars. First car we drove was the 330i. This car was really fast and the suspension was really tight. I wasn't too comfortable in it though and my lower back was kinda sore after the ride

. Next we drove the IS250 on the same track. As soon as I got in, I was on cloud 9. I'm not accustomed to super nice luxury cars, but sitting in this car was SOOO comfortable I couldn't believe it. By far the most comfortable car I sat in all day, maybe my whole life

. Anyway this car really didn't impress me, it was pretty fast, but it was sliding all over the place on the turns. The weird part is its AWD, yet it felt the sloppiest out of the three, and the other 2 were RWD

We then drove the IS350 which was the most anticipated car there, with the longest lines. That car really was fast and it gripped the road much nicer then the IS250. I was also driving it harder because it was my 3rd time around the track, and I was more comfortable with it.

They also had the entire Lexus lineup to test drive, so naturally we drove the most expensive one, the SC430. The SC430 was a really nice, elegant droptop. The steering wheel felt great and it had nice power. We didn't drive the GS400, but we drove the competitor, BMW 530i. That car was pretty nice, but the course really wasn't to big, so we passed on the rest.

Anyway the event overall was great. Even if you didn't come there to test drive cars, they had golf clinics, spa treatment and a very nice showcase of their cars. I was really impressed with the event and Lexus as a whole. It got a big

from my friend and I.

Here are a couple pics, not the greatest, but I went there to test drive cars, not take pictures.

JohnnyDaJackal · 09-18-05, 04:28

Lexus IS350 vs BMW 330i, wonder who won?

JohnnyDaJackal · 09-18-05, 04:30

Finally myself in my IS350

Heres the site, I would HIGHLY Recommend it...
http://www.tasteoflexus.com/

tdekany · 09-18-05, 04:40

Thanks for the nice write up.

I wish I was there to drive them.

So your impression is?: BMW drives better?

SpoiledMan · 09-18-05, 05:10

Looks like fun. Im set to go to this event sometime in October(I think) and the setting will be Dodger's Stadium. It's a nice big area so it should make for a great event. Would have been nice to have the IS at Autoshow in Motion though!

papi_jay · 09-18-05, 07:25

Where is a photo of the rx300h model ?

Picus · 09-18-05, 07:47

Cool, I am doing this on Wednesday and now I'm all excited. Thanks for the post.

mrecktid · 09-18-05, 08:20

Are they strict about the under-21 rule about driving? My mom got the invite but I'm only 19, I already signed up for it, but I don't want to drive 40 minutes + 20 minutes for parking, only to find out that I can't drive...

SpoiledMan · 09-18-05, 08:43

Usually at events like this they're very strict for both insurance and plain safety reasons. Take the drive at your own risk.

JohnnyDaJackal · 09-19-05, 06:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdekany

Thanks for the nice write up.

I wish I was there to drive them.

So your impression is?: BMW drives better?

I'm still not sure which one i'd pick.

I'd need to "drive" both of them for a couple weeks to truly get a feel for them

I'm a pretty (actually very) conservative driver, so i'm not so much worried about performance as I am in comfort and ride quality. I guess my vote would go to the IS, because I though the comfort and layout was WAY above the 3 series. I guess I would give the nod to the 3 series for performance because it seemed to be the tightest out of the bunch. I do know the announcer was bragging the IS350 is a full second quicker then the 3 series for 0-60. Honestly I don't know which one was faster, they were all fast for me

JohnnyDaJackal · 09-19-05, 06:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by papi_jay

Where is a photo of the rx300h model ?

Sorry for no photos, I guess we were a little overwhelmed as the event as a whole. I do believe the RX300h is the same as the original, except for the engine of course.

JohnnyDaJackal · 09-19-05, 06:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrecktid

Are they strict about the under-21 rule about driving? My mom got the invite but I'm only 19, I already signed up for it, but I don't want to drive 40 minutes + 20 minutes for parking, only to find out that I can't drive...

O ya as SpoiledMan they were very strict about the 21 rule. They were even strict enforcing the wristbands. You got a wristbrand on your left arm if you were driving(+21) and you got one on your right arm if you we're going to be a passenger. Most people are happy to turn 21 so they can get trashed legally, first time I get "ID" was at a Lexus performance event.