Car and Driver review IS-F

LexusKindaGuy12 submitted on 10/24/2007 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 2:33 AM
from: www.caranddriver.com

Tags: lexus Isf

lexus Isf

Car and Driver review IS-F

This first F (there’ll be more Lexus models with the F treatment soon, most likely) is a V-8–powered sledgehammer that rockets to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds—fleeter by 0.1 second than the new M3—has a 172-mph speed governor, and generates 0.92 g on the skidpad. It also keeps us grinning through hard track laps, even though the frequent fill-ups of premium were inhaled by street driving at the rate of 16 mpg. We’ll have to wait until March, 2008, when the IS F goes on sale at an expected price around $59,000 to see how many buyers are interested in a wicked-performing Lexus...

Read Article

Comments:

Images hosted in your AgentSpace can now be posted in the comments section using the following syntax (case matters):
[img]IMAGE URL[/img]
Example: [img]http://agent004.myautospies.com/users/150/Sample-Gallery/sample1.JPG[/img]

Kinger - 10/24/2007 9:03:50 AM

+3 Boost

Quite a good review. The car seems to have a good balance between performance and luxury, which fits in with the Lexus ethos better than if it was an all out hard-core machine. As Lexus stated this is a Lexus take on a performance saloon, not a direct M3 competitor.

reply to this comment

porsche911 - 10/24/2007 2:53:50 PM

+6 Boost

You are kidding, right? Not a direct competitor? What on earth are you talking about? This is a Direct Competitor to the M3 and the C63 and form what I read, its also on par with the power ratings and the acceleration figures, and pretty good with the driving dynamics. What exactly is a direct competitor to an M3? Open your eyes and see that this car will take on the M3 in a proper and legitimate way.

Kinger - 10/25/2007 8:26:17 AM

+1 Boost

Woh, easy there, i'm just repeating what I read a Lexus oficial had said a few months back. Maybe I phrased that wrong, it is an M3 competitor but its a Lexus take on the high-performance sports sedan market, which means it will be less raw. Whichever car better suits your needs is up to you, thats the beauty of choice.

bmwdrvr - 10/24/2007 9:20:08 AM

+1 Boost

im not big on this car but 59 grand really seems like a bargain in this class. it may sell to some people on price alone.

reply to this comment

JRobUSC - 10/24/2007 3:02:18 PM

+1 Boost

if you can afford $59k you can afford $62k. All four cars in the class are going to be pretty similar priced.

S4cabriofoxone - 10/24/2007 7:06:46 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

Yes, I must say that although $59K sounds better, there's very little difference in real-world payments between that and $65K.

Star - 10/24/2007 10:08:53 AM

-10 Boost

"the IS F is at core a Lexus with extra muscle, not as raw as the BMW M3 or Mercedes C63 AMG"

Lexus IS-F is just a regular IS with more power, not a completely redesigned car. This is where Mercedes, BMW and Audi differentiate themselves from average car makers like Lexus. They build their sport models from ground up as completely different cars in comparison with their regular models. There is just no comparison between the incredible German performance cars and this cheaply built, under-performing Lexus.

I'm glad to see that Lexus knows where its place is and priced the IS-F accordingly, as a second tier luxury car.

reply to this comment

r15mohd - 10/24/2007 11:31:28 AM

+3 Boost

obviously you haven't read the article(s) thoroughly...

in reality, every vehicle you spoke of...M3/AMG/RS is its lower-end end model with improvements to satisfy its sports badging. no difference in the IS-F...

"tunnel-vision" or is it you can't accept a Japanese competitor?

MtlMotors - 10/24/2007 11:34:46 AM

+5 Boost

Thank god everyone here is unbiased...

theonemikahel - 10/24/2007 11:39:44 AM

-6 Boost

There is just no comparison between the incredible German performance cars and this cheaply built, under-performing Lexus.
Under-performing...On par with 0-60 with all of them (not even the slowest) The engine is close to the C63 but as 5 liters displacement rather than 6.2 liters.The M3`s 100 pound lighter but it's 100 pound-feet of torque less so it should be as fast (accel.) The AWD of the RS4 puts it in front for the 1/4 but still as less torque with 317.

And you ad that it's: They build their sport models from ground up as completely different cars...
You are right on this one... The M3 as carbon fiber roof panel... that's a different 3 serie car...

On what are you referring to base your judgment that it will be out perform ?

We got 3 take on the same car and some place it on par or in from of the M3 in performance... Which I think is the best sports car of the 4 (all around performance track wise).

And tell me after that you are not a GERMAN FANBOY ?

DaHarder - 10/24/2007 1:16:14 PM

+2 Boost

Since when was the M3 NOT simply a 3-Series with numerous performance/appearance mods?

Note: (I've owned sevel generations)

And trust me that's what they are indeed, and the same goes for its Mercedes/Audi counterparts...

From the way you worded your post, one would believe that you are somehow under the impression that the M3/RS4/AMG are completely new/separate vehicles from their (same sized) stalemates..

Tell me that you do realize what each of these vehicles really are?

Hint: M3 is to 328i as GTI is to Rabbit.

zorbeeze - 10/24/2007 1:24:40 PM

+7 Boost

Star, you have got to be the most ignorant individual ever.
Just accept the fact that this car is as good as the germans.

M53R - 10/24/2007 10:28:46 AMView My AgentSpace

+13 Boost

"The muted interior, the slightly watery controls, the heavy price tag; the IS F is at core a Lexus with extra muscle, not as raw as the BMW M3 or Mercedes C63 AMG. The next steps for F may decide if the performance sub-brand thrives or is only a brief experiment."

Quite impressed with what Lexus has achieved here, and even if its not as raw as the M3 or C63, its still fun to drive, compared with past Lexus'. This would definetly help change their image.
Well done Lexus!

reply to this comment

M53R - 10/24/2007 4:53:59 PMView My AgentSpace

+5 Boost

I have no idea what you're talking about, as I didnt even mention "cheaply built" in my whole post.

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 10/24/2007 10:35:20 AM

-8 Boost

Like I said, this car has nothing on the German 3.

reply to this comment

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 10/24/2007 11:38:52 AM

+1 Boost

I totally respect your opinion.

zorbeeze - 10/24/2007 1:27:18 PM

+4 Boost

Like i said this car is up to par with the Germans.
Accept it and get on with your life.

Whelan - 10/24/2007 11:15:47 AM

+2 Boost

It will be interesting to see a comparo test between this the RS4 and M3. Even if it doesn't place first it still is sure to get some points somewhere. I say good job to Lexus for showing it's not a lightweight, and can compete with the big bad Germans. I love the M3 and the RS4 is a fantastic car, not that I will ever own one, but again, it will be a great article to see how Lexus pairs up.

reply to this comment

david999 - 10/24/2007 11:27:06 AM

0 Boost

Give Lexus their due. Their first offering from the "F" division is a home run based on the majority of the "enthusiast" car mags. This does not hurt the German
marques, other then people will realize even more that they are over priced.

reply to this comment

JRobUSC - 10/24/2007 3:10:26 PM

+3 Boost

you realize the IS-F, RS4, C63, and M3 will all be within $3k of each other, right? Hardly enough to make one a bargain versus the others.

david999 - 10/24/2007 5:45:44 PM

0 Boost

2008 pricing for the RS4 and C63 are going to be more than $3000 difference I believe. The overall quality and predicted reliability of the Lexus is what makes it more valuable to me than the other 3.

S4cabriofoxone - 10/24/2007 7:09:49 PMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

AHHHHH!!!!! If RELIABILITY is why you buy your performance sedan, PLEASE LEAVE!!!!!!!!

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 10/24/2007 11:43:31 AM

0 Boost

"Why the letter “F” in the new V-8–powered, 416-horsepower Lexus IS F? Simple: Toyota’s luxury brand and the letter F have a long history. In the mid-1980s, the Lexus luxury division was then just a classified notepad document codenamed “Circle F.” The first Lexus LS400 of 1989 was known internally as the “F1” or “Flagship.” And the stylized Fs on the 2008 IS F are drawn, it’s said, to mimic a few hairpin turns of Toyota’s Higashi-Fuji test track."

Pure rubbish. This is nothing more than marketing BS!

When Lexus presented the IS-F concept they said the F in IS-F meant "Fast" and nothing else. Now they are desperately using this faux-heritage argument. Weak.

"At full throttle above 3400 rpm, a barn door in the box snaps open with vacuum released from a small reservoir, and the unleashed induction noise is raw and thrilling."

I think it's pretty clear Lexus is gunning for the M3.

reply to this comment

DaHarder - 10/24/2007 1:22:27 PM

+3 Boost

"I think it's pretty clear Lexus is gunning for the M3."

Don't you think that this statement is Stating the Obvious?

Note: The M3 IS the standard bearer in this segment i.e. the TARGET!

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 10/24/2007 3:17:05 PM

0 Boost

You are totally missing my point. Ever heard of the M induction noise?

iamdabest1 - 10/24/2007 11:44:51 AMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

arent these numbers faster than m3 and rs4 ?

reply to this comment

1evlaudi - 10/24/2007 11:53:46 AMView My AgentSpace

-9 Boost

well, it seems that Lexus did a good job performance wise, engine, transmission, braking all seem to be on par with the competition, but as it has been the case for the past 30 years, for japanese brands, copying is never too difficult. However, steering feel seems to be out, design wise I think this thing is just plain ugly, and tacky. Also where is the manual transmission? For me, that leaves M3 and RS4. The AMG, well, there is no replacement for displacement. Nothing impressing here.
BUT, in typicall Lexus fashion, marketing and hype are going to be the selling point, and if it is that good let's see if it will sale at $65+K like the german cars. We all know it would not. It's typicall japanese bargain crap, like a Civi SI, a suby STI, a Mitsu Evo. Performance at bargain price.
I bet you a bunch of kids will fall for it, but I don't see pure enthusiasts or germancar owners drop their ride for this.

reply to this comment

Whelan - 10/24/2007 12:00:26 PM

0 Boost

The M3 is expected to be 0-62 in 4.8, so I would assume if that is true, then yes it would be a hair faster as I doubt 2mph translates to a full .6 seconds. Also the HP numbers are higher on the Lexus. The M3 is 414, however the RS4 is slightly more with 420hp. The RS4 also about 4.8 0-60 so again slightly slower. And the RS4 is MSRP at $66,000 with a Invoice of $60,000, so if this comes in at $59,000 or so, it will undercut the pricing of the M3 and RS4.

Wow.

reply to this comment

Hwany - 10/24/2007 12:38:13 PM

-6 Boost

wow how smart do you have to compare the magazine time and the factory time?

M3 has gotten as low as 4.1 for 0-60 and it doesn't mean anything. Quatermile is. IS-F is not faster than any of the germans if you compare the quatermile times.

Kinger - 10/24/2007 12:42:28 PM

+2 Boost

You'd be surprised at the difference between 0-60 and 0-62 times. Even the likes of a Veyron takes 0.3 seconds longer to reach 62 than it does to reach 60.

zorbeeze - 10/24/2007 1:35:50 PM

0 Boost

"wow how smart do you have to compare the magazine time and the factory time?"

And your numbers come from where?
Oh wait, that`s right, magazines.

Hwany - 10/24/2007 3:47:25 PM

+2 Boost

he compared the magazine stats to BMW's factory stats.

If you want to compare them, at least compare them from the same sources. THat was my point, Zorbeeze.

S4cabriofoxone - 10/24/2007 7:13:28 PMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

The RS4 averages 0-60mph in 4.5 sec. The average for the IS-F is officially a bit under 4.6.

Whelan - 10/24/2007 12:05:03 PM

-4 Boost

Correction to this, the M3 is a 0-60 in 4.6, still below the 4.2 of the IS-F, not a lot, but almost a full half second. Although I am impressed that the M redlines at 8400. I give the faster 0-60 to the Lexus cause of the 8 speed automatic that shifts in 100 milliseconds, that is insanely fast.

reply to this comment

Kinger - 10/24/2007 12:28:16 PM

+3 Boost

EVO magazine managed a 4.3 second run in the new M3.

Hwany - 10/24/2007 12:39:05 PM

+2 Boost

lol Audi's DSG is 20 milliseconds which is alot faster. Also, AMG had their own auto which shifts as fast as 100mill for a long time. So nothing new here.

JRobUSC - 10/24/2007 3:13:38 PM

+1 Boost

I've seen 4.1 and 4.2 for the M3, and 4.2 for the RS4. I'm sure the C63 is just as quick, if not quicker. So no, the Lexus isn't quicker, they're all about the same.

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 10/25/2007 11:45:46 AM

+1 Boost

VAG DSG shifts in about 8ms. The one in the Veyron does it in 6ms.

Whelan - 10/24/2007 1:17:30 PM

+1 Boost

Well I'm not sure what you would like me to quote. I don't own any of them and I don't have a G-Tech Pro at my disposal either. I'm going by both factory and magazine cause it's all I have to go on.

On another note, I never said one was better than the other, just sharing random factual numbers I found across the internet at places like Edmunds, Car and Driver, MT, etc.

All that aside, 0-60 is very much more important to someone like me than a 1/4 mile. Why, well #1 I don't do quarter mile racing, #2 the area I live in, have fun finding a straight quarter mile on CT roads without a turn or light or sign. And #3 the parkway here requires you to stop completely before entering. So for me, entering and getting to a highway speed is fairly important.

All that aside, Hwany and the comment
"wow how smart do you have to compare the magazine time and the factory time?"

Actually I am fairly smart, but like I said. I don't have any of these cars at my fingers so how exactly am I supposed to find the numbers. Where do you get your numbers, oh that's right, probably from a magazine as well. Times are relative genius, even 1/4's can be different by a full second or more depending on the driver.

reply to this comment

DaHarder - 10/24/2007 1:29:29 PM

+1 Boost

I'm well with you on this one, but the naysayers Will Not and Can Not be dissuaded from bashing anything that isn't THEIR PERSONAL FAVORITE, regardless to if they've ever even driven/road-in/been-near said vehicle.

Fan-Boys Are So (Frustratingly) Funny!

S4cabriofoxone - 10/24/2007 7:15:35 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

They were obviously not driving on the highway and in the city like Edmunds was.

reply to this comment

S4cabriofoxone - 10/24/2007 9:25:54 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

Nice! The first one is hot. It looks amazing in red, white and black, IMO.

reply to this comment

JRobUSC - 10/24/2007 3:17:33 PM

+3 Boost

well of course you're not, you're a Lexus freak and everything that isn't Lexus sucks. The rest of us enthusiasts, who enjoy more than one brand of vehicle, do care. Thanks for pointing out the obvious again though.

reply to this comment

EL34 - 10/24/2007 2:45:59 PM

0 Boost

Looks like a kitted Corolla :(

reply to this comment

Porschinator - 10/24/2007 3:16:16 PM

0 Boost

Interesting..here are numbers from Edmunds:

When you pour the 5.0-liter V8's power through the highly modified eight-speed automatic transmission (from the LS 460), the 3,780-pound IS-F is good for a 4.8-second time to 60 mph on the way to a quarter-mile in 13.2 seconds at 109 mph, and it's still accelerating hard — very hard.

reply to this comment

autopro - 10/24/2007 4:08:08 PMView My AgentSpace

+6 Boost

These cars are so close in performance it going to come down to drivers.That kills about 99% of people on this site.The only game they have is running their mouth.

reply to this comment

Lexus - 10/24/2007 4:56:29 PM

+2 Boost

Unreal.....0-60 in 4.2 seconds, yeah.....go Lexus. Congratulation to Lexus and it engineering team.

Great Job Lexus

Lexus

reply to this comment

lexusis350 - 10/24/2007 5:57:32 PM

+3 Boost

Yamaha and Lexus work together on a lot of their cars, actually. The wood trim in the LS 460/600 and LX 570 is the same type of wood Yamaha uses on their grand pianos and now they're helping them with their engines. Not a bad team, in my opinion.

lexusis350 - 10/24/2007 5:57:58 PM

+1 Boost

autopro - 10/24/2007 5:01:46 PMView My AgentSpace

-3 Boost

el34
Nobody cares what you think.Now back to kicking some german ass.I hate those cockey mf's and I worked for them for 11yrs.

reply to this comment

lexusis350 - 10/24/2007 5:55:46 PM

+1 Boost

Well, it might not handle like the M3 or C63, but this is Lexus' first attempt in this class of car. I think that after a few years of producing the IS-F, they'll become better at building it and it will eventually be as good as the M3 and C63.

reply to this comment

lexusis350 - 10/24/2007 6:57:01 PM

+2 Boost

Well, they're only producing 1,000 of them to start out with. My guess is that they'll all sell.

S4cabriofoxone - 10/24/2007 7:18:33 PMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

This article is once again favorable. I will drive it. The Edmunds test left me weary, though. The RS4, C63 and M3 seem better-rounded as cars you could have fun with every day, as opposed to the IS-F which seems to have been designed for the track. The transmission is hard to ignore, though I'd rather have a manual. Again, I will drive all four. I don't care about the prices. Nothing at $60K is a "bargain" unless it's as fast as a 911 Turbo (GT-R).

reply to this comment

1evlaudi - 10/24/2007 7:18:37 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

I can not believe how many deboost I got, just for saying something that seems quite obvious; the car is not good looking, Edmunds says so too, no manual, then it's not a true sportscar, sorry, but besides in the US where drivers are lazy or just don't know how to drive a stick, a sportscar is a stick shift. And I hate to bring it again to the table, but Porsche, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, M-B have been racing since the turn of the 20th century (Horch amd Daimler-Benz) or at least early in the century (20's to 40"s). What it is, is that sportscars come from racing heritage, experience, trials and errors, and I am sorry but Toyota/Lexus does not fit that profile. Even if they are actively involved in many racing series those days...
And that is why Lexus will sell that car undercuting the germans price wise.
So, sorry, all the posers and kids on this site that think they know everything about cars, but the "F" is a good try, no doubt about it, but numbers are just numbers, if I am going to spend more than $55K on a sports car, I want some racing lineage. I'd rather get a STI or an Evo., they are cheaper and they have the racing heritage.

reply to this comment

theonemikahel - 10/24/2007 8:27:32 PM

-4 Boost

An STI or an EVO as about the same heritage as Toyota . Remember the Corolla in the WRC, GT championship in Japan and all the drift culture driving the Mount Fuji ...Nascar and F1... But I'd rather buy a porsche that still is involve in racing compare to Jaguar that is ... let's be polite. Same for the Toyota... they spent more in motorsports this year than everybody else. Can't say there not build an heritage with this.
P.S. Lexus might be copying/gunning the M3/C63 but German or copying the Italian boy... (had to put it in, sorry)

S4cabriofoxone - 10/24/2007 9:28:17 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

But what does a Corolla rallying have to do with the IS-F? It doesn't even have AWD. At least the RS4 harkens back to the urQuattro.

S4cabriofoxone - 10/24/2007 9:29:33 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

AND, BTW, how are the Germans copying the Italians? The Italian companies make sexy sports cars, not performance sedans. If anything, the Maserati Quattroporte and the latest Alfa sedans are gunning for THEM.

r15mohd - 10/25/2007 11:45:58 AM

-1 Boost

sorry to disappoint you evilaudi but if you look at the sports oriented vehciles coming out nowadays...you'll see they are all involving a sports auto variation, which is producing better numebrs than any manual version could

no human can imitate millisecond gear shift thru clutching down and gearing in

S4cabriofoxone - 10/25/2007 6:15:36 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

But no automatic can duplicate the connection with your vehicle that a manual transmission gives you.

EnvyofyouRS5 - 10/24/2007 10:21:56 PM

0 Boost

ill take an rs4 m3 over this anyday, id take this over an is though. In a class section, i would have to say lexus is way behind , in dynamics, and experience to keep up with the track/race scene something BMW and Audi are Champions for. 001 ,009,008 , compare these 3 already, or am i going to have to?!

reply to this comment

chewy - 10/24/2007 11:24:33 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

I'll wait for a follow up C/D test. This posted the same times as a 800 pound lighter Corvette that has more power, more tire, and more torque.

The two other reviews were at least 1/2 second slower.

reply to this comment

BMWreplicat - 10/25/2007 2:59:29 AM

-1 Boost

Not the first time Yamaha has done a toyota engine...the celica GTS, matrix xrts, and corolla xrs engine has heads designed and built by yamaha as well.

'07 Team Blue R6 FTMWF!

PS.. ISF = Ugly, heavy, auto, pig.. it nor the C63 or the RS4 can turn like ANY M!!! ANY M.. The beast M5 is only 200lbs more that those POS'

reply to this comment

answer - 10/25/2007 10:34:12 AMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

You sound like you are a designer for the M line of cars.

Your're not.

So calm down.

S4cabriofoxone - 10/25/2007 6:20:03 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

The RS4 handles better than the M5. At least, that's what Edmunds said when they compared the two sedans.

answer - 10/25/2007 10:38:10 AMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

Wow.

I have been a fan of Lexus for a long time, and while the performance of the IS-F is fine, the exhaust simply ruins the car.

The IS-F was supposed to be a real M3 fighter, but whoever decided to release the car with the tacky bumper fascia exhaust (disguising the real exhaust outlets) should be fired. The quad exhaust idea is fine, why not just finish it correctly?

That just shows Lexus wasn't really serious this time. That one detail is tacky, cheap, and does nothing but promote the "Lexus is a poser" mentality.

Utterly disappointing.

reply to this comment

r15mohd - 10/25/2007 11:49:44 AM

+1 Boost

the quad does imitat the exhaust itself if i'm not mistaken...instead of being dual side-to-side design as normal dual exhausts, the lexus is stacked...so the tail pipes line up correctly, they just dont connect to the exhaust itself.

but its a trend i guess, we already sea mansory using the design on aston martins'

r15mohd - 10/25/2007 11:50:26 AM

+1 Boost

see*

henbmw - 10/25/2007 10:46:49 AM

+1 Boost

It cuts out at 6800 rpm? Pretty weak for a car of this capabilities, if you ask me.

reply to this comment

kdawg - 10/25/2007 1:07:48 PM

-1 Boost

Where's the manual tranny? Oh I forgot, cars are going the way of Apple products, dumbed down for the generation Y folk. Enjoy your 60k slush-box.

reply to this comment

S4cabriofoxone - 10/25/2007 6:13:25 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

So a needlessly complicated and virus-ridden Microsoft is for more "skilled" users??? Ha!

1evlaudi - 10/25/2007 3:27:56 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

sorry r15mohd,

yes I agrre with you, let me remind you however that the dual clutch, like the DSG found in VW and Audis, and now the new Evo's, comes from racing, Audi had dual clutch back in the mid 80's in the quattro S1 rally cars, where power and speed were so much that even yhe best drivers could not shift fast enough. But this exactly prove my point, sportscars do come from racing heritage/experience...

reply to this comment

chris357 - 10/25/2007 5:40:00 PM

+1 Boost

First I will admit I'm not really a lexus fan, but i like the new IS's in general. I also think that for a first time out of the box with a performance car such as this you have to give lexus alot of credit. I think they will do a great job merketing it and it will sell very well. I also think Infiniti is under rated but they also have such a lousy marketing department that even if they did come out with a competitor that was superior it woudl still in comparison be a flop. All that said, there is still something different about the drive of a/any BMW over many other cars that just makes them more fun(in my opinion) I'm also curious to see how Lexus' reliability holds up for this car with all of the performance enhancements .. do the 2 really go hand in hand?performance/reliability

reply to this comment

Porschinator - 10/25/2007 10:27:06 PM

+1 Boost

http://image.automobilemag.com/f/reviews/lexus/7231138/0710_10_z+2008_lexus_is-f+data_chart.jpg

reply to this comment

markymark - 10/27/2007 12:17:18 PM

+1 Boost

I wish we could see a picture of an IS350 and IS-F side by side.

reply to this comment

To post a comment for this story, you must first Login.

If you do not have an account, you will need to Register (It's Free!).

	LexusKindaGuy12
	View My AgentPage