lexus IS-F thoughts?? or Audi RS4???

[TCMEDIA]

W124 said:

I've driven the Lexus very briefly - at Millbrook. I loved it. It sounds mental - much drama, rarity and general silliness. Even on a totally dry track it'll slide about all over the place. I nearly crashed it. Full marks.

LOL...this is great when its you "do everything car" eg. commute + fun all in one but my GF will be driving this and from the video reviews I have watched Tiff off 5th gear lost the back end and spun it saying "this car NEVER EVER understeers" which is very fun but Im a tad worried about this fact as the rs4 is 4wd and quite hard to "lose it" from what i have heard.

[W124]

In all fairness, I was driving deliberately stupidly - I imagine the TC is very good - Tis' a Lexus after all. It really is a car I liked a lot. The RS4 seems a bit more hum-drum to me. I suspect you could get tolerable MPG out of the IS-F as it does have an 8 speed box. The software for that unit will be updated every time it goes in. They may catch up with the ZF box at some point - certainly, it'll get close. Great car. For my money the 'big wheel, big grill' Audi thing suddenly looks incredibly dated. Get the Lexus.

[beck1234567]

I went for a test drive in the ISF and the suspension was extremely stiff, far too hard for our poor surfaces, was also disappointed with only four seats and the boot is not the biggest. Other than that it was a nice place to be, the sound on full chatter was really good and the promised reliability and service from Lexus is a major plus point.

From what I remember they only got an LSD in 2011 which apparently improved the handling. Residuals are likely to be poorer for the ISF as from what I can gather for the last few years Lexus seemed to have most of the stock and the earliest ones are approaching 5 years old and may start moving out of the dealer network and reaching their true value. Just my opinion though...

[TCMEDIA]

I've been down to the Lexus dealers and had a good nose over the isf again and it looks stunning in person. Very low and mean just one thing that I think it needs is wheels spacing out 10-15mm so the rim is flush with the arch that's it!!

Test driving it Wednesday can't wait.

[TCMEDIA]

Took the RS4 out this morning

First impressions ver very good, feels solid, sounds nice and gear change was very smooth and slick. Motor was smooth but felt less powerful than I imagined, Its smooth but feels quite flat bellow 5K rpm IMHO which is fine but I did expect it to feel more torquey?

Exhaust note was great not too loud but you can hear it when your pressing on

Car averaged 22.4mpg when I got in it (not sure over what distance) and my mpg for the test drive was 14.9mpg. If the car would average 22.4mpg this is ok for daily use IMO so Im happy with that.

The major problem with it was the driver seat base/seat just seems to be to high at the front? Rather than your legs being stretched out in front of you they feel bent up over the front lip of the seat on the back of your thigh's?

Im thinking the Non-bucket seat car audi have in stock may be a better daily drive car as this is quite important to me as my current car has a poor seating position and it drives me mad! LOL...

Lexus test tomorrow

[VVOODY]

I've had my IS-F for a little over 6months, its a mid 2008 model and had 53K miles on it, so well run in.

After doing 10K miles in it, the only problem I had was the climate control threw a fit a week after I had it, but it was fixed with a new climate ecu and loom. Other than that troble free. First service was done a week or so ago (70K miles one was due) and cost £240, which I was expecting a lot more.

The positives, the performance stuff clearly, its fast, makes a great noise but the fact that i'm averaging 24ish and have seen over 30 tank average on a steady cruise, is great. The 8 speed auto is a pussy cat when cruising but changes completely when in manual mode, instant changes when your on it.

The negative stuff, the ride is very firm, it makes everything else regarded as stiff feel comfortable. The quality of the leather isn't great, i've mangaged to scuff the drivers seat bolster already, never done that before! Also which is more of a Lexus thing than specifically ISF, but the electronic systems in the car are not as intergrated as say and Audi or BM. Buttons everywhere rather than all intergrated into one system. A minor thing, but a niggle none the less.

Did I make the right choice........absolutely. I'd looked at M3's while in my previous 330i Coupe, and to be honest, for me the IS-F looked the better proposition, as a used buy anyway.

Hope that helps.

[TCMEDIA]

Thanks for the reply!

I know what you mean about the leather. The Lexus leather is very soft and supple (which I'm most cases means better quality?) But inactive car where the leather is used and abused a lot then I'm not sure if this is a down side

I'm taking the Lexus out tonight (snowing so that's not to good) so I'm looking forward to trying the gearbox out as I've only driven a comfy omega auto and gtr. The gtr was awesome so I'm not expecting the Lexus to match that!!

Any one driven an rs4 and isf? I drove the rs4 and the ride was fine. Softer than my Megane 225 cup so I'm hoping the Lexus ride is not massivley stiffer than the rs4 to be honest.

[Contigo]

RS4 as Lexus do absolutely nothing for me and I don't see any comparison. The B7 has aged really well and still looks great.

See 4 a week someone wrote? No way, lucky to see 1 a month and that's in the busy South and I trip to London alot.

[Ali_T]

If you can afford it, get a 2010 onwards IS-F with the LSD. Supposedly improves the car no end. I really fancy one of these. About the only Japanese car I do fancy now, after nearly two decades of them. My only other choice is an XF-R, but waiting until the facelifts are a bit cheaper.

[Four Litre]

TCMEDIA said:

Thanks for the reply!

I know what you mean about the leather. The Lexus leather is very soft and supple (which I'm most cases means better quality?) But inactive car where the leather is used and abused a lot then I'm not sure if this is a down side

I'm taking the Lexus out tonight (snowing so that's not to good) so I'm looking forward to trying the gearbox out as I've only driven a comfy omega auto and gtr. The gtr was awesome so I'm not expecting the Lexus to match that!!

Any one driven an rs4 and isf? I drove the rs4 and the ride was fine. Softer than my Megane 225 cup so I'm hoping the Lexus ride is not massivley stiffer than the rs4 to be honest.

When you take out the ISF, make sure you drive it with Sport mode on, the other modes - Snow and Normal calm it down quite dramatically. I stick it in normal when tootling around town. Sport in Manual is a massive difference. I have a 2008 without the mechanical slip diff, cant say I have any problems. Suspension is a bit on the hard side but I feel it gives it a more sporty feel if nothing else!

[jjr1]

I did 89,000 miles in my ISF over three years and it was the most reliable car I have ever owned.

24.5mpg av for the whole period.

As for being easy to spin that is just Top Gear ste they grip like buggery !

[Deerfoot]

So, what did you think of the Lexus?

[Fidgits]

TCMEDIA said:

Thanks for the reply!

I know what you mean about the leather. The Lexus leather is very soft and supple (which I'm most cases means better quality?) But inactive car where the leather is used and abused a lot then I'm not sure if this is a down side

I'm taking the Lexus out tonight (snowing so that's not to good) so I'm looking forward to trying the gearbox out as I've only driven a comfy omega auto and gtr. The gtr was awesome so I'm not expecting the Lexus to match that!!

Any one driven an rs4 and isf? I drove the rs4 and the ride was fine. Softer than my Megane 225 cup so I'm hoping the Lexus ride is not massivley stiffer than the rs4 to be honest.

Can you do me a favour and ask Lexus if you can fit a towbar to the isf

Thanks

[TCMEDIA]

Deerfoot said:

So, what did you think of the Lexus?

Far better drive than the RS4 for me... Rs4 feels more sporty but bucket seats plus lack of low end torque makes the ISF look a far better option to me

Sorry just read the forum so didnt ask about a tow bar lol...

[GALLARDOGUY]

Google IS-F + Joe Z exhaust and will seal the deal.

[VVOODY]

Contigo said:

RS4 as Lexus do absolutely nothing for me and I don't see any comparison. The B7 has aged really well and still looks great.

See 4 a week someone wrote? No way, lucky to see 1 a month and that's in the busy South and I trip to London alot.

Don't see the comparison? V8 Super saloons with similar power and performance

[TCMEDIA]

Well guys,

ISF is getting picked up nest week!

Thanks for the help

[jamoor]

Get back to us in a couple of weeks!

[Deerfoot]

TCMEDIA said:

Well guys,

ISF is getting picked up nest week!

Thanks for the help

Good choice.

[GALLARDOGUY]

Good choice.

Perhaps I missed it, but what year and colour etc?