Audi A5 Sportback
want to get this out of the way Iand make myself perfectly clear to begin with. Yes this is a Lexus, and no I do not actually hate it. The trouble with Lexuses(?) is that they are always so good. Boringly good. With the panache in years gone by reserved for Camry and Cressida. Lexii(?) are solid, reliable and have loads of standard equipment. In fact the only option listed on their entire model lineup is a sunroof (moonroof as they list it) for the 250 sedan.
Bland has never been an optional extra. So what have we here? One of those folding hard top numbers. And first off the Lexus engineers got a hold of it. Fastest folding roof in category, at 21 seconds. Seats four adults, as long as two of them don't mind losing all feeling in their legs. Even takes something called a nine inch golf bag in the boot when the roof is folded. And there is nary a hint of scuttle shake with the roof up, and only a little flexibility felt when pushing towards the limit with it down. And it has a clever camera for parking. Beepy things too.
Even keyless go. Bluetooth that works, and even plays music from your phone via it. Comfortable electrically controlled leather seats. Automatic headlights. And, and, and well you get the point. Even bloody windscreen de-icers, but curiously with all this spec, not auto windscreen wipers. Simply put, no options required. Did I mention this one actually looks good? Curiously for Lexus, it has an elegance. Taught lines that actually hint at personality.
Even the interior feels like it may have been designed by a European design consortium not a 13 year old with a crayon set and access to mostly cheap hard plastic in a Far Eastern computer game laboratory. Nary a hint of shiny plastic except curiously around the gear lever. The engine is unobtrusive and bulletproof as expected at Lexus but has the grunt to push the convertible to 100 in around 9 seconds.
Quick but not blistering, about right to make the car feel sporty, but not leave you with any illusions as to what this is. A sporty coupe convertible. Competent, if safe, handling. Left in auto the gearbox is good. Switch to manual and the car brings forth her party trick. Waiting for the change brings the all white instrumentation lighting to the party, the light ring on the rev counter changes to orange as it suggests a change and then glows to red as you begin to hit the limit. All in a very cool way.
There is a problem though. The gearbox doesn't seem to like being operated manually. The flappy paddles when tapped, instantaneously do nothing. Hit a change and the world changes to slow-mo stopframe. At glacial sprint they slowly send a message, to a remote computer via an erratic dial up connection, probably supplied by Telkom.
If a committee finally agree that your gear-change appears warranted, a carrier pigeon is immediately dispatched, authorising that your request for a new gear to be expedited to someone with authority. Seriously, complaining on telephone help lines happens at a faster and less irritating pace.
Lexus, either get a dual clutch box or take the flappy paddles away. Or maybe play musak on hold while we wait? It seriously compromises what is other wise a comprehensive package; this is a car that is easy to live with and breaks new ground for Lexus. Just pretend that they are not there?
Now what is the plural for Lexus?
