How do you compare the driving dynamics of an E46 to an RX? If the new E46 was a direct replacement for the RX, I’d say the RX was the wrong car for you to begin with.

I agree with psarhjinian. I have the original IS300, and it is not boring to drive at all. Is it perfect? Of course not, but which car is?

When I’m at the pump, sometimes I wish I had a 4-cyl. When traffic is backed up, sometimes I wish I had softer seats. When the roads are clear, sometimes I wish I had a bigger engine. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.

Either way, they are still a bore to drive.

That’s not really fair. The IS is actually very well-balanced in 250/RWD form, though the previous IS was more raw; I’d say it compares more than favourably with the 323i. The IS350 had the misfortune of coming out just before the 335i and G37, and didn’t really get a fair shake; it’s a pretty good performer, too, probably as well-balanced as an equivalent G35 or C-Class, better than the A4 and not quite as nice as the 3-Series.

The GS misses the mark set by the M and 5-Series, true, but no more than the A6 or E-Class. The LS is actually very, very good, again, compared to an equivalently-priced A8 or S-Class. Again, the 7-Series is more fun, but is that really the mission of a car so massive?

Then you get into cars like the GX and LX, which are stupidly capable off-road for something as civilized as they are. They’re like a nicer Land Rover, but without the “break down every six hours” habit, or a G-Class with a modern ride.

I’ve never had seat time in the IS-F or SC430 can’t speak to either.

I think a lot of people extrapolate the ES and RX’s attributes onto the rest of the line. Both are easily Lexus’ most pedestrian models (and they sell very well for it, thank you very much!), and really aren’t a fair comment on what is otherwise a very good lineup. That lineup tracks Mercedes’ and Audi’s equivalent models for driving fun, but where Lexus falls down is the lack of an AMG/S/M division. The IS-F is a nice start, but as I understand it, it was developed without real, formal support from Toyota–it’s more a skunkworks project than a polished effort from a dedicated in-house tuner.

If I had the money, I’d buy a GS hybrid.

Second, I don’t care that the $40k car that I buy has a $70k luxobarge sibling with an eight cylinder. It doesn’t matter to me. I am at a point in life where I am looking to cruise in comfort, not turn heads. For the record, I own an older Infiniti and a newer Subaru.

Third, this is real differentiation. There are a LOT of good 40k cars on the market. From Acura to Volvo (ok, maybe not Volvo) there are worthwhile choices. And all of them are pretty similar. But Lexus will have a real advantage with some differentiated product. I will seriously consider buying this for my wife, if it has a normal amount of power and Lexus luxury and ride.

In terms of looks and style, for Lexus it’s been downhill from there in my opinion. None of the current crop hold any interest for me.

Yes, you can save money by buying a Prius, but if you want something to impress everyone at the country club but you still want to pinch pennies somewhere, Lexus is way ahead of BMW or Mercedes. Amazingly, there are lots of rich people who pinch pennies here and there but make sure they keep up appearances.

Indeed. The RX is the main draw up here. Few people look at the GS, even less the LS. ES/IS get a decent share of looks but still nothing compares to the draw of the RX.

When oil hit $130 a barrel I had 5 ups that saturday, each one of them in the hybrid RX.

It’s a dull drive but the Lexus buyer demographic wants nothing too over the top. They aren’t buying BMW’s because they want something different out of a car. Performance, well it’s not the be all end all to them…they want a reliable luxury car. The philosophy would be that they don’t need to do 140kph mergeing onto the highway anymore so power isn’t the issue. The buyer wants simple and reliable in a luxury car and Lexus does have that nailed(even if it’s just a perception of having it nailed these days).

I doubt *many* Lexus buyers hang on sites like this because a car is simply a nice appliance not a statement, not an interest.

You are way off about the hybrid RX. Please research first.

RX350 AWD: 17/22
RX350 FWD: 18/23
RX400h AWD: 26/24
RX400h FWD: 27/24

Where have heard of this before?

I would say that only the Toyota brand has any traction. It seems that Scion came and went with the life-span of the latest sport-coupe, and Lexus seems to be foundering in the ever increasing competition that has become the luxury and near-luxury markets. What are they? The message seems muddled.

I think that the luxury hybrid gambit is as good as any other. It seems to me no one had imagined that gasoline prices exceeding $4/gallon would have affected the US economy as greatly as it has. Of course, that wasn’t the only reason, but it was the straw that broke the camel’s hump.

It seems to me, that the folks who have the kind of financial resources to afford luxury cars probably aren’t too concerned about gas mileage. I suppose you could brag about your mileage, but at least as the current generation of Lexus hybrids demonstrate, what really is there to brag about? I believe the hybrid version of the RX series gets worse mileage than the gasoline powered one.

I’m wondering too, if were starting to see hybrid overload. With the great masses, they’re doing anything they can to get out of their gas hogs cheaply, and often a car with a hybrid drivetrain vehicle doesn’t fit the bill. If I had the choice between a $15K car that got 35 MPG and a $21K car that got 45 MPG, I’m going for the $15K car. Lower cost of entry and miles ahead of a 15 MPG SUV.

The ES 350 redesign will come in the spring of 2011 as a 2012 model. The next generation will offer a hybrid model, borrowing the V-6 from the RX 400h.

A redesign (of the RX350) comes in early 2009 as a 2010 model, looking quite similar to the 2007 Tokyo show vehicle. Expect the hybrid variant to get more power, as Toyota already has filed trademarks on RX 430h, RX 440h and RX 450h.

And don’t forget the dedicated “hybrid-only” model which AN says will have “a different configuration and design from the Prius… It is likely to arrive in early 2010 as a 2011 model. The car is likely to be a four-cylinder small sedan. Typically, Lexus hybrids have been about performance, but this one will be Lexus’ first hybrid vehicle designed primarily to be fuel thrifty.”

i bring this up as i think it’s related to this post

we have an ‘02 E46 and had an ‘05 RX – note that we HAD the RX. what happened? we were utterly BORED with it so we traded it in and bought another (albeit newer) E46

it seems Lexus’ philosophy on driving ( or a lack of it ) is making people leave the brand? all the previous commenters have one way or another made the same observation – they’re dreadful drives

we thought so as well and we would never buy another Lexus again no matter how reliable, cheaper than the competition, etc etc etc

and BMW just made another grand or so and on a used model and are laughing all the way to the bank – which is fine by me as i look forward everytime i have to go somewhere in the BMW

Frankly, when I worked for Lexus I found the products dull and uninspiring but they sell reasonably well. The we want reliability plus upscale badge crowd loves them.

As for being too tilted to SUV, it’s all about the RX. I spent probably 70% of my time talking about it. Makes one feel that Lexus is a bit of a one trick pony.

The Camry Hybrid is a pretty nice piece, actually. Drives like a Buick, naturally, but it’s roomy, comfortable, and gets astounding real-world fuel economy. (A friend of mine has one, and she gets 35 mpg in a brutal cross-Valley commute — in the same driving, my manual 3 would probably get 20.) A plusher Lexus version actually sounds like a desirable proposition.

Most Lexus sell to someone not overly concerned with their bank account balance. This means minor details like almost forever payback on Hybrid technology are a non-factor compared the the bragging rights of 40 mpg.

Lexus can’t try to be half pregnant on this. BMW doesn’t sell any slugs here so Lexus has to accept they need to give up their share of the remaining gas guzzler market if they want to pull this off.

The IS is already the oldest car compared to it’s direct competition, the CTS/3/G35/C/TSX/TL/1. Hopefully they do a drastic face-lift/refresh.