c4S6

I'm down visiting family in SW Florida and had to rent a car... various trips to the airport and will be making a trip to Tampa to pick up my grandfather, etc..

<img src="http://render-2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6RKKt%3Axxr%3D0-qpDPfRt7Pf7mrPfrj7t%3DzrRfDUX%3AeQaQxg%3Dr%3F87KR6 xqpxQQlQxea0xGaaxv8uOc5xQQQGPJoPooPQeqpfVtB%3F*KUp 7BHSHqqy7XH6gX0QQ0P%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442">

Anyways, they jack up the rates on EVERYTHING in SW Florida for the holidays (just to be in the season of things), and so a Focus was going to even cost me an arm and a leg. While I couldn't get anything cheap, Hertz (of which I'm a Gold member) gave me a Lexus for virtually the same price.

For the first day I had a Lexus ES... which is very nice, but basically a FWD fully-loaded Camry... Not very exciting.

So, when I came back to the airport to get my sister, I asked if they could put me in a Lexus IS. They had one and I took it.

At least it's RWD and a bit more "sporty"... it's the IS250, so it's not the biggest engine offering. May even be the same motor as the ES, but I'd venture to say the ES was quicker! It's got sport wheels and a paddle shift sport mode. Not badly appointed, but I must say the fit and finnish quality may have gone a step backwards. The dash and some of the interior panels feel pretty cheap (like they aren't making the effort to make the "above Toyota" step). But, overal the design is very good. The rear is so high it's hard to see backing up (major PITA) imho.... at least they should give you rear park assist since you can't see backing up! LOL.

Car feels pretty solid and corners well. I'll report more once I spend more time with it. Mostly been carting older relatives around, so they don't like it when I corner like I'm at the track.

Only problem is this car has 17k miles, and the tires are really warn out and LOUD as all hell!!! I'm not easily bothered by noise, but it's annoying. I'm just too lazy to exchange again, so I put up with it.

A few more pics....

<img src="http://render-2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6RKKt%3Axxr%3D0-qpDPfRt7Pf7mrPfrj7t%3DzrRfDUX%3AeQaQxg%3Dr%3F87KR6 xqpxQQlQxea0xGaaxv8uOc5xQQQGPJoPooGQoqpfVtB%3F*KUp 7BHSHqqy7XH6gX0QQon%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442">


<img src="http://render-2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6RKKt%3Axxr%3D0-qpDPfRt7Pf7mrPfrj7t%3DzrRfDUX%3AeQaQxg%3Dr%3F87KR6 xqpxQQlQxea0xGaaxv8uOc5xQQQGPJoPoP0lnqpfVtB%3F*KUp 7BHSHqqy7XH6gX0QQ0Q%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442">


<img src="http://render-2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6RKKt%3Axxr%3D0-qpDPfRt7Pf7mrPfrj7t%3DzrRfDUX%3AeQaQxg%3Dr%3F87KR6 xqpxQQlQxea0xGaaxv8uOc5xQQQGPJoPP0alnqpfVtB%3F*KUp 7BHSHqqy7XH6gX0QQoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442">

Guages are a little "cluttered" imho. Interesting to see the whole tach guage change colors as sort of an upshift indicator before you hit redline. That's kinda cool!!

The speedo changing color to virocously warn you you are exceeding 55 mph... LAME!

<img src="http://render-2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6RKKt%3Axxr%3D0-qpDPfRt7Pf7mrPfrj7t%3DzrRfDUX%3AeQaQxg%3Dr%3F87KR6 xqpxQQlQxea0xGaaxv8uOc5xQQQGPJoPoP0eeqpfVtB%3F*KUp 7BHSHqqy7XH6gX0QQol%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442">

Dash and controls seems a little cheap to me...

<img src="http://render-2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6RKKt%3Axxr%3D0-qpDofRt7Pf7mrPfrj7t%3DzrRfDUX%3AeQaQxg%3Dr%3F87KR6 xqpxQQlQxea0xGaaxv8uOc5xQQQGPJoPoQJPaqpfVtB%3F*KUp 7BHSHqqy7XH6gX0QQoP%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442">

I rate it highly for a slushbox, but would rather have a six-speed manual. Understandably, Hertz doesn't rent those. Lol.

<img src="http://render-2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6RKKt%3Axxr%3D0-qpDPfRt7Pf7mrPfrj7t%3DzrRfDUX%3AeQaQxg%3Dr%3F87KR6 xqpxQQlQxea0xGaaxv8uOc5xQQQGPJoPoQeaaqpfVtB%3F*KUp 7BHSHqqy7XH6gX0QQoG%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442">

Minnetonka driving mocs FTW!!!!!!

<img src="http://render-2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6RKKt%3Axxr%3D0-qpDofRt7Pf7mrPfrj7t%3DzrRfDUX%3AeQaQxg%3Dr%3F87KR6 xqpxQQlQxea0xGaaxv8uOc5xQQQGPJoPPnGeeqpfVtB%3F*KUp 7BHSHqqy7XH6gX0QQPl%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442">

I need to look up online how to disable the DSC traction control, which is very obtrusive. Once I've got the "No Fun" switch disengaged, I'll have to make another report.

//Swordfish

OMG:PSA ! Those are some scary *** legs you got !

c4S6

LOL... Yeah, hope to add some color to them on the beach tomorrow.

Xel

it more fun than a focus of course, but still!

kinderutz

ooooooooooooo.....sexy legs! &lt;waiving singles&gt;

S6 4RiNGS

But the 250 does suck ***.

UrS4boy

Dude: You gotta warn us about the hairy legs. Geez.

SchwarzS6

The rated the car lower on handling because the system was so intrusive.

c4S6

But, can't think of anything better. Beats a Taurus or Camry.

Roadhound

2nd