Lexus IS-F 2011+ Owners Review

[Npjdiff]

I’ve been digging into the Lexus IS F recently and trying to get a clearer picture of what the “ideal” example looks like from an owner’s point of view. There’s a lot of variation in colours, interiors and mileage out there, and I’m interested in how much those differences actually matter in the real world.

The spec that appeals to me personally is something like:

• Sub‑70k miles
• Strong history and enthusiast ownership
• Ultrasonic Blue (always seems to be the one people rave about)
• White leather interior
• Preferably a well‑kept, largely original car rather than something heavily modified


I’m not posting this as a wanted ad — just keen to hear from anyone who owns or has owned something along those lines.

If you’ve got an IS F in that sort of spec:

• How does it feel to live with
• Does the colour/interior combo make it feel more special
• Any quirks, highlights or surprises that only show up with ownership
• And would you choose the same spec again if you were buying another


Always appreciate hearing real‑world experiences from people who’ve spent proper time with them. PH usually has the most honest takes.

[chip*]

Best to ask on the Lexus forum below:

https://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/forum/134-...

[Npjdiff]

Thanks

[marcella]

I've not owned one but have considered one a few times.

One thing I would suggest is looking at a Japanese Import as the road tax would be around £360 a year opposed to a UK one at £760! Also lower chance of corrosion.

[Npjdiff]

That very interesting as I’ve been avoiding the JDM as it supposed to be harder to insure. Thanks for letting me know

[Axeboy]

Only downside to the JDM is the stereo system can be annoying to swap with a UK based version. It wasnt plug and play if I remember correctly but there are alternatives on Aliexpress etc. If being kph bothers you, getting it in mph didnt work for me, none of the canbus converters worked but I didnt mind kph personally.

Might be better now though, support might have improved

[Npjdiff]

Thanks for that info. I am concerned about the conversion of the stereo and mph is important as well. Did you have to do anything with the head and fog lights at all?

[Axeboy]

Fog light is easy, you can swap one reverse for a fog very easily, just wiring and bulb.

Nothing to do with anything else to be honest.

[Npjdiff]

Thanks that’s great info

[swampy442]

Just a couple of points, personally Id be looking for at least a 2010 car as that gets the torsen LSD as standard, but 2011 got suspension tweaks as well.
And 2, mileage isn't an issue so don't worry about the 70k miles thing

[Lexmaster]

Npjdiff said:

I ve been digging into the Lexus IS F recently and trying to get a clearer picture of what the ideal example looks like from an owner s point of view. There s a lot of variation in colours, interiors and mileage out there, and I m interested in how much those differences actually matter in the real world.

The spec that appeals to me personally is something like:

Sub?70k miles
Strong history and enthusiast ownership
Ultrasonic Blue (always seems to be the one people rave about)
White leather interior
Preferably a well?kept, largely original car rather than something heavily modified


I m not posting this as a wanted ad just keen to hear from anyone who owns or has owned something along those lines.

If you ve got an IS F in that sort of spec:

How does it feel to live with
Does the colour/interior combo make it feel more special
Any quirks, highlights or surprises that only show up with ownership
And would you choose the same spec again if you were buying another


Always appreciate hearing real?world experiences from people who ve spent proper time with them. PH usually has the most honest takes.

My ISF is pearl white with black interior so i can't comment if your desired (and rare) colour combo feels special, but an ISF itself is quite a special car by itself. (And yes i would choose that spec again )

I have my F since almost 6 years and it did everything i demanded from it. Daily driving, shopping, dozens of laps around the Nürburgring, lots of topspeed autobahn runs etc. Nowadays i only use it a couple of times a month.

With the ISF the years do differentiate them, every year something was changed. If you google it, you probably should find all the details between the years and what could be important to you. A lot of the later updates can be retrofitted though, so don't be put off by an earlier car as they still provide a lot of fun and good value. Even at higher mileage, these cars hold up very well, but you should still be aware that if something goes it can get expensive, especially if you go to Lexus for everything.

Most people start to recommend them at 2010+ because of the LSD but the early 08-09 cars are not just an open diff, Lexus calls them "E-LSD" which brakes the inner rear wheel during slip. Obviously not as good as a proper LSD, but you can either upgrade to the OEM Torsen diff or just get an aftermarket one.

I personally upgraded to the power steering ecu from the 12-14 ISF. They all share the same steering rack but the ecu can be changed plug and play (needs to be calibrated by with Toyota Software though). That improves on the quite numb steering feel from the earlier cars.

If you really have to have that specific colour combo plus low mileage, you will search for a long time for the right car then Maybe an import from japan might help as they tend to have much lower mileage.

My highlight after owning it for 6 years is that i only saw one other ISF on the road and in general almost no one knows what it is

[Npjdiff]

Thanks for the comprehensive reply, that’s really useful. I’d love the USB with white but now know it’s incredibly hard to find. I suspected that mileage wasn’t an issue so it great to know that. Many thanks 🙏