Among the things that distracted me this weekend...

October 9 2005


Image:Among the things that distracted me this weekend...

Somehow got on Lexus's mailing list in the last few months, and was invited to participate at the Taste of Lexus that took place this weekend.  As a marketing guy, I was pretty impressed with the event's approach -- a no-pressure, high-class way to experience the entire Lexus line of cars (and even some of their competitors).  I didn't expect it to be as big as it was -- hundreds of people just in the short time I was there -- or as high-class (golf lessons, spa massages, etc.).

The car above is the about to ship new Lexus IS350.  Pre-production IS cars were on the test drive circuit yesterday, and I have to say I was unexpectedly impressed.  I came out to drive the GS, actually, but decided to check out the IS on a whim.  Wow is this a fun car.  Sleek interior (a friend described this as "cockpit-style"), tight European-style handling, great acceleration.  It's just too bad that, like so many other cars in this class, the back-seat is not real useful, especially for getting a 3-year-old in and out of a carseat.  Whaaa.

Ed Brill | Arlington Park, Arlington Heights IL Category:  Toys  Add/View Comments [22]

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  1. 1  Christian  | 10/10/2005 3:33:06 AM

    Lexus or BMW 3XX!!!! (TWINS)

  1. 2  dave  | 10/10/2005 6:38:24 AM

    Ed:

    Have you checked out the Acura TL? I have one and love it. Some similarities to the Lexus IS350 but a bigger back seat and a lower price.

    Dave

  1. 3  Ed Brill www.edbrill.com | 10/10/2005 6:50:59 AM

    @2 Dave - yes, the TL continues to be high on my list if I am going to switch back to a sedan. Honestly a bad experience at the local Acura dealer the last time I went in really soured me a bit, that and the fact that everyone around here has one. Well, not everyone, but it's certainly common.

  1. 4  Stu Mac macsfacts.blogspot.com | 10/10/2005 9:54:18 AM

    I'm wary of sticking my 2c in on this one, cos European tastes are so different to those in your neck of the wood. However, the car in this space that's winning a lot of accolades over here is the Volvo S40 - very classy interior, well packaged and styled, and with a much larger back seat than the Lexus. We could certianly fit our three kiddies seats across the rear when we test-drove one...

    { Link }

    With your cheap gas, the T5 would be worth a test.

  1. 5  Ed Brill www.edbrill.com | 10/10/2005 10:08:43 AM

    The S40 really has a decent rear seat? It sure doesn't look like it from the outside. Maybe I'll go take a look.

    I'm not sure how serious I am about all of this anyway... my FX35 is plenty fine but my needs are clearly different than when I bought it.

  1. 6  Brian Benz http://www.softwaresoapbox.com | 10/10/2005 10:35:12 AM

    I second the Volvo - rented one last year for the long drive from Philly to Montreal and back. Great car, really fun on the mountain roads, and handles well in the city.

  1. 7  Ben Rose http://www.jaffacake.net | 10/10/2005 2:23:46 PM

    I dunno what it is about parents these days, but they seem to want a limousine to shift their young kids around in.

    I have the new IS parked about 100yds from my desk and that back seat isn't all that small. OK, legroom with large people in the front isn't ideal but this doesn't apply to your 3yr old.

    How exactly is it too small?

    Incidentally, I have the new GS-430 which I was told by my housekeeper is also "too small" for a family. Quite hilarious given how many miles she put on the car whilst I was in Vegas...not that bad me thinks. Apparently it's something to do with the side of the boot opening...she prefers a hatch over a saloon.

    The IS isn't massive but it's far from small...especially when we're talking kids not large adults...and it has an iPod port :O)

  1. 8  Ben Rose http://www.jaffacake.net | 10/10/2005 2:24:23 PM

    @1 - Nothing like it from any other angle I assure you. The new 3-series is ugly...

  1. 9  Mike Lazar  | 10/10/2005 2:36:55 PM

    Ed -- That wouldn't happen to be the Acura clowns on Rt. 21, would it? I had a very condescending experience with them a few years ago. Really rubbed me the wrong way. That's why I always shop for cars in very casual (jeans/shorts and a t-shirt) attire. You find out the make up of the salesman very quickly.

  1. 10  Ed Brill www.edbrill.com | 10/10/2005 3:20:15 PM

    @9 actually no, here in HP on US41. Maybe it's something about Acura dealers -- since they have no "options" to sell (pretty much every car comes equipped with what you'd want on it) and they have decent demand, they must be able to afford being a bit arrogant.

  1. 11  Kevin Pettitt www.lotusguru.com | 10/10/2005 6:22:50 PM

    My wife and I got to sit in the IS350 at Washington's Taste of Lexus a couple weeks ago. Sweet car if you don't have to haul any 6-footers around in the back seat (like me). Ed, I hope you got to drive the GS 430 and the RX400h hybrid as well - both guilty pleasures. We had actually been on the wait list for a hybrid last year but broke down and got an RX330, so this was our first "taste". With gas at $3.30+, I'm wishing we'd waited...

    I agree that the new Acura TL is amazing, but it also has a bigger back seat that I find quite comfortable, similar to the '96 TL we just traded in. The IS is actually closer in interior size (at least the back seat) to Acura's smaller TSX model.

    BTW - Zipcar offers BMW 325s, Volvo S40s, the Prius, Mini Cooper and Beetle convertibles, among other fun rides. I blogged on this last month: { Link }

  1. 12  Christian  | 10/11/2005 1:25:46 AM

    compare the pictures!!!

    { Link }

  1. 13  Christian  | 10/11/2005 1:25:50 AM

    compare the pictures!!!

    { Link }

  1. 14  Paul Mooney http://www.pmooney.net | 10/11/2005 7:58:12 AM

    Ed, thought I could persuade you to go alfa....

  1. 15  Ed Brill www.edbrill.com | 10/11/2005 9:43:33 AM

    @14 yeah, if Alfa was sold in the States, perhaps.

  1. 16  John Head http://www.johndavidhead.com | 10/11/2005 10:06:27 AM

    I still think the Infiniti cars are the best of that tier. Great car, great service. My G35 is a blast to drive

  1. 17  Roberto Boccadoro  | 10/11/2005 11:18:19 AM

    Ed, I am surprised to hear they do not sell Alfa in the US. Ar e you sure about this ?

    About your comment on useless back seats, now you know why I drive a 7 seat car with removable seats :-) Family man we are.......and you should already have discovered that despite apperance a kid takes up much more space than a grown up man.

  1. 18  Robert Wenc  | 10/11/2005 12:20:38 PM

    I second the infinit G35 comment ... as long as it's the coupe. ;) As far as sedans go, the new M45 is one beautiful car.

  1. 19  Ed Brill www.edbrill.com | 10/11/2005 12:24:38 PM

    Yeah M45 is beautiful - not in my league though, i'm afraid. G35 coupe, not too practical for the 3-year-old.

    Roberto - no, no Alfa in the US. Not even offered on the "choose a country" dropdown on their site. I don't need seven seats for the two primary riders in my car, just someplace that fits a three-year-old prone to kicking the back of the seat in front of her ;)

  1. 20  Kevin Pettitt www.lotusguru.com | 10/11/2005 10:59:43 PM

    The mention of M45 reminded me of a recent visit to my Lexus service center for routine maintenance. There in the waiting area was a copy of Autoweek with a cover story on the Lexus GS430 vs. Infiniti M45. Gotta give the dealer credit for openness, as the article declared "the Infiniti is easily the winner here." Christian will appreciate that the article also says the M45 "...may not be as sophisticated and road-course smooth as a BMW 5 Series..."

    Here's the article: { Link }

  1. 21  Paul Mooney http://www.pmooney.net | 10/12/2005 5:52:38 AM

    You could always import! Although servicing etc would be trouble. I am pretty sure that the Alfa 147 is for sale somewhere in the US, as I have seen american reviews.

    Pop into a Ferrari garage... They will be able to help you (same company)

  1. 22  John Head http://www.johndavidhead.com | 10/12/2005 1:25:01 PM

    @18 - is there anything but the coupe? :)

    { Link }