took one out for a test drive yesterday, the guy kept telling me "i dont want the lexus" blah blah blah, the m3 is infact much slower feeling then the isf at lower end. high end i still think we got it! we'll have to see once theres more 3's and f's on the road all together

The main difference is that a Lexus will drive forever if they're taken care of.A beamer is very expensive to maintain and will break down after 4 years.Plus a Lexus has more luxury than the plain ugly cockpit of a beamer.

I've only seen one v8 M3 in the city so far. Looks like it was being delivered to a dealership in NJ. I am happy with my purchase but I look forward to running against the new M3. On another note, this C63 wanted to see what my "F" had to offer but I really wasn't in the mode. I was expecting the C63 to be a bit faster off the line.

I've "played" with a few M3's around, and I love to see their face when the IS-F just pulls on them and then when I am slowing down, I always make sure I blip it down ;)

One of my friends has a ZO6 Vette 6spd and he was able to stay with me by the nose of his car side by side.Plus the car is about 800lbs lighter.No BMW's yet, a few WRX'S and EVO'S have been looking though.You can tell they dont know what to expect because they know it's a beast.They just stare or give a thumbs up! My baby's garaged-just a weekend or one day a week ride so I dont beat it up.

One of my friends has a ZO6 Vette 6spd and he was able to stay with me by the nose of his car side by side.Plus the car is about 800lbs lighter.No BMW's yet, a few WRX'S and EVO'S have been looking though.You can tell they dont know what to expect because they know it's a beast.They just stare or give a thumbs up! My baby's garaged-just a weekend or one day a week ride so I dont beat it up.

No offense, but I own both an IS-F and a C6 Z06, and my Z06 is so much faster that it literally runs away from my IS-F... the IS-F is a sweet & quick daily driver, but let's be real. Frankly the IS-F actually feels kinda slow to me.

The main difference is that a Lexus will drive forever if they're taken care of.A beamer is very expensive to maintain and will break down after 4 years.Plus a Lexus has more luxury than the plain ugly cockpit of a beamer.

I would completely agree. I do like the look of the new M3, but the interior just doesn't do it for me or ever has! Lexus has does a great job to give the ISF a "mordern look" to the cockpit.

"No offense, but I own both an IS-F and a C6 Z06, and my Z06 is so much faster that it literally runs away from my IS-F... the IS-F is a sweet & quick daily driver, but let's be real. Frankly the IS-F actually feels kinda slow to me."

Well, I'm sorry for your "F" because maybe you dont know how to handle it properly! When your at a light put it on sport mode,in manual drive,with one foot on the brake and another on the gas pedal and punch it !!! Then see where your Z06 will be!!

No offense, but I own both an IS-F and a C6 Z06, and my Z06 is so much faster that it literally runs away from my IS-F... the IS-F is a sweet & quick daily driver, but let's be real. Frankly the IS-F actually feels kinda slow to me.

Hmmm.....Glad to see I'm not the only one who feels like the IS-F ought to feel faster than it does. Seat of the Pants (SOP) impressions are not exactly accurate representations of how fast a car is accelerating but my SOP appraisal is that there is not the explosive, head slammed into the headrest sensation that one might expect from 416 horses.

Perhaps the car is so smooth that brutal actual acceleration feels diminished. Perhaps the car is too heavy. Perhaps I'm afraid of changing my tires every 6 months and do not hit the brake and accelerator simultaneously before launch. Clearly, more study on my part is required.....if only people will get the Hell off of my roads!

"No offense, but I own both an IS-F and a C6 Z06, and my Z06 is so much faster that it literally runs away from my IS-F... the IS-F is a sweet & quick daily driver, but let's be real. Frankly the IS-F actually feels kinda slow to me."

Well, I'm sorry for your "F" because maybe you dont know how to handle it properly! When your at a light put it on sport mode,in manual drive,with one foot on the brake and another on the gas pedal and punch it !!! Then see where your Z06 will be!!

I think you've been smokin too much of your own stuff... frankly I'll see next time I take it to the track which one is truly quicker... there really is no basis to your statement though, as there is nothing to do to "handle" an IS-F. It's a plainly simple car to drive fast, where as the Z06 is much harder to control as it can easily have too much wheelspin & slow the launch. I have several cars that I track & occasionally act as driving instructor for some car clubs, so I'm sure you must be a much better driver with your IS-F...

Please, just stop dreaming... the Z06's can run high 10's in the quarter, and the best time for IS-F's is high 12's. Like I said, the IS-F is a sweet ride & it is fast, but it's not _that_ fast. I suppose you think it can beat a 599 too? Maybe your buddy needs to learn how to drive his Z06 if he couldn't beat you by much... Your opinions can't change facts or the laws of physics. Let's see, a lower HP/Torque car that's heavier, with smaller tires, can beat a car with much better HP/Weight ratio & has been proven quicker many times... hmm.

" It's a plainly simple car to drive fast, where as the Z06 is much harder to control as it can easily have too much wheelspin & slow the launch."

EXACTLY, that's the point!! I'm not going around a track or even the 1/4 mile, I said we raced(on the street) and yes I got a better jump on him and was able to keep my lead.Now IF we did race on a 1/4 mile for sure the vette would win!!, but this was my friend and I on a street.I also used 99 octane which helps the car run a little better.I'M STATING FACTS NOT PHYSICS!!

I am anxiously awaiting the TRD supercharger. Once installed, my F with 625 +/- hp and with the right tires should give any Corvette (including the ZR-1) a run for their money.

" It's a plainly simple car to drive fast, where as the Z06 is much harder to control as it can easily have too much wheelspin & slow the launch."

EXACTLY, that's the point!! I'm not going around a track or even the 1/4 mile, I said we raced(on the street) and yes I got a better jump on him and was able to keep my lead.Now IF we did race on a 1/4 mile for sure the vette would win!!, but this was my friend and I on a street.I also used 99 octane which helps the car run a little better.I'M STATING FACTS NOT PHYSICS!!

So now some more data to the story comes out... you never said you got a jump on him the 1st time. At least that makes more sense, but if he knew how to drive & launched anytime close to your launch he should have caught up & passed you if you ran it for more than a block. He probably saw you get a jump on him & over reacted, got too much tire spin, then when he finally hooked it took him longer to catch up. And the laws of physics are what governs how any car goes, so you can't really have one without the other. But that's also why I don't place much credit in street blasts, as it's tough to know how it really goes down. Many times it does turn into the luck of the draw & who goes first. Somewhere near me there's probably some punk kid in a Corolla that thinks he's as fast as my Z06, since he was trying to pass me and I just gave it just enough gas so he couldn't, but not enough to pull ahead of him. Other times I just hit the gas for about 3-5 seconds and I'm so far into the "arrest me now" zone that I lift & brake... then the other guy goes flying by a few seconds later. Does that mean he's faster too? Cause he can pass me after I'm slowing down after I put 5-10 car lengths on him?

I am anxiously awaiting the TRD supercharger. Once installed, my F with 625 +/- hp and with the right tires should give any Corvette (including the ZR-1) a run for their money.

I'm sure that will be one h**l of a kit! On the street that should give anything a run for the money. But on the track or any kind of sustained use, where you open it up for a little while I don't think it will be as fast as you think, or as fast as the ZR1. Remember that thing is conservatively rated at 638HP and 604LB/FT of torque and is approx 600+lbs lighter than your IS-F will be with a s/c. Physics still applies here too, and A=F/M, so his greater force & less mass wins. It also has larger tires for better traction. The only real chance you'll have is to catch him in the wrong gear since the IS-F auto will downshift reasonably quickly.

Also, even if the TRD kit makes 625HP (which would take around 8-10lbs of boost), how long do you think the cast pistons of an 11.8:1 engine like the 2UR-GSE in the IS-F will handle that? Everything I've seen says the pistons are cast, so you really can't push it too much with boost. That kind of peak power will have to be short lived. They will have to pull it back to keep the engine & the rest of the drivetrain alive. But I'm sure it will make for fun street blasts!

Don't think I'm slamming the IS-F... heck, we just added one to our small fleet of cars, I just want to keep it real with the claims. The IS-F is a very fast & cool ride just as it rolls off the showroom floor. The simple fact that it's a toss up as to whether an M3 or IS-F will win at most any given track event is a great compliment to Lexus, especially for a first effort. There's no need to do more brow beating to hype how fast it is. Someone else will always build a faster, cooler car next week, so just enjoy the ride!

So now some more data to the story comes out... you never said you got a jump on him the 1st time.

I didn't think I had to tell the whole DETAIL to the story but let me explain to Mr. Bowtie.My friend
has a 2004 Z06 with a 405hp engine.I did say we were side by side and I was ahead by the nose of his car had we gone any further he would've gone right past me EASY! The second light was our marker and it was at night on a side street.I could understand the confusion but I'm not here to write paragraphs maybe next time I will explain FULL detail to get the story straight!

Also, even if the TRD kit makes 625HP (which would take around 8-10lbs of boost), how long do you think the cast pistons of an 11.8:1 engine like the 2UR-GSE in the IS-F will handle that?

First of all,TRD would not put something in that would damage the car!It would have to last just as long as the vehicle's warranty and thensome.
Second of all, the pistons are made much lighter and stronger than any of the other IS'S including the IS300 which has the famous engine in it borrowed from the Supra.Maybe you should attend a training class from Lexus on how this car is built, they will explain everything to you and I'm sure you have more knowledge about this car.I work for Lexus and attended these classes and was amazed myself at how much detail was put into making this car, alot of parts are made of Titanium and aluminum and are built to last!

I checked with the service department at my Lexus dealer. They said that if/when TRD develops the supercharger for the IS-F and it is dealer installed, the warantee will not be impacted.

The early numbers I had seen on the ZR-1 was in the 550 - 600 hp range, and yes, I understand the power to weight impacts. Still, it would be fun to see the shock on the ZR-1 driver's face if a docile looking street car (the IS-F) stayed even close to him.

"Seat of the Pants (SOP) impressions are not exactly accurate representations of how fast a car is accelerating but my SOP appraisal is that there is not the explosive, head slammed into the headrest sensation that one might expect from 416 horses."

I just wanted to point out that torque not horsepower is what you feel and what slams your head into the headrest. Sorry, I just had to throw that in.

Couple things: No way in hell that a new stock Z06 is running in the tens I don't care what tires are being used. Find a slip from the drag strip and i will be the first to eat my crow; Low 11's are the best and that is flat out awesome. IS-F is a sedan with an automatic transmission so the fact that the two are being compared is inane. A new C6 however is on paper running the exact 1/4 mile times and one tenth slower 0-60 according to road and track June issue despite a 600 lbs weight advantage. I've seen C6's launch and they spin hard so it's pretty much a drivers race.

Also, in regard to the TRD kit...there is no way the stock automatic transmission could handle that much power to the wheels and would have to be strengthened/modified. Just my two cents!

Also, in regard to the TRD kit...there is no way the stock automatic transmission could handle that much power to the wheels and would have to be strengthened/modified. Just my two cents!

Well from what I hear there is a kit coming,and this transmission is built for speed that's why they installed it with a tuned engine instead of any other tranny.Lets keep our fingers crossed!!!!

Yeah...about the M3, I don't want to get into the BMW vs. Lexus fight (Im with Lexus) because both cars are amazing. But I will step forward and say that they styling and luxury features of the IS-F are significantly better than any BMW interior I've seen thus far. But heck, I would take either car as they are both made for serious driving, I would just prefer the Lexus.

Also, even if the TRD kit makes 625HP (which would take around 8-10lbs of boost), how long do you think the cast pistons of an 11.8:1 engine like the 2UR-GSE in the IS-F will handle that?

First of all,TRD would not put something in that would damage the car!It would have to last just as long as the vehicle's warranty and thensome.
Second of all, the pistons are made much lighter and stronger than any of the other IS'S including the IS300 which has the famous engine in it borrowed from the Supra.Maybe you should attend a training class from Lexus on how this car is built, they will explain everything to you and I'm sure you have more knowledge about this car.I work for Lexus and attended these classes and was amazed myself at how much detail was put into making this car, alot of parts are made of Titanium and aluminum and are built to last!

Maybe you should take a few engineering classes & build a few race engines like I have & you'll see how long a cast aluminum piston lasts in a forced induction application... especially when pushed enough to make a "target" 625hp when starting with 11.8:1 CR like the other poster said.

And yes, I've seen the titanium intake valves & forged crank & rods. Nice...

So now some more data to the story comes out... you never said you got a jump on him the 1st time.

I didn't think I had to tell the whole DETAIL to the story but let me explain to Mr. Bowtie.My friend
has a 2004 Z06 with a 405hp engine.I did say we were side by side and I was ahead by the nose of his car had we gone any further he would've gone right past me EASY! The second light was our marker and it was at night on a side street.I could understand the confusion but I'm not here to write paragraphs maybe next time I will explain FULL detail to get the story straight!

Maybe you should also learn to read, as I clearly said C6 Z06 in my first post. Since we were all talking new cars, it would have been assumed by most you were talking about the C6 Z06. If you're talking the C5 Z06 which you didn't mention until now, that's a very different beast. I have no trouble passing them in my C6 on the track.

Only C6 Z06's I can't pass on the track are the modded one's with 600-660+ HP! Which BTW only takes a cat back exhaust, cam & tune.

Couple things: No way in hell that a new stock Z06 is running in the tens I don't care what tires are being used. Find a slip from the drag strip and i will be the first to eat my crow; Low 11's are the best and that is flat out awesome. IS-F is a sedan with an automatic transmission so the fact that the two are being compared is inane. A new C6 however is on paper running the exact 1/4 mile times and one tenth slower 0-60 according to road and track June issue despite a 600 lbs weight advantage. I've seen C6's launch and they spin hard so it's pretty much a drivers race.

Also, in regard to the TRD kit...there is no way the stock automatic transmission could handle that much power to the wheels and would have to be strengthened/modified. Just my two cents!

How much crow would you like to eat? I can have a buddy scan & send a couple time slips in the high 10's BONE STOCK... the driver just has to know how to DRIVE a powerful car. 11's are much more common as you noted, which is still awesome for a stock car thats can be had for $70-80k.

I also agree that comparing these 2 cars is insane, and that was the reason for my original post. The other party claimed the IS-F was basically faster than god, and though it's fast I had to call him out as it sounded like another person with limited experience claiming the unreal was possible.

I absolutely agree that a regular C6 against an IS-F would be a drivers race as it's easier to control the IS-F, where the Vettes can get heavy spin if not launched correctly.

after doing some heavy research, I found a time slip of a stock Z06 with slicks running a record 10.9...only to have hundreds of claims demanding that the time and track is rigged and fabricated (mostly Viper fans I'm guessing).

Look, if anyone wanted to go out and get a car that is fast in a straight line it would not be that difficult. I have owned an STI Audi (B6) RS4, S4 (B7) and an a dinan tuned M3 (e46) all well built cars that did me right....my STI with an ecutek reflash and turboback exhaust was flat out scarry 0-60; but the IS-F is a balance of all those cars and that is why I pay a grand a month to own one. Under 3,000 rpm's the car drives like a cadillac....drop the hammer er paddle and the car comes to life and pulls very hard before dropping off sharply something i hope some software down the line can fix. I think this yamaha/skunk built motor has a lot more left and has been tuned down like so many cars built today.

I think we have spent way too much time talking about GM cars in here....given the fact they haven't been profitable in 10 years!!!!:(
but damn they can make a great fiberglass car go fast in a straight line...just don't go blind by the middle aged hairy chested, bald headed douche bag driving it!

Oh and I guess a fabricated doctored up time slip will have to do.....crow eaten successfully.

I think I will get on micro word tonight and make my lexus run 11.9's

Hey, I object (tongue in cheek). I am one of those old bald headed guys but chose the IS-F over the Corvette. Makes more sense to me.

Oh and I guess a fabricated doctored up time slip will have to do.....crow eaten successfully.

I think I will get on micro word tonight and make my lexus run 11.9's

BTW, if you think all the 10 second time slips for Z06's are doctored, then you're even more of a skeptic than I am. I have seen 2 that I'm 99.99% confident in being real. Whether you buy it or not, matters little to me. I was just pointing out the truth that they do exist.

Oh, and there's also plenty of carbon fiber on the Z06, not just fiberglass (which is really not regular fiberglass, but SMC). And let's not forget the aluminum chassis, magnesium sub-frame, titanium rods, valves, etc. ;)

Hey, I object (tongue in cheek). I am one of those old bald headed guys but chose the IS-F over the Corvette. Makes more sense to me.

I agree, the IS-F does work better for a daily driver... that's what we bought the IS-F for. I'll probably track it a few times just for grins & I bet it will do just fine. Then again I also have the other vehicles from Britain, Germany, and Italy in the garage if I want to have fun in other ways. I'm not locked into one brand or country.

Point is, all the blind loyalty to "one brand is best" is silly. They're all cool cars & many do different things well. I readily admit most GM cars suck (as do most American cars) and I wouldn't own the majority of them. The Z06 is one exception (and it does more than go fast in a straight line as a guy in a F430 and another in a GT3 will admit after my last track event). I have no particular "brand loyalty" that blinds me. My next car could be a GT-R, Porsche or Lotus if the car feels right to me & fits the right niche. For a street car that you can take right to the track with minimal prep, I've seen more Z06's run fast, reliably, than anything else. So I bought one. That's all. It is a great car to drive as well, even if it's only to work once in a while.

So does that mean I can't drive a Vette since I'm under 40 and have hair on my head & not my chest???