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For some reason, the cavalcade of convertibles always seems to reach me just as winter is right around the corner, so I must apologize in advance for a couple of the upcoming reviews.
In the case of two convertible vehicles I got to enjoy this week, side by side, there might almost be a chance that you could get away with having one as a year-round vehicle in the high country: new-generation, hardtop machines, the all-new BMW Z4 and the new Lexus IS350C. And while they really couldn't possibly be much different from each other, they share a few attributes that impart almost a modicum of practicality.
The most important being the most fantastically elaborate, electrically operated and absolutely hands-off motorized hardtops I've ever seen. I once drove a dodgy 1976 MG Midget, even in the midst of a frigid Canadian winter, and the operations of its cranky, vinyl and metal convertible roof were always something akin to folding a beach umbrella in a hurricane.
Not so in this new world. Both the Bimmer and the Lexus feature metal roofs that lift, fold and completely disappear into their trunks, with a mixture of whirring gears and ominous cover plates that look like you've got a Transformer in your rearview mirror. No handles, no cranks, no hopeless realigning of some spikes that don't quite fit into the upper window frame … just pure precision.
The upshot of a well-stowed roof is different in each application. Lexus, and its somewhat ungainly looking rear aspect (more on that in a second), starts off with approximately 10.8 cubic feet of trunk space, but leaves you, roof down, with only a super-tiny luggage space, good for a few overnight bags and a half case of Grolsch.
Those cunning BMW engineers, however, have crafted their own way of stowing the lid (which is, admittedly, much smaller) and, even with the hardtop hidden away, you still get 10.9 cubic feet, including a pass-through between the seats.
This gets to some of the curious juxtaposition between these two automobiles. Z4, its looks very much improved from the previous, overly Bangle-d model (described, quite accurately, as looking almost exactly like the car driven by the Ambiguously Gay Duo on “Saturday Night Live”), is a two-seater rocket, especially in its 306 horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter “sDrive” variant.
Lexus' entry, while sporting the same amount of horsepower, is a four-seater (though I must warn you that those rear seats are not huge) that's geared at more leisurely cruising than rip-your-face-off canyoneering.
Z4 can be driven in a civil fashion, but that seems pointless; with sport tuning, 18-inch wheels and high-speed rubber, my tester and its manual six-speed mixed those new, more pleasant looks (think a new 7-series, shrunk down and turned into a roadster) with handling that bordered on the scary, at times.
The adaptive “M” suspension system, crisp enough in normal setting, can be moved into the sport-plus Madman setting, which turns off the stability controls and leaves you fully in charge of one enormously powerful machine which can break loose on either end at the drop of a hat. Restraint, skill or a devil-may-care attitude are required.
The Lexus, however, carries something of a schizophrenic character, or perhaps that's just me. I first drove the new convertible at a press event earlier this year, and when I received this week's tester, I immediately clicked on the magic Lexus “power” switch on the dash, which always seems to bump up the boost.
In the case of two convertible vehicles I got to enjoy this week, side by side, there might almost be a chance that you could get away with having one as a year-round vehicle in the high country: new-generation, hardtop machines, the all-new BMW Z4 and the new Lexus IS350C. And while they really couldn't possibly be much different from each other, they share a few attributes that impart almost a modicum of practicality.
The most important being the most fantastically elaborate, electrically operated and absolutely hands-off motorized hardtops I've ever seen. I once drove a dodgy 1976 MG Midget, even in the midst of a frigid Canadian winter, and the operations of its cranky, vinyl and metal convertible roof were always something akin to folding a beach umbrella in a hurricane.
Not so in this new world. Both the Bimmer and the Lexus feature metal roofs that lift, fold and completely disappear into their trunks, with a mixture of whirring gears and ominous cover plates that look like you've got a Transformer in your rearview mirror. No handles, no cranks, no hopeless realigning of some spikes that don't quite fit into the upper window frame … just pure precision.
The upshot of a well-stowed roof is different in each application. Lexus, and its somewhat ungainly looking rear aspect (more on that in a second), starts off with approximately 10.8 cubic feet of trunk space, but leaves you, roof down, with only a super-tiny luggage space, good for a few overnight bags and a half case of Grolsch.
Those cunning BMW engineers, however, have crafted their own way of stowing the lid (which is, admittedly, much smaller) and, even with the hardtop hidden away, you still get 10.9 cubic feet, including a pass-through between the seats.
This gets to some of the curious juxtaposition between these two automobiles. Z4, its looks very much improved from the previous, overly Bangle-d model (described, quite accurately, as looking almost exactly like the car driven by the Ambiguously Gay Duo on “Saturday Night Live”), is a two-seater rocket, especially in its 306 horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter “sDrive” variant.
Lexus' entry, while sporting the same amount of horsepower, is a four-seater (though I must warn you that those rear seats are not huge) that's geared at more leisurely cruising than rip-your-face-off canyoneering.
Z4 can be driven in a civil fashion, but that seems pointless; with sport tuning, 18-inch wheels and high-speed rubber, my tester and its manual six-speed mixed those new, more pleasant looks (think a new 7-series, shrunk down and turned into a roadster) with handling that bordered on the scary, at times.
The adaptive “M” suspension system, crisp enough in normal setting, can be moved into the sport-plus Madman setting, which turns off the stability controls and leaves you fully in charge of one enormously powerful machine which can break loose on either end at the drop of a hat. Restraint, skill or a devil-may-care attitude are required.
The Lexus, however, carries something of a schizophrenic character, or perhaps that's just me. I first drove the new convertible at a press event earlier this year, and when I received this week's tester, I immediately clicked on the magic Lexus “power” switch on the dash, which always seems to bump up the boost.
Oddly, for the first six days behind the wheel, I didn't really feel those 306 horsepower, whatsoever. In fact, while heading up to Beaver Creek for the weekend, the IS convertible almost seemed a little laggy in spots. As my passenger noted, it's fantastically quiet, even while passing other cars, but the straight-out careening power that was trumped up in the TV ad campaign seemed … nonexistent.
Then, I turned off the “power” switch and started fully flooring the accelerator, and there was the missing oomph. Driven like a loon, the IS convertible will hit 60 mph in 5.8 seconds, will suddenly produce real exhaust noises and can even be thrown around in a malicious fashion. Just, not with passengers, I think.
It also suffers from ugly ducking syndrome, with that fancy roof up. To retain the cabin dimensions, the IS sports a long decklid and rear window treatment that, I am sorry to say, reminded me of queer shape of the old Geo Metro convertible.
Top down, it's beautiful, carrying all of the IS family's racy lines; the top-up, rear-aspect shot is kinda fugly, if you ask me.
Inside, you'll find all of the standard, understated but over-the-top luxuries of the Lexus line, from electroluminescent gauges and 50 yards of leather to the ear-blasting Mark Levinson audio system; the seats are not fantastically comfortable and the hidden-within-a-touchscreen air conditioning and heater controls even more frustrating than normal.
It is, however, a million times easier to get in and out of than the Z4, which turns into a yoga lesson, especially when parked around other vehicles.
Z4 drivers will probably appreciate this, however, as will they relish the body-wrapping sport seats, which can be adjusted from benign to “holding you in place like glue.”
Adding to the Teutonic appeal, my tester also, of course, featured “Kansas leather” seats and doors in a coral red color, looking a bit like Tom Jones' pants. It's also got the latest generation iDrive controller and screen, which is best turned off and stowed away to concentrate on the road.
For, as I found, the road can be a whole lot of fun in this car. It doesn't take much to harness the horses during a full-blast run on the freeway, but while I was out messing around on the Peak to Peak Highway on Monday, I found it necessary to keep the car in second gear and the revs up to about 5,000 to ready myself for the pounce around some slower paced Labor Day Weekend sightseers.
Then, I turned off the “power” switch and started fully flooring the accelerator, and there was the missing oomph. Driven like a loon, the IS convertible will hit 60 mph in 5.8 seconds, will suddenly produce real exhaust noises and can even be thrown around in a malicious fashion. Just, not with passengers, I think.
It also suffers from ugly ducking syndrome, with that fancy roof up. To retain the cabin dimensions, the IS sports a long decklid and rear window treatment that, I am sorry to say, reminded me of queer shape of the old Geo Metro convertible.
Top down, it's beautiful, carrying all of the IS family's racy lines; the top-up, rear-aspect shot is kinda fugly, if you ask me.
Inside, you'll find all of the standard, understated but over-the-top luxuries of the Lexus line, from electroluminescent gauges and 50 yards of leather to the ear-blasting Mark Levinson audio system; the seats are not fantastically comfortable and the hidden-within-a-touchscreen air conditioning and heater controls even more frustrating than normal.
It is, however, a million times easier to get in and out of than the Z4, which turns into a yoga lesson, especially when parked around other vehicles.
Z4 drivers will probably appreciate this, however, as will they relish the body-wrapping sport seats, which can be adjusted from benign to “holding you in place like glue.”
Adding to the Teutonic appeal, my tester also, of course, featured “Kansas leather” seats and doors in a coral red color, looking a bit like Tom Jones' pants. It's also got the latest generation iDrive controller and screen, which is best turned off and stowed away to concentrate on the road.
For, as I found, the road can be a whole lot of fun in this car. It doesn't take much to harness the horses during a full-blast run on the freeway, but while I was out messing around on the Peak to Peak Highway on Monday, I found it necessary to keep the car in second gear and the revs up to about 5,000 to ready myself for the pounce around some slower paced Labor Day Weekend sightseers.
2010 Lexus IS350 convertible
Price (as tested): $51,860
Powertrain: 306-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6, six-speed automatic transmission EPA mileage: 18 city, 25 highway |
