VIDEO & PICS: Lexus IS-F Burnout & Drift at Laguna Seca Raceway

XeroK00L submitted on 08/16/2007 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 5:51 PM
from: www.youtube.com

[65] user comments | category: Misc News

Tags: lexus is-f driving ride riding event first

lexus is-f driving ride riding event first

A group of 20+ lucky members of ClubLexus were lucky enough to be invited to experience rides in 3 IS-F's with professional drivers at the special Lexus Driving Experience event at Laguna Seca Raceway.

Here are some quotes from them.

VelvetBlue:
"Very awesome car. The throttle blips by itself on downshifts and upshifts are very fast and crisp. The sound is terrific and the car is really planted in the corners.
...
It was louder, faster, stiffer than any current IS. The transmission shifted in .1 sec and automatically blipped the throttle on downshifts. The driver told me the traction control has multiple settings but he said it never came on during our test drive and it even allowed the car to drift some but still did not come on."

STIG:
"The car is WOOOOOWWWWWW!!!!

The marketing guy said it will be class leading HP figure. But he did mention that when the car was developing, C63 was not in their radar. So expect the figure somewhere between RS4's and C63.

Folks, if you are thinking of getting one, go get in line. The car is absolutely insane!!

A whole different car and class from my IS350. Two thumps wayyy wayyy up!!
...
The guy kept going side ways on all the corners and the car was FLAT!!! The handling was very very impressive. The transmission was ultra quick! I was told that the only faster transmission in the production cars is Ferrari's. Quicker than SMG, and DSG. My butt meter says the car goes to 0 to 60 in well less than 5 seconds granted that there were total of 4 people in the car. The ride is a bit of the stiff side but in no way makes your teeth fall of kind of stiffness.
...
I have IS350, and like I said, the car is nothing like my IS350. IS-F is in its own class.

It sounds pretty amazing IMHO. Very beefy, think something like RS4. I personally think it even sounds better than RS4. You guys won't be disappoint. I promise.
...
There were also some BMW folks there. Very cool people. One guy I talked to has M3. After the hot lap, he told me that IS-F may well be his next car!!"

rominl:
"what a fabulous event, i was honored to be invited to the event. the is-f is an incredible machine. the gas blipping part is phenomenal, and the car shifts so fast it's completely different from the is350

car is very fast (though not scary fast) and handles very well on the track. our driver had to do a full drift on a corner, the car went beautifully. braking was strong and firm.

i talked to the pro driver, which has been driving on the track for a long time, and he said that the is-f is a very very nice machine. the shifting and gas blipping is very well done, car is extremely balanced and very easy to control. completely different animal from the is350.

i asked him if he'd ask for an auto, he said absolutely not. the shifting on the car is done very well and stick won't help much. he said earlier today he was doing a chase (for video) in another carerra and that car was no match, he had a very hard time catching up"

Follow the links below for the full stories and many more pictures.
http://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread.php?t=300507
http://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread.php?t=300628
http://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread.php?t=300564 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]

xj13 - 8/17/2007 12:18:51 AM

0 Boost

Can't wait for it, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

reply to this comment

david989 - 8/16/2007 8:09:54 PM

-6 Boost

Ladies and gentleman meet the new class leader! The Lexus IS-F! Bye bye M3!

reply to this comment

xj13 - 8/17/2007 12:17:56 AM

-3 Boost

Keep dreaming.

Bill - 8/17/2007 4:14:31 AM

-4 Boost

Oh boy...

sewingmachine - 8/16/2007 8:53:14 PM

+5 Boost

sweet.

reply to this comment

EL34 - 8/16/2007 9:05:43 PM

-5 Boost

Same old stacked tailpipes.

They lookm like stacked enchiladas.

reply to this comment

SupraNeverBack - 8/16/2007 9:13:16 PM

+2 Boost

You better get used to them because you will be always in its dust. ^o^

EL34 - 8/16/2007 9:33:36 PM

-6 Boost

There's nothing worse than someone that speeds IMHO.

I predict the morons that buy this car and speed will be pulled over to the side of the road quite often and I'll wave and honk when I drive by and give the thumbs up to my buddies the Police Officers.

rg12345 - 8/16/2007 10:10:03 PM

-1 Boost

So is this the same body kit as the is350? I don't see any difference..

reply to this comment

spadog55 - 8/16/2007 10:40:16 PM

-3 Boost

Sounds like a bunch of dorky highschool girls screaming at a highschool pep rally. How embarrasing.....

reply to this comment

Hyundai - 8/17/2007 12:53:53 AM

+4 Boost

It's a shame that people are actually passionate about a car; God forbid!

Too bad your car has let you down so many times that you forgot what it was like to be excited about one.

xj13 - 8/16/2007 11:34:51 PM

-2 Boost

RUBBISH, you think a few lexus fanboys opinion can take on the mighty M3, the M3 is a proven winner, this is-f hasn't seen one day on the road.

Get Real.

reply to this comment

xj13 - 8/16/2007 11:40:02 PM

-4 Boost

Watching the video, reminds me of the 70's muscle cars kids doing burn outs on the street, todays technology has traction control to stop this old crap happening.
I can see the is-f doing burnouts and the M3 going through the finish line.......and what’s up with those turns? Looked like hippo handling to me.

M3 you’re safe.
C63 you’re never threatened.

reply to this comment

Hyundai - 8/17/2007 12:51:46 AM

+5 Boost

You are on crack.

When the 2006 Lexus IS 350 had no override on its VDIM you guys cried foul for it having too many electronic gizmos. For 2007, Lexus added an override switch to its standard features for the IS 350.

Oh, and by the way, all the euro fans, probably yourself included, hailed Buveria up and down for its no-nonsense, screw TC attitude. You gotta get RAW craziness from the car! $%@# TC! Lexus don't let you burn out! Old geezer cars!

Now, the IS-F is burning out and all of a sudden, it is too agressive.

Make up your minds you mindless bitches!

Hyundai - 8/17/2007 12:52:22 AM

+5 Boost

Wait a second, I forgot that you were actually a troll.

I apollogize for taking you seriously!

MY BAD! :P

S4cabriofoxone - 8/17/2007 12:58:45 AMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

I'm sure it will be (yet another) magical sports sedan, but I just can't get over those stacked exhausts. They look silly.

reply to this comment

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 8/17/2007 2:35:50 AM

0 Boost

That is how Lexus wants to create personality and brand differentation. Vraiment ridicule.

Other than that I'm totally not impressed by this car, but now it has become obvious this IS-F is a competitor for the C63, which sounds so much better and is much faster.

Hyundai - 8/17/2007 2:55:22 AM

+1 Boost

"now it has become obvious this IS-F is a competitor for the C63, which sounds so much better and is much faster."

We know this.... how?

Helloooooooooooo david989, I mean, Sevor...

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 8/17/2007 6:52:52 AM

-3 Boost

IS-F versus C63
both have very fast automatic gearboxes
both have big displacement V8 engines
alot of horsepower and torque

RS4 versus M3
high-revving engine
manual gearbox

Besides 420+ hp out of 5 litres is nothing special really, especially considering the '95 BMW M5 had 400 hp out of 4.9 litres.

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 8/17/2007 12:04:04 PM

-6 Boost

I buy cars with my heart, but let's look at it from a rational point of view.

Can anybody here give me ONE good reason why he/she would buy the IS-F over an RS4, M3 or C63 AMG?

And please don't say reliability..

Will_ - 8/17/2007 12:15:50 PM

+8 Boost

Ummm... because they like it? Stop being ignorant.

Will_ - 8/17/2007 12:19:10 PM

+8 Boost

We don't even have an official hp rating on the car yet, someone may want it for its hp. Someone may want it because it looks more aggressive and sport-like over the other three. Some may buy it because they like the feel of Japanese sports cars over German ones. Some may buy it because they like the Lexus badge over the pretentious German ones. Some may buy it because they like the interior better than the others. Some may buy it because they like the features the car offers over the others. Some may buy it for the heck of being the first one to say they own a Lexus performance sedan. Some may buy it just because they have the cash.

Get over yourself. The car isn't even out yet.

bmwpowerf1 - 8/17/2007 5:05:49 AM

-3 Boost

when i 1st saw these pics. i thought it was a camry

reply to this comment

Hyundai - 8/17/2007 1:35:35 PM

0 Boost

When I saw an E55 AMG pull up to my hotel last week, I whistled at it because I thought it was a taxi...

markusck - 8/18/2007 9:01:41 AM

+1 Boost

Why? was it yellow?

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 8/17/2007 6:48:56 AM

-4 Boost

"The guy kept going side ways on all the corners and the car was FLAT!!! The handling was very very impressive. The transmission was ultra quick! I was told that the only faster transmission in the production cars is Ferrari's. Quicker than SMG, and DSG."

Why is Lexus banging on about the gearbox? It's just a 6-speed with 2 extra overdrive gears and a heavily modified final drive/ecu. It's definitely not faster than anything ZF, Borgwarner, Magneti Marelli or Ricardo has to offer!

reply to this comment

Will_ - 8/17/2007 7:21:39 AM

+8 Boost

I like how a bunch of "enthusiasts" are smacking this car down for the sake of being dickheads. You haven't driven this car, which makes your opinion even less relevant than the opinions of the people who went to the event.

Lexus looks to have a very viable competitor in this car, I guess with that comes even more hate.

reply to this comment

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 8/17/2007 12:04:56 PM

-7 Boost

Ow you tosser..

IS3andME - 8/17/2007 7:41:42 AM

+5 Boost

^^^That is what they are scared of.They are scared that Lexus actually has a competitor. Come on people, you knew Lexus was going to do its homework and not come out with a lame car. If BMW, Mercedes, and Audi considers Lexus a competitor on all levels, shouldn't you. Common sense would say "yes". If not, then you guys are not real enthusiasts, merely very biased xenophobes who happen to drive cars.

reply to this comment

Hyundai - 8/17/2007 1:38:10 PM

+3 Boost

"If BMW, Mercedes, and Audi considers Lexus a competitor on all levels, shouldn't you. Common sense would say "yes". If not, then you guys are not real enthusiasts, merely very biased xenophobes who happen to drive cars."

HAHAHAHAHAH!!!

I could not have said it better myself!

Post of the day.

david989 - 8/17/2007 9:50:01 AM

+3 Boost

If Lexus sucked so much, how come they're the best selling luxury brand the world has ever seen? The German brands can be over 100 years old but they were beaten by a newcomer! Lexus rocks!

reply to this comment

xj13 - 8/17/2007 10:14:15 AM

-4 Boost

Grow up!

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 8/17/2007 12:07:27 PM

-6 Boost

The best selling luxury brand in Mercedes-Benz.

Can't deny facts.

S4cabriofoxone - 8/18/2007 1:06:24 AMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

Uhh... it's actually BMW. LOL.

Hyundai - 8/17/2007 1:41:19 PM

+2 Boost

That is actually what he is trying to do.

Man alive, people here are the most naive bunch I have ever had the displeasure of "meeting".

Did you fail your grade 12 English?

How about just plain ol' kindergarten common sense?

reply to this comment

BenzW124 - 8/17/2007 10:00:24 AM

-5 Boost

Mercedes is the best selling brand in the world. If yu dont know that then you're not a real car fan. Mercedes has more prestie than Lexus which is why they also sell better. C63 will kill even the LS600hl

reply to this comment

Hyundai - 8/17/2007 1:43:38 PM

+3 Boost

If you can't tell that when is saying "Lexus is the best selling car brand in the world", he is making a mockery of everyone who bites, then you MUST not have a pulse, or best case, a BRAIN!

MunichRob - 8/17/2007 8:59:34 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

Actually BMW is the leading luxury manufacturer in worldwide sales, they surpassed Mercedes 2 years ago.

xj13 - 8/17/2007 10:16:48 AM

-8 Boost

Amen Brother.

reply to this comment

Hyundai - 8/17/2007 1:42:14 PM

+5 Boost

Hello, Lexus King.

Hyundai - 8/17/2007 1:44:33 PM

+3 Boost

That pretty much sums it up in nutshell.

reply to this comment

M53R - 8/17/2007 1:56:40 PMView My AgentSpace

-1 Boost

At least we can have a laugh at some of the guys here... and remember we also have guys that think Lexus is god..

reply to this comment

Hyundai - 8/17/2007 2:09:13 PM

+4 Boost

The people who "think Lexus is god" aren't Lexus fans. They are people who engineer their posts to sound like Lexus fans, all the while turning people off of Lexus for having extreme viewpoints, which is WHAT their goal is. Does anybody here have a clue?

reply to this comment

Hyundai - 8/17/2007 2:09:58 PM

+2 Boost

And so were the Days of Our Lives.......

reply to this comment

M53R - 8/17/2007 1:57:43 PMView My AgentSpace

-1 Boost

The car looks better in red, but Im still not a fan of the ricey look.

reply to this comment

IS3andME - 8/17/2007 3:02:34 PM

+2 Boost

M53R, I wasn't either, but, I remember that this car is from Japan, not Europe, so it would have Japanese design cues. Which, is what I prefer a Japanese car that starting to use it's own design cues. Just like a Euro car would or a American car would use muscle car cues (and we have to admit it, American cars during the time had the most bad ass design cues)

reply to this comment

MunichRob - 8/17/2007 9:02:35 PMView My AgentSpace

+5 Boost

Wow the car look way better in those pics than in the press pictures, definitely starting to grow on me...When are they going to finally release the official HP numbers??

reply to this comment

johnct - 8/18/2007 12:40:30 AM

0 Boost

I haven't been this excited since John Kerry was voting for, against, for and agianst war!

reply to this comment

markusck - 8/18/2007 9:14:07 AM

+2 Boost

Come on guys, driving it has NOTHING to do with it, people buy these on looks, image, fanboism, and then justify it with how well it drives pointing out the miniscule differences in 0 to 60, skidpad, breaking, etc..they all drive nearly as well (S4, AMG, M, and now this IS looks to be promising in terms of performance) on the image front, I still think it is going to appeal to a much younger, tokyo drift kinda crowd...

reply to this comment

Hyundai - 8/18/2007 3:51:12 PM

+3 Boost

Go to Vancouver and see all the "Asianz" driving M3s or CLKs. C'mon.... Be real with us, and more importantly, yourself. All the cars in these segments WILL relate to a younger crowd with a lot of money.

At first, I was not so impressed with the IS-F, but it has really grown on me. In white, I think it looks really sexy actually, and far from ricey; I think it just looks straight-up cool.

If this car truly DOES cater to a younger demographic successfuly, then Lexus succeeded in freshening their brand image.

Mission: Accomplished.

Bmw8ter - 8/18/2007 4:12:02 PM

+3 Boost

Maybe Lexus will do with the IS-F, what BMW did with the 335.

Take the IS-F and say it's the same hp as the M3, but in reality, is 50hp more, and when it beats the crap out of the M3, they'll pat themselves on the back and claim it was all due in part to "Engineering Excellence".

reply to this comment

Hyundai - 8/19/2007 2:38:43 AM

+1 Boost

Funny you say that, because that would be the ultimate trump card!

S4cabriofoxone - 8/19/2007 2:00:21 AMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

To actually stay on topic for once...

This thing is still growing on me. I think it would look very good in black, gray and white, but red or blue would look too toyish.

From the sounds of it, the IS-F will be a serious competitor to the RS4 and C63 AMG. I'm not really surprised, to be honest.

reply to this comment

Hyundai - 8/19/2007 2:40:54 AM

+2 Boost

S4, I think that you are finally coming around!

I was in the same boat as you, but it is really growing on me. In natural shade paint (silvers, white shades, black shades, etc..), it does look really more mature and serious, I agree.

S4cabriofoxone - 8/20/2007 12:03:19 AMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

Hey, just keeping my options open! It would be unfair not to consider this car.

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!).