What I want to know is how bad were the Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ and Infiniti G-35 for the Lexus ES350 to have won? I've driven in the ES330 and it was an appalling car - slow, noisy and squishy all around. My father in law recently test drove the 350 and thought aside from a bit more get up and go it was similarly unpleasant on all fronts. He wound up buying a Toyota Solara after determining that it handled better, had just as much get up and go and even with the soft top was quieter than the Lexus.
Other than that no real surprises...
I would have thought the new Infiniti G would be ahead of the ES350, but the ES has that bulletproof Lexus appeal and may be a better all-around choice for most people (AJAC is mostly newspaper car journos, not 'pur laine' auto journalists). A friend who recently test drove the new G reports it may be a bit too agressive for day-to-day. As for the Lincoln Emm-Kay-Zed (nee Zephyr), the new 3.5 should improve things and, as we always say of Detroit iron, it is vastly better than it used to be, but in this price range you've got so many great choices...
Posted at 2006-11-28 18:48:00 [PermaLink]