2008 Lexus IS F

"I don't get all the 'it's so stiff' comments about the suspension," says editor at large St. Antoine, who disagrees with Jurnecka's assessment -- "Driving on L.A. freeways feels like a roller coaster ride, with each bump, dip, and irregularity having ill effects on stomach and head."

"To me," notes St. Antoine, "the damping is pretty tight, but the springs aren't overly harsh at all. Compared with our previous long-term Mini, the IS F rides like a cloud. Never does the suspension crash into its stops. St. Antoine, who took the IS F to the Pebble Beach Concours, observes the Lexus's star power. "Despite the profusion of Ferraris, Lambos, Veyrons, the Lexus got an inordinate amount of attention. The parking valet at Spanish Bay couldn't stop talking about it -- later I saw him hand a Scuderia owner his keys and simply walk away without a backward glance."