Giblet's Lexus ISF
Discussion
Welcome to thread for my Lexus ISF. I'm carrying on from my previous threads for my Galant VR4, my sheddy MX5, the 9-3 Aero and my XJR
I originally set out at buying an Evo X to replace the VR4 but the boot was just too small for my needs so I went back to the drawing board and decided that my next car should be a (relatively) small saloon with a V8. Ever since I sold the XJR I have wanted another V8 again. I started looking at the C63, the E90 M3 and the ISF. After months of research, a thread over in GG, a few viewings and a test drive I decided the ISF was the car for me. It was the leftfield choice but given my love of Japanese cars it made sense.
I made contact with a ISF owner on the Lexus Owners Club forums (also a fellow PHer) who was thinking about selling up, after getting some more info on the car (2008 MY, 33k, full main dealer history etc) we agreed on a price. I went down to Oxford to view the car, left a deposit and then collected it a week or so later.
Some of the sellers pics -
I love how refined and effortless the car is and the noise it makes above 3600rpm when the secondary air inlet on the airbox opens up. The styling helps it to stand out whilst still being relatively discreet, well aside from those quad rear finishers/diffusers. I've not had the chance to drive it in anger yet due to the crap weather but I'm waiting for the first warm dry weekend so I can go out for a proper drive. Averaging 19.1mpg so far which isn't bad, my commute is 3 miles each way and the engine is barely warm by the time I park up so I try to take the long way round instead. Managed 33mpg on the drive home but I was being rather sensible.
A few post wash pics alongside the other V8 in the family fleet, my brothers XFR
A quick phone pic earlier tonight in it's natural habitat
After spending way too much money on mods and repairs on the VR4 I'm hoping to spend a lot less on the ISF. The only mod I really want is an exhaust especially after hearing the aftermarket back boxes that were fitted to the XFR this weekend. Waiting to find out if I can get a further discount on the 3 year service pack from the local dealer, might also go for the 2 year warranty despite the bulletproof reputation these things have. Hoping to stick some miles on it this year, should be fun!
I originally set out at buying an Evo X to replace the VR4 but the boot was just too small for my needs so I went back to the drawing board and decided that my next car should be a (relatively) small saloon with a V8. Ever since I sold the XJR I have wanted another V8 again. I started looking at the C63, the E90 M3 and the ISF. After months of research, a thread over in GG, a few viewings and a test drive I decided the ISF was the car for me. It was the leftfield choice but given my love of Japanese cars it made sense.
I made contact with a ISF owner on the Lexus Owners Club forums (also a fellow PHer) who was thinking about selling up, after getting some more info on the car (2008 MY, 33k, full main dealer history etc) we agreed on a price. I went down to Oxford to view the car, left a deposit and then collected it a week or so later.
Some of the sellers pics -
I love how refined and effortless the car is and the noise it makes above 3600rpm when the secondary air inlet on the airbox opens up. The styling helps it to stand out whilst still being relatively discreet, well aside from those quad rear finishers/diffusers. I've not had the chance to drive it in anger yet due to the crap weather but I'm waiting for the first warm dry weekend so I can go out for a proper drive. Averaging 19.1mpg so far which isn't bad, my commute is 3 miles each way and the engine is barely warm by the time I park up so I try to take the long way round instead. Managed 33mpg on the drive home but I was being rather sensible.
A few post wash pics alongside the other V8 in the family fleet, my brothers XFR
A quick phone pic earlier tonight in it's natural habitat
After spending way too much money on mods and repairs on the VR4 I'm hoping to spend a lot less on the ISF. The only mod I really want is an exhaust especially after hearing the aftermarket back boxes that were fitted to the XFR this weekend. Waiting to find out if I can get a further discount on the 3 year service pack from the local dealer, might also go for the 2 year warranty despite the bulletproof reputation these things have. Hoping to stick some miles on it this year, should be fun!
Edited by giblet on Sunday 28th February 23:45
Looks really nice, i'd take one over any m3 or m5, especially now they have come down in price on the used market.
VR4 and ISF?
Sounds like Tom's turbo garage on youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ndu5xJVisHM
VR4 and ISF?
Sounds like Tom's turbo garage on youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ndu5xJVisHM
I do enjoy his videos, I watched the ISF one quite a few times before I purchased mine. I'm still surprised at the price difference between a clean low mileage ISF and a M3 saloon or a C63 of similar age, mileage and conditon. The potential bills from the other two were worrying and I'm not a huge fan of the interiors in both. Given the amount of tosspots driving C63s (Disclaimer: not all C63 owners are idiots) I figured it made sense to stay away. That said I have lusted after a C63 since I first saw one and I love the sound they make. If I could replicate that properly with my ISF then I would be very happy!
Damn you and your awesome car!!
I was considering this type of vehicle when I needed to make a move from a small, light 2-seat sports car (Lotus Elise S) to something more family friendly. I looked at the E91 M3, the C63, the ISF and the S4. In the end I justified the S4 due to fuel economy and folding rear seats. So far, I've had need to fold the rear seats down a grand total of zero times. Which means I should have gone with my heart instead of my head and got the ISF. Given I do about 15k a year, I couldn't stretch to the running costs of the C63 no matter what it sounded like and the M3 didn't really appeal to me once I was in it. I'm sure it is capable, but something didn't quite hit the target.
Oh well, one day...
I was considering this type of vehicle when I needed to make a move from a small, light 2-seat sports car (Lotus Elise S) to something more family friendly. I looked at the E91 M3, the C63, the ISF and the S4. In the end I justified the S4 due to fuel economy and folding rear seats. So far, I've had need to fold the rear seats down a grand total of zero times. Which means I should have gone with my heart instead of my head and got the ISF. Given I do about 15k a year, I couldn't stretch to the running costs of the C63 no matter what it sounded like and the M3 didn't really appeal to me once I was in it. I'm sure it is capable, but something didn't quite hit the target.
Oh well, one day...
Lovely, always liked these, yours looks great. I have an XKR just now, which I love and would hate to part with, but with one child already and another due soon the pull of more doors/seats is strong. IS-F would be top of the list if I do decide to change.
A chap on one of the Jaguar forums I frequent had one for a while, he put some sort of upgraded exhaust on it, which sounds like this:
http://s271.photobucket.com/user/stuno1/media/lexu...
Do it
A chap on one of the Jaguar forums I frequent had one for a while, he put some sort of upgraded exhaust on it, which sounds like this:
http://s271.photobucket.com/user/stuno1/media/lexu...
Do it
Dr_Rick said:
Damn you and your awesome car!!
I was considering this type of vehicle when I needed to make a move from a small, light 2-seat sports car (Lotus Elise S) to something more family friendly. I looked at the E91 M3, the C63, the ISF and the S4. In the end I justified the S4 due to fuel economy and folding rear seats. So far, I've had need to fold the rear seats down a grand total of zero times. Which means I should have gone with my heart instead of my head and got the ISF. Given I do about 15k a year, I couldn't stretch to the running costs of the C63 no matter what it sounded like and the M3 didn't really appeal to me once I was in it. I'm sure it is capable, but something didn't quite hit the target.
Oh well, one day...
Cheers. I had a look at a whole load of other cars before I got to the shortlist of 3, the S4 was one of them. I did factor fuel economy into my thinking. I average 10,000 miles a year so it isn't a huge issue. However it was a tad annoying to be told by my manager recently that we are moving offices soon. That means my commute will increase by 14 miles a day which means anywhere between 1.5-2 tanks of fuel extra per month.I was considering this type of vehicle when I needed to make a move from a small, light 2-seat sports car (Lotus Elise S) to something more family friendly. I looked at the E91 M3, the C63, the ISF and the S4. In the end I justified the S4 due to fuel economy and folding rear seats. So far, I've had need to fold the rear seats down a grand total of zero times. Which means I should have gone with my heart instead of my head and got the ISF. Given I do about 15k a year, I couldn't stretch to the running costs of the C63 no matter what it sounded like and the M3 didn't really appeal to me once I was in it. I'm sure it is capable, but something didn't quite hit the target.
Oh well, one day...
8bit said:
Lovely, always liked these, yours looks great. I have an XKR just now, which I love and would hate to part with, but with one child already and another due soon the pull of more doors/seats is strong. IS-F would be top of the list if I do decide to change.
A chap on one of the Jaguar forums I frequent had one for a while, he put some sort of upgraded exhaust on it, which sounds like this:
http://s271.photobucket.com/user/stuno1/media/lexu...
Do it
Cheers. I do like the XKR, would the XFR not make it on your shortlist as a practical alternative?A chap on one of the Jaguar forums I frequent had one for a while, he put some sort of upgraded exhaust on it, which sounds like this:
http://s271.photobucket.com/user/stuno1/media/lexu...
Do it
Stu's exhaust is lovely, made by Hayward & Scott. I'm trying to source a system with built in butterfly valves for mine but all the stockists are abroad and are useless at getting back to me.
giblet said:
Cheers. I do like the XKR, would the XFR not make it on your shortlist as a practical alternative?
Stu's exhaust is lovely, made by Hayward & Scott. I'm trying to source a system with built in butterfly valves for mine but all the stockists are abroad and are useless at getting back to me.
XFR maybe an option but to me the Lexus sounds better Stu's exhaust is lovely, made by Hayward & Scott. I'm trying to source a system with built in butterfly valves for mine but all the stockists are abroad and are useless at getting back to me.
Has yours got the variable intake flaps that open about 3.5krpm and make it much louder?A10 said:
You sold yours didnt you stuno1?
If I was in the market for one I'd bought yours without a second thought.
I did yes. Time had come for sports car ownership. The isf was an epic car and if I have a need for a 4 seater super saloon again I would buy one again in a heart beat. Superb cars in every way. If I was in the market for one I'd bought yours without a second thought.
8bit said:
XFR maybe an option but to me the Lexus sounds better Has yours got the variable intake flaps that open about 3.5krpm and make it much louder?
Yup, tis a standard feature that makes me giggle. Has yours got the variable intake flaps that open about 3.5krpm and make it much louder?dibblecorse said:
really really like that and my own search keeps coming back to them, hmmmmmmmmm
Have a test drive and you will want one even more. You know you want to!CobraChris said:
A nice example this one, I sold it to the last owner, and the owner before him.
Enjoy.
Small world! Your name is still in the paperwork as the sales contact. The history was one of the main selling points for me. I'll be buying a service pack from Lexus Leeds. Enjoy.
A10 said:
One of my favourites, simply for the front wing styling and it being a left field choice.
I love the vented front wings. I'm waiting to see how long it is before I spot another on the road. stuno1 said:
thanks for your helpful posts over on LOC when I was researching the cars. Funnily enough I commented on your thread when you posted that clip on here nearly 2 years ago. The sound must have stuck with me. had ham said:
Lovely, I miss mine tremendously. They really are superb cars.
I don't think I've had any former owner say that they don't miss theirs. I'm hoping to keep hold of this one for a long time. No bother at all. Always willing to help where I can. Even took someone out last year in mine so they could hear the exhaust before they had bought one.
The trick with buying these is getting on the Lexus forum and getting a loved one. There are generally fewer than 10 available at any given time. It's always better knowing the history of a car if you can get hold of it.
The trick with buying these is getting on the Lexus forum and getting a loved one. There are generally fewer than 10 available at any given time. It's always better knowing the history of a car if you can get hold of it.
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