Teeing off in style

The Lexus IS 300C is a lifestyle accessory. It is the kind of car that would be great to drive to the golf course on a weekend, says Philip Shane.

A few things that pop to mind before getting a new Japanese convertible are price, rear seat space, foldable roof quality, reliability, brand value, entertainment system features, looks and, finally, performance – and in that order.

The Japanese carmakers are really committed to getting you a quality product that never dies on you. You'd have to do something really wrong to get a Japanese car to break down – maybe run it without an oil change for 50,000 kilometres instead of the usual 5,000 kilometres.

Sure, I'd love a reliable car with excellent performance figures, but I'd also love to own a great driving car as well. Something that you know will require a great deal of attention to keep in top shape and a great deal of extra pocket change to keep up with the fuel bills. But that's a sacrifice that I am willing to make if the driving experience is bang on!

A great car needs to feel remarkable each time you drive it, no matter how long you've owned it. Its appeal should be a combination of exciting performance and great looks. It should excel in both categories in order to keep the other determining factors out of the equation.

The IS 300C is Lexus' contribution to a market that is already satisfied with its IS 300 sedan. It comes with the same engine as the sedan: a 2,995 cc V6 engine with a power output of 228hp @ 6,200rpm and 306Nm of torque @ 4,400rpm. As with all Lexus engines, this one too is built with reliability in mind over performance. Street racing type speed isn't what this car is all about. It has quite a feminine appeal compared to the other models in the Lexus range.

This stylish car may appeal to people who would like a convertible to drive to the golf course on the weekend, as the boot space is quite reasonable. It can take two golf bags with the roof up and one golf bag with the roof down.

It is priced a little higher than the sedan. The luxury version costs Dh205,000, but then the retracting solid roof and improved styling could justify the increase in price.

Driving around in the IS 300C was quite a calm experience. The convertible speaks volumes of the luxury heritage of the brand, and the car is a little less sporty than it would have you believe from its looks. The engine seemed a little underpowered at times considering the power output available from regular sedans these days, but its handling is in my opinion quite good and this made up for the lack of power.

The steering is quite smooth, and is responsive enough for a car of this type. The steering mounted paddle gear shifters help bring out the best that this engine has to offer through a six-speed electronically controlled transmission.

Highway cruising is just as smooth as any Lexus sedan and its rear seats are way more spacious than most of the other coupés and convertibles in this segment. The stability control programme comes as standard and can be helpful in any slippery or over-steer conditions that this rear wheel drive car might face. The brakes are smooth and effective, and so are the seatbelt tensioners (that pull you back against the seats) which I managed to activate once by braking hard.

The dashboard layout and controls are quite ergonomic and of high quality, as can be expected with a Lexus. The 12-speaker Mark Levinson sound system does a good job as well. I sometimes wonder if there is ever going to be a limit to the amount of speakers and subwoofers that can fit into a car. The beige/silver two-tone leather seats combined with the colour combinations on the dashboard give the car a really rich look, especially with the roof down.

The IS 300C also comes with radar controlled cruise, heated and cooled seats, and its power retractable 3-panel hard top takes just 20 seconds to open up, which Lexus claims is the fastest in its segment. The air-conditioning is top notch and it does a great job in spite of the summer heat.

All in all it's hard to find fault with the IS 300C. There's no doubt in my mind that Lexus has done everything that they could to keep this car upmarket in terms of prestige and value for money. It's really well built, has reliability as well as entertainment options all factored in, and it looks pretty good with the roof down.

Driving the IS 300C wasn't really a mind-blowing experience, but it delivered what was expected from a car of its type. In fact, this car isn't about performance at all. It's a lifestyle accessory.

It isn't out there to compete with its rivals in terms of performance figures and track times. Instead, it is meant to be an expensive toy that fits with your lifestyle and goes with all your other toys in terms of styling and appeal.