Lexus IS F: Spotted
Can 420hp and 7,000rpm of Japanese reliability tempt you away from the usual German fare?
However - and it's a big however - those steroids included a 423hp 5.0-litre V8 transplant that revs to 7,000rpm and transformed this dullard into a thing of refined brutishness. Its power, with no nasty turbo to spool up, is instant, thrilling and addictive. On most roads, certainly most real everyday roads, it enjoys complete dominion over other traffic. Performance is in the order of 0-62mph in just 4.8 seconds, and the top speed is a more than adequate 168mph. An eight-speed automatic gearbox of rare civility makes all that seem rather easy, too, and its accurate steering and excellent chassis balance mean corners can be attacked with gusto - sideways if needs be. Despite its relatively sober-sided appearance - bonnet bulge and cooling gills aside - this is actually a hugely enjoyable and highly exploitable car.
And that's a huge part of the appeal of a V8-engined saloon car like this one - it can do practical and it can do speed. It can potter to Waitrose one day and hammer around the Nurburgring the next, although if you do that don't forget to make sure you've removed all your shopping first.
SPECIFICATION - LEXUS IS F
Engine: 4,969cc, V8
Transmission: 8-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 423@6,600rpm
Torque (lb ft): 373@5,200rpm
MPG: 24.4
CO2: 270g/km
First registered: 2011
Recorded mileage: 58,000
Price new: £51,000
Yours for: £22,995
See the original advert here.
Mark Pearson
Mind you £22k seems a bit steep for it now given the myriad of alternatives for bmw, AMG, jag, Vauxhall and the rest all offering more attractive packages of handling/power/madness at the expense of some of that Lexus reliability.
This one is a quite expensive but it is a later model with suspension changes, Drl's, lsd, updated sat nav and dash, quite a rare model.
Add in the rarity and that’s why they’re the price they are. In fact I think they’re gradually going up in value based on current prices compared to when I was considering one a couple of years ago.
Plus, I’ve just treated myself to a 4.2xkr with a few mods, it’ll produce 476bhp for less than half that cost.... mmmm
I had an ISF for about 2.5 years. Loved it! It was equally at home in town, crossing the continent, or slithering it’s (rather lively) way around a wet Silverstone. I had a Hayward and Scott cat-back system on mine and it sounded fantastic! The ISF is a proper Jekyll and Hyde car - drive it gently and apart from a slightly firm ride, it’s wonderfully sedate and slips in and out of traffic anonymously; give it the beans and it not only sounded like a nascar, it’d trouble the traction control almost to 100mph.
Due to the relative rarity (only 210ish in the UK), I traded mine in for almost what I’d paid for it and now have it’s bigger brother, the GSF.
Budget a grand for a starter motor at some point (its a pig to access) but otherwise service items only till fossil fuels run out.
Obviously the asking price is only one aspect of total ownership cost so to me doesn't seem high, although admittedly I am an ISF owner - and not regretting my well researched choice for one minute as it truly is two cars in one, comfortable cruiser in auto and tearaway in sport manual.
Which companies do this? Or is it various parts from various companies? Does it need remapping?
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