4G or lexus isf?
The TL is definitely roomier, and you can get it with the AWD + 6MT.
The IS-F is the better performer of the group, but you can't get it in stick, and it has poor fuel economy.
It depends on what you're looking for.
The IS-F is the better performer of the group, but you can't get it in stick, and it has poor fuel economy.
It depends on what you're looking for.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 127
Likes: 2
They're entirely different cars; the IS-F is designed to compete against the M3. The IS-F is also substantially more money than the 4G TL.
What does your lifestyle include? Track driving? Snow driving? Hauling clients around?
How you live will dramatically affect the answer.
What does your lifestyle include? Track driving? Snow driving? Hauling clients around?
How you live will dramatically affect the answer.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 30
From: Baltimore MD
They're entirely different cars; the IS-F is designed to compete against the M3. The IS-F is also substantially more money than the 4G TL.
What does your lifestyle include? Track driving? Snow driving? Hauling clients around?
How you live will dramatically affect the answer.
What does your lifestyle include? Track driving? Snow driving? Hauling clients around?
How you live will dramatically affect the answer.
They are two different types of cars for two different needs.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 43
From: Long Island, NY
yes, two completely different cars. the isf is faster and with its legendary gas pedal it will sometimes be fast when you don't want it to 
jokes aside, if you were to compare a used isf to a new tl then it would be a good comparison. It just comes down to how much money you want to spend and what car you like to drive more. The ISF is really nice it gives you high end german performance with Japanese reliability and maintenance.
jokes aside, if you were to compare a used isf to a new tl then it would be a good comparison. It just comes down to how much money you want to spend and what car you like to drive more. The ISF is really nice it gives you high end german performance with Japanese reliability and maintenance.
The Sicilian
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,632
Likes: 47
From: CT
With the ISF, your in the 400+ HP Club. And strictly looking at sedans,you should be also be looking at:
BMW M3 Sedan - 414 HP
Cadillac CTS-V - 400 + HP
MB C63 AMG - 451 HP
Pontiac G8 GXP - 415 HP (Best bang for the buck)
Not to mention the other choices out there that are waaay out of my price range.
BMW M3 Sedan - 414 HP
Cadillac CTS-V - 400 + HP
MB C63 AMG - 451 HP
Pontiac G8 GXP - 415 HP (Best bang for the buck)
Not to mention the other choices out there that are waaay out of my price range.
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,761
Likes: 86
From: Boston Metro
If you have the money then get the IS-F. If you want something to be a daily driver without crazy high maintenance, get the 4G TL. But if you're seriously looking at the IS-F, stop... and go and look at an M3 instead.
Either way you go, you can't make a bad choice, they're all great cars.
Either way you go, you can't make a bad choice, they're all great cars.
2010 TL AWD 6MT: New King
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,821
Likes: 165
From: WA
I had a 09 IS 250 AWD, not an IS-F, so I can only offer my 2 cents...
1) I will never buy Lexus again. Their motto is imaged based, and the company is always right. I had major comfort issues with my IS, and the dealership and company blamed it on me, never took responsibility. It was always my fault. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. Point is, they never took the time to listen and help, and always instilled blame.
Interesting on how the current Toyota allegations and attitude mimic to what I experienced with Lexus. Luxury car my a$$. Where was the so-called customer service????
2) The IS series is completely impractical IMHO. Looks nice (which I mistakenly emotionally googled over), that's it. Cramped in every corner, no space to move. If you have a family, forget it; if you have to hall passengers, prepared for a bitch session. IMHO, the IS is for a small frame person and not ideal of long
3) Poor resale value. As I found afterward I traded in the IS, most of the IS' are leased, which affects resale (per most of the dealerships I spoke to). One of the major car magazine also found this out when they traded in the IS-F at the end of their eval.
Check out some of the preowned Acuras for sale, and they are holding their value exceptionally well.
4) The TL is a superior car to the IS in terms of comfort, practicality, space, SH-AWD system, slick manual transmission, value, and I would say even customer service. Granted the IS-F has the looks and 400+ hp.
Acura has my vote for a repeat customer. When my wife's RX is on its hind legs, you can see which company I will go back to.
1) I will never buy Lexus again. Their motto is imaged based, and the company is always right. I had major comfort issues with my IS, and the dealership and company blamed it on me, never took responsibility. It was always my fault. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. Point is, they never took the time to listen and help, and always instilled blame.
Interesting on how the current Toyota allegations and attitude mimic to what I experienced with Lexus. Luxury car my a$$. Where was the so-called customer service????
2) The IS series is completely impractical IMHO. Looks nice (which I mistakenly emotionally googled over), that's it. Cramped in every corner, no space to move. If you have a family, forget it; if you have to hall passengers, prepared for a bitch session. IMHO, the IS is for a small frame person and not ideal of long
3) Poor resale value. As I found afterward I traded in the IS, most of the IS' are leased, which affects resale (per most of the dealerships I spoke to). One of the major car magazine also found this out when they traded in the IS-F at the end of their eval.
Check out some of the preowned Acuras for sale, and they are holding their value exceptionally well.
4) The TL is a superior car to the IS in terms of comfort, practicality, space, SH-AWD system, slick manual transmission, value, and I would say even customer service. Granted the IS-F has the looks and 400+ hp.
Acura has my vote for a repeat customer. When my wife's RX is on its hind legs, you can see which company I will go back to.
Senior Moderator
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 81,385
Likes: 3,068
From: Appleton WI
With the ISF, your in the 400+ HP Club. And strictly looking at sedans,you should be also be looking at:
BMW M3 Sedan - 414 HP
Cadillac CTS-V - 400 + HP
MB C63 AMG - 451 HP
Pontiac G8 GXP - 415 HP (Best bang for the buck)
Not to mention the other choices out there that are waaay out of my price range.
BMW M3 Sedan - 414 HP
Cadillac CTS-V - 400 + HP
MB C63 AMG - 451 HP
Pontiac G8 GXP - 415 HP (Best bang for the buck)
Not to mention the other choices out there that are waaay out of my price range.
^ I would get a FAT discount on IS-F and purchase it.
I personally think it's a great chance to get some good discount on Toyota and Lexus cars right now. After all, the problem already has been addressed majorly and it's going to be taken care of pretty soon. My
I personally think it's a great chance to get some good discount on Toyota and Lexus cars right now. After all, the problem already has been addressed majorly and it's going to be taken care of pretty soon. My
Disinformation Terminator
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,930
Likes: 0
From: NorCal
Intermediate
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: OH - IO!
Have you driven either? That's where you need to start. Even if everyone in here voted for the same car it doesn't make that car the right choice for you. For better feedback though, it would help to know what aspects of a car are most important to you.
On the surface I want to love the IS-F but I currently own an '02 IS300 5-speed and while I like it, I've never felt very attached to it even after modding it. Not sure if that's the lack of performance from the factory (not an issue with the IS-F) or just the overall feeling of it. On the other hand, I've loved all previous Hondas/Acuras I've owned, including my wife's '04 MDX.
On the surface I want to love the IS-F but I currently own an '02 IS300 5-speed and while I like it, I've never felt very attached to it even after modding it. Not sure if that's the lack of performance from the factory (not an issue with the IS-F) or just the overall feeling of it. On the other hand, I've loved all previous Hondas/Acuras I've owned, including my wife's '04 MDX.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 792
Likes: 5
The IS-F is a nice car, but it's more or less a couple with 2 doors thrown on the back. If you are more than 5'9", be prepared for a very cramped and uncomfortable expierence. The backseat isn't useable unless you are 10 years old or younger.
Disinformation Terminator
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,930
Likes: 0
From: NorCal
Moderator
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,578
Likes: 322
From: Orange County, CA
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 29,869
Likes: 3,489
Fahrvergnügen'd
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,494
Likes: 1,569
From: Maryland
But the Bradley has a 600hp turbo-diesel and a 20mm chaingun! And can be fitted with Anti-Tank missiles or a 40mm Mk 19 auto grenade launcher.
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 29,869
Likes: 3,489
God damn it..... now that you mention that, its even harder to decide. They'd both be great daily drivers now that you put it that way. When there's traffic, my passenger can use the Mk 19 for making people get out of the way, one way or another.
Last edited by Costco; Feb 24, 2010 at 07:14 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,068
Likes: 111
From: NYC
I had a 09 IS 250 AWD, not an IS-F, so I can only offer my 2 cents...
1) I will never buy Lexus again. Their motto is imaged based, and the company is always right. I had major comfort issues with my IS, and the dealership and company blamed it on me, never took responsibility. It was always my fault. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. Point is, they never took the time to listen and help, and always instilled blame.
Interesting on how the current Toyota allegations and attitude mimic to what I experienced with Lexus. Luxury car my a$$. Where was the so-called customer service????
2) The IS series is completely impractical IMHO. Looks nice (which I mistakenly emotionally googled over), that's it. Cramped in every corner, no space to move. If you have a family, forget it; if you have to hall passengers, prepared for a bitch session. IMHO, the IS is for a small frame person and not ideal of long
3) Poor resale value. As I found afterward I traded in the IS, most of the IS' are leased, which affects resale (per most of the dealerships I spoke to). One of the major car magazine also found this out when they traded in the IS-F at the end of their eval.
Check out some of the preowned Acuras for sale, and they are holding their value exceptionally well.
4) The TL is a superior car to the IS in terms of comfort, practicality, space, SH-AWD system, slick manual transmission, value, and I would say even customer service. Granted the IS-F has the looks and 400+ hp.
Acura has my vote for a repeat customer. When my wife's RX is on its hind legs, you can see which company I will go back to.
1) I will never buy Lexus again. Their motto is imaged based, and the company is always right. I had major comfort issues with my IS, and the dealership and company blamed it on me, never took responsibility. It was always my fault. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. Point is, they never took the time to listen and help, and always instilled blame.
Interesting on how the current Toyota allegations and attitude mimic to what I experienced with Lexus. Luxury car my a$$. Where was the so-called customer service????
2) The IS series is completely impractical IMHO. Looks nice (which I mistakenly emotionally googled over), that's it. Cramped in every corner, no space to move. If you have a family, forget it; if you have to hall passengers, prepared for a bitch session. IMHO, the IS is for a small frame person and not ideal of long
3) Poor resale value. As I found afterward I traded in the IS, most of the IS' are leased, which affects resale (per most of the dealerships I spoke to). One of the major car magazine also found this out when they traded in the IS-F at the end of their eval.
Check out some of the preowned Acuras for sale, and they are holding their value exceptionally well.
4) The TL is a superior car to the IS in terms of comfort, practicality, space, SH-AWD system, slick manual transmission, value, and I would say even customer service. Granted the IS-F has the looks and 400+ hp.
Acura has my vote for a repeat customer. When my wife's RX is on its hind legs, you can see which company I will go back to.
i agree with everything above.
i still thought the build, looks, stereo, and standards features were great for the lease payment $$. and to this day, i think its the best looking small sedan on the road.
however: the electric steering was awkward. the steering wheel moves on its own sometimes. and when making turns at <10 MPH you would almost question whether or not you had a flat tire. at low speeds, the steering feels as if you are dragging the car with the e-brake on.
but i will greatly miss highway cruising in a smoking hot car during summer days with the windows 100% down, stereo blasting, sunroof open, and cooled leather seats. best looking car ive ever owned. going out for the last drive now...
