Early this morning my girlfriend and I test drove the IS C and HS at the Pelican Resort in Newport Beach.

I'll start off with the HS 250h first. In person the HS looks decent. There are a few quirks about it that many people on CL just don't like. Maybe since it's a hybrid these quicks are suppose to distinguish that this vehicle is different. I just don't know.

As I sat in the car, it was very spacious. It has the push button start and putting the car in drive is very similar to the second generation Prius. Driving the HS down the road it did feel a little heavy since the HS is bigger than the Prius, has the batteries and has more technological gadgets in the car. I do like how the MPH in digital format shows at the bottom of the windshield. Your eyes pretty much stays on the road as much as possible. My girlfriend sat in the back and liked how much room was back there. The HS was quiet doing sixty miles an hour but could have been more quiet. Overall I liked the car and so did my girlfriend. I could see myself getting an HS. Since this is the first attempt by Lexus to create a dedicated luxury hybrid I'm sure many will criticize this car which Lexus will listen hopefully and make the second generation a much more better and advanced vehicle. Here are pictures from this mornings test drive.

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Here's on the quirks of this car. I don't like how the little triangular window goes deep into the fenders.
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Not sure why we're limited to posting only ten pictures per post? Seems likes there's more and more regulations and pretty soon we'll only be able to post five pictures per post....

Interior pictures.
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I would like the car if lexus did not steal the tails of a Chevy Aveo. I hate the dashboard too it looks to cheep over nice cars but those too things are deal breakers for me

 

I don't like how the exhaust manifold is exposed in the front, doesn't really fit Lexus to have exposed exhaust.

Otherwise, the car is fine for my taste... it ain't bad, but it's not that good either...

 

Now for the IS C. I do have to say I think the IS C looks better with the top down. My girlfriend drove the IS 350C and she liked it. She did say it seemed a tad bit heavier. My girlfriend and I agreed that we like the looks of the SC 430 better than the IS C.

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huge pic
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Thanks for the report and pictures, Trexus!

 

good god.... HS shouldn't bear the badge of lexus.

 

Great pics, not too sure I like either car.

 

wait, is that stick IS C?

 

great pics and input...wouldnt get either tho

 

Great pics! thanks so much for posting. The IS-C is growing on me

 

Thanks for the pics Did you look inside the IS-C trunk ?

I think the IS-C is another car that would look better with the darker/black colors, it would help hide some of the awkwardness of the rear trunk lid area.
From the rear, you can see the black one above look the best.

 

trexus - thanks for the pics. the best looking thing in them by far is your girlfriend.

but seriously, the is-c looks best (IMO) in black because that always hides flaws (that's why heavy people wear it a lot).

hs250 is just foul.

 

trexus, to make this thread's posts not display so wide i replaced your one 1600 wide pic with a link.

 

Your initial and later quotes^^ are not from the same poster Only the initial comment is from Trexus. Haven't had your morning coffee yet ?