Lexus ISF

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Discussion

giblet

Original Poster:

8,824 posts

176 months

Thursday 31st December 2015
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What is the general consensus on the Lexus ISF? I'm in the market for a V8 saloon to replace my Mitsubishi Galant VR4 and this seems to meet my requirements on paper (under 10 years old, 4 doors, auto/paddleshift, a few toys, sub 5 second 0-60 and a boot big enougn for my old mans wheelchair).

I know the initial reviews for the car back when it was launched criticised it for not being as good as it's main rivals (the E9X M3 and the C63) and seemingly rather boring in comparison but a few years later it seems like a better buy in terms of depreciation. The equivalent spec M3 and C63 are a few grand more going by the classifieds. There are apparently only around 220 of them in the country so they tick the box for a left field car much like my VR4 does.

Only real downside for me is the inability to convert them to LPG due to the complex dual injection setup and the lack of a middle seat on the rear bench although I don't carry 4 passengers that often. ECU is locked down so the only real mods seem to be headers from the States which aren't cheap and the usual exhaust/intake options.

Any current or former owners on here that can give me their view on the car?

trickywoo

11,701 posts

229 months

Thursday 31st December 2015
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The ride is very very firm. Enough to put buyers off. There may be an aftermarket solution which if it was me buying I would research first.

Heaveho

5,278 posts

173 months

Thursday 31st December 2015
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We had an early one and ran it for 5 years. As said, the ride was too stiff, and we were lucky enough to be able to address it via Fensport, who were developing 16 way adjustable Tiens at the time. We fitted a set and it transformed the car. It was sold last year, much to my hindsight driven regret, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one with the proviso that you either put enough aside to get a later model with revised spring rates, or research the idea of modifying an earlier car.

Other than that, typical Lexus, no issues at all in 40k miles, regular servicing seemed to be reasonably priced, although front brake pads were batty money at something like £300 fitted. The way it steers is magic, and the performance, especially as it gains revs, is great. Satnav is also unfortunately typically Lexus, ie, crap!

We've had a lot of daft cars, that one was one of the more unexpected highlights.

Sump

5,484 posts

166 months

Thursday 31st December 2015
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Why on earth would you convert a car like that to LPG?

Heaveho

5,278 posts

173 months

Thursday 31st December 2015
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With regard to the rear seat, I had every intention of examining the possibility of fitting one from a regular IS250 ...........never got around to it in the end, but unless there are big differences in the size of the transmission tunnel etc, I see no reason why it wouldn't be a straight swap.

jamieduff1981

8,022 posts

139 months

Thursday 31st December 2015
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I didn't think the ride was that bad when I drove one. The steering had less feel than my Jag. I swapped with the owner and he said the same thing.

I did like the engine and power delivery and the gearbox was quick too. Maybe not quite as quick as the latest ZF 8 speed but it was still good.

It was tractable and felt solid.

cptsideways

13,535 posts

251 months

Thursday 31st December 2015
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As rare as a CSL wink so I can't see them dropping much lower. Would love to own one, was involved in the launch of them back in their day.

Early ones really need a diff to make them work, easy fix though.

Ullevi

349 posts

169 months

Thursday 31st December 2015
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I don't know were this stiff/ hard ride comes from (too many people gullible enough to believe motoring journos and spouting off second hand knowledge without actually driving one themselves?).

I have driven one and felt the ride was fine for a V8 fast saloon, well judged if anything.

Nice cars, especially if prices are coming down.

As with most, best try one yourself, see what you think.

giblet

Original Poster:

8,824 posts

176 months

Thursday 31st December 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for the input folks. My VR4 is running some slightly aged Tein coilovers on the hardest setting so I'm already used to a harsh ride. I know some owners have swapped out their suspension for the facelift setup which seems to be comfier.

Planning on viewing one this weekend, I hope the trader lets me have a test drive and doesn't tell me to bugger off once he sees my current car.

As for LPG - I halved my cost per mile on the VR4 after getting it converted! The alternative car on my list is a pre facelift C63 which would be converted but they seem to still be depreciating and sadly all the ones I see locally are driven by cocks.

Heaveho

5,278 posts

173 months

Thursday 31st December 2015
quotequote all
Ullevi said:
I don't know were this stiff/ hard ride comes from (too many people gullible enough to believe motoring journos and spouting off second hand knowledge without actually driving one themselves?).

I
As I mentioned, we had one for 5 years. I also have an Evo 8, which I owned the whole time we had the IS-F, so I'm no shrinking violet when it comes to stiff suspension! On the roads I like to drive fast on, the suspension was hard enough to throw both cars off line mid-corner. That's too stiff, and both cars were modified to deal with it. There's no point in it if it doesn't make the car handle better, and, particularly with the Lexus, stiff suspension made it worse.

The IS-F we had was an early car ( 2009 ) the spring rates are more realistic now.

There's a big difference between driving a car once, or occasionally, and long-term ownership, and certain things that seem acceptable on 1st acquaintance can quickly become tiresome on a regular basis.

Edited by Heaveho on Thursday 31st December 20:58

Sump

5,484 posts

166 months

Thursday 31st December 2015
quotequote all
giblet said:
As for LPG - I halved my cost per mile on the VR4 after getting it converted! The alternative car on my list is a pre facelift C63 which would be converted but they seem to still be depreciating and sadly all the ones I see locally are driven by cocks.
Chaps wanting champagne for orange juice money.

giblet

Original Poster:

8,824 posts

176 months

Thursday 31st December 2015
quotequote all
Sump said:
Chaps wanting champagne for orange juice money.
Same power, same performance but cheaper running costs. I know some people don't like LPG converted cars but I've had no issues and don't see the problem with it.

To each their own!

Sump

5,484 posts

166 months

Thursday 31st December 2015
quotequote all
giblet said:
Sump said:
Chaps wanting champagne for orange juice money.
Same power, same performance but cheaper running costs. I know some people don't like LPG converted cars but I've had no issues and don't see the problem with it.

To each their own!
Yup, so champagne on orange juice money laugh

giblet

Original Poster:

8,824 posts

176 months

Thursday 31st December 2015
quotequote all
Sump said:
Yup, so champagne on orange juice money laugh
Dunno, at 47.9p a litre it's more like champagne on bottled water money.

philmots

4,630 posts

259 months

Thursday 31st December 2015
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I love them.. Another car on my list, wish they were over 450hp but the fact they're that bit different really appeals.

Jim AK

4,029 posts

123 months

Thursday 31st December 2015
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Sump said:
Chaps wanting champagne for orange juice money.
However......... A fool & their money are easily parted!!

jjr1

3,023 posts

259 months

Thursday 31st December 2015
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I had mine for 90,000 miles and never once thought the suspension was too firm. It never once had any problems apart from one of the fake exhausts falling off for no obvious reason.

Fuel consumption was reasonably good to.

My only criticism was of the lack of LSD which would have made the car more fun.

I am in Miami on holiday at the moment and see loads of RCF's and it has made me seriously consider getting one.

Heaveho

5,278 posts

173 months

Friday 1st January 2016
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jjr1 said:
I had mine for 90,000 miles and never once thought the suspension was too firm. It never once had any problems apart from one of the fake exhausts falling off for no obvious reason.

Fuel consumption was reasonably good to.

My only criticism was of the lack of LSD which would have made the car more fun.

I am in Miami on holiday at the moment and see loads of RCF's and it has made me seriously consider getting one.
Just parted with an RCF........if you liked the IS, prepare to be disappointed, sorry. IMO, of course, obviously everyone's different, and you may like it! 1 year old, 3k miles and an almost 20k hit in depreciation possibly shows what the UK makes of them though. Not a great drive as far as I was concerned.

jamieduff1981

8,022 posts

139 months

Friday 1st January 2016
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Heaveho said:
On the roads I like to drive fast on, the suspension was hard enough to throw both cars off line mid-corner. That's too stiff, and both cars were modified to deal with it. There's no point in it if it doesn't make the car handle...
Each to their own and all that but road surface imperfections are part of the appeal of driving for me. That's involvement.

It's not like the car needs full-on attention to drive to the shops. 'Perfect' handling leaves me bored stiff in a road car.

Fast driving = slow driving but faster.

The IS-F wasn't uncomfortably stiff.

Heaveho

5,278 posts

173 months

Friday 1st January 2016
quotequote all
jamieduff1981 said:
Each to their own and all that but road surface imperfections are part of the appeal of driving for me. That's involvement.

It's not like the car needs full-on attention to drive to the shops. 'Perfect' handling leaves me bored stiff in a road car.

Fast driving = slow driving but faster.

The IS-F wasn't uncomfortably stiff.
Opinions vary. Road surface imperfections are unavoidable, they all have them. It's how a particular car deals with them that I take issue with. I didn't tend to use it to go to the shops in, I used it for long trips, and A-road blasts in and around Hampshire mainly. I've never subscribed to the theory that a car has to be more uncomfortable than necessary to handle well, and it's been borne out more than once on cars I've had, but that's just my opinion, and I'm no expert. I found it to be a more enjoyable car that I could drive faster, more of the time, with the modified suspension, which is the whole point, as far as I'm concerned. Much the same thing with the Evo after it received Bilsteins.

Don't understand the " Fast driving = slow driving but faster " comment, I'm afraid, maybe I'm just reading it wrong.

How long did you have your IS-F for? Was it an early car?