Did It Make The Grade? IS-F Long-Term Road Test

This car is definitely a shift for lexus but still fails to standout amongst its competitors!

You basically didn't have anything to say.....WTH

revised....

This car is definitely a shift in the right direction for Lexus and stands out as a true competitor although it didn't quite win over the market

"This car is definitely a shift for lexus but still fails to standout amongst its competitors!"

says the euro-only fan...

I see your feelings all through out the comment so I'll just put you in the "don't pay attention" box.....null and void.

Learn to give credit where it's due and stop acting like a spoiled little infant.

The car is ugly.

Wasn't this car supposed to be an M3 killer?

"it will bob like an apple over a seemingly good freeway."

- That doesn't sound like they were trying to imply that the road was bad. They are saying that ths IS-F's suspension is bad. Reality is hard to accept sometimes.

"It is better than M3 in everyway"

Riiiiiiiight...

Two screw-ups of note:

1- Car and Driver created an overall favorable review of a Lexus

2- 009 posted an article that didn't crap all over the car

From the article:

"Because the IS F sits so low to the road and its big wheels leave little space between fender and tire, there is very little suspension travel available, and the resulting tune is firm. The car bucks and heaves and never settles down; it will bob like an apple over a seemingly good freeway. Nonetheless, Lexus claims its sophisticated sport-tuned suspension offers improved body control without degrading ride quality. We disagree. One of our number with deep technical credentials noted astutely: “Lexus really needs a good suspension consultant to fix this car.” Indeed."

Badgewhore, are you really saying the M3 handling isn't sporty?

Take the V8 out of the IS-F and you will have an IS-350 with a wide-body kit. People who are serious about driving prefer the BMW. Not only does the BMW kick the Lexuses ass around the racetrack. The BMW beats it while offering a more comfortable ride. Which is something that Lexus has yet to figure out. Give me the BMW anyday.

Badgewhore

If what you're saying is true, why does the M3 beat the IS-F on the track every time?!

I have to agree with the suspension comment. Even the Evo X MR feels vastly more sophisticated and refined as far as chassis tuning.

Badgewhore,

The EVO X isn't harsh riding. Or at least the MR doesn't ride harsh. I own a evo x mr and it is far from harsh. It rides about the same as my old sports-suspension equiped 2001 BMW 330i.

"The unchanged performance is no surprise. Near the end of our 40,000 miles, the logbook received entries commenting on how well the car had held up. “Feels just the way it did when we got it 13 months ago.” Unlike the Lexus, our long-term M3 has loosened up, particularly its M DCT dual-clutch transmission; a critical observer might even call it tired."

As usual the German cars fall apart quickly as time goes on. They may look good in a new car review but they are never meant to last for more than a year. Lexus cars on the other hand are built to last for a life time.

An old lexus looks like an old toyota. Warped body panels, body panel seems expand, faded paint. while the BMW's still look tight. Don't even get me started on the lexus IS-F's interior which have the cheap corolla power window switches and the radio from the Camry. Not acceptable for a car that cost $60k.

I meant "seams", not "seems". I should have paid more attention in school :-(

Why didn't the 2009 model IS-F come with an LSD?

It was stupid for lexus to not include an LSD in such a powerful car. They got it wrong by not equipping the 09 model with an LSD so now they are correctin it. Who knows what else Lexus forgot? BMW was smart enough to equip the M3 with an LSD from day one. Why didn't Lexus?

"As usual the German cars fall apart quickly as time goes on. They may look good in a new car review but they are never meant to last for more than a year. Lexus cars on the other hand are built to last for a life time."


Bullshit. These stupid generalizations based on what a review says really means nothing. So what if the M3 had some transmission problems? Maybe the car was pushed harder over those 40,000 miles than the IS-F? A long term road test can only tell you something about a specific individual car, not an entire fleet or the brand.

Oh, and I have owned several German cars and I've never had any major problems with them. None.

Lots of what if's and maybe's but the hard facts presented by the tests are still there.

This is what a long-term test is what about (versus a new car review)--to see how a car holds up over time. Both cars underwent the same abusive performance tests by the same crazy C&D drivers. The Lexus is as good as new after a year, while the BMW feels already "tired". The test simply confirms what all of us (who are not blind) already knew about the two makes from other studies. BMW sacrifices quality to eke out performance. Lexus makes sure that quality and durability comes first no matter what they do.

This is what a long-term test is all about*

you should have paid more attention in school, then you'd know that BMW offers things it can't live up to. It's all hype. If the first BMW M3 were like this everyone would jump out of their shoes in happiness. But Lexus makes this and no one takes it seriously. Try the new 2010 model with the LSD and the newer upgrades. It won't push above 60K either, unlike the M3 where you pay extra money for the stupid brand name. upwards around 65 to 70K for a loaded M3 with the same features as the stock IS-F.

Freshseth83,

Why didn't the 2009 model IS-F come with an LSD?

It was stupid for lexus to not include an LSD in such a powerful car. They got it wrong by not equipping the 09 model with an LSD so now they are correctin it. Who knows what else Lexus forgot? BMW was smart enough to equip the M3 with an LSD from day one. Why didn't Lexus?

BMW not equipping the 335 with an oil cooler doesn't excuse Lexus for not giving the IS-F an LSD. I thought Lexus was better than that? I guess not. It's Ok that the IS-F isn't as good as an M3. As always, Lexus falls shy of the mark. That may be hard for Lexus fans to accept but facts are facts. Lexus consistantly falls short of the mark.

Infiniti builds
better sports sedans than lexus. Maybe that's who Lexus should go after. Because god knows that Lexus cannot build a sports sedan as good as the BMW M3.

look here at what wiki say "In November 2008, the Lexus IS F was named Best New Sports / Performance Car over CDN$50,000 for the year by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), beating out the rival BMW M3 and Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG in track test evaluation.[38] In October 2008, the IS F received a Good Design Award from the Japanese Industrial Design organization.[39] In 2008, Evo's test of the IS F awarded the vehicle the magazine's highest rating of five stars.[40] That same year, CAR magazine named the IS F as a finalist for its Performance Car of the Year award" this was in 08, that car hasn't changed until now, the 2010 model with the LSD. It wasn't even supposed to be. The IS F was made by a few people, wasn't hardly backed by Lexus and wasn't even smiled upon by the parent company. Now that they sell just as much as the M3 they are continuing on with it. You gotta start somewhere.

"a car that changes its segment or signals a radical shift in its maker’s attitude"

How does it do that? it brought nothing new, but an eight speed trans, to the market.

The Lexus fanboys are confused. Does the IS-F compete with the M3? Yes. But does it beat it? I still haven't seen or read or even heard about anyone who says so. Not only does the M3 handle better around a track, but it also is more friendly to drive everyday.

it was a solid first attempt at an enthusiast's car for lexus. if they can fix the ride so that it can be driven daily, i'm sure it would help sales.

this line from the article pretty much sums it up though... "It’s a Lexus with true enthusiast credentials. This is roughly equivalent to saying it’s a granny who writes in regularly to Penthouse Forum."

Have any of you driven or actually own these cars? The ISF, having only driven my friend's, is a good car but does nothing great. I can only go by the reviews regarding the current M3, but everyone with something to say always picks the M# even with a "good first effort" from Lexus. The 8-speed tranny does seem to perform well and it never seemed to hunt for the right gear.

good 1st try, but lol @ anyone who thinks this is an m3 killer...

the g37 is poor man's 335i. basically with a g37 u get 95% of a 335i for 85% of its price so for those who look at value, it makes sense.

the ratio is far worse for this car imho. you get more like 80% of an m3 for 90% the price. not to mention its fugly as hell. basically this is the lexus fan's (what an oxymoron) m3.

only lexus can take a goodlooking car (the IS) and make it a ugly from the factory. its too tacky to be oem imho.

it's tacky, agreed. but it was not "done on purpose to piss the snobs off." lexus actually thinks this is good design. sad.

Even though the M3 has less torque than the IS-F, the M3 feels stronger down low

my goodness !!! what the hell is wrong with all you guys ??? i love bmw, and literally just drove the IS-F 1 hour ago. how can you say all this bad crap about a car which im positive most of you have never driven ?
i know the bmw m3 is better than the isf, but ill be honest with you, i was very impressed with the lexus.
amazing acceleration and very good handling.... the m3 is just as amazing with acceleration... but only slightly better in handling...

bmw m3 dct coupe 0.93 skid pad 71.1 slalom
bmw m3 sedan 0.95 skidpad 72.9 slalom
lexus is-f 0.93 skidpad 70.9 slalom

btw for the same money, ill take the m3......... for a great deal..... i wouldnt mind the is-f...

im sure if most of you had to pay 1000 a month to lease an M3 or 700 for the is-F you would " settle " for the is-f

Hey, uh, 009---how are you claiming to have "uncovered probably the first real long term road test of an IS-F"? I was reading this article in C&D while sitting on the crapper long before you posted it here, so can I claim to have actually "uncovered" it? Also, are you really "uncovering" something that someone publishes in a magazine intended for mass distribution? The sheer amount of unwarranted self-promotion on this site at times is the very reason it's often hard to take you guys seriously as a valid source for automotive news.