LOriginally Posted by Mr.M
The ISF is much, much faster. Especially more balanced. There were 3 VIP women in the ISF when we went out in the 350, which is why we seemed close. But when I rode we were all egging him on and trust me, he ate both 350's within one lap. Had at least 4 seconds on them.

Man there is a lot of brand whoring in here.

I got to ride 3 laps with an ALMS driver going 10/10ths in the ISF at Laguna Seca, so here's what I thought of it:

Engine was excellent. Gobs of torque.
Tranny was outstanding. As fast as the E46 M3's SMG, but a bit smoother on downshifts.
Handling: the car was on PS's, which are okay. What I was impressed with was the balance. Almost zero understeer. More balanced than the E36's I've drove and the E46's I've ridden in. I know most under steer is (bad) driver induced, but I've ridden in BMW's at the track with good drivers.

Power: I met the president of Lexus (some french dude) and he told me "more than the M3." where the sub-400 numbers are coming from is beyond me.

TC/etc.: It can all be turned completely off. Pro driver did a fatty burnout coming out of the pits :allright Again, more people talking out their ass.

Interior: When you turn off the TC it puts the seat belts in some kind of track mode that pin you to the seats HARD in braking/cornering. It was literally like being in harnesses, and pair that with the most comfortable sport seats I've ever been in, it was better than anything I've ever seen from BMW. No annoying bullshit iWank. Totally functional, basic interior.

Brakes are absolutely 100% better than anything BMW has recently made. Hands down. The E46 M3 would totally fade the brakes going into turn 2 (hairpin after long, 130+ MPH straight, downhill braking.) I was told by the driver the car was 100% stock.

Looks are subjective; no comment there.

Lexus service and reliability is 1000 times better than BMW. Ask anyone who's owned both recently.

I think the new M3 is going to be a fluffy pig, but fast. This car was stupid fast and more balanced than the M3 will probably be given that all BMW's under steer prolifically at the track.

Finally, for those of you who beat off to weight distribution: 50/50 is NOT the best nor the fastest, and even BMW's, with 50/50, have pretty poor handling (understeer) that you can't tune out from the factory. The ISF is more balanced with whatever weighting it has.

Personally, I was SERIOUSLY impressed. They have a car that will be excellent M3 competition despite just entering this market, and the comfort/usability is outstanding, not to mention how reliable it will be. It pwns the M5 hard, so I am sure it will compete with the M3. Now go back to speculating based on brand names

Impressive, sounds like an honest review, with a fair bit of fact over fiction.

I want one, but it aint gonna happen lol.

Ah.. man that sounds nice!!

I like the 'track seatbelts' when you turn the traction off...

The "track-mode" seatbelts sound like it just enables part of the pre-collision system that currently exists in the sports lux IS 250.

I am big Lexus supporter, as most of you know i now drive an IS250 sports lux after upgrading from an IS200. I have also convinced many mates to buy Lexus (RX 400h, GS 450h, ES 300, IS 250).

I have also driven an '02 M3, albeit only for around 30mins or so. But I am still struggling with the idea that the IS-F will out perform the '08 M3. I have no doubt that the IS-F will provide better value for money, better after sales service and more useability on a day-to-day basis.

But take them both to the track and I'm not so sure...

Please, please, please prove me wrong Lexus!!!

Not with THAT attitude!

Nice find Gary! Agreed, this sounds like a pretty excellent appraisal from someone who actually knows about cars and driving them hard, and the differences between a quick road car and a quick circuit car. And not just some armchair/keyboard warrior with an unfounded brand obsession.

Completely switchable traction and stability control and 'circuit-spec' seatbelts restore my faith in this car! A semi-auto transmission superior to the SMG is surprising (but not greatly when you consider that the Japense have been leaders in electronics for many years now) and the comments on the Lexus interior vs i(can't-figure-out-how-to)Drive are bang on target.

But I won't be sure about the ISF until I hear what Yangfan has to say about it :lol:

Let's see based on his current form, it will either be a "gay car" or "strange people drive it."

Or, he will compare it to a car that is totally the opposite of what the IS-F is meant to be.

Yup like a GT3 Carrera or a F430, also cars which he could buy rofl

Sounds like an AWESOME car and an even better ride, I really REALLY hope they get a few in at work so I can have a bit of a drive :P. Unlikely but theres always hope!