Most Boring Cars on the Road! (Lexus RX...really?)
05-06-10 | 12:01 PM
#31
You found a 335i boring, and disliked the ride? 
Interesting. I myself am very sensitive to ride and handling (just look at all the posts and arguments I have done on the subject), yet I found the 335i, in my review, one of the most superb combinations of ride, handling, and steering I've ever seen, even with the Sport Package and low 35-series tires. It is, arguably, my favorite RWD sport sedan, though the E63 AMG also has some superb features. For daily driving, I'd probably rather have a 335i than an M3, especially with the 335i's AWD option.
However, I respect your opinion
, and I admit I haven't had to live with the 335's electronic and fuel-pump glitches on a daily basis...my view of it was mostly based on a 30-minute test drive. I didn't notice pothole "explosion" noises in the wheels/chassis. I had a brand new car, though, for the review..........perhaps (?) those noises tend to get louder as the miles build up and the suspension components wear.
Interesting. I myself am very sensitive to ride and handling (just look at all the posts and arguments I have done on the subject), yet I found the 335i, in my review, one of the most superb combinations of ride, handling, and steering I've ever seen, even with the Sport Package and low 35-series tires. It is, arguably, my favorite RWD sport sedan, though the E63 AMG also has some superb features. For daily driving, I'd probably rather have a 335i than an M3, especially with the 335i's AWD option.
However, I respect your opinion
, and I admit I haven't had to live with the 335's electronic and fuel-pump glitches on a daily basis...my view of it was mostly based on a 30-minute test drive. I didn't notice pothole "explosion" noises in the wheels/chassis. I had a brand new car, though, for the review..........perhaps (?) those noises tend to get louder as the miles build up and the suspension components wear.You need to realize how BMW achieves its combination of good ride quality and good handling (we're mostly talking 3 series here). Unlike most other manufacturers (expecially Lexus) they don't use as many rubber bushings in their suspension/steering systems. Some of their suspension components bolt directly to the subframe without any bushings at all. This allows their cars to have this solid feel, and great feedback, without having to utilize extremely harsh shocks/spring setup, and that allows for good ride quality as well.
However it comes with a price. Once you hit a pothole/bump large enough to put the suspension close to the limit of its travel, a lot of shock gets transferred into the cabin, and thus the term "pothole explosion". I've experienced it quite a few times already in our 335, and it does get pretty violent. And if you hit something that exceeds the suspension travel, you're almost guaranteed to damage your suspension/subframe components.
05-06-10 | 12:19 PM
#32
Guest
Posts: n/a
The automotive press attach positive connotations to "exciting" cars and negative ones for "boring" cars, but that it clearly not the truth. Reality is that they are built with different goals in mind, so whether it is positive/negative depends on how the car caters to your preference of the driving experience that it provides.
05-06-10 | 12:21 PM
#33
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 13
From: Annapolis, Md
I guess I agree with the list. I stay in a neighborhood where I see an RX’s every other house. But these people drive like that have absolutely nowhere to go. Next time you see someone driving an RX take a quick look at them they look bored out there mind.
Even my mother wants an RX and she is beyond boring. Guess what type of car she currently owns.
BUICK
But they're selling like hotcakes so Lexus don't change anything.
Even my mother wants an RX and she is beyond boring. Guess what type of car she currently owns.
BUICK
But they're selling like hotcakes so Lexus don't change anything.
05-06-10 | 12:28 PM
#34
You need to realize how BMW achieves its combination of good ride quality and good handling (we're mostly talking 3 series here). Unlike most other manufacturers (expecially Lexus) they don't use as many rubber bushings in their suspension/steering systems. Some of their suspension components bolt directly to the subframe without any bushings at all. This allows their cars to have this solid feel, and great feedback, without having to utilize extremely harsh shocks/spring setup, and that allows for good ride quality as well.
However it comes with a price. Once you hit a pothole/bump large enough to put the suspension close to the limit of its travel, a lot of shock gets transferred into the cabin, and thus the term "pothole explosion". I've experienced it quite a few times already in our 335, and it does get pretty violent. And if you hit something that exceeds the suspension travel, you're almost guaranteed to damage your suspension/subframe components.
05-06-10 | 12:36 PM
#35
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 14,100
Likes: 1
From: tech capital
And now back to our regularly scheduled discussion of boring vehicles....
05-06-10 | 12:46 PM
#37
I've never had any suspension issues with any of my Lexus, except lower ball joints which is regular maintenance. I have my parents 745 (they are selling it to me dirt cheap
), and its gonna need some suspension work. It clunks pretty badly over bumps and its steering wheel is about 5 degrees off center, so its alignment is probably out of wack. There goes your geometry, design & materials used.
05-06-10 | 12:53 PM
#38
Dash,I'm not a young guy age wise anyway and have owned many,many vehicles over the years and never ever did I hear a pothole explosion noise hitting a pothole and not a canyon one either,like the noise in the 335 I owned.No tire damage either.
The noise would literally scare the schit out of a passenger both male and female.
No Lexus model boring or not would provide that same noise.OK,maybe the IS-F,maybe...
and have owned many,many vehicles over the years and never ever did I hear a pothole explosion noise hitting a pothole and not a canyon one either,like the noise in the 335 I owned.No tire damage either.The noise would literally scare the schit out of a passenger both male and female.
No Lexus model boring or not would provide that same noise.OK,maybe the IS-F,maybe...
Last edited by Joeb427; 05-06-10 at 12:56 PM.
05-06-10 | 01:01 PM
#39
Dash,I'm not a young guy age wise anyway and have owned many,many vehicles over the years and never ever did I hear a pothole explosion noise hitting a pothole and not a canyon one either,like the noise in the 335 I owned.No tire damage either.
The noise would literally scare the schit out of a passenger both male and female.
No Lexus model boring or not would provide that same noise.OK,maybe the IS-F,maybe...
and have owned many,many vehicles over the years and never ever did I hear a pothole explosion noise hitting a pothole and not a canyon one either,like the noise in the 335 I owned.No tire damage either.The noise would literally scare the schit out of a passenger both male and female.
No Lexus model boring or not would provide that same noise.OK,maybe the IS-F,maybe...
The "explosion noise" that the e90 guys discuss has much to do with RFTs & not the suspension.. Guys who complain choose to switch their tires to non RFT.. I am happy with RFTs..
05-06-10 | 01:28 PM
#41
Pole Position
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,667
Likes: 0
From: IL
05-06-10 | 01:31 PM
#42
No, I don't play soccer!
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,652
Likes: 173
From: NJ
Friends and family don't call my 450h boring. Far from it. And I catch plenty of people admiring my RX. I'll save which cars I think are boring to avoid being flamed
05-06-10 | 02:08 PM
#43
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 22,608
Likes: 102
From: Waiting for next track day
The list is right on. Those cars are a total bore but in their defense they were not designed or built to excite you. They were developed to coddle and transport the driver and passengers in comfort and safety
05-06-10 | 02:40 PM
#44
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 91,601
Likes: 89
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs