[SuperFreak]

1) The ipod interface, needs an adapter that allows the touch screen to display song/track info as well as charge the ipod on the run. It is now available at your Lexus dealer, but be prepared to lose satellite radio as they use the same jack on the back of the head unit. If you don't get the adaptor you will not get the controls on the touch screen or the song info either.

2) This car is a great track car in my opinion, and you will want to get it on the track to fully enjoy what it is capable of.

3) If you are considering the DSG than you will like the tranny in this car. It is direct and fast shifting, with shifts in 0.1 of a second in the sport/manual mode. This car has changed my mind about automatic trannys.

4) You pay for maintenance no matter what. It just depends on whether you want to pay for it in the price of the car up-front, or a little at a time when you need it. Nobody does maintenance for free, but the more time that you are enjoying the car and not a loaner, will more than pay for itself.

I hope that this helps.

 

[SuperFreak]

I spent 3 days with it at the road course at Las Vegas Raceway with pro drivers. I had a blast and was very impressed, as were the drivers that I spoke with. This was the first car launch that many had experienced from a manufacturer that the car didn't experience any "teething" problems on the track when driven hard.

The brakes never faded in the cars that I drove, and you can expect a bit of understeer at the limit, but it is a better package than I expected. I really expected the normal slushy, scaled-back "Lexus-like" approach, which takes no risks, but I was pleasantly surprised. I was one of the few who actually wanted as much time in the car as possible, because it was so much fun and the mid-range punch that the 5-liter has, is a blast.

The transmission is what impressed me the most after driving the IS350 which is sooo slow to shift. The shifts were almost instant in the IS-F, and no heel and toe downshifting to prevent rear lockup is a plus, as I haven't mastered that yet.

I also had a chance to ride a hot lap with one of the pros with the safety aids disabled and the car is absolutley crazy good when driven at the limit, by sombody with experience.