Is The Lexus IS-F Worth the Sum Of Its Parts?

Now that the media blitz about the IS-F is over, it is time to sort the facts from the fiction. How good is the IS-F? Or better yet is it worth more than the sum of its parts?

First of all I want to say the IS-F is a credible entry in to the up scale Uber-Sedan market. Luxurious, quick, and by most accounts a pretty competent all around performer. Simply put, the IS-F is unlike any Lexus ever produced. But is it a real value?

We do know how it stacks up against the fellow Uber- Sedans and to be quite honest it fares pretty well, in most categories the margin of error between drivers can tip the scales either way. But how does this stack up to something like a standard IS350? Using the averages of the new IS-F from Motor Trend, Car and Driver and Edmunds tests on both models we get the following table:

With a 0-60 average of just over 4.5 seconds and a ¼ mile time of 12.97 seconds the IS-F seemed to have proved its merits on the drag strip. The standard Brembo brakes also seem to be very impressive shortening 60-0 stopping distances about 15 feet over compared to its IS 350 sibling. Even the cornering g’s have been upped by .08. The only downside is that the big V8 and 8 speed transmission tag on an additional 288lbs to the package. Now if there is an Achilles Heel for the IS-F it seems to be the added weight.

So by buying the IS-F we see significant improvements on most fronts, but at what price? A well equipped IS350 will hover at about $40,000 and the IS-F will set you back at least $60,000 if no premiums are attached. This leaves us with a pretty hefty difference of at least $20,000.

So if you want the performance you must pay the price, because you really don’t have a choice? Maybe not.

If you stroll over to our good friends at Club Lexus and read the IS forums, you will definitely will see there are alternatives. Actually with amazingly few modifications a garden variety IS 350 can actually beat the IS-F in the ¼ mile. To add insult to injury, if you follow the link provided, you will find to do that it will take under $1200 of parts and set of rear tires to break into the high 12 second range matching the IS-F!

Impossible you say?

Proof is in seeing so to speak. For about $1200 in parts and a good wrench, the average guy on the street in an IS350 can now seriously play with the big boys. Actually just plop down a set of sticky tires on all four corners and that .08g in lateral acceleration advantage the IS-F holds is history, also half of that 16 ft stopping power is probably gone as well. The rest is easily solved with better brake pads. But now that isn’t apples to apples, now is it? So if you really want to match the IS-F in overall braking, you can shell out an additional $2500 and an afternoon and bolt on your own Brembo 14 inch brakes as well. Of course you probably want a better suspension too, so toss in $250 for a set Eibach springs. Keep the struts the same though because they are they differ only with a bit heavier damping to compensate for the IS-F’s additional weight.

So what exactly would it take to match the IS-F with using an IS-F 350?

I thought you would never ask. It seems more than one individual has matched the IS-F by installing only a cold air intake, catback exhaust, and two rear tires. But we want to match the IS-F over all not just in a straight line, so to do so we would need the following:

While you can try this exercise with a lot of different cars, the cost of modifications typically exceed the cost of the faster model to begin with, making the factory offering the better deal. However the good folks over a CL showed me that this is not necessarily the case with the IS-F. Best of all the modifications will take nothing away from a standard IS350.

By the way if you aren’t handy with the tools the estimated cost of having a good wrench perform these upgrades will typically tag on $2300 to the deal. Making the worst case savings of at least $12,500 over the IS-F. But that leaves us with plenty of budget for fancy seats.

Club Lexus Thread

Google Spreadsheet link

So is the IS-F really that good? Or is the IS350 just an exceptionally better deal?