2013 Lexus IS F - 10 Years Later, Is Japan's M3 Rival Worth Buying?
Вставка
- Опубліковано 11 гру 2024
- CarVertical: The History Checking Service
Use this link or code "JAYEMM" for a discount!
www.carvertica...
Today, I drive the Lexus IS F. The first model in the "F" lineup, the IS F featured a naturally aspirated 5L V8 engine, eight-speed automatic gearbox and that classic Japanese craftsmanship. Reviews though would tell you to forget it, and buy a BMW instead - should you still?
#Lexus #V8 #ISF
Want to see your car on the channel? Email me on talk@jayemm.com
Not had enough? Check out JAYEMM & FRIENDS! My new channel
/ jayemmandfriends
**********OUR CHANNEL PARTNERS**********
Dodo Juice - Award Winning Detailing Products
Get 10% off Dodo Juice's British Made Detailing Products with code: JAYEMM10
Shop at www.dodojuice.net
RoadStr is the platform for connecting car enthusiasts where you can discover and post car events, join a car group, find and drive the best roads with built in route planner and navigation. Your Automotive lifestyle, all in one place
www.roadstr.io/
Charles & Dean - The Funding Specialists
www.charlesand...
FIRE SAFETY STICK
The World's Lightest and Most Compact Fire Extinguisher
firesafetystic...
***********************************************************************************
Equipment Used:
Panasonic S1H Camera
amzn.to/3WXREcV
Panasonic S5
amzn.to/3R9C2BJ
Sennheiser AVX-ME2 Audio Kit
amzn.to/3kMUVOJ
Insta360 Action Cameras - GET A FREE ACCESSORY
www.insta360.c...
CarVertical: The History Checking Service
Use this link or code "JAYEMM" for a discount!
www.carvertical.com/gb/landing/v3?b=1e4c9523&a=JayEmm&voucher=jayemm&chan=jayemm
Absolutely loved mine, should never have sold it. Took it from 18k to 70k miles and nothing ever went wrong, not even a lightbulb and I hammered it every day. What a brilliant car this is.
Love it!
Lexus and IS RC G F just lovely things in the know. We aren’t racing our cars tracks so handling doesn’t matter. Soundtrack and Lexus quality does. I miss my F
Its funny because when I got my first Lexus nothing broke on it for years on end. Its only when you think about it that you remember how reliable these cars are. When I got a Jeep SRT I was at the shop at least once a month.
@scottishd0g87 There is one with 270k miles on Misha Charouddins channel being trashed on the Nurburgring..
@scottishd0g87 I have a 2011 with 200k KM and no issues aside from seat wear
This is my car! 👍Thanks James! I am SO PROUD AND HUMBLED to be the custodian of this vehicle and the condition really is a testament to its previous owners and it will stay that way.
I thoroughly enjoy driving this car, especially when pressing on. I have wanted one since 2008 when I saw Clarkson hooning a pre-facelift around the topgear test track. From that point on I knew I wanted the underdog, the unusual. I spent 3-4 years seeking a suitable one out. I actually wanted the ivory interior to brighten it up as like james says it's abit dark and boring, but when this car became available I jumped. I must have watched this 6 times so far. I hope I'm contributing to your google Adsense revenue when it's the same person 😂. Also can you believe this thing does over 32MPG (UK IMPERIAL GALLONS) on a run! 12-14 around town perhaps ☺️
Thank-you for all the desperately kind compliments on the car guys.
Lovely car, and its now on my shortlist radar for sure. James keeps brining up comparisons with the BMW E90 M3, however I'm sure you wont be loosing any sleepless nights wondering when you will need a set of rod bearings, or VANOS units, or replacement throttle actuators etc etc.
I hope it's your forever car. Ultrasonic Blue is also the best color on these.
Thank you for your service. ❤
@Jw20000
I had one on Order, new back in 2011, did a down payment of 20k at the Lexus Dealer, sadly for some Reason the Delivery took twice as long as intended (over 1 Year) and i couldn't find one at Dealers in Germany that were the facelifted Model (with Daytime running Lights) so i sadly had to cancel the Order, i do still regret doing that and have been looking at a used one the past few Years every now and then as a Daily Driver (so would put lots of Kilometers/Miles on it.)
Like what are the Electronics like regarding Reliability? Since it's a Lexus i obviously trust the Engine etc. to be reliable, but Electronics (especially in Toyotas made Issues for me and Friends in the past)
Either way, great Car! Made me want to look even harder for a used one now
Prost & Cheers from Berchtesgaden in the Bavarian Alps
great Lexus mate
Previously owned an ISF and I’m now in a GSF, absolute weapons 👌
@Vakushka Which of the two cars do you prefer? As JM seemed to not rate the GSF?
@@davidbloomfield8082 ??
@@davidbloomfield8082 isf is better, but both are great
Lexus' customer service is on a completely different planet than BMW's. I recently bought a 2013 GS 450h from a private seller, and the dealership delivers the same level of service to me as if I had bought one brand new from their showroom. They have a complementary collect and return service and when my car comes back it has been washed and cleaned inside and out. Their maintenance also includes planned diff and transmission fluid changes so none of that lifetime fluid nonsense.
All in all, I'm quite impressed with both the quality of my car and the service provided to me.
I was surprised when Lexus told me on my gs 450h full service they changed the diff fluid as none of my previous cars ever had that even my old lemon money pit Audi 2.0 tfsi Quattro mk7. Lexus Sidcup is good.
@@riccccccardo yeah it's awesome. I still own an E46 convertible for summer fun/tinkering and my wife drives my old E61 turbodiesel xdrive. But for my own daily driver I'm never going back to BMW again.
@@fransb8543 glad I don’t rate bmw at all unreliable.
@@riccccccardo not unreliable as such but I've had a few niggles, though luckily I have never been stranded so far. But most are substantially more expensive and customer service doesn't come close.
Yes definitely worth buying. A BMW ,MB or Audi of this age will be an endless money pit.
Agreed. Rod rod knocking on heavens door.
So true but it’s a Lexus, I’d rather have the M3 journey which can be turbulent but if you take preventive measures you may mitigate problems and have a fulfilling M power ownership.
.......Is that you Scotty? 🤣🤣
@@simongray2533Shoddy Kilmer.
@@scott8919 🤣🤣
Very fair review. I’ve owned two IS-F’s, a grey 08 for 5 years and a blue 11 facelift for a year. Absolutely bombproof reliable, zero issues and immense once fitted with a Hayward and Scott catback. I even took the blue one on track at Donington, felt heavy but it was lots of fun with the lsd and all driver aids off. The Lexus dealers prices aren’t that bad at all, (used Lexus Stoke for 6 years and treated like I had an LFA) less than my GR Yaris.
Which is quicker ISF or yaris
@@ronanmcnamee2008 IS-F on a straight in the dry, GR Yaris in any type of twisty road wet/dry.
I own a isf, never regret it, fun to drive and definitely an underrated performance car in the 2000s to 2010s era.
Owner of an ‘08 ISF here. Bought in January this year. Daily driver doing 6-12 miles most days - done nearly 4000 miles overall this year. Absolutely love it. Effortlessly reliable, fairly economical for a 5 litre V8 - I get 21mpg around town and 30+ on motorway runs.
The secondary intake is incredibly addicting and not featured enough in this video. Floor it and you’ll hear nothing else (or want to either).
Prices are starting to climb a little so could be a future investment (fingers crossed).
Mine is on 83k miles now which is nothing for these. People track these in America well into double that mileage without issue.
I just need to get it cleaned up (front bumper suffered a lot of chips from country roads with the previous owner) and it’ll look as new as it feels. Had plenty of compliments on it, people asking what it is. One guy was stunned to find out it really is a 15 year old car. He was stunned again when I started it up 😂
It’s not for everyone - doing things differently is definitely the right description. But I’ve had the back out before and it is a lot of fun to drive.
Lovely write up, loved both of mine.
They go for over 40k in Australia for the early cars. Pre covid they were under 30k for 2012s
@@Low760 We had them at 15-20k euros, now they start from around 30 grand.
Every car i wanted to get gets more expensive.
Anything with the Lexus 5 litre V8 really should start to see increasing values in coming years.
@@LorandHungary Here in NZ, you can pick a decent JDM model up for what equates to about 18,000 euros. They are a bit compromised as JDM models they all have the stupid 180kph speed limiter and cruise control maxes out at 110kph - and they almost all stink of cigarette smoke as the Japanese seem to almost all smoke like chimneys - but a bit of work you can get rid of that easily enough. Only other issue is everything in the ICE is in Japanese, but there are places around that will update them to English for a few hundred dollars. Even the JDM ones are starting to climb now though.
Purchased my 2008 in 2012 and I am about to cross 215k miles. Extremely reliable and maintenance costs are reasonable relative to what you get. OEM rotors and pads are a little pricey for a Lexus. My electric steering failed at 150k miles. Otherwise, no material issues. Agree with your review, which is spot on.
Had mine for nearly 5 years now. The engine is addictive. Love it.
In North America, Lexus now has the IS500 which is basically an update of the IS-F. I would be really happy to own either one because they are basically like 8/10th M3s with amazing V8s and long term reliability that the Germans cannot dream of!
The IS500 is not an update to the IS-F, the IS-F is a full on F car that's made to excel on the road and track, IS500 is just designed for road use only.
it’s a shame it’s not coming to the uk
Yeah the is500 doesnt have the oil coolers the F has , neither the 6 pot brembos and many or performance bits , but its a cool looking car that can shred some tires and put a smile on your face anyway , shame europeans will never get to see it not even in a godamn hybrid...
Incorrect. The IS500 is a regular IS that just has the 5.0 L engine. For example, it does not have Brembo brakes or the F wide body/fenders etc. The IS500 is considered an F-Sport performance model. Not an F car. This is coming from Lexus. Not me.
@@sdlausen1 it also doesnt make F horsepower numbers and the transmission is tuned differently.
Wow, this is my old car (M3WTF). I recognised it almost immediately. What a great car, I wished I had kept it. Great to see it on the channel. Keep up the great reviews Jay!
I'm still keeping her good. And again if you ever think about selling that reg. let me know. ISF is the perfect vehicle for that reg 😂
@@Jw20000 Good stuff Jacob, happy to know she’s being looked after 👌
My Dad bought his ISF brand new in 2012. It´s still going strong with 300.000+ Miles. Had to replace the waterpump at 150k , not because it was broken, but because it was recommended by Lexus. No other expenses except tires, brakes and oil. Absolute Beast! Made me buy a Lexus too😎
I don't like Japanese interiors until very recent examples, they were behind the curve, but the way this car drives is exceptional. Like a modern feeling E39 M5. I have huge respect for Lexus after experiencing this car
It's about the driving experience, didn't matter about interior u can change that
I can't find a worthy replacement, which is why I still have mine. That in itself tells me enough about the ISF. One hell of a car.
Glad to hear this - I have a 2015 C63-S AMG and just got a 67k miles blue ISF. I think i will sell the C63 at this point, both so different but the ISF just feels like I can get in and drive it, without worry.
I have a 2014 Lexus ISF and I love it! Keeping it for life
86 unite! ;)
Jacob bought this car from me! I really do miss it, one of the best cars I’ve owned. Glad to see it going and looking well still!!
The roads in Britain are so frigging bad, pot holes, cracks and patches everywhere. Skinny tyres are a nightmare
Before the IS F there was a JDM first gen IS called the Altezza RS200. Basically an IS with the high revving 2.0 litre 3S-GE 154kW/207bhp motor. A wonderful little car.
There were a couple of no cost options - cream leather seats and different design alloys. Only cost option was the sunroof. My ISF was so equipped and that made a big difference to the interior feel of the car. Previous owner had fitted an electronic exhaust valve for those moments when you want to open up that NA V8 experience. 😁 Great car.
Love mine! Currently FBO with 187k miles and hasn’t had any mechanical issues. Extremely reliable and underrated
These are absolutely brilliant. Its as fast as the M3 and RS4 but wins against both in a shouting match. This rivals the C63 for V8 sound. They sound unreal at full chat. And it will run forever and only need regular maintenance like every other Lexus. They come with a mark levinson stereo too which is brilliant
Yes the mark lev on mines is amazing I think 800+ watts.
M3 yes. RS4 hmm.. nope.
@@riccccccardo My LS460 has 2400 watts and 23 speakers
@@DeathhAngel1 nice!
Most people will not track their cars, so the calculus of what makes a car...a good car...has to change. Is it reliable? Will it punish you as a daily? Does it illicit emotion? How's the design? Lexus may not be the best in any one particular category (except reliability), but they do everything WELL and I think that's worth a serious consideration. I wish you guys had the opportunity to test drive the IS 500, the ride is far superior to the IS F. Thanks for posting!
If it’s not a good track car, the answers to all your other questions is probably “no, it’s a boring econo-turd”.
Small brakes, skinny tires, weak suspension, boring alignment…. Look at the car with objective eyes of what you are buying.
@@fry.master I think my eyes and opinion are quite clear. 😎 If 98% of the time is spent in traffic or merging onto the highway or a once a month canyon carve with the twisties, this car is absolutely brilliant. So you expect people to buy a track weapon and only get to seriously open it up 2% of the time? Yeah…make that make sense, but you do you. 😉
@@blu_is500 Not everyone can handle driving a track weapon every day... but my life has been nothing but better for it. That's just my .02, not judging other povs just the nature as a whole.
@@fry.masternothing this heavy is ever going to be a “good track car”…..lap times aside….any car with leather, air con, and enough sound deadening for it to feel well built is going to be very heavy on tyres, brakes, fuel etc…..a full weight m3, c63, rs4, isf will easily chew through a set of £800 tyres, £400 brake pads and a tank or 2 of fuel and an expensive oil service in a single track day…..unless you’re being sympathetic to the car which is just disappointing…..in the mean time you’ll have 900kg 250bhp k swapped civics running rings around you, on the same £400 tyres they’ve used for 5 other track days and the same brake pads they fitted a year ago.
@@seshelbow336 👍🏽👏🏽
I loved mine. Sold it at 170k miles. Still ran strong. Now running the RCF. LOVE IT
I have owned: F30 340i, F30 335i, E90 335d, E36 M3, E30 325is, W211 E320CDI and I must say my ISF feels EXTREMELY well put together in comparison to that bunch, even after 14 years. Recently purchased an 09 after fascinating over them for years and years! Transmission was extremely ahead of its time, V8 is a sweetheart and surprisingly efficient, interior materials are pretty good, extremely composed at speed, superb flat cornering, & all of that is backed by Toyota reliability. Best daily period.
120k on the car and so far needed to replace battery and brake pads. Excellent car.
Go Jacob for making the review happen. Lovely car. Like you say in the review it’s puzzling why the rear legroom is so tight, a few Japanese cars suffer this. I have grown to appreciate in recent years the reliability/engineering & dealership customer service of Lexus/Toyota & Honda. Sensible head would not really stray from those.
I still own a 2011 IS350, after replacing it with a BMW 335is, and that with a BMW M235i. The cost of ownership over twelve years. is still less than half the 335is over 5 years, and about a third of the M235i over five years. The M235i actually sh*t the bed and had to have most of the top of the engine replaced so it was repaired and immediately sold. It had meticulous maintenence its whole life including 5000 mile oil changes at $250 a pop. didnt matter. The IS350 is still going strong, even after having been slightly neglected due to my BMW phase. Next car for me is a 2018+ used RCF. never buying anything but japanese again.
Yes yes and yes. Dead reliable, fast, economical and nicely build. I sometimes drive a standard IS250 from 2008 and its just a nice place to sit in.
I have wondered before: has anyone stuffed an ISF engine into a IS250C/350C, the hard top convertible? Dr. Frankensteins fast SC430
I have a 2008 lexus isf that i rip on daily, 240k miles on the odometer and zero problems. Incredibly well built machine
prices went up bro , u think its worth puttin a carnote on it?
@@zayybelike3842 i’d say so, these cars are a blast and will be worth very well down the road
@@michaelmedina1719 appreciate it brotha, lookin to get one in like a yr or 2
Owned mine for 4 years now. From 58k to 83k miles, it's done the NC500 over a 2 week road trip holiday, on track, down to lands end. Never missed a beat, nothing has gone wrong and even manages 37mpg on a run. Don't agree on the point about the rear seat space, my 6ft 4 friend can fit behind my 6ft self.
Also you have to remember this was a skunk works project undertaken by a handful of engineers with a miniscule budget. There is a lot of untapped potential in this platform.
You also get 6 piston front and 2 piston rear monoblock Brembo brake calipers on an ISF. The E92 M3 still has floating calipers !! From new the M3 had 20mm wider tyres front back, on equal tyres the ISF is faster.
For me, it's the best of the 4 and the one for a petrolhead with a brain
Love that era of small sports sedans with big normally aspirated V8's.
8 years of isf heaven!! Legendary car !! 🙌
It’s a great review Jayemm! It’s a great car and more unique than a c63 or M3. And no doubt more reliable
I was trying to decide between this and a stinger,always loved the isf
I’ve had my 2010 ISF just over 6 months and absolutely love it. Done 7000 miles in that time and it’s been brilliant.
All the points you make about driving are spot on. The ride is just too hard (I came from an M2 Comp which was like an S-class in comparison). I’m in the process of changing out the suspension for something softer/adjustable.
Running costs are incredibly cheap too, I paid £120 for an oil+filter service (me providing the parts) at a local garage. I’ve just changed the front discs and pads for £200 and I drove to Brugge and back in March and got 34mpg. Only issue is the tax at £690 a year.
I’m also 6ft and have no issue with space in the front at all and I’ve had 2 adults in the back who said it was ok.
Fantastic thing and I’ll be keeping it for a long time.
Yes I noticed on auto trader the tax is a massive killer. £200 sounds way to cheap for discs don’t make sense my gs 450 f sport discs from Lexus cost a bomb to do front I think £300 to £400 I forget.
@@riccccccardo Yep, Brembo front discs (OE Spec) were £150 off Autodoc and then genuine Lexus pads were £60 from Fensport. Fitted myself a few months ago 👍
@@TSM13 ahhh I didn’t even know u could put brembo on it I just paid Lexus to change them.
@@riccccccardo Unless the things got carbon discs, any disc from a reputable company will be fine. Brembo/Pagid etc are all OE suppliers.
Main dealerships always seem to love to gouge on brake stuff, even though the parts are usually pretty cheap and the labour shouldn't be that high. Like I'm not a mechanic but on a car I'm familiar with a pad and disc change can be about 15 minutes per side.
Funny, I just got a 2009 ISF and the ride is 3x more plush than my 2015 C63-S AMG lol. Maybe it's all relative...
1 minute in, got to pause the vid to credit the most excellent Blackadder reference!
Glad someone got it :)
Love this car it's actually my dream car
These are great and the GSF thats awesome too. 👍👍
Yes james best car reviewer out there in my opinion
It's very refreshing to watch a review of this car by someone who does real homework! Great job!
(Isf was discontinued in 2014, not 2013)
I only came across your channel recently, but watching a few episodes I had to subscribe. Your response to exiting cars is infectious and your equal admiration for quality sound systems makes you one of my tribe. You are an admirable presenter, with a wealth of knowledge on the subject and appeal to my sense of what is correct about 4 wheeled vehicles. (as a former exclusive motorcyclist) Thank you for presenting each episode with the sort of diligence only afforded by those who speak the truth. It is so refreshing to not be listening to a salesman, as much as a driving enthusiast. It has for the longest time always been my intention to get a Lexus. Cheers.
“Nugget of purest green” - great Blackadder ref snuck in there!
This was always the Lexus I wanted. Rare I've only seen one and I live in LA. Love this car.❤❤🔥❤️🔥😎🤑🏁👍
Have owned my 2011 IS-F for 5 years. Its been a brilliant car, only needed a headlight bulb and set of front disc/pads in all that time. I had a switchable valve fitted to the exhaust for a bit more noise and also capped off the intake pipe so its open all the time, sounds great now aswell.
Any regrets on capping the intake? Did you just use a rubber hose cap?
❤ Finally you’ve reviewed one. I love mine. Really like your review. As a performance car the ISF is not the best at everything, but it does everything well and has been built to last.
Very tempted by one of these as my next car, this review has just increased the want level
I only use my back seat for my 165 lb Bullmastiff. Beau would be completely comfortable back there as he's done about 150,000 miles in the back seat of a Prius.
If I have a pint for every time James mentioned his long torso I would currently be at hospital waiting in emergency room for my 10th liver transplant.
Anyway, the IS F. While I'm a big M3 E9x fan, I got to admit I prefer the IS F when it comes to the 4-door version. Dunno why but it got that underdog-yet-angry factor that M3 does not have...
He'll probably be joining you in the emergency room if he keep on eating all the pies lol
Reliability and smoothness is what Lexus always has in spades. If you actually want to hold onto a car and not worry about it this is your best option
Always liked the idea of an RCF. Basically because it won’t go wrong and I can get it serviced at a Lexus dealers.
Own a 2008 ISF here in Tokyo. Bullet proof car, great engine.
Of that generation, I think it's probably behind the RS4 though; most hot Audis promise much and deliver little, but that RS4 has a similar level of build quality to the Lexus, but with that legendary Audi V8 that was in the R8.
That said, I've driven M3s and C63s of the time, and now that the cars are getting on a bit, they haven't held up anywhere near as well. The Lexus may not be as great on a 15 minute road test, but living with it every day now that it's 15 years old? An excellent car.
100% agree. RS4 was the best choice back then, but the ISF is the only choice today.
That looks mint like new 😮
This would be a excellent replacement for my sorely missed LS 430 (someone running a red light you can guess the rest 😢) even my wife who is by no means a car person loved it.
I don't think it's a good replacement for an LS430. The ISF rides like it's on coilovers. It is NOT a plush ride.
@@sdlausen1 Thanks that’s good to know. I think I was more focused on its engine 😁
An IS F has been on my want list for a very long time. I currently own a Lexus IS250 Manual (my second 2IS) which is a delight to daily drive. I can push on in the 2IS with quite the spirited foot and it really does hold it's own. It is true what they say about owning a Lexus though, once a Lexus owner, always a Lexus owner. The standard to which these cars are built to can only be dreamt of by the Germans.
08’ ISF owner in Georgia, USA. love my isf a lot and got a special “ISF” custom license plate for it!
Reliability second to none, had various Lexus models over the years, not one has missed a beat.
Most definitely the greatest car ever in my opinion! I loved my 2013 Lexus ISF. I had a nebula grey pearl with red interior and it was the best car I’ve ever owned. Will most definitely buy another one day !!
I was looking at the IS F a couple of years back, as I love its understated looks.
They were £13-18k back then!
I'm not sure I would spend £20k on one now, but still love the car!
yep back in 2016 was looking at one nearby in all black, 2009 year 30k miles for just under 20g, good luck finding one like that anywhere near that price now.
yep I had a 2008 ISF, I bought it around 2016 and payed £13.5k for it, sold it last year for £20k
I was looking into a 2014 IS-F. They cost at least 40.000€ with 90.000 kilometers here in Germany. For 50.000€ i can get a RS5 B8 AND a C63 W204. And im talking both cars. One can be have for 20K€. Theres literally zero reason to buy a IS-F here. If it was 20K with this mileage okay but fucking 40K? Complete nonsense. I can't admire enough how cheap those are in America and other countries. And if anything the RS5 is the better car in every way except the Maintenance. Let alone the C63 which is complete bollocks compared to both the RS5 and the IS-F. Its a 20.000€ car for me but not 40K ... its simply not worth it to spend it here for what it has. America/England prices are where i see the car realistically but damn over here there are so WILDly overpriced that a E92 M3 is cheaper with less miles.
Dads had a 2008 in grey for about 8 years now, aftermarket exhaust and induction kit on it and it sounds unreal
This is a overlooked v8 gem..
Love the black adder nugget of purest green reference. :)
Be interesting to see how the exact same year of Merc C63 /BMW M3 /Audi RS4 have aged in comparison to the Lexus, Great video James as always !
ISF was my dream car when it 1st came out. Now I've got the IS500.
Great review again! I never knew about this car, until I got the chance to sit in the backseat of one around the Nordschleife. One of my favourite automobile memories ever, and I've been dreaming about getting one some day ever since.
I own a '13. Just hit 50k miles. Never had a single issue. Very comfortable driver.
I have glanced at your videos and i am very impressed with your taste in cars. Cheers from Chicago!
This is my realistic one car garage. A dream car for reliability and usability. Back seats aren’t an issue for me! I know you require a real four seater so very fair point.
While i haven't commented on wanting to see this review before, I glad you did.
It's a car that always catches my attention and close to consider.
Good insight, I'm same, not a track warrior-my time is mostly spent exploring country roads too, so good to see a review that would align with my usage.
Thankyou!
Another thoroughly enjoyable video. Thank you.
Thank you for more great content, Jay. These have always been on my radar and continue to be so...
Before seeing Jays review, the consensus on this car seems to be the following. For a drivers car, it's inferior to all of its rivals. That said, the reliability makes people love the 1st gen IS F, and you can see that in their value
better drivers car than Audi, only europeans or Audi fanboys think otherwise
That's not the consensus. And consensus can be wrong.
From what I've seen, the point of the IS F (and indeed any Lexus with that god tier V8) has been the engine. An N/A V8 is an incredibly special thing these days and when coupled with a car that can more than handle it, makes for a great daily driver experience. M3/ C63 are better for a more spirited drive/ track days, but that's not how you're experiencing the car 90-98% of the time. Those times admittedly are probably about half the reason why you're buying a sports sedan and thus have a bigger impression, but if it isn't, then you can see why the Lexus becomes the better "driver's car" for others
@duanechristian2309 it's definitely more daily friendly than it's rivals. Usually I'll see people describing this as the "early car syndrome" or whatever, because the F brand had launched with this car, and lexus had yet to figure out where they wanted it to sit on the "luxury drivers car" scale
By 2011 with all the suspension revisions and LSD most people seem to say it drives better than rivals with maybe the exception of only the BMW
I have had 3…141k trouble free, hard miles so far. My favorite car.
MY DREAM CAR!!! Would absolutely take one of these over a m3, c63 or RS4. Great that you reviewed one with the LSD and updates!
i had a ‘12 Blue with white interior and the optional (wider) BBS wheels. Great car, and faultless during my ownership (More than can be said for my mates E90 that needed an engine rebuild at the same age). Perhaps biggest flaw is interior room as JayEmm said, they are great on a track but be prepared to have a sore neck from the zero headroom with a helmet on.
The later MYs with the proper LSD and revised suspension are the ones to go for
great review James as always. Love the ISF one of my favourites grom that era
I’ve had 3 ISFs. Over 250k miles, and 300 ring laps. No faults, never needed oil, and only required discs, pads and tyres. Also like that nobody else had one. Big, big, fan.
ua-cam.com/video/9hKg2a7hD3Q/v-deo.html
is it worth puttin a note down on one bro? im tryna get one
Well, I like them and they should be more reliable than their equivalent rivals. I’d still buy one today. Please note, this is a personal opinion and does not constitute professional advice 😊
Brilliant review on a car I’d completely forgotten about
Well done mate, you seem to review all the cars we actually want to see, car guys think alike
Seems a pretty good car, but just too compromised in internal space. Thanks J! 🙏🙏
Beautiful example, had to update a few things on my 08 IS F but is the most fantastic company car I could ever own 💕
Loving your eighties style electro end credits Jay. Took me right back to those days (although it was a BMX then and not a car). Keep up the great reviews. Love your channel and the variety of cars.
Ive always felt that for lexus, reliability has always been a consolation prize for otherwise slower, less entertaining cars. Especially if you are a DIY'er. I do think the old ISF is pretty sharp though.
Would be my dream car but i have the isf's younger brother, a rare is250 manual, only 3600 of em were made, love it, put so many miles on it and no hickups compared to how my friends throw thousands of pounds on the bmw's and audis, can never go wrong on a lexus
I own my 2012 ISF now on 46500 mileage, I wanted to keep the miles low, but after watching my oldest brother take his last breath, I figured to enjoy every moment I can with my Betsy-Lou (ISF). It's NA 2UR-GSE Yamaha V8 motor can be modified to go over 500Bhp or even more with extra $$$, It's fast not as fast as the Ms or Hellcats, or Benz, or EV performance cars.
Dated Tech still works, in reliability It's a toyota made to last long given the proper maintenance.
I'm keeping my Betsy-Lou, for as long as I am alive..
Viewing from Guam 🇬🇺, Hafa Adai....
Keeping the miles low is like never have sex with your girlfriend. Don't save your girl for the next guy. Slay that thang. lol I have almost 160k miles on mine and it just gets better with time.
I haven’t even watched the video yet… however it’s definitely definitely worth buying.. I had one of this Ultrasonic Blue with Alpine interior… beautiful! And RELIABLE! 👍
Thanks Jacob for the use of your car. Cheers🍷
I have a 2000 GS400 with 1UZFE. Lexus makes one sweet V8, I wish the V8 had remained an affordable option
Had a 58 plate. Lovely car. Built like a tank. Sounded glorious. I can’t remember why I sold it. I do regret it though.
This in a two door with the 3.5…
Old school late 80’s fun!😁
Fantastic real world review, yet again.
Thank you sir!
I owned GU08 VSN which is the car in the press shots at the start of this video. It was the press car used in Top Gear and driven by Clarkson. It was a fantastic car in every way, really surprised most people. I did 20k miles in it and Lexus bought it off me at 96k and it was still like new then! I now have a C63 but still miss this!
In the process of importing one from Japan into Canada, unbelievably excited.
Intake noise from secondaries opening up around 3,800 rpm gives baritone sensation on F V8 and I often shift at 6,000 just so I can repeat it over and over.
Owned an 08 IS F for a couple years and kinda regretted trading it in. I currently own an e92 m3 w/ dct and it’s a great car. Cant go wrong with either one. 👍
A nice one here in Au will still set you back £30,000 GBP
Loving the Black Adder reference in the intro. 😀
Enjoyable video and a great car. I really like the look of it
A nugget of purest green
Nice one Percy
my 2011 was ridiculously stiff so I replaced the suspension with Tein coil-overs and it transformed the ride and handling. PS since 2011 NOTHING has failed on this car - it will probably outlive me
I have a IS350 F Sport and I love her but this is definitely the car you wanna have