Lexus IS F Overtakes Rivals in Today's Market

Moving Up

There was a time, long ago, when a lot of people felt like the Lexus IS F just wasn't a worthy competitor to the likes of the BMW M3 and Audi RS4. Of course, we have quite a few members here in the Club Lexus forums that would disagree. But a funny thing has happened over the last several years since the IS F went out of production - it's become the compact luxury performance sedan to own.

Photos: Lexus

Changing Times

It's hard to believe that the era of performance sedans has seemingly almost disappeared after it was so red hot just a few years ago. These days, luxury German and Japanese automakers are squaring off in the SUV market the same way they were fighting the four-door battle back then. But today, there's still plenty of interest in these oh-so-satisfying rides.

Photos: Lexus

>>Join the conversation about how awesome the IS F is right here in the ClubLexus forum.

Few Differences

It's not that the IS F wasn't a great car when it debuted. Here was a comfortable, stylish, smartly designed vehicle with a satisfying 416 hp, naturally-aspirated V8. It didn't rev as high as the M3 or RS4, but it sounded great and had fantastic low-end power. It also had an 8-speed automatic while the M3 was rocking a dual-clutch. 

Photos: Lexus

>>Join the conversation about how awesome the IS F is right here in the ClubLexus forum.

Doomed Beginnings

And then there was the matter of handling. Most reviewers just didn't feel like the IS F had quite the same finesse as the M3, though it was still very impressive in the corners. Price was the biggest factor, however, as the IS F cost several thousand dollars more than the BMW. Add in the fact that it debuted during a massive global recession, and the Lexus seemed doomed from the start.

Photos: Lexus

>>Join the conversation about how awesome the IS F is right here in the ClubLexus forum.

Long Haul

But it wasn't. The IS-F went on to enjoy relative success when new but is arguably more popular than ever today. Much of that can be attributed to the fact that it's infinitely more reliable than its main German competition. Over the years, the Lexus has held up incredibly well, with some very high mileage cars still running just fine out there in the world.

Photos: Lexus

>>Join the conversation about how awesome the IS F is right here in the ClubLexus forum.

Long Game

So while the IS F may have lost the initial, short-term compact luxury sedan race, it's the clear winner in today's market. And despite its rampant popularity, there are some good values out there on nice, low-mile examples, too. And in this day and age of SUV fever, we'd rather have an IS F than just about anything else, thank you very much.

Photos: Lexus

>>Join the conversation about how awesome the IS F is right here in the ClubLexus forum.

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