Odd, the guys who test drove the 2G here in Australia sing praises over the 1G, with better torque, better handling, car sitting flatter through corners and more bang for your bucks.

 

Also, everyone seems to think that electric power steering means dead and lifeless steering feel. The steering rack is still physically connected to the steering wheel! It is not steer-by-wire, like Mercedes concept cars!

 

It's the cheapest of the "oooh you have a luxury car" brands. I know that's the response it would elicit if I were to visit people with it. Even though technicaly Mercedes is snobier, you have to actualy be rich to buy one new, thus making Lexus the go to car for tasteless upper middle class masses who want to one up the neighbor. Acura and Infiniti are too low key and or obscure. Some say BMW is a snob brand but they have a lot of street cred as a driver's car.