The only major issue I take with the IS/RC is not even the styling, though I admit that's a bit tough to swallow. It's the interior- way too much hard plastic in it. Why Lexus fans give this a pass while they pissed on the V35 G for pulling the same cost-cuts 10 years ago is beyond... oh, wait- that's why they are fans! But seriously, the build quality is superb, almost German. The gauges are sweet, most switches feel nice, the leather (real or artifical) feels fabulous, and the stitched soft surfaces on the IP cover and console are (as in the Q50) first-rate. However, everything below that is Camry-grade, hard, coarse plastic. I was hugely disappionted in the materials overall in Chicago. It's as bad as it looks in some high-res close-up pics. It feels at least two classes below the GS. The cabin is an unholy mixture of the exquisitely high-quality and the very cheap. It's worse than the 3/4-series, which also underwhelmed me in overall interior ambiance and material quality. Neither can touch the A4 and Q50, and the new C-class resolutely obliterates them.
Otherwise, though, it's a great car. It should remain one of the best-driving and most-reliable luxury/sport sedans on the market.