Hello And Question

[Glenn1981]

Hellomall, just joined and my first post here.

I am looking at potentially buying an ISF, it is up against the M3, but I have always been a Jap car fan currently having an MX5, RX8-R3 and a very heavily modified 350z, so I am keen to stay Jap. I guess it is just the drive that is drawing my attention to the German Coupe.

Anyway, what I really wanted to know was around the LSD, when did they actually start selling them with the LSD fitted, was it 2010 or 2011 in the UK?

I am looking at 2 cars an April 2010 and a May 2010, will these have it, or is it the later cars?

Thanks for the help and I'm looking forward to hopefully getting one of these beauties and being more active on here, it doesn't seem as busy as my 350z forum, but then I guess this car is so exclusive which really appeals over the M3

Thanks

Glenn

[stevet]

This is a very quiet forum but as you say its a very exclusive car in the UK. When I was looking for mine I found most of the information out from forums in the USA. The MY 2010 did get the LSD and suspension changes. Same as you i'm a Jap car fan, just sold my MX5 Supercharged which was one fun car! I've only had mine a few weeks now, got used to all the comments I get as soon as I get out of the car!

[Glenn1981]

Hi Steve, thanks for the reply!

I was just reading your other post and it sounds like you are really enjoying the car!

You just can't beat jap, that mx5 must have been fun, I always wondered what ours would be like with a BBR supercharger

It is strange, I am getting mixed answers on this LSD issue. Some sites and reviews say the 2010 come with, but some reviews say it was introduced in MY2011 cars. The dealer we are dealing with for the April 2010 car says it was MY2011 and his doesn't have it! But the dealership with the May 2010 car says it does. Both cars have the mesh style alloys (which I am unsure about by the way) so I think they had some sort of a refresh, I just want to know for certain.

I can't quite stretch to a 2011 car as for that money I would be getting my first choice a used GTR, but if the MY2010 cars don't have the LSD, then I may as well spend less and get a 58 plate"

Thanks

Glenn

[stevet]

I'd of thought the MY2010 would have the LSD but if your not on a race track how would you know? Mine's not got one but handles great on the road without it. As some owners have said getting 30k miles from tyres must mean there is not much slip. Did the cars you looked at have the upgraded Mark Levinson, steering wheel sport button and the blue lower steering wheel? One good feature of the ISF is the running costs - I went to the Lake District at weekend and averaged 32 MPG, my annual insurance was £360 (got a tracker), oh and they are bullet proof!

[Glenn1981]

It does sound like a fairly bulletproof and reasonable car to run. I guess the LSD isn't a huge thing, but coming from my car which has one and wanting to do occasional track days and ring trips it would be nice.

The cars I have looked at have the black stereo facia instead of light grey/platinum, I don't know if that is upgraded? They also have the blue bit at the bottom of the steering wheel and the mesh alloys, but they don't have the sport button on the wheel or the new instrument cluster or LED running lights, so I really am clueless to their spec and if there was one I between the 2008 and 2011 cars that had LSD. I also don't know if they have iPod integration which would be a shame.

These are the 2 I am looking at

http://usedcars.lexus.co.uk/used-is-f/is-f/5.0/derby/602690662-1913663.aspx?srcmdc=se_na_re_

http://usedcars.lexus.co.uk/used-is-f/is-f/5.0/stockport/602723900-1607047.aspx?srcmdc=se_na_re_

[stevet]

I was looking at that blue one today! It looked good as new. I went in to have my private plates put on. If you give them a ring and ask for Jason or Fred, they are both clued up on the ISF's and will know if it has the LSD

[Glenn1981]

Ah well it is good news that it is in good nick! I think we have been talking to a guy there called Marc.

Just reading your other posts you say you found an apple cable in your car, does that mean you were lucky enough to find one with the Vaistech system fitted to it, as the 2008 cars didn't have iPod integration in them as far as I am LED to believe, or was it an option?

[steve2006]

Hello, can't help with ISFs much, driven one that's all but welcome to the LOC.

[See Ya]

Hi Glen1981,

I cannot comment on the UK cars as I am in South Africa.

The South African cars only came out with the Electronic LSD from the 2011 model onwards.

That is the model upgrade that includes the changed instrument cluster and running daytime lights.

[stevet]

Ah well it is good news that it is in good nick! I think we have been talking to a guy there called Marc.

Just reading your other posts you say you found an Apple cable in your car, does that mean you were lucky enough to find one with the Vaistech system fitted to it, as the 2008 cars didn't have iPod integration in them as far as I am led to believe, or was it an option?

It was an official Lexus option. You get a Lexus instruction book with it and the Lexus Logo appears on the iPod.

[giorgoXXI]

The blue one is an unbelievable bargain. Basically it has more than 50% off RRP in just over two years, someone must have taken a big hit on that one!

I am pretty sure all those with the part blue steering wheel (where the F is) have the mechanical LSD. Prior to that they all have an electronic LSD, which works pretty well unless you want to push hard on a track.

[Glenn1981]

Hi everyone!

Bit of an update!

I have a deposit down on an ISF, the Arctic white one. We played the waiting game and made a few offers and got it for £4,000 less than it was originally up for, plus £1000 more than they originally offered on our P/X so effectively a deal £5000 better!!

Very excited to be picking her up soon and enjoying that glorious roar from the engine.

Just got to sort out how to get my private plate switched over and should be picking her up within 2 weeks, it will be the longest 2 weeks ever I'm sure.

Not sure if you guys do meets or things like that, but I will certainly be spending more time on here now.

Lastly to help others that will look for the same answers I wanted, I don't think this car has the LSD, as it is a March 2010 built car and the LSD was from Aug 2010 built cars. This info will be helpful for people in the future I am sure, I had to call Lexus Technical UK and wait for an answer from Japan to find out, so this should be correct.

Even though 2010 cars before August don't have LSD, they do still have the black stereo facia with upgraded stereo with iPod aux and nav and DAB, the blue section the the steering wheel and mesh alloys.

Hope this helps, see you all soon with pics

Glenn

[steve2006]

Excellent news with both the car and the discount and not too long to wait until you are behind the wheel, the ISF and LS600h were the only cars at the Lexus Open Road Event that required you to go with an experience race driver!

For the number plate from what I remember you have to put the plate on retention for either 1 or 3 years and then transfer it to the new car but do it before the owner change for the old car or the new owner/dealer can retain the plate themselves.

All the infomation will be on www.dvla.gov.uk.

We do have club meets arranged around the country so keep your eyes open for them, we did have an ISF at one meet some years ago in Doncaster.

[stevet]

That's great news. Its well worth the wait to get the one you want. If its from a Lexus dealer let them sort out the private plate transfer, they did it all for me and all the documents with new set of number plates arrived from Lexus about 2 weeks after I'd collected the car.