August 8, 2009A New Lexus Convertible Leaves Much To Be Desired

top photo via Lexus.com, bottom two photos via Edmunds.com

I don’t generally care for Lexuses.  For me, they either too closely resemble existing Toyota models or they too readily call to mind suburban soccer moms.  That said, I couldn’t help but take note of the brand new Lexus IS Convertible that I passed on the street last weekend in East Hampton.  With the top down, this is a pretty sexy car (note: when I went home and researched the car, I found that the car is infinitely less sexy with its top up - go figure).  The IS Convertible is the spawn of Lexus’ entry-level sedan.

Beginning at about $39,000, it is among the more affordable vehicles in the Lexus fleet.

Attractive?  Mostly.  Would I want one?  Not really.  Why?  Well, upon further consideration, for starters, I’m not such a fan of the interior which, to me, looks 1) decorated and 2) makes use of faux-looking materials (I don’t mind “faux”, so long as the “faux” looks “real”).  Why else?  Well, the exterior is not well-defined.  By this, I mean that there are no distinguishing lines, features, characteristics that make this Lexus look any different from another car.  Sure, the grill is well-conceived, but elsewhere as one takes in the perimeter of the car, there is nothing really eye-catching or unique about this vehicle.

The sides of the car and doors are particularly bland - where are the grooves, the vents, the break-out of shapes that makes vehicular architecture unique?  They are all absent from this car.

Pros?  There are definitely a few.  Having spent a chunk of my childhood riding in the back of a Camaro Z28 Convertible, I appreciate a convertible with 1) a back seat and 2) an ample backseat.  The IS Convertible appears to have a semi-roomy back seat (well, at least for a convertible).  The retractible hardtop is also well done, with an efficient retraction time of about 20 seconds.