Road Tests 2008 Lexus IS 250 F Sport

Actually, it IS offered on the IS 350 (transmission...idk about that) although I would agree that the IS 250 F Sport does sound a bit silly. The least Lexus could have done was to provide a different hood to accommodate extensive engine upgrades - preferably from Lexus themselves such as those complicated tuning Yamaha made in the IS F.

If you read you would see it IS available on the IS 350. Lexus just supplied an IS 250 it seems.

Also if you read the review you would see that they really like the performance, it just is slow. In summary he said to buy a used IS 350 and slap F-sport parts on.

We should all appreciate factory tuned parts from any carmaker.

$47k for the as-tested IS250 with upgrades!?! You have got to be kidding me. For that price, you could have a nicely optioned 335i or a G37 (with a couple of grand left over).

7.5 seconds to 60mph for a "sport sedan" is embarassing as well. IS350 would make more sense for these upgrades, but then it only comes with the automatic.

I'll pass. And I think most consumers will as well.

But no manual, so no thanks.

they need to get rid of the 250 and use the 3.0 liter they used to have on the IS300. i mean, they kept that engine in non-north american markets, so why not bring it over here?

As the years have come and gone and autospies.com has changed and evolved, it's nice to know that the same narrow-minded/ignorant/euro-only fanboys are still around.

Yeah? Please elaborate. I think all of the posts in this particular topic have been pretty objective. I have driven the IS250 and found it to be slow (almost struggling) and uninspiring. The IS350 has it all, except a manual transmission. Lexus seems to read the market wrong in many situations by offering this appealing package on the frankly bland IS250 when the IS350 could become a real threat to the G37 and 335i with a manual transmission. In Europe, the IS220d wasn't even available with an automatic transmission (all its rivals offered one as an option). Things like this, little mistakes, can kill an entire car for a particular target market. I can tell you this much: a true enthusiast, a purist, would go for a 6-speed 335i or G37 anyday over an automatic IS350. Heck, the might even prefer a manual Camry or Accord over an IS350. For these people, a manual transmission makes the difference.

I've driven the 250 with the manual. Can concur that it's gutless. They should make a 3.0 the base engine.

We should make a mockery of anyone who buys a is250f.

Except, at least in the US, you can't get an M pack on any of the "no dash" BMWs. As far as I know it's available on the 2009 3 Series and the 550i. You would be surprised at how satisfying the 328i is to drive--we got one today as a loaner for the X5's checkup, and I have really enjoyed it. I was surprised, to be honest. I thought it would be much slower.

Not everyone wants speed. The vast majority of 3/A4/C class sold are 4 cylinders in Europe and the smaller 6's here.

another lame product from lexus. arent lexus suppose to step away from the whole toyota platform sharing? it's a prius in disguise!!!!. who wants to pay a luxury price for a lowly toyota!. i aint putting them down but for real make your own platforms. lexus is going back to its roots.. making rebadged vehicles.

HA!!! AGAIN!!! Just as I advised a few months back. When they asked what would you do as Lexus Chief, I said to make the F-performance package standard across the IS and GS platforms. I predicted this and the lower displacement LS350 in the works - that's 2 for 2 for me. BRILLIANT.