jsut came back from the dealer, saw the BMW M3 sedan and Lexus IS-F, but couldn't test drive either one of them, both were sold. I really like both cars, looks awesome, but i think i set my mind with the IS-F because of the price, the M3 fully loaded is 70k, every freaking things on that car is an option, and the IS-F is 62k fully loaded, comes with everything you name it, especially their Mark levinson system is the best system i ever heard, and i think IS-F have a better reliability. what you guys think, i'm going back to the dealer tomorrow for deposit. here's some pics from Clublexus forums its someone else's car but thats exactly the one i'm getting.http://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread.php?t=341015

 

Personally I would pay the difference and get the M3... remember this is Lexus's first attempt at a car like this...

 

$8k isn't a huge difference when talking cars of this caliper. If I wanted a car like this I would go with the M3 all day long over the IS-F, the reliability problems you are talking about don't exist, the E92's(minus the very early ones) have been great. Not to mention BMW's no charge maintenance, over the course of 50k miles that will equal a few grand if you had to pay for it.

 

I think you should wait and test-drive both. That will give you the exact idea of which one exceeds your expectations. When buying a car this expensive, you'd better make sure it's the right decision you make. The IS-F is a nice car, but I would personally get the new M3 sedan, so much sexier and surely a better drive:wink: GLuck!

 

i agree... i definitely can't imagine buying without a chance behind the wheel...

maybe you take the IS-F for a spin and find the tranny terrible or you take out the M3 and find that it is a bit too raw for your tastes...

never know until you drive it, choose which you like the most, at that price point I don't think I would pick one just because it is a couple grand less, I would pick the one which I like more...

 

^ actually the is-f is supposed to have a solid tranny with super fast shifting

 

^^^ That's not my take from the video's I've seen so far

 

i definitely gonna test drive both of them before i sign the paper, i did drove the 335i and 350, is really hard to tell which one are better for me, and now the M3 and IS-F is gonna be even harder, because all that performance goodies on them both, this is my first sport car, thats why i'm using the price comparison.

 

I'd never buy a car of ANY price that I didn't drive first.

EDIT: Oops, just saw your post. ^

 

have you seen the videos and the damned beeping?

 

I think the drivers were using paddleshifters... my friend tells me that they shift super fast. Not too far away from the speed of F1 sh ifts. I know, I can't believe it too...
When someone finally keeps the car in drive, we'll see the results of the so called fast shifting maybe.
I do know it has a twin stage intake And those seats are damn comfy, and VEERYYY easy to get in and out of. I don't know about the aluminum/carbon fiber trim though.

I'll take pics soon. I'm going to see the IS-F again.

 

Its OK. I did the little set up they had at the LA Auto show where an IS-F was on a dyno and you got to speed through a 1/4 mile.

The tranny is definitely faster then any other paddle shift lex...not that that is saying much.

I'd say it felt like a combo of dsg and smg.

I'd still rather they offer a stick...

M3 is still king.

 

It mostly depends on what you wanna do with it. If a great interior, awesome sound system, plenty of straight line speed, and great reliability are your main concerns then go for the IS-F. If you wanna run circles around an IS-F on a race track get the M3. Personally I think the exterior styling of the M3 is>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>than the IS-F but the exact same can be said about the IS-F's interior being>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>than the M3.

Oh, and if you care at all about what all the Bimmer snobs around here think then by god you better get the M3 'cause you will never hear the friggin end of it.......

 

M3 for me. One of the first things I look for in a car is a good old manual with a clutch pedal. Pretty much all but eliminates the IS-F not to mention its gaudy disconnected exhaust pipes.

And I really don't know why Lexus put in the beeps. I'm sure you can get them out somehow, but did they think their current owners sucked at driving a high performance car that badly that they needed a reminder every damn time to shift or not to shift? Sometimes you need to hold it in a gear to get out of a turn faster, or downshift for the same reason.

 

still hate the stacked mufflers

 

^ disgusting

 

yea i still haven't gotten over it either.

 

I was at the SEMA show last year in Vegas when they first introduced the IS-F. I got to drive it and I did like it, but overpriced. My bro has a IS350 and wanted one of these. I took a bunch of pics of it when I was there, went to the private press party for it, but it aint worth $60K. I have to agree as well about the mufflers.

 

Me personally is a big lexus fan, and not a bmw fan.
#1 the bmw my family had let us down too many times over the years
#2 toyota on the other hand has never let us down

 

Eh I don't like the front at all. I rather have an S4.

 

Would never buy an IS-F. $61k for that car is retarded.

 

^ 61k for a sludge producing POS!? Sorry.

Maybe they should fix the bed slap in the Tundra first, then I'd think about buying a performance car from them. Until then, I don't need that motor bolted to a wet noodle.

 

I think fully loaded options are much more that $5-6K, try over $10K.
Everyone has their own personal tastes, if you want to waste $70K on an IS, it's your money, go ahead!

 

it's a 4-seater sedan.. hah

 

I wouldnt buy either. I would wait for the CTS-V

 

i'll take 2 135is.

 

alright guys thanks for the opion, i think i'll wait a little more until the m3 convertible and the gtr comes out, than i really gonna have to decide which one, its worth the wait better than i feel sorry later.

 

do you think you'll be able to get a GT-R?

 

alright guys thanks for the opion, i think i'll wait a little more until the m3 convertible and the gtr comes out, than i really gonna have to decide which one, its worth the wait better than i feel sorry later.

 

i was driving south on 95 (NJ Turnpike) last night and this thing pulled up fast right behind me... no front license plate... in my rearview it looked like a normal IS... i was doing about 85 mph and he was on my @$$ so i moved it over to the middle lane to let him pass... he must has passed me at about 100mph...

his acceleration was so quick i first thought to myself he had to be the 350 not the 250... but as he was passing me i looked at towards his front door/fender and saw the "F" badge... this was the first time i saw the IS-F in person... and as he passed me i saw the stacked exhaust tips and thought that it looked dumb... he had dealer plates on it...

after seeing it in person, i got to say that i don't like it... change the body a bit more and put a MT in then ill reconsider...

 

I like the m3 and the c63 better!

 

The Tranny shifts faster than DSG...

 

 

I saw one on my way to school the other day....Still hate the entire rear 3/4 view of the car. Those fake exhaust tips are horrible, and the front bumper looks like a transformer. For performance, the M3, RS4, and C63 AMG are all better, plus they actually look decent.

 

m3>isf

 

They're fake anyway.

 

Not feeling the fake tips neither but, I like the car. But, I have to give credit where credit is due: The IS-F is the first Asian sedan that can even be mentioned with the likes of a BMW M and MB AMG. Hopefully, Acura and Infiniti will come to this table with a new dish as well.

 

I think the M3 and IS-F are really in a different league, even though on paper they might be direct competitors.

The IS-F to me is nothing more than an IS with a V8, big brakes, slightly sportier suspension, and a body kit. The IS is a very nice sports sedan, but the problem is, the IS-F is not much more than that.

The M3 on the other hand is much more different than its 3 series sibling, almost as if it was rebuilt grounds up with things designed specifically for the needs of the M3, even though they look very similar. I'm sure this will be apparent when you drive say, a 335 vs a M3. A lot more engineering has been put into it. Also there's one thing about the M3 that I think is worth the $8k difference alone, and that's heritage.

With that said, I'll choose any of RS4, C63 AMG, and M3 over the IS-F. I think any of those will have superior driving dynamics than the IS-F

 

M3

period

 

M3. I'm not sold on Lexus design. I know they are good cars, I just don't go gaga over them.