Tuesday 10th December 2013

Lexus IS-F: Spotted

There's a new hot Lexus on the way then - here's one they made earlier

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The Lexus IS-F taught me two very important lessons. The first was that pulling away from a junction in a V8-powered, rear-wheel drive auto is one of motoring's greatest pleasures.

C63 and M3 presented a formidable challenge

I was fortunate enough to have occasional access to an IS-F back in 2009 and it was through that familiarity that I learnt the second lesson; a car might finish last in a group test, but over time it can get beneath your skin and worm its way into your affections.

There was much to criticise about the IS-F when it was new, which certainly didn't help its cause when squared up against a BMW M3 or Mercedes C63 AMG. The cabin quality was pretty poor in places - why did a £50K car have such an awful digital clock? - it rode very stiffly and it had none of the dynamic precision of the M3. What it did have, though, was character. It was the first Lexus that ever seduced me and to this day I have a soft spot for them.

Naturally, it was all about the engine. Just before the mid-way point in the rev range exhaust valves would open up to let the big V8 really shout. It happened so suddenly that it would surprise the driver on the first few occasions, never mind any school children or old dears who happened to be stood on the pavement. It comes as a surprise to be reminded that the 5.0-litre engine developed 372lb ft of torque, because from the driver's seat it always felt much stronger than that figure might suggest.

Credit to Lexus it's considered in same breath

Looking back now the chassis was entirely incapable of reining in all that grunt, which meant the rear wheels were frequently overwhelmed. The IS-F always felt over-engined and that's what made it so charming and such good fun.

It's been several years since I've driven one, but I suspect the eight-speed gearbox feels a little dim-witted now. It was never the sharpest in period and the rapid progress of the twin-clutch gearbox in recent years will no doubt serve to highlight that.

IS-Fs are few and far between on the used market, but the cheapest examples are now dipping to around £18K. Aside from the double-stacked exhaust tips (falsies, sadly) the V8 bruiser is a relatively discreet machine, although this white-on-black example does stand out rather more than a silver or gunmetal grey car would. With all those toys in the cabin and that big power house up front it seems like an awful lot of car for £18,995.

Oh, and there was a third lesson. A colleague and I were figuring an IS-F on Bruntingthorpe's two-mile runway. With a touch of bravery and some very late braking our first top speed run returned 169.7mph. "Well," I said to the driver, "we've got to go for 170." At that kind of speed, I soon learnt, a car covers an awful lot of ground in the time it takes to clock up another 0.3mph. I haven't ridden shotgun on a top speed run since.

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LEXUS IS-F
Engine: 4,968cc, V8
Transmission: 8-speed auto, RWD
Power (hp): 423@6,600rpm
Torque (lb ft): 372@5,200rpm
MPG: 24.8
CO2: 283g/km
Recorded mileage: 50,000
First registered: 2005
Price new: £51,105
Yours for: £18,995

See the original ad here.

 

[BUG4LIFE]

I really like these

[Whiters]

BUG4LIFE said:

I really like these

Me too. They're going to have to fall a little further than this before I'd part with hard-earned. Looking forward to that day though.

[Chickentonight]

I wouldn't mind one either but for the price would I overlook an e90 m3 or a c63?

Nope.

[kVA]

I love these... Had the privilege of driving them back to back with M3 and S4 at launch event at Montevideo track

You could do a faster lap in the other two, BUT only ONE - before the brakes faded on the BMW and the clutch went on the Audi!

The clincher for me would be Mark Levinson audio, for everyday use - only when parked, of course, as that V8 exhaust note is one of the best around, in any car

[Barchettaman]

At 19k I would imagine it still has quite a long way to fall.

[GS88]

Something different from the usual German dominance. I like the rarity and exclusivity of the IS-F. I've only spotted a few of them.

[Phil Dicky]

Chickentonight said:

I wouldn't mind one either but for the price would I overlook an e90 m3 or a c63?

Nope.

But they are still £5k cheaper than the equivalent M3 or C63...only concern is how much further they will fall.

[pimpchez]

Love these so different ,and at a guess reliable .

Youtube borla exhaust

[BUG4LIFE]

Phil Dicky said:

Chickentonight said:

I wouldn't mind one either but for the price would I overlook an e90 m3 or a c63?

Nope.

But they are still £5k cheaper than the equivalent M3 or C63...only concern is how much further they will fall.

I'd have the Lexus over the BM and Merc, as long as it was a good chunk cheaper...fingers crossed the price will keep falling

[jjr1]

I did 90,000 miles in mine and it never missed a beat. Superb car at everything, including lighting up the rears at will

[405dogvan]

Whilst I can see the appeal - that white/black one is going to be called a Scooby by almost everyone who sees it and knows no better, it's the worst possible result

All that reliability means it makes sense to wait a bit longer too - they'll keep falling and they'll keep-on-running

[405dogvan]

Barchettaman said:

At 19k I would imagine it still has quite a long way to fall.

Not the least of which is the £5K diff between the ad price and the sticker in the photo!!!!!

p.s. I found the solution to the 'falsies' issue

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff9E1MZUfdo

Edited by 405dogvan on Tuesday 10th December 12:00

[justa1972]

I've always had a soft spot for these too - I think it's the looks - subtle but muscly !

Oh and that v8 noise - lovely

Good write up and totally agree that some cars take time to grow on you..

[Cable]

I have been watching these quite literally every day for the past 9 months, and prices haven't fallen. There's only a little over 220 cars in the country, so exclusivity is also on their side, along with the reliability.
I've been holding for one in a particular colour, and I may have shot myself in the foot on a couple of occasions, but I will get one soon.

It's also worth a note that 10MY on had a mechanical LSD and a few other revisions which were found to put it's handling pretty much on par with the M3.

p.s. an air intake flap opens up at 3500rpm, giving the extra noise, not an exhaust valve.

Edited by Cable on Tuesday 10th December 12:22

[Sampaio]

Japanese, V8, lots of power, slush box, poor driving dynamics... sounds like a future SOTW to me.

[Sampaio]

Japanese, V8, lots of power, slush box, poor driving dynamics... sounds like a future SOTW to me.

[GS88]

There's an interesting Best Motoring video on YouTube comparing the IS-F and M3. It's worth a watch.

[Cable]

Sampaio said:

Japanese, V8, lots of power, slush box, poor driving dynamics... sounds like a future SOTW to me.

not a slush box what so ever and 'poor driving dynamics'?!! Not sure where you got that idea from? After 1st gear a electronically controlled clutch is engaged meaning no slush from the torque converter and Evo magazine gave it the 2nd spot after the M3 for Sports saloons.

[havoc]

Cable said:

I have been watching these quite literally every day for the past 9 months, and prices haven't fallen. There's only a little over 220 cars in the country, so exclusivity is also on their side, along with the reliability.
I've been holding for one in a particular colour, and I may have shot myself in the foot on a couple of occasions, but I will get one soon.

It's also worth a note that 10MY on had a mechanical LSD and a few other revisions which were found to put it's handling pretty much on par with the M3.

Fuel economy aside, these things genuinely DO appeal. I'd probably plump for a C63 estate first, but I think I'd take this over the E92...

[Cable]

Phil Dicky said:

But they are still £5k cheaper than the equivalent M3 or C63...only concern is how much further they will fall.

Not really, the C63 has held their values very well, the M3 not so much. Example below

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...