Lexus ISF For The Wife
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Drives Slowly
Lexus ISF For The Wife
Hey guys. I need your opinions. It's time to get the wife a new car as she just turned in her IS350 (she loved it). I was looking at a new E92 M3 or C63 for her and was not even considering another Lexus.
As I started to search for the new ride I came across some new loaded 2008 ISFs for $49,000.00 ($62,000 window sticker). I hate to say it, but undercutting the BMW and AMG by $10-20k is really making me consider one of these.......... despite the worlds worst appearing exhaust.
What do ya think?
As I started to search for the new ride I came across some new loaded 2008 ISFs for $49,000.00 ($62,000 window sticker). I hate to say it, but undercutting the BMW and AMG by $10-20k is really making me consider one of these.......... despite the worlds worst appearing exhaust.
What do ya think?
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Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Syd, Australia
2012 C63
Top Gear didn't think too much of this ISF. They thought have 8 gears (I think) was way over the top and it just wasn't a good enough high end performance car, though not a bad first go by the house of Lexus.
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From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
SLS Irridium silver,2014 GL350 BT Irridium, 2015 White Dodge RAM Hemi Quad
If money is the biggest issue then go for it, it is substantially cheaper......for a reason. Cut the exhaust off and get something from TRD.
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
2009 C63 AMG
Just curious, what does she want? I hear I statements in there 
If she does not care so much, why drop the extra $$ on a higher performance car? Perhaps even an IS250 to save some $, assuming she was most happy with the looks (inside and out) and ride characteristics.
If she does not care so much, why drop the extra $$ on a higher performance car? Perhaps even an IS250 to save some $, assuming she was most happy with the looks (inside and out) and ride characteristics.
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Drives Slowly
I wish I could tell you......actually, I never asked her. I usually just bring a car home that I like and say: "Here honey, I got you a present... I hope you like it."
I guess I'm "old school." Some decisions are just better made by men.
CH: Have you driven the car? I drove one yesterday and was impressed by the overall package. Yeah the gearbox is no SMG but I know she will drive it in auto 100% of the time.
I guess I'm "old school." Some decisions are just better made by men.
CH: Have you driven the car? I drove one yesterday and was impressed by the overall package. Yeah the gearbox is no SMG but I know she will drive it in auto 100% of the time.
Last edited by Rock; Jun 5, 2009 at 12:09 PM.
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Super Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 546
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
2009 C63 AMG
I wish I could tell you......actually, I never asked her. I usually just bring a car home, that I like and say: "Here honey, I got you a present... I hope you like it."
I guess I'm "old school." Some decisions are just better made by men.
CH: Have you driven the car? I drove one yesterday and was impressed by the overall package. Yeah the gearbox is no SMG but I know she will drive it in auto 100% of the time.
I guess I'm "old school." Some decisions are just better made by men.
CH: Have you driven the car? I drove one yesterday and was impressed by the overall package. Yeah the gearbox is no SMG but I know she will drive it in auto 100% of the time.
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Joined: Nov 2007
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From: SFV CA
2008 Black Out C350 Saks Edition / 87 VW GTI
What about the new IS convertible
^
That's not old school, that's dinosaur school
guess I'm "old school." Some decisions are just better made by men.
That's not old school, that's dinosaur school
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Drives Slowly
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C63, IS-F
Get the IS-F. My wife loves hers and it keeps her disinterested in my car (less wife wear and tear- nail scratches, stains, crumbs, foot prints, misplaced everything etc). Honestly, both are a very nice complements. I enjoy the nimble feel (compared to my PP and lightened C63) of her ISF and appreciate all the technological details, great service, and bullet proof reliability. The Merc’s steering wheel, seats, torque, name, and look are what really strike a cord with me though. Also, both cars produce amazing sounds in their own way. The C63 sounds great at all RPMS while the IS-F has a really mean/nasty growl when the 2nd intake kicks in at above 3600 rpms.
The best part of our day caravanning to work. I kid you not, it is usually a drivers race between the two cars (I have 3500ish miles and she has 18,000). I have no idea how the IS-F keeps up because the C63 feels like a monster in comparison.
If I could do it all again I might get an M3 instead of the IS-F, but everyone has one and I am sick of BMW’s crappy “you need me” service attitude. So it is up to you. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of your choices. I hope that helps.
B
P.S. I wouldn’t get a black IS-F because you can’t appreciate the muscular lines. Black tends to look very similar to the base IS models. I personally love the Smokey Granite color (especially if you nickel pearl the emblems).
The best part of our day caravanning to work. I kid you not, it is usually a drivers race between the two cars (I have 3500ish miles and she has 18,000). I have no idea how the IS-F keeps up because the C63 feels like a monster in comparison.
If I could do it all again I might get an M3 instead of the IS-F, but everyone has one and I am sick of BMW’s crappy “you need me” service attitude. So it is up to you. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of your choices. I hope that helps.
B
P.S. I wouldn’t get a black IS-F because you can’t appreciate the muscular lines. Black tends to look very similar to the base IS models. I personally love the Smokey Granite color (especially if you nickel pearl the emblems).
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From: Vancouver, Canada
R8
Get the IS-F. My wife loves hers and it keeps her disinterested in my car (less wife wear and tear- nail scratches, stains, crumbs, foot prints, misplaced everything etc). Honestly, both are a very nice complements. I enjoy the nimble feel (compared to my PP and lightened C63) of her ISF and appreciate all the technological details, great service, and bullet proof reliability. The Merc’s steering wheel, seats, torque, name, and look are what really strike a cord with me though. Also, both cars produce amazing sounds in their own way. The C63 sounds great at all RPMS while the IS-F has a really mean/nasty growl when the 2nd intake kicks in at above 3600 rpms.
The best part of our day caravanning to work. I kid you not, it is usually a drivers race between the two cars (I have 3500ish miles and she has 18,000). I have no idea how the IS-F keeps up because the C63 feels like a monster in comparison.
If I could do it all again I might get an M3 instead of the IS-F, but everyone has one and I am sick of BMW’s crappy “you need me” service attitude. So it is up to you. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of your choices. I hope that helps.
B
P.S. I wouldn’t get a black IS-F because you can’t appreciate the muscular lines. Black tends to look very similar to the base IS models. I personally love the Smokey Granite color (especially if you nickel pearl the emblems).
The best part of our day caravanning to work. I kid you not, it is usually a drivers race between the two cars (I have 3500ish miles and she has 18,000). I have no idea how the IS-F keeps up because the C63 feels like a monster in comparison.
If I could do it all again I might get an M3 instead of the IS-F, but everyone has one and I am sick of BMW’s crappy “you need me” service attitude. So it is up to you. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of your choices. I hope that helps.
B
P.S. I wouldn’t get a black IS-F because you can’t appreciate the muscular lines. Black tends to look very similar to the base IS models. I personally love the Smokey Granite color (especially if you nickel pearl the emblems).
As for the colour of the IS-F, I think that electric blue (not sure what the actual name is) is pretty nice...shows the lines of the car rather well.
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 405
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From: Los Angeles, CA
07' IS 350, 08' E550
Spot On
Get the IS-F. My wife loves hers and it keeps her disinterested in my car (less wife wear and tear- nail scratches, stains, crumbs, foot prints, misplaced everything etc). Honestly, both are a very nice complements. I enjoy the nimble feel (compared to my PP and lightened C63) of her ISF and appreciate all the technological details, great service, and bullet proof reliability. The Merc’s steering wheel, seats, torque, name, and look are what really strike a cord with me though. Also, both cars produce amazing sounds in their own way. The C63 sounds great at all RPMS while the IS-F has a really mean/nasty growl when the 2nd intake kicks in at above 3600 rpms.
The best part of our day caravanning to work. I kid you not, it is usually a drivers race between the two cars (I have 3500ish miles and she has 18,000). I have no idea how the IS-F keeps up because the C63 feels like a monster in comparison.
If I could do it all again I might get an M3 instead of the IS-F, but everyone has one and I am sick of BMW’s crappy “you need me” service attitude. So it is up to you. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of your choices. I hope that helps.
B
P.S. I wouldn’t get a black IS-F because you can’t appreciate the muscular lines. Black tends to look very similar to the base IS models. I personally love the Smokey Granite color (especially if you nickel pearl the emblems).
The best part of our day caravanning to work. I kid you not, it is usually a drivers race between the two cars (I have 3500ish miles and she has 18,000). I have no idea how the IS-F keeps up because the C63 feels like a monster in comparison.
If I could do it all again I might get an M3 instead of the IS-F, but everyone has one and I am sick of BMW’s crappy “you need me” service attitude. So it is up to you. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of your choices. I hope that helps.
B
P.S. I wouldn’t get a black IS-F because you can’t appreciate the muscular lines. Black tends to look very similar to the base IS models. I personally love the Smokey Granite color (especially if you nickel pearl the emblems).
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From: San Diego
G63 AMG, SL65 AMG, CLS550, S550, Tesla Model S Performance, Challenger SRT8
I drove an IS-F and honestly loved it. The thing that put me off was the interior trim was faux carbon fiber, and under the engine cover all the wires were exposed.
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From: Palos Verdes
'09 C63
To be honest, I don't think women (in general) care about going fast. IS-F is the same as IS to them so it doesn't matter if you get the 250 or what. Now IS convertible is a different story. You might hear a complain when you come back with the car with her saying "why you buy me the same car again?" haha
My mom doesn't care for a S65 or S63 so she got the S550...while my dad drives CL65. But not everyone are the same so I'm speaking generally speaking of course.
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From: THE Orange County, California
2024 C8 Z06- 2025 BMW CS- 2022 Porsche 992 GTS
Hey guys. I need your opinions. It's time to get the wife a new car as she just turned in her IS350 (she loved it). I was looking at a new E92 M3 or C63 for her and was not even considering another Lexus.
As I started to search for the new ride I came across some new loaded 2008 ISFs for $49,000.00 ($62,000 window sticker). I hate to say it, but undercutting the BMW and AMG by $10-20k is really making me consider one of these.......... despite the worlds worst appearing exhaust.
What do ya think?
As I started to search for the new ride I came across some new loaded 2008 ISFs for $49,000.00 ($62,000 window sticker). I hate to say it, but undercutting the BMW and AMG by $10-20k is really making me consider one of these.......... despite the worlds worst appearing exhaust.
What do ya think?
The residuals on 2008 with 10k miles are 53, 46, and 37 (24, 36, and 48 months) so you can figure out your lease payment if you get the MF. Im not sure how long these residuals are good for though. Lets say your MF is .00300-- a lease payment at 36 months with a 48k net cap would be circa 800 dollars with just drive offs and no bank fee.
I borrowed one for a weekend- nice exhaust note, reasonable down low power and great handling for a sedan. It was a bit slow into the triple digits but I didnt expect too much comparing it to what I have. I drove the crap out of it and made it leak oil in just 2 days though
As mentioned, the 8 speeds is just ludicrous and I found my self in gear limbo land a few times when in manual mode. Overall for the wifey, its a good car. It wont hold a candle to your E55 in a straight line but it will out handle it.
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Joined: Nov 2006
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From: California, USA
E63 P30, CL500 Sport
I've driven the IS-F a few times, and honestly I liked the drive a lot. I know it's not on the same level as the C63 or M3, but it is still a very fun car to drive. You'll be saving a lot of money yet still getting great performance. I'm sure you can even low-ball that price a little mroe.
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 273
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From: NY
CLK63 BS AUDI S5 AUDI Q7 4.2 SLine C230 Sport 2010 ML 350
Hey guys. I need your opinions. It's time to get the wife a new car as she just turned in her IS350 (she loved it). I was looking at a new E92 M3 or C63 for her and was not even considering another Lexus.
As I started to search for the new ride I came across some new loaded 2008 ISFs for $49,000.00 ($62,000 window sticker). I hate to say it, but undercutting the BMW and AMG by $10-20k is really making me consider one of these.......... despite the worlds worst appearing exhaust.
What do ya think?
As I started to search for the new ride I came across some new loaded 2008 ISFs for $49,000.00 ($62,000 window sticker). I hate to say it, but undercutting the BMW and AMG by $10-20k is really making me consider one of these.......... despite the worlds worst appearing exhaust.
What do ya think?
the whole wife, girlfriend car thing is a funny one.
I bought my GF a C230 and then I decided I wanted an S5 so I had no real reason to get it so I said - heres your new car and gave the 230 to a friend.
LOL - 6 mos later she sees the old 230 and says Ohhhh my old car you think he would let me borrow it for a few days and he can drive the S???
I can't win.
Which brings me to the IS-F - Someone in my building just got one and parks next to the S.
I have stared at those tailpipes for what seemed like hours and I mean STARED
- like what the hell? Is that aftermarket? They couldnt have possibly.....
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From: Vancouver, Canada
R8
Actually, I've seen quite a few of those IS-Fs driven by women. I toyed with the idea of getting one to replace my S4 with, and part of that reasoning was that it would be a car mainly driven by my wife. But I guess the AWD-factor (safety, mainly) of the Audi makes it a tough decision.
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Drives Slowly
Dr. Jones, I did the same thing when I took the car for a test drive last night. After my drive, I got out, walked around the car absorbing every crease and bulge and then BANG.....WTF is that? I'll be honest, that exhaust disaster is almost a deal breaker. Does anyone know the solution? I looked on ClubLexus but did not find anything yet.
Last edited by Rock; Jun 5, 2009 at 06:56 PM.
