Duttyman
10-27-2007, 03:07 AM
<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Lexus/IS-F/Taste%20of%20Lexus%20Miami%20Oct%202007/IMG_0804.jpg" alt="Dyno Rules" />
This is a good time to have an affinity for anything automotive. It seems like every car related web query exposes new pieces of a good, ever evolving story. As Tekk mentioned, he and a small contingent are in Japan providing live coverage of the TMS. Well, probably around the time he was heading North West, battling rain and lightning at 30 thousand feet; JaySmooth maneuvered his Infiniti G-35 down the notorious I-95 South through the same conditions. I was with Jaysmooth heading to Calder Race track, Miami.<!--more-->
<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Lexus/IS-F/Taste%20of%20Lexus%20Miami%20Oct%202007/IMG_0780.jpg" alt="Outside pic" />
Information about the IS-F has found its way across the wires in some form or other but if you are like me these tid bits are just scraps from a large virtual table. That said, what could A Taste of Lexus offer? “A taste of Lexus,” an event geared toward giving Lexus enthusiasts, fans, owners or potential customers an opportunity to test drive and interact with Lexus products and product specialists. In reality, this event concept is not new or original. In fact, I have to admit that from a product demonstration perspective, the General Motors version held in Orlando a year ago was far superior.
<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Lexus/IS-F/Taste%20of%20Lexus%20Miami%20Oct%202007/IMG_0781.jpg" alt="Outside 2" />
Now in an effort to be fair to the organizers of this Lexus event you have to consider the following. This was a 2 day event (Oct 20th-21st). The session held on the 20th was the one that we attended and it was plagued by thunder storms, lightning and high winds -all bad for test driving. There were covered areas, tents with air-conditioning which housed gadgets, various Lexus product static displays including the Lexus-Riley prototype endurance racer, info on the LF-A, a gourmet themed food station and the Lexus cinema.
<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4CWi9vk0jM0"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4CWi9vk0jM0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object>
Unfortunately, without the driving experience, the event and its parts were reduced to a unique looking Lexus dealership. No joking, the Lexus dealership here in Orlando has all of the mentioned features excluding the tent and the Racing model. For folks interested in test driving the Lexus product line it must have been a disappointment. I sincerely hope that those folks able to take advantage of the second day did so and had a great experience. At this point, you guys are probably thinking Duttyman- where is the good news in this? Well I am not finished. JaySmooth and I were determined to make our 200 plus mile journey count, not to mention we had not seen what we went there to see.
<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Lexus/IS-F/Taste%20of%20Lexus%20Miami%20Oct%202007/IMG_0787.jpg" alt="IS-F back" />
“Excuse me where is the IS-F?” “ Ohh were you invited to the special showing tonight?” The statement was delivered with signature Lexus politeness. After a short exchange, we were able to prove our worthiness and gained access to the night IS-F dyno run.
The IS-F dyno Run
<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Lexus/IS-F/Taste%20of%20Lexus%20Miami%20Oct%202007/IMG_0794.jpg" alt="Dyno hold" />
The IS-F showing was scheduled for 7pm that night (20th), this worked out particularly well because the weather eased to a light drizzle by show time. It was no surprise that the dyno used for this run did not look like the raw mechanical device it really was-this was after all a Lexus event. Instead, it was decorated to look like an Arabic smoke tent complete with stage quality lighting and a drag race style initializer.
<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Lexus/IS-F/Taste%20of%20Lexus%20Miami%20Oct%202007/IMG_0791.jpg" alt="Tent" />
<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Lexus/IS-F/Taste%20of%20Lexus%20Miami%20Oct%202007/IMG_0796.jpg" alt="Lights" />
We could hear the car’s exhaust note mixed with the jet engine -like dyno sound from the parking lot. The pearl IS-F really looked surreal atop its dyno-stage giving it even more star appeal. During each run, white smoke puffed from the rear wheels as the scent of burnt rubber and a hot engine drifted across the air.
<object width="425" height="366"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HllIoX_tRY8&rel=1&border=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HllIoX_tRY8&rel=1&border=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="366"></embed></object>
Once we got close, separating the dyno from the exhaust signature was easier. What a sound, blow across the open end of a glass bottle, add in a fainting, slightly throaty growl, and now think 400 plus horsepower. Got it? At least you have an idea. When we joined the short dyno line, those in front of us fidgeted and took cell phone pics to pass the short moments. We resisted the urge to ask the people who dynoed before us about their experience. We did not trust the credibility of their opinion and did not want them to taint the uniqueness of our interpretation. When Jay descended the dyno platform, it was undeniable that he was moved by what he felt.
<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Lexus/IS-F/Taste%20of%20Lexus%20Miami%20Oct%202007/IMG_0806.jpg" alt="Jay" />
It was now my turn. “Hello sir my name is (I can’t remember)” I shook his hand. “What does that sign say?” He asks. “Do not step on the brakes.” “Correct.” “You get to step on the brakes once- that is before the run begins. Once you release them, the run will begin.
<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Lexus/IS-F/Taste%20of%20Lexus%20Miami%20Oct%202007/IMG_0789.jpg" alt="No brakes!" />
From that point on, I don’t want to see your foot any where near the brake pedal. We will gear down and let the car spool down on its own.” He made me nervous and I think that was his goal. Sitting in the IS-F, I felt at home, its interior is pretty much the same as my IS-250 so a bit of nervousness was probably a good thing to keep me aware that the car was not mine and the platform was not the road.
<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Lexus/IS-F/Taste%20of%20Lexus%20Miami%20Oct%202007/IMG_0805.jpg" alt="go go" />
A release of the brakes initiated the drag style lights, red, yellow, green. I depressed the accelerator. As part of the orientation speech, I was asked to take the car to six thousand rpm and shift up. I hit six thousand rpm in a few seconds (I am not a calculator) and shifted. Relative to the response I get from my 250, the gear change felt super crisp. I probably hit the paddle 4 more times before I was waved off. It was over that fast.
I tried to keep a scientific perspective on things. How quickly do these gears change? (I already knew the answer) “One tenth of a second. That’s F1 speed.” He smiles as he speaks. I thank him for the ride and try to keep my composure as I peel myself away from the machine. It was utter sweet torture. Just a glimpse, look but don’t touch are the clichés that come to mind. Riding the dyno cannot be considered a substitute for a test drive. However, when a car has this much press behind it, any piece of test data is helpful. Being able to actually feel the transmission responsiveness for myself has allowed me to keep my hopes for the car’s potential alive. Not to mention, it really sounds great! Those few seconds were worth all the rain, time and discomfort.
<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Lexus/IS-F/Taste%20of%20Lexus%20Miami%20Oct%202007/IMG_0788.jpg" alt="back2" />
Side Note:
Rain and storms are an act of God but unfortunately for Lexus, that is not enough of an excuse for a subpar performance. As an owner and fan of Lexus products, I was disappointed that none of the dyno data was shared. I asked but was informed that that was not going to be part of the experience. I am happy to help Lexus test this car, but it almost seems in poor taste not to provide the data.
<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Lexus/IS-F/Taste%20of%20Lexus%20Miami%20Oct%202007/IMG_0790.jpg" alt="Hidden data" />
I was also disappointed by the way the event seemed to slip away from the event crew. In particular, the night crew. There was for the most part an attempt at professionalism but it came off as amateurish. The crew on hand seemed disengaged and despondent. In one case, we were brushed off by a product specialist for what appeared to be a personal call - unacceptable. In another incident, we had the displeasure of witnessing a confrontation that could have been handled away from the customer eye. Most people, dizzied by the toxic IS-F euphoria probably did not notice. But I represent StreetSeen and we expect more. I also caution that several small bad things if left unchecked can easily become big bad things. We already have a significant number of dealers in O-Town that suffer from this, and I can only hope that Lexus will never be one of them. Beyond that, I look forward to really test driving one of these when the local dealer gets some in.
This is a good time to have an affinity for anything automotive. It seems like every car related web query exposes new pieces of a good, ever evolving story. As Tekk mentioned, he and a small contingent are in Japan providing live coverage of the TMS. Well, probably around the time he was heading North West, battling rain and lightning at 30 thousand feet; JaySmooth maneuvered his Infiniti G-35 down the notorious I-95 South through the same conditions. I was with Jaysmooth heading to Calder Race track, Miami.<!--more-->
<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Lexus/IS-F/Taste%20of%20Lexus%20Miami%20Oct%202007/IMG_0780.jpg" alt="Outside pic" />
Information about the IS-F has found its way across the wires in some form or other but if you are like me these tid bits are just scraps from a large virtual table. That said, what could A Taste of Lexus offer? “A taste of Lexus,” an event geared toward giving Lexus enthusiasts, fans, owners or potential customers an opportunity to test drive and interact with Lexus products and product specialists. In reality, this event concept is not new or original. In fact, I have to admit that from a product demonstration perspective, the General Motors version held in Orlando a year ago was far superior.
<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Lexus/IS-F/Taste%20of%20Lexus%20Miami%20Oct%202007/IMG_0781.jpg" alt="Outside 2" />
Now in an effort to be fair to the organizers of this Lexus event you have to consider the following. This was a 2 day event (Oct 20th-21st). The session held on the 20th was the one that we attended and it was plagued by thunder storms, lightning and high winds -all bad for test driving. There were covered areas, tents with air-conditioning which housed gadgets, various Lexus product static displays including the Lexus-Riley prototype endurance racer, info on the LF-A, a gourmet themed food station and the Lexus cinema.
<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4CWi9vk0jM0"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4CWi9vk0jM0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object>
Unfortunately, without the driving experience, the event and its parts were reduced to a unique looking Lexus dealership. No joking, the Lexus dealership here in Orlando has all of the mentioned features excluding the tent and the Racing model. For folks interested in test driving the Lexus product line it must have been a disappointment. I sincerely hope that those folks able to take advantage of the second day did so and had a great experience. At this point, you guys are probably thinking Duttyman- where is the good news in this? Well I am not finished. JaySmooth and I were determined to make our 200 plus mile journey count, not to mention we had not seen what we went there to see.
<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Lexus/IS-F/Taste%20of%20Lexus%20Miami%20Oct%202007/IMG_0787.jpg" alt="IS-F back" />
“Excuse me where is the IS-F?” “ Ohh were you invited to the special showing tonight?” The statement was delivered with signature Lexus politeness. After a short exchange, we were able to prove our worthiness and gained access to the night IS-F dyno run.
The IS-F dyno Run
<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Lexus/IS-F/Taste%20of%20Lexus%20Miami%20Oct%202007/IMG_0794.jpg" alt="Dyno hold" />
The IS-F showing was scheduled for 7pm that night (20th), this worked out particularly well because the weather eased to a light drizzle by show time. It was no surprise that the dyno used for this run did not look like the raw mechanical device it really was-this was after all a Lexus event. Instead, it was decorated to look like an Arabic smoke tent complete with stage quality lighting and a drag race style initializer.
<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Lexus/IS-F/Taste%20of%20Lexus%20Miami%20Oct%202007/IMG_0791.jpg" alt="Tent" />
<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Lexus/IS-F/Taste%20of%20Lexus%20Miami%20Oct%202007/IMG_0796.jpg" alt="Lights" />
We could hear the car’s exhaust note mixed with the jet engine -like dyno sound from the parking lot. The pearl IS-F really looked surreal atop its dyno-stage giving it even more star appeal. During each run, white smoke puffed from the rear wheels as the scent of burnt rubber and a hot engine drifted across the air.
<object width="425" height="366"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HllIoX_tRY8&rel=1&border=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HllIoX_tRY8&rel=1&border=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="366"></embed></object>
Once we got close, separating the dyno from the exhaust signature was easier. What a sound, blow across the open end of a glass bottle, add in a fainting, slightly throaty growl, and now think 400 plus horsepower. Got it? At least you have an idea. When we joined the short dyno line, those in front of us fidgeted and took cell phone pics to pass the short moments. We resisted the urge to ask the people who dynoed before us about their experience. We did not trust the credibility of their opinion and did not want them to taint the uniqueness of our interpretation. When Jay descended the dyno platform, it was undeniable that he was moved by what he felt.
<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Lexus/IS-F/Taste%20of%20Lexus%20Miami%20Oct%202007/IMG_0806.jpg" alt="Jay" />
It was now my turn. “Hello sir my name is (I can’t remember)” I shook his hand. “What does that sign say?” He asks. “Do not step on the brakes.” “Correct.” “You get to step on the brakes once- that is before the run begins. Once you release them, the run will begin.
<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Lexus/IS-F/Taste%20of%20Lexus%20Miami%20Oct%202007/IMG_0789.jpg" alt="No brakes!" />
From that point on, I don’t want to see your foot any where near the brake pedal. We will gear down and let the car spool down on its own.” He made me nervous and I think that was his goal. Sitting in the IS-F, I felt at home, its interior is pretty much the same as my IS-250 so a bit of nervousness was probably a good thing to keep me aware that the car was not mine and the platform was not the road.
<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Lexus/IS-F/Taste%20of%20Lexus%20Miami%20Oct%202007/IMG_0805.jpg" alt="go go" />
A release of the brakes initiated the drag style lights, red, yellow, green. I depressed the accelerator. As part of the orientation speech, I was asked to take the car to six thousand rpm and shift up. I hit six thousand rpm in a few seconds (I am not a calculator) and shifted. Relative to the response I get from my 250, the gear change felt super crisp. I probably hit the paddle 4 more times before I was waved off. It was over that fast.
I tried to keep a scientific perspective on things. How quickly do these gears change? (I already knew the answer) “One tenth of a second. That’s F1 speed.” He smiles as he speaks. I thank him for the ride and try to keep my composure as I peel myself away from the machine. It was utter sweet torture. Just a glimpse, look but don’t touch are the clichés that come to mind. Riding the dyno cannot be considered a substitute for a test drive. However, when a car has this much press behind it, any piece of test data is helpful. Being able to actually feel the transmission responsiveness for myself has allowed me to keep my hopes for the car’s potential alive. Not to mention, it really sounds great! Those few seconds were worth all the rain, time and discomfort.
<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Lexus/IS-F/Taste%20of%20Lexus%20Miami%20Oct%202007/IMG_0788.jpg" alt="back2" />
Side Note:
Rain and storms are an act of God but unfortunately for Lexus, that is not enough of an excuse for a subpar performance. As an owner and fan of Lexus products, I was disappointed that none of the dyno data was shared. I asked but was informed that that was not going to be part of the experience. I am happy to help Lexus test this car, but it almost seems in poor taste not to provide the data.
<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t193/streetseen/Lexus/IS-F/Taste%20of%20Lexus%20Miami%20Oct%202007/IMG_0790.jpg" alt="Hidden data" />
I was also disappointed by the way the event seemed to slip away from the event crew. In particular, the night crew. There was for the most part an attempt at professionalism but it came off as amateurish. The crew on hand seemed disengaged and despondent. In one case, we were brushed off by a product specialist for what appeared to be a personal call - unacceptable. In another incident, we had the displeasure of witnessing a confrontation that could have been handled away from the customer eye. Most people, dizzied by the toxic IS-F euphoria probably did not notice. But I represent StreetSeen and we expect more. I also caution that several small bad things if left unchecked can easily become big bad things. We already have a significant number of dealers in O-Town that suffer from this, and I can only hope that Lexus will never be one of them. Beyond that, I look forward to really test driving one of these when the local dealer gets some in.