isF Reliability & Durability?

27642 Views 15 Replies 13 Participants Last post by joekapp, Feb 28, 2014

erlomd

Discussion Starter · Jun 25, 2012 (Edited)

First of all, I would like to say hello since this is my first time posting and just to let you all know that I'm a great admirer of the lexus isF..in design and in engineering.
Now, my question is more focused on how well this car behaves and feels after a good chunk of miles on it. Say...35,000+ miles.
I recently came across an article on car and driver magazine I believe where they compare the Lexus isf and an BMW M3 after dring both for over 30000 miles and they came to a verdict that after a year of driving them in all sorts of conditions, the Lexus felt and drove just as good if not slightly better (I don't know how that is even possible) than the BMW. they compared how the drivetrain just felt tighter and the double clutch transmission on the BMW actually felt as if it were slipping more and that the car overall felt more "used" and "worn" than the Lexus.
I would like to know what some of your experiences have been owning and driving your isF daily and how the whole car has felt like after the high miles.
Does it feel the same? How does the interior hold up? Does the engine run rougher or the tranny feel as quick through the gears? Have their been in any notable suspension or steering issues? How do the brakes feel?
any issues reported on the earlier models? how do the electronics like the radio/nav hold up in the long run?
has anyone had any experience with the factory or extended warranty?

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

Bpower

· #2 · Jun 25, 2012 (Edited)

I have 47k+ miles on mine and the transmission and engine feels the same. I did a dyne run recently and to my surprise put down 370 WHP. Most new ISF's do 350-365 WHP.

Not a huge Fan of navigation as I find it useless 80% of the time. It usually has no street or number of the house in it. I did update it once a year ago. Good thing it works.

Brakes go 15k-20k miles on average and be prepared to pay to get them serviced.

So far so good, no problems.

Things I replaced: floor mats, shift knob, and a steering wheel. Since Lexus has softer leather it tends to wear faster than the one in the BMW. I enjoy looking at the new wheel ( I am kinda crazy like that).

ERDoc74

· #3 · Jun 25, 2012

Bpower;30267 Most new ISF's do 150-165 WHP. [/QUOTE said:
i think you mean 350-365rwhp...

RunninRedline

· #4 · Jun 27, 2012

I've owned my Lexus for about 3 weeks and bought it used and if I never looked at the odometer I would swear up and down it's a new car. It has just over 48K on the clock. The interior is well appointed and has good durability without feeling or looking cheap. The leather is soft and requires a good level of care and upkeep but in a car like this it's a pleasure more than a chore. My only complaint with the F, or any Lexus, is that the paint is very soft. A clear bra isn't a recommendation it's a requirement, if you don't want the front to be plastered with paint chips. All in all, there is no equal to this car in terms of overall score. The M3 might ride better and the C63 might be faster but reliability after 5 years? I wouldn't chance it.

Damo

· #5 · Jun 27, 2012

I've mine 4 months, and I've serviced it and put new pads on it. The front were shot but the rear had around 50% left! The navigation in Ireland is superb and I've driven across Europe and it never lost its way once, or sent me the wrong way. Interior wise, it's super too. Leather is super soft and you have to be carefull. I've torn mine slightly fitting an isofix child seat in the rear to my shame. It's an 08 and has 21k miles done.one complaint, it's wider than you think, and as a result the wheels can be marked on kerbs easily. Love it all the same!

lowrider

· #6 · Jun 27, 2012 (Edited)

ERDoc74 said:
i think you mean 350-365rwhp...

Actually stock is somewhere in the 330s at the rear wheel when done on a DynoJet in sixth gear.

Lou

abyars

· #7 · Jun 29, 2012

Mine is an 08 with 44k. Its just as good as when I bought it at 12k. Its been 155mph twice, Been around a road course at speed and countless times at the dragstrip. Its just as good as when I bought it. The only issue was a headlight bulb was replaced. I read the same article and recently drove a 2011 M3 and was not impressed. My old IS-F is much more car with 44k on it than a new M3 with 4k. No contest. Good luck.
Andy

Bpower

· #8 · Jun 29, 2012

ERDoc74 said:
i think you mean 350-365rwhp...

You are right, I mistyped. My bad.

erlomd

Discussion Starter · #9 · Nov 6, 2012

Would a higher mileage isf be a smart buy? Like something more than 50k miles? I see there's a real huge price drop after 50k miles regardless of the year...does this have anything to do with the extended warranty? I've heard of people with more than 60k miles just doing fine...but then again I can easily get to >65k miles really quick as my commutes are pretty long...Toyota/Lexus reliability is world class...but would it be smart to drop $35k on something that used (and most likely abused) lets face it, someone who buys this car is obviously a car enthusiast...there's not too many stories of an old lady buying a new $70k IS and you happen to just snatch it from her untouched garage with less than 20k miles.

WillRockwell

· #10 · Nov 13, 2012

an ISF with 50K miles should be the most dependable of the options. An M3 with 50K? I don't think so. An Audi or Jaguar with 50K? No way.

anxiouz

· #11 · Dec 2, 2012

I bought my ISF with 50k on the clock (it was well used but an awesome deal) and after 15k miles I haven't had a single expense except oil changes. And mods. ;-)

This car at 65k miles feels better than any new car I've ever owned. It's quality top to bottom.

You can buy a Certified Pre-Owned car from a dealer which gives you some warranty. Or you can (like I did) just buy a third-party extended warranty. I'm covered the same as a Lexus warranty, up to 100k miles and 5 more years. It was around $2k but I know it'll pay for itself at some point given all of the high-tech stuff in the car. Even with that warranty my car was still a steal of a price.

BeachTyme

· #12 · Feb 7, 2013

If you need proof look at all of the IS300's that are still on the road and going strong.

It's a dressed up Toyota for God's sakes (and I say that in a GOOD way).

CUTigers

· #13 · Feb 8, 2013

erlomd said:
...there's not too many stories of an old lady buying a new $70k IS and you happen to just snatch it from her untouched garage with less than 20k miles.

I actually just bought a '08 Obsidian ISF with 4,800 miles on it on monday of this week. An old lady drove it when she was in Atlanta, she and her husband lived in FLA. The interior literally looks show room new. and the exterior is legit also. Im so stoked to have dumped my 335i for this ISF and be Lexus now

dolindo

· #14 · Apr 7, 2013

thanks for all the information guys

WillRockwell

· #15 · Apr 10, 2013

CUTigers said:
I actually just bought a '08 Obsidian ISF with 4,800 miles on it on monday of this week. An old lady drove it when she was in Atlanta, she and her husband lived in FLA. The interior literally looks show room new. and the exterior is legit also. Im so stoked to have dumped my 335i for this ISF and be Lexus now

Welcome to the club. Beemers are a dime a dozen, but everyone looks at the F.

joekapp

· #16 · Feb 28, 2014

just wanted to bring this back cause it's a good thread and this forum seems to not be very active.... It's a toyota V8, they are using designs from toyota in the 5.0 ford mustang now and there's a reason why, because they are well designed. Take the IS300 for example after 130k miles owners say it still drives like new, and the 2J in general. Some would say it's one of the most well designed and built automobile motors of all time, in which I would agree. 1J, AE86 4AGE to rev yourself to the moon... Obviously not every motor is perfect but toyota seems to be one of the leaders in a well designed motor.

with that being said, the above statment is not fact and merely my opinion

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.