Considering the car will likely be driven mostly in an urban setting, low end power is more desireable. Nothing like pulling out into heavy traffic and waiting for the engine to reach its peak power.
Peak numbers are never an engine's story. I'd have to see torque curves to say "Oh it really is [ ]" This isn't suppose to be the lull-around-town Lexus (They have the ES for their entry-level comfort car).
I'm discounting the car before I drive it, but I'm still skeptical. I've driven cars that magazines rave about and I find them average. The TSX comes to mind (I still am confused about the overboosted steering in that "sporty" car).
It seems like the luxury car market is getting soft. They add power, make the cars more boring, add the latest electronic nannies, and say "new and sportier" when they really made it "new and boring." :nixweiss
Very true about the power curves but I think my point is still valid.
I don't know about your luxury market becoming soft comment. The trend in the auto industry is towards sportier vehicles and it seems it is being accomplished. Very few full road tests state the vehicle is less sporty/even more boring than the predecessor. Even the new Avalon is more tuned (though still what it was intended to be). I have to rely more on complete road tests than first hand experience as I do not have the time to test drive new cars, and I am not going to waste the time of salesmen when I'm not in the market.
Yes, and I've driven the new GS. Like I said in my GS thread the new GS has a wonderful suspension and drivetrain and is closer to the 5 series in driving dynamics than ever before. It is softer, but what I drove was a 300 AWD, the 430s have larger wheels and a tauter suspension.
The new 5 has been blasted by critics for steps down in handling prowess too, it finished last in one comparison test I read in one of the mags.
Also, Steve's comment regarding the new IS is just personal opinion based on press releases. No news yet as to how much of a driver's car it will be.
Actually my comment is just personal opinion based on the styling, I didn't even read the article...I never read press releases. I feel that its styling is now sophisticated enough to be a legitimate alternative to the 3 Series, Audi A4 etc. I've never even driven the current IS300 because I think it looks like a Civic and the interior is not my style. I WOULD have driven this. I did drive the 3 series.
Close enough considering the photos came from the press release.
Regardless, the new IS seems to be a huge improvement over the current. With the new design, I would be mad if I had gotten a '03 IS in place of my Solara (came close, then decided it was smaller than I wanted and the interior was not all that pleasing).
Oh yeah, I wanted to comment to Corey about the gauges too. Its a throwback to the current IS, glad they're at least optitron now. I agree the script going around the gauge face like that may be cool but it does make them harder to read.
I had not given much attention to the gauges but you guys are right, they are difficult to read. Then again, I am used to large text gauges (apparently Toyota thinks ALL Solara drivers need prescription glasses to read).
you're not kidding another nice lexus design. I can hardly wait to turn in my current '03 GS for the new design, now I'm going to have to take a hard look at that IS.
Life long Toyota/Lexus owner and I haven't been let down.
No, I am just a fan. If you owned one you would see what the hoopla is all about. By the way smartie pants, you can't buy stock in Lexus, it's a division of Toyota.
Greg,
Car said the problem with the new 3 was that the handling was good but too isolated from the driver. If you took challenging roads, you would do fine but not feel the road. This is definitely an unfortunate move toward luxury feel and away from sport feel if true.
No, I am just a fan. If you owned one you would see what the hoopla is all about. By the way smartie pants, you can't buy stock in Lexus, it's a division of Toyota.
Greg,
Car said the problem with the new 3 was that the handling was good but too isolated from the driver. If you took challenging roads, you would do fine but not feel the road. This is definitely an unfortunate move toward luxury feel and away from sport feel if true.
Some of the "negative" reviews of the new 3 series stems from the active steering. IIRC, Motor Trend (or some magazine) said that the new 3 is better off without the optional active steering. I'm not a big fan of the new styling though and I think the new IS has it beat in that category.
I miss my bimmer.
