andrewcjduong

Summer is coming along and I've just sourced a 2008 Lexus IS-F that I might consider trading in my TL for. What are your opinions on this car? I'm guessing most of you will be bias with the TL but I've had my fun with the TL and this deal is something I haven't seen. $26k 90,000km. Silver on black fully optioned with nav. My friend just passed 260,000km on his and it's going strong. I was hesitant at first for the gas mileage of it being a V8 but on Lexus forums I've had people report decent mileage and my car is getting about 13L per 100km anyways.

2012wagon

26k for a 45k mile IS-F?

dooooooooooooooo it!!!!

Mr Magoo

The only thing that I don't like about the IS is that its considerably smaller than the TL. Other than that I think its a fantastic car. No replacement for displacement the car is a monster. Something to consider is it being RWD, winter driving will be a lot trickier. I have friends that drive RWDs all year long but their cars are no where near 420hp.

Assuming everything is in order I say go for it. You can always sell it and come back to the TL if you don't like it.

andrewcjduong

Ya RWD in Canada is really what's troublesome. I've been continuously looking around for an upgrade. 400hp+ is ideal under the 30k price and I really like how it's naturally aspirated. I hate how new vehicles are all turbos. Just asking for issues and reliability goes down. I bought my TL assuming I would use the rear seats a lot for my family and figured my mom would enjoy the back seat but they don't even sit in my car so I don't even see the point of a large vehicle anymore lol.

I'm going to have a look at it this weekend and come up with some numbers. 8 speed auto keeps the mileage down really well. A few of my friends in Toronto have the same car and drive it all season.

real_mckoy

thats a unique car man... v8 + premium gas 5L = idk but if its what you like then go ahead ...how's the maintenance cost and parts though its a lexus might be a bit pricey

andrewcjduong

Give or take. Maybe a bit more than Acura, but definitely a lot better in reliability. You can't beat Toyota/Lexus reliability. The Transmission, burning oil and rattling is worrying me on my TL. Not sure what'll happen.

2012wagon

^^
Look on club lexus. IS-F has been pretty bulletproof and lots of high mile ones out there. When I looked at used ones, resale was top notch.


Do it, and don't look back.


No offense to the TL people, but the IS-F is in a diff league.

andrewcjduong

I'm just hoping they offer me a decent price for my TL. I'll probably drop by tomorrow and go in depth.

2012wagon

Good luck

C8N

Considering that you are in Canada, as long as you have a winter car, I say go for it!

If you don't have a winter car, 400+hp and RWD... could be trouble.

TeamAcura

If the ISF is in mint condition and you have a winter beater, I'd do it in a heartbeat. I love V8 imports. Just music to my ears lol. I question your priorities though because based on your past posts, you were looking to save money and now you are considering trading up to another car. Seems odd to me but then again I do not know your financial situation. I wish you luck though and hopefully you make a decision that ultimately makes you happy.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

another thing you have to consider is how dated the is-f looks compared to the new body style lexus'


and remember, the grass isnt always greener on the other side.

Pursuit2550

Aside from the 400+hp engine, I will have to pass on the ISF. It looks just like a regular IS and the interior to me isnt what I would have expected in a 400+hp sports car. If your going to make a special high hp car and charge a premium then give me some thing different than the regular one, not the same looking car with 400+hp. Dont get me wrong the car is nice. I like the look of the outside but the inside just doesnt get my attention, to bland. The 4gen TL interior has more curves, the radio and nav screen come down at an angle w/curves. The IS radio is straight up and down. I was looking into a IS, but for the price the interior just doesnt stand out to me, to plain. And as far as reliability, they are both on top with neither one being better than the other. I have had them both and they all have their share of problems.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

just keep the TL fool.

LNJ

I have to agree. It looks too much like a regular IS. Doesn't stand out and pretty dated compared to the new IS.
But if you don't care about looks and just want the driving thrill, then go for it!

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

TL should be paid off.
should be.

why get into another car payment?

2012wagon

Hes buying a 7 year old used car, I would imagine he's paying cash?

andrewcjduong

Yes I would be paying cash. As for why I was considering spending a bit more on car now, the home that my family has recently considered purchasing has pushed back another 2 years in when it'll be done building. That being said, I do have a few pennies to play with.

I went to the dealership this morning and test drove/spoke some figures. Basically they knocked it down to 25k but would only give me 16.5 for my TL with 100,000km so that's out of the question unless I can find a private buyer.

As for the car being outdated, yes the interior is a bit outdated and the body styling isn't crazy but I've always loved the IS styling. I've considered 4 door M3's as well but the reliability just isn't there. Altering reading in multiple forums. I've barely seen a single m3 go past the 200,000km mark without having a list of issues. Along with that, they all seem high priced and high km. I think eventually I would end up with an IS F.

TeamAcura

They are low balling you for the TL. That's where they will make the money from. Your trade in.

Mr Magoo

The TL definitely has a better interior. The exterior is cool and tells me "Im classy, but I can leave you in the dust" I wouldn't even look at the M3 its too high maintenance especially a used one.

How did the IS-F drive, were you smiling every time you hit the gas pedal?

andrewcjduong

Yeah. I got 18k offer a few months back when looking at an MDX at Acura. Sad how low the value of our vehicles go for.

Another reason why I love the ISF is the fact that you don't see them everywhere. I barley see any in Ottawa, where as I would literally see more Lamborghini's than ISF's. I see M3's and C63's in every street corner. Seems like the choice of purchase for the international students I go to school with.

2012wagon

It is the same locally. I see more Astons and Teslas and Phantoms than I ever do IS-F.

C8N

What year is your TL?
This thing scares me at time... not that I plan on trading in my car but looks like the prices paid by new members on used TL seems low which is good for them but not much so for current owners.

andrewcjduong

Mine's a 2009 SH-AWD with Tech but has 100,000km so about 62k miles. Scares me as well. The pricing of our TL's are basically what 3rd gen TL's in good condition with low km's are going for now a days.

2012wagon

Life is too short to worry about 2K loss in resale value. When you are in your nursing home, will you worry about the extra $2k you have, or the miles of smiles pushing the pedal of a IS-F?


For me, if I care about resale, I would buy a 5 year old Tacoma, drive it 5 years, re-sell, and do it again every 5 years.

BSG1

The price varies by region. I'm car shopping currently and have been offered $19.5k consistently as trade value on my car. 09 SH-AWD w/tech, 60k miles.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

same here in Houston, Texas.
I rarely see an is-f.

that should tell you something.

2012wagon

Well I see more Veyrons than Spykers, and more M4s than TSX Wagon

wreak

I LOVE the IS-F and say go for it. Please post some pictures if you do it. The IS-F is a beast made to compete with the BMW M line so you know it's going to satisfy your hunger for power.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

3G member murph went from an 07-08 type-s to this beast!

andrewcjduong

The sound of starting the car made my mouth drop and give me a smile. I couldn't push it too much. There was snow outside lol. On a straight a way I pushed it and traction control kicked in. I realized the car was American so could be why it's a bit on the cheaper side (MPH instead of KM/H) and while it doesn't effect it much, it annoys me when I'm driving 6X or 7X instead of 120 or so lol.

As of now, il be holding off. I've only had my TL for a year so I figured I would enjoy it a bit more. Honestly my next car will be without a doubt a Lexus, just not sure what model. I might look again in the summer but for now I've turned the deal down. Ones thing for sure. I won't be buying a turbo car... There's no replacement for displacement

LNJ

The Canadian Black Book value for an 09 with similar kilometers is around 20k so what they are offering you for the trade in is about right!

echodigital

The Lexus IS has poor rating for small overlap test.

Vehicle details

bpguns

I traded in my '07 IS-350 for my current '10 TL SH-AWD Tech. I loved the IS, absolutely loved it. It was small and it was so much fun to drive, plus with a simple F-sport intake kit that thing sounded awesome punching it from a stop light. But, I traded it in for one major reason - it cannot handle winter. Top-rated all season tires with <10k miles and I could barely get out of the parking lot with an inch of snow on the ground. I tried to back out of my space and the car moved like a door hinge - rear spun around 90 degrees with the front staying put. If there were any other cars nearby I would have hit them for sure. At that point I knew I wouldn't have the car much longer, and I wouldn't own a RWD car anymore as long as I lived in a place where snow was a threat. So a few months ago I traded in for the 2010 TL SH-AWD. It's not as fun to drive, but I have no doubt it will handle whatever weather I see.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

better rethink your statement.
a ford flex, yes a ford flex reaches 12's easy in the quarter mile.


also the new Ford GT is a 3.5l twin turbo which will be pushing 600+hp.

also, the MB CLA45 AMG retains the title of having the most horsepower in a little 4.

So, yes, there is replacements for displacements

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

you also have to think about oil prices.
while low now; it will go back up to $60-70 a barrel.

gone are the days of V8s

when you can have a little 4 make as much power and torque while retaining great MPGs

LNJ

I share your sentiments. I owned an Infiniti J30 when I lived in Nova Scotia and driving up hilly roads was a nightmare in winter. Plus you practically had to nurse the car into a turn. And it was only a 210 HP car!

d1sturb3d119

iTrader: (1)

3G TL has never been tested for the small overlap so that point is really moot. The 4G is a tank.

Aside from that do it. I've been considering the same thing and I've done some research on it.

2008 is a good model however, there are some issues. Its putting out 400+HP with an E-lsd. It does not put the power down well and is not exactly the most predictable car to drive if it does slide. Tends to snap out then snap around. The 2010+ models incorporate a mechanical LSD with slightly softer suspension which makes for an all round better handling car.

The cost of putting in an LSD is $2100+8 hours of labor plus an ECU upgrade since the ECU was originally in charge of operating the brakes on the rear to act like an LSD.

My advice, look for a 2010. Even with high miles the Lexus uses a timing chain and does not have the 110K major service. The service intervals on the car are long and there are no major services that need to be made.

The expensive items on the car would be the brakes and tires. You can find cheaper alternatives for the street of course but that's upto you. The rotors are also pricey. 19 inch tires get expensive especially snow tires.

My plan would be to down size to 18's for the looks and for lighter wheels and tires.

Looks can be changed. I like the fact that the car is subtle. There are body kits available for the car as well but thats upto you. I think purely basing a decision off the looks is shortsighted. A lot of cars look fast, not many are! The M5, C63, and M3 all look pretty sedated too unless you're a car guy and actually care.

I personally am not getting rid of the TL. More space and overall practicality. If I buy the ISF its going to be the new toy since I already own my TL. Decent practicality since its a 4 door, big V8, nice sound with headers. So for me gas mileage isn't a big deal. I also work from home so drives are pure pleasure without any commute.

Detailed breakdown of 08 vs 10 ISF
2010 IS-F LSD Differential into 2008 IS-F. Completed. *Pics* - Club Lexus Forums

Here's a few vids for excitement factor lol
Straight piped.

Titanium exhaust.

Equal length headers FTW!

d1sturb3d119

iTrader: (1)

Now onto the snow issue. I drive the TL and my wife drives a 92 SC400 which is a RWD 3600lbs monster in the snow. How is this car doing what it does? Well the key to snow traction is having tires designed for the snow which helps at lower temperatures and applies enough pressure to the contact patch so that the car compacts the snow it drives on. Snow on snow contact is what generates grip.

On ice we're all screwed. Studs or chains are the only equipment that can generate some traction.

So with the ISF your key issue is tire size. The tires are 225 on the front and 255's on the rear. Great for cornering and heat dissipation. Useless in the winter at that size. Get snow tires but on narrower wheels. 215's for the front and 215's for the rear and studded if possible. That put's adequate pressure on the contact patch given the car's weight. Make sure it's the same load rating but a much narrower tire. You'll have to do a little trial and error playing around to see what works best. Just know that in snow you want a narrower tire. This will also allow you to not have to load your car up with weight or any of that crap which increases your mass and causes all sorts of other issues with braking and cornering performance.

Also the size I suggest is based off the weight of the cars I own. The ISF is 3800lbs wet, The SC400 is 3600lbs and the TL is just shy of 3600lbs. 215's work fantastically on both these cars but the SC drives a little better since its suspension is softer and more compliant. The TL is much stiffer since I upgraded the suspension so there's little in the way of suspension compliance. Stiffer suspension is the snow has less play making for immediate response or in other words quicker spinning wheels in the snow.


Also please don't complain about RWD when you run all season's on your car. All season's use summer tires as a base compound. They are useless below freezing. You AWD gives you the impression your car can handle the winter when in fact your contact patch is still compromised. In the winter below freezing, snow tires will work for ANY car. AWD, RWD or FWD. Do not let bad tires make you sell your car.

andrewcjduong

This is my first winter season with all season tires on my car since they came with the car. As far as getting traction, that's not a problem. The issue is more stopping and definitely if I were to get a RWD vehicle, without a doubt I would have winter tires. As far as the 2010+ model, I didn't know that so definitely thanks for the heads up for it. Gas also isn't a huge problem too much as I also have a 2014 Camry Hybrid that I drive almost all the time.

Like you said, the reliability is there for Lexus so regardless I'd be willing to search for something and sit on it if it's the right one. As far as V8 vs 6 turbo's. You can say all you want about how turbos are amazing but I came with pure disappointment when I test drove the M4. Power is definitely there but the car sounded horrible compared to the E92 M3. If I were to have an end game with sedans, It would be a V8 twin turbo. 550i/M5 650i/M6 territory. Again, that's more of a wishful thinking. My TL is getting 13-14L/100 on average in the winter with highway driving being about 60%.