amirza786
Senior Member
- First Name
- A
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2018
- Threads
- 87
- Messages
- 3,854
- Reaction score
- 3,947
- Location
- Northern California
- Vehicle(s)
- 2022 Polestar 2, 2010 Lexus IS 350 Sport
- Thread starter
- #1
After owning my Si for one year, I wanted to do a quick write up on my impressions of this car on long distance, high speed trips. Several people have asked how this car fares on long trips, since I do lots of them I want to give my feedback. I live in Northern California, grew up in Southern California (LA) where my family lives, so I make frequent trips back and forth, roughly about 360 miles each way of curvy two lane highways thru hilly passes, steep inclines, and over 200 miles of almost perfectly straight highway filled with trucks and cars going various speeds sharing two lanes. A lot of this drive is very brutal, with summertime temps sometimes reaching near 118 degrees F, and winter temps can go down below 30 degrees with snow storms that can close down parts of the hwy in the higher elevations.
First I want to say that as far as comfort is concerned, this car is not the most comfortable car, but comfortable enough for long trips (if you get the seat just right!). The cabin is very cozy, and visibility is very good. I have to say that when I took my first trip in it to LA, I was very reluctant, as I was not sure how stable it would be at high speeds, and with all the gusty winds, trucks on the road and all the passing I would have to do, I was a bit nervous. All of my trips in the past have been either with my Camry (V6 engine) or my Sienna. Well after all the trips I have taken back and forth (I've lost count), I can tell you this car is one of the most stable cars I have driven...at any speed. Driving at 50 stuck behind a slow car, driving a steady 80 mph on a straight or curvy road, or hitting 90 to pass up a truck or slow driver or do lane changes, it feels so confident. I can't say if it's the stiffer suspension, the 18" wheels, or the VSC system, but even my wife who is a nervous wreck when I have to make quick lane changes or pass trucks never says a word when we take my car because she barely feels these maneuvers like she does in our Sienna or Camry.
The last thing I want to talk about is the braking. Again, this car does really well when it comes this. I feel totally confident that these brakes will stop me when needed, and get me out of a jam. I've had to do emergency braking about twice, and it's not a bone jarring experience like in other cars I have driven.
I frequently fly out to our Texas office, so I drive tons of different types of rental cars, everything from Mustang's (GT and the V6 version), Dodge Charger and Challengers (V6 and V8 versions), Chevy Malibu, Toyota RAV4, Jeep Cherokee SRT etc. and the Si is not the most comfortable when compared to these cars, but when it comes to feeling safe and stable on the road with various conditions and speeds thrown in, this is among one of the top I have driven. The Challenger and Chargers I have driven are among the most comfortable, but at higher speeds, especially when a curve comes up or I hit the gas too hard at a turn can be a little scary.
Anyway, that is my impression after a year of ownership, if you bought it or are thinking about buying and are a long distance commuter or take long distance trips, this car is comfortable enough if you find the right seat position, you can confidently drive it at high speeds (best to always stay within the speed limit) in all types of road conditions, and best of all, it will save you money on gas (a full tank gets me to LA with 1/4 left)
First I want to say that as far as comfort is concerned, this car is not the most comfortable car, but comfortable enough for long trips (if you get the seat just right!). The cabin is very cozy, and visibility is very good. I have to say that when I took my first trip in it to LA, I was very reluctant, as I was not sure how stable it would be at high speeds, and with all the gusty winds, trucks on the road and all the passing I would have to do, I was a bit nervous. All of my trips in the past have been either with my Camry (V6 engine) or my Sienna. Well after all the trips I have taken back and forth (I've lost count), I can tell you this car is one of the most stable cars I have driven...at any speed. Driving at 50 stuck behind a slow car, driving a steady 80 mph on a straight or curvy road, or hitting 90 to pass up a truck or slow driver or do lane changes, it feels so confident. I can't say if it's the stiffer suspension, the 18" wheels, or the VSC system, but even my wife who is a nervous wreck when I have to make quick lane changes or pass trucks never says a word when we take my car because she barely feels these maneuvers like she does in our Sienna or Camry.
The last thing I want to talk about is the braking. Again, this car does really well when it comes this. I feel totally confident that these brakes will stop me when needed, and get me out of a jam. I've had to do emergency braking about twice, and it's not a bone jarring experience like in other cars I have driven.
I frequently fly out to our Texas office, so I drive tons of different types of rental cars, everything from Mustang's (GT and the V6 version), Dodge Charger and Challengers (V6 and V8 versions), Chevy Malibu, Toyota RAV4, Jeep Cherokee SRT etc. and the Si is not the most comfortable when compared to these cars, but when it comes to feeling safe and stable on the road with various conditions and speeds thrown in, this is among one of the top I have driven. The Challenger and Chargers I have driven are among the most comfortable, but at higher speeds, especially when a curve comes up or I hit the gas too hard at a turn can be a little scary.
Anyway, that is my impression after a year of ownership, if you bought it or are thinking about buying and are a long distance commuter or take long distance trips, this car is comfortable enough if you find the right seat position, you can confidently drive it at high speeds (best to always stay within the speed limit) in all types of road conditions, and best of all, it will save you money on gas (a full tank gets me to LA with 1/4 left)
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