7No

iTrader: (1)

This is a serious question? You're just screwin' with us, right?

MxChase

Yeah, I'm serious. I guess I'm looking for people to talk me into it

CalitriSC

iTrader: (13)

IS-F for sure! I see so many IS 350s on a daily basis. I rarely see an IS-F on the road.

ShadowISF

iTrader: (10)

Think about it this way: if you get the F, you won't look back. If you get the 350, you might.

7No

iTrader: (1)

Everytime you pass a 250/350 owner on the interstate, you see them rubbernecking you like crazy. Some of them even speed up to take another look.

darbs242

iTrader: (5)

An old man pulled up next to me at a gas station in his IS350 the other day rolled down his window and looks at me, looks at the F, looks at his wife and says I told you we should have gotten that one honey. I simply said its defiantly the F-un version.

CCColtsicehockey

iTrader: (3)

fj40scottb

Newbie in this forum, I too am contemplating a 2008 IS F. I'm curious what current owners are seeing as the most common maintenance items? Are there any common or chronic issues these cars experience? I'm not looking to add a bunch mods to it, I'll leave it stock. I have 2 old Toyota Land Cruisers that give me ample opportunity play with a wrench.

Thanks!
-scott

tgui

The only common issue is a dash rattle. Coming from an 04 STi, it doesn't bother me.

fj40scottb

I'll be coming from a 2006 Mazda 3 where the road noise is deafening, so I'm sure the F will be quite the step up. The Mazda 3 has been a great commuter car and the 32 MPG has been nice, but its time for something nicer.

Fapout

iTrader: (6)

I don't think that's a good comparison Lou, nothing personal. The 335i has more torque and can be made very easily to have more HP than the M3. Suspension and handling is an easy fix. The rest is purely cosmetic. It's very hard to get more HP than an IS-F with a IS350 with just bolt-ons.

But yeah. Obviously our opinion is biased. Yes it's worth getting the IS-F.

MxChase

Well sounds like its time to start saving every penny so I can save up the difference. I have a limited budget that I WANT to afford every month. With a wife, two kids, a mortgage and another car payment I don't want to finance too much. I already sold my IS300 and paid off other bills so that's a step forward. We can drive our QX56 for now and I have a work vehicle to get me to and from work so the hardest part is just being patient.


And FJ40 scott.. where in UT are you???

SCCAForums

Get the F... no brainer... I don't know how people spend the money on 'new' IS350's.. .when they can get a 'low mile' IS-F for the same money...

Enjoy!

itsmike177

iTrader: (3)

Currently own both a 2006 IS350 and 2008 ISF.

Problems with the ISF:
- Inner front tire wear (resolved by alignment shop)
- Pull to the right (still not resolved, by Lexus or alignment shop. Will try OEM PS2's to see if that will fix the issue)
- NAV touchscreen no longer responded to touch commands (replaced by warranty, but if out of warranty, $3-4k part)

Problems with the IS350:
- Needle backlighting went "dead" at some parts. Quoted $1100 from dealer, replaced cluster from eBay for $200.
- Oil leak from front main seal. Dealer replaced seal under drivetrain warranty or else it would have been a $3500 bill.
- Must have been through 5 recalls now, but not really a complaint as Lexus does provide a loaner, just an inconvenience and questionable long term reliability.

Besides the issues above, they've never left me stranded and still run strong and smooth. ISF's maintenance is higher, OEM brakes are $250 for fronts vs $80 on the IS350. OEM rotors are $400 vs $160. Oil changes are 10 quarts vs 6.5 quarts. Tires are around $20-30/tire more for 18's vs 19's so not much difference there % wise.

I have owned Toyotas and a 2002 IS300 in the past and they have never given me these many problems. The IS300 only had one issue, O2 sensor needed replacement at 70k miles. No oil leaks, no cluster lighting going bad, etc. Toyota/Lexus quality isn't what it used to be.

CalitriSC

iTrader: (13)

haha classic!