What options are great and which are a waste?

Good options / Bad options

Hey, that's a good question. I wish I had asked before I got mine. Here are some options and what I think about them:

• Mark Levinson / Nav: The stereo is very realistic. I doubt you'll be able to find a more accurate aftermarket sound, but, as several in this forum have pointed out, some like more bass and have switched out the rear woofers for something "better". As an audiophile I love the stereo. I particularly love that it will play DVD-As in surround sound. They sound stellar in the car, but of course there's not that many titles available and I doubt there will be any new ones issued. The nav system I find lacking. The one in my wife's car (2005 Acura MDX) is easier to use and more accurate, though it lacks a touch screen. For example, I once had the IS F find the nearest Publix only to be led to an area that was only office parks. The Publix was about a quarter mile away. Also, god forbid you want to find a Starbucks. Usually the nav system will tell you the nearest coffee shop, clothing store, or home improvement store is hundreds of miles away and would try to lead you to a regional headquarters. So I rarely use nav. But I don't think you can get the ML stereo without the nav. Likewise I think the backup camera, which is INVALUABLE and should be standard on all cars, is only available with the Nav package.
• Parking sensor ("intuitive parking assist"): this thing is fairly annoying. It goes off every time I enter the garage, but it rarely goes off in public parking, where I might need it. Sometimes it notices other cars or the concrete footing of a light pole, sometimes it doesn't. I would skip this one.
• Radar cruise control: I don't have this one and can only say, based on a friend's similar system in an Acura RL, that it sounds like a good idea and useful, expecially if you do a lot of interstate travel (like he does).
• Satellite radio: I've got mixed feelings about satellite radio. I got one of the last Sirius units. I love some of the stations, but I don't really spend enough time in the car to listen to them. If you were considering an aftermarket stereo I think one benefit would be the ability to get HD radio and internet radio (which I hear is coming). I should note that satellite radio cuts out on occasion because of (I assume) excess foliage or rainy weather. On long trips, though, it's nice to be able to listen to a comedy channel or NPR or whatever you like across the nation. I have a hard time listening to music for more than a couple hours, so some other entertainment is nice to have.
• Cargo net: I'm sure this is cheap enough to add later, so might not be something you were interested in hearing about, so I'll just say I find it pretty convenient. It prevents fragile items from knocking around.
• iPod interface: I don't have one and wish I did. Maybe someone else can review this one.
• Wheel locks: I hate wheel locks, but they are $1900 wheels, so maybe they're not that bad.

I think that's all the options available.
Hope this helps,
-N

I agree with pretty much everything Nightspore said above with a couple of slight differences.

1) Be sure you thoroughly test out the active cruise control. I've read in a lot of reviews (of cars other than the IS-F) that these systems leave too big of a gap so cars just cut in front of you and slow you down. Also, I'm not sure if this system does full braking or not. A lot of systems will slow you down a bit, but in heavy traffic they are pretty much useless. Like Nightspore said, if you do a lot of long distance freeway driving it may be really useful.

2) I like having the parking sensors as an additional backup. However, they do miss a lot of things so you still have to pay attention. For me, I'm always scared I'm going to get too close to parking curb and dork up my airdam. So I always end up parking a foot or two back. It may look dorky, but I'm not willing to risk get any closer.

3) I have the Nav system and wouldn't live without it. As Nightspore says, the Points of Interest are spotty, but I'm directionally challenged so having the moving map there is huge. The backup camera is wonderful too.

3) I have the iPod adapter (VAISTech, not the factory) which will allow satellite and iPod to work together. However, I decided satellite radio wasn't worth the cost. I had XM in my TL and listened to it some. I still found times where I couldn't find anything on that I wanted to listen to, so I switched back to CDs. I'm pretty picky in my listening, though.

4) I really love the iPod adapter as I can bring my entire music collection with me, organize it into playlists, etc. The Nav interface is really nice to be able to browse the iPod, at least when you aren't moving. Once the car is in motion, the controls are locked except for the steering wheel controls and limited selections on the nav (iPod mode and track skip). This lockout can be overcome using a couple of different methods listed in this forum. I haven't done either because it hasn't bothered me enough to shell out the money or start hacking wiring harnesses yet.

Good luck in your decision and feel free to ask questions. People on this site are very knowledgeable and friendly.

Jeff
08 Smoky Granite Mica IS-F

Most IS F's are packaged by region. Here in the Western Region, Mark Levinson and Navigation is what you will find at dealerships here. In the Southern region, Mark Levinson/NAV and Park Assist. Those in the mid west and eastern regions get Mark Levinson/NAV, Park Assist and Headlamp washers. Because of the limited availability of the 2009 IS F, you will only see these packages listed above dependent on your region. I see that you are from SoCal, unless you happen to find a rare optioned package at your local dealer here in SoCal, everything outside of ML/NAV is special order only.


The only real factory options you can special order outside of ML/NAV would be:

Pre Collision System/Dynamic Radar Cruise
Park Assist
Headlamp Washers

If you are looking for these options all together or individually, be prepared to shell out MSRP if you have it special ordered. For example, my 2009 Starfire IS F was special ordered. I wanted Park Assist on my F, but because the Western Region only orders ML/NAV cars, I had to wait for mine. I took delivery this past December. It normally takes 3 months to special order BTW.

As for the additional options or port installed accessories, you can always have the dealership add them or you can order them at any Lexus parts counter and have them installed on your own. Here in the Western Region, the cars are packaged with:

Preferred Accessory Package: Wheel locks, trunk mat, cargo net
Rear bumper applique

Just for reference, Longo Lexus has every color IS F available at their dealership now. I just picked up my IS F from service and happened to walk downstairs to see what they had. Starfire, Obsidian, Mercury Metallic, Ultrasonic Blue, Smoky Granite and Matador Red. All of these cars are ML/NAV only.

Good Luck!

All VERY excellent responses,i will get the ML/Nav which will come with the BUC?

I really do want to keep everything as factory as possible as my younger days with new cars were filled with changing everything to "something better" which 80% of the time was not better and looked like it was "changed" too.

Is the I-pod adapter a special order or is that one hit or miss?
Someone did say the smaller items can be easily added later w/o issues which if it keeps me from waiting 3 weeks for a SD GREAT!!

Is black not available? Prolly an off dark color?

I like the look of the two tone Alpine white face and black sides for Leather seat covers over the full black because i have no kids and the white would be spotless,is this as nice in person or is the full black the cats meow?

Does an I-phone work as the i-pod and will the phone work/integrate well?

How does the Blue tooth work,does it stop music and use the cars speakers then return to music when the call terminates?Any major issues or complaints on this?

Now about supply /demand/availability/MSRP vs Invoice other price and any special offers on rebates and or financing? Any insight on this is my real week area ATM.

I know there was the 1st IS-F in '08' and now in '09',is this correct and was there just the two model year cars or were there several changes between years?

What were the major (if any) changes done in '09' and also the minor changes as well?

Were there any problems which have been fixed or addressed since it's Debut in '08'?

Aftermarket wheels and tires seem to give the best choices for looks and traction and are 99% of the time cheaper if homework is done but again the fit and finish,offsets,wheel size variants,ABS.traction control and such have me wanting to make no mistakes in the quest for "better quality",is their $1900.00 upgraded wheels/tires the best way overall or is there a better choice i could make down the road?

Well Happy Fathers day gentlemen!! Not sure if my first test drive day on fathers day is the best day or not but I'm guessing if any are open i may get the care and dedication i usually demand without ever needing to demand it.

Again,Thank you all and keep the comments coming guys!!

Did a ton or reading and have come to the conclusion that even though the ML name has genuine roots in the audiophile book of fame(as does Bose with GM which i have and am not at all impressed)the adapted factory system will look great and sound very good at best at low to mid levels but will fall VERY short in so many other aspects it's silly.

How much will this system save me with the ML/Nav and BU camera?

I have four two channel SONY ES amps(very high end/Low THD) already and was looking at the newest Alpine HD,DVD,Sat,Nav.back up camera,I-Phone,blue-tooth touch screen in dash receiver.

So now in light of not getting the ML/Nav (which is the combo added for the premium IS-F here in Cali.)what other options am i looking at which may be available in stocked cars other than the 19" Forged premium wheel/tire combo(which i still need some input on?

blacksmoke said:

All VERY excellent responses,i will get the ML/Nav which will come with the BUC

Click to expand...

Ummm not sure I understand what BUC is? ML/NAV is pretty much standard here in SoCal.

I really do want to keep everything as factory as possible as my younger days with new cars were filled with changing everything to "something better" which 80% of the time was not better and looked like it was "changed" too.

Click to expand...

I highly agree with you.

Is the I-pod adapter a special order or is that one hit or miss?
Someone did say the smaller items can be easily added later w/o issues which if it keeps me from waiting 3 weeks for a SD GREAT!!

Click to expand...

It is a Lexus accessory which you can order from your local parts counter and have it installed at delivery OR you can have it installed at the port if you have it special ordered. If you are inclined to do so, you can install it yourself in about an hour or less. It is plug and play, but a novice would probably need someones help to do it.

Is black not available? Prolly an off dark color?

Click to expand...

There are 6 colors available for the IS F. Obsidian is black. The next darkest is Smoky Granite which is a charcoal gray.

I like the look of the two tone Alpine white face and black sides for Leather seat covers over the full black because i have no kids and the white would be spotless,is this as nice in person or is the full black the cats meow?

Click to expand...

Good luck finding this interior, it is special order unless you happen to see it at a local dealer in their current inventory. The alpine interior is very very nice. You can check out my pics of these cars here:

IS F Gallery 1
IS F Gallery 2

Does an I-phone work as the i-pod and will the phone work/integrate well?

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Yes it works as an ipod when connected to the ipod integration kit, but you will lose functionality of your phone. In order to work both at the same time, you would need to pair your phone with the car BT and plug in the ipod through the aux-in port via a rca miniplug.

How does the Blue tooth work,does it stop music and use the cars speakers then return to music when the call terminates?Any major issues or complaints on this?

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Yes, it will halt whatever music or dvd you are playing at the time. If you happen to forget your phone inside the house and you're in the garage sitting in the car, it will pick up your phone.

Now about supply /demand/availability/MSRP vs Invoice other price and any special offers on rebates and or financing? Any insight on this is my real week area ATM.

Click to expand...

There are no special incentives that I know of right now on any 2009 IS F. There were amazing deals with the remaining 08 IS F's with special APR and rebates. You should shop dealers in the area to see what they are offering. Your best bet is contacting the internet fleet departments of the local dealers. We actually have great Lexus dealers that are here on our forum, but they are outside of CA if you wish to deal out of state.

I know there was the 1st IS-F in '08' and now in '09',is this correct and was there just the two model year cars or were there several changes between years?

What were the major (if any) changes done in '09' and also the minor changes as well?

Click to expand...

The changes for the 2009 from 2008 are all cosmetic interior changes. The exterior remains identical from 08 to 09. You can find the changes here:

http://www.lexusf.com/forums/showthread.php?t=649

Were there any problems which have been fixed or addressed since it's Debut in '08'?

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No major problems however the center console's aux-in and DC plug platform was lowered for 09 so it can accommodate longer power plugs while allowing you to close the top of the center console cover.

Aftermarket wheels and tires seem to give the best choices for looks and traction and are 99% of the time cheaper if homework is done but again the fit and finish,offsets,wheel size variants,ABS.traction control and such have me wanting to make no mistakes in the quest for "better quality",is their $1900.00 upgraded wheels/tires the best way overall or is there a better choice i could make down the road?

Click to expand...

Whos upgraded wheels/tires? There are a few important things you should look for when selecting aftermarket wheels. 1) TPMS sensor compatible 2) Correct tire sizing/diameter (plus sizing).

Well Happy Fathers day gentlemen!! Not sure if my first test drive day on fathers day is the best day or not but I'm guessing if any are open i may get the care and dedication i usually demand without ever needing to demand it.

Again,Thank you all and keep the comments coming guys!!

Click to expand...

Same to you and good luck! Father's Day is not a legal holiday so all dealers are open.

blacksmoke said:

Did a ton or reading and have come to the conclusion that even though the ML name has genuine roots in the audiophile book of fame(as does Bose with GM which i have and am not at all impressed)the adapted factory system will look great and sound very good at best at low to mid levels but will fall VERY short in so many other aspects it's silly.

How much will this system save me with the ML/Nav and BU camera?

Click to expand...

MSRP for the ML/NAV car is roughly $61.7K. Back up camera is standard with any NAV equipped or ML/NAV car.

I have four two channel SONY ES amps(very high end/Low THD) already and was looking at the newest Alpine HD,DVD,Sat,Nav.back up camera,I-Phone,blue-tooth touch screen in dash receiver.

Click to expand...

If you plan to install an aftermarket HU with a screen, it will need to be installed like this below:

These interiors are from a regular IS250/350 only...virtually identical to the IS F.

w/factory NAV screen:


w/o factory NAV screen:

So now in light of not getting the ML/Nav (which is the combo added for the premium IS-F here in Cali.)what other options am i looking at which may be available in stocked cars other than the 19" Forged premium wheel/tire combo(which i still need some input on?

Click to expand...

Non ML/NAV IS F is going to be a needle in the haystack car which is almost non existent anywhere. There is no 19" Forged premium wheel/tire combo available for the IS F. The 19" Forged Aluminum 10 spoke graphite wheels made by BBS are standard across the board.

Well now that i see that there seems to be no easy way to add an aftermarket HU in the same location as the ML, and the lower location seems like a waste i now need to reconsider the factory system.

I somehow got the idea that the factory wheels were a $1900.00 upgraded option.

So now after looking through nearly 1000 pix which were linked here(very helpful and "Thank you" to who sent them)i went from the darkest exterior color through the idea of both blue and red and settled on the silver but after looking at even more pix the white now is looking like a winner.

That with the AMG alloy wheels would look VERY nice IMO.

The interior color is still up for discussion,all black seem a little dull but the blue stitching would make it fit nicely together,that or the Alpine?

Any other options or suggestions guys?

What are some opinions on looking into an '08' with a factory warranty to save the big "off the lot" $$'s?

Is the fact that a dealer would be selling it make the savings not offset the fact that it is used?

Would looking for a private party '08' be a better option and does the factory warranty transfer with out any problems?

What is the warranty,i remember comparing the MB and BMW and thought i saw the Lexus had an additional 2 years o the drivetrain and an unlimited corrosion warranty throughout.

Anyone seen or have any pix of the AMG wheels on a white IS-F?

Know how much these wheels are and if they are compatible with all the needed requirements of the IS-R?

Thanx again.

Thank you flip,your right about me completing my research first because several of these questions are obvious.

Things like cargo mat and net,all weather mats and the compatibility of the satellite with the I-pod adapter are not very clear at all,i can install anything which is plug and play like this adapter but why are they not sold together?

Will i need to decide on just one or can i get the car with sat. and add the I-pod adapter myself later?

I am down to the nitty gritty really,it's these little details which will slow me down as i am way too detail oriented to just not think about them now because inside the dealership is no time for me to be deciding on things which should have been addressed prior.

Bummer on the AMG wheels though,the raw alloy look would accent a light color much better than the darker standard ones.

I'm going through every option so i may need some minor advice here,please bare with me,i will proly have purchased a total of 5 cars in my lifetime and this will be #3 at 44.

lowrider said:

Moon Roof is a No Cost delete option available Special Order Only. You wont find a car without it.

Lou

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I did see some pix w/o one but it must have been ordered that way,dunno why.

Are they quality units? I know the ones on the newer Chevy trucks are not top quality units,they don't even open into the roof/headliners protection,they just slid back on top of the roof.

Whats with this Lexus Warranty Platinum Protection VS Lexus Gold Protection?

Sounds like some additional coverage past the first 4 years?

I only drive like 7000 miles a year but i do drive aggressively.

Requires Lexus factory maintenance and all routine maintenance schedules done on time and by a dealership? Is that correct?

Are these worth it and do you have to have every regular maintenance done by them on time or can they deny a claim?

Can this extension be added near the end of the regular warranty if you get a full check up first and pass?

Flipside909 said:

The reason why the Lexus Accessory Ipod adapter and the Sirus/XM satellite interface does not work together is because there is one open slot for input in the backside of the headunit. There is only room for one plug in accessory so it's its one or the other. There is a company called VaisTech which offers an all in one unit. You can find more info here: vaistech.com

They are a vendor on Club Lexus and have group buys from time to time.



Attention to detail is key and does help you find exactly what you want and need.

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Again excellent info!!

So i want both,so i should avoid both factory options then add this to gain both later?

Will there be any cons to this VaisTech in reguards to how it makes both work within the whole audio system?

And,what are the prices of both factory installed units and the VaisTech non-group and group prices?

I'm assuming both factory units are more money than this other one?

Is this one of the things which will/could effect the warranty as it pertains to something which goes out and may be (even if only in their eyes)effected by this aftermarket item?

How is Lexus in general about warranty issues and covering them?

That last question is proly more of a dealership related thing right?