RTS PNA WA ASE ATS

anual 9

Frampase &

Like mest Japanese cars,
controls for headlights and
foglights are.on the left siaik,
not the dash. Cruise control
has a separate stalk on the
right underneath the wiper
stalk. The power window but-

_ tons are on the door armrests,
. not the centre console like
'* BMAV's. Twin cupholders in
front dave a removeabic insert
to accommodate larger cups,
if and ar the rear, there are owin
*. cupkelders which slide out of
the centre console. A small
covered storage bin in the cen-
_ We console provides limited -
storage, but itis not high
ugh to use as‘an armrest

ze driver. The rear passen- .
ger area is quite roomy, in part”

_ because the raised front seats
have lots of foctroom. There's
‘forts OF headroom but the rear
-bench js better suited for two
rather thaa three passengers.’

..¢<Dhe rear seat. includes.a_._.

¢ pass-through to the trunk but

a folding catback

oRtved. "The 10.1:cu- ft. mink
sather small for a

¢5 With pretensioners and
‘Tinititers, five adjustable
traints; dual

Despite this, the IS300’s trun-.
dig is very high, limiting rear-

ir: steering ‘column, powe!
dows with one-

AtA Glance

RRESEIE LEY

“Overall, I thought th the 15300 0 placed a strong sec-
ond to the BAEW 3- Series, but it’s still got a way to
0 before becoming the ultimate driving machine.”

up/down for the driver, illu-
minated entry, heated outside
mirrors, alarm and engine

smobilizer. A remote keyless
entry svstem includes a trunk
opener.

Driving impressions

'_ Having driven a BMW 3-
Series a couple of weeks before
[ drove che S300, IT had a
chance to compare the nwo
directly. The IS300, like other
Lexuses, has a very smooth
powerwain, hardly audible
even while accelerating, and is

very, smouth and quiet.at high- _

way speeds (2, 500 p.m. ar?
~100.4m/h in fiftk).'1 would
ay the 15300 is quieter than

tighter than the: i

“in part because the driveline ;
feels dghter. But when it
comes to steering. and han-

“dling, the IS300 is not quite as

“responsiv and balanced

“responsive and handling lings”

are very high; there is less dri-..

comfortable. The driver can
change down gears by pressing
on either button on the front
of the steering wheel spokes —
changing up a gear is accom
plished by pressing buttons on
the back of the spokes. I found
it difficult to grip the steering

ver/car interface in the Lexus.  §

In_a BMW 3-Serics, you feel

_ like par ofthe car, wh eas in

the car. oc:
“<The standard ‘Gve-spee
autornanc transmission is ;
xcellent, but the manual shife °
odes are not intrinsically

‘parts, £ tenes

“asses mc bina dress) *

are noi ce

wheel and move my thumb to
the front buttuns — it
requires you to release your
grip with one hand. If yeu do
accomplish it, the gear
changes are quick. Manual
mode is best used for sporty
driving when you want more
control of engine speed, but
around town, it’s best to leave
it in automatic.

Despite the low-profile
215/45ZR-17 tires on my test
car, the ride was very comfort-
able, and outward visibility was
good except to the rear where
the high trunklid and third
brake light made backing up a
nervous guessing game. The
18300 hes a very dght turning

West Vancouver

926-7301

circle which adds to its
manoeuvrability in parking lots
and im city driving.

Overall, 1 thought the
18300 placed a strong second
to the BMW 3-Series, but it’s
still got a way to go before

becoming, the ulamate driving «

machine.
Price $40,830-
$47,025
With most of the features

mentioned above including
fabric-covered seats, six-CD
in-dash player, traction con-
trol, and 16-inch tires and

valley wheels, the IS300 goes
* for $40,830. This compares to
$45,900 for the base BMW

range:

“Installed

* gale ends Oct:7 ©:

ifertab

33(4 with an optional five-
speed adtomatic transmission.
With 17 inch wheels, stin-
roof, limited slip differential
and heated seats, the 1$300 is
$43,800. Add leather/suede
seats and power front seats,
and the price is $46,035. With «.
premium leather, wood nim,-
and headlamp washers, the
price is $46,519. Finally, with
graphite- polished- 17-inch alloy

_ Wheels, the [$300 is priced at:

$47, 025. The 1$300's value is-
further enhanced by its excel-.
lent warrancy: a complete four-
year/80,000 tun. warranty, and
a six-year/110,000 km power-
train warranty. Price-wise, the
15300 has got the BMW beat.”

~ North. St Georges i

“987-4243