Matt reviews a 2008 Lexus ISF on Angeles Forest Highway. These were $65,000 cars when new, but now that they have aged, can they be the best value in used performance cars?
As an ISF owner, I've yet to learn about a legitimate tune on these ECUs, from my understanding that's why turbo kits are always one-off custom jobs that don't really make huge gobs of power (relatively, and cost per whp gained). There seems to be significantly more potential taking the ISx50 and slapping a turbo on those motors. The extent of the aftermarket support for the ISF is intake, header, exhaust, and a few carbon body panels. If you want a car to modify, get a 250 or 350. The interior is a bit cramped for anyone above 5'8. Matt's complaint about the seats are justified, but they fit me just right. This car is a great daily driver if you want something sporty, but not full blown M3. There's plenty of torque for daily driving. 8 forward speeds are great for keeping the motor at lower RPMs to reduce driving noise. You will feel the weight of the car when turning, even at low speeds. I average 23-26MPG, my daily commute is 90% highway. Average tank is 350 miles, have tipped 400 miles on a single tank. Maintenance: 9.5 quarts of oil per change @ 5,000miles. OEM brake rotors approx. $200 a piece on eBay, OEM pads $200~ front, $250~ rear.OEM cabin filter, $40. Other than that, the car will runs fantastic as long as you keep up maintenance. Changes/Updates: 2008-09 - water pump leaking issues, addressed and fixed in 2010+. Non-LED headlights has AFS headlights. AFS - at about 30mph, when you turn the steering wheel the headlights will also slightly turn in that direction. 2010+ adjusted camber settings. 2010+ bluetooth steaming capable. 2011+ LSD.
The IS is definitely one of the most underrated cars. The 350's were smoking Mustangs until Ford dropped the new 5.0. Sure the M3 is slightly better around a track but who cares, 99.99% of the time your on a normal road with stoplights and bumper to bumper traffic. The funnest thing is when BMW fanboys talk about how great the cars handle and how boring Lexus is, yet 95% of them have never raced and they sit in the same traffic as everyone else. If I lived on a race track I would pick the M3, however the IS is a far better REAL world car.
been saying this forever! unless you're the god damn stig who cares about a tenth of a second, a tenth of a lateral g, etc.. if you are going to daily it cost and reliability are at LEAST equally as important as performance. plus the money saved equals more mods to close the performance gap ;)
+Nutz4Gunz45 finally, someone said it! lol, absolutely! People always buying this or that saying how much of a sick track it is. No, it's just a cute brochure you can brag about because you'll hit redline once and feel bad you're beating on it lol.
+MikeHuntIsItchy I believe it was Motor Trend who compared the 2012 BOSS 302 and the E92 M3, with a professional driver, the M3 was a few tenths a lap quicker, but with a normal driver the Mustang was a little over a second faster. M3's are very quick, but unless you are a someone who can hop in and push any car to 9/10ths or 10/10ths, you won't be faster in it than a competitive, easier to drive vehicle like the Mustang or IS-F.
+Nutz4Gunz45 That poor 3 valve Mustang, that was a pretty tired engine, easily out powered by the Japanese and European V6's, and the GTO LS2 just embarrassed the poor thing. The Coyote was a necessity.
+Nutz4Gunz45 You dont even have to go that far, even Audis that car journalists bash because they are front heavy, you never gonna experience that in the real world anyway, you need to push the car so hard and if you do it on public roads it makes you a moron :)
Yeah okay...as no doubt reflected in residential values. I've owned both and although the paint finish on the ISF is light years ahead of the e9x M3...it's no M car.
CENTENON you entitled to ya own opinion dude even if your Wrong lol but anyway. The RCF is a badass car for a first generation car with no past model to build off of the RCF is still a awesome car sound mean, neck turning looks and V8. Lots of good things going for it.
CENTENON the joke RCF matches M3 lap times. Sounds 100 times better than the m3, imo looks better than the m3. You can say what you want but a RCF is no joke.
Does anyone know what he's gonna do once it hits 1 million? He should do a tune up and try to supercharge it or something, and see what happens lol. I'd be curious to see if it would last a while, or blow up on the dyno lol
manufacturers use old engine blocks that are re-bored in racing applications usually because they are proven blocks... The million mile lexus with a proper tune could probably take forced induction and remain reliable.
The change in sound around 4000 RPM is actually predominantly due to the variable air intake, which actuates at around 3600 RPM, rather than the engine coming "on-cam", just in case anybody was wondering. Pretty cool tech.
Bought a 2013 ISF this year myself. Mine has 84k miles on it though. Has refinements of the 2011+ years, and still more reliable than my F10 535i. How many miles are on yours now?
I just purchased one w the same 47k miles. Maintenance history is immaculate and up to date. I love this car, best car I’ve owned. Reason the seats are uncomfortable for Matt because he’s an obese person.
I think he said it absolutely right. Lexus gives you the extra confidence in reliability instead of top notch performance. Especially as a used car that's your benefit over hard beaten M3s or something. If you get one of these IF-S it will pay back with reliability and some kind of specialty because there aren't as many of them.
***** Yes, I happen to have the latest issue sitting in front of me and it includes the full list of Lightning lap times. The 2008 IS-F lapped at 3:14.0 and the 2011 IS-F did 3:05.4. That is a huge improvement for a car that didn't have any power added. It's worth noting that the 2008 BMW M3 scored a 3:05.6. and the 2009 M3 tied with the Lexus (I think the 2009 BMW used a DCT). They were all edged out by a 2015 Mustang GT at 3:05.2.
***** I have the October 2015 issue which has the new Lightning lap, it's not online yet. New cars: VW GTI - 3:14.6 VW Golf R - 3:12.3 Audi S3 - 3:11.3 Alfa Romeo 4c - 3:08.8 Mustang GT - 3:05.2 Cadillac ATS-V sedan - 2:59.8 Lexus RC-F - 3:05.8 Mercedes AMG C63S - 2:59.2 Cadillac ATS-V coupe - 2:59.2 Cadillac CTS-V - 2:56.8 Mercedes AMG GT - 2:51.0 Porsche 911 GT3 - 2:50.4 Lamborghini Huracan - 2:47.5 McLaren 650S Spyder - 2:45.8 Corvette Z06 - 2:44.6 That Vette is punching way above its class.
+SW20AE86 2011 & up is where its at though, faster around the circuit & newer features lol. That may be why the 08's & 09's for ex. are cheap. But then again they really are a steal!
Best Car I’ve ever owned. Regret selling it to be honest. Had 112,000KM on it, never gave me any issues, was tight, no rattles, shimmy’s or shakes. Just a great car all around. Only thing I wish it had was a little more bottom end Torque. With the 8 Speed on the Highway The gas mileage was great.
@@yORBALINDa92886 believe it or not, its actually just a muffler delete and a down turn directly outside the resonator, under the rear diff/axels. Sounds pretty decent considering it cost me like $20 to set up. Only con would be there is some drone in the backseat and it looks kinda funny without tips in the rear bumper..
@@yORBALINDa92886 I do actually.. Im in the temecula area and have a few guys that go out with them every once in a while.. They are great cars and you'll love it more the longer you have it
This is the best POV review on the ISF I've seen yet. I wanted to get the IS350 due to maintenance costs, insurance, fuel etc but hearing that V8 roar is producing some sort of instinctual caveman reaction and now me want loud broom broom car.
I remember watching this video years ago knowing someday I'd own an ISF. I've had my F for about 4 months now and this review is just as entertaining and enjoyable now as it was then. I looked at the M3 and other German competition while shopping around and there was just no way I was willing to totally sacrifice reliability for a fractional performance increase.
@@FSXflyermaster I've got the tune and headers going on next week. Supercharger is a possibility in the future but prices will have to come down first.
I did the same thing.. Looked at a few M3's, a C63 and some american stuff. Found this to be the best bang for ya buck AND the most reliable by a landslide.
Two years and 40k miles later I still love my ISF. Its FBO/Tune, riding on Ohlins dampers and a real pleasure to cruise around town or rip through the canyons. I also fixed the shift lever orientation.
hey matt thanks for taking the time to review some awesome cars for us over the years, this is as close as this car nut will ever get to experience any of these beasts and i really appreciate it! one question, how do you feel about a second gen lexus sc as a sports car?
It's a nice car. I would easily rather an IS-F over an M3. The M3 is a good car, but the IS-F is just a better alternative. It sounds better, it looks better, and it's just different, people don't hate you in an IS-F. By the way, the throttle response you were mentioning, between this and your Corvette, is the difference between mechanical cable throttle and electric throttle. Mechanical throttles are the only way to go. The direct link between your foot, and the plate in the throttle body can and never will be replaced by something as dead as electric. Same goes for steering. A proper hydraulic rack will always be better than electric steering. The new Bentley Continental GT3, is one of the few new cars to revert back to hydraulic over electric, and everyone fell in love and remembers why it was so good. Which is why I don't understand the desire for manufacturers to rush and slap 'electric everything' in new cars, besides being cheaper for them, and less serviceable if something goes wrong, so you have to go to them to get it fixed.
Nice quick review. I kinda ignored this car when it came out because I liked the E90 M3 better, but this thing has certainly grown on me. And thank you for mentioning the direction of the "manual shift" on those things... seeing a car with + up and - down bothers me way more than it should.
hi matt, is there by any chance u can do a tutorial on rev matching and heel toe. U are a very good manual driver, alot of us would appreciate that wisdom u have with the manuals... thanks
Matt, I agree with you 100% on the sequential shifters. Very few car manufacturers do it properly. Actually the only company I can think of that does do it right is BMW.
I picked up my 2008 in Ultrasonic Blue Mica a little over 6 months ago. Makes the perfect daily and let’s you have fun in the back roads when you want. A very special car indeed, if you have the means: GET ONE!!
Great review man. Especially love the maintenance stand point. I drive an e92 m3 and I do love it from a driving/performance standpoint but it's a maintenance headache. That's why I was thinking of switching to an ISF. Driven them before and they are fun cars. Good review man
+Devil0027 I've had my IS-F for 6 months now, its a 2012; nothing needed to be done except regular oil change; of course the brakes and tires needed to be changed but that's because I track it, but ya man, it is also a good time to become an IS-F owner because tunes are now finally coming out and soon enough turbo and supercharger kits; you can get some serious power in a great package, IS-F is truly truly a great car and I couldn't recommend it more
@Eedo Amitay just out of curiosity, how much did u pay for your 12' isF? I just got one in November 2022. A 2012 silver with red interior and only 34k on it for $40,000
Lots of transmissions lock the converter early. The 5G-Tronic made by Mercedes did it since the late 90s (even in first gear). Unless you meant it was the first 8-speed to do it, of course.
Thank you for this Matt. I truly am a big fan of this car...I wish you would have driven a fully bolt on MY 2011 and up! It really matches up to an e92 in terms of speed and agility. Nonetheless, you took the time to share your thoughts on the initial production line of the IS F. Thank you!
Hi matt. the sound change doesn't come from the cams coming on, there is a flap on the induction side of the engine which opens at around 4000 rpm and gives you this distinct V8 growl. same with the new RC F :) cheers Andy
I own a ultra sonic blue ISF, have owned for 6 months,i brought the car based on this review. i can't fault the car, foot park brake is probably the biggest issue, got it back from lexus after a cooling fan recall with no other issues to report, have done 10000k's on it. Its the best of performance and reliability, once you get on the highway and use radar cruise it becomes economical too.
I am strongly considering and is-f in the next 6 months or so. I've driven an 08 model as well but in 2010+ models, Lexus began installing an lsd. do you have any experience with those models of is-fs, +matt Farah?
RE: The backwards shifter. I swapped the wires on mines to make it correct. When I traded the car in it was the only thing I didn't revert to stock. I wonder if the new owner appreciate it.
how would you compare this overall to a 2015 mustang gt? or even the b8 s4? I'm looking for a healthy v8..this seems to be more practical than the mustang but the driving experience is what matters most to me.
They updated the ISF in 2010 and they improved it so if you gonna buy one don't go for the pre 2010 ones. If i remember correct they did some modding in the front so it don't understeer as much + modded the diff or something, i think it was like 10-15seconds faster around the Nurnburgring with the same power.
Matt, do you think this could be a viable option for a daily driver in Ohio, where the winters can get quite treacherous. I'm having a hard time finding a sports car that can also handle the snow. I drive a GLI now, and a WRX isn't an option.
My 15 year-old Escape 4-speed cd4e automatic operated the torque converter the same way, as do all of them i am aware of. There must be confusion in that statement of specific behavior of pedal pressure and speed settings.
If this is a problem for you in terms of head -room, I would like to see you drive my car, roof is so low and the seats are so high, the headrests only clear the roof by 1 inch on their lowest setting. I also have to recline the seat to fit in the car with a helmet. (It's a Proton satria neo)
I hope you are able to get the Lexus too the Million Mile marker, and make a one take episode as well.. Maybe an episode where you drive it back east after it hits the 1,000,0000 mark? Bring along some of the other journalists who have helped put some miles on it recently. I think it'd be awesome, hopefully somebody over at Lexus is watching and give it a restoration so we can see it go another million????
I bought this car in 08; very early ones i had mine reserved right after they showed it. Owned it for 4 years DD. 0 issues traded in a suv since by then i had 2 kids and the cars seats were an hassle. After the kids got bigger i searched again and these are hard to find clean ones. Got a Next best thing new GSF. Yes i could have bought a m6 or amg but i know these drivetrains are bulletproof plus such a rare car
Thank You Matt for the wonderful review. If I were to choose from that generation of performance coupe's/sedans it would be: Pure engine wise: C63 amg p31 (hands down the best performer in terms of power) Agility, feel and overall performer (m3 e92) The best looking of them all ( RS5 ) The most reliable, cheap to run and still loads of fun ( ISF ) But my personal choice would be an E93 M3 with DCT (yup a performance convertible) If I wanted a sedan to keep it quite long it would be the ISF or the C63 (didnt hear much horror stories about them here in EU) Anyway big thanks for this review. Its a great car for people who want an overall performance daily driver.
tubejorrit well yeah thats obvious man, just saying that I like a convertible so the m3 would be my choice, especially that its a hard top. If Merc would make a C63 convertible Id jump on one RIGHT NOW. But sadly they didnt and the new turbo engine is not my piece of pie..
I have the E93 M3 in 6MT. Amazing driving pleasure with the top down in open air hearing the V8 scream past 8,000rpm. Does come at a cost though. Gas mileage and maintenance costs should be a major consideration if you're in the market for one. As a quick example, an engine oil change costs $300 since it takes 9L of 10W-60. Even if you DIY, oil alone costs $160 and you also need to buy an oil change kit each time. Brake job is $4,000. New DCT transmission is $15,000. New engine is $25,000. If that's manageable and you find a well maintained one, it's all damn worth it! I fall in love with mine over and over again each time I take it out for a drive.
You nailed it. We do it so the night crawlers will up vote us on sites like reddit so by the time working stiffs are awake it's already at the top of the page.
After switching from an e46 bmw to an is250 of the same generation. I agree on the seats. Regular e46 seats are way more comfy and supportive than regular is seats. I love that car and how reliable and smooth it is. But it just hurts after 2-3 hrs of driving. I remember doing an 8 hour drive last year in the 46 and only stopping 2-3 times. In the lex i'd be looking for a hotel after 3 hrs...
Hey Matt, if you're ever in the Oxnard, Ventura Area, I'll let you take my 2012 IS-F for a sprint up Mullholland for a comparison to the early models. It's all factory stock, except for some Michelin Pilot Super Sports and Borla Exhaust. In 2011 Lexus did a bunch of crucial changes to the car that made it significantly more responsive and better handling than the first batch of 08-10s. The 2011+ models are almost 9 seconds faster per lap around VIR than the 08-10 models. Let me know if you're up for it.
416hp to be exact. And also should always stick with latter model year. (cause revised Suspension tuning as well as Mechanical LSD standard on 2010 and newer ISF) And as per your "ON cam" comment. It's actually a little flap on top of the intake box opens up making the engine note more noticable. And as for the Manual shift on the centre console (I agree but please tell that to porsche as well cause the PDK shift is weird like the Lexus as well) FYI...... good review thou.... Keep up the good work
Just a heads up.... There is no " tune" for any US Spec ISF. With the exhaust the car is probably putting down about 440 HP at the crank . 08-09s are the slower ISFs on a track or in the canyons . 2010 got the LSD and 2011 and 2012 had suspension changes and steering ECU adjustments as well.
It is not there is no tune needed but that there is no tune possible on the Toyota ECM. The only possibility is a piggy-back ECU The Toyota ECM has a wide mapping range and an auto learning mode soo it adapts itself to the changes induced by a peripheral change
There is no tune needed but that there is no tune possible on the Toyota ECM. The only possibility is a piggy-back ECU The Toyota ECM has a wide mapping range and an auto learning mode so it adapts itself to the changes induced by a peripheral change. Another thing so consider when looking at this car, really cool in my opinion.
One of the few things I miss from Cali... The roads... Driving in Colorado is dangerous the roads are so fucked up. I've never seen more potholes in my life until I moved here.
the pinnalce of the isf was 2013, a number of revisions over the years to the steering ecu, suspension, and spring rates, dampening, and dash layout, and .5 inch wider wheels as well. the owner says tuned? i call bs, toyota and lexus ecu's cannot be cracked.
Lexus engineers that throttle feel into their cars. So you don't get that lurch off the line when you're trying to drive smooth very smooth for stop and go.
+LittleCan If its like my !S300, there is a spring at the gas pedal that softens the hit when you mash the gas. It's annoying and, like most owners, I removed mine when I first got the car. Now the car doesn't wait 2 days to accelerate after I push the pedal. I have since completely solved the issue by swapping in a VVTi 1uz-fe.
Tried out the I8. That was horrible. Also a friend of a friend had a e33. That was pretty bad too. I don't like the look of them and mostly people who drive them are assholes. (not all ofcourse)
RtdXyron not a fan of electric/hybrids but I haven't driven one. Go drive an e92 and you'll be singing a different song. Unless you don't like power and handling. The drivers should have nothing to do with how the car drives either.
These things are so rare. The closest one to me is about 300 miles way in Tampa. I’m about to give the IS250 to bae and go and get myself this car; the car I’ve always wanted.
It does, but it's not defective - it's just an extremely under-aggressive throttle. There is an aftermarket throttle controller made by Apexi which solves that problem, and when put on the highest setting it responds how I think it should have come from the factory. I barely every need to put the pedal to the floor anymore, whereas before the throttle controller I found myself doing that all the time.
In reference to the way manual shifters should be moved, for upshift and downshift... I drove a Shifter go kart 125cc ( that is a CRAZY machine) and you pull to upshift and push to downshift... and that car generates heavy g forces!!! I believe most race cars do it that way too.
As an ISF owner, I've yet to learn about a legitimate tune on these ECUs, from my understanding that's why turbo kits are always one-off custom jobs that don't really make huge gobs of power (relatively, and cost per whp gained). There seems to be significantly more potential taking the ISx50 and slapping a turbo on those motors. The extent of the aftermarket support for the ISF is intake, header, exhaust, and a few carbon body panels. If you want a car to modify, get a 250 or 350.
The interior is a bit cramped for anyone above 5'8. Matt's complaint about the seats are justified, but they fit me just right. This car is a great daily driver if you want something sporty, but not full blown M3. There's plenty of torque for daily driving. 8 forward speeds are great for keeping the motor at lower RPMs to reduce driving noise. You will feel the weight of the car when turning, even at low speeds. I average 23-26MPG, my daily commute is 90% highway. Average tank is 350 miles, have tipped 400 miles on a single tank.
Maintenance: 9.5 quarts of oil per change @ 5,000miles. OEM brake rotors approx. $200 a piece on eBay, OEM pads $200~ front, $250~ rear.OEM cabin filter, $40. Other than that, the car will runs fantastic as long as you keep up maintenance.
Changes/Updates: 2008-09 - water pump leaking issues, addressed and fixed in 2010+. Non-LED headlights has AFS headlights. AFS - at about 30mph, when you turn the steering wheel the headlights will also slightly turn in that direction. 2010+ adjusted camber settings. 2010+ bluetooth steaming capable. 2011+ LSD.
1234567890a no no no the is350 is not a tuner friendly car!
Is350 is a tuner friendly car. RR Racing.
2010 has LSD stock
Fellow ISF owner here. Great run down.
Revisiting this....I’m selling my evo this coming weekend and looking for one. Would you shy away from an isf with 80k-100k?
The IS is definitely one of the most underrated cars. The 350's were smoking Mustangs until Ford dropped the new 5.0. Sure the M3 is slightly better around a track but who cares, 99.99% of the time your on a normal road with stoplights and bumper to bumper traffic. The funnest thing is when BMW fanboys talk about how great the cars handle and how boring Lexus is, yet 95% of them have never raced and they sit in the same traffic as everyone else. If I lived on a race track I would pick the M3, however the IS is a far better REAL world car.
been saying this forever! unless you're the god damn stig who cares about a tenth of a second, a tenth of a lateral g, etc.. if you are going to daily it cost and reliability are at LEAST equally as important as performance. plus the money saved equals more mods to close the performance gap ;)
+Nutz4Gunz45 finally, someone said it! lol, absolutely! People always buying this or that saying how much of a sick track it is. No, it's just a cute brochure you can brag about because you'll hit redline once and feel bad you're beating on it lol.
+MikeHuntIsItchy I believe it was Motor Trend who compared the 2012 BOSS 302 and the E92 M3, with a professional driver, the M3 was a few tenths a lap quicker, but with a normal driver the Mustang was a little over a second faster. M3's are very quick, but unless you are a someone who can hop in and push any car to 9/10ths or 10/10ths, you won't be faster in it than a competitive, easier to drive vehicle like the Mustang or IS-F.
+Nutz4Gunz45 That poor 3 valve Mustang, that was a pretty tired engine, easily out powered by the Japanese and European V6's, and the GTO LS2 just embarrassed the poor thing. The Coyote was a necessity.
+Nutz4Gunz45 You dont even have to go that far, even Audis that car journalists bash because they are front heavy, you never gonna experience that in the real world anyway, you need to push the car so hard and if you do it on public roads it makes you a moron :)
This car is way more special than a BMW M3.
Lexus The pursuit of Perfection.
Yeah okay...as no doubt reflected in residential values. I've owned both and although the paint finish on the ISF is light years ahead of the e9x M3...it's no M car.
Martin Allen Your right its not a M car... and the M car isnt a F car either.
CENTENON you entitled to ya own opinion dude even if your Wrong lol but anyway. The RCF is a badass car for a first generation car with no past model to build off of the RCF is still a awesome car sound mean, neck turning looks and V8. Lots of good things going for it.
CENTENON the joke RCF matches M3 lap times. Sounds 100 times better than the m3, imo looks better than the m3. You can say what you want but a RCF is no joke.
Nice car, would make a good daily. please do a one-take with your million mile Lexus!
+Craig J YES!
Does anyone know what he's gonna do once it hits 1 million? He should do a tune up and try to supercharge it or something, and see what happens lol. I'd be curious to see if it would last a while, or blow up on the dyno lol
manufacturers use old engine blocks that are re-bored in racing applications usually because they are proven blocks... The million mile lexus with a proper tune could probably take forced induction and remain reliable.
1UZ engines are well known to be bulletproof brick shithouses. Keep it serviced and maintained and it'll keep on clocking up the miles with no issues
My mechanic tells me of a client who has cooked her 1uz twice and it still runs, no rebuild
This and the LFA have AMAZING induction sound.
YazeedSaber ه
The change in sound around 4000 RPM is actually predominantly due to the variable air intake, which actuates at around 3600 RPM, rather than the engine coming "on-cam", just in case anybody was wondering. Pretty cool tech.
I bought my '08 ISF earlier this year at 47k miles and I absolutely love it. Couldn't be more happy.
Bought a 2013 ISF this year myself. Mine has 84k miles on it though. Has refinements of the 2011+ years, and still more reliable than my F10 535i.
How many miles are on yours now?
I just purchased one w the same 47k miles. Maintenance history is immaculate and up to date. I love this car, best car I’ve owned. Reason the seats are uncomfortable for Matt because he’s an obese person.
You still have it? If so how's it been?
I think he said it absolutely right. Lexus gives you the extra confidence in reliability instead of top notch performance. Especially as a used car that's your benefit over hard beaten M3s or something. If you get one of these IF-S it will pay back with reliability and some kind of specialty because there aren't as many of them.
They say the 2011+ ISF is the one to get if you want one. They had some significant suspension and steering upgrades for that model year.
+goatmonkey2112 And LSD's.
*****
Yes, I happen to have the latest issue sitting in front of me and it includes the full list of Lightning lap times. The 2008 IS-F lapped at 3:14.0 and the 2011 IS-F did 3:05.4. That is a huge improvement for a car that didn't have any power added. It's worth noting that the 2008 BMW M3 scored a 3:05.6. and the 2009 M3 tied with the Lexus (I think the 2009 BMW used a DCT). They were all edged out by a 2015 Mustang GT at 3:05.2.
*****
I have the October 2015 issue which has the new Lightning lap, it's not online yet. New cars:
VW GTI - 3:14.6
VW Golf R - 3:12.3
Audi S3 - 3:11.3
Alfa Romeo 4c - 3:08.8
Mustang GT - 3:05.2
Cadillac ATS-V sedan - 2:59.8
Lexus RC-F - 3:05.8
Mercedes AMG C63S - 2:59.2
Cadillac ATS-V coupe - 2:59.2
Cadillac CTS-V - 2:56.8
Mercedes AMG GT - 2:51.0
Porsche 911 GT3 - 2:50.4
Lamborghini Huracan - 2:47.5
McLaren 650S Spyder - 2:45.8
Corvette Z06 - 2:44.6
That Vette is punching way above its class.
+goatmonkey2112 for one or two laps then its done
+goatmonkey2112 that's amazing. how is it so fast?
I've wanted an ISF for years. In the $30K range on the used market it is a very tough contender.
+SW20AE86 2011 & up is where its at though, faster around the circuit & newer features lol. That may be why the 08's & 09's for ex. are cheap. But then again they really are a steal!
+touge410 Well taking into consideration some issues the 08 and 09 had too that can also explain low pricing.
+MrStreetballer5 Toyota always got recalls on their vehicles lol, I think they're somewhat paranoid and at the same time really care about safety.
+John Ryder I had my 2008 ISF water pumped changed 3 years ago luckily it was still under warranty
Yea these things hold there value. A c63 amg looks way better for 19-19k but the isf will never break
I've really become a fan of this series and the regularity with which it is produced. Thank you Matt.
These cars are WAY special, they are still selling for $30k-35k with 50k miles.
I've always liked these, I'd buy one because you see M3 everywhere & it's something different
Finally I love the isf. You should consider the second gen is350. Underrated sleeper..
Best Car I’ve ever owned. Regret selling it to be honest. Had 112,000KM on it, never gave me any issues, was tight, no rattles, shimmy’s or shakes. Just a great car all around. Only thing I wish it had was a little more bottom end Torque. With the 8 Speed on the Highway The gas mileage was great.
Thanks for the video.. I have been waiting for your review on this isF for years..
great review Matt! awesome description about the car and well done! keep up the good work!
this is on of the best car channels on UA-cam. always new and interesting cars.Love it:-):-) multiple vids every week. :-):-)
I remember this car "new" at the LA auto show they had on on a dyno and you could sit inside. Great sound.
would really love to hear your thoughts on the GSf
As I enter the luxury market, I realize how much it is to maintain these things. This is why I will go with a lexus next time.
Lol its weird seeing my car on youtube being driven by Matt. Pretty awesome
MrChrisproductions Nice ride 👍
What exhaust are you rocking on the car?
@@yORBALINDa92886 believe it or not, its actually just a muffler delete and a down turn directly outside the resonator, under the rear diff/axels. Sounds pretty decent considering it cost me like $20 to set up. Only con would be there is some drone in the backseat and it looks kinda funny without tips in the rear bumper..
@@MrChrisproductions do you still have the car? Would love to do a canyon cruise if you do! I just got mine and am trying to meet other with them!
@@yORBALINDa92886 I do actually.. Im in the temecula area and have a few guys that go out with them every once in a while.. They are great cars and you'll love it more the longer you have it
I've always liked the ISF. Drove a family member's high mile is250, and it drove very nice.
This is the best POV review on the ISF I've seen yet. I wanted to get the IS350 due to maintenance costs, insurance, fuel etc but hearing that V8 roar is producing some sort of instinctual caveman reaction and now me want loud broom broom car.
I remember watching this video years ago knowing someday I'd own an ISF. I've had my F for about 4 months now and this review is just as entertaining and enjoyable now as it was then. I looked at the M3 and other German competition while shopping around and there was just no way I was willing to totally sacrifice reliability for a fractional performance increase.
Devon Turner now you can throw a rr racing tune and/or supercharger on it and rip it even harder!
@@FSXflyermaster I've got the tune and headers going on next week. Supercharger is a possibility in the future but prices will have to come down first.
I did the same thing.. Looked at a few M3's, a C63 and some american stuff. Found this to be the best bang for ya buck AND the most reliable by a landslide.
Two years and 40k miles later I still love my ISF. Its FBO/Tune, riding on Ohlins dampers and a real pleasure to cruise around town or rip through the canyons. I also fixed the shift lever orientation.
hey matt thanks for taking the time to review some awesome cars for us over the years, this is as close as this car nut will ever get to experience any of these beasts and i really appreciate it! one question, how do you feel about a second gen lexus sc as a sports car?
It's a nice car. I would easily rather an IS-F over an M3. The M3 is a good car, but the IS-F is just a better alternative. It sounds better, it looks better, and it's just different, people don't hate you in an IS-F.
By the way, the throttle response you were mentioning, between this and your Corvette, is the difference between mechanical cable throttle and electric throttle. Mechanical throttles are the only way to go. The direct link between your foot, and the plate in the throttle body can and never will be replaced by something as dead as electric. Same goes for steering. A proper hydraulic rack will always be better than electric steering. The new Bentley Continental GT3, is one of the few new cars to revert back to hydraulic over electric, and everyone fell in love and remembers why it was so good.
Which is why I don't understand the desire for manufacturers to rush and slap 'electric everything' in new cars, besides being cheaper for them, and less serviceable if something goes wrong, so you have to go to them to get it fixed.
Damn bro youre living the life testing all these toys out on the daily. Cheers!
Nice quick review. I kinda ignored this car when it came out because I liked the E90 M3 better, but this thing has certainly grown on me. And thank you for mentioning the direction of the "manual shift" on those things... seeing a car with + up and - down bothers me way more than it should.
hi matt, is there by any chance u can do a tutorial on rev matching and heel toe. U are a very good manual driver, alot of us would appreciate that wisdom u have with the manuals... thanks
I think I gotta agree with the shifting reference there, it does make good sense.
Matt, I agree with you 100% on the sequential shifters. Very few car manufacturers do it properly. Actually the only company I can think of that does do it right is BMW.
Porsche PDK also.
The ISF is from 2008? Daaamn, time flies fast. I thought it was like 3 years old. I'd love to have a ISF, no doubt.
I went from 2015 Sti to 2008 ISF with 80,000kms. Absolutely love it. Best car I’ve owned too. Don’t think I’ll be letting go of this gem.
Scenery and sound is hypnotic :)
Great video Matt!! Love the car 👍🏼😃
Locking torque converters came out in the early 80's :)
Great video as always though :)
I picked up my 2008 in Ultrasonic Blue Mica a little over 6 months ago. Makes the perfect daily and let’s you have fun in the back roads when you want. A very special car indeed, if you have the means: GET ONE!!
Is this Lexus's million mile Matt Farah?
lol
the only thing I wish is that you'd do more interior shots
+pleb i agree
I like the Isf nice soundtrack & a lot more rare than the M3
Great review man. Especially love the maintenance stand point. I drive an e92 m3 and I do love it from a driving/performance standpoint but it's a maintenance headache. That's why I was thinking of switching to an ISF. Driven them before and they are fun cars. Good review man
+Devil0027 I've had my IS-F for 6 months now, its a 2012; nothing needed to be done except regular oil change; of course the brakes and tires needed to be changed but that's because I track it, but ya man, it is also a good time to become an IS-F owner because tunes are now finally coming out and soon enough turbo and supercharger kits; you can get some serious power in a great package, IS-F is truly truly a great car and I couldn't recommend it more
+Eedo Amitay agreed 100% man
@Eedo Amitay just out of curiosity, how much did u pay for your 12' isF? I just got one in November 2022. A 2012 silver with red interior and only 34k on it for $40,000
I have have a 2012 ISF and it's a great car...just feed it gas and change the oil and your good to go.
love Lexus and this car just wish they offer a manual option
The 5HP24 Auto box had the locking torque converter as far as I know. that was around in 1999 maybe earlier.
Lots of transmissions lock the converter early. The 5G-Tronic made by Mercedes did it since the late 90s (even in first gear).
Unless you meant it was the first 8-speed to do it, of course.
Thank you for this Matt. I truly am a big fan of this car...I wish you would have driven a fully bolt on MY 2011 and up! It really matches up to an e92 in terms of speed and agility. Nonetheless, you took the time to share your thoughts on the initial production line of the IS F. Thank you!
Subscribed to this channel for cars I'll probably never get to even see, liked this video for a car I could buy.
Hi matt. the sound change doesn't come from the cams coming on, there is a flap on the induction side of the engine which opens at around 4000 rpm and gives you this distinct V8 growl. same with the new RC F :) cheers Andy
Very nice car... and review, what tune ? are this ecu been cracked now?
One of many of my dream cars.
i love the one takes without the owner in them
I own a ultra sonic blue ISF, have owned for 6 months,i brought the car based on this review. i can't fault the car, foot park brake is probably the biggest issue, got it back from lexus after a cooling fan recall with no other issues to report, have done 10000k's on it. Its the best of performance and reliability, once you get on the highway and use radar cruise it becomes economical too.
I am strongly considering and is-f in the next 6 months or so. I've driven an 08 model as well but in 2010+ models, Lexus began installing an lsd. do you have any experience with those models of is-fs, +matt Farah?
RE: The backwards shifter. I swapped the wires on mines to make it correct. When I traded the car in it was the only thing I didn't revert to stock. I wonder if the new owner appreciate it.
im so sorry, i have to...... is.. i.. is..
is that Matt Farah's million mile Lexus!?!
HareyMon Will do sir.
+TheLeafySpring good man. No tucking and rolling ok? Take that shit like a man.
+TheLeafySpring that so depressing lol
I lol'd so hard at this whole thread.
Have to get an isf to a million miles start a Lexus trend
how would you compare this overall to a 2015 mustang gt? or even the b8 s4? I'm looking for a healthy v8..this seems to be more practical than the mustang but the driving experience is what matters most to me.
They updated the ISF in 2010 and they improved it so if you gonna buy one don't go for the pre 2010 ones. If i remember correct they did some modding in the front so it don't understeer as much + modded the diff or something, i think it was like 10-15seconds faster around the Nurnburgring with the same power.
Matt, do you think this could be a viable option for a daily driver in Ohio, where the winters can get quite treacherous. I'm having a hard time finding a sports car that can also handle the snow. I drive a GLI now, and a WRX isn't an option.
Oh man, I love these. Prefer them in Ultrasonic blue, but still so sweet
My 15 year-old Escape 4-speed cd4e automatic operated the torque converter the same way, as do all of them i am aware of. There must be confusion in that statement of specific behavior of pedal pressure and speed settings.
I have an 06 GTO and love it .Mostly stock cat back,and air filter. Mettalic blue runs great few problems ,fast ,handles great.
All the former Holden engineers (like me) appreciate your comment ♥️
I WOULD REALLY LIKE YOU TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION VIDEO FOR DAILY DRIVER MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS
I agree with you, with the way the race inspired shifter should be.
If this is a problem for you in terms of head -room, I would like to see you drive my car, roof is so low and the seats are so high, the headrests only clear the roof by 1 inch on their lowest setting. I also have to recline the seat to fit in the car with a helmet. (It's a Proton satria neo)
I hope you are able to get the Lexus too the Million Mile marker, and make a one take episode as well.. Maybe an episode where you drive it back east after it hits the 1,000,0000 mark? Bring along some of the other journalists who have helped put some miles on it recently. I think it'd be awesome, hopefully somebody over at Lexus is watching and give it a restoration so we can see it go another million????
these cars are available from about 22k here in canada so if anyone was looking at one as a daily driver id say get yours in canada and save 10k
Has Matt ever mentioned the gopro mounts he uses? or is that one of his trade secrets?
Ive always been a big fan of these ISFs. When these came out I couldn't afford them, now that train has sailed and RCF just isn't blowing my skirt up.
+stuna101a how do you like the GS-F?
When is there gonna be an update on the foxbody mustang???
Do you have a boss 302 mustang lined up? Like the Lexus. Seems like a good buy.
I bought this car in 08; very early ones i had mine reserved right after they showed it.
Owned it for 4 years DD. 0 issues traded in a suv since by then i had 2 kids and the cars seats were an hassle. After the kids got bigger i searched again and these are hard to find clean ones. Got a Next best thing new GSF. Yes i could have bought a m6 or amg but i know these drivetrains are bulletproof plus such a rare car
Thank You Matt for the wonderful review. If I were to choose from that generation of performance coupe's/sedans it would be:
Pure engine wise: C63 amg p31 (hands down the best performer in terms of power)
Agility, feel and overall performer (m3 e92)
The best looking of them all ( RS5 )
The most reliable, cheap to run and still loads of fun ( ISF )
But my personal choice would be an E93 M3 with DCT (yup a performance convertible)
If I wanted a sedan to keep it quite long it would be the ISF or the C63 (didnt hear much horror stories about them here in EU)
Anyway big thanks for this review. Its a great car for people who want an overall performance daily driver.
+RazorFX Give me the C63 any day, I like the crossplane v8 more then the flatplane from the M3.
tubejorrit
well yeah thats obvious man, just saying that I like a convertible so the m3 would be my choice, especially that its a hard top. If Merc would make a C63 convertible Id jump on one RIGHT NOW. But sadly they didnt and the new turbo engine is not my piece of pie..
+tubejorrit The normal road-going version of the e9x M3 doesn't use flat plane crankshaft, fyi.
Thx Ivan, didn't knew that ;) The e9x M3 cars sound very different then Mercedes AMG V8's tho. The AMG engines sound less nervous at low rpm's.
I have the E93 M3 in 6MT. Amazing driving pleasure with the top down in open air hearing the V8 scream past 8,000rpm.
Does come at a cost though. Gas mileage and maintenance costs should be a major consideration if you're in the market for one.
As a quick example, an engine oil change costs $300 since it takes 9L of 10W-60. Even if you DIY, oil alone costs $160 and you also need to buy an oil change kit each time. Brake job is $4,000. New DCT transmission is $15,000. New engine is $25,000.
If that's manageable and you find a well maintained one, it's all damn worth it! I fall in love with mine over and over again each time I take it out for a drive.
why do you guys upload at 4 in the morning, and why the fuck am I still awake.
i ask myself that every night.
LOL in Germany its 14:14 so... :D Perfect for lunch
+Nissan Skyline R33 Don't you mean every morning.
You nailed it. We do it so the night crawlers will up vote us on sites like reddit so by the time working stiffs are awake it's already at the top of the page.
+TheSmokingTire ha!
Matt if you ever come to PA let me know man. I can hook you up with any new Nissan you want to review
Gotta love it. We love ours!
Little update.. This car how as a 125 Shot of N2o and dynos at 505whp
Please try and do a One Take with a Cayman GTS
After switching from an e46 bmw to an is250 of the same generation. I agree on the seats. Regular e46 seats are way more comfy and supportive than regular is seats. I love that car and how reliable and smooth it is. But it just hurts after 2-3 hrs of driving. I remember doing an 8 hour drive last year in the 46 and only stopping 2-3 times. In the lex i'd be looking for a hotel after 3 hrs...
Hey Matt, if you're ever in the Oxnard, Ventura Area, I'll let you take my 2012 IS-F for a sprint up Mullholland for a comparison to the early models. It's all factory stock, except for some Michelin Pilot Super Sports and Borla Exhaust. In 2011 Lexus did a bunch of crucial changes to the car that made it significantly more responsive and better handling than the first batch of 08-10s. The 2011+ models are almost 9 seconds faster per lap around VIR than the 08-10 models. Let me know if you're up for it.
416hp to be exact. And also should always stick with latter model year. (cause revised Suspension tuning as well as Mechanical LSD standard on 2010 and newer ISF) And as per your "ON cam" comment. It's actually a little flap on top of the intake box opens up making the engine note more noticable. And as for the Manual shift on the centre console (I agree but please tell that to porsche as well cause the PDK shift is weird like the Lexus as well) FYI...... good review thou.... Keep up the good work
Nice....but I tough you going to drive the white ls400 that was on mustang video
Have you driven a 2011+ model with the Torsen limited slip diff?
also have the same issue with the backward shifter on my 09 Legacy (!). Is this japanese-style or just a coincidence?
I just got a 07 is250 for my first car and so far I’m loving it.
Too bad they’re dog piss slow, I have an 08 6 speed manual as a daily
Just a heads up.... There is no " tune" for any US Spec ISF. With the exhaust the car is probably putting down about 440 HP at the crank . 08-09s are the slower ISFs on a track or in the canyons . 2010 got the LSD and 2011 and 2012 had suspension changes and steering ECU adjustments as well.
It is not there is no tune needed but that there is no tune possible on the Toyota ECM. The only possibility is a piggy-back ECU
The Toyota ECM has a wide mapping range and an auto learning mode soo it adapts itself to the changes induced by a peripheral change
There is no tune needed but that there is no tune possible on the Toyota ECM. The only possibility is a piggy-back ECU
The Toyota ECM has a wide mapping range and an auto learning mode so it adapts itself to the changes induced by a peripheral change. Another thing so consider when looking at this car, really cool in my opinion.
there is no video of the car in show from the exterior
is there any particular reason the road is titled Angeles Forrest HWY?
Was there already a GS F review done?? Anyone know?
One of the few things I miss from Cali... The roads... Driving in Colorado is dangerous the roads are so fucked up. I've never seen more potholes in my life until I moved here.
What part of co do you live in? I'm planning to move out of CA TO CO but need good roads for my boss 302
What part of co do you live in? I'm planning to move out of CA TO CO but need good roads for my boss 302
the pinnalce of the isf was 2013, a number of revisions over the years to the steering ecu, suspension, and spring rates, dampening, and dash layout, and .5 inch wider wheels as well.
the owner says tuned? i call bs, toyota and lexus ecu's cannot be cracked.
yep they can RR Racing can do it now....with headers and a tune they are a MONSTER
@@SNORKYMEDIA exactly! RR tuned intake, headers, exhaust, E30-40 mix is 420whp+ all day!
IMO this actually is one of the best sounding V8's
Lexus engineers that throttle feel into their cars. So you don't get that lurch off the line when you're trying to drive smooth very smooth for stop and go.
+LittleCan
If its like my !S300, there is a spring at the gas pedal that softens the hit when you mash the gas. It's annoying and, like most owners, I removed mine when I first got the car. Now the car doesn't wait 2 days to accelerate after I push the pedal. I have since completely solved the issue by swapping in a VVTi 1uz-fe.
I'm 6'4". Would the seats be uncomfortable to me too?
Anything is more fun and interesting than a BMW :) Seems like a fun car.
+RtdXyron you have clearly never driven a bmw
smgs921 Sadly I have...
RtdXyron what car? If you say a 318i that doesn't count
Tried out the I8. That was horrible. Also a friend of a friend had a e33. That was pretty bad too. I don't like the look of them and mostly people who drive them are assholes. (not all ofcourse)
RtdXyron not a fan of electric/hybrids but I haven't driven one. Go drive an e92 and you'll be singing a different song. Unless you don't like power and handling. The drivers should have nothing to do with how the car drives either.
These things are so rare. The closest one to me is about 300 miles way in Tampa. I’m about to give the IS250 to bae and go and get myself this car; the car I’ve always wanted.
Do they have electronic throttles? If so, the potentiometer (sensor that measures pedal travel) may need to be replaced.
It does, but it's not defective - it's just an extremely under-aggressive throttle. There is an aftermarket throttle controller made by Apexi which solves that problem, and when put on the highest setting it responds how I think it should have come from the factory. I barely every need to put the pedal to the floor anymore, whereas before the throttle controller I found myself doing that all the time.
I was shopping for these...they seem to retain their value. they haven't dropped below 45k even with high miles.
In reference to the way manual shifters should be moved, for upshift and downshift... I drove a Shifter go kart 125cc ( that is a CRAZY machine) and you pull to upshift and push to downshift... and that car generates heavy g forces!!!
I believe most race cars do it that way too.