Just bought an IS-F on Sunday in RI
03-12-08, 05:04 AM
#20
Lexus Test Driver
Good luck with, and greatly enjoy, your IS-F!
03-12-08, 03:52 PM
#26
Lexus Test Driver
Thread Starter
Thanks. So far out of the 1 day I've been able to drive it, I enjoy the speed of the upshifts and the rev match on the downshifts. It's amazing to hear the sound when the downshift actually takes place. Before I used to get frustrated with my IS350's paddle shifting because I always had to shift 1 second before my actual intended shift. Even with making that 1 second shift prediction sometimes it doesn't behave how you would think. But with the IS-F, it shifts soooo fast. In fact, I find myself pre-shifting because of my past experience with the IS350.
The IS350 was fast. When I put it in D and stepped on it, I feel that there would be a sudden surge of power as you gained speed, but the IS-F gives you that power right from the start and is very torquey. Of course the sound that the engine makes when the second intake valve opens is awsome. Handling wise, the ride is much stiffer than my IS350 and was able to maneuver on curvy on and off ramps with confidence. As for stiffness, I was used to it having a set up JIC Magic FLT-A2's on my now traded 350Z. In fact, this feels a bit softer but has the confidence of the coilovers that I had. I like this ride much better
Braking wise I haven't really felt a large difference between my IS350 and the IS-F. I realize that the IS-F brakes will probably be able to take track beatings better and have less fade than the IS350's, but so far on the street and normal braking I don't feel a huge difference. Again, I've only driven this for a short time so far then I had to fly away on a business trip. I'm sure I'll be able to give better impressions later.
Inside, I feel like I'm getting back into my IS350. I had the wood trim on my IS350 and would have preferred that to the trim that came with the IS-F. Another thing I liked about my IS350 which was an 2006 was that I was able to overide the navigation system so that I could have my passenger enter a new destination or find a POI while I drive. I tried it on my IS-F and have no luck yet. I think one of the things I like on the dashboard is the oil temperature meter. This gives me a good indication when the oil is warm enough to run hard. I do wish the IS-F also had the middle seat. I really didn't care for the plastic they put in it's place with the "F" logo on it. Now that I think about it, there's a lot of "F" logos all over the inside of the car.
When I bought the car, I went to have lunch and I was already stopped at the restaurant by someone eating there complimenting the car. They asked if my car was custom. I told them no I literally just picked it up and it comes from Lexus that way. He was amazed at the brakes when he saw it as well as the engine cooling vents on the outer fenders. He couldn't stop asking me questions. This reminds me of the time when I guy got out of his car to ask me about my 350Z at a stop light in Boston.
So looking at the car, it's sexy. I like it so far. I'm afraid to park it now because it seems like people like to walk around it and look. I think it's just one of those, "It's a new car" factor. I mean even when the VW Beetle came out, I looked myself. Why? Because it was different. Of course having a black car makes me more uptight about scratches, dings, etc.
Well if anyone wants more pictures or more specific pictures of parts or angles let me know. I'll try to photograph them and post them.
The IS350 was fast. When I put it in D and stepped on it, I feel that there would be a sudden surge of power as you gained speed, but the IS-F gives you that power right from the start and is very torquey. Of course the sound that the engine makes when the second intake valve opens is awsome. Handling wise, the ride is much stiffer than my IS350 and was able to maneuver on curvy on and off ramps with confidence. As for stiffness, I was used to it having a set up JIC Magic FLT-A2's on my now traded 350Z. In fact, this feels a bit softer but has the confidence of the coilovers that I had. I like this ride much better
Braking wise I haven't really felt a large difference between my IS350 and the IS-F. I realize that the IS-F brakes will probably be able to take track beatings better and have less fade than the IS350's, but so far on the street and normal braking I don't feel a huge difference. Again, I've only driven this for a short time so far then I had to fly away on a business trip. I'm sure I'll be able to give better impressions later.
Inside, I feel like I'm getting back into my IS350. I had the wood trim on my IS350 and would have preferred that to the trim that came with the IS-F. Another thing I liked about my IS350 which was an 2006 was that I was able to overide the navigation system so that I could have my passenger enter a new destination or find a POI while I drive. I tried it on my IS-F and have no luck yet. I think one of the things I like on the dashboard is the oil temperature meter. This gives me a good indication when the oil is warm enough to run hard. I do wish the IS-F also had the middle seat. I really didn't care for the plastic they put in it's place with the "F" logo on it. Now that I think about it, there's a lot of "F" logos all over the inside of the car.
When I bought the car, I went to have lunch and I was already stopped at the restaurant by someone eating there complimenting the car. They asked if my car was custom. I told them no I literally just picked it up and it comes from Lexus that way. He was amazed at the brakes when he saw it as well as the engine cooling vents on the outer fenders. He couldn't stop asking me questions. This reminds me of the time when I guy got out of his car to ask me about my 350Z at a stop light in Boston.
So looking at the car, it's sexy. I like it so far. I'm afraid to park it now because it seems like people like to walk around it and look. I think it's just one of those, "It's a new car" factor. I mean even when the VW Beetle came out, I looked myself. Why? Because it was different. Of course having a black car makes me more uptight about scratches, dings, etc.
Well if anyone wants more pictures or more specific pictures of parts or angles let me know. I'll try to photograph them and post them.
03-12-08, 03:57 PM
#27
nice write up there 
you can always get the navigation override from prestigious society. can shoot them an email at chung@prestigioussociety.com
you can always get the navigation override from prestigious society. can shoot them an email at chung@prestigioussociety.com
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