Picture Gallery: 2009 Lexus IS-F | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Discuss
 Click Image to Enlarge |
Even though it may look much like a typical Lexus IS 350 or IS 250, it is obvious when you take more than a single glance that this machine is built for speed, from the sloping front grille and brake cooling ducts in the front bumper, the vented front fenders and all the way to the rear where four exhaust tips greet you with the smell of burnt fuel.
 Click Image to Enlarge |
What do you get in the 2009 Lexus IS-F for a starting price of $66,450? Less than you may expect on some fronts: no Bluetooth or satellite radio, and no reverse camera or navigation system. For those items you need to add the $4,100 Series 2 package, which also adds a 14-speaker Mark Levinson audio system.
But you do get some content that some would argue matters more, such as: custom heated leather seats, dual-zone climate control, moonroof, keyless entry and start, auto headlights and wipers and a 13-speaker premium audio system that is still pretty darn good.
Of course, what matters most in a car like this is what is under the hood, and Lexus hasn’t skimped here. The 5.0-litre V8 engine that outputs 416 horsepower and 371 lb-ft of torque, which is mated to a smooth and fast-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission, rockets the IS-F from 0-100km/h in under five seconds.
2009 Lexus IS F
MSRP as tested (excluding destination): $66,450
For more information on Lexus and the IS-F visit Lexus Canada
 Click Image to Enlarge |
While the IS-F is understated with a little bit of pizazz on the outside, it’s just as understated on the inside. The seats are different and there is a slight difference in the gauge cluster but besides that, the IS-F’s interior is virtually identical to that of the IS350 and IS250 sedans.
I am not saying that is a bad thing or a good thing; I’ll let you be the judge of that. Certainly, it saves Lexus some money and allows them to offer this car at a fairly reasonable cost (I can already hear the gripes about that comment). The one thing I think I did figure out is the purpose of the blank button on the steering wheel. It’s kind of humourous actually: I mentioned a blank button in both my previous IS sedan reviews (250 and 350) and it’s here again — I’m going to guess it’s where the Bluetooth phone button goes!
 Click Image to Enlarge |
There is a ski pass-through but no folding rear seats, and this vehicle is a four-seater only as the drive shaft takes up a considerable amount of interior space. The center of the rear seating area is a hard plastic panel that is not appealing at all.
Also, note that this is not a large car, and while rear leg room is okay for smaller people with averaged sized people in the front, tall folks will have issues with this vehicle (as well as its competitors, the BMW M3 and Mercedes C63 AMG).
 Click Image to Enlarge |
How does the eight-speed automatic transmission work out? It depends what mode you are in. Leave it in regular driving mode and it shifts smoothly and quickly and often. With a light touch on the throttle, I watched today as it shifted every 200 rpm, to be in fourth gear by 40km/h, and then a new gear every 10km/h thereafter.
 Click Image to Enlarge |
In sport mode, it is difficult to pull away from a stop without snapping your passenger’s neck back or spinning the tires. But throttle response is more predictable and the transmission shifts at different points and holds gears longer, depending on how aggressive you are being with the throttle at the time. The shifts are also quicker and more jarring; the transmission feels very much like a dual-clutch manual in this mode.
Another annoying thing about regular mode is that you have all this power yet step on the gas on the highway and too many downshifts are required to get that power to the wheels. Again, this is eliminated in sport mode — they really should just do away with the silly button.
I tried snow mode briefly, too. I’m sure it is useful in the winter but not when you want to go fast. Annoyingly, sport mode is deactivated when you shut off the vehicle, and even more annoyingly, the traction control turns itself back on after you hit about 60km/h from what I can tell.
There is a lot of power available from the 5.0-litre V8, and roasting the rear tires off the car is not a problem. Get on the loud pedal and for the first 3,500 rpm you get moving briskly but no sound emanates from under the hood, unfortunately. But above 3,500 and until about 5,000 rpm a wonderful baritone howl coaxes you on. Again, there are differences here in the different modes: in regular mode you seem to only hear this wonderful symphony for 2,000 rpm in the meat of the power band, but in sport mode it seems to keep on giving.
The steering is weighted nicely in the IS F; not too rubbery, and personally, where I find the BMW 3 Series sports packages too heavy, the Lexus has it just right. Although some may say the suspension is rough and crashes over bumps, I find it to be perfectly fine — flat in the corners and great ride control on the road. It certainly is not anywhere near as rough as a 3 Series sports package equipped car — not even close.
 Click Image to Enlarge |
Gas mileage was okay for the week, with an average of 12.8L/100km, which isn’t too bad considering I tended to mash the throttle at least two or three times each time I hit the road, because I liked the sound of the engine on full boil. The eight-speed transmission provides great cruising comfort at 2,000 rpm at 120km/h on the highway.
The IS-F has all the right ingredients to make an excellent car, but it is missing one major component for a great sports sedan: a soul. Perhaps, over time, Lexus will improve this offering and make it more a driver’s car than a cruiser.
*Rating out of 5:
| 2009 Lexus IS F | |
| Acceleration | 
|
| Handling | 
|
| Comfort | |
| Interior |
|
| Audio System | |
| Gas Mileage |  |
*Rating based on vehicle’s classification
2009 Lexus IS F
MSRP as tested (excluding destination): $66,450
For more information on Lexus and the IS F visit Lexus Canada
to our site.
August 14, 2009, 10:44:11 pm
Because there's not actually a "current RS4." At least in the States, the B7 RS4 hasn't been on sale since model year 2008.
August 14, 2009, 11:35:13 pm
Oh yea...well I bet the RS4 has a better interior.
August 15, 2009, 09:10:09 am ..not enuf perceived BANG fer the buck IMHO......fake exhaust tips....shared looks with the $30K model...............and those seats.....
August 15, 2009, 09:33:04 am The exhaust isn't fake saf only the pre-production had fake exhaust.
August 15, 2009, 09:34:04 am ..and the fake room
August 15, 2009, 11:37:02 am
Now that you have been driving this car for a few days, do you think that it is worth the price Lexus is asking for? or would you rather take your money to the competition (ie. MB, BMW, Audi, Infinity) ? Thanks in advance.
Infiniti has no competition for the IS-F, and until the next-generation RS4 is revealed, neither does Audi.
The more important thing is Lexus has no competition for the G37 coupe. The IS-F is a very niche vehicle, more so than the M3. Don't think the likes of the Infiniti/BMW/Audi are concern with putting out a car to match it. That say, the aftermarket can mod an existing car to match the IS-F for those who want something in a sexier body-shell.
August 15, 2009, 12:57:21 pm LOL
August 15, 2009, 12:58:38 pm You've seen too many movies ... they are NOT real! Show some numbers to prove your words.
August 15, 2009, 02:47:57 pm
I thought you cross-shopped everything, even if there was a price difference or even if it was a different category of vehicle? Yet when there's a 25% price difference between two 420 horsepower V8 high-performance luxury sedans, there's "no competition"? Wouldn't it be worth at least checking out both to see what each offer?
Regardless, for the next-generation, it looks like Audi will price its RS4 more in line with the competition. The next-gen Audi S4 will sell for $45,900 in the States (url=http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/14/audi-prices-2010-s4-in-u-s-from-45-900/]source[/url]), only $3,000 more than a 335xi (if I recall correctly, the B7 S4 was halfway between the 335i and M3 in price). I suspect that the next-gen RS4 and RS5 will be just a few thousand more expensive than an M3, which seems fair to me considering the AWD and the better standard equipment Audi typically gives you.
August 15, 2009, 08:25:54 pm The RS5 will be stunning in every way...
August 15, 2009, 09:41:20 pm
I thought you cross-shopped everything, even if there was a price difference or even if it was a different category of vehicle? Yet when there's a 25% price difference between two 420 horsepower V8 high-performance luxury sedans, there's "no competition"? Wouldn't it be worth at least checking out both to see what each offer?
In the US, the RS4 is at least "in the ball park" to consider it with it's peers. I have no idea why it goes out of the ball park and into the ocean here....(it was $94,000 here!)
Sure you'd cross shop all....but getting into the $95,000 range is a HUGE leap. My price quote on an IS-F was $62,000. At that level, we're talking a nearly 50% premium for the RS4. Not to mention there are better cars to consider for that kind money (Just for starters, GT-R is $6K less or so).
What was the RS4 in the US? $70ish?
August 15, 2009, 10:36:23 pm
Started at $66,910. About $10k more than the starting prices for the M3 and IS-F, though the AWD was partly responsible for that and it had better standard equipment than the M3. It was expensive for the class, but still in the same ballpark (unlike in Canada).
August 15, 2009, 11:43:21 pm You'll not believe the price of the vehicle I am driving next week. RS4 will seem like a bargain of the century!
August 16, 2009, 12:45:50 am ^^ Chevy Volt @ Full Retail?
Just read day 3 driving impressions, sound like the IS-F needs a good old fashion 6-speed manual.
August 16, 2009, 01:56:04 am
But then what would do all the beeping?
August 16, 2009, 09:27:01 am ^^ ... a few good choices ... pick the right time of the month to have a female companion on the passenger seat, playing a sensored version of Eddie Murphy / Chris Rock CD, and have a $39.99 Waltmart Special Radar detector on the dash ...
August 17, 2009, 11:13:05 am rrocket is going to be foaming at the mouth over day 4
Anyway, I wasn't surprised to read this part. I had always suspected as much:
August 18, 2009, 04:22:44 pm The IS-F has all the right ingredients to make an excellent car, but it is missing one major component for a great sports sedan: a soul. Perhaps, over time, Lexus will improve this offering and make it more a driver’s car than a cruiser.
Kia that! I have doubts that Lexus' gonna make a perfect Zoom Zoom, but they will make one make prints perfect money.
August 22, 2009, 08:10:36 pm Are you a professional journalist? You write very well.
August 22, 2009, 11:00:21 pm No he's a charlatan.
August 23, 2009, 01:31:25 am Isn't that the definition of a professional?
August 23, 2009, 07:00:44 pm Charleton D'Accord...............let Queen sign the note.....can those buggers even..PRINT....
August 24, 2009, 02:17:06 pm
That's GT-R list prive vs. ZR-1 list price...
But the cars you were comparing the base IS250 against were likely not base cars., especially the 328i you sampled comes base with 16" wheels.
I'm curious...what about the IS250 you could not get comfy about? The IS250 has 2" more front legroom than a 3 Series. Was it the seat you didn't like?? Or??
Down here in the Bay area, a GT-R goes for 79k(MSRP) + 15k markup(mandatory). I don't know how the hell is that a lot cheaper than the ZR1....
August 24, 2009, 02:21:32 pm mandatory? haha
August 25, 2009, 08:45:37 pm
Well the price tag that's plastered beside the usual MSRP/spec sheet shows "Dealer markup" as an item above the final cost. Yes they don't even bother calling it something other than markup.