DAW

Not to mention the problems with the VAG Stronic auto boxes before them!!!

That just goes to show it's not Lexus that behind the curve it's just this old fella 😉 Glad to hear it 😉 Sorry just the ramblings of a middle aged man remembering when times were simpler.

I think it depends on what is important to you when buying the car. I think the German cars concentrate too much on the gadgets and the ability to customise setting etc. Personally I don't have time for all that I just want to get into a well sorted dynamic car and enjoy driving it. I'm not at all convinced that the added expense & complication is improving the driving experince unless maybe you are going to track the car. The added technology and complication is also making them more nreliable, particularly after 3 years and in my experince they do go wrong. I had a Renault Williams Clio and it was a relatively simple analogue car and more reliable than the BMW's & Audi's that followed it. It was also one of the best cars I have ever driven. I appreciate that the technology is required to meet emissions / safety etc, but I'm not convinced it is all necessary. I understand your point regarding looking at like for like options but I suspect Lexus will always lag slightly behind the German cars in that respect if they continue putting testing & reliability 1st with the extra expense that incurs, while the German manufacturers are happy to put relatively untested parts into cars at the customers expense. I personally hope Lexus stick to their way of doing things because to me a well designed quality product should have been designed to be reliable. I drove German cars for the previous 10 yrs before the ISF and they all had issues and I wouldn't have felt confident in keeping any of them long term. The ISF is the 1st car I can say that about since my Supra, which stayed in the family for 12 yrs without needing anything other than standard maintenance. I bought my ISF rather than its competitors because quality / reliability are important to me. I completely accept the majority of people clearly don't have the same priorities & would rather aspire too owning a German car.

I see where you are coming from but part of the problem for me with the German cars is this technological oneupmanship between the manufacturers, which has significantly contributed to the reliability issues they all suffer from even from new. It seems to me that most of it is not being properly tested in their race to outdo each other, unlike Lexus who generally will not include it until it's proven to be reliable. This clearly doesn't seem to matter to the numerous people buying them, especially if they are changing them before the manufacturers warranty runs out. Personally, if I were parting with that amount of my own cash, I would expect engineering quality & reliability for it to be a value for money purchase ( as far as any car purchase really can be!!). For me It's why I wouldn't consider a German car based on its level of gadgets, because from experience I would fully expect them to go wrong. As far as performance figures go, as the Chris Harris M5/GS-F comparison clearly showed, a lot of the German cars are now struggling to put their ever increasing levels of power down effectively with MB/BMW having to resort to offering 4 wheel drive to help deliver the power. I know I/we are in a minority, as Lexus owner who care about the above issues, considering the comparative sales figures with the German manufacturers. But I will be sticking with the "F" cars for as long as possible hoping Lexus stick to their values, which are more than powerful enough for our roads IMO.

Thanks for the review it makes interesting reading. I'm surprised about the DAB as my 2011 has it. My car is one of the early final update models and I assumed they all came with the same unit, but maybe not.

Welcome to the club. There are quite a few of us who have had similar experiences with the German manufactured cars and you have definately made the right choice re reliability. I cant think of a single alternative that will be as reliable with this kind of performance. I did my research from about 2010 onwards and they really are bomb proof for a car of this type. However if it does go wrong it will be just as expensive as its German counterparts. A few of us have the Lexus warranty just in case, because at £900 for 2 years, which includes top end breakdown cover (including europe), its seems pretty good value. You can even add your partner so they are covered and pay it in interest free installments as well - Blimey I sound like I'm on commition!! . I've had my car since 2014 and it hasn't missed a beat. I think you will find thats not unusual. They are great cars so hopefully worry free fun times a head - enjoy!!

Thought this view look familiar, I was up there on the Saturday. I thought it looked really smart - more like a concept car than one for production.

Hi Peter, Thanks for organising this. 25th good for me, but I'm told I have plans for Father day and away at Goodwood FoS on 1st & 2nd July. As mentioned above looking forward to putting faces to the names!!.

Hi Peter, Sounds great & many thank again for the very kind offer. Look forward to meeting up soon. All the best. David👍🏻

Good luck with the sale Tom 👍🏻

Hi Peter Hi Peter, thanks for the very kind offer & it would be great to meet up as you say. I can PM you so we can arrange a convenient time / place to meet. Alternatively happy to combine it with a Bluewater meet or just meet at Bluewater or in Essex, whichever is more convenient for you.

Enjoyed reading your comparison. Keep us updated👍🏻

Thanks for sharing your experience of the USRS's. Encouraging to hear and confirms what others have said. Really appreciate it.

Like you I don't have enough info to judge. My mates car had the issue at a similar mileage to yours but I would imagine that driving style & the condition of the roads the car is driven on must contribute to varying the point at which the issue occurs. What struck me in the RR Racing video was that they were showing the movement at varying speeds, the lower end of which I thought would not be that unusual driving on our twisting country roads. You have a good point re the relative cost of the OEM bushes. I assumed they would not be cheap so had not considered doing the comparison on the grounds that the difference would be marginal and would not ultimately solve the issue. But given the low mileages I do in the F it's probably not that big an issue to me and there would also be the plus of no warranty problems. Wished my BMW dealer had suggested changing to the M3 bushes at the time. I went aftermarket on recommendation and it ruined the steering for me making it really twitchy & tiring to drive. It was this issue that made me wary of the USRS's and I discussed this with Peter, but he said it was one of the best mods he had done to his car. I also used to be indecisive but now I'm not so sure. Lol

Have seen the videos on here but I suspect not a substitute for hearing them in person. I agree with you - the valved exhaust would be the perfect solution. I also have no intention of using the car on track & love it in its stock form. Just would like to hear more of the engine at lower revs. The bushes for me are a sensible solution to the inside tyre wear issue and if it's provides a little more feel that's a bonus. I'm no expert, but I think front inside tyre wear is inevitable over time for all of us. The RR Racing video showing the suspension movement the OEM bushes allow demonstrates this and is well worth watching if you haven't seen it already. My old BMW e46 330 sport had a similar issue. Dealer kept 80 pairs of bushes In stock as they soften and needed replacing every 3 to 5 years depending on mileage. I was shown the movement they allow on an MOT and I was shocked to see that you could move the entire wheel assembly with minimal leverage from a normal size screw driver. So it wasn't a big leap to imagine how much they would move from the forces that are exerted under braking. My friend bought the USRS's because his car had this issue when he got the car. Mind you I suppose the current cost of the bushes, given the exchange rate, might make it debatable when compared with the cost of a set of front tyres!! Not sure what the expected longevity of the USRS's are?

I think u hit the nail on the head if u can excuse the pun!!. You are right we just need to do it as u say. It's the only thing that I would improve & H&S is virtually on my door step. I'm not sure exactly what I'm waiting for really!!. Probably should ensure I manage to get to one of the meets to say hi to u all and hear them 1st hand. Pretty sure that will do it!!. Think I just need to choose the type of exhaust sound I would prefer. Only other thing are the RR Racing USRS bushes to future proof my front tyre wear. Not an issue at this point as car has still only done 11.5k & I bought in 2014 with 5.6k on it. I was still deciding about this re Lexus warranty, but I think this decision may have been decided for me as I'm about to get a set from a friend who never got round to installing them on his ISF as has sadly had to sell it through a change in circumstances. I'm still on the original tyres at the mo with no signs of any inside wear or cracking/perishing so will probably wait until they have to be changed and get bushes fitted just before then new tyre & alignment etc. But would think the tyres will need changing in not to distant future.

Impressive work must have been very satisfying - makes me wish I was more handy when it comes to my own cars. I'm reasonably practical person but do not when it comes to the nuts & bolts stuff on cars. Have upmost respect for all of u with the tools, expertise & confidence to do these jobs.

See the guy who owns it quite often but 1st time in the RS. Made me chuckle as it's the 1st time I've seen one on the road and the day after I read this thread. Only other place I've been near one is at Goodwood FoS. This guy had a GTR before & then a new V8 Mustang recently. Clearly didn't keep the mustang for long??. Still nice choice & it sounded brilliant, even better than the mustang which was pretty impressive. Does make me yearn for a new exhaust

RS passed me this morning on my way tothe station in this colour - looked brilliant and sound epic!!

Brilliant photos, you must be chuffed & what keep sake of the car for the future!!

Hi Vijay & welcome to the club. My favourite colour & with the rare wheels too. They are a great car - fun times ahead

Wow even more jealous than I was yesterday!! Glad the weather stepped up for the occasion. Sounds like you all had a blast. Mind you good job I didn't join as I'm not sure you could have fitted an extra F in the photos. That really must be a record number of them together for the uk. Perhaps if it becomes an annual event I might get the opportunity to join next time. Hope you all had a safe & fun trip home.

Stewart that's mean - just the one. I might have to make a list!! Mint condition E30 M3. - for the shear analogue enjoyment!! Mint original manual NSX If they ever get to £50k:- Cayman GT4, 997 GenII GTS 997 GenII C2S Evora 400 After test driving them all at length, back to back, I promise to make a decision!!

Exactly - still one day maybe!!

Nice to see that many F's in one photo - could b a record for the uk!! Not jealous at all!! Have a great time & I look forward to the photos.