I will never forget back in 08? not sure but right when the ISF came out it was at the LA Autoshow and they had it on a dyno to show off the transmission. This thing was redline 1st-4th gear hundreds of times per day non stop from morning to night for 5 days straight. The Lexus guy told me, it never had a problem once.
Nice - truly only something Lexus engineers could manage to do, and I can just imagine them observing the car doing this show, knowing there is no risk anything can go wrong
The car in general is bulletproof. Besides the valley plate leak it had no mechanical issues. I just buy gas and rear tires for mine. Had it 10 years and never a problem besides the valley plate leak. And I hammer on it every time I’m driving it. Great vehicle!
@Osama.bin.smokin It's not just a "lexus guy" thing. Toyota/Lexus are well known for building by far and away the most reliable engines. Especially the V8s they are obscenely reliable.
Yeah he complains about that in so many reviews. Dude, it’s not a truck. You have to duck your head alittle, who cares. To me that’s not a big deal at all
I'm a 6'4" and still fit in this car, well that was reason why finally I got it without sunroof. Plenty of space lol. Had opportunity to drive it with sunroof, just different seat position, still comfy.
I agree with him on this one. I'm only 6'1" and I found that, in the drivers seat, my hair brushed the ceiling in sunroof equipped models of this gen IS. Maybe if I adjusted the seat to the lowest position it would give me some headroom, but who buys a luxury sedan so they can sit on the floor of it and get backpain?
And here I am thinking damn those wheels look awesome in that burnt red. Then I was like, Is that the brake dust? Well if it is, I wouldn't wash the wheels LOL.
They are indeed a hideous color. However, the are forged Volk CE28s. EXTREMELY lightweight. Since it's a track car, maybe the owner got them for a great price just to track?
Yup, keeping in mind that the 5.0L DOHC with dual injection was released in 2008, Ford didn't make their Coyotes until 2011 and those didn't received direct injection until 2018. And yep, the 8spd Direct Shift auto is a neat thing. Smaller than a 6AT of its time, it featured shifting in a matter of .1s while still retaining comfortable driving for those who just drive it normally. There's actually several transmission maps for the various functions that the ISF will run through. You can expect rev matched downshifts in M mode or if you're in regular drive mode and downshift, it'll be like clutch braking in other traditional automatics. (I actually like that feature when I'm cruising along on the highway and the car in front of me slows down slightly, a simple downshift from 8-6th with the engine braking will allow me to shave off a handful of mph and not require me to use the brakes at all.) FWIW, the ISF truly needed a manual option. I despise driving automatics but Toyota hit the ballpark out of this car with the automatic. I can actually enjoy driving it when I really want to be spirited or if I wanted to just drive for some normal/ comfort, just leave it in Drive. I've found my first automatic that doesn't put me to sleep.
It's actually pretty impressive that the isf from 2008 beats current s550 mustangs other than the 10r80. People really don't understand how fast the car was for it's time and especially for being a first of its kind within Lexus.
@@mercender5910 Nope. GTI only has direct injection... which is the reason for the carbon build-up. Port injection was traded for direct injection. It's never had both.
Yeah, Lexus was ahead of its time by ingeniously combining port and direct injection...and this was in 2005! It took Ford and Audi like 12 years to follow suit.
Haha chap in black top really dislikes the isf. Buy an 08, ediff works a treat, if you want to drift put a os giken in for 2.5k Transmission is a stunner, smooth around town, fast when giving it some. Something they don't mention is the torque it has low down compared with the e92. Much more fun for everyday around town use. I picked this over a rs4, rs5, m3 e92, all driven back to back. Love all of them for slightly different reasons, but the isf was the more fun daily, surprised the hell out of me. It was actually an annoying review to watch as Jack was so negative, head room is great... as soon as head said that at the start I knew he wasn't into it. Justified by plenty of 6ft comments. He said the exhaust was single tip, it has two either side, yes behind fake heat dissipation ovals. Go buy one, they are cool.
I have owned an ISF for about four months now and absolutely love it. I am 6"2' and have no problems with fitting in it at all. Rarely do I have more than one passenger.
I'm 6'4", 225 lbs, and the only time I've been miserable is when trying to do a few Lyft rides, and every single female wanted to sit directly behind me for some idiotic reason. I kept wanting to turn around and say, "you realize this isn't a motorcycle, right? There are other seats".
@@aleksuks I think they did it for safety reasons. From the seat directly behind me, it would be easiest to avoid any potential attacks from the driver, I guess. Every man I had still sat in the rear, but in the rear passenger seat, not directly behind me. So I didn't have to have my seat scooted all the way up. Yeah, it must have been a safety precaution.
My 93 Lexus LS400 I bought second hand in 1997 has 298,000 miles and keeps running like a Swiss watch. I've owned and currently own BMW, Porsche, Mercedes, models of varying trim and I can say the Lexus is easily one of the best engineered things on this planet.
Have a 91' LS400. Love the car and can't really compare anything to it of the same year. It's in its own league. Especially now in the used car market where practically all of them are still in good condition
@@ahmedtoma6963 Yeah, what good is a "driver's" car if you can't drive it because it's in the shop every other month, destroying your bank account and hopes of retirement? When I get into my IS, I NEVER worry about what instrument cluster light is going to surprise me that day, or what bad thing will happen if I drive a bit hard on the way home when the streets are empty. Carefree driving goes a long way when owning a luxury brand vehicle.
I enjoy my 2012 IS-F much more than this video would suggest, and never even considered its German rivals despite also being a fan of German sports cars. I'm 6'0" and have no issues with fitting in the car, and feel this car more than holds its own against the newer Lexus F products as they are far heavier. I definitely agree the styling of the older IS-F is far more pleasing to the eyes than their newer offerings, and this car really delivers big overall. Toyota engineers really knocked it out of the park, and as someone who used to own heavy hitting Toyota sports cars like the Supra TT I can say that the engineering DNA of this car is actually extremely impressive. It's very obvious to me that real performance engineers got their way with this car over bean counters, and the engine and braking are truly world class!
I used to own e92 M3 and after thousands in repairs I sold it to buy the Lexus ISF. I’m 6’2 and I fit just fine. I love this car and it puts a smile on my face every time I drive it. I have done few tasty mods to make it look and perform better and I swear I wouldn’t trade it for much much more expensive cars. I just love it.
That's what I think a lot of reviewers fail to recognise with all their reviews: what is this car like to live with? Many of the design choices that get ridiculed by reviewers ultimately make the F cars nicer to own and drive long-term. They won't leave you stranded, or be a pain to drive in city traffic. They're designed to be driven daily and won't piss you off. It's those qualities that make these cars a better choice, instead of looking impressive on a spec sheet.
Congrats, I have a 2012 and picked it up roughly the same time as yours! Have been a man in love since. I actually called on your car (ugh Grapevine Toyota), but I'm located in the Great Lakes region and it just became too difficult logistics-wise to get out there...you were also apparently far quicker than me ;) Looks like an absolute beauty!
My ‘11 ISF has 120k miles. Fully straight piped exhaust (res, muffler and 2nd cat delete) with PPE headers and Intake that I daily drive. She’s a fucking animal. Had to replace a good amount of things and have things fixed but nothing dramatic. I treat her good and so does she.
The "Fake" exhaust tips are fully functional and are designed to cool the exhaust instead of melting the bumper. Do your homework on a car that you aren't familiar with. the mufflers have two exhaust ports that align with the tip collectors. The collectors gather air and combine with the exhaust gas. Another well thought out piece of engineering, not just gingerbread.
I own a 2010 ISF! Hands down the most practical,funnest,most well rounded car I’ve ever owned! You can track her,you can enjoy it her on a Sunday drive,you can road trip her! All of the above with the piece of mind knowing it’s built like a damn near rock! Car was so far ahead of its time & it’s not even close imo
SailorBacon For Sure! they were just building the cool fun stuff through the Lexus Brand for a decade or so while The Toyota brand was focused on building Awesome Trucks and practical “boring” cars. Now they are getting back to bringing some fun and performance back into more of the Toyota Lineup again, which is great to see!!! 👍🏼
No Flexing must be taking about your M3 😂 or shop was trying to rip you. I just spent 3k on a ton of stuff upgrades and replacement parts. No major issues with 90k buddy has one 200k no issues.
You should redo this video now! The ISF has appreciated in value pretty significantly while it’s so called “competitors” in bmw & Benz has significantly depreciated all while spending minimum 50% more on repairs/maintenance to keep them going
I'm a midget at 5'6". Whenever I'm feeling insecure about my height, I just think to myself, I can fit comfortably inside my Lotus and Miata. Life is good.
I am 6'1'' with a bit o' chunk on me and have a 2012 -- I agree this thing is SNUG. Defnitely rockin that 90's Honda Gangster lean in the seat angle though lol. I deal with it because this car puts a HUGE smile on my face whenever I get behind the wheel. Would've been interested to hear your opinions on a 2011+ when they changed the suspension -- I've found that mine is mostly comfortable, even on Michigan's terrible roads.
Wouldn't have a daily driver any other way. No competitor to the F series is worthy to me. Lexus should continue with the NA DOHC V8 forever. I wouldn't even mind if they used the 2UR-GSE for another 20 years. It's that good.
Diesel Douche That is literally the best part of watching Savage geese vs all the other wannabes. And you’d be surprised how many of us that watch are mechanics, fabricators, and engineers. Go be a douche on your diesel channels.
There is one for sale out here in the SF bay area for like $17999 or $18999. Can't remember the price atm. But it has 131k mileage which I felt was pretty low for the price out here in California. Everything is overpriced. Just can't pull the trigger cuz I'm California broke.
@@farley9255 one guy bought one for 12k with 170k+ miles on it, it's an 08 too, he was on that famous Florida UA-camr channel, I forgot his name, he be buying cars to fix them.
@@gsheverything_2716 tavarish*? That's only Florida youtuber I know of tbh lol. But that's really cheap. I might be able to afford one with 320k mileage.. Might be lol
Owned my 08 for 4 years and it’s got 85k on it, zero issues in my time. More than enough power for here in England and only 211 here so rare. Fitted Michelin Pilot 4S’s and for the road the E diff does just fine. Only car I’ll replace it with is a blue last of the line ISF. RCF/GSF are good cars but the ISF began it all and after driving both I feel the ISF is still the more raw car, well as raw as a Lexus can be. My only gripe is tech but I can forgive that as the rest of the car is so good, for me.
I'm 6'2" 325lbs and I fit perfectly fine with my helmet on: I've tracked my 2008 ISF. They did an overall good review. The car has a sluggish nature to it down low rpms unless in manual shift mode and sport turned on which has to be hit after every time the car is turned off unlike my old 94 camry 😆. I've done full exhaust, ecu tune, intake, oil catch can, BC racing adjustable shocks, adjustable ball joints, steering bushings and steel braided brake lines. Its a daily driver. I just bought the silky carbon fiber driveshaft waiting to be installed. I'll get a 2010 or newer differential by spring break to complete my set up. All the mods made a huge difference naturally but it takes them all to wake the car up. Budget the 6k for the mods and installation. I have a BMW s1000rr so speed is met there lol
What??? This transmission is very, very good and reliable. When it came out, late 2007 it was the fastest gear changing box all over the world 100 milliseconds! OK , it is not DSG 8ms upshift but waaaaaaay more reliable than german crap. In UK I have seen one of them supercharged, 600ps with stock box...car is running with no issue at all. This car wasn't built just for a performance, it's a small sedan with some balls. All the best boys 🔰💥😎
Hi from west Australia. Great work guys. Here in Australia currently only 5 for sale in the country. Mine is modified with headers , tune, coil overs. It’s a beast and bullet proof. I also have a e92 M3 , totally different beast. E92 is like a race car and unless you keep perfect maintenance, you live in fear. Love them both. I will say the the Lexus puts the power down better and will likely be faster light to light because of that. Honestly here in Australia the Lexus gets way more attention especially with after market wheels and lowered and sound. For anyone interested my actual car was actually recently reviewed on you tube ( Ross Reviews) cheers.
Little disappointing jack was so down on this car. I recently bought a 2011, I was absolutely astounded at the performance. The handling is excellent, feels like a much smaller car than it is, it’s super comfortable and oh my god the engine! It’s a Jekyll and Hyde car, when you’re driving normally it’s quiet and pleasant, when you want to be a hooligan, put it in sport mode and manual mode and the gearbox rips your face off with razor sharp shifts. Test drive one for yourself and you’ll see just how good it is.
To me, his comments basically came down to "it's not what I like, therefore it isn't as good". Enthusiasts and the market have basically proved him wrong, and that is these cars are good and are valued for what they are. People see value in a performance car that's easy to live with and won't give you anxiety after the warranty has run out. The fact they command a high price even with "high mileage" and years after the warranty has expired is a testament to what these cars represent.
Because of this video i bought a 2012 isf, couldnt be happier with the car. Most fun ive ever had driving and i may never even sell it because of how great it is.
Had my isF for 4 years already and hasnt let me down, turn on and go and power when you need it. Sure I coulda got a AMG 63 or M5 but in the end the look of the isF is very unique around these areas in Oregon.
As a double amputee who's on a budget, there arent many great RWD cars with good transmissions. brz, Miata nc, my is300, etc... not that great. slush boxes, but they get it done. when I drove my friends ISF, it was the first time ive ever felt like I was connected to a car. the transmission was amazing, especially connected to that roaring, butter smooth v8.
I agree with this. Have had my 08 isF since 09, and after 10 years being a solid daily it holds a special place in my heart. I still get a smile on my face every morning when i get inside the driver seat. Like any long term vehicle, you just have to spend time with it to form that sort of connection. No one can establish that with just a couple of test drives.
@@VitalGVA the earlier ISF had faulty water pumps and bad alignment issues. I never had any issues with my 08 ISF but then again i only had it for one year before i traded it in.
I'm 6 ft and I fit just fine. I've carried 4 adult men the shortest being 5'7" for short distances no problem. Was the seat height adjusted? Never getting rid of this car! 2011 IS-F It doesn't break!
BMW can't add such things. They would break under warranty and then the cheap bastards would have to pay for them themselfs :P BMW only adds tech that will hold for two years :P
I dunno if it's just a symptom of Texas heat, but the interiors of this generation of IS seem to fall apart. The door panel material crumbles and everything has a sticky feel. I would really like one of these otherwise.
"The relentless pursuit of perfection" and most every Lexus model that came to be did just that, not just in their vehicles but in every aspect of quality, customer service and satisfaction. Mercedes Benz had to up their game in the USA because of Lexus, because Lexus became better in every way for a good period of time. Although this car is too small for tall drivers, it delivered reliably in where it mattered most. Toyota/Lexus always had this issue with tiny driver's compartments and big cars until lately when they began designing and building cars for the US market only. Great take on the ISF and totally agree with all points raised in this review. Keep up the great work Mark and Jack! You both make a great team in your reviews.
Considering that it's a subcompact car, I'm surprised when my friend (6'3", 250+) even had it when he posted the ISF for sale. Now I have it, I'm 5'7".
I'm 6'2.5" and I fit fairly comfortably in my is350. But I do agree that theres no way I could comfortably wear a helmet in it. I wish they got rid of the sunroof in the F cars for that reason to gain a bit more headroom, I never use the sunroofs anyways.
That's a very pompous thing to dismiss the 2012+ ISFs as not worth the extra money when you've only driven this 2010 model! There's a whopping 9 second difference in lap times from a 2011 to a 2008 (C&D Lightning Lap @ VIR). In fact, the 2011 ISF ran the exact same lap time as an E92 M3. The retuned steering on 2011+ ISFs has good feel as well, and handling is quite neutral and I would even say a bit tail-happy in a very progressive, predictable way.
Lightening laps are not very helpful for deciding on a better car. Take a look at the Chevy Cobalt SS running faster laptimes than a Lotus Exige. Its VERY misleading. The issue with the 2012+ ISF isnt that its not a good car its just insanely expensive compared to other fun cars.
@@savagegeese I wholeheartedly disagree. What constitutes whether a car is worth it is up to each individual to think for themselves and come to their own conclusions. Having driven an early version for a couple of days hardly makes one an expert on the model. Apples to apples, 9 seconds a lap faster is huge. Drastic suspension improvements were made while dramatically improving ride quality at the same time. Looking at the total package including quality, reliability and exclusivity, the ISF is a great car and a great buy!
I feel like this was one of the most negative reviews of the ISF I’ve seen. It competes extremely well again the E92! I’ve driven a E92 before the ISF and preferred the F. The only down fall is the lack of a manual option but that F is still walking new 5.0s with FBO’s. It has a helluva top end. The F is in a league of its own.
As someone who has driven both, this isn’t even in the same dimension as the E92 M3 Competition. Both are great in their own ways but you buy this over an M3 because you’re more money conscious than someone buying an M3, there’s no other reason. The M3 has a nicer interior, handles better, has a more interesting and better sounding engine, proper transmission options, LSD in every model, etc. although to be fair to the ISF it didn’t really compete with the E92 it competed with the C63 and I’d take an ISF over a C63 all day.
@@Enthusiastlist 2008 was faster around the track than the m3 and a lot more reliable and faster 0 to 60 quarter mile top end faster overall but its a lexus so no german cars are better 🥸🥸
@@mez6256 I’ve never once seen a legit source run an ISF around a track faster than an M3 especially not on a tight course & having drive both on a track I highly doubt it. ISF is faster to 60 but they’re both slow in a straight line in the grand scheme of things.
14:46 looks like you have enough headroom. Can you comment on that again, as I'm slightly over 6 foot and was planning to look at one. Edit: For all interested: I test drove an IS F. If it has the sun roof you have about an inch less headroom and it’s borderline at over 6 feet, depending on your seating position. If you get one without the sun roof it’s perfect, even when your‘e bigger than 6 feet.
2011 ISF owner here. Thanks for review savagegeese! at this point, whether it's positive or negative, I'm just happy that our F get spotlights because of rarity at this point ahaha With proper (little pricey) mods, no force induction, this NA V8 turns into a beast in sleeper look, yet still reliable as you'd expect from Toyota/Lexus. The cold start always delivers a big a$$ smile, and I love every second behind the wheel. For sure there are better cars out there at the end of 2019, but I love my daily driver, and will drive this thing until the death do us apart.
I love this channel. The intros are so relaxing, not like other channels which feature some dude busting your speakers with "THIS..." 0.5 seconds into the video.
Audio system not amazing???? Impossible. These Lexus speakers were way ahead of Mercedes and bmw in terms of sound quality in that time. Lexus was tech packed and ahead.
I've owned my 2012 ISF for 2.5 years now. I absolutely love it. The reason I love it because it is very reliable, it's a spot on sports car to take to the track and then drive to work the next day. The year to get is the 2012+ for final updates
My 08 with 101,000 miles is still smooth cruising around and pulls like a rocket when you hammer it. The transmission and engine is bulletproof. There are guys on the ClubLexus forums with over 200k miles and one with 300k miles. Their cars are still performing well.
In September I bought a 2010 IS350, 52K, very clean, and had one owner who took care of it for $19K. Best money I ever spent on a car. I am keeping it completely stock except for an IS F steering ECU, and for $800 I am going to be updating the infotainment system to a modern one (it uses the original screen) that supports Android auto/Apple Carplay. My next car is going to be a 2010 or 2011 IS F. You know I don't give a crap if the E93 outperforms it, I have a co-worker that has one that can't even go 1000 miles without some shit breaking, so he drives his beat up Toyota Corolla as a daily driver!
I've had two of these in the past. The first version which had a very rough ride like the one reviewed and the 2011 model, the 2011 was much better and on the track I was about as quick as the beemers, Installed a header mod and some minor suspension upgrade and it was a weapon. I used to hammer it on the track in 40 celsius heat all day long and never missed a beat, the rivals fell apart. I regret selling it. I didn't like the RC-F over it, the GS-F is too large for me, the LC500 has the same engine and is the one I am looking at getting next. The only other similar car I am considering is the Audi RS4 B8 becuase of the similar V8, but again I trust the IS-F completely when it comes to reliability but I can't say they same about other brands.
I can’t help but laugh, when they were current, they were always 3rd or 4th best, behind the M3, C63 and RS4.. I owned an 09 IS F, put 120K Kms on it, never had an issue with it! Now that they are 10 years old they get Rave Reviews. They’re an awesome car
I remember when Lexus first unveiled the ISF back in 2008 and man it's an awesome car especially that blue! It still looks so good to this day it's an amazing machine
Mark is trying to make excuses for it’s “reliability” but sorry, that doesn’t make the car fun. At all. It’s just a boring Lexus with a v8 and that’s what jack is TRYING TO say. Reliability isn’t everything. Driving dynamics driving dynamics driving dynamics.
Drive another isf but this time tuned and bolt ons. Game Over for the RCF at least lol. But to be honest, Ive seen an rcf lose to isf easily to many times and why pay the more money for a heavier car and get about the same performance lol
@@t-bone9239 BMW isn't the largest manufacturer in the world for a reason. Also unless you didn't realize, BMW does not spend the same amount of money and effort on R&D. That is just not the business model. Given that fact it does not make sense for Toyota to do it. They offered a manual in the GT86 and 33% of the cars sold were with a manual. That does not provide enough of a return on investment.
@@d1sturb3d119 bmw is significantly smaller with much shorter budgets and they had the means to develop a manual M3. BMW also sells 80% automatics but yet they still offer manuals. If Toyota truly cared about enthusiasts they could easily offer a manual transmission.
I dont know what this guy is on about. im 6'2 and I fit perfectly fine, and can actually rise my seat up a few without hitting my head. talk about a debby downer lol
That Asian dude exudes negativity towards this machine.. give me this ISF over any German machine... longevity, reliability, durability and all that is great and its not bad looking....its a winner for me!!!
I have always wondered what you guys thought about the 2009 Cadillac CTS V. I know the first generation kind of sucked but from 2009 to present they have built a pretty capable car I think. If you guys are ever in Las Vegas I would be honored if you guys reviewed my 09 CTS V with 75,000 miles in the same way you’ve reviewed this older Lexus. It’s always been stock and a car with 2 very distinct personalities. The gas pedal and engine are so linear and very smooth but after 4ooo-5700 RPM it just goes completely batshit crazy with a subtle super charger whine. It’s actually a 4 lobe blower and is pretty small at 1.3 liters, the magnetic suspension was pretty rare to find in its class of cars at the time as well. There aren’t many used car reviews on your channel and not sure if you want to expand on that but the offer stands if you ever wanted to include it in your channels show. Love this page and thank you, ya’ll make a perfect team. I’ve used this car as my daily and I definitely plan on keep doing that.
Bimbo Jimbo 350’s are slow as shit. No way a 350 pulled on a first gen V. Only I can see this happening is of the moron driving the CTSV can drive because they’re all manual.
Nicholas Dean how did the first gen “kinda suck” you do realize what it was released in 2004. The Chevy SS literally did the same thing the first gen V did in the mid 2000’s. The diff sucks in the 04-05 but that’s an easy fix, just get a later gen diff. 400 in 2004 is an insane amount of power. Z06 vettes made that power at the time. They literally used the same engine. 400 hp, brembo brakes, 6 speed manual, limited slip differential. Amazing machine for its time. Don’t compare it to today’s cars.
The 09-15 CTSV has a 1.9L supercharger. Theyre great cars but they are a bit heavy and you can feel the weight. Ive actually owned multiple CTSVs as well as an ISF. Not buying "countless ISFs" beating Zl1s and 2nd gen CTSVs, ISFs just arent nearly as quick as them, almost a second slower in the 1/4 stock and much, MUCHHHH slower when you factor in basic mods as the ISF has basically no aftermarket and the CTSV is boosted and will drop into the 10s if you look at them funny, I loved my ISF but thats just not realistic to expect them to take down CTSVs that make 650-700 hp at the crank with a pulley and tune.
Danny Calderon , well I guess the word “sucks” may not be accurate but the interior was shit, not that the 2nd gen is much better but it is better and the rear end in 09 and up actually works. I stand corrected on the blower size but it does heat soak easily. I just don’t really like the 1st gen I guess
I hate the fake exhaust tips but I heard before from the engineers that they did that to reduce turbulence. I heard it multiple times before but not sure if it was just a rumor. But based on the skunk works after hours development of this car (which I never knew) it makes sense that they didn't have the resources time or budget to redevelop that area if they found the problem late in development. I tried googling this info and ran into an old lexus forum post about it During testing of the IS-F, they originally had a classic twin tip can design it but at high speeds the car became so unstable at high speeds because of the turbulence that developed in that area of the car the test drivers told the engineers that they needed to change something to make it more stable at higher speeds. So, through testing we now have the current configuration of quad stacked exhaust tips with diffuser panels around them and air foils under the trunk belly. This significantly changes the air flow in that area of the car and made it much more stable at high speeds. Not sure if it really is true but I can't think of any car that comes to mind that has a rumor about its fake exhaust tips and turbulence. And i think the newer ones probably still have it since its a distinctive styling trait of the orginal and that it doesn't apply to those vehicles in terms of bad turbulence like the original (since the newer cars are full factory developments not just skunk work after hour projects).
I will never forget back in 08? not sure but right when the ISF came out it was at the LA Autoshow and they had it on a dyno to show off the transmission. This thing was redline 1st-4th gear hundreds of times per day non stop from morning to night for 5 days straight. The Lexus guy told me, it never had a problem once.
Nice - truly only something Lexus engineers could manage to do, and I can just imagine them observing the car doing this show, knowing there is no risk anything can go wrong
@Matt Casatuta haha know it sounds funny i like a lot of brands but only lexus can make reliable performance cars afaik
The car in general is bulletproof. Besides the valley plate leak it had no mechanical issues. I just buy gas and rear tires for mine. Had it 10 years and never a problem besides the valley plate leak. And I hammer on it every time I’m driving it. Great vehicle!
@Osama.bin.smokin It's not just a "lexus guy" thing. Toyota/Lexus are well known for building by far and away the most reliable engines. Especially the V8s they are obscenely reliable.
Those red rims looks awesome, gives the car purpose & perfectly compliments the body color.
3:09 Goosed me savagely! Thanks for throwing a little humor my way :-D
That dude got annoying talking about how he cant fit on the car
Yeah he complains about that in so many reviews. Dude, it’s not a truck. You have to duck your head alittle, who cares. To me that’s not a big deal at all
He sounds like a whining sook. That’s his personality I guess..
I'm a 6'4" and still fit in this car, well that was reason why finally I got it without sunroof. Plenty of space lol. Had opportunity to drive it with sunroof, just different seat position, still comfy.
I agree with him on this one. I'm only 6'1" and I found that, in the drivers seat, my hair brushed the ceiling in sunroof equipped models of this gen IS. Maybe if I adjusted the seat to the lowest position it would give me some headroom, but who buys a luxury sedan so they can sit on the floor of it and get backpain?
I was thinking the same thing sounds like a personal problem they don’t make sport cars for people over 6 feet 😂
I miss my ISF
Me too sometimes. I hope Lexus releases another ISF in the future. Not liking the BMW Supra.
You need a GS-F in your life
RC Fs are starting to fall down into the sub-$40,000 USD range.. 🙂
Once you go raptor...
Would have been cool if you kept it and had the Raptor too!
those red wheels are kinda gross
And here I am thinking damn those wheels look awesome in that burnt red. Then I was like, Is that the brake dust? Well if it is, I wouldn't wash the wheels LOL.
They are indeed a hideous color. However, the are forged Volk CE28s. EXTREMELY lightweight. Since it's a track car, maybe the owner got them for a great price just to track?
Track wheels
@@sdlausen1 More than likely from some guy at the forum. I know a couple of people regretted buying those bright color rims right after installation.
sdlausen he should powdercoat then gloss black or gunmetal. The 1 pound increase of powdercoat would be well worth it.
LOL Marc's 5-1 😂
Shots fired.
i think he fucked that up no way he's only that tall, look at them standing together in the video.
@@christianabraham217 that's the joke lmao
@@christianabraham217 Jack was making fun of mark 😂
Lexus beat Ford to the 5.0 game and beat ZF to the 8-speed game, and totally nailed everything on their first try.
The trans is made by Aisin
Yup, keeping in mind that the 5.0L DOHC with dual injection was released in 2008, Ford didn't make their Coyotes until 2011 and those didn't received direct injection until 2018.
And yep, the 8spd Direct Shift auto is a neat thing. Smaller than a 6AT of its time, it featured shifting in a matter of .1s while still retaining comfortable driving for those who just drive it normally. There's actually several transmission maps for the various functions that the ISF will run through. You can expect rev matched downshifts in M mode or if you're in regular drive mode and downshift, it'll be like clutch braking in other traditional automatics. (I actually like that feature when I'm cruising along on the highway and the car in front of me slows down slightly, a simple downshift from 8-6th with the engine braking will allow me to shave off a handful of mph and not require me to use the brakes at all.)
FWIW, the ISF truly needed a manual option. I despise driving automatics but Toyota hit the ballpark out of this car with the automatic. I can actually enjoy driving it when I really want to be spirited or if I wanted to just drive for some normal/ comfort, just leave it in Drive. I've found my first automatic that doesn't put me to sleep.
It's actually pretty impressive that the isf from 2008 beats current s550 mustangs other than the 10r80. People really don't understand how fast the car was for it's time and especially for being a first of its kind within Lexus.
you realize that Ford made a 5.0 V8 back in 1987 right? It's called a Mustang GT you uncultured swine.
@@mmmmmMuffinz did that 5.0L have DOHC, variable valve timing on all four cams, feature dual injection, and make 416hp in 1987?
Don’t forget that this car came with direct inject and port injection.
So did the IS350.
lol and gti has had that since the 70s your point?
@@mercender5910 Nope. GTI only has direct injection... which is the reason for the carbon build-up. Port injection was traded for direct injection. It's never had both.
Yeah, Lexus was ahead of its time by ingeniously combining port and direct injection...and this was in 2005! It took Ford and Audi like 12 years to follow suit.
asdlkfjawoeijfldkf no the VW 2.0 engines in Europe has Dual injection
No more Toddd outros? Hopefully new ones are coming soon.
"I'm rich... why is this a problem???"
What? Sorry, no outro no thumbs up! I'm rich, what's the problem here?!
Those outros are the best too😒
In the garage with turbowski is out also.
I want to see Turbowski in a Todd style outro.
Yes! More of these! They are hilarious.
Haha chap in black top really dislikes the isf.
Buy an 08, ediff works a treat, if you want to drift put a os giken in for 2.5k
Transmission is a stunner, smooth around town, fast when giving it some.
Something they don't mention is the torque it has low down compared with the e92. Much more fun for everyday around town use.
I picked this over a rs4, rs5, m3 e92, all driven back to back. Love all of them for slightly different reasons, but the isf was the more fun daily, surprised the hell out of me.
It was actually an annoying review to watch as Jack was so negative, head room is great... as soon as head said that at the start I knew he wasn't into it. Justified by plenty of 6ft comments. He said the exhaust was single tip, it has two either side, yes behind fake heat dissipation ovals.
Go buy one, they are cool.
well said
I have owned an ISF for about four months now and absolutely love it. I am 6"2' and have no problems with fitting in it at all. Rarely do I have more than one passenger.
I'm 6'4", 225 lbs, and the only time I've been miserable is when trying to do a few Lyft rides, and every single female wanted to sit directly behind me for some idiotic reason. I kept wanting to turn around and say, "you realize this isn't a motorcycle, right? There are other seats".
I've owned my is350 for a year (06)
And even on a track with my seat real low it was a tight fit for my helmet. I'm 5 foot 11
@@LordPrometheous That's funny. Why females in particular? Do men usually ask to get in the front instead? lol
@@NothingButRye This cars' "seat real low" is still quite high when compared to how low a BMW seat can go lol, poor adjusting
@@aleksuks I think they did it for safety reasons. From the seat directly behind me, it would be easiest to avoid any potential attacks from the driver, I guess. Every man I had still sat in the rear, but in the rear passenger seat, not directly behind me. So I didn't have to have my seat scooted all the way up. Yeah, it must have been a safety precaution.
Great car awful rims
Rims are fine, it's the color the ruins it. Should've been black or stock color.
@@abstractrain1246 nope
They're lightweight track wheels, purely to reduce rotating mass. Looks don't matter for a track car.
God awful! Ride height to!
they're objectively great rims.
I absolutely love this car. Wish Lexus had made more of them because they are quite hard to find on the used market.
My 93 Lexus LS400 I bought second hand in 1997 has 298,000 miles and keeps running like a Swiss watch. I've owned and currently own BMW, Porsche, Mercedes, models of varying trim and I can say the Lexus is easily one of the best engineered things on this planet.
1UZ had 8 balance weight on crankshaft instead of the typical 6 on a V8. Part of why they'll feel smooth forever.
@@MrCarGuy yeah, it's amazing.
Have a 91' LS400. Love the car and can't really compare anything to it of the same year. It's in its own league. Especially now in the used car market where practically all of them are still in good condition
You mean like a Japanese watch ? Seiko
He obviously isn't a watch guy
The ISF is still one of the best driver’s sedans ever made
Yep
BASITH PH I agree ☝️
That's objectively not true, but I do love it. That engine note...
@@ahmedtoma6963 Yeah, what good is a "driver's" car if you can't drive it because it's in the shop every other month, destroying your bank account and hopes of retirement? When I get into my IS, I NEVER worry about what instrument cluster light is going to surprise me that day, or what bad thing will happen if I drive a bit hard on the way home when the streets are empty. Carefree driving goes a long way when owning a luxury brand vehicle.
@Bimbo Jimbo except all those cars if still on the road are still on there 3rd engines because of shit rods, lets not mention the brakes on the m3
I didn’t know Mark was that tall. I always thought he was 4ft 10-11”.
He's like a Hobbit
How tall is he?
Primordial dwarf.
He wears lifts 🙃
@@maximusnukeage 5'10"
I enjoy my 2012 IS-F much more than this video would suggest, and never even considered its German rivals despite also being a fan of German sports cars. I'm 6'0" and have no issues with fitting in the car, and feel this car more than holds its own against the newer Lexus F products as they are far heavier. I definitely agree the styling of the older IS-F is far more pleasing to the eyes than their newer offerings, and this car really delivers big overall. Toyota engineers really knocked it out of the park, and as someone who used to own heavy hitting Toyota sports cars like the Supra TT I can say that the engineering DNA of this car is actually extremely impressive. It's very obvious to me that real performance engineers got their way with this car over bean counters, and the engine and braking are truly world class!
Agreed, I like the rounder body style way more than the newer angular look.
I used to own e92 M3 and after thousands in repairs I sold it to buy the Lexus ISF. I’m 6’2 and I fit just fine. I love this car and it puts a smile on my face every time I drive it. I have done few tasty mods to make it look and perform better and I swear I wouldn’t trade it for much much more expensive cars. I just love it.
That's what I think a lot of reviewers fail to recognise with all their reviews: what is this car like to live with?
Many of the design choices that get ridiculed by reviewers ultimately make the F cars nicer to own and drive long-term. They won't leave you stranded, or be a pain to drive in city traffic. They're designed to be driven daily and won't piss you off. It's those qualities that make these cars a better choice, instead of looking impressive on a spec sheet.
@@mattyb.5628 - I couldn't have said it better than that. Absolutely spot-on!
Facts
Never clicked a video so quick, I’ve been waiting for this. I picked up my 2011 ISF 6 months ago and love the car.
congrats!
Congrats, I have a 2012 and picked it up roughly the same time as yours! Have been a man in love since.
I actually called on your car (ugh Grapevine Toyota), but I'm located in the Great Lakes region and it just became too difficult logistics-wise to get out there...you were also apparently far quicker than me ;) Looks like an absolute beauty!
Fabian Herrmann Thanks!
A O very good! Grats to you as well. I’m not a fan of that dealer mad the whole buying experience awful. But the car is great!
I know you don't buy a car like that for gas mileage but how is it on gas?
IS-F has always been one of my dream cars
Same
One of best and most reliable high performance sedans money can buy.
That’s I what I hear from people that own them reliability
Facts. My 11' has 118k. No hiccups!
It is! It’s been more reliable than my Honda Accord!
*Kia Stinger has entered the chat*
My ‘11 ISF has 120k miles. Fully straight piped exhaust (res, muffler and 2nd cat delete) with PPE headers and Intake that I daily drive. She’s a fucking animal. Had to replace a good amount of things and have things fixed but nothing dramatic. I treat her good and so does she.
ISF and GSF will become future classics
@M1ATA56 right, anything is a classic to these fucktards
@M1ATA56 ok miata56
@M1ATA56 you literally don't own a car stfu
The "Fake" exhaust tips are fully functional and are designed to cool the exhaust instead of melting the bumper. Do your homework on a car that you aren't familiar with. the mufflers have two exhaust ports that align with the tip collectors. The collectors gather air and combine with the exhaust gas. Another well thought out piece of engineering, not just gingerbread.
Wow I’m an isf enthusiast and I didn’t even know this thanks for the knowledge
I own a 2010 ISF! Hands down the most practical,funnest,most well rounded car I’ve ever owned! You can track her,you can enjoy it her on a Sunday drive,you can road trip her! All of the above with the piece of mind knowing it’s built like a damn near rock! Car was so far ahead of its time & it’s not even close imo
For those who say Toyota is boring and doesn’t build cool fun cars...
Lexus ISF would like a word with you
i feel like anyone that says toyota does not build fun cars is uneducated lol toyota has such a rich history when it comes to sports cars
SailorBacon For Sure! they were just building the cool fun stuff through the Lexus Brand for a decade or so while The Toyota brand was focused on building Awesome Trucks and practical “boring” cars. Now they are getting back to bringing some fun and performance back into more of the Toyota Lineup again, which is great to see!!! 👍🏼
*LF-A moron*
just wait for the new LC-F coming out
untitled795 who are you calling moron?
Great review guys! One of the best Lexus ever made!
Can we talk about the rarity of this car compared I the E92/C63
No.
RRSmurf yes
Whenever I asked permission my parents said no so I guess that's stayed with me 😁
I don't care if it's rare it still doesn't look as good as a e92 m3
The Horror but it won’t bankrupt you when the engine throws rod bearings
The new Lexus GS-F is the perfect car. This old IS-F really allowed Lexus to know what the consumer wanted in a performance car.
I would say the RC-F and LC500 are more enjoyable. But the most perfect sedan, certainly.
@@MrCarGuy Well for 100k the lc500 better be lol
Omg the new RCF is badass, looks so nice too.
Shame these wheels are actually also replica CE28s..
Love my 2012 ISF. These guys were way too negative on this car....it's fantastic.
They have to be it's better to be too negative than too positive
they do have a point though this car isn't big
How many cars have you driven? 5?10? You have no comparison.
It blows. I had one and there was over 30k in problems that had to be repaired in less then 90k miles and 3 years.
@@jakes.5143 what were the problems you have? I have bought one for 14k 60k miles
No Flexing must be taking about your M3 😂 or shop was trying to rip you. I just spent 3k on a ton of stuff upgrades and replacement parts. No major issues with 90k buddy has one 200k no issues.
You should redo this video now! The ISF has appreciated in value pretty significantly while it’s so called “competitors” in bmw & Benz has significantly depreciated all while spending minimum 50% more on repairs/maintenance to keep them going
I'm a midget at 5'6". Whenever I'm feeling insecure about my height, I just think to myself, I can fit comfortably inside my Lotus and Miata. Life is good.
same here brudda :D
You’re safer are perform better because you have a lower center of gravity.
Loved this car when it came out and when I was able to afford one, I got a GS-F.
Yeah it’s just a better car and has way more useful space inside( also a bit underrated and rare)
Mike Mac ISF is faster tho
probably also barely heavier
@@xCkillaxC GS is way more comfortable
Same. I got the GS-F, too.
I am 6'1'' with a bit o' chunk on me and have a 2012 -- I agree this thing is SNUG.
Defnitely rockin that 90's Honda Gangster lean in the seat angle though lol.
I deal with it because this car puts a HUGE smile on my face whenever I get behind the wheel.
Would've been interested to hear your opinions on a 2011+ when they changed the suspension -- I've found that mine is mostly comfortable, even on Michigan's terrible roads.
Wouldn't have a daily driver any other way. No competitor to the F series is worthy to me. Lexus should continue with the NA DOHC V8 forever. I wouldn't even mind if they used the 2UR-GSE for another 20 years. It's that good.
I have $40k set aside for the right 2012-2014 ISF. Is there high value price worth the car?
I saw one of these on the road yesterday, first time ever. Great looking car.
"In the shoppe" what happened to the under hood segment?
thats a great question, i didn't notice that they took out that segment
Yeah I was waiting for that too. MYbe editing error?
And where is Scott!?
I hate that part, hard to believe that this guy has 290k subscribers and somehow they're all mechanics and actually care about the underside.
Diesel Douche That is literally the best part of watching Savage geese vs all the other wannabes. And you’d be surprised how many of us that watch are mechanics, fabricators, and engineers. Go be a douche on your diesel channels.
When the review becomes contentious over a height difference 😆
Wouldn't trade my ISF for and RCF in a million years, maybe for a GSF if they were lower production
The guy in black was a little too negative. But it was a thorough review
These things still go for $20k-$30k
2016 GS-F is about $50,000 🏦
@@greenfaction4 And they very rare too
There is one for sale out here in the SF bay area for like $17999 or $18999. Can't remember the price atm. But it has 131k mileage which I felt was pretty low for the price out here in California. Everything is overpriced. Just can't pull the trigger cuz I'm California broke.
@@farley9255 one guy bought one for 12k with 170k+ miles on it, it's an 08 too, he was on that famous Florida UA-camr channel, I forgot his name, he be buying cars to fix them.
@@gsheverything_2716 tavarish*? That's only Florida youtuber I know of tbh lol. But that's really cheap. I might be able to afford one with 320k mileage.. Might be lol
I am 6ft55. No problem fitting into this car.
Always been a great time with my Lexus ISF!
🙏🏾
Hey Drew the drag queen cheers. or should that be KING.
Russelle Wannell - definitely do not want to be a drag queen! 😂😂😂
Seeee yaaaahh lol 😂👍🏾
Owned my 08 for 4 years and it’s got 85k on it, zero issues in my time. More than enough power for here in England and only 211 here so rare. Fitted Michelin Pilot 4S’s and for the road the E diff does just fine. Only car I’ll replace it with is a blue last of the line ISF. RCF/GSF are good cars but the ISF began it all and after driving both I feel the ISF is still the more raw car, well as raw as a Lexus can be. My only gripe is tech but I can forgive that as the rest of the car is so good, for me.
I'm 6'2" 325lbs and I fit perfectly fine with my helmet on: I've tracked my 2008 ISF. They did an overall good review. The car has a sluggish nature to it down low rpms unless in manual shift mode and sport turned on which has to be hit after every time the car is turned off unlike my old 94 camry 😆. I've done full exhaust, ecu tune, intake, oil catch can, BC racing adjustable shocks, adjustable ball joints, steering bushings and steel braided brake lines. Its a daily driver. I just bought the silky carbon fiber driveshaft waiting to be installed. I'll get a 2010 or newer differential by spring break to complete my set up. All the mods made a huge difference naturally but it takes them all to wake the car up. Budget the 6k for the mods and installation. I have a BMW s1000rr so speed is met there lol
What???
This transmission is very, very good and reliable.
When it came out, late 2007 it was the fastest gear changing box all over the world 100 milliseconds!
OK , it is not DSG 8ms upshift but waaaaaaay more reliable than german crap.
In UK I have seen one of them supercharged, 600ps with stock box...car is running with no issue at all.
This car wasn't built just for a performance, it's a small sedan with some balls.
All the best boys 🔰💥😎
Hi from west Australia. Great work guys. Here in Australia currently only 5 for sale in the country. Mine is modified with headers , tune, coil overs. It’s a beast and bullet proof. I also have a e92 M3 , totally different beast. E92 is like a race car and unless you keep perfect maintenance, you live in fear. Love them both. I will say the the Lexus puts the power down better and will likely be faster light to light because of that. Honestly here in Australia the Lexus gets way more attention especially with after market wheels and lowered and sound. For anyone interested my actual car was actually recently reviewed on you tube ( Ross Reviews) cheers.
Little disappointing jack was so down on this car. I recently bought a 2011, I was absolutely astounded at the performance. The handling is excellent, feels like a much smaller car than it is, it’s super comfortable and oh my god the engine! It’s a Jekyll and Hyde car, when you’re driving normally it’s quiet and pleasant, when you want to be a hooligan, put it in sport mode and manual mode and the gearbox rips your face off with razor sharp shifts. Test drive one for yourself and you’ll see just how good it is.
To me, his comments basically came down to "it's not what I like, therefore it isn't as good".
Enthusiasts and the market have basically proved him wrong, and that is these cars are good and are valued for what they are. People see value in a performance car that's easy to live with and won't give you anxiety after the warranty has run out. The fact they command a high price even with "high mileage" and years after the warranty has expired is a testament to what these cars represent.
The only brand u need is toyota.if u wnt to spend money and fixing a auto.buy german junks..
Because of this video i bought a 2012 isf, couldnt be happier with the car. Most fun ive ever had driving and i may never even sell it because of how great it is.
this car has gigantic gains from headers and exhaust. Factory exhaust is quite neutered
Same on RC350 F Sport,My 17 Sounds Almost as Quite as My 04 Es 330,& Has 81 More H.p. than the Es !!
You are right that rcf is better value for money. I still prefer the Isf with its charm of being a sleeper/being the first f/being uncommon
Jack has gotten really good at this.
This dude is a hater I’ve own the E92 M3. The ISF seats in its own category, it will leave you speechless when pushed hard I really enjoyed mine !
Had my isF for 4 years already and hasnt let me down, turn on and go and power when you need it. Sure I coulda got a AMG 63 or M5 but in the end the look of the isF is very unique around these areas in Oregon.
As a double amputee who's on a budget, there arent many great RWD cars with good transmissions. brz, Miata nc, my is300, etc... not that great. slush boxes, but they get it done. when I drove my friends ISF, it was the first time ive ever felt like I was connected to a car. the transmission was amazing, especially connected to that roaring, butter smooth v8.
I have a 2010. A car that you love as a long term owner. But you have to spend time with it to form a personal connection.
I agree with this. Have had my 08 isF since 09, and after 10 years being a solid daily it holds a special place in my heart. I still get a smile on my face every morning when i get inside the driver seat. Like any long term vehicle, you just have to spend time with it to form that sort of connection. No one can establish that with just a couple of test drives.
Any known reliability issues with these? Would appreciate a response.
@@VitalGVA the earlier ISF had faulty water pumps and bad alignment issues. I never had any issues with my 08 ISF but then again i only had it for one year before i traded it in.
Lol I wish I could get a 2010+ for 20k 😂 just saw a 2012 with 99k miles sell for 40
I'm happy that Lexus made an amazing machine like the GSF
But the ISF still has a special place in my heart ever since it first came out
I'm 6 ft and I fit just fine. I've carried 4 adult men the shortest being 5'7" for short distances no problem. Was the seat height adjusted? Never getting rid of this car! 2011 IS-F It doesn't break!
This engine had titanium valves and oil squirter‘s to cool the Pistons It also had direct and port fuel injection!
BMW can't add such things. They would break under warranty and then the cheap bastards would have to pay for them themselfs :P BMW only adds tech that will hold for two years :P
I think all car's storage space should be measured in units of korean bbq
I dunno if it's just a symptom of Texas heat, but the interiors of this generation of IS seem to fall apart. The door panel material crumbles and everything has a sticky feel. I would really like one of these otherwise.
Lexus has a recall on this for the IS line. Roll into your nearest Lexus dealership to see if you qualify.
"The relentless pursuit of perfection" and most every Lexus model that came to be did just that, not just in their vehicles but in every aspect of quality, customer service and satisfaction. Mercedes Benz had to up their game in the USA because of Lexus, because Lexus became better in every way for a good period of time.
Although this car is too small for tall drivers, it delivered reliably in where it mattered most. Toyota/Lexus always had this issue with tiny driver's compartments and big cars until lately when they began designing and building cars for the US market only.
Great take on the ISF and totally agree with all points raised in this review. Keep up the great work Mark and Jack! You both make a great team in your reviews.
Considering that it's a subcompact car, I'm surprised when my friend (6'3", 250+) even had it when he posted the ISF for sale. Now I have it, I'm 5'7".
@@IronNam it's a compact car.
I'm 6'2.5" and I fit fairly comfortably in my is350. But I do agree that theres no way I could comfortably wear a helmet in it. I wish they got rid of the sunroof in the F cars for that reason to gain a bit more headroom, I never use the sunroofs anyways.
That's a very pompous thing to dismiss the 2012+ ISFs as not worth the extra money when you've only driven this 2010 model! There's a whopping 9 second difference in lap times from a 2011 to a 2008 (C&D Lightning Lap @ VIR). In fact, the 2011 ISF ran the exact same lap time as an E92 M3. The retuned steering on 2011+ ISFs has good feel as well, and handling is quite neutral and I would even say a bit tail-happy in a very progressive, predictable way.
Lightening laps are not very helpful for deciding on a better car. Take a look at the Chevy Cobalt SS running faster laptimes than a Lotus Exige. Its VERY misleading. The issue with the 2012+ ISF isnt that its not a good car its just insanely expensive compared to other fun cars.
@@savagegeese I wholeheartedly disagree. What constitutes whether a car is worth it is up to each individual to think for themselves and come to their own conclusions. Having driven an early version for a couple of days hardly makes one an expert on the model.
Apples to apples, 9 seconds a lap faster is huge. Drastic suspension improvements were made while dramatically improving ride quality at the same time. Looking at the total package including quality, reliability and exclusivity, the ISF is a great car and a great buy!
I feel like this was one of the most negative reviews of the ISF I’ve seen. It competes extremely well again the E92! I’ve driven a E92 before the ISF and preferred the F. The only down fall is the lack of a manual option but that F is still walking new 5.0s with FBO’s. It has a helluva top end. The F is in a league of its own.
They were comparing a 2010 to the E92 which they are correct but if it were a 2011+ it would of been different
As someone who has driven both, this isn’t even in the same dimension as the E92 M3 Competition. Both are great in their own ways but you buy this over an M3 because you’re more money conscious than someone buying an M3, there’s no other reason. The M3 has a nicer interior, handles better, has a more interesting and better sounding engine, proper transmission options, LSD in every model, etc. although to be fair to the ISF it didn’t really compete with the E92 it competed with the C63 and I’d take an ISF over a C63 all day.
@@Enthusiastlist 2008 was faster around the track than the m3 and a lot more reliable and faster 0 to 60 quarter mile top end faster overall but its a lexus so no german cars are better 🥸🥸
@@mez6256 I’ve never once seen a legit source run an ISF around a track faster than an M3 especially not on a tight course & having drive both on a track I highly doubt it. ISF is faster to 60 but they’re both slow in a straight line in the grand scheme of things.
14:46 looks like you have enough headroom. Can you comment on that again, as I'm slightly over 6 foot and was planning to look at one.
Edit:
For all interested:
I test drove an IS F. If it has the sun roof you have about an inch less headroom and it’s borderline at over 6 feet, depending on your seating position.
If you get one without the sun roof it’s perfect, even when your‘e bigger than 6 feet.
You need to review a tastefully modded 2012+ ISF.
2011 ISF owner here.
Thanks for review savagegeese! at this point, whether it's positive or negative, I'm just happy that our F get spotlights because of rarity at this point ahaha
With proper (little pricey) mods, no force induction, this NA V8 turns into a beast in sleeper look, yet still reliable as you'd expect from Toyota/Lexus.
The cold start always delivers a big a$$ smile, and I love every second behind the wheel.
For sure there are better cars out there at the end of 2019, but I love my daily driver, and will drive this thing until the death do us apart.
Yeah the GTR was a teeneger's wet dream back in the day but this car was the car to have for sophisticated enthusiast.
Hey...2011 called, they want their powder coated, colored wheels back📣
@Descending God wrapped wheels🤔
Lol
There horrible regardless
@@tylercouture216 Yes. They are over there on their car.
I love this channel. The intros are so relaxing, not like other channels which feature some dude busting your speakers with "THIS..." 0.5 seconds into the video.
@Natural lololol @ing Doug
Can’t beat Doug DeMuro
Audio system not amazing???? Impossible. These Lexus speakers were way ahead of Mercedes and bmw in terms of sound quality in that time. Lexus was tech packed and ahead.
I've owned my 2012 ISF for 2.5 years now. I absolutely love it. The reason I love it because it is very reliable, it's a spot on sports car to take to the track and then drive to work the next day. The year to get is the 2012+ for final updates
BreakerOhio I miss my 2012 so badly. Had to sell it when we moved out of state and went down to one income. Best car I have ever owned.
Itz_me_not_you damn bro I would regret selling an ISF. Let alone a 2012
Reliability issue is why I got a Lexus, transmission selection is why I picked is300 manual.
Literally won’t own one in 20 years. How would I even go about having someone donate one to me lmfao
Yamaha did a tremendously great design job on this engine.
My 08 with 101,000 miles is still smooth cruising around and pulls like a rocket when you hammer it. The transmission and engine is bulletproof. There are guys on the ClubLexus forums with over 200k miles and one with 300k miles. Their cars are still performing well.
In September I bought a 2010 IS350, 52K, very clean, and had one owner who took care of it for $19K. Best money I ever spent on a car. I am keeping it completely stock except for an IS F steering ECU, and for $800 I am going to be updating the infotainment system to a modern one (it uses the original screen) that supports Android auto/Apple Carplay. My next car is going to be a 2010 or 2011 IS F. You know I don't give a crap if the E93 outperforms it, I have a co-worker that has one that can't even go 1000 miles without some shit breaking, so he drives his beat up Toyota Corolla as a daily driver!
Smart friend, at least his daily driver's a Toyota! And the convertibles are a whole nother can of worms!
Highly underrated car
Odd complaint about height, I'm taller than you and have no headroom issues whatsoever.
Maybe he has a taller torso? I have longer legs than torso, so I think this would work for me.
I've had two of these in the past. The first version which had a very rough ride like the one reviewed and the 2011 model, the 2011 was much better and on the track I was about as quick as the beemers, Installed a header mod and some minor suspension upgrade and it was a weapon. I used to hammer it on the track in 40 celsius heat all day long and never missed a beat, the rivals fell apart. I regret selling it. I didn't like the RC-F over it, the GS-F is too large for me, the LC500 has the same engine and is the one I am looking at getting next. The only other similar car I am considering is the Audi RS4 B8 becuase of the similar V8, but again I trust the IS-F completely when it comes to reliability but I can't say they same about other brands.
Glad you liked it. Is the ride really that much more rough on the 08 compared to the 10+?
@@lito777 yes it is. The 11 model is the best to get as that got the full suspension upgrade
Thanks !!
How many Twinkies can you fit in the glovebox? Oops sorry wrong channel
The drivers reaction to the acceleration at 10:40 is priceless.
Funny note, did we do a stunt driver swap on that drift turn?
@@RagnarokComore than likely
I can’t help but laugh, when they were current, they were always 3rd or 4th best, behind the M3, C63 and RS4.. I owned an 09 IS F, put 120K Kms on it, never had an issue with it! Now that they are 10 years old they get Rave Reviews. They’re an awesome car
I remember when Lexus first unveiled the ISF back in 2008 and man it's an awesome car especially that blue!
It still looks so good to this day it's an amazing machine
Mark is trying to make excuses for it’s “reliability” but sorry, that doesn’t make the car fun. At all. It’s just a boring Lexus with a v8 and that’s what jack is TRYING TO say. Reliability isn’t everything. Driving dynamics driving dynamics driving dynamics.
Mods help it plenty in that department. You can make a car faster or handle better, can’t really make it more reliable or easy on the wallet.
This car is so special!!! Love the Lexus isF... Soon to be collector
Hey mate, if you like Lexus reviews I've made a few of them including the IS. If you're interested to watch let me know what you think :)
Drive another isf but this time tuned and bolt ons. Game Over for the RCF at least lol. But to be honest, Ive seen an rcf lose to isf easily to many times and why pay the more money for a heavier car and get about the same performance lol
Noooo!!! Do not make these more expensive on the used market!!
Lexus ruined this beautiful car with that auto trans they shoulda add a 6mt option
Anton Zuykov make it base option and auto upgrade. Or no cost change
@Anton Zuykov true sadly
@Anton Zuykov If BMW can afford, I am sure Toyota can too
@@t-bone9239 BMW isn't the largest manufacturer in the world for a reason. Also unless you didn't realize, BMW does not spend the same amount of money and effort on R&D. That is just not the business model. Given that fact it does not make sense for Toyota to do it. They offered a manual in the GT86 and 33% of the cars sold were with a manual. That does not provide enough of a return on investment.
@@d1sturb3d119 bmw is significantly smaller with much shorter budgets and they had the means to develop a manual M3. BMW also sells 80% automatics but yet they still offer manuals. If Toyota truly cared about enthusiasts they could easily offer a manual transmission.
I dont know what this guy is on about. im 6'2 and I fit perfectly fine, and can actually rise my seat up a few without hitting my head. talk about a debby downer lol
That Asian dude exudes negativity towards this machine.. give me this ISF over any German machine... longevity, reliability, durability and all that is great and its not bad looking....its a winner for me!!!
they are expensive BECAUSE they are so good, my 2011 which i got for £23K is now worth more then I paid for it
Please review a 2016/2017 Chevy SS manual one of these days! Another awesome video as always. That Lexus V8 sounds like America.
A good performance sedan that sadly nobody purchased.
Holden Commodore SS 🇦🇺 with the Chevy LS3, the Holden Special Vehicle (HSV) LSA are legendary. RIP Holden 😢
funny you say your head is constantly touching the ceiling when @3:27 there is PLENTY of space there. And i'm 6'1. i too have still plenty of space
I have always wondered what you guys thought about the 2009 Cadillac CTS V. I know the first generation kind of sucked but from 2009 to present they have built a pretty capable car I think. If you guys are ever in Las Vegas I would be honored if you guys reviewed my 09 CTS V with 75,000 miles in the same way you’ve reviewed this older Lexus. It’s always been stock and a car with 2 very distinct personalities. The gas pedal and engine are so linear and very smooth but after 4ooo-5700 RPM it just goes completely batshit crazy with a subtle super charger whine. It’s actually a 4 lobe blower and is pretty small at 1.3 liters, the magnetic suspension was pretty rare to find in its class of cars at the time as well. There aren’t many used car reviews on your channel and not sure if you want to expand on that but the offer stands if you ever wanted to include it in your channels show. Love this page and thank you, ya’ll make a perfect team. I’ve used this car as my daily and I definitely plan on keep doing that.
Bimbo Jimbo 350’s are slow as shit. No way a 350 pulled on a first gen V. Only I can see this happening is of the moron driving the CTSV can drive because they’re all manual.
Nicholas Dean how did the first gen “kinda suck” you do realize what it was released in 2004. The Chevy SS literally did the same thing the first gen V did in the mid 2000’s. The diff sucks in the 04-05 but that’s an easy fix, just get a later gen diff. 400 in 2004 is an insane amount of power. Z06 vettes made that power at the time. They literally used the same engine. 400 hp, brembo brakes, 6 speed manual, limited slip differential. Amazing machine for its time. Don’t compare it to today’s cars.
The 09-15 CTSV has a 1.9L supercharger. Theyre great cars but they are a bit heavy and you can feel the weight. Ive actually owned multiple CTSVs as well as an ISF. Not buying "countless ISFs" beating Zl1s and 2nd gen CTSVs, ISFs just arent nearly as quick as them, almost a second slower in the 1/4 stock and much, MUCHHHH slower when you factor in basic mods as the ISF has basically no aftermarket and the CTSV is boosted and will drop into the 10s if you look at them funny, I loved my ISF but thats just not realistic to expect them to take down CTSVs that make 650-700 hp at the crank with a pulley and tune.
Danny Calderon , well I guess the word “sucks” may not be accurate but the interior was shit, not that the 2nd gen is much better but it is better and the rear end in 09 and up actually works. I stand corrected on the blower size but it does heat soak easily. I just don’t really like the 1st gen I guess
Bimbo Jimbo there’s absolutely no stock ISF that is faster than a stock 2nd gen CTS V and dang sure not a 3rd gen CTS V.
Can you guys please remake this video. I love your content and watch 90% of the videos and you guys are sooooo off with the ISF
My IS350 is also a 4-door 2 seater
A ok. 10-4 good buddy
Same body, but completely different car
Get an isf son, you know your 350 is poverty in comparison
hoarbaby Yeah I’ve driven a bunch and like them but wanna wait for a used GSF
I hate the fake exhaust tips but I heard before from the engineers that they did that to reduce turbulence. I heard it multiple times before but not sure if it was just a rumor. But based on the skunk works after hours development of this car (which I never knew) it makes sense that they didn't have the resources time or budget to redevelop that area if they found the problem late in development. I tried googling this info and ran into an old lexus forum post about it
During testing of the IS-F, they originally had a classic twin tip can design it but at high speeds the car became so unstable at high speeds because of the turbulence that developed in that area of the car the test drivers told the engineers that they needed to change something to make it more stable at higher speeds. So, through testing we now have the current configuration of quad stacked exhaust tips with diffuser panels around them and air foils under the trunk belly. This significantly changes the air flow in that area of the car and made it much more stable at high speeds.
Not sure if it really is true but I can't think of any car that comes to mind that has a rumor about its fake exhaust tips and turbulence. And i think the newer ones probably still have it since its a distinctive styling trait of the orginal and that it doesn't apply to those vehicles in terms of bad turbulence like the original (since the newer cars are full factory developments not just skunk work after hour projects).