Question for real IS-F owners only!!!

3099 Views 5 Replies 4 Participants Last post by Yola, May 20, 2008

Yola

Discussion Starter · May 19, 2008

I would like to ask for several questions:
1) what would you say about handling and steering???
2) what is the ride? what is the quality of a ride? when the road is not greate, what is the ride quality?
3) does the kokpit (pannel) make any bad noise while driving???
thank you!!!
Im from Moscow, Russia, we will have IS-F on September and the price will be $100,000 while the M3 $130-$140,000 because of euro crosscourse! I have a Lexus GS430. I just have to make a choice and order one. I would be greatfull for information!
Thanks

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TAndrews

· #2 · May 19, 2008

1.What are you going to be doing with it? I've raced my IS-F on the track several times and the handling was great, except for a slight understeer, and I'm not that crazy about the tire selection for the car. That being said, for daily driving this thing handles far better than the majority of sedans on the market, the M3 E90 is supposed to handle slightly better, but that is on track conditions.

2.The ride is definitely hard, expecially coming from a GS430, but you have to give up some comfort for the performance handling, especially cornering at high speeds. If you travel a lot on rough roads get an suv, because the C63, M3, and IS-F will all suck equally. This car was definitely designed for performance not comfort, however compared to the M3 and C63 it's supposed be the best.

3.Not sure what you mean about the cockpit making 'bad noises'? I will say I have not had any problems with rattling or other noises you may hear while driving. Also the noise canceling cabin, makes the ride very quiet.

If you ask me to trade my IS-F for a new M3 I wouldn't even consider it eventhough it's selling for $25,000-30,000 over MSRP. Since Lexus is new to this arena it still hasn't developed the hardcore followers that BMW has cultivated over so many years with it's M3 version. It's amazing that with it's very first shot at BMW and Merc, Lexus has come so close to topping a product that's been developed over so many years. I'm definitely looking forward to their next devlopment the LF-A, which I plan on buying as soon as it's available.

Hope this helps.

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pat.ross

· #3 · May 19, 2008

I agree with everything that TAndrews said. I love my F. My wife has a new BMW 335i convertible that she loves, but she equally enjoys driving my F. Of course they are two different types of vehicles but both are high performance. I anxiouly await TRD's development of the supercharger for the F because 417 hp is great but 625 would be awsome. My Lexus dealer said that if they install the TRD supercharger my warantee would be unaffected.

I wait.

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CQE

· #4 · May 19, 2008

1) The handling and steering of this car are benchmark compared to other models. Lexus used the Porsche 911 to set the bar and I feel it has reached it and then some. If you view every article comparisons vs. the M3 and Amg's the F beat them all on the skidpad/slalom courses. When i first drove the car I felt immediately connected to the car's every move. Having driven the M3- i would give the thumbs up to the IS F.

2) As any sports car the ride is not the most comfortable. Most sports cars are designed for speed not comofort.Lexus has given this car the best of both worlds. You will feel the bumps for sure on uneven roads, but on nicely paved roads it glides smooth. The bumps remind you that you are driving an exceptional sports car....it's the price you pay for the handling.

3) Lexus has countermeasured all previous 1st generation interior panel noises...they are drowned out by the wonderful eaxhaust notes and faboulous sounds sytem.

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Yola

Discussion Starter · #5 · May 19, 2008 (Edited)

Thank you very much for your answers... but does it handles better than a common BMW E90 335turbo (not m devision)?! Is the steering sharper than the steering of BMW E90 335 (not m devision)?! Because the only bmw i had was E90 335 so i would like IS-F to be better since F is something special... If IS-F not better but just ass good as E90 335 on all those points, i will buy it without testdrive which we wont have in Moscow btw )))) There was a Top Gear comparison of C6.3 M3 RS4 IS-F, and they were immpressed by the IS-F but they also said that IS-F' steering is empty when the steeringweel is at the stright position, we call it in Russia zero position. And about understeer, im not buying a car for a race track ))) For a hot ride in Moscow City )))

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Yola

Discussion Starter · #6 · May 20, 2008

TAndrews said:
1.What are you going to be doing with it? I've raced my IS-F on the track several times and the handling was great, except for a slight understeer, and I'm not that crazy about the tire selection for the car. That being said, for daily driving this thing handles far better than the majority of sedans on the market, the M3 E90 is supposed to handle slightly better, but that is on track conditions.

2.The ride is definitely hard, expecially coming from a GS430, but you have to give up some comfort for the performance handling, especially cornering at high speeds. If you travel a lot on rough roads get an suv, because the C63, M3, and IS-F will all suck equally. This car was definitely designed for performance not comfort, however compared to the M3 and C63 it's supposed be the best.

3.Not sure what you mean about the cockpit making 'bad noises'? I will say I have not had any problems with rattling or other noises you may hear while driving. Also the noise canceling cabin, makes the ride very quiet.

If you ask me to trade my IS-F for a new M3 I wouldn't even consider it eventhough it's selling for $25,000-30,000 over MSRP. Since Lexus is new to this arena it still hasn't developed the hardcore followers that BMW has cultivated over so many years with it's M3 version. It's amazing that with it's very first shot at BMW and Merc, Lexus has come so close to topping a product that's been developed over so many years. I'm definitely looking forward to their next devlopment the LF-A, which I plan on buying as soon as it's available.

Hope this helps.

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