Who wants fold down rear seats and touch screen to be brought back?
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
Who wants fold down rear seats and touch screen to be brought back?
Apple maintains its luxury status by taking stuff away..... headphone jacks, macbook ports and card readers.
Luxury by omission?
The new bmw 5 series has both touchscreen and idrive redundancy for those who still want to use remote control. Also fold down rear seats for extra cargo, like a big screen tv.
Can't do that in a GS... And one of those things can't be done in a merc.
I never understood why the Camry had fold down rear seats, but my old es300 twin brother only had a stupid passthrough, as if we're supposed to thumb our nose at those lowly fold down seats.
Yes, less utility = luxury
Luxury by omission?
The new bmw 5 series has both touchscreen and idrive redundancy for those who still want to use remote control. Also fold down rear seats for extra cargo, like a big screen tv.
Can't do that in a GS... And one of those things can't be done in a merc.
I never understood why the Camry had fold down rear seats, but my old es300 twin brother only had a stupid passthrough, as if we're supposed to thumb our nose at those lowly fold down seats.
Yes, less utility = luxury
#2
Lexus Champion
I had folding seats in my IS but never used them, so that doesn't bother me.
As as for touch screens, I still hate them.
My my number one for luxury is a quiet ride.
As as for touch screens, I still hate them.
My my number one for luxury is a quiet ride.
#3
Lexus Fanatic
Most vehicles today that lack the fold-down feature DO include a pass-through in the middle of the rear seat (sometimes lockable) that will accommodate long, narrow items like skis, fishing poles, golf clubs, etc.....
Last edited by mmarshall; 12-03-16 at 07:12 PM.
#4
My A4 has fold-down rear seats and is as structurally rigid as any car I've ever driven. I use my fold-down rear seats and want them. I missed them in my '13 GS.
As for touchscreen, no thanks. IMO, it is a step backwards. It is difficult to use while moving and is a fingerprint magnet. Anyone who wants touchscreen can still opt for the Infiniti Q50 or Acura TLX. That is one of the reasons they were off my list when I chose my A4.
As for touchscreen, no thanks. IMO, it is a step backwards. It is difficult to use while moving and is a fingerprint magnet. Anyone who wants touchscreen can still opt for the Infiniti Q50 or Acura TLX. That is one of the reasons they were off my list when I chose my A4.
#5
Lexus Fanatic
As for touchscreen, no thanks. IMO, it is a step backwards. It is difficult to use while moving and is a fingerprint magnet.
#7
Lexus Fanatic
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#9
Lexus Fanatic
#10
Racer
Thread Starter
Omitting fold-down rear seats is not necessarily a cost-cutting measure, as noted by the fact that some quite expensive vehicles also do so. To have the fold-down feature in the rear usually means loss of the cross-bracing that runs between the two sides of the rear unibody frame, resulting in some loss of frame-rigidity and a tendency for the frame to twist while cornering. (in automotive layman's terms, that's called lateral-stiffness, as opposed to longitudinal stiffness, which means resistance to fore/aft bending). A stiffer frame is beneficial in a number of ways....handling/steering response, door-fit, suspension-alignment under load, and tire wear, to name a few.
Most vehicles today that lack the fold-down feature DO include a pass-through in the middle of the rear seat (sometimes lockable) that will accommodate long, narrow items like skis, fishing poles, golf clubs, etc.....
Most vehicles today that lack the fold-down feature DO include a pass-through in the middle of the rear seat (sometimes lockable) that will accommodate long, narrow items like skis, fishing poles, golf clubs, etc.....
I've heard that cross bracing argument, and I don't buy it.
If bmw and merc can have fold down seats in cars that handle great, so can everyone else.
Certainly it shouldn't be an issue in the ES, which is not supposed to be a dynamically handling car like the 5 series. In fact, my ES has the large hole that could accommodate fold down seats, but lexus decided not to put those seats in.
#11
Racer
Thread Starter
#12
Racer
Thread Starter
Perhaps people like the quickness of their smart phones, and want the same in a car, and you're really not fidgeting with the infotainment that much?
Redundancy is good though. With some things, touch is much faster.
I've driven newer lexus loaner cars, and I don't see any extra benefit with pushing the screen as far away as possible. Even at the current distance, when I drive a lexus and look at the screen, the road ahead still becomes a blur in my peripheral vision, and if you look at the screen too long, you still risk crashing into the car ahead.
So I think Lexus should bring the screen back to where it was years ago, within arm's reach.
There really is no optimal location for the infotainment except for the heads-up display location directly in front of the driver, but that location can't contain too much info for obvious reasons.
#13
Lexus Fanatic
I've heard that cross bracing argument, and I don't buy it.
If bmw and merc can have fold down seats in cars that handle great, so can everyone else.
Certainly it shouldn't be an issue in the ES, which is not supposed to be a dynamically handling car like the 5 series. In fact, my ES has the large hole that could accommodate fold down seats, but lexus decided not to put those seats in.
If bmw and merc can have fold down seats in cars that handle great, so can everyone else.
Certainly it shouldn't be an issue in the ES, which is not supposed to be a dynamically handling car like the 5 series. In fact, my ES has the large hole that could accommodate fold down seats, but lexus decided not to put those seats in.
#15
I love the rear folding seat feature, but I find it kind of silly the ES, GS, and LS (non executive) lack it. The good news is the 3rd generation IS has the feature, and likely to spread to the 5th gen GS and 7th gen ES. Lexus Advisory Board consistently asks Lexus owners about the feature.
Remote touch works just fine, especially when you adjust 'FEEDBACK FORCE'. A touch screen option like on some new BMW's (you can use iDrive or touchscreen) would be nice.
Honestly I'd be more excited when Lexus brings back the sunglasses holder. The 2016 RX is the first to get it back. The Lexus sedans don't have them!
Remote touch works just fine, especially when you adjust 'FEEDBACK FORCE'. A touch screen option like on some new BMW's (you can use iDrive or touchscreen) would be nice.
Honestly I'd be more excited when Lexus brings back the sunglasses holder. The 2016 RX is the first to get it back. The Lexus sedans don't have them!