RE: Lexus IS F | Spotted

[Wheel_Turned_Out]

Seems a car where you have to make your choice; do you spend all the money up front, as this is strong cash for sure, and get a very well built car that fuel/tyres/servicing/tax aside won't cost that much to run. Probably. Or do you buy something cheaper on the face of it, and end up spending a lot more in maintenance over the same ownership period.

All things being equal in the end, personally I'd choose the Lexus - not too shouty but very capable and pleasing in just the right ways.

[leef44]

How did they manage to keep those white seats clean???

[romac]

Wadeski said:

The older I get, the more appreciation I have for a car that always works. I would take 2/10ths off the handling for not seeing an unscheduled service.

That's happened to me, too, though I've never had anything even as exotic as a Lexus! Part of me wants to change my Auris hybrid estate for a Corolla hybrid estate, and part wants to hang on to the Auris to see how long it survives! (only 7 years, 92k ATM - Covid has robbed it of about 20k miles!)

Another part of me wants a Lexus, and this would scratch an itch I never knew I had!

[Terra1]

Shame they aren't 5 seaters, only 4 in a car of this size seems daft particularly when the lesser siblings came with the full complement.

[SweptVolume]

Eh? That white upholstery is delicious.

[Trevor555]

romac said:

Wadeski said:

The older I get, the more appreciation I have for a car that always works. I would take 2/10ths off the handling for not seeing an unscheduled service.

That's happened to me, too, though I've never had anything even as exotic as a Lexus! Part of me wants to change my Auris hybrid estate for a Corolla hybrid estate, and part wants to hang on to the Auris to see how long it survives! (only 7 years, 92k ATM - Covid has robbed it of about 20k miles!)

Another part of me wants a Lexus, and this would scratch an itch I never knew I had!

Before you buy a new Toyota and expect it to last forever, have a good look underneath.

They're not painting the subframes properly any more?

Some owners are reporting cars that are not looking very nice underneath in just a couple of months.

A great shame as I've always been an avid Toyota fan.

[Big Rat]

Loved mine ......100% reliable......great induction noise .....just needed a switchable exhaust

[leef44]

Trevor555 said:

romac said:

Wadeski said:

The older I get, the more appreciation I have for a car that always works. I would take 2/10ths off the handling for not seeing an unscheduled service.

That's happened to me, too, though I've never had anything even as exotic as a Lexus! Part of me wants to change my Auris hybrid estate for a Corolla hybrid estate, and part wants to hang on to the Auris to see how long it survives! (only 7 years, 92k ATM - Covid has robbed it of about 20k miles!)

Another part of me wants a Lexus, and this would scratch an itch I never knew I had!

Before you buy a new Toyota and expect it to last forever, have a good look underneath.

They're not painting the subframes properly any more?

Some owners are reporting cars that are not looking very nice underneath in just a couple of months.

A great shame as I've always been an avid Toyota fan.

This is the thing with all modern cars. When you come to buy one, make sure it's an old one with old engineering build mentality.

[havoc]

TurboHatchback said:

Delightful but £25k? I think not.

Go and take a look at the prices for anything with a semi-exotic nat-asp engine* nowadays. All only heading one way...





* An extinct category, or almost so...

[MDMA .]

Pistonheader101 said:

going for stupid money, a couple of years ago these were going for 12k.

Should have bought one 2 years ago then. Would be quids in now

[apc321]

MTPLTD said:

I have a 2006 is220.

It is treated with utter contempt by myself and my partner. It's never been serviced since I bought it, it came with no service history and is battered all around.

The interior is wearing too thanks to dog and kids. I barely even wash it. It's an absolute hack. Currently just below 160,000 short journey miles.

Everything works, all the switches, all the gizmos, everything. I always consider just getting rid of it, but every time I drive it I can't help but love it. I don't desire it, but I love its sheer robustness and build quality so I just can't part with it.

When (if it dies) I will replace it with another Lexus. I doubt it will be a second-hand is250 as I think regardless of age, they all look the same to me and all the design tweaks just make it look a bit more pointy, but I don't think I've ever owned anything so determined to resist failure.

The only thing I just can't warm to is the myriad of buttons for the HVAC, stereo etc. It just looks like a cheap ghetto blaster.

However, I'd certainly buy a fast Lexus over an equivalent German offering just so I could sleep at night and not expect some sort of cosmic bill. This is coming from owning many German marques.

At an absolute minimum when your car goes in for an MOT the oil and filter should be done at the same time.

If you look after your car it will look after you.

[J4CKO]

culpz said:

-crookedtail- said:

I've always liked these from afar, nice left field alternative to the typical European candidates. Not sure I would want to drop 25K on one though, a slightly older one at 15K I think is a good deal.

However this one is getting close to F80 M3 money and although not comparing apples to apples I think that is where my money would go if I was in the market for such a thing.

M3 at that price is stonking value in comparison, i must admit. However, it's also got the potential to be pretty ruinous to run, which the Lexus generally won't be.

A chap I know was selling one (2013 M3 in Black, about 55k miles) earlier in the year, I was tempted at 24 grand but the crank hub and turbo issues put me off as would have been a purchase without a decent war chest put by so decided to leave it. I would be a lot happier that this wouldn't throw up quite as many random bills beyond consumable and servicing.

[toothy1911]

apc321 said:

At an absolute minimum when your car goes in for an MOT the oil and filter should be done at the same time.

If you look after your car it will look after you.

Agree. My ISF will be having oil and filters even though it's only done 2k miles this year.

[Rod200SX]

Shhh don't talk about them. I want the prices to keep going down so I can get in to one

[ZX10R NIN]

These are very good underrated cars.

[Big Rat]

Some pics of back in the day when we would get together in and around the Evo Triangle lots of rare ISF’s

[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/F7g4Xk26[/url]

Edited by Big Rat on Tuesday 23 February 16:54

[BUG4LIFE]

borat52 said:

Pistonheader101 said:

going for stupid money, a couple of years ago these were going for 12k.

Strong money agreed but I've never seen a later LSD car for anywhere near £12k.

Definitely this...they have never been as low as £12k, in fact no where near, especially for an LSD car.

[cornershop]

First 55 seconds = Me when lockdown ends...:

https://youtu.be/RzFlbTZ0bX4

[ZX10R NIN]

The blue is a very rare colour.

[Smifffy]

leef44 said:

How did they manage to keep those white seats clean???

I didn't. That's my old car. KP62VUU.

They've repaired the leather as I had a trouser dye transfer problem with a new pair of blue jeans on the seat. I also caught the side skirt on the scaffold next to my house so it will have had a small repair.

That said, it was full Lexus history and well looked after. I bought it from Lexus Milton Keynes and I maintained the warranty for the duration of my ownership.

With Michelin Pilot Super Sports it was also a weapon - especially when the 2nd inlet valves opened at 4k rpm - brilliant noise and quicker than 419 bhp suggests.

I traded it in for £18k against my current Aston Martin Rapide. Considering the small bits of work needed and dealer premium I'd say the price is fair. It's a fantastic piece of kit.