I got an invitation to a free 2 hour performance driving event. I drove 140 miles to get there. This was a lot of fun. We all went to driving school where they talked about what it takes to do a hairpin turn. We got 4 chances to drive an IS250/350 on the skid pad through the pylons on a short course...takes about 18 seconds. It was a blast. Then you go to high speed track and play follow the leader in the new IS-F v-8 415 HP. Wow...I was so impressed by the speed capable of these RWD cars through the turns. We only got to do two laps, but it was a real blast. The final event was a "hot lap" where you ride with a pro at full speed through the same course...very heavy braking while entering a turn. In our pre-ride class, they said if you were to buy the Brembo brake components for this car, they would be over 10k alone. My conclusion is that the IS-F is the complete package if you want a track ready car, yet is smooth and docile as any sporty road car. The seats are really comfortable and the gages are easily read.

As we left we got a Lexus "goodie" bag including a "taste of lexus" $750 rebate discount on any 08/09 Lexus purchased before 12/31/08.

The 140 miles ride home seemed a lot longer. I would also add that out of group I was with, I was by far the oldest at 53. The average age was under 30. I wonder how many of these "juniors" can put up 58k to buy one of these gems. By the way, when I got the invitation back in April, you had two options. The free 2 hour course, or a paid 4 hr course (250) where you get a lot more car time. If I had it to do again, I would do the paid course.

 

What time did you go? I was there at the 2:45 session.

Overall, I think the event was fun, but was too short. They also should have weeded out the people who clearly knew how to push the cars and put them in a separate group for the lead/follow exercise. Guy in front of me was so slow in the lead follow event that I kept having to brake to keep from mowing him down.

May post up a few pics once I get them loaded.

 

I'm soooooo jealous. I don't care what the critics say about the IS-F compared to the M or C63, it is HOT.

 

My friend and I drove from Cincinnati, OH to Joliet, IL to go to this event. It was a lot of fun IMO. We would have also done the 4 hour paid event if we had the chance. We got lucky and had only like 12 people in our group, so we were able to do the 18 sec autocross track about 8-9 times each. I was really impressed with the IS-F. The event was put together really well too.

 

More Pics:

 

I was scheduled for 10:00am, but I got there early and they moved me up to 9:15am because they had a small group.

 

yea...it doesn't matter if you pre-register or not. If you show up, they will let you in and try to put you into some group.

 

Wow that looks like fun? When/where are they doing this again, does anyone know?

 

Interesting,

I was doing a web search the other day but was hard put to find driving schools like those chase scenes shown in the movies. You know, where you spin the car 180 then do 60 in reverse then spin again after you have shot up all the bad guys.
Probably doesn't work with a FWD vehicle?
All BS aside, does anyone know some good driving schools?

MC

 

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&c...chools&spell=1

 

I went to the Atlanta event with a couple of friends who are also on the board. We actually went two days because we wanted more seat time. It was a good event; just not enough seat time.

I was able to put my name up on the board both days as the fastest driver in the group in autocross. That was pretty fun.

This event was different from others in the fact that they wanted you to push it hard, learn and have fun. For the same style of driving, Mazda kicked me out, and Mercedes told me to take it easy. Pussies.

Kudos to Lexus. I was very impressed with their event and the cars. I can honestly say that Lexus can do performance cars now, especially with the upcoming LF-A.

 

Driving School without a manual trans FTL. Glad you guys had fun though.

 

There was an IS-F at the autocross I went to last weekend. It did pretty well, and the exhaust sounds nice. I'd still take the M3 though

 

Mid-Ohil School in Lexington, Ohio uses Acura TSXs, if you want to use a FWD car.

http://www.midohioschool.com/

They also have Civics and S2000's.

Do you drive a TL-S?

 

Great turn out, but yellow shoes ftl.

 

Thanks cbptls/Dan This looks like a great site. I did a search and only came up with race schools instead of the evasive driving. This looks like a great site/school

 

I saw a ISF about two weeks ago on the street here ... still remember those stacked pipes .. would be a blast to drive those beasts ....

 

I drove the ISF last November at SEMA. Nice cars.....

 

The event sounds like a blast, and I have to imagine it must be hella fun to be able to *safely* take a car up to those kinds of speeds...

At the same time, I just can't imagine feeling *totally* in control of a car that didn't allow me to row through the gears myself, nor can I imagine it being as engaging w/o a manny. For that reason, a Lexus IS-F would never be on my short list, regardless of economics...

 

Local BMW dealer is offering an 08 ISF Grey/Black loaded 13k miles for $43,995 listed in the paper (different than online price). Seems like an insanely good deal. If it were a better looking car and I wasn't so practical, is awfully tempting.

http://www.erhardbmw.com/VehicleDetails/528201933

I got the itch for something.

 

Not bad. There's an 08 ISF with 11K miles for 40K at the Lexus dealership here. Unfortunately it's that fugly sonic blue color. I still can't get over the tailpipes but the power is impressive.

You not feeling a lightly used M3 sedan?

 

It's a lovely engine wrapped around a stale interior and blah exterior. And those longish throws and rubbery shifter bug me. If I go ze Deutschland route, it will probably be a new p-car. My favorite sports sedan currently is the C63 AMG, but wish it offered a 6MT and a TL interior - along with Honda reliability of course.

Anywhoo, I'm too sensible when it comes to these things, tis the bane of my existence. That and I'm a mag racer.

 

P-car you won't regret it. My FA even gave me the thumbs up since I got an insane deal on it. Of course that's after I had fully funded my 401K Safe Harbor LOL.