Test Drive Lexus IS F

[budfox]

Impressive...it's like a rocket and the handling was something i've never felt from a jap car. I can't believe i'm saying this because i'm very fond of the germans and not at all of the japs, but that cars handling was much better than my audi. even though u should be comparing rs4 w/ is f, is 250 handling was better than the a4.

i used to have a gs and that thing handled like a pos and was very impressed when i got into the audi.

but the IS 350 and F, pretty fun to drive....

[AudiA4Turbo22]

ur right but drive a C63AMG and a C350 then compare!

[quattrotman]

ur right but drive a C63AMG and a C350 then compare!

...or an m3

[|FYASKO|]

+1 for AMG

[AudiA4Turbo22]

i saw an M3 2 weeks ago at the Audi GTG it looks like any other 3 series with a body kit and a quad exhasut! nothing special! i'm sre the motor is great but looks wise i'm tired of seeing 1 in 3 cars as a new 3 series!

[ice cream man]

"is 250 handling was better than the a4." I strongly disagree especially if your Audi has sport suspension. i feel that the is 250+350's are very numb feeling cars. And the is-f no where around here will let anybody test drive b/c they said "who wants to buy a IS-F with miles on it" which i understand but who's going to buy a car and not want to test drive it.

[HeHateMe]

Impressive...it's like a rocket and the handling was something i've never felt from a jap car. I can't believe i'm saying this because i'm very fond of the germans and not at all of the japs, but that cars handling was much better than my audi. even though u should be comparing rs4 w/ is f, is 250 handling was better than the a4.

i used to have a gs and that thing handled like a pos and was very impressed when i got into the audi.

but the IS 350 and F, pretty fun to drive....

Get some coilovers and an rs4 rear sway

edit: and stop comparing your b6 a4 to a 60k + car

[mxrz]

R&T tested all four (RS4, M3, IS-F, C63 AMG) and the Lexus came in last place.

[BlackB6]

M3 Sedan.

[tilt]

i saw an M3 2 weeks ago at the Audi GTG it looks like any other 3 series with a body kit and a quad exhasut! nothing special! i'm sre the motor is great but looks wise i'm tired of seeing 1 in 3 cars as a new 3 series!

RS4 looks like any A4 but with a body kit. C63 looks like any C class but with a body kit. ISF looks like any IS but with a body kit..... All of which are very common cars (at least in my area). M3 is the best bang for the buck although the RS4 has the best interior hands down

[HeHateMe]

RS4 looks like any A4 but with a body kit. C63 looks like any C class but with a body kit. ISF looks like any IS but with a body kit..... All of which are very common cars (at least in my area). M3 is the best bang for the buck although the RS4 has the best interior hands down

Except for maybe the rs4 , I'd rather have one of these

[converted2audi]

i havent driven any of these cars, however at the auto show i was really disappointed with the IS F interior.....it looked really cheap to me

[AudiA4Turbo22]

true they all look like they have body kits, but my point is if u see a C63 in ur rearview mirror u know it's a C63! there was a M3 and a 1 series hatchback being tested near my home for the past 2 years and they didn't look any different to me! an RS4 looks like an RS4 u can tell the difference, 3 of us guys were staring at this M3 from the front and we all agreed it was a Sport 335i, little did we know when he revved the engine it was a V8! we drove a 335 then right after a G37, and i prefered the G37 over the 335! i don't know i just don't like the 335's interor it is too plain! and the fact that the exhasut tips are fake on an ISF is rediculous!

[ArcticBoost]

I personally think the IS-F is gorgeous. I'd definitely consider it if I were in the ~60,000 price range.

That said, you certainly can't compare that to our ~30,000 Audi's.

[AudiAdi]

I must say that the IS-F looks fugly in pictures. But then one came up right beside me at a red light and it looked really good for some reason . Not a photogenic car for sure.

[budfox]

like i said , im not comparing the isf to the A4 , but rather the 250 to the a4. the 250 had SURPRISINGLY great handling. I still like the feel of the audi...

i drove the S5 also, that shit is a beast! Incredible car. It's one of those cars that you get in and feel scared to drive because you don't want to even scratch the thing. Didn't feel that in the ISF.

[AudiA4Turbo22]

IMO LEXUS IS trying too hard! the F stands for FAIL! lol j/k!

[Mike Rotch]

I Like German & Jap Cars Equally But It Goes In This Order...M3, C63, RS4,ISF...I Test Drove All 4 Also And The M3 Defintely Takes The Cake....The C63 Sounds Like a Beast, Hate the Way It Looks....The M3's Handling Is Great Though As Well As the ISF's...As Far As Looks, The RS4 Wins Hands Down...The Others Ext. Are Decent....I Think MB & BMW Are Going In The Wrong Direction Design.....Anyway It Really Comes Down To Preference..

[redline_redline]

true they all look like they have body kits, but my point is if u see a C63 in ur rearview mirror u know it's a C63! there was a M3 and a 1 series hatchback being tested near my home for the past 2 years and they didn't look any different to me! an RS4 looks like an RS4 u can tell the difference, 3 of us guys were staring at this M3 from the front and we all agreed it was a Sport 335i, little did we know when he revved the engine it was a V8! we drove a 335 then right after a G37, and i prefered the G37 over the 335! i don't know i just don't like the 335's interor it is too plain! and the fact that the exhasut tips are fake on an ISF is rediculous!

these are the dumbest comments i have ever heard. every car company's cars all look alike and most people who arent car enthusiasts cant tell any apart. BUT if there was a car they can tell it would be an M3. I bet you if you pull 10 ppl off the street they will have no clue which is an S4 or RS4. i cant even read this thread anymore cause of all these ignorant and bias comments (not saying I like the IS-F, but I havent seen it in person or driven it, so i have no say in it)

anyway, i dont think

[AWDTurboLuvr]

true they all look like they have body kits, but my point is if u see a C63 in ur rearview mirror u know it's a C63! there was a M3 and a 1 series hatchback being tested near my home for the past 2 years and they didn't look any different to me! an RS4 looks like an RS4 u can tell the difference, 3 of us guys were staring at this M3 from the front and we all agreed it was a Sport 335i, little did we know when he revved the engine it was a V8! we drove a 335 then right after a G37, and i prefered the G37 over the 335! i don't know i just don't like the 335's interor it is too plain! and the fact that the exhasut tips are fake on an ISF is rediculous!

What? Couldn't tell a difference between M3 and a 1-series (hatchback of all things)? C'mon...M3, hood bulge down the centre...larger air vents in the front dam. Not hard to spot for a car guy. Yeah, the fake tips on the IS-F is kinda silly, but not a deal breaker. Car looks great in person and sounds pretty amazing. Besides, I'd put an aftermarket exhaust system in there anyways.

[47Ronin]

Dude the IS-F looks WHACK

[A4TL]

IS-F is whack slow and lame compared to 135i. remember 135i is equivalent to 2009 335 but sexier inside (old E46 dash feeling - cockpit not cockout).

and with factory dinan full warranty chip you've 300ft/lb from 1400 to 6800 and a big heap more on top of that peaking at 400whp at like 6200 rpm. its awesome you don't need a stall (automatic) to even launch just brake stand it to 1400rpm and the turbos are at full boost and go. (you guys all know auto's with sport tuned traction control that let you get a little scratch is faster than manual due to torque converter ability to do STR (torque multiplication)) anyhoo.

the 2007/2008 335i are nice but feel like the audi's old cavernous interior.

Now sit your butt down in an A5 that is the one interior to rule them all.

It's not drivers seat - armrest - passenger seat

its left cockpit and right cockpit. f'ing amazing design beats anything the bmw has for interior hands down FTW!!!

the sad part was the 230bhp motor (versus a 300-400 or more twin turbo that we love to tune up the bizzoost) and the lack of cars resulting is super high lease rates.

here's the scenario on 135i since it is truly the G37 competitor:

G37 is smaller in all interior dimensions than 135i (and the 135i is wee bit smaller than the old E46 coupe).
G37 is about $120/month less to lease due to the fact they have big incentive to move them and the allocation for 135i is full through july already. (remember a 135i can easily be 40K car say if you ditch nav and get leatherette)
G37 has poorer 48 month lease rates; the bmw has BETTER 48 than 36 month rates
do you get free onstar for 48 months with infiniti? Do you get free mobile mechanic? Free service once every blue moon 15K iirc on bmw? Pay just for tires during that 48 month period?

I test drove one and like all other jap cars the interior is compromised. go google the comparison. It's cheap plastic looking. It feels it. and well for $450/month versus $589 on a lease dude come the f' on this is like the old supra motor twin turbo inline 6? who are we kidding. They are knocking on 11's doors and its got enough mojo to hold a WRX STI and EVO 10 MR on a race track (maybe not win but within 3s with an automatic no less lol).

If you can't afford to pay for exclusivity of the bmw; that's cool. Audi's are just as expensive nowadays and just as exclusive; try getting an S5 lol. stand in line and pay MSRP and then some. same with the A5 - exclusive for damn sure

Okay my kraut rant off. I wish the G37 was comparable. I'd save $150 a month on the lease i'm going to do but the 135i is a beast. an E92 M3 slayer. A Vette slayer. A EVO 10 MR slayer, WRX STI slayer, G37 Slayer, and moddable. 400whp with oil cooler and chip? What about better fmic and exhaust? Cat delete? race gas?

It's very rare a car like the supra comes along. This is it right now; but classy instead of assy.

call me a fanboi. my audi a4 with 104K miles out handles this car but you can guess it could never touch the powerband. Even if i spent $25G on twin turbo kit for 1.8T variable geometry stage 6 with bore to 2.1litre i'd still have a narrow peaky powerband.

go drive the 135i man. I asked to have it overnight on a weekday (least busy day), sure no problem :) heh muahaha while you are there ask the G37 folks for the same thing they will do it; then go get in the cars with your buddy and take it up to a road race track ; drag strip or the mountains.

You'll have a whole nother meaning for IS-F is whack. whack lame compared to the 1. Whack lame G37 compared to 135i.

[budfox]

the 135i is whack. Ugggggggly. too small . looks like someones in that car because they cant afford any other bmw. the back is horrendous! looks like that old hatchback bimmer used to have.

i don't get it.

maybe driving it would change my mind but it just looks too wannabe for me.

[mxrz]

looks like that old hatchback bimmer used to have.

That's what this is, a modern version of the cheapo 318ti except it isn't cheap at all.

[47Ronin]

was the 1 series meant to compete with the audi TT?

[|FYASKO|]

+1 on the fugly 1 series what the hell is that bs

[47Ronin]

the 135 is not fugly ----- it looks nicer in person