3 MSF

Had a right bloody job getting up the approach to the exit and out of our golf club this morning (no golf, but nice full english with the boys :winky: ) because of the 4" snow overnight. Almost as scary as diving in downhill with almost no point in applying the brakes and a couple of cars looking in serious danger of a slow-mo broadside. Enough was enough. Put my money down on an RX450h SE-L this afternoon. Derby Lexus couldn't do enough to help, and the figures all made sense with a few extras thrown-in for good measure. Looking forward to the winter driving stability, half the fuel consumption, 75% road tax reduction, a much more comfortable ride, and a lot less pain in the left ear-hole... :D - Mark.

Guys, Toyota 'unofficially' told me that for some reason they only have the 'corrosion issue' in the UK, so to improve the alloys / their coating system wouldn't be cost effective in a global marketplace, so they're happy to incur the relatively incidental costs of yours and mine without quibble within their warranty period, and will most likely be favourable from a goodwill standpoint once your out of it too :winky: - Mark.

Guys, to me, your fuel consumption for such a large vehicle sounds excellent at 30+ mpg!! My IS-F shifts around 16mpg around town, and typically around 20mpg combined. I'm going to have a look at the RX450h this week-end with a view to purchase (all RWD cars are rubbish in the snow... think the 4x4 will be more predictable, especially with about 125 less horses!) but I would say one of the best cars I've owned was the GS450h - like a rocket-ship limousine, and still returned 30+mpg, but that oh so tiny boot... Cheers - Mark.

I have to say that my IS-F (LSD / HDD) has poor reception compared to my previous BMW Alpina B3 BiTurbo with Logic 7 / DAB. Very similar to your own I'm afraid... Mark.

I echo the above almost word for word. Interestingly, using the manual and a few revs here and there never really seems to have any major impact on the consumption. Likewise, trying to drive it frugally never seems to either :) Cheers - Mark. PS If you want similar power, more torque and a more comfortable ride without compromised handling, you should take a look at the BMW Alpina B3S BiTurbo. You'll also get around 28-30 mpg typical, and around 36-38 on a run. Also, road tax only £190.00, with similar exclusivity; I might even say a slightly better all round car ( but lacking, as usual, in the BMW Customer Service department...)

I would say it certainly does require attention! One of the characteristics that took me a while to get used to is how quickly it whips through the changes under light throttle so unless they've made some dramatic changes to the 2010 model your new beast is mis-behaving (and using a load of fuel to boot!) Mine seems to hold on to 3rd longer than 1st and 2nd for some reson (2,100 rpm-ish vs. 1,600 rpm-ish), then just skips through the rest of the box smoothly. 8th comes into play around 43mph as per previous member contribution. This seems to be similar in normal and sport, unless you're giving it a poke then it holds on to the gears nicely as expected :winky: - Mark.

Sorry, can't help with the grill query. On your comment however, I'm not so sure that there are that many ISF drivers out here... :winky: - Mark.

Hello again! I used to have an Alpina B3 Biturbo that had us conversing a few months back, but I've now got the ISF. Spookily, I've owned an IS250 SE-L MM, followed by a GS450h SE-L. They are all completely different characters. The IS250 was gutless. The GS450h was close to perfection, but oh, that tiny boot!! The ISF is firm, but the seats are fantastic, and the handling too (I've been a test track development engineer for Toyota in my past, so I'd like to think I'm qualified to say so). The V8 is an absolute engineering masterpiece, with an INCREDIBLE sound after 3600rpm, and I've not come up against ANYTHING that's given it any trouble... If you can afford around 20-24mpg, I have to say it puts a smile on my face every time I fire it up, and it gets more looks than the Alpina, AND people let you out at junctions because its a Lexus, not a BMW... The choice, my friend, is yours. :winky: - Mark.

Why '2011 ISF' when this is the car that's been available since January this year?? I thought for one horrible moment that I'd just bought a new car that was already going to be out of date!! - Mark.

Well, I challenge anyone to beat this, and I had to re-check and confirm the insurance policy details before insuring... I switched from an Alpina B3 Biturbo to the 2010 ISF with Tracker, and I've just renewed fully comp. with all the whistles and bells for £285.00!!! I'm 45, clean license with perfect history, off-road parking and living in Derby, and this includes class 1 business use. I believe it's because I got the quote during a marketing campaign when Aviva (Norwich Union) were budgeting loss against market share. Same quote on-line a week later was £688.00. Looks like I got a bargain, but not looking forward to the renewal! Good luck with your quotes - Mark.

3 MSF moves on; I've finally given in, so the 2010 spec. IS F arrives on Saturday in Velvet Black and has a lot to live up to after the Alpina... :winky: Hope the snow keeps off for a while! - Mark.

Chris, what's the situation re. keeping that baby clean? Fancy one myself, and it just happens to be pearlescent white... :winky: - Mark I went and picked mine up from Lexus today after they'd had it for two days to sort the wheels out. They have refurb'd all four to what appears to be a very high standard. I was hoping they'd replace with new, but having seen the standard of the refurb, I'm not unhappy. I will ensure they are now kept clean. This isn't too difficult for me as I don't go far anyway and as I don't work, I have plenty of time to do these things. I'll keep my eye out for paintwork damage on the door seals. I don't have any as yet.

Chaps, you're probably aware that Evo are doing a really good long-term feature on the IS-F... You might be surprised to see the last few months' fuel consumption figures: Evo Statistics Mileage this month: 703 Costs this month: £0 MPG this month: 24.2 Evo Statistics Date acquired: July 2008 Total mileage: 16,759 Mileage this month: 2253 Costs this month: £0 MPG this month: 25.0 Evo Statistics Date acquired: July 2008 Total mileage: 18,333 Mileage this month: 1574 Costs this month: £0 MPG this month: 25.2 :P Getting more mpg as it loosens up? There's some very nice food for thought! - Mark.

Chaps, I'm a little confused here... 150-200 miles from a tank of petrol just doesn't sound right from a design point of view. If we take some official stat's (which are probably a little 'ambitious'): Tank capacity = 64 litres 1 gallon = 4.54 litres Tank capacity = 64 / 4.54 = 14 14 gallons x 24.8mpg = 347.2 miles. 350 miles per tank seems a lot more reasonable, or is the 24.8mpg simply unrealistic? - Mark.

OK. I took the test drive at Sytner Lexus (Leicester). Nice folk, and the vehicle was ready upon my arrival... The car drove beautifully, predictably, and not uncomfortably at all. It was maybe on the firmer side, but definitely not an issue in my book. I was surprised at how many people made a double take at the car, considering it's quite stealthy in Cadoxton Slate, but just enough muscular to be that bit different. I'm a big fan of its looks. The interior was really quiet, an ideal place to listen for that incredible sound post 3800 rev/min - UNBELIEVABLE! I swear I couldn't stop smiling! I just wanted to go 'through the sound barrier' time after time, but, hey, I was having a test drive with the salesperson next to me. To be fair, he was quite encouraging with respect to me really seeing what the car was capable of, and the sunroof option is a must to get the best of that wonderful soundtrack! Hold on tight to your license; this baby really goes! The automatic transmission was really slick, the 8 gears taking care of all the road conditions and my right foot demands... I didn't use the Sport mode, but I did use the paddles which were superb. I'm going to have one of these, but not just yet. I could put up with the thirsty nature of the beast if all else was fine, but there are a couple of things I'd like Lexus to take care of first: 1. Add a USB interface for music; I don't wish to buy an i-Pod and the required connection. Even better, include the hard drive as per new RX450h. 2. I love 'Radio Bloke' (Radio 5 Live) and I like to hear ir when it gets dark too. I'm used to DAB now, and with the analogue broadcasts being clipped fro 2012, well that's not too far away. DAB please. 3. Sort the brake dust problem out; Lexus are crap at wheels, being happier to continue giving out new ones (refurbished) when you complain. Some see that as great Customer service, however, contrary to the quoted Lexus philosophy, it's containing the symptom, not addressing the root-cause. I don't want 'rough / rusty appearance' wheels, and I certainly don't want molten metal fragments in my paintwork, which can also cause secondary scratches when you're cleaning them if they find their way into your polishing cloth. 4. I want 'the Blue'. In summary, it's a great car. It should have a longer range through having a larger tank (we know its thirsty; everyone knows its thirsty!) And I like blue. Get Customer Focused' as per the blurb, and you've got yourself a Customer :winky: - Mark. ps. My 30+ mpg looks even more incredible now, but I'm going to be working closer to home soon, so thakfully we have mitigation of sorts :)

11.5 mpg??!!! :duh: Makes my 29.1mpg sound like a 'hybrid'!!

I hope I don't end up regretting this... :duh: About to arrange an IS-F test drive for comparison with the ALPINA B3 BITURBO... By all accounts, it's going to be an 'unkempt' ride that'll spoil it. I could live with it, but I don't think the other half would be of the same opinion Prime candidate for variable electronic damping I reckon... :winky: Let's see... - Mark

Not sure about servicing costs, but likely to be same as BMW, ie. less expensive and definitely less frequent than Lexus (15000 miles interval typical, but dependent on driving style). I don't buy that Lexus '10,000 mile service interval helps us to keep in touch with our Customers' rubbish either; their cars (IMHO) can suffer 15-20,000 miles between services (as Audi / BMW...) easily, relying on the odd Customer being capable of checking oil level / similar, in fact, that would promote good practice (again, IMHO) :) Have to say that BMW service capability and Customer service behind the 'free coffee' machine isn't a patch on Lexus, who are most definitely the best you'll probably ever come across. The Derby dealership team were awesome, nothing ever too much trouble.

It would seem that depreciation is an issue, but I don't think that's the case. I had the same fortune with a GS450h, selling it for more than I paid for it; I think the dealers like to have a highly specced demo, but they're happy to take the hit when they let it go... Re. run-flats (they are awful; the M series cars don't come with run-flats either, so there's a thing) there isn't any run-flat tyre rated to 190mph, so that was that. In their place, you get some fantastic Michelins on the alloys, and a spray-can based repair kit for your tyre in the boot, where in my opinion, there should always be a full-size spare, but that's just my opinion :)

They're around £47,000 new; I picked up a demonstrator with 4,600 on the clock that would've cost around £53,000. Here's the thing - it was only built last September, and I got it for £38,950; that's a whopping saving of around £14,000!! :winky: Too good to miss in my opinion, as they really are like rocking-horse doo-doo, like the IS-F. I haven't seen another one, but there's a similar website to what we have here for the ALPINA owners, where you load up your details etc. on the web and folks can see your car and its details. Every ALPINA has a unique production number and silver plated plaque in the head-lining just above the interior mirror, showing that unique number. ( http://www.thealpinaregister.com/home ) Your right re. the 335i as a basis, but the engine is assembled from scratch by an ALPINA craftsman, with special Mahle forged titanium pistons to deal with the extra power as a result of the total re-mapping of the ECU (another 60 horses, and a whole lot more torque), and a bespoke 4-silencer exhaust system (what a sound!!) At a consistent 29+ mpg, thats one hell of a result. The wheels are designed to limit any uplift through advanced aerodynamic design, and shod with sticky Michelin Pilot Sports. The suspension is completely different too - much more refined, but remaining incredibly neutral right up to the limit, whereas the M3 literally can be a pain in the *rse! It might sound a bit daft, but in my opinion, it's the BMW 'Lexus', built by ALPINA in their own bespoke factory in Buchloe, Germany. If Lexus could improve the IS-F economy, and inject some of that incredible 'emotional quality' afforded by the 'BMW' / ALPINA driving experience, then I'd maybe come back 'home'. As an ex. Toyota Motor Manufacturing Quality Engineer of some 10 years experience , I seriously respect their approach to development, 'building-in' quality and ensuring durability; if they could just get that 'emotional quality driving experience' right, that would make the difference. However, as I've said previously, I've not had the opportunity to drive an IS-F yet, and I daren't, because if I really like it, I don't think I could afford to run one! Regards - Mark.

That's an interesting point you make - IMHO the M3 does have a reputation for having 'ungentlemanly' owners, yet the car itself is an excellent piece of engineering resulting in an involving, although on the slightly firm / 'crashy' ride side of things. That's where my BMW ALPINA B3 BITURBO comment came from... The B3 is an all-round better car produced in incredibly low numbers (only 12 B3 BITURBO Coupes on the UK ALPINA register to date); the suspension is more refined, being neutral right up to the limit. The car is not speed limited to 155mph, having a quoted top speed of 'over 175mph', returning an incredible 29+mpg (M3s just don't return figures like that), and to be fair, I think the IS-F might enjoy a glass or two of the 98RON vintage... My IS250 felt underpowered after my BMW 330i, but I so wanted a Lexus. My GS450h was incredibly refined and rapid, yet felt somewhat un-involving (our Mayor drives one...) My 335d M Sport had reasonable economy, but a crashy ride. Answer - ALPINA B3 BITURBO, 'a car for the connoiseur, made by a manufacturer of exclusive automobiles'. So why am I on the Lexus owners web-site? Firstly, I love the Lexus philosophy. Secondly, I believe everyone should have the opportunity formulate their opinions using the best information available, especially in advance of considering any significant purchase, and I can tell you that as the bespoke ALPINA costs around about the same as the IS-F, and is a better (IMHO) all-round car than the M3 which seems to be the adopted benchmark, then there is an alternative that you should be aware of, and if it's exclusivity you want, to help make an informed choice, then the numbers (12 to date) speak for themselves: 3.0 litre twin turbo lightweight alloy, straight six cylinder engine with Mahle forged titanium pistons ALPINA suspension and geometry (sporty, yet comfortable / refined) Advanced ZF transmission with Swich-Tronic rapid gear-shift (F1 style button, not paddle, shift) Fully re-mapped ECU Bespoke, re-engineered 4 tail-pipe exhaust system 0-62mph in 4.8 secs 360 bhp 500 Nm torque Top speed 177 mph (quoted) / 190mph filmed on YouTube by a performance motoring magazine Combined fuel consumption: 29.1 mpg (quoted, confirmed personally) BONUS: Annual Road Tax £185.00 (The Alpina is classed as a 'limited manufacturing volume enthusiasts' vehicle', receiving special treatment accordingly...) It's the best all-round car I have ever driven / owned. I still look to see what Lexus has to offer, and I haven't had the pleasure of driving an IS-F yet, but the tax and fuel consumption figures aren't inspiring as part of the whole ownership package. I just felt the need to let folks know that there is another choice, and it's not necessarily an M3. Good luck making your informed choice, and if anyone's had the chance to drive both the ALPINA B3 BITURBO and the IS-F, please share your experience with the rest of us. Regards - Mark.

Why do those aspiring to something different (IS-F) always seem to be pre-occupied with it needing to be better than an M3? That's really asking something; it would be better to accept it for what it is - a performance version of the Lexus IS, and a great car in its own right. As for exclusivity, 150 imports a year is getting there, but then BMW has the awesome (faster, more economical and more refined than the M3) ALPINA B3 BITURBO... :winky:

Very pretty! B)

Well, I think you'll find that this is a feature when operating 'on demand', but it's a fault when not required! :tsktsk: It's happened to me twice now; all windows and sunroof open and golf clubs everywhere, not a nice site to come back to, believe me. I raised this with my excellent dealer, and the issue was received without any hint of surprise. It is a known problem that the Lexus engineers are working on. The dealer will disable the 'courtesy function' for you immediately upon request. Immediately. I suggest you take them up on the offer. Immediately. :winky: Mark.

UPDATE drove to Oldtrafford to watch the mighty reds thrash Newcastle 6 - 0 yesterday average mpg 40.8 I am guttted it must be the wheels!!! I cant believe there would be so much difference! anyway they will have to go as I do approx 25k per year and get paid by the mile so mpg is king the Lexus dealer must have been right - as I have the basic 220d with 16" wheels you can only go up to 17" from 17 to 18" is ok but not 16 to 18??? the problem is they look fantastic on the car! but I cant afford to lose 2 pence per mile so they have to go! anyone interested adundon@fsmail.net Hi mate - this might be a bit left-field, but as you said your new wheel diameter was slightly greater than your originals, this means that you're travelling further per wheel rotation than your odometer will suggest. You're also, therefore, travelling slightly faster than your speedometer suggests too, so don't hover up against 70mph, as you may be closer to a speeding ticket than you think! Regards - Mark.