Built IS 350 vs. Stock IS F: Which is the Best Performance Bargain?

Once again answering the age-old philosophical question with this IS 350 vs. IS F battle: built or bought, which car is best car?

Lexus might’ve debuted the “F” marque in 2007. But that doesn’t imply that a Lexus without that badge is a slouch. In fact, even a base-model IS 350 remains a very capable vehicle with loads of potential. Despite being short two cylinders over an IS F, the IS 350 can compete with and best its big brother with a few aftermarket components. Of course, that much is a given; if you have more power and less weight with the same chassis, obviously the tuned car’s gonna go faster.

The real question is more a matter of pros and cons. In other words, given variables like price points, reliability, and future build potential, which car is best for your needs? Diving into today’s debate, we saw a fun video on YouTube created by Marty Motoring, where he showcases his built 2011 350 against a 2008 F.

Marty purchased his IS 350 for $15,000 USD plus ~$7,000-$8,000 in parts, making the car roughly $22,000 total. Build-wise, its centerpiece is an RR Racing supercharger he installed himself. But it’s also got some other tricks up its sleeve, like BC racing suspension, decked-out X-Force Varex exhaust, and carbon fiber hood and trunk. Overall, he estimates it produces roughly 500 crankshaft horsepower.

Conversely, the IS F features a mild build by comparison, with only a catback exhaust, aftermarket intake, and a basic tune. Although no price is quoted in the video, you’d probably be spending around $25,000 to $30,000 for a similar setup.

Why You Should Build an IS 350

The biggest reasons to build an IS 350, assuming you’re mechanically inclined, are price and weight. Not only — as described above — do the vehicles cost less to purchase, but so do the mods. For example, the IS 350 supercharger costs around $6,800, while the IS F variant is more like $10 grand.

Next, the IS 350 weighs about 200 pounds less than the IS F, stock for stock. Even with the aftermarket upgrades, a 350 will typically be lighter which means if it ends up with the same power (or more) versus an IS F, the 350 will run better 0-60, quarter mile, and roll-racing times. (You can’t beat physics, folks.)

In short, by building his own car and saving money doing the work himself, Marty owns an IS F killer. So, if you’re looking for bang-for-your-buck performance, it’s difficult to justify an F over a tuned 350.

But that doesn’t mean the IS F isn’t a great car or the better buy. Here’s why:

Why You Should Buy an IS F (and then Build It)

There’s a reason why the IS F costs about 30% more than an IS F. It’s a lot more car. Glorious, high-revving V8 churning out 416 horsepower. Sport-tuned suspension. Track-ready brakes. And the better 8-speed transmission. In perfect conditions, you’ll be able to hit 60 in 4.6-seconds.

Sure, a tuned IS 350 may best a IS F, but a stock IS F has three major things going for it —

• Reliability. Lexus engineers did an amazing job of balancing the IS F for performance without sacrificing longevity. The IS F is a sports car you can enjoy… forever. Conversely, pushing a smaller engine with boost is a riskier endeavor.
• Resale Value. A stock IS F is always going to be worth more than what you spend building an IS 350. Most buyers don’t want someone else’s project (it also implies harder driving conditions).
• Sound. V8s sound better than V6s. A subjective opinion, I know, but also a fact.

Those factors aside, there’s another reason to consider the IS F. You can also build it.

Let’s say you buy the stock IS F and enjoy it for what it is for a few years. Then, one day you’re tired of supercharged IS 350s trolling you at the track. Well, for about $10 grand in parts, you can add about two hundred horsepower to the equation (on the safest tune) and you already have a solid suspension and excellent brakes.

In other words, you can take an IS F further than a 350, simply because you’re already starting with more power.

Bottom Line

In a long enough timeline — given money and mods — the IS F is generally going to win. It’s worth more. It’s more reliable stock. Or you could mod it to bigger numbers than an IS 350. But if you’re motoring on a tighter budget and have an itch that needs scratching, the IS 350’s got you covered. With tons of sleeper potential and a plethora of aftermarket upgrades, the XE20 IS 350 remains a solid choice for a reliable fast daily or trackday project.

Ultimately, the choice comes down to what you’re prepared to spend and how involved you want to go with the build.

Join the Club Lexus forums now!

M.C. Cuccio

I've been an automotive aficionado since I had baby teeth. My path was set when I first leaned on my grandfather's classic Porsche as I learned how to walk. One of my first memories was my mother sitting me behind the wheel of her Pontiac and talking me through the instrumentation and controls. Even though I was a mere three or four years old, I was instantly sold, and filled notebooks with technical drawings, sketches, and collections of manuals of all sorts of cars. I've actively tracked developments in automotive and motorsport technology for well over 20 years, and pride myself on being intimately familiar with the functions and history of a wide range of vehicles.

My primary goal as a writer and enthusiast is to equally learn and share what I've learned in a constructive and interesting way. I maintain connections with people from around the world and can read technical manuals in Italian, Japanese, and Spanish, granting me access to a wide array of resources. My primary focuses are deep-dives into historical topics, motorsport discussion, and learning about the complex mechanical elements of such vehicles. As such, my research is never perfect; as anyone into cars will attest, the more you learn about cars, the more you realize how little you actually know. Therefore, I always welcome fresh knowledge and corrections to help me better my work in the future.