2009 Lexus IS-F Review & Road Test
June 23, 2009 by Karl Peskett
2009 Lexus IS-F Review & Road Test
Lexus is getting there…
Model Tested:
- 2009 Lexus IS-F, 5.0-litre V8, eight-speed automatic – $129,900
Options:
- None fitted
Great package, handling, exhaust noise, looks
Too many gears, hard ride, power delivery, the $5 green LED clock
CarAdvice Rating: 
- by Karl Peskett and Alborz Fallah
Photography by www.ozcarsightings.com and Tristan Schoonens
Alborz and I are going to have an argument and it’s going to be big. That’s the beauty of having differing personalities I guess, you each get to think what you want.
The problem comes when you need to give your opinion, and when you do it together, they can sometimes clash. As it stands, I personally believe that BMW’s M3 Sedan is possibly the best car of 2009, because it ticks every box that I can think of.
But Alborz’s opinion on things is a little different. He thinks that Lexus’s IS-F is the best car he’s driven, and that is where our opinions diverge.
Read the rest of Karl’s Review
.
Karl is an idiot. We spent an entire month travelling across Europe together on the Full Throttle trip, arguing over the IS-F versus the BMW M3, so much so that we decided to write two reviews just so we could argue with each other publicly.
Here is the thing with the IS-F, it’s so far my favourite car under $150,000 for 2009. There are a lot of mixed reviews about Lexus’ first attempt at the luxury performance market. Most like the car but consistently say that the BMW M3 is the better choice and you know what, I agree, but I’d still buy the Lexus, so let me tell you why.
Read the rest of Alborz’s Review.
Once again, Realcars is reborn at the sight of a Lexus or Toyota title via Ctrl+F. Mindless brand bashing – take it elsewhere mate.
I think the IS-F is lagging the competition but it will will ensure that this segment remains competitive which is only a good thing.
“alex” when i drove the m3 4door it does not have the same torque band that the lexus isf & amg has both lexus and benz are awsome to drive the bmw lacks that sheer grunt factor! and a large number of journalists agree the 4door m3 is ugly and not in keeping with the 2door m3 which is a lot better looking car, in my opinion in this segment its isf 1st. amg63 2nd. m3 3rd. and before i decided on the lexus i took the lot for a good drive, i never looked at the audi rs4 its way to out dated!
“I will go out on a limb here and say I WOULD HAVE THE W427 over this,GO ahead laugh,but who would be laughing in 10years time???”
What makes you think your W427 will last 10 years? Your glorified taxi will start falling apart in 2 years…
I agree with Karl the M3 sedan IS a better car, but only with the PROPER 6 SPEED MANUAL GEARBOX, with the optional smg they would be pretty line ball for me, but as I would never buy an auto no matter how good, its the Manual M3 all the way for me, IMO.
Alex, although some of the time you do come across as being a little, shall we say, pompous, I also have to admit that you do actually make a lot of sense in most of your comments.
And well spotted with the Ferodo comment, how ironic indeed.
Can someone please tell me why a person can missspell the word “too” and be able to afford a $130,000 car?
Good point there, Neo Utopia. Although, it might have been a slip on the keyboard, like “Missspell”.
Speaking of whom, how is she these days? :)
Yeah sorry for that, it’s pretty hard to try and type on a phone while on the buss when the buss driver is driving like he stole it!
I do think though that this car looks sooooo much better than the old lexuses. Gee, three posts from me on this article, I must be bored after a quite day at work, when will this economy pick up?
Neo Utopia this isnt twitter where you can just post complete garbage. If you got something to say about the car, then say it, if not no one wants to know about your working life.
Great Car, Great Write Up “ALBORZ” This Is a Winner Over The Overrated M3 In My Books! Best 4 Door High Performance Car Of 2009! ANTI-SPAM BMWM3 HA! HA!
“Neo Utopia” go away and play somewhere else,and what model push bike do you own?
It’s just a Toyota in fancy clothes…I would go for an equivalent MERC or BMW anyday. And why would you spend $130,000 when for a little more you can get C63 AMG or a M3.
Also I never really liked the interior or exterior design of this car.
The funny thing about all this is the assumption, that, one can afford an extra “10%” of a cars value, given that, what is $13,000 to someone who can afford $129,000?
10% of a cars price is huge (the difference between $129,000 and $143,000 – IS F, C63, respectively). Let me put this into perspective, a Kia Cerato (entry level) is about $20,000. 10% is quite obviously, $2,000 and so that brings us to $22,000. Do you have an idea how much a) $2,000 is and b) how hard you have to work to bargain a cars price by even an insignifican sounding figure of but 1% (or $200)?
If a car is in high demand (M3, C63 – IS F included), good luck getting anything off it, second hand ones sell for above RRP. This is where the IS F plays it’s major trump card, price. $13,000 is a huge saving for someone who’s going to be using this as a daily driver but want’s something more than a HSV Senator. Like has been said, there’s a good chance they’re leased anyway but do consider that, $13,000 is a substantial figure and that’s money that could be better spent elsewhere.
I Agree Shawn, I don`t like the style of this car either, because it has no style. There is no doubting they can build a good reliable car but they have absolutely no sense of style and seriously I can`t name one Lexus that is desirable. Seriously guys when was the last time you looked at a Lexus and went whoaaaa , yeah I`m guessing never.
“CHARLIE” there’s only one thing on this site that has no style and there’s no way it’s the lexus isf buddy!
Ok I appologize to readers for briefly digressing off topic, but for a person to tell me to go away will definitely be reported to the moderator of this website, I don’t take bullying from no one, all bullyers should be reprimanded!
“neo utopia” it just seems to me that you have very little knowledge of this vehicle, there is no bullying in that! read up on the vehicle first so as you can add an educiated comment!
You cant knock a great car, the ISF is just that, I get tired of reading comments from people that somehow must seem to believe, that unless the car can perform like a rocket on rails, but feel like your lying under the summer pacific skys sipping on champane…then the car is not much chop. I would fall in love with either the m3 or the ISF, no doubts there, they are both extrodinary.