Honestly I can't complain about anything the TL does. It does everything it says it does amazingly. It's got kick, it can handle, it's comfortable.

BUT. I find there's too little 'sport' in the Sport Sedan TL for me... 5AT, V6, 305hp, 210km/h limiter. I'm probably the opposite of TechnoCat, where he wanted more 'luxury'.

SO. Here's my question. Has anyone here drove a Lexus IS-F? The numbers seem amazing on paper, but how does it actually feel? Does it handle as good as the TL? Is the RWD hell to drive around during the winter? Does it sound good?

 

I just drove an IS-F last week. It is VERY powerful and really feels amazing. The real surprise was that if you hit the gas pretty hard, once it got to about 3K RPMs, it sounded a lot more like a Mustang GT than anything out of a luxury brand. It was a very intoxicating V8 rumble with a great aggressive exhaust note. The handling felt great too, but I didn't really get to carve up the roads with it (salesperson in car).

Overall, the car is pretty cramped inside. If you have a 6' tall person in the front, your friends in back are going to be pretty unhappy.

As for snow driving, I think you would be out of luck. Read the attached long term test out of Car and Driver. They said that even with Blizzaks and a 2nd gear start winter button, it was a completely scary car to drive in the winter.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...term_road_test

There are some great deals to be had on low mileage 2009s out there tough.

Good luck!

 

Are people looking for a 4G TL cross-shopping with an IS-F? They seem like different types of vehicles.

 

FWIW, I had a 09 IS 250 AWD that I hated because it was dam uncomfortable and painful to drive; took a financial bath and traded it for the 4G TL 4000miles later. The interior seemed "snuggy comfy" at first, but the car is very CRAMPED inside. Didn't have it long enough to test out its winter capabilities.

I know someone with a IS 350, and her winter situation is similar to what C&D went through with the IS-F. Even with winter tires, the IS 350 was absolutely atrocious in the winter. The 350 is stupidly prone to spin outs in wet/slippery conditions, and got so dangerous, it never saw winter driving again.

Personally Lexus has lost my trust; I will never buy another Lexus again. If you want some "more sporty" I would suggest M3, Corvette, or better yet, my personal favorite, the 911

 

Dont they cost about $25k difference. I would rather have my TL and a civis Si for that kind of money.

 

Second that uncomfortable feeling. My fiance test drove one about a week ago when trying to decide between the TL-SH or is350.. Car is soooo dang small. Im 6'5 and I couldnt even sit in the front seat without hunching my neck over. My girl is only 5'8 and that was her first complaint... the car feels so cramped inside. And on top of that she thought the interior looked cheap compared to the TL-SH. Glad she chose the TL

 

If your looking at an Lexus IS-F - at least test drive the BMW M3

both have good numbers "on paper" but I think they picked the M3 on Top Gear

 

Top Gear is too biased to make a reasonable opinion.

The ISF costs a lot less when loaded. Someone who can afford a well optioned S4 can possibly even spring for it.

 

Lol, Top Gear is never "reasonable." That's what it makes it so entertaining and popular.

 

I noticed that you're from Calgary - don't you get lots of ice and snow? How's SH-AWD working out for you? Have you gone through a winter with your A-Spec yet? Are you sure you really would like something with RWD there? I am in Cleveland and will never get RWD here, and we probably get the same amount of snow here as you do.

 

at 6'5" you'd have trouble finding a comfortable seating position in most compact cars. Why would you even consider a compact being 6'5"?

 

Besides the higher cost and small interior, my biggest problem with ISF was its unnecessarily harsh ride. Found myself tensing up before hitting expansion joints on the highway. Zooming away from stop lights was fun, the exhaust and engine were great, but the ride is a deal breaker. Some test drive reports say the ride is 'bone jarring' and they are right.

I test drove an ISF and it was very FAST and I think its one of the nicest looking cars on the road. Considering the M3 is faster on a track AND the ride is softer, it makes no sense to have such a stiff suspension on the ISF. For 2011 there were some suspension tweaks, but I am not clear if those apply to the F or the 250-350 only.

BTW - I ended up in a TSX.... i know, i know, its not really "fast" but its more practical, roomier than the isf, and has a manual trans so the fun factor is there.

 

That bad eh? I mean on paper the car doesn't sound that much smaller than the TL! I actually found that both Infiniti and Lexus interiors feel cheaper than the Acura as well.

The M3 is a little out of my price range to be honest.. I think it goes for $90k here in the north and the IS-F was $65k?

Yep! That's the reason I'm thinking of a IS-F and not M3. The thing is I absolutely require a 4-door due to an upcoming child.... otherwise I'd have been the first on the list for a S5.

The A-Spec was released in May, and I picked mine up a couple months back so unfortunately no. But I've seen the AET tests and have been absolutely amazed.

I'm just a little worried about the ride hight of the TL... I have a feeling it's going to be more of a snow plow than anything else. That's the only thing that's holding me back from getting the TEIN Coilovers.

-----

Honestly honestly I don't really think I'll end up switching. I'll keep the TL and a couple years down the road when I'm in a better financial position get myself an M3/IS-F ... and depending on how the 5G TLs are I might even trade up as well.

 

The Audi S4 could be the right compromise:

not so exotic and scaring as the Lexus ISF and BMW M3,
but AWD and fast enough for leaving a TL behind.
It got a supercharced engine, and if you can get the MTM package in USA with the M-cantronic for the Audi S4 B8, with 2500 euro (3300 dollars) you can push your engine to 430 hp and 530 Nm as nothing.
And the 0-100km/h fall from 5,2 sec to 4,6 sec: same performance as the M3.

(I would change the exhaust system too, the brakes not: they are too expensive).

 

S4 is even smaller than teh IS-F. Have you tried to sit in the back seat of an A4/S4?

 

the wheelbase of the Audi S4 is 2,81 m. Of the Lexus IS-F 2,73... Are you sure? Maybe legroom is better, I have no idea.

 

I have a hard time believing any car can have less rear legroom than a Lexus IS



A4 has 5 inches more

 

For the price of the IS-F the CTS-V is faster, handles better and would be what i would look at.

 

S4 competes with the 335i and IS350, not M3 or IS-F. And the Lexus IS definitely has the smallest rear leg room compared to anything in it's class. It's even smaller than a Civic.

 

the IS-F is nice but 2 reasons i would never buy one:

1) no manual tranny
2) i personally don't like the look of the exhaust.

again, just personal preferences

 

Yes sir! I agree completely.

Is that really true or are you exaggerating. If its true, that is ridiculous.

 

It's true. The rear leg room in the IS350 is 30.6 in. and Civic is 34.6 in. And just for reference the 335i is 34.6 in and S4 is 35.2 in. I sat in the back of an IS once and I could barely get in and out and I'm only 5'10". I don't know how any normal size person can fit in the back.

 

my friend has one. She is lucky to be 5'3 and with her driving someone her size would have a hard time fitting in behind her in the back seat. Head room is lacking as well.

 

Hey 5'10" is normal lol.... anything above is abnormal

Thats crazy that its that small. My friend has a B7 A4 and his back seat is tiny, I couldnt imagine anything smaller

 

What you call me

 

It's like Lexus designed the car to be a coupe in the back and just put 4 doors there instead.

 

^ I knew you would chime in on that Kris.

 

some coupes have more room in the back than an IS

 

 

 

If you are looking to buy a car in that price range. I will consider you look at the following first.

BMW E92 M3
Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG
Audi S5
Then the IS-F

In that order... The IS-F is a luxury car that tries too hard to be a sports car. Let me clear things up with that statement. When Lexus made it they had sport in mind, but then they decided to put a 8 speed automatic on it, which is not even a DCT or anything. Just a 8 speed automatic they ruined it. The 8 speed automatic makes the IS-F doesn't get power when it needs it. Then Lexus decided to make the ride more comfortable, which affected the handling...

Lexus IS-F is not a good car the buy. The only thing it wins in the segment between its competition is price. Other than that, I would say the IS-F is a load of crap.

 

Smart decision! Just enjoy your TL SH-AWD and then save up for something that you really want in future.

BTW, what are the "AET tests" that you referred to?

 

Check a couple of these out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGxEZ60E-nQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJZxVefta68

Makes me love SH-AWD.

 

I with the IS was bigger.. I can't fit

 

Just out of curiosity why was this moved to the Car Talk forum? I kind of wanted it in the 4G General since it was more of a comparison between the 4G which I currently own and the IS-F.

 

Are the IS's THAT small?! Even the IS350?

I gotta go and test drive one when I get back from Tokyo next week...

 

Our IS350 is definitely cramped. Nobody can fit behind me when I'm driving (I'm 6'3") and the baby's car seats JUST fits behind my wife. Still, we didn't buy the IS for size. My wife said she wanted it because she looked sexy in it and she does. I wanted it because its damn quick and the ML sound system is about the best oem one I've ever heard....

 

I have not driven them yet, but a friend has, and he did not mind it all. They do have a nice exhaust tone when on the gas tho, and I don't mine the look of them.

But you really can't compare the 2 cars.

 

I just saw one in Tokyo today drift through an intersection (please no Tokyo Drift jokes here). They sound freaking amazing.

What isn't there to compare? Both Sport/Performance Sedans, Both from the Japanese Luxury Market, Price (I paid $53k for my A-Spec, the IS-F is only $15k more), Interior Amenities.

I guess the IS-F is on a whole 'nother performance plain though.

 

Answered your own question....