Quote:
Originally Posted by JARblue
I'm sure it did. IIRC it was every option possible. Some stupid price, too, at the time - I think it was near $60K, though he was leasing it. I guess I didn't even realize they had a package without the steer-by-wire. Now I want to go test drive one  |
So after my test drive with the steer-by-wire (which is the Deluxe Touring Package that features that, btw), I found the system to not be as bad as people say. You can even tune the steering feel and response via the car's computer, which is pretty wild stuff. The strangest thing about it is that what people describe as "numb" is the last of bump/road/pothole feedback through the steering wheel as it's not physically connected with the wheels in any way. So you'll go over bumps, feel it in your seat and not your hands (that's what she said), and it's definitely culture shock coming from a car as raw as the Z.
I really, really, really like the Q50S. Hilariously enough, I'm starting to understand the cult 7AT guys on this forum - the transmission is pretty legit.
Compared to the Lexus IS350 F Sport (which I also drove), the Q50 stomps it with power. I was surprised that what looked like a negligible power difference on paper turned into a monstrous difference in reality. I think part of that is due to the Lexus's transmission - I'm pretty sure it waters down what is already a less powerful engine.
I will say this - the Lexus's cockpit is by far the sportiest and coolest of any sedan I've ever sat in. You sit IN the Lexus as opposed to ON it (which is the general feeling I expected going to a sedan from my Z in general). It is by far the sportiest feeling car with respect to seating position and all of the controls in the car. The steering wheel is tiny in a great way, and every piece of it screams "SPORTS SEDAN". I drove it before the Q50, and I have to say - before I felt the powertrain difference I was pretty sure that I was going to buy a Lexus.
The Q50 has a great seating position itself (not as nice as the Lexus, but sporty enough in the S trim), but the powertrain is just so much better. Toyota gonna Toyota, and Nissan gonna Nissan.
The Lexus does have some wussy little wheels too, though. 225 40 18 in the front IIRC, and 245 in the rear (or 255?). However, the 18" doesn't look bad on the car, and it's a decent configuration for the car itself, but could stand to be upgraded.