Houston-Taste of Lexus

txusa03 · 10-30-2006, 12:02 PM

Since lexus is gunning for the ultimate driving experience, I thought I share my opinion of the event. I tried to registered online back in Sept but event was already full. So Saturday morning at 9 am, I decided to crash the Lexus party on my way to work. When I got there, I say roughly 80 ppl already at the party (more folks are showing up). I got inline to registered and fill out my waiver form. I told the lady I don't have reservation, she said no problem. So I am all registered. Went around the gallery of cars, then I head out to the track. Lexus sure knows how to throw a party. They even have massage sessions (hey Victor, you would have liked the massage part

). You can test drive any of their car IS, LS, GS, ES that day. All you do is stand in line for the car you want to test drive. You only get 1 lap, and if you want more, go back in line for more test drives (no limit on going back in line). Their cars are very luxurious, have excellent power, and good handling over all. I hate the wood steering wheel in the GS. So I test drove the GS450h (hybrid), the IS350, and ES350. GS450h is a very powerful car and smooth trany for a hybrid and very fast too for a 4000+ pound car. The IS350 also has great power and the auto trany is very smooth and will beat my 330i manually easily in straigt for an auto

. All three cars I tested corner very good too but has very soft turn into corner. I really like the fact that you are in the car by yourself (unlike BMW e92 drive event where a proffessional is sitting next to you and can make me feel intimidated at time). +1 for lexus on no proffessional driver. I drove it very hard, break very hard, and the car is rock solid in the autocross track.

Exellent event. Everyone should attend one if they come to your town so that you can see how well and advanced these cars are in term of maneuverability and agility.

Photos to follow.

txusa03 · 10-30-2006, 12:05 PM

LS460...did not test drove. They had the bmw7 series for you to test against the LS460. There was also a MB. Man, these car can go for a big car.

txusa03 · 10-30-2006, 12:09 PM

Test drove the GS450h-fast and agile car for a hybrid. Very heavy and very low rear head room. Trunk space is very small to accomodate the hybrid techology. Leather is super soft and I hate the wood steering wheel.

just4kickz · 10-30-2006, 12:11 PM

looks huge... mmm wonder how it handles

txusa03 · 10-30-2006, 12:14 PM

My favorite of the lexus that I test drove -IS350. Nice and soft luxurious learther. Softly wrapped leather steering wheel. Too soft for my taste and the steering wheel is not thick at all. Suspension too soft as well. Has great power on the straight.

txusa03 · 10-30-2006, 12:16 PM

last but not least the es350...a little more roomie than the IS.

txusa03 · 10-30-2006, 12:18 PM

This is the gift Lexus give to each participant, a business card holder.

txusa03 · 10-30-2006, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaViT

nice not bad

They are very fun cars to drive too...I just really enjoy slamming on the gas pedal, slamming on the break pedal, nose dives into a turn and rear swinging wide, rubber burning, and the sound of the engine working and reving

Notice the LS460 trunk line is similar to bmw 7 trunk line

thedean786 · 10-30-2006, 12:51 PM

the LS is just a 7-series knockoff...

aapriadi · 10-30-2006, 12:54 PM

sideways, the ls looks like the 5series

KL2DC · 10-30-2006, 12:57 PM

You got a spiffy business card holder!! No fair...

All we DC folks got was some stupid sampler CD.

Nice writeup and pics. My writeup of the event in DC here

obLu · 10-30-2006, 01:40 PM

Audi had a similar thing for the introduction of the Q7 ... but they had chefs onsite grilling up food for you too. They wouldn't let you drive the RS4 though, had to be taken around by a pro driver.

I gotta imagine these PR events make them a LOOOOT of money. My wife hasn't stopped talking about buying a Q7 since.

Wonder if the local dealerships have to pony up marketing budgets to put these on or if the brand pays for them?

I never see BMW doing these here.

txusa03 · 10-30-2006, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KL2DC

You got a spiffy business card holder!! No fair...

All we DC folks got was some stupid sampler CD.

Nice writeup and pics. My writeup of the event in DC here

I got the stupid sampler cd too, it is in the trash can. We had chefs cooking up egg and sausage. At least they look like chefs but I think they just took it out of a pre-cook wamer tray behind the curtain

. Card holder is made in italy and it serves as a mirror as well

txusa03 · 10-30-2006, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by obLu

Audi had a similar thing for the introduction of the Q7 ... but they had chefs onsite grilling up food for you too. They wouldn't let you drive the RS4 though, had to be taken around by a pro driver.

I gotta imagine these PR events make them a LOOOOT of money. My wife hasn't stopped talking about buying a Q7 since.

Wonder if the local dealerships have to pony up marketing budgets to put these on or if the brand pays for them?

I never see BMW doing these here.

move to texas or hotlanta for the bmw...

DFW_M · 10-30-2006, 03:43 PM

I hope they (Lexus) do not come with the RFT crap???
I don't like the 7 series, but the LS looks great. THe rest, I like the BMW looks.
I wish they had one of those up here in Dallas...

KL2DC · 10-30-2006, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by txusa03

I got the stupid sampler cd too, it is in the trash can. We had chefs cooking up egg and sausage. At least they look like chefs but I think they just took it out of a pre-cook wamer tray behind the curtain

. Card holder is made in italy and it serves as a mirror as well

Yeah the food spread was awesome....

We (bavarian19, BK, anzevoviii and myself) had gone very early with the intention of hitting the courses before the pack. But we got sidetracked by the food in abundance, so by the time we got to the cars, the lines had already formed

Lucky you wrt business card holders. Last year they gave a leather folder/covered Zagat book, and the year before that a leather photo album.

shragon · 10-30-2006, 05:08 PM

just like the e60.

overall the car kinda looks like a giant es350.

zamboni · 10-30-2006, 05:37 PM

The side control panel was a bad design, if you want to open the fuel door from inside you must pull down the panel in order to get access.

Zirenz2006 · 10-30-2006, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zamboni

The side control panel was a bad design, if you want to open the fuel door from inside you must pull down the panel in order to get access.

+1

I don't like that fold down panel of controls.

Eiso · 10-30-2006, 06:59 PM

shoot...i missed it!

txusa03 · 10-31-2006, 07:00 AM

There were plenty of asians at the event. I think asians think that Lexus is a symbol of success. They love lexus, don't get me wrong, the IS is a great car (my fav of all the lexus cars).

I was told that the GS450h can go from 0-60 in 5.6 sec. I test drove it and that car has some muscle under the hood to cary all that weight. I wonder where the horse power comes from the electric motor or gasoline motor?

ALPINE6SPD · 10-31-2006, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by txusa03

There were plenty of asians at the event. I think asians think that Lexus is a symbol of success. They love lexus, don't get me wrong, the IS is a great car (my fav of all the lexus cars).

I was told that the GS450h can go from 0-60 in 5.6 sec. I test drove it and that car has some muscle under the hood to cary all that weight. I wonder where the horse power comes from the electric motor or gasoline motor?

Both at full throttle.

10-30-2006, 12:02 PM	#1
txusa03 Major General 550 Rep 6,563 Posts Drives: TS330iPPSP6MT Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Planet Earth iTrader: (3)	Houston-Taste of Lexus Since lexus is gunning for the ultimate driving experience, I thought I share my opinion of the event. I tried to registered online back in Sept but event was already full. So Saturday morning at 9 am, I decided to crash the Lexus party on my way to work. When I got there, I say roughly 80 ppl already at the party (more folks are showing up). I got inline to registered and fill out my waiver form. I told the lady I don't have reservation, she said no problem. So I am all registered. Went around the gallery of cars, then I head out to the track. Lexus sure knows how to throw a party. They even have massage sessions (hey Victor, you would have liked the massage part ). You can test drive any of their car IS, LS, GS, ES that day. All you do is stand in line for the car you want to test drive. You only get 1 lap, and if you want more, go back in line for more test drives (no limit on going back in line). Their cars are very luxurious, have excellent power, and good handling over all. I hate the wood steering wheel in the GS. So I test drove the GS450h (hybrid), the IS350, and ES350. GS450h is a very powerful car and smooth trany for a hybrid and very fast too for a 4000+ pound car. The IS350 also has great power and the auto trany is very smooth and will beat my 330i manually easily in straigt for an auto . All three cars I tested corner very good too but has very soft turn into corner. I really like the fact that you are in the car by yourself (unlike BMW e92 drive event where a proffessional is sitting next to you and can make me feel intimidated at time). +1 for lexus on no proffessional driver. I drove it very hard, break very hard, and the car is rock solid in the autocross track. Exellent event. Everyone should attend one if they come to your town so that you can see how well and advanced these cars are in term of maneuverability and agility. Photos to follow.
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10-30-2006, 12:05 PM	#2
txusa03 Major General 550 Rep 6,563 Posts Drives: TS330iPPSP6MT Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Planet Earth iTrader: (3)	LS460...did not test drove. They had the bmw7 series for you to test against the LS460. There was also a MB. Man, these car can go for a big car. Attached Images
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10-30-2006, 12:09 PM	#3
txusa03 Major General 550 Rep 6,563 Posts Drives: TS330iPPSP6MT Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Planet Earth iTrader: (3)	Test drove the GS450h-fast and agile car for a hybrid. Very heavy and very low rear head room. Trunk space is very small to accomodate the hybrid techology. Leather is super soft and I hate the wood steering wheel. Attached Images
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10-30-2006, 12:11 PM	#4
just4kickz boku no namae ha... 336 Rep 11,025 Posts Drives: 2006 BS 330i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: S. Bay Area, CA + Newark, NJ + ChiCity + True Blue iTrader: (11) Garage List 2006 E90 330i [0.00]	looks huge... mmm wonder how it handles __________________ looking for a PreLCI Black Sapphire e90 front bumper without license plate holes "Akimbo shotguns. Broken wrists anyone? And don't give me that 'it's just a game' bull**. Where the are my akimbo interventions then?! One scope on each eye mother**er!!"
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10-30-2006, 12:14 PM	#5
txusa03 Major General 550 Rep 6,563 Posts Drives: TS330iPPSP6MT Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Planet Earth iTrader: (3)	My favorite of the lexus that I test drove -IS350. Nice and soft luxurious learther. Softly wrapped leather steering wheel. Too soft for my taste and the steering wheel is not thick at all. Suspension too soft as well. Has great power on the straight. Attached Images
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10-30-2006, 12:16 PM	#6
txusa03 Major General 550 Rep 6,563 Posts Drives: TS330iPPSP6MT Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Planet Earth iTrader: (3)	last but not least the es350...a little more roomie than the IS. Attached Images
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10-30-2006, 12:18 PM	#7
txusa03 Major General 550 Rep 6,563 Posts Drives: TS330iPPSP6MT Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Planet Earth iTrader: (3)	This is the gift Lexus give to each participant, a business card holder. Attached Images
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10-30-2006, 12:51 PM	#9
thedean786 A Herald of Doom 218 Rep 230 Posts Drives: A Fancy Car Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Midwest iTrader: (0)	the LS is just a 7-series knockoff... __________________
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10-30-2006, 12:54 PM	#10
aapriadi Colonel 189 Rep 2,068 Posts Drives: '13 F30 AW 320i Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia iTrader: (10)	sideways, the ls looks like the 5series __________________ mod = crack
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10-30-2006, 12:57 PM	#11
KL2DC Moderator 318 Rep 17,767 Posts Drives: F36 428i,E90 328i, E85 Z4 3.0i Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: DC Metro iTrader: (23) Garage List 2015 F36 428i [0.00] 2011 E90 328i [0.00] 2006 E85 Z4 3.0i [0.00]	You got a spiffy business card holder!! No fair... All we DC folks got was some stupid sampler CD. Nice writeup and pics. My writeup of the event in DC here __________________ Official DC Metro Registry - Current, New & Prospective Area Members Roll Call!
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10-30-2006, 01:40 PM	#12
obLu Major 50 Rep 1,159 Posts Drives: 330i 6MT ZSP Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kirkland, WA, USA iTrader: (1)	Audi had a similar thing for the introduction of the Q7 ... but they had chefs onsite grilling up food for you too. They wouldn't let you drive the RS4 though, had to be taken around by a pro driver. I gotta imagine these PR events make them a LOOOOT of money. My wife hasn't stopped talking about buying a Q7 since. Wonder if the local dealerships have to pony up marketing budgets to put these on or if the brand pays for them? I never see BMW doing these here.
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10-30-2006, 03:43 PM	#15
DFW_M Major General 1671 Rep 6,588 Posts Drives: Macan GTS Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (4)	I hope they (Lexus) do not come with the RFT crap??? I don't like the 7 series, but the LS looks great. THe rest, I like the BMW looks. I wish they had one of those up here in Dallas...
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10-30-2006, 05:08 PM	#17
shragon Moderator 497 Rep 27,441 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (7)	just like the e60. overall the car kinda looks like a giant es350. __________________ www.cardomain.com/id/shragon
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10-30-2006, 05:37 PM	#18
zamboni I want to drive a Zamboni 1131 Rep 5,557 Posts Drives: 13 E93 M3 18 F80 M3 16 K71 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Monte Sereno, CA iTrader: (7) Garage List 16 K71 F800GT [10.00] 2018 F80 M3 [10.00] 2013 BMW E93 M3 [10.00]	The side control panel was a bad design, if you want to open the fuel door from inside you must pull down the panel in order to get access. __________________ 18 F80 Imola Red 6MT 16 K71 F800GT Montego Blue 13 E93 M3 Melbourne Red 2000 E46,2006 E90,09 E82,13 E93 328i,14 F30 335i,18 F80 M3 My next vehicle would be a Zamboni
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10-30-2006, 06:59 PM	#20
Eiso 1283 FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2 Rep 81 Posts Drives: 08' G37S, 09' Audi TT Join Date: May 2006 Location: Hong Kong & Houston, TX iTrader: (0)	shoot...i missed it!
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10-31-2006, 07:00 AM	#21
txusa03 Major General 550 Rep 6,563 Posts Drives: TS330iPPSP6MT Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Planet Earth iTrader: (3)	There were plenty of asians at the event. I think asians think that Lexus is a symbol of success. They love lexus, don't get me wrong, the IS is a great car (my fav of all the lexus cars). I was told that the GS450h can go from 0-60 in 5.6 sec. I test drove it and that car has some muscle under the hood to cary all that weight. I wonder where the horse power comes from the electric motor or gasoline motor?
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