benca1

Hey guys I traded in a 02 IS300 and bought a Toyota Tacoma that i have had now for 2 years .. but no longer need a truck so looking at going back to the IS..... so question is what would you buy and why???

IS350 year 07-08
or
IS-F year 07-08

Fizzboy7

Why on earth would you take the 350 over an F? The F is an animal and in a different class, hence the $20k+ price difference. If cost is not an issue, there's nothing really to discuss. (Don't forget higher insurance and higher risk tickets and accidents.)

syzygy

Well, if you have more than enough money to purchase an IS-F, I see no reason not to purchase an IS-F.

The issue between IS250s and IS350s is almost purely a function of needing AWD (which is only available on the 250s), although even that isn't that big of a deal depending on who you ask. There's no price issue because IS250s and IS350s cost virtually the same when you take into account the relative cost of the ISx50.

The issue between IS350s and ISFs is purely a function of price.

JDKane527

iTrader: (10)

If you can afford the IS-F, why not.

benca1

well my thought was since my dad owns a lexus store here in alabama.. i can get a is350 for around 25600 and a IS-F for 38700.00 so is the price difference worth it when we are only talking diff of 110hp??? i mean couldnt you get that and more for like 10k which i would think other than the hp its only cosmetic stuff?? badges, wheels, body kits etc etc ....

so couldnt i save 10k or more and have a faster car with the IS350 with a turbo ?

heyarms

iTrader: (5)

So i guess its obvious we'd all pick the F if we had the choice.

What are you looking at as far as deciding? I feel money isnt your issue unless youd be asking about a 250 vs. a 350. Aesthetically, i can really say i like the look of the 350 (with body kit) over an F (I'm probably alone on this one). Performance, no comparison, I'd love to have the power of the F any day.


EDIT: I think the F will always be fast even with mods. I say get the F

funnie

iTrader: (14)

IS F hands down. If the extra cost is not an issue to you just get the ISF. much quicker than the 350, handles better, and looks much more aggressive. ISF is a beastly car.

The only positive thing about the 350 is it has better gas mileage and a cheaper price tag. Again, if price is not an issue, get the IS F. You won't be disappointed.

I dont think there is a turbo out there that will get you an extra 110 HP on a IS350. If there is, it will cost you more than $10k.

The $10k in price differnece you get more than just a bigger engine. It also comes with better braking system, performance wheels, sportier suspension, the ML upgraded audio system, and other stuff. People pay $40k for a new IS350. You are getting one hell of a deal for an IS F.

Fizzboy7

So, is that the dealer's cost of these cars? If so, that's a heck of a profit per sale for us "regulars."

A1Lexis

iTrader: (6)

If you can afford it, go with the IS-F....I'm sure you won't be dissapointed...just ask the owners in the IS-F forum.

benca1

lol no this is 08 model that i ran and what i would put in them if they were traded in .. so be my cost which is wholesale trade in ..

Fizzboy7

As a footnote from a fellow CL member, I'd like to project something. The IS-F is a high performance BEAST that begs and begs you to drive it fast. The word "devil" would be appropriate. If you have low driving experience, a bad driving record, or trouble restraining yourself in certain situations, you will get yourself into trouble with this car. If you do go ahead with it, I highly recommend taking some performance driving courses and consider the risks of owning a car that is essentially a race car.
Good luck.

syzygy

You have to specify when you say performance, first off, but in general, there is no way to make an IS350 faster than an ISF for higher MPH rolls (80MPH+)

Contrary to popular belief (mostly from people who don't own the IS350 and therefore don't have direct experience with this), the IS350 is actually faster than the ISF in one area - 0 to 36 MPH (i.e. the 1st gear in the IS350). It's an empirical fact, and it's logically substantiated by the weight difference between the two cars coupled with the fact that the IS350 simply has a stronger 1st gear.

From 0 to 60, the IS350 and ISF are virtually equal, with the ISF, on average, being a few tenths of a second quicker.

After 60 MPH, the ISF is faster and becomes progressively faster.


There is nothing you can do to an IS350 to make it faster than an ISF for, say, 70 MPH to 140 MPH roll. It's not going to happen, the ISF will blow the doors off an IS350 in such a roll.


So you have to ask yourself, is having much more powerful high MPH roll acceleration worth $13,000? For many people it is.

Also, I would imagine that the ISF might have better handling capabilities than the IS350, but I can't confirm this as I'm not an expert on the ISFs handling capabilities. In terms of pure straight line performance, however, I know the specifications of all three vehicles rather thoroughly.

Don't worry about gas mileage. It's not really a selling point for the IS250 (compared to the IS350) nor the IS350 (compared to the ISF) because the cost savings are trivial compared to the value of these cars.



Given my personal philosophy for buying cars, even relative price will never be an issue. Only you know if you can afford an ISF or not. If you had a poll about it, then clearly it would be reasonable to assume that you can afford an ISF.

On the other hand, if you actually have to ask, that might suggest that maybe you're cutting it close on your budget with the ISF and cannot really afford it "comfortably." I do not know your personal finances, obviously, so the decision is up to you.

At the end of the day I find the question you posed to be a little bit useless, because essentially the only useful direction we could give you is - do we think you can personally afford the ISF?

If you can afford the ISF, then obviously you should get one.

The only possible meaningful advantages of the IS350 are stronger 0 to 36 MPH acceleration and aesthetics, but the latter is purely subjective. Some people find the bulbous nose of the ISF to be a turn off, while the ISx50 has a much sleeker and "handsome" body as Jeremy Clarkson says.

benca1

well i remember some boys with the IS300's running setups with like 780 or more rwhp....... down in florida.. from toyomoto????? i thought surely it was capable of getting at least 500rwhp on the IS350 for around 10k or less? wow guess not

Initial_K

iTrader: (2)

IS-F is a rarer exotic car on the street. Everybody and their momma have an IS250/350 here in Socal, but you can definitely tell when an ISF just pass you by. Once they see the F badge and quad pipes, they know wassup.

The same way when people see an M3 on the streets as oppose to all the other 3 and 5 series.

syzygy

No, there are no performance modifications for the IS350. There are slightly more performance modifications for the ISF.

The IS line is not mod-dable, in general.