In my opinion that's a good thing. Old school Japanese being sold brand new with a warranty is pretty awesome in my book. The IS500's more exotic cousin the LS500 is pretty much the pinnacle of old school Lexus, and I'm afraid that type of stout build quality and attention to detail will never return. With legacy car companies desperately trying to stave off Chinese competition without going broke, corners will be cut.
This is my dream “new” car everything about it is just wicked cool, the interior is outrageously beautiful. The rev limiter is absolutely insane. Styling is so nice as well, ine day I’ll have one.
This is on my ‘save the whale’ bucket list of cars that may or may not be offered next year etc. IF…this car was going bye bye…I’d buy it before it went away/mothball it. Naturally aspirated 472hp V-8(bulletproof)sedan…go ahead and Google another reliable sedan/V-8…I’ll wait.😁 This is a keeper! I recently retired BUT this car with its excellent exhaust soundtrack,interior quality and don’t forget…premium Mark Levinson audio system is a perfect highway cruiser! I know…I know…the Audi RS3 is in the ballpark BUT this Lexus V-8 has been proven and which car would you rather trust going cross country in the middle of nowhere?! I understand that everyone’s situation is different but if you can swing it before they decide to stop making them,do it! The future is full of electric/turbo 4/6 so called muscle cars…I’m sure that you can do the math…
Hey friend! Believer in God, are you? It is seeming to be the last hour, and I desire that you acknowledge the God that does exist, and his Son Jesus the Christ, know that you cannot get your righteousness and enter the kingdom of Heaven, by deeds or following the law, but by having your faith in the Holy One ( Jesus the Christ the Son of God ) who makes your righteous through faith. Be converted, have the Holy Spirit, humble yourself, do not be a hypocrite (we are all guilty of this, I am EXTREMELY GUILTY of this), REPENT AND CONFESS YOUR SINS and ask for forgiveness, read the Bible, be baptised in the name of Jesus. Read the Bible read the Bible read the Bible. Start in the 4 Gospel books, Matthew Mark Luke and John, believe what you read, and be changed, and sanctified, be a sheep of Christ's, ❤ Grace and peace be unto you saints
I have a 23 IS500, review was spot on. I enjoy driving this car and the V8 theatrics it provides. Does its job as a fun daily, could care less about having more power or an iPad strapped to my dash. Like you said, it’s either you love it or don’t understand it, I think a lot of people don’t really get it. Gotta be an enthusiast for it to make sense!
I've used one as a daily driver for some time now. Roughly 17k miles. I ended up putting Borla mufflers on as the stock exhaust was too muted for my liking. One thing I've noticed is people really underestimate this car's performance because of the 4.4 second 0-60. When a roll race is done, especially in manual mode, the tables turn very fast. It still beat an S3 to the 1/4 mile. It just starts reeling cars in at 3rd gear. Love this thing!
@@layne4376 True, but it runs the same quarter mile time as an S4, and is off by 1 mph in trap speed. While I'm not about to pretend the Lexus can practically beat an M340i, they're not as far off as people claim once they're rolling. Using C/D data you'll find that 60-100 times favor the BMW by 0.3 seconds, and 60-130 favor the lexus by 0.1.
@@yousef.al-assaf Not until 120 mph regardless if it is AWD. And you must be smoking if you think 0.4 seconds to 130 from 100 mph is 'smokes.' And it does this with almost 100 LESS hp. Go figure. But we can look at Car and Driver's Lightning Lap for times and will actually see that the M340 SMOKES the IS500. lol.
@layne4376 All you have is C&D to back up your false claims, you M340i delusional lots. No, the IS500 smokes M340i from any rolling speed after 50 km/h. It gaps it if we're going all the way to 130+ MPH. I put 3-4 bus lengths on my buddies' Mx40is if it's a rolling race till max speed. A dig is the only way for an xDrive Mx40i to win. As for tracking, on an average track with wide and tight turns, elevation change, and average 2-minute lap times... I do 2 seconds better with the IS500 than the closest Mx40i. The only B58 that beats the IS500 in all measures is the MK5 Supra. Put your online-obtained info in a trash bag and throw it away. Real life and first-hand experience are all that matters in the end.
I remember when the ISF and E92 M3 were the same price and both came with the V8. Even then it seemed like a no brainer to me to get the ISF with Toyota reliability and the same amount of power. Well nowadays an optioned out M3 is 100 grand with what pretty much amounts to an overclocked 4 cylinder and this car is 40 grand cheaper, still comes with a V8, still reliable and still has the same power. Still a no brainer lol
@@kitchentrout5867 Do you put a Lexus badge under your pillow at night for the Tuetonic fairy? LOL Twin turbo inline-6 = overclocked 4-cylinder? More like you have NO BRAIN lol what a moron.
@@kitchentrout5867 who is picking ISF over m3 are you crazy.. I've driven both IS350 and IS500 they are very underpowered you can't tell the difference between the two tbh
@@karoltofik8873well it’s boosted. N/A is only going to be so quick unless we’re talking Z06 C8s or zz632 crate motors. You buy n/a for reliability and simplicity. Once you boost a vehicle you are essentially adding things that weaken reliability in exchange for performance. Even then id trust an aftermarket supercharger kit on a Toyota motor over any bmw motor any of the week.
Always love seeing a Lexus video from you. I’ve “accidentally” become sort of a Lexus person too. I used to have a LS400 and now have an IS-F and an LS430. Just hard to beat
I haven't stumbled upon you videos lately and I've just noticed the amount of progress you've made as a presenter and a reviewer in the past couple of weeks. Great job my dude and keep it up!
I’m not really a Lexus fan, but I love this car because it is so pure about its intentions. Acceleration/0-60/quarter mile etc are meaningless measures here. This car is all about fun and offers something that’s pretty much extinct in the car world for a reasonable price in the luxury market. All I can say is amazing job Lexus! 👍👍
I own an IS350 with a 311bhp 3.5 V6 engine and I can tell you that it is a true masterpiece to drive. And every time I drive it I have the peace of mind and assurance that this machine will never give up or fail.
Thank you Topher Junior for a very thorough review, I got one of these new last year, 14K miles right now. This car is blast to drive, couldn't agree with you more on most things. Just one thing I wanted to add that I actually do like the clunkiness of transmission, you feel a little jolt when this thing shifts which I actually love and just adds to the excitement factor, I find extremely smooth shifts little boring. Can't beat the extreme comfort and moderate sportiness, and that engine growl is addictive. Other thing I love is how easy this thing is to slide around corners with good control. I'm happy with 15 mpg for the amount of fun it provides. This car has a personality that you don't find in today's modern cars and the way it makes you feel is hard to describe in words, more you drive it more you love it, never gets boring.
i got the Atomic Silver 23' CPO recently w/ 8k miles and I really like it for the reason you mentioned, its smooth for daily errands/work but if I want to I turn that Sport+ and when no one is around get up to 100s' and its definitely a thrill. I do definitely have to remind myself I got a V8 sometimes so I gotta tame it down a bit depending on what I'm doing. As I get older, I really value comfort/style/reliability vs BMW's full-throttle speed. I think about it... when the hell am I gonna ever need to do a drag race 0-60? never. This is coming from a former F87 M2 owner.
No you’re not mistaken; when driven aggressively, the shifts are ‘stick shift’ rough and I l-o-v-e it! 😜😎 The wheel slips from those blasted Bridgestone though…gross. This is my 5th Lexus and I kinda dig the same cruise control stock in every one. 🤭 I’m at 31,400 miles and my love for this car continues to grow more and more. It’s an old school muscle car with modern safety tech underneath, I don’t need anything else. Thanks for posting!! 💙👏🏽
I have an is350 and the transmission is kinda rough and slow considering they are using the older transmissions systems but it's super reliable. Hope to upgrade to the v8 one day.
@@Ragnovaldthe best lexus v8s are the Fs the lexus is f, gs f, and rc f. Amazing trasmissions paired with amazing 5.0 engines. Its sad they are underrated and most people dont know the difference between F sports and the Fs cause they are the best Lexus models
@@ZakiBTW The same V8 is in the LC500 and the IS500. The transmission in the RCF is also in the IS500. NOTE: Only the IS500 and the RX500h get the new ‘FSport Performance’ moniker, which is different from the FSport.
I enjoy my ‘23. Full Apexi non res mid pipe. Borla mufflers and lowered. It’s a beast. Loud. Shifts hard. Drives smooth. Eats up miles and best of all when driven like a sane person you can get almost 30 on the hwy.
I’m a huge German engineering fan. Porsches, Rs5, old 63s. But I’ve owned a 04 es330 235k miles, 07 Lexus till 320k miles, and this is one of my dream cars. Great review.
I finally drove one just a few days ago. It was a 2023 with roughly 12k miles on it. I loved it. I was just in the right place at the right time. Definitely interested in having an IS500 as a future daily driver. I've driven faster and more powerful cars, but the IS500 was just a very well-rounded vehicle to drive.
Mine is a 2023 and has always been somewhat firm on the shifts in manual mode, unless I'm really giving it the beans - then it smooths out. Great "living with" review as always. A good way to chill this Sunday afternoon. 😁
This engine is the reason to buy an IS today. It’s a shame that Lexus doesn’t modernize their sedan line up as fast as they need to. This could be a real 10/10 if the platform was more modern. That said, for someone willing to ignore the older platform, this is a unicorn. A total sleeper. People are going to rrrrrreally want this car in 5-10 years once electrics/hybrids have taken over.
It’s often the case with good cars that people hate them when they’re new for not following whatever the current trend is, but 10-20 years down the line when everything’s changed again and those cars are now rarer, people suddenly realize what they missed out on and love the car. GS-F got some shit for not being anywhere near the M5 among other things for example, now that they’re out of production they get a lot more love. Same dealio for the LFA: “Oh, it only has a single clutch automated manual, not a dct, I can get some German car for half the price that smokes it in a straight line. hard pass.” And now 10+ years later…well we know the story. the IS500 will probably be the same. The Honda S2000 also garnered more respect after it went out of production. We could go on for a while. But anyway, hindsight is 20/20 and all that.
@@jacksquat1265 I mean... it's not best in class at anything. But it does have high points. The ride quality is very good, and the seats are great. The Mark Levinson is just fantastic for this class of vehicle, too. And, there are physical controls for almost everything.
you could argue it’s a sleeper because it looks like hot booty for its price i mean you can’t even tell the difference between lexus their models dont upgrade with the prices it makes no sense not to mention this car underperforms extremely compared to every single car in modern days and there’s a reason lexus was left behind because people want more power you can’t argue the car is cool just because they use all the same stuff from 2006
Man this car is my dream car (aside from the LC500) for daily driving! Unfortunately, I'm in college at the moment and have 2 years left so no way will I be able to purchase one new. I guess I gotta pray for the used market to be reasonable in a few years.
The IS. What can I say? It had always had a soft spot in my heart. I had the experience to drive the 2005 Altezza. Awesome experience. I currently own a 2018 GX460 and a 2015 Camry XLE as my daily driver. I am highly considering selling my Camry and buying a 2005 IS for my daily. But finding a well kept and maintained 2005 IS, is a pain! People want top $$$. I might jump in a 2006 GS. Hard choice. Thanks for the video.
@@paulbugoni2846 zf and daimler AT is focused to the shift speed, sportiness like dct, but aisin and jatco are not, they're always focused to "reliability, durability and comfortability".
@paulbugoni2846 You are either clueless or just never driven one of these. The IS500 is THE best "everywhere". It shifts sharply when pushed, and shifts smoothly when cruising. ZF is choppy all the time. Not even close. The AA80E in the IS500 truly belongs in a luxury sport car unlike the ZF!
i recently drove my friends 2015 RC350 f-sport rwd and while that may be a completely different engine/body style, i mightve somehow noticed some parts similarities between this and that. both of them seem to have that "whine" from the 8AT around certain rpm, maybe because they both use Aisin as well as Torsen LSDs. i also agree on how this car is just- "misunderstood", sure it "competes" with the m340i and friends but it definitely focuses more on enjoyment and luxury like you said. would LOVE to own one of these one day, it'd complete me fr
Just got a 2024 Ultra White less than a week ago. Incredible car so far, waiting another 100 miles to really open it up and get some protective films because of the 44837 gravel trucks that seem to be in front of me.
Absolutely cannot wait to get an IS350 F Sport someday, hopefully well-optioned. I would get an IS500 but with cost of gas and the fact that I live in NYC it would be tough to really get the most out of the car which would make such a purchase unjustifiable.
I love me some Spotify playlists for cool drives! I wish my 22 WRX limited was as nice as this Lexus, but it’s pretty nice as is plus gotta save the manuals! Cool review!
It plays DVD when parked. Also Mark Levinson quality is soo crazy good that you need a lossless source to appreciate the speakers, so the CD player is there.
I don't think it sold well. Whenever Im in South Florida I don't see many of these compared to the older gens. I could be wrong, I don't know for sure.
@America2Monaco They sold very well actually and higher than Lexus' expectations. It's still in a way limited production tho (it's mass-produced in low quantities)
@@yousef.al-assaf Looking at the numbers which only include US sales for whatever reason, looks like they sold about 50,000 units in 2015, while hovering around the 20,000 range per year from 2017 to present time. I mention 2017 because it accounts for pre-covid production as well. So yeah, looks like people don't like the newer models at least in the states. Theres no sales information for other regions of the world in wikipedia, so this only pertains to the US.
@@yousef.al-assaf When the refresh first came out, the IS 350 in particular was selling very well. When I got my 350, I actually was on my way to the dealership to look at a particular car, but it sold before I got there. There was also another couple who walked up to the car and asked about it. But that can often be the case with recently-updated models. The 500 was really hard to get in its first year, but Lexus made more of them for 2023 and 2024. They've still only sold less than 4,000 IS 500s world wide.
Hey Chris, I'm recently new to your channel and I was looking through your playlist. I saw the cars you have. You haven't done an update of those in a while. Anything new? You should do an update of any work you've had done so far
Another reason to get the IS 500 is the abundance of controls and buttons. They will be missed as most cars are consolidating all the controls to the main infotainment screen which takes more time to shuffle through to find.
I used to love these cars as a kid and still do. Today I own a 2010 IS250 but moving forward to my next car I will probably go with an electric, tesla base model probably. I love the Lexus, especially the ISF model line but in reality is a very expensive car and difficult to own with today's inflation. I know there is a lot of people who can easily own this car, but for me I decided to be more practical and economical. This car is beautiful, amazing engine sound, the feel, the quality but I being the devils advocate you can get the acceleration, the speed and all the nice tech features (camera, a phone key, etc.) for half the price. Then what are we really buying is the nostalgia of a classic sports luxury car, and that is okay if one can afford it. For me, I am speaking from the standpoint of a middle class who can afford a car like this through a loan or finance with sacrifice and being mindful of their expenses, obviously if you have enough money to buy it cash and some to spare then would definitely go for it as a Sunday afternoon car. Nice video tho 👍
I was really debating whether to sell my a90 Supra for a g80 m3 but a part of me needs a v8. This being significantly cheaper than a M3 comp. I think keeping the Supra and adding the IS500 is the way to go.
The IS500 is the perfect sport sedan. Practical, sharp looking, and with a soulful V8. This car will never fade into history, unlike whatever soulless cringe 4 cylinder AMG or the M340i that’s just another NPC car on the road.
I've heard the IS500 8-speed is rougher compared to the other Lexus gearboxes. I personally like some gear shock. Reminds me that big chunks of metal are flying around down there.
Seeing a lot of DNA from my IS F in the 500. Almost sprang for one instead of the F, but I'm glad I didn't. I do wish mine was a bit more techy since it is an '08, but all I need is an aux cord.
@virtuaknert The Aisin 8-speed in this car is claimed as being capable of 100-millisecond gear changes. That's pretty good for an almost-20-year-old torque converter auto.
Well sir, I’ve been thinking about this car for a minute now, and I have officially decided I will be trading my Mustang for one within the next year or so
The sound what you love is not exhaust note mainly to be honest, what toyota and yamaha focus about is "intake noise", enhancing intake noise could attract matured car enthusiasts without antisocial tune like loud exhaust.
@@下田洋介-w4z Trust me, the stock exhaust is loud enough. I tore out of my garage to make the light and my building’s concierge stopped to look. (Along with everyone else on the sidewalk.) Caught up with him later and he said: “I didn’t know a Lexus sounded like that!” 🤣 Intake is there for sure, but you do hear the engine rumbling. No upgraded exhaust for me. 😜
@@blu_is500 I know, I mean just below the antisocial line. Trust me, AMG, Jaguar and Aston, these are way louder than this, its definitely above the antisocial line, it could be a troublemaker.
In times where turbo V6's are making 800 HP+ (GT-R, BMW G80/82, etc.), you can only imagine what this could make when turbocharged. Turbocharged V8's turn into absolute monsters. But maybe it's one of those instances where the engine doesn't have good traits to turn into a turbo monster, like compression ratio or something.
I own a 2013 ISF, those engines are high compression. You can supercharge them at around 6 psi and make about 625 bhp. Turbocharging usually require lower compression, addition of intercoolers, different exhaust manifolds, wastegates, tuning, beefier oil coolers, you get the idea. It would complicate things, make the car more expensive, perhaps a bit less reliable, I suppose that's not what Toyota wanted to do. The 2UR-GSE is a proven engine, it did gain more power/torque from when it came out (originally 416 bhp and 371 lbs-ft), I suppose Toyota didn't want to ditch the V8 in that line yet. It can also be that they are waiting to see what's going to happen with the new Tundra engine, which had its fair share of problems.
The transmission is unrefined but it’s bullet proof reliability and it being a N/A V8 makes up for it. Get an exhaust and tune and this thing is a menace to society!
I'm really hoping for an ISF and an LCF in the future. I'm looking for an RCF in the near future but if they get an ISF in the market I would be tempted to wait.
Very nice. I do miss my E92 M3 V8. This might be a nice replacement. Just wish it revved up as high as the BMW, but ultimately this is probably a bit more reliable v8.
It's definitely a throwback to the IS F/E92 M3/W204 C63 era. It's the same recipe, but even better. However if you wanna track it, you will need bigger brakes and better transmission cooling. Coilovers would be nice too.
My friend owned a brand new 2011 E90 back in the days. In 2013 I bought my brand new ISF. I drove his BMW once or twice.......I revved the hell out of that engine and was wondering where is the torque.
Unfortunately, the 8-speed has always been clunky. It's great when driving normally, and actually works very well when driving 10/10ths. However it gets very clunky if you short shift or downshift when the revs aren't too high or if you aren't WOT. I am on my second IS350 and they have both been the same (2015 and 2023).
The IS 500 has a different transmission, for what it's worth. The IS 350 uses the AA81E, and the IS 500 has the AA80E (which is shared with the RC F). Though, in many ways, they share similar characteristics, the IS 500's transmission is way more aggressive when in Sport or Manual mode.
@@ARentz07 I think you have it backwards. From everything I have read, the differences are mainly tuning differences. Probably has different valve body tuning to handle the higher torque. Mechanically they are nearly identical. The complaints about its clunkiness are not exclusive to the IS500.
@meterdoogles No. I've owned both an IS 350 and IS 500. There is a marked difference between how the transmissions behave. Do some research on the IS F's development. Its transmission was essentially borrowed from the LS 460 and tuned to deliver faster shifts. That transmission is what's still used in the RC F and IS 500 today.
@@ARentz07 I just said the its due to tuning differences...Both versions are known for being clunky (the video's compliant was about an IS500). I'm saying my current IS350 is the same. So, I am not sure exactly what you are trying to argue here? The Lexus 8-speed has always been clunky, it doesn't matter what model number it is.
All the car needs is a ZF8 as the transmission is borderline horrible in this generation. My 2018 350F RWD would miss shifts every so often and just lag sometimes. I loved EVERYTHING else about the car and I still can’t believe they haven’t updated it.
The AA80E in the IS500 is better than the ZF8. It has a dual personality. Shifts up faster than ZF8 at full throttle, and shifts smooth when just cruising. ZF8 is choppy all the time.
As an owner of an IS500 and multiple other cars with the ZF8 I am going to have to disagree with you. The ZF8 is superior in every way imaginable, particularly when tuned by a company like BMW.
@blakeeverts7075 Elaborate... I drove M340is to Scatpack to B9 S4/S5 and none upshift like the IS500 at redline in manual mode. Also, when cruising, all the German ZF8s upshift harshly. The same downside as PDK/DSG. None is as smooth as the AA80E. So explain how it's "superior" in every imaginable way?!!
One of the last naturally aspirated V8s. Thanks Topher.
rcf?
"One of the last"@@adrowse
@@1HOKAG3 yeah ur right
@@adrowse its the same engine...
Black wing ?
76% of this car is from 2005, yet it is still better than a lot of the quasi luxury cars out there
2006
THE WHOLE INTERIOR IS BOOTY YOU JUST SAID IT YOURSELF ITS OLD AF this has nothing on a merc or audi interior stop smoking crack bro
In my opinion that's a good thing. Old school Japanese being sold brand new with a warranty is pretty awesome in my book. The IS500's more exotic cousin the LS500 is pretty much the pinnacle of old school Lexus, and I'm afraid that type of stout build quality and attention to detail will never return. With legacy car companies desperately trying to stave off Chinese competition without going broke, corners will be cut.
This is my dream “new” car everything about it is just wicked cool, the interior is outrageously beautiful. The rev limiter is absolutely insane. Styling is so nice as well, ine day I’ll have one.
This is my dream car too. This exact color and everything
This is on my ‘save the whale’ bucket list of cars that may or may not be offered next year etc. IF…this car was going bye bye…I’d buy it before it went away/mothball it. Naturally aspirated 472hp V-8(bulletproof)sedan…go ahead and Google another reliable sedan/V-8…I’ll wait.😁 This is a keeper! I recently retired BUT this car with its excellent exhaust soundtrack,interior quality and don’t forget…premium Mark Levinson audio system is a perfect highway cruiser! I know…I know…the Audi RS3 is in the ballpark BUT this Lexus V-8 has been proven and which car would you rather trust going cross country in the middle of nowhere?! I understand that everyone’s situation is different but if you can swing it before they decide to stop making them,do it! The future is full of electric/turbo 4/6 so called muscle cars…I’m sure that you can do the math…
The interior is dated af. It's very meh... The ergonomics are terrible. There's nowhere to even put your cell phone and wallet.
ohhh the same interior from 2014
The interior is mature and classy, unlike the cheap all-iPad interiors from the Germans. Just needs an infotainment update and it will be perfect
0:13 "Where today we are back...with an old friend." Amen, brother.
Amen
Hey friend! Believer in God, are you? It is seeming to be the last hour, and I desire that you acknowledge the God that does exist, and his Son Jesus the Christ, know that you cannot get your righteousness and enter the kingdom of Heaven, by deeds or following the law, but by having your faith in the Holy One ( Jesus the Christ the Son of God ) who makes your righteous through faith. Be converted, have the Holy Spirit, humble yourself, do not be a hypocrite (we are all guilty of this, I am EXTREMELY GUILTY of this), REPENT AND CONFESS YOUR SINS and ask for forgiveness, read the Bible, be baptised in the name of Jesus. Read the Bible read the Bible read the Bible. Start in the 4 Gospel books, Matthew Mark Luke and John, believe what you read, and be changed, and sanctified, be a sheep of Christ's, ❤ Grace and peace be unto you saints
This car fits a senior car enthusiast. Got one in April
these things are so dope! maybe one day...
itll come
It's not a rolls Joyce or a lambo after all it's totally attainable with hard work and determination!
It doesn’t auto up shift when in manual mode 😭 I love it
I have a 23 IS500, review was spot on. I enjoy driving this car and the V8 theatrics it provides. Does its job as a fun daily, could care less about having more power or an iPad strapped to my dash.
Like you said, it’s either you love it or don’t understand it, I think a lot of people don’t really get it. Gotta be an enthusiast for it to make sense!
I've used one as a daily driver for some time now. Roughly 17k miles. I ended up putting Borla mufflers on as the stock exhaust was too muted for my liking. One thing I've noticed is people really underestimate this car's performance because of the 4.4 second 0-60. When a roll race is done, especially in manual mode, the tables turn very fast. It still beat an S3 to the 1/4 mile. It just starts reeling cars in at 3rd gear. Love this thing!
An S3 is way cheaper and not in the same class. Try that with an M340.
@@layne4376 True, but it runs the same quarter mile time as an S4, and is off by 1 mph in trap speed.
While I'm not about to pretend the Lexus can practically beat an M340i, they're not as far off as people claim once they're rolling. Using C/D data you'll find that 60-100 times favor the BMW by 0.3 seconds, and 60-130 favor the lexus by 0.1.
@@layne4376
Already discussed before. IS500 smokes M340i's from a roll (30 MPH+). The M340i will only win from a dig, and only if it's xDrive.
@@yousef.al-assaf Not until 120 mph regardless if it is AWD. And you must be smoking if you think 0.4 seconds to 130 from 100 mph is 'smokes.' And it does this with almost 100 LESS hp. Go figure. But we can look at Car and Driver's Lightning Lap for times and will actually see that the M340 SMOKES the IS500. lol.
@layne4376
All you have is C&D to back up your false claims, you M340i delusional lots.
No, the IS500 smokes M340i from any rolling speed after 50 km/h. It gaps it if we're going all the way to 130+ MPH. I put 3-4 bus lengths on my buddies' Mx40is if it's a rolling race till max speed.
A dig is the only way for an xDrive Mx40i to win.
As for tracking, on an average track with wide and tight turns, elevation change, and average 2-minute lap times... I do 2 seconds better with the IS500 than the closest Mx40i. The only B58 that beats the IS500 in all measures is the MK5 Supra.
Put your online-obtained info in a trash bag and throw it away. Real life and first-hand experience are all that matters in the end.
I remember when the ISF and E92 M3 were the same price and both came with the V8. Even then it seemed like a no brainer to me to get the ISF with Toyota reliability and the same amount of power. Well nowadays an optioned out M3 is 100 grand with what pretty much amounts to an overclocked 4 cylinder and this car is 40 grand cheaper, still comes with a V8, still reliable and still has the same power. Still a no brainer lol
@@SeeKrez My God man do you put a Beamer badge under your pillow at night for the Teutonic fairy LOL
@@kitchentrout5867 Do you put a Lexus badge under your pillow at night for the Tuetonic fairy? LOL
Twin turbo inline-6 = overclocked 4-cylinder? More like you have NO BRAIN lol what a moron.
@@kitchentrout5867 who is picking ISF over m3 are you crazy.. I've driven both IS350 and IS500 they are very underpowered you can't tell the difference between the two tbh
IS500 can't even keep up with the M340xi. M3 is in a different league.
@@karoltofik8873well it’s boosted. N/A is only going to be so quick unless we’re talking Z06 C8s or zz632 crate motors. You buy n/a for reliability and simplicity. Once you boost a vehicle you are essentially adding things that weaken reliability in exchange for performance. Even then id trust an aftermarket supercharger kit on a Toyota motor over any bmw motor any of the week.
Always love seeing a Lexus video from you. I’ve “accidentally” become sort of a Lexus person too. I used to have a LS400 and now have an IS-F and an LS430. Just hard to beat
I haven't stumbled upon you videos lately and I've just noticed the amount of progress you've made as a presenter and a reviewer in the past couple of weeks. Great job my dude and keep it up!
I’m not really a Lexus fan, but I love this car because it is so pure about its intentions. Acceleration/0-60/quarter mile etc are meaningless measures here. This car is all about fun and offers something that’s pretty much extinct in the car world for a reasonable price in the luxury market. All I can say is amazing job Lexus! 👍👍
I own an IS350 with a 311bhp 3.5 V6 engine and I can tell you that it is a true masterpiece to drive. And every time I drive it I have the peace of mind and assurance that this machine will never give up or fail.
What cars do you prefer over lexus ?
Thank you Topher Junior for a very thorough review, I got one of these new last year, 14K miles right now. This car is blast to drive, couldn't agree with you more on most things. Just one thing I wanted to add that I actually do like the clunkiness of transmission, you feel a little jolt when this thing shifts which I actually love and just adds to the excitement factor, I find extremely smooth shifts little boring. Can't beat the extreme comfort and moderate sportiness, and that engine growl is addictive. Other thing I love is how easy this thing is to slide around corners with good control. I'm happy with 15 mpg for the amount of fun it provides. This car has a personality that you don't find in today's modern cars and the way it makes you feel is hard to describe in words, more you drive it more you love it, never gets boring.
i got the Atomic Silver 23' CPO recently w/ 8k miles and I really like it for the reason you mentioned, its smooth for daily errands/work but if I want to I turn that Sport+ and when no one is around get up to 100s' and its definitely a thrill. I do definitely have to remind myself I got a V8 sometimes so I gotta tame it down a bit depending on what I'm doing. As I get older, I really value comfort/style/reliability vs BMW's full-throttle speed. I think about it... when the hell am I gonna ever need to do a drag race 0-60? never. This is coming from a former F87 M2 owner.
Being in my late 50"s the simple old school stuff is good. 5.0L from a proper Japanese engine
No you’re not mistaken; when driven aggressively, the shifts are ‘stick shift’ rough and I l-o-v-e it! 😜😎 The wheel slips from those blasted Bridgestone though…gross. This is my 5th Lexus and I kinda dig the same cruise control stock in every one. 🤭 I’m at 31,400 miles and my love for this car continues to grow more and more. It’s an old school muscle car with modern safety tech underneath, I don’t need anything else. Thanks for posting!! 💙👏🏽
I have an is350 and the transmission is kinda rough and slow considering they are using the older transmissions systems but it's super reliable. Hope to upgrade to the v8 one day.
@Ragnovald The transmission in the 500 is more aggressive when driven hard than the one in the 350, for what it's worth.
@@Ragnovaldthe best lexus v8s are the Fs the lexus is f, gs f, and rc f. Amazing trasmissions paired with amazing 5.0 engines. Its sad they are underrated and most people dont know the difference between F sports and the Fs cause they are the best Lexus models
@@ZakiBTW The same V8 is in the LC500 and the IS500. The transmission in the RCF is also in the IS500. NOTE: Only the IS500 and the RX500h get the new ‘FSport Performance’ moniker, which is different from the FSport.
@@ARentz07 lol you’re really out here trying to die on this hill.
That fly moment 7:46 reminded me of the breaking bad episode. Too good
I enjoy my ‘23. Full Apexi non res mid pipe. Borla mufflers and lowered. It’s a beast. Loud. Shifts hard. Drives smooth. Eats up miles and best of all when driven like a sane person you can get almost 30 on the hwy.
Downhill maybe or Magic Gas but 30 mph other than going 45 mph for a few hours it’s non realistic
Such a beauty, might be my future sedan due to the space for going out in a group or even a road trip
Got one because of your previous review. Loving it
This is such a W video and just make me want this car even more
naturally aspirated has the best feeling, when you push it. It's just a marvelous sensation.😍
My dream sedan. Such an underrated car
“overrated”
How did you know I needed to see this today
I’m a huge German engineering fan. Porsches, Rs5, old 63s.
But I’ve owned a 04 es330 235k miles, 07 Lexus till 320k miles, and this is one of my dream cars.
Great review.
I finally drove one just a few days ago. It was a 2023 with roughly 12k miles on it. I loved it. I was just in the right place at the right time. Definitely interested in having an IS500 as a future daily driver.
I've driven faster and more powerful cars, but the IS500 was just a very well-rounded vehicle to drive.
Where?
@memoirsofalegend5472 was on a Chevy lot in MD
i love finding people that have great taste
🤝
Mine is a 2023 and has always been somewhat firm on the shifts in manual mode, unless I'm really giving it the beans - then it smooths out.
Great "living with" review as always. A good way to chill this Sunday afternoon. 😁
Also, it WILL rev-match into first, but only above about 20 MPH or so, which is honestly not when you want to be in first. Lexus things...
@@ARentz07 Depends on the shenanigans you’ve got going on. 😉😈
@blu_is500 ha. The rev match into first with the windows down sounds pretty cool. 😂
@ARentz07
Yes, finally someone else noticed it lol.
It rev-matches 45 km/h+ from 2nd to 1st. Sounds mad as hell.
That cruise control stalk is top tier UI, I haven't seen a better implementation!
This engine is the reason to buy an IS today. It’s a shame that Lexus doesn’t modernize their sedan line up as fast as they need to. This could be a real 10/10 if the platform was more modern. That said, for someone willing to ignore the older platform, this is a unicorn. A total sleeper.
People are going to rrrrrreally want this car in 5-10 years once electrics/hybrids have taken over.
It’s often the case with good cars that people hate them when they’re new for not following whatever the current trend is, but 10-20 years down the line when everything’s changed again and those cars are now rarer, people suddenly realize what they missed out on and love the car. GS-F got some shit for not being anywhere near the M5 among other things for example, now that they’re out of production they get a lot more love. Same dealio for the LFA: “Oh, it only has a single clutch automated manual, not a dct, I can get some German car for half the price that smokes it in a straight line. hard pass.” And now 10+ years later…well we know the story. the IS500 will probably be the same. The Honda S2000 also garnered more respect after it went out of production. We could go on for a while. But anyway, hindsight is 20/20 and all that.
@@jacksquat1265 I mean... it's not best in class at anything. But it does have high points. The ride quality is very good, and the seats are great. The Mark Levinson is just fantastic for this class of vehicle, too. And, there are physical controls for almost everything.
I wouldn't call it a sleeper lol. It looks fast and it is pretty fast
you could argue it’s a sleeper because it looks like hot booty for its price i mean you can’t even tell the difference between lexus their models dont upgrade with the prices it makes no sense not to mention this car underperforms extremely compared to every single car in modern days and there’s a reason lexus was left behind because people want more power you can’t argue the car is cool just because they use all the same stuff from 2006
That was fun! That car appeals to me--relaxed power.
The fact this incredible car is not available with a manual transmission is just gut wrenching.
Who knows how to drive a car with a manual gearbox?😊
@@a.s.v4261 are you serious?! Cmon now.
@@PowerTom_kyle I’m joking, Spaniard manual driver since 1978!🇪🇸🇪🇸😜
Man this car is my dream car (aside from the LC500) for daily driving! Unfortunately, I'm in college at the moment and have 2 years left so no way will I be able to purchase one new.
I guess I gotta pray for the used market to be reasonable in a few years.
That interior is like a spaceship
Always loved the Lexus interiors
currently have a 2017 is350 and i absolutely LOVE it. definitely want an RCF or IS500 next, or imagine a 3is with a 5.0 swap 😫
I had a shot at a blue one last year and chose a Nissan Armada because of practicality and I regret it every day
And now the armada lost half its value and the is500 didn’t. Lexus resale is crazy
It’s never too late to trade it in
🤦
Ugh choosing between this and an armada doesn’t even make sense. You were never in the market for this lmao
@@thegreat9481 exactly…
The IS. What can I say? It had always had a soft spot in my heart. I had the experience to drive the 2005 Altezza. Awesome experience. I currently own a 2018 GX460 and a 2015 Camry XLE as my daily driver. I am highly considering selling my Camry and buying a 2005 IS for my daily. But finding a well kept and maintained 2005 IS, is a pain! People want top $$$. I might jump in a 2006 GS. Hard choice. Thanks for the video.
that color is just so beautiful on that car.
I love that they still have CD player, I enjoy alot of CD music in my IS. And it’s way better quality than streaming via bluetooth
This the brand that you will see me leaving comment left and right.. Damn this car is gorge
I'm about to buy mine this weekend! :)
I just love the looks and the color
Those transmissions are great when flat out in S+
Yes but the ZF is great everywhere.
@@paulbugoni2846 zf and daimler AT is focused to the shift speed, sportiness like dct, but aisin and jatco are not, they're always focused to "reliability, durability and comfortability".
Archaic 6 speed. Should be the 10 from the LC500.
@paulbugoni2846
You are either clueless or just never driven one of these.
The IS500 is THE best "everywhere". It shifts sharply when pushed, and shifts smoothly when cruising. ZF is choppy all the time. Not even close.
The AA80E in the IS500 truly belongs in a luxury sport car unlike the ZF!
@@yousef.al-assaf you are delusional. ZF8 spd is the best auto tranny out there, and I’ve driven them both. Try to stay objective.
i recently drove my friends 2015 RC350 f-sport rwd and while that may be a completely different engine/body style, i mightve somehow noticed some parts similarities between this and that. both of them seem to have that "whine" from the 8AT around certain rpm, maybe because they both use Aisin as well as Torsen LSDs. i also agree on how this car is just- "misunderstood", sure it "competes" with the m340i and friends but it definitely focuses more on enjoyment and luxury like you said. would LOVE to own one of these one day, it'd complete me fr
Quality and reliability is true luxury
one of the best enthusiast sports car
i mean yeah it’s a good driving experience overall but for its price it’s just not where it should be
Just got a 2024 Ultra White less than a week ago. Incredible car so far, waiting another 100 miles to really open it up and get some protective films because of the 44837 gravel trucks that seem to be in front of me.
Adding this to my future car collection
Absolutely cannot wait to get an IS350 F Sport someday, hopefully well-optioned. I would get an IS500 but with cost of gas and the fact that I live in NYC it would be tough to really get the most out of the car which would make such a purchase unjustifiable.
I own a 2016 Lexus is 200t… first Lexus I ever bought on my own and I love it, I can only imagine what a is500 would be like 😭
I love me some Spotify playlists for cool drives! I wish my 22 WRX limited was as nice as this Lexus, but it’s pretty nice as is plus gotta save the manuals! Cool review!
@8:31 Wow. A CD player in a 2024 car😁
@@tizodd6 It can even play DVDs.
@ARentz07 If it can't play Blurays, then it's not even 2007 level technology.
@@ARentz07 And it's has surround sound as well with the Mark Levinson audio
It plays DVD when parked. Also Mark Levinson quality is soo crazy good that you need a lossless source to appreciate the speakers, so the CD player is there.
@@paulklp8262 lol OK.
Back to the past, also still the best looking sports sedan out there…..
Homeboy is holding it like it's a manual in the thumbnail 😂
It was really cool when Lexus offered full-size matching spares. Now that was awesome.
Sad that they are ending this run so soon, I hope Lexus still keeps making V8 options for the future.
I don't think it sold well. Whenever Im in South Florida I don't see many of these compared to the older gens. I could be wrong, I don't know for sure.
@America2Monaco
They sold very well actually and higher than Lexus' expectations. It's still in a way limited production tho (it's mass-produced in low quantities)
@@yousef.al-assaf Looking at the numbers which only include US sales for whatever reason, looks like they sold about 50,000 units in 2015, while hovering around the 20,000 range per year from 2017 to present time. I mention 2017 because it accounts for pre-covid production as well. So yeah, looks like people don't like the newer models at least in the states. Theres no sales information for other regions of the world in wikipedia, so this only pertains to the US.
@America2Monaco
I was specifically talking about the IS500. Yeah, 3rd gen (pre-facelift, non-IS500) didn't sell as well as the competition.
@@yousef.al-assaf When the refresh first came out, the IS 350 in particular was selling very well. When I got my 350, I actually was on my way to the dealership to look at a particular car, but it sold before I got there. There was also another couple who walked up to the car and asked about it.
But that can often be the case with recently-updated models.
The 500 was really hard to get in its first year, but Lexus made more of them for 2023 and 2024. They've still only sold less than 4,000 IS 500s world wide.
Driving occasions such as with that red Tiguan happen often enough to me where I actually believe that we're living in a simulation.
i love this car.
As a 2024 is500 owner in Caviar exterior/red interior, If this is your dream car, Go get it! They wont make this type of car 5 years from now.
It looks so clean
Hey Chris, I'm recently new to your channel and I was looking through your playlist. I saw the cars you have. You haven't done an update of those in a while. Anything new? You should do an update of any work you've had done so far
I’m plotting an entire collection update video 🙂
Dream car!
You don't really have to make such a car in the basement when Akio Toyoda raced an IS-F himself in the 24 Hours of Nurburgring.
this is a fair point. I guess I meant that Akio was in the basement WITH the secret team 🤣
@@TopherDrives oh yeah, I can totally imagine that. He raced under a fake name after all! What a guy.
I hope they make this car for another year
Nice sporty Lexus IS. Love the color and red seats. And a V8 NA to boot 👍
Another reason to get the IS 500 is the abundance of controls and buttons. They will be missed as most cars are consolidating all the controls to the main infotainment screen which takes more time to shuffle through to find.
I used to love these cars as a kid and still do. Today I own a 2010 IS250 but moving forward to my next car I will probably go with an electric, tesla base model probably. I love the Lexus, especially the ISF model line but in reality is a very expensive car and difficult to own with today's inflation. I know there is a lot of people who can easily own this car, but for me I decided to be more practical and economical. This car is beautiful, amazing engine sound, the feel, the quality but I being the devils advocate you can get the acceleration, the speed and all the nice tech features (camera, a phone key, etc.) for half the price. Then what are we really buying is the nostalgia of a classic sports luxury car, and that is okay if one can afford it. For me, I am speaking from the standpoint of a middle class who can afford a car like this through a loan or finance with sacrifice and being mindful of their expenses, obviously if you have enough money to buy it cash and some to spare then would definitely go for it as a Sunday afternoon car. Nice video tho 👍
I was really debating whether to sell my a90 Supra for a g80 m3 but a part of me needs a v8. This being significantly cheaper than a M3 comp. I think keeping the Supra and adding the IS500 is the way to go.
old is gold as my mom always says
The IS500 is the perfect sport sedan. Practical, sharp looking, and with a soulful V8. This car will never fade into history, unlike whatever soulless cringe 4 cylinder AMG or the M340i that’s just another NPC car on the road.
Ok old man
@@wtfamIdoingwithmylife572ok Mr don’t know what you are doing with your life
@@kenchen704 just lets appreciate all cars man
I sometimes think I should have picked this up over my CT4Vbw. If this had a manual it would have been a no-brainer.
Wats lacking in the BW? The v6? Is ride not as nice as a daily?
@@AS-oo4gv yeah I think mostly the motor, but to be fair I’ve put less than 100 miles on it.
@@clubracer6lmao your good till 100k miles
I've heard the IS500 8-speed is rougher compared to the other Lexus gearboxes. I personally like some gear shock. Reminds me that big chunks of metal are flying around down there.
It's the same AA80E , yes they are a little nosier at times, but the shifts are great.
This car desperately needs a refresh. That infotainment set up is ancient.
Great car thanks for the vidéo
Awesome engine in this car!
I test drove the IS500. It’s a small cabin, too small for a 6’0” man. I ended up getting a manual 392 Challenger
Seeing a lot of DNA from my IS F in the 500. Almost sprang for one instead of the F, but I'm glad I didn't. I do wish mine was a bit more techy since it is an '08, but all I need is an aux cord.
Does the Lexus shift faster than the Aston Martin DB12? Sounded like it!
@virtuaknert The Aisin 8-speed in this car is claimed as being capable of 100-millisecond gear changes. That's pretty good for an almost-20-year-old torque converter auto.
I need to try one
Its so sad this thing is no longer available in europe.. greetings from here🙌🏼
Was the is500 sold in Europe?
@@shaunjose3797 No, it was only ever sold in North America (US, Canada, Puerto Rico) and Japan.
That’s my dream car wow ❤❤❤
Well sir, I’ve been thinking about this car for a minute now, and I have officially decided I will be trading my Mustang for one within the next year or so
Lmao at opening the door and saying “Please exit” to the fly!
LEXUS IS THE TRUTH!! ❤❤
Rhymes with Tar and river 😂😂 fantastic
@13:52. That Incognito Paint don't help either. Grey to black cars are just simply harder to notice.
The sound what you love is not exhaust note mainly to be honest, what toyota and yamaha focus about is "intake noise", enhancing intake noise could attract matured car enthusiasts without antisocial tune like loud exhaust.
@@下田洋介-w4z Trust me, the stock exhaust is loud enough. I tore out of my garage to make the light and my building’s concierge stopped to look. (Along with everyone else on the sidewalk.) Caught up with him later and he said: “I didn’t know a Lexus sounded like that!” 🤣 Intake is there for sure, but you do hear the engine rumbling. No upgraded exhaust for me. 😜
@@blu_is500 I know, I mean just below the antisocial line.
Trust me, AMG, Jaguar and Aston, these are way louder than this, its definitely above the antisocial line, it could be a troublemaker.
I think every Lexus comes with a spare.
I hope Lexus gives it a refresh. It only need a new center console and a new steering wheel and it's good to go imo.
In times where turbo V6's are making 800 HP+ (GT-R, BMW G80/82, etc.), you can only imagine what this could make when turbocharged. Turbocharged V8's turn into absolute monsters. But maybe it's one of those instances where the engine doesn't have good traits to turn into a turbo monster, like compression ratio or something.
I own a 2013 ISF, those engines are high compression. You can supercharge them at around 6 psi and make about 625 bhp.
Turbocharging usually require lower compression, addition of intercoolers, different exhaust manifolds, wastegates, tuning, beefier oil coolers, you get the idea. It would complicate things, make the car more expensive, perhaps a bit less reliable, I suppose that's not what Toyota wanted to do. The 2UR-GSE is a proven engine, it did gain more power/torque from when it came out (originally 416 bhp and 371 lbs-ft), I suppose Toyota didn't want to ditch the V8 in that line yet. It can also be that they are waiting to see what's going to happen with the new Tundra engine, which had its fair share of problems.
@@EJ257IHI Yeah the 2UR-GSE as it exists in the RC F and IS 500 has 12.3:1 compression.
@@ARentz07 Yup, 2nd gen of a great engine making more power. I am still enjoying this car to the fullest.
Quality is very important
The transmission is unrefined but it’s bullet proof reliability and it being a N/A V8 makes up for it. Get an exhaust and tune and this thing is a menace to society!
I'm really hoping for an ISF and an LCF in the future. I'm looking for an RCF in the near future but if they get an ISF in the market I would be tempted to wait.
Start up was quiet and reserved
very demure
If you think the knee space instrusion was bad here you should try testing an AWD IS with the giant hump!
Very nice. I do miss my E92 M3 V8. This might be a nice replacement. Just wish it revved up as high as the BMW, but ultimately this is probably a bit more reliable v8.
It's definitely a throwback to the IS F/E92 M3/W204 C63 era. It's the same recipe, but even better.
However if you wanna track it, you will need bigger brakes and better transmission cooling. Coilovers would be nice too.
My friend owned a brand new 2011 E90 back in the days. In 2013 I bought my brand new ISF. I drove his BMW once or twice.......I revved the hell out of that engine and was wondering where is the torque.
@@EJ257IHI yeah the S65 didn’t have much torque. And you really had to wrung out that engine. But it sounded amazing when you did.
@@SStrunks It did sound great, I used to sit there and admire the idle. It was a really nice car, white with black interior, 6 speed manual.
Unfortunately, the 8-speed has always been clunky. It's great when driving normally, and actually works very well when driving 10/10ths. However it gets very clunky if you short shift or downshift when the revs aren't too high or if you aren't WOT. I am on my second IS350 and they have both been the same (2015 and 2023).
You need to get it tuned, they fix all the OEM problems
The IS 500 has a different transmission, for what it's worth. The IS 350 uses the AA81E, and the IS 500 has the AA80E (which is shared with the RC F). Though, in many ways, they share similar characteristics, the IS 500's transmission is way more aggressive when in Sport or Manual mode.
@@ARentz07 I think you have it backwards. From everything I have read, the differences are mainly tuning differences. Probably has different valve body tuning to handle the higher torque. Mechanically they are nearly identical. The complaints about its clunkiness are not exclusive to the IS500.
@meterdoogles No. I've owned both an IS 350 and IS 500. There is a marked difference between how the transmissions behave.
Do some research on the IS F's development. Its transmission was essentially borrowed from the LS 460 and tuned to deliver faster shifts. That transmission is what's still used in the RC F and IS 500 today.
@@ARentz07 I just said the its due to tuning differences...Both versions are known for being clunky (the video's compliant was about an IS500). I'm saying my current IS350 is the same. So, I am not sure exactly what you are trying to argue here? The Lexus 8-speed has always been clunky, it doesn't matter what model number it is.
If only it came in a 6 speed manual 😢
Main reason why i went with the mazda3 hatchback
All the car needs is a ZF8 as the transmission is borderline horrible in this generation. My 2018 350F RWD would miss shifts every so often and just lag sometimes. I loved EVERYTHING else about the car and I still can’t believe they haven’t updated it.
Agree. Probably will be a hybrid next gen.
FWIW, the IS 500 doesn't have the same transmission as the IS 350.
The AA80E in the IS500 is better than the ZF8.
It has a dual personality. Shifts up faster than ZF8 at full throttle, and shifts smooth when just cruising. ZF8 is choppy all the time.
As an owner of an IS500 and multiple other cars with the ZF8 I am going to have to disagree with you. The ZF8 is superior in every way imaginable, particularly when tuned by a company like BMW.
@blakeeverts7075
Elaborate...
I drove M340is to Scatpack to B9 S4/S5 and none upshift like the IS500 at redline in manual mode.
Also, when cruising, all the German ZF8s upshift harshly. The same downside as PDK/DSG. None is as smooth as the AA80E.
So explain how it's "superior" in every imaginable way?!!
Topher is the type of guy to reverse out of a parking spot properly in an empty parking lot😅