The Lexus IS-F taught me two very important lessons. The first was that pulling away from a junction in a V8-powered, rear-wheel drive auto is one of motoring's greatest pleasures.
C63 and M3 presented a formidable challenge
I was fortunate enough to have occasional access to an IS-F back in 2009 and it was through that familiarity that I learnt the second lesson; a car might finish last in a group test, but over time it can get beneath your skin and worm its way into your affections.
There was much to criticise about the IS-F when it was new, which certainly didn't help its cause when squared up against a BMW M3 or Mercedes C63 AMG. The cabin quality was pretty poor in places - why did a £50K car have such an awful digital clock? - it rode very stiffly and it had none of the dynamic precision of the M3. What it did have, though, was character. It was the first Lexus that ever seduced me and to this day I have a soft spot for them.
Naturally, it was all about the engine. Just before the mid-way point in the rev range exhaust valves would open up to let the big V8 really shout. It happened so suddenly that it would surprise the driver on the first few occasions, never mind any school children or old dears who happened to be stood on the pavement. It comes as a surprise to be reminded that the 5.0-litre engine developed 372lb ft of torque, because from the driver's seat it always felt much stronger than that figure might suggest.
Credit to Lexus it's considered in same breath
Looking back now the chassis was entirely incapable of reining in all that grunt, which meant the rear wheels were frequently overwhelmed. The IS-F always felt over-engined and that's what made it so charming and such good fun.
It's been several years since I've driven one, but I suspect the eight-speed gearbox feels a little dim-witted now. It was never the sharpest in period and the rapid progress of the twin-clutch gearbox in recent years will no doubt serve to highlight that.
IS-Fs are few and far between on the used market, but the cheapest examples are now dipping to around £18K. Aside from the double-stacked exhaust tips (falsies, sadly) the V8 bruiser is a relatively discreet machine, although this white-on-black example does stand out rather more than a silver or gunmetal grey car would. With all those toys in the cabin and that big power house up front it seems like an awful lot of car for £18,995.
Oh, and there was a third lesson. A colleague and I were figuring an IS-F on Bruntingthorpe's two-mile runway. With a touch of bravery and some very late braking our first top speed run returned 169.7mph. "Well," I said to the driver, "we've got to go for 170." At that kind of speed, I soon learnt, a car covers an awful lot of ground in the time it takes to clock up another 0.3mph. I haven't ridden shotgun on a top speed run since.
LEXUS IS-F
Engine: 4,968cc, V8
Transmission: 8-speed auto, RWD
Power (hp): 423@6,600rpm
Torque (lb ft): 372@5,200rpm
MPG: 24.8
CO2: 283g/km
Recorded mileage: 50,000
First registered: 2005
Price new: £51,105
Yours for: £18,995
See the original ad here.
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