Also, I agree with the previous posters about the backseat. Totally useless. I don’t get cars like the IS or Audi A4 that have four doors but totally useless back seats.

I take it you don’t get the A3 either?

Well, if you’re 5′6″ like me and you always move the front seat up, then it’s not totally useless (and you have more rear leg room than measured). And since some drivers are short, there’s a market for these cars; other people can always buy larger cars. That sort of excuse seems more valid in the case of Japanese-designed cars (where average height is closer to mine) than German cars, though.

For all the fake pipes people, let it go – get the tanabe aftermarket if that’s all that’s stopping you.

I would have loved to get one instead of the 250 but in a car I put 25K miles a year on, $60K is silly (for now).

That being said, I want to get a C6 next.

Also, I agree with the previous posters about the backseat. Totally useless. I don’t get cars like the IS or Audi A4 that have four doors but totally useless back seats. I’ve had coupes that had more rear seat room.

MTeator:
The truth is, any exhaust other than a freaking straight pipe and a simple muffler is for show.

Are you certain? Engines are (essentially) air pumps. More small tubes are often more efficient than one big tube. And don’t forget the emissions dance – who knows how that’s engineered.

Oh, that’s right; having one would comprimise Toyota’s commitment to produce uninspiring transportation appliances *only*.

You misunderstand! I have nothing at all against the IS-F or F-anything. If they can build something that beats the Germans at their own game, more power to them, and to the brand.

That said, vertical tailpipes look really stupid. That is all.

It’s IS F, not IS-F. Not sure why, but that’s what Lexus uses on their website.

The problem I have with the tailpipes is not that they are cosmetic/fake, but that they are stacked and look ridiculous. As in something only the Japanese could love.

And those IS cars are too cramped inside. My friend and I took an IS 350 out for a short test drive that had both of us feeling like we were getting into a suit a size too small. That dark black interior didn’t help at all.

And this would magically cut several tenths off of the 0-60 time how? The base C6 is 4.1 and the IS F is 4.4 in 0-60 (Car and Driver apples-to-apples testing). You’re not going to do it with the manual. In fact, that would cost you time to the 0.10 sec upshifts from the SDS 8-speed dual-clutch potato slicer.

Move the engine all you want, but you better knock out some of that weight – around 600 lbs. The C6 is almost that much lighter and has 430 HP vs 416. Torque isn’t the IS F’s ballgame either at 371 – way up high in the curve. In fact, given the IS F’s power-to-weight ratio, the only thing saving it in the 0-60 is the SDS tranny.

Nope, no spanking to be had here. I’d venture to say that the “base” C6 would be doling out the licks – at the nearest track.

Only too well.

The Murciélago as well? Only the LP640 or the original model too? I can’t imagine the original 2001 Murciélago having fake exhaust tips…And, I think it’s rather cool if the exhausts shakes and moves around a little(!) when you stomp on the gas, like you can see with a Ferrari 360/F430 for instance. I also think the 2* 2 exhausts on vintage Ferrari models hanging under the bumper look great.
The problem with the Lexus (and California) is that this setup not only is fake but also looks fake, drawing more attention to the fakeness.

On another subject; Yamaha also made the V8 in the Volvo XC90/S80. They also tried their hand at making an F1 engine in the early 90s but the thing was notoriously unreliable and still not powerful enough. They pulled the project after just 2 or so years (it’s likely that no team wanted their engines anymore). I doubt they’d like to be reminded of that. They make some mean synthesizers though.

A bit of clarification:

Toyota’s history with Yamaha goes back to at least the late 60’s. Their first sports car, the 2000GT used a Yamaha built engine, and the cylinder heads of subsequent twin-cam four cylinder engines, many of which were never available to the U.S. market.

The 4A-GE used in the Corolla GT-S and MR2 on the other hand, is a reverse-engineered version of the BDA engines that Cosworth built for Ford back in the late 60’s. The dimensions for both engines are quite similar, including bore, stroke, valve diameter, and combustion chamber design.

With that said, I’m kinda disappointed that this car doesn’t have a proper stick-shift. Even BMW relented and eventually offered up the M5 with a manual gearbox.

Adding on to this gripe, eight is enough. Only tractor trailers and F1 cars need this many gears to keep their engines in the sweet part of the power band. If you need this many gears to keep that motor at full song, then perhaps they need to retune it for a bit more oomph on the low end.

People get angry when Toyota doesn’t build a sporty car, then turn around and get picky and angry when they *do* build a sporty car. Though I don’t have a reason to own one (largely because I can’t afford one) I’m glad the IS-F exists.

I don’t want a sporty car, I want a sports car. You need more than a mega engine and shocks turned up to 11 to get there.

Yeah. People are weird like that.

4.2 seconds? I didn’t know it was that fast.

Although by that token almost any car can get 5 stars. I do not have much of a problem with that. Objective reviews are bias anyhow. I do not get them, cannot get them. I want to learn to leave negatives aside long enough to get 5 stars worth of enjoyment. Than again I’m not perfect, I have needs, I need balance. I have a hard time going from one extreme to the other. Although I think if I lighten up I can be much more nimble. If I expand my perspective and relating to things I can give myself more to focus and enjoy. So thank you (ME)…..Mr. Farago.

I can understand not liking a car, but the intense focused hate on this car’s exhaust is just weird, especially since much higher end cars have been there and done that.

Can you go out and test a GS450h next please?

The IS-F is just too bloated looking in comparison. I’d rather just tune an IS350 for something close.

As for the interior, I like that the buttons are where they should be and “boring”… so much better than pointless gadgetry like iDrive and screens you need to look at to navigate.

Then again, I drive a Boxster which is pretty much pure functional sport.

Make that an S4.

Make that an A4.

Make that a four-cylinder A4 and a solid punch to the left testicle.

The sole mission statement Lexus has — the relentless pursuit of cut-rate imitation Benzes — falls a little short here, because the car isn’t cheap enough.