	carnuts
	View My AgentPage

New IS-F M3 C63 Comparo, MotorTrend

carnuts submitted on 03/14/2008 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 3:06 AM
from: www.motortrend.com

[145] user comments | category: Reviews

Print this Page |

Digg It |

del.icio.us

New IS-F M3 C63 Comparo, MotorTrend

Comparison: 2008 BMW M3 vs. 2008 Lexus IS F vs. 2008 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

"The C63's turn-in is crisp, with plenty of honest feedback and a meaty feel."

"Lexus equips the IS F with electric power steering, which isn't as organic as a good hydraulic system. It's fine for normal to moderate driving, but loses sensitivity when you're really honking it. The IS F's cornering abilities are impressive, but the car understeers heavily at the limit, and the wheel feels disconnected at that point."

"The BMW's tiller is about as quick as the others but a bit lighter. Its communication is even clearer than the C63's, with plenty of true road feel."

"Constant grip levels range between 0.95 g (Lexus and Mercedes) to 0.97 for the BMW, so call this area a tie. Braking is much the same, with just a five-foot spread covering the three cars. Real-world driving reveals the differences."

"The C63 is a good overall handler, with a stiffish, performance-oriented ride. It corners well, lets you know where it's going, and will happily stick its tail out if provoked."

"The IS F feels aggressive yet poised unless you're pushing it. It stays neutral right until its cornering limits and then plows hard. High-speed mid-corner bumps will unsettle it a bit, but again only when really on it."

"Balance is again the word that describes the M3. It was the quickest through our figure-eight test, which combines acceleration, braking, transition cornering, and grip. The BMW is the most agile and athletic of the bunch."

"Two areas stand out here: seats and steering wheels. In keeping with its ballsy nature, the C63 has firm, thickly bolstered front buckets. A few said they're too hard, too aggressive for the street, yet they were everyone's favorite when on the racetrack. The BMW's seating is comfy for street work, but doesn't have enough support to keep you planted during really hard cornering. Rookie Lexus's chairs are a reasonable compromise between the two."

"A couple of clunky design elements let it down, and its steering and suspension calibrations aren't as well synthesized at the limit as the others. As the IS F costs no less than the German duo, there's no value card to be thrown."

"BMW's magnificent M3 is the newest in a 20-plus-year line and is the best one yet. A performer by any measure, and its best-in-test times on the racetrack and through our figure-eight test demonstrate that its various aspects work together better than the others. The BMW is lithe and athletic yet never punishing, and it comes in a package you can use and enjoy every day."

"Lexus fell a few steps short inside. The console and other areas are splashed with an aluminized carbon-fiber-looking stuff that won't be to everyone's taste. And the nav screen and buttons come right out of the Prius, although the setup works well enough."

Motor Trend Comparo Results

1st Place - BMW M3

2nd Place - MERCEDES-BENZ C63 AMG

3rd Place - LEXUS IS F

Link:
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sports/112_0805_bmw_m3_lexus_is_f_mercedes_c63_amg_comparison/index.html

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]

delan - 3/14/2008 3:19:31 AMView My AgentSpace

+13 Boost

Yawn, how predictable!

reply to this comment

carnuts - 3/14/2008 3:27:30 AM

+12 Boost

yep, I agree. The IS-F hasn't won one comparo, you think it would win this one.

Last Place!

BIGgunzBlazin - 3/14/2008 3:42:20 AM

+9 Boost

Last Place, Ouch.

Porschinator - 3/17/2008 3:06:17 PM

+2 Boost

Well it is Lexus's first attempt. BMW and MB have been doing this for years upon years. And it shows! M3 does rock.

carnuts - 3/14/2008 3:28:28 AM

+17 Boost

They even ripped on the IS-F interior.

"Lexus fell a few steps short inside. The console and other areas are splashed with an aluminized carbon-fiber-looking stuff that won't be to everyone's taste. And the nav screen and buttons come right out of the Prius, although the setup works well enough"

The last argument the Lex fanboys fall onto, sorry.

reply to this comment

Mercedes - 3/14/2008 3:45:11 AM

+13 Boost

Tacky Lexus stuff as usual I guess. Just like all those Pebble Beach editions. Tasteless luxury for tastefully challenged.

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 3/15/2008 5:21:19 AM

+2 Boost

The Japanese try to mimick European luxury, look at the LS460 there is nothing Japanese about it. It has no soul. It just tries to be someone else

carnuts - 3/14/2008 3:29:59 AM

+6 Boost

Knotch up another win for the M3 in a comparo.

The IS-F isn't even a match for the C63.

reply to this comment

abcd - 3/14/2008 5:09:04 AM

-10 Boost

yes it can match becouse it was faster on 2.7-mi Road course lap with 2 min, 38.6 sec than C63 - 2 min, 39.0 sec despite less power and less straight line acceleration , M3 was the fastest .
Here is also one interesting citation:
"Today's BMW shifters are what they are: not mushy, but with a disconnected feel about them, as if the stick were the size of a straw. We'd wish for something more like what you'd find in a Porsche Carrera, Mitsu Evo, or MX-5. "
Not everything is good in M3. IS-F gearbox is brilliant , 0,1 sec shifting time only ferrari can beat this , even twin clutch gearboxes are slower . probably becouse of that gearbox it was faster that C63

JRobUSC - 3/14/2008 8:04:38 AM

+14 Boost

abcd, you've erroneously said in several threads now that the Lexus automatic shifting in 100ms is faster than every other transmission, including dual clutches. That's wrong. First off, there are other regular automatic transmissions that shift in 100ms, including the Mercedes 7GTRONIC in the C63 and BMW's Sport Steptronic in the 5 and 6-series (and soon the rest of the lineup). So the Lexus transmission isn't even the fastest automatic, let alone dual clutches, which are faster than ALL automatics. Dual clutch transmissions, by nature of the fact that they are can engage the next gear while still in the previous gear (that's the "dual clutch" part), shift virtually instanaeously. You're talking 15ms, or less than 1/6 the amount of time it takes to shift in an automatic.

Monk - 3/14/2008 12:39:44 PMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

don't listen to abcd
he only can count to 4 letters

stash84 - 3/14/2008 6:14:16 PM

-3 Boost

monk- youre retarted, people dont count letters, they count numbers..maybe youre just "euro"

abcd - 3/14/2008 7:06:56 PM

-3 Boost

I didn`t write that is-f transmission is the faster than every other transmission , you said that bmw and mercedes shifts in 100ms so it is the same time as is-f , so they don`t beat is-f , i said that only ferrari beat is-f so it`s true . dual clutch : yes it can be much faster if it has prepared gear that you want to engage but if you want engage other gear that is prepared that shift take 0,4 sec e.g. when gearbox is prepared to upshift but you want to downshift . and 2.7-mi Road course lap : it`s clearly show that M3 is faster than is-f , C63 and that is-f is faster than C63 despite less power and worse straight line acceleration - DTM construction "influence" didn`t help mercedes

carnuts - 3/14/2008 8:49:34 PM

+1 Boost

abcd

Lap times

M3 - 154.2 sec.

C63 - 158.0 3.8 sec. back

IS-F - 158.6 4.4 sec. back

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sports/112_0805_bmw_m3_lexus_is_f_mercedes_c63_amg_comparison/photo_16.html

SO, YOU ARE WRONG.

The IS-F had the slowest time.

abcd - 3/15/2008 5:08:14 AM

0 Boost

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sports/112_0805_bmw_m3_lexus_is_f_mercedes_c63_amg_comparison/specifications.html
here are said that numbers:
2.7-mi Road course lap M3-2 min, 34.2 sec ;IS-F-2 min, 38.6 sec ;C63-2 min, 39.0 sec
ok , maybe they do mistake rewriting times and C63 is a little faster than is-f , but we can look at the Weight to power ratio: M3-8.8 lb/hp ;IS-F-9.2 lb/hp ;C63-8.9 lb/hp . i think that is the reason of that 0,6sec . so what conclusion might we deduce: racing in DTM don`t help constructing better performance cars than cars that don`t even racing anywhere

BIGgunzBlazin - 3/14/2008 3:43:16 AM

+6 Boost

Nice article, they go into good detail about each car.

M3 is a great car. I would take the monster C63.

reply to this comment

528i - 3/14/2008 4:25:06 AMView My AgentSpace

+11 Boost

you got to give Lexus creadit for trying. But the m3 is the king.

reply to this comment

07G35J - 3/14/2008 11:23:00 AM

+1 Boost

I agree, and it was a nice first try. I'm sure they'll go back to the drawing board and try again.

Hantra - 3/14/2008 12:09:40 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

Sure they tried. But to try with a chromed out Corolla is just. . embarrassing.

MunichRob - 3/14/2008 6:07:11 AMView My AgentSpace

-1 Boost

Exactly I would desire to own an IS-F if it wasn't for the M3 & basically all of its other competitors being the C63 & RS4.

The IS-F is a great 1st try you can't deny that, especially for a platform that wasn't even originally built for a V-8.

reply to this comment

SX123 - 3/14/2008 8:40:48 AM

-8 Boost

Where is American?

vman1013 - 3/16/2008 10:45:40 AM

0 Boost

The CTS-V could be considered a competitor. And in the next year or so the CTS-V Coupe comes out. Otherwise there are no other American competitors I can think of.

SX123 - 3/14/2008 8:41:14 AM

Show Comment -18 Boost

SX123 - 3/14/2008 8:42:41 AM

Show Comment -18 Boost

SX123 - 3/14/2008 8:45:14 AM

Show Comment -19 Boost

Mate - 3/14/2008 8:50:47 AM

+5 Boost

I dont know if anybody gives, but have you seen what the IS-F's engine looks like under that grotesque plastic cover? What a mess. I like all three cars, and by all means i wouldn't mind having any of them. Yet, i think the Lexus is dynamically challenged; both in styling and handling. The BMW sets the benchmark in terms of dynamics.

reply to this comment

LexSucks - 3/15/2008 11:09:18 PM

+2 Boost

I saw that picture in the car mag. The IS-F motor looked horrible without the engine cover. It was disgusting.

NItePhire - 3/14/2008 8:56:15 AM

+8 Boost

Does anyone know if Infiniti will ever come out with its own performance badge. IMO I think that they would defeat or come closer to topping the M3 than the other candidates.

reply to this comment

07G35J - 3/14/2008 11:27:23 AM

+3 Boost

I would LOVE to see Infiniti enter this field. I don't know about them defeating the M3, but I'm sure they would make one fine contender.

GTR35 - 3/14/2008 1:03:55 PMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

I heard a few months back that Infiniti was planning on using the VR38TT used on the GTR as an option for the G and M class. Lets hope they do.

As this comparison goes... I am so glad that all those Toyota fans are no longer in Autospies like they were last year Praising the then-non-existing IS-F. As far as I'm concerned the IS-F is still Non-Existing.

stash84 - 3/14/2008 6:11:07 PM

+3 Boost

i heard a couple YEARS back the g35 was going to come out with TT..but then they made the gtr. the 3.8tt would be great. id definitely jump on that because the G is beautiful

enthusiastx11 - 3/14/2008 10:48:30 AM

+2 Boost

"The Lexus and the Mercedes feel like performance versions created out of something else. The M3 feels like it was born this way." Ed Loh's summary is even more succinct: "The Lexus and Mercedes are great hot-rod sedans. The M3 is a race car with four doors."

all impressive cars...but that pretty much sums it up.

reply to this comment

S4cabriofoxone - 3/16/2008 2:02:32 AMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

I want this.

Again.

1995e34 - 3/14/2008 10:53:52 AM

-5 Boost

i didn't even read the article, but i can recite it verbatim.

reply to this comment

BMW4me4ever - 3/14/2008 10:57:54 AMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

BMW M3 ( 3 ) vs Lexus IS-F ( 0 ) ... Can we go through a clean sweep?

reply to this comment

GTR35 - 3/14/2008 1:42:19 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

Clean sweep it is.

IS3andME - 3/14/2008 11:09:06 AM

-1 Boost

The results were predictable. I didn't think Lexus was going to beat the M3 or even the C class AMG on it's first try. It did well, the German fanboys were scared and holding their collective breaths when the IS came out and were waiting for the reviews, And now they sing songs of glee. This just means that there is more competition, and Lexus will of course continue to strive to perfection. But here;s a question, if the IS-F did win some comparos, wouldn't that mean that the next M3 would be a beast? Gentleman, competition improves the breed. Had the M3 been the only game in town, it would not be as good as it is now.

reply to this comment

BMW4me4ever - 3/14/2008 11:18:07 AMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

That is not entirely true. The M3 has been around longer than the Audi RS4 & the Mercedes C-class AMG. The M3 is the benchmark for this segment. It is the car that everyone strives to beat. I do agree that competition brings out the best in the companies. This is the Best M3 that BMW has ever produced. YOu have to go drive one, it is something magnificent. The engine is a work or art in the sound it produces.

1995e34 - 3/14/2008 12:11:14 PM

+3 Boost

"the German fanboys were scared and holding their collective breaths when the IS came out and were waiting for the reviews"

.....very poetic, but dead wrong

BMW4me4ever - 3/14/2008 11:11:58 AMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

Wow, I knew the Lexus was smaller, but didnt realize it was that much smaller. 4" of rear seat leg room, 1" of less headroom and 2" of shoulder room.

reply to this comment

answer - 3/14/2008 11:18:12 AMView My AgentSpace

+6 Boost

Seriously though, when you're testing these three cars there is no loser.

They each kick all kinds of ass, just in different flavors.

reply to this comment

Corcoran - 3/15/2008 1:21:01 PM

0 Boost

agreed

EL34 - 3/14/2008 11:40:38 AM

-1 Boost

Congratulations to all 3 cars and especially to the whelp.

reply to this comment

germeezy2 - 3/14/2008 11:52:52 AM

-6 Boost

Those times were on the slow side for the C63, the reality is its a step above from the other two in actual performance with times as fast as 3.9 0-60.
The IS-F is a good effort but still not class competitive. Which still amazes me because the first gen CTS-V did win several comparo's against the M cars.

reply to this comment

IS3andME - 3/14/2008 12:23:41 PM

0 Boost

thank 1995e34, but I think it was true. I was never the one who siad that the IS-F was going to beat the M3, I waited for the actually results. But it seems that the German car fans were waiting to here that the beloved M3 was still on top. I knew it would be. They have been doing this for how long? Lexus made a base hit, not a home run.

THe Lexus fanboys failed to realize , that the Lexus engineers even stated that this was a different way of approaching the small luxury sports sedan market. My guess is that they are waiting to fix certain problems that they were criticized for and make the IS-F coupe (if that will ever come out) a whole lot better. Although, by that time the M3 CSL will be out, and Lexus probably will miss the mark again. Lexus tends to take too long in car development, there is one thing about getting it right, then there is another thing about missing your target, because the M3 is always on the move.

reply to this comment

Whelan - 3/14/2008 12:24:34 PM

+1 Boost

I'll read the full article when it comes out in the magazine. Don't want to spoil too much. I feel the 1, 2, 3 was justified being that the IS-F is the brand new guy in the market, for them to come in and literally crush out the M3 and C63 would be blasphemous. Although I must give credit to Lexus for it's first attempt. Even though it has yet to win a comparo, many reviews still give Lexus validity in stating they have created a good, competant first model for this range. It will be interesting to see what they do for future variants.

As for the M3 and C63, nothing really new. The M3 is more tight and sportier in terms of steering response and seating and balance. The C63 has always been a little more on the luxo side with more comfort appeal. The Lexus seems to be trying to pry itself midway between the MB and BMW, but it seems to have fallen a little short.

All in all still a great comparo and I think Lexus did a decent job for their first run.

reply to this comment

recca7 - 3/14/2008 12:30:12 PM

0 Boost

keep bringing in the camparo's, i highly doubt there will be one where this IS-F trumps all 3 cars..where are those fanboys now? couple months ago all those arragonant fools could do was rant on about how it's going to "the king" of this segment without an ounce of proof, they relied on hype and speculation, plus little clips of it going around laguna...well finally we have actual tests and facts, i hope you fanboys are reading this and have learned to keep your mouth shut about who the winner is going to be, until facts are presented

reply to this comment

BMW4me4ever - 3/14/2008 1:10:50 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

Xero .. fuel efficientcy goes to the BMW .. MT fuel consumption was 19.7 M3, 17.9 IS-F ... Also, it doesnt say that the ISF is the best daily driver. The M3 handled better, was quicker around the track and has a perfect sprts car balance. The whole point of the test was to take it to a track to find out what the Best Sports Sedan is. The test wasnt to find out which one is more comfortable to drive from Chicago to LA.

reply to this comment

abcd - 3/14/2008 7:15:48 PM

+4 Boost

better lap time isn`t pointless attempt , in performance cars better lap time have a point

reply to this comment

LE34 - 3/14/2008 1:03:40 PMView My AgentSpace

+4 Boost

There are few car lovers here writing in this site. I'm wonder why we're waiting for some magazines to test the cars which are available to drive by ourself in the dealers. I've already tested the new M3 for two days. My impression: It's fantastic, however i've felt some strange vibrations on higspeed in the steering wheel but maybe it was beacause of the tires. At the end of this month, the ISF will be available here in Switzerland to test drive and i'll do that. I'll make my opinion on those cars insted of accepting every thing that the car magazines say(i've to try myself). I still hasitate between this two cars and will take my decision after trying the ISF.

reply to this comment

Corcoran - 3/15/2008 1:30:22 PM

+3 Boost

Thank you, finally. I drive an 06' M3 and have been carefully considering the new m3. (Hypothetically, I always have been but much more seriously within the last few months) I have yet to test one since none are available in my area but I've heard from those that have that something is "lacking" in the new platform.

What is it exactly? I've driven the 07' 330, 330Xi and the 335 and I can't pin it to one single objective quality... Mind you, I drive a BMW but am not a fanboy of any brand. Please help.

LE34 - 3/15/2008 2:42:54 PMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

I've drove it for more that 300km. I just give my impression absolutly neutraly, here are some points:

+ It's a real pleasure to drive it
+ The driver is in direct contact with this car
+ It seems to be alive
+ It's poised at high speed
+ The engine sound is beautiful at low and normal rev
+ Very pleasant when you push the pedal at highspeed
+ The manual tanny and the clatch were fantastic

- There is some strange vibrations in the steering wheel at speed.
- The cars is very agressive and few times in the city(Geneva) when i pushed it the rear of the car lost the control and i strated to very careful, but i think you get used to it
- I didn't like the dashboard and the inside but it's probably subjective
- It becomes totaly wild when you push it at low speed, so we were two in the car and the other guy have not realy appriciate.

All in all it's a great car, i realy liked it. I'll try the ISF in two weeks and take my decision between these two. By the way, actualy i drive a Z4 wich is a pure pleasure.

PS: Sorry for my bad english.

Corcoran - 3/15/2008 9:30:39 PM

+2 Boost

LE34, thanks for the reply. Please don't apologize for your grammar; its nice to read a post from someone who actually drives and enjoys the cars that everyone here gets so pissy about.

Its kind of interesting; I wrote a review of my M3 back in April of 2006 before I bought it and your thoughts on the new M3 are very similar to that of mine in 2006. For example, the clutch feel and gearbox was direct and sharp, the car was a pain in the ass to drive in a city, and high speed maneuvering was scary... things that you slowly get used to if you know what you are doing. However the M3 has always had these attributes, and this is what makes it truly special to drive.

My friend is giving me crap because he knows he can outperform me in his chipped 08' 335 as well as pay much less. (He thinks he can, with light suspension modifications, beat the new m3 around the VIR) My reply was: "well, thats fine. You're not driving an M3." I know my comment lacks any objective credibility or the numbers to back it up, but thats what it ends up being...

I digress..

LE34, my last question for you, i promise, is if you drove the RS4 for comparison. I actually thought about selling the M3 to buy a new RS4 because the engine was that good. What are your thoughts? If the ISF fails to move you, is the new m3 the only choice?

p.s.: Z4? Thats one fun car to drive!

LE34 - 3/16/2008 5:41:56 AMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

I still haven't drive the RS4. Though i believe that Audi's are excellent cars, i'm more interested about M3 and ISF. But you give me a good idea here.I will test drive it and can of course give my personal impressions in this site.
If the ISF fails to move me, i'll buy the M3. But to be honest i'm also thinking about the new GT-R and this from last monday when i was in Geneva Auto show. The great point about the GT-R is that the price is more or less same as ISF and M3 but the hic is that we've to wait one year to receive it, because the production for europe will start from december 08.

Threepoint1415926 - 3/14/2008 1:47:08 PM

+2 Boost

*Waiting patiently for my copy in the mail to read* I think I'm with Clarkson on this one... I'll take mine in AMG form please! M3 may be a more dynamic car but I like monstrous brutes that want to eat my head off.

reply to this comment

theoptimisticpessimist - 3/14/2008 3:10:59 PM

-3 Boost

XeroK00L, Yeah I would have believed that if you had brought up the 1/4 miles speed.

BMW4me4ever - 3/14/2008 2:12:44 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

psst the boss, the difference is the EPA gas mileage for the highway is 19 M3 vs 20 ISF. You are right that makes all the difference in the world. Anyone who is anyone that owns a BMW knows that their cars get significantly better gas mileage on the highway than what the EPA states.

Is that the only arguement for the lexus fans. lmao ... M3 ( 3 ) vs IS-F ( 0 ) ...

reply to this comment

JRobUSC - 3/14/2008 2:54:45 PM

+3 Boost

for crying out loud Xero. Gas mileage? These are essentially race cars for the street, and now you're resorting to gas mileage? No one buying these cars is going to make the decision based on gas mileage.

Look, the IS-F came in last. Again. The M3 came in first. Again. There, done, end of story, no selective anything. Just deal with it already and get over it, it's not the end of the world.

reply to this comment

theoptimisticpessimist - 3/14/2008 3:06:16 PM

+1 Boost

XeroK00L "Talk about selective data"
AHAHAHAHAHA

Selective data, you bring up the percentage of city fuel economy (which BMW beat in the real world) and one of the only performances stats the IS-F did better in.

ROTFLMA, let me catch my breath, man you should do stand up.

reply to this comment

theoptimisticpessimist - 3/14/2008 3:12:30 PM

0 Boost

XeroK00L, Yeah I would have believed that if you had brought up the 1/4 miles speed.

reply to this comment

TurboSpyder - 3/14/2008 2:40:17 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

MT: "As the IS F costs no less than the German duo, there's no value card to be thrown."

On the rare occasions that a Japanese car wins one of these comparos it's usually on that feature. Cut the price by $10,000 Lexus and you may have a winner on your hands.

reply to this comment

BMW4me4ever - 3/14/2008 3:40:10 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

Xero .. I know it is hard for you, but still your IS-F is 0 and 3 vs the M3. Gas mileage is your best justification for why the IS-F is better. Come on that is ridiculous. The M3 bested the IS-F on a track not once but twice recently by more than 1 1/2 seconds per lap. The M3 is has a much larger cabin presence for people that want to actually drive it on the streets with people in the car( even though you say it is more comfortable to drive everyday ). The M3 out handles the IS-F by a pretty wide margin. Acceleration in this test is a dead heat, 0 to 60 or 1/4 mile. Yes, the trap speed was higher in the lexus, but the times were the same. Gas mileage in the tests has averaged higher for the M3, than the Lexus.

Designer1 - 3/14/2008 3:21:46 PM

+1 Boost

Very good results for the IS-F as a first try. I'm sure that if the IS-F is tuned a bit it will sit on top, e.g. increase the revs to get more power, make the suspencion stiffer to help in corner limits.

But when looking at the last page or the results, its was interesting to see the M3 slowing down in higher speeds, and also how incredible the Lexus can manage better fuel consumption and low CO2 and still produce so much power.

So its a matter of balancing the equation, and at any day I would chose a Lexus over any of the two.

P.S. one comment made me laugh is the complain about the IS-F's interior, I assure you that if that aluminum was in either one of the Germen it would've been praised. I think the IS-F's interior is WAY nicer than the other two. One thing I do like about the C63's interior and that's the steering wheel, I think something like that will be a killer inside the beautiful IS-F interior.

In short, although the IS-F is put last, but there're are many aspects that are not covered, but the last page shows them. So, good job for Lexus for a first attempt.

reply to this comment

enthusiastx11 - 3/14/2008 4:22:26 PM

+1 Boost

good enough doesn't cut it among the world's best performance sedans. and if all lexus had to do was tweak a few things as you say...why didn't they?

and about this comment: "I assure you that if that aluminum was in either one of the Germen it would've been praised." it's not aluminum. it's some sort of PLASTIC made to look like aluminum. so cheesy.

Designer1 - 3/15/2008 10:21:45 AM

-1 Boost

That's called, product life cycle. Every product when comes to market it gets modified and improved in the upcoming versions. So yes, I'm sure Lexus engineers will take points into considerations and fix them, because I'm sure they don't want the IS-F tag name to fail since other models will follow after this.

As for the plastic looking aluminum material or what ever it is; my point is that it really looks nice and if it was in the BMW or MB it WOULD'VE been praised. Take for instance the similar looking material that's in the M3 dashboard, its ugly but was it mentioned? Of course not.

amazinBimmer - 3/14/2008 4:50:49 PM

-3 Boost

1) M3 wins. of course.

2) they forgot to say...4th place: VW RS4. Or was that just a given?

reply to this comment

ThierryHenry14 - 3/14/2008 8:05:23 PM

+1 Boost

so do you actually drive a BMW?

S4cabriofoxone - 3/16/2008 2:03:08 AMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

The RS4 was discontinued. All RS cars are sold for one year only, at least in the US.

carnuts - 3/14/2008 8:44:09 PM

+1 Boost

Xerokool is down to his last straw, "fuel mileage".

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And no Xero, the IS-F is not the best daily driver, READ THE ARTICLE.

"It's the most fun on a road course, yet is never rough-edged or jarring."

"The BMW is lithe and athletic yet never punishing, and it comes in a package you can use and enjoy every day."

Did I read that right the M3 is quote: "it comes in a package you can use and enjoy every day."

Let make sure you read that right Xero "EVERY DAY".

Xero get over it, the IS-F is the worst in the segment.

reply to this comment

lyonboy - 3/14/2008 11:47:42 PM

+1 Boost

Let us not forget how ugly the IS-F is! The other cars look so much better.

reply to this comment

IS3andME - 3/15/2008 12:20:24 AM

+2 Boost

Funny how I get deboosted for giving the M3 props and saying, that is a "moving target"

I wonder if people so biased that common sense is not used.

reply to this comment

Jaybrn - 3/15/2008 3:17:40 AM

+1 Boost

I cant wait to see DKG equipped M3 tests since these cars are expected to be even quicker but in the real world, an enthusiast will likely have fun with any one of these cars. Lexus makes a good case for a performance car even if it isnt the best but I still take the bimmer for the handling and road feel

reply to this comment

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 3/15/2008 5:19:42 AM

0 Boost

Last place again.

But hey forgive Lexus for not having the heritage the Germans have in building these type of cars. Even though they're all copies of the M3. But I don't care.

reply to this comment

StickShiftCamry - 3/15/2008 1:01:35 PM

-3 Boost

not bad, lost cuz of subjective reasons. Acceleration and speed is same or better than M3.

reply to this comment

carnuts - 3/15/2008 10:59:02 PM

+2 Boost

IS-F was 4.4 seconds slower in lap time.

It got WORKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

huu76 - 3/15/2008 2:37:40 PM

-5 Boost

Wow, did you find this comparo all by yourself?

Look at the raw test data and all 3 cars basically come out with the same performance numbers. When one does win (meaning a noticeable difference) the other two basically tie.
Acceleration, braking, grip, all virtual ties. The M3 wins the mpg because its the lightest and has the smallest engine (big surprise there).

Lexus' seats are a reasonable compromise between the BMW's fat ass chairs, and the C63's racing setup. The only overly negative thing they said was that the Lexus' interior may not be for everyone.

"As the IS F costs no less than the German duo, there's no value card to be thrown."
Funny that it's BMW now that has to play the value card.

Once again, when numbers can't give you a clear winner, they go back in time and remind themselves that on the 7th day, God declared BMW the benchmark because BMW told him/her so.

When the IS-F retune does beat the M3, they'll call it a tie (which we've already seen before when the IS350 beats the 335i).

reply to this comment

theoptimisticpessimist - 3/15/2008 5:21:22 PM

+3 Boost

"which we've already seen before when the IS350 beats the 335i."

When did this happen? What review? Did Lexus pay for it?