Lexus IS F | Spotted
The original hot Lexus saloon was fun with a capital F
Good old Lexus. The enthusiast car community was still in mourning (or so we like to think) about the demise of 5.0-litre V8s from the new car lineup, only for them to show a new one at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. With a race car equivalent, too. They rumbled and thundered up the hill together, looking sleek, sexy, and very un-Lexus like. Just as hoped for from the spy shots, and the perfect thing to indirectly replace the LFA with. Sooner than expected, too.
Only we know nothing about it - apart from that engine configuration. Lexus hasn’t ascribed a name to the new model, or any kind of technical specification. We’d have to assume it will be on sale and in competition, though it’s not clear when. On the one hand, when the world knows everything about anything all the time, it’s quite a cool approach to play cards so close to your chest. On the other, when it’s something as interesting as a new V8 Lexus, it’s hard not to clamour for every possible tidbit.
It’s happening at least, and that’s the important thing; it would be a shame for the Lexus F cars to die out, given everything that the performance offshoot achieved with very few models. The LFA, put simply, was one of the greatest supercars ever created; the GS F demonstrated that a senior supersaloon didn’t need 600hp to be very good indeed. And the IS F showed that Lexus could make a proper M3 rival at the very first time of asking.
Those years immediately prior to the 2008 financial apocalypse really were glorious for super-saloons. A small 5.0-litre Lexus saloon would seem mad these days (apart from in the US, of course), though back then the IS F was merely welcomed into the ranks as another of the gang. Mercedes would sell you a 6.2-litre C-Class, after all, and BMW an 8,500rpm 3 Series - a 5.0-litre didn’t really stand out all that much. The last few B7 RS4s were being sold, Vauxhall offered up a 6.2-litre VXR8 for about nine quid, and there was even a VR6-engined Skoda Superb for those who didn’t need at least 400hp. Those were the days.
While not perfect, thanks in part to an overly firm ride, the IS F was undoubtedly good enough to take on the established German makers. Not many sold, sadly, for the usual Lexus reasons - we really like our AMG, RS and M badges - but it ensured that Lexus was on the fast car radar like it never had been before.
It only improved from 2008, too, with a MY2011 facelift introducing a standard Torsen limited-slip diff as well as softening off the ride just a tad. They’re typically regarded as the ones to have, particularly with an updated look and new wheels, but seem even harder to come by. That or folk with them simply choose never to sell.
This must be one of the best Fs we’ve seen in a while. It’s a facelifted car in the very smart Ultrasonic Blue Mica; it’s only ever been serviced in the Lexus network for the 15 years from its first registration, and was still being sold as an approved used example as recently as last August. So it’s a corker: paint, wheels and interior are pretty much perfect. The legendary longevity is what makes Lexuses such appealing used buys. 15-year-old AMGs don’t tend to look quite this good.
The asking price is £22k, or not very far off what’s being asked for a similarly specced 2011 car. The rarity and significance have ensured pretty strong residuals for the original F saloon. A comparable C63 AMG, for example, is £17,495; you won’t get in a V8 M3 saloon for less than £20k these days. RS4s are really going strong, with low mileage (50k) ones at £25k. Plenty to think about, then, just as it was in the late '00s. But if you’d feel more confident in an old Lexus than an old AMG or M car, nobody would blame you…
SPECIFICATION | LEXUS IS F
Engine: 4,968cc V8
Transmission: 8-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 423@6,600rpm
Torque (lb ft): 372@5,200rpm
MPG: 24.8
CO2: 270g/km
Year registered: 2010
Recorded mileage: 68,000
Price new: £57,105
Yours for: £21,940
In my mind it would be a reliable m3.
I’m not brave enough to run a e90 m3 as some of the maintenance costs are scary. Rod bearings being a consumable item. M tax on everything.
Its too thirsty and compromised to be a good daily. For that I want a nice comfortable cheap to run car.
But with an auto mated to this it’s not special enough to be a weekend car for me.
It falls into no mans land. Too god to use not special enough to be a weekend only car.
Real shame as I love 99% of it.
I remember it fondly but the F80 M3 comp that replaced it was in a different performance league, absolute weapon, and yet even with the 20's felt like a magic carpet in comparison.
I did move on from the M3 though after risking a year outside warranty because I started to get nervous about bills, something I never had with the F.
Absolutely brilliant to own and dirt cheap to run (tax aside). Sounded incredible with an exhaust, was big enough for 4 people but not too big on the road and would cruise on the motorway with ease, while still being able to hammer a B-road. I did general servicing myself and only issue I had was the valley-plate coolant leak, which unfortunately is the only real issue these have. Costs around £2,000 to fix and is detectable by a slow loss of coolant.
I'd recommend one to anyone PROVIDING you change the suspension
The standard ride is unbearable on UK roads, but much improved with some coilovers. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff