I just bought an LS430. The main reason: the seats - the last seats made to be comfortable. Even LS460 is not as good as the 430. That is why I settled for a 10-year-old car with 100k miles that feels good.

Today, every car manufacturer seems to cater to the corner carvers and the track crazies judging by these ungodly seat and back bolsters. RC350 is worse than bad to the point of giving me the feeling of being trapped, and squeezed that actually make breathing difficult.

My guess is that they are trying to appeal to the average Lexus buyers - who is about 55 - by making them feel younger in a "sporty" car while going for a 10-minute ride around the block. Later, after a 10-hour trip, they will probably discover what being locked in one position does to blood circulation and the pain in the lower back.

No, it's not me. My waist is 35 and my weight 190.

 

I know the feeling you're talking about, specifically I've felt that way with some sport seats in BMW's, Porsche, the recaros in the last Caddy CTS-V, the new sport seat in the C7 Vette. About the only one I really had issue was with the sport seats in an old E30 BMW, they must have been sized for the girl-jean wearing size 28 waist hipster that was driving that car, at 170lbs and a 34" inseam I didn't fit in those seats. Almost all of those cars with the tight fitting seats do have adjustable bolsters, so I was able to reduce the "squeeze" and get comfortable in them.

Its just a different feeling, but it seems like you are pining for the seats in my old Cadillac. Those were great except you did slide around on that slick leather if you decided to take a fast turn.

 

That picture makes me want to cry and smile at the same time.

Adjusting bolsters may lessen the pain, if they are adjustable. The other issue is the hardness of the rest of the seat. The new seats feel like they were designed by Al Gore who hates car drivers for their contribution to "global warming" - or is it "climate change"?

 

They should design them on The Apprentice
They'll make them great again

 

...or force the designer to sit on his creation for 12 hours, plus a bio break every 4.

 

The bolstering on the new F Sport cars is extreme I agree and it gets noticed, lots of discussion in the NX and RX forums about the F Sport seats being too bolstered.

I don't feel like my LS460s seats are significantly bolstered though. Just got back from a 4 hour trip in it and the seats were very comfortable.

 

They are OK. LS430's are nearly perfect.

 

I don't buy used cars so it's not a comparison I would make. I don't recall my LS430's seats being more comfortable though. They were good seats though.

 

Seems like car manufacturers are trying to make sports cars out of everything on the road that has wheels.

Very few cars that are meant to be what they actually are and not trying to pretend to be something else.

A sporty and "bold" new Camry? Give me a break. It's a family sedan with a 160hp engine. An appliance. Main objective to be reliable, good on gas, and somewhat comfortable. Now they are riding on 18's and 19's, lowering springs and big exhaust tips. It's honestly getting out of control.

 

The interesting thing is to watch Hyundai, they're taking the opposite approach.

The real question will be sales. So far, the indicators would show that this is the direction the consumer is looking for.

 

My 03 GS430 is far more comfortable than my IS-F, but these are two different cars. I think anything the size of a GS and larger should stay true to their roots and not have racing seats inside.You're right, LS430's seats are ideal, it's one of the most comfortable cars you can buy. The older Avalons were the same way, they lost alot of customers with the new model.

 

Totally agree. Trying to make sports sedans out of everything is ludicrous. And you pay for it over bumps.

 

Congratulations. I always said the LS430 was the best pure luxury-sedan Lexus ever did.

 

Thats just it...this statement isn't true.

Sales comparing the previous version of the Avalon to the latest version:



True sales never regained their peak in 2005 but you can't at all make the conclusion that buyers don't like the current Avalon as much as the previous Avalon. There are reasons for the fact that the Avalon never got back to those 2005 sales figures, the biggest one being the Buick Lacrosse IMHO.

Bear in mind too now the Avalon competes directly with the ES, where previously the ES was a smaller car.

Like I said, indicators would show that consumers like this trend.

And they have done that. The highly bolstered seats people complain about are on the NX and RX F Sport, the consumer is free to choose the non F Sport model of those cars.

Luxury RX seat:



Luxury GS seat (which has power adjustable side bolsters which are great, these seats were the best seats I've ever had in a Lexus, including the LS430):



LS460 seats:

 

I know sales have been strong for the new Avalon, that's not what I was getting at. They lost alot of their ORIGINAL customers which liked the plush ride and comfy interior. You have to sometimes look beyond the sales numbers...

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/c...ooths-the-ride

2016 model will be tweaked for these reasons...