wantaisf

On 6/9/2021 at 10:00 PM, Jon_B said:

Hi James, when i bought the car the car it had the front resprayed but I was told it was cosmetic damage rather than anything serious.  I owned it for 2 years just about and the car was fantastic, drove well but i think the difference in paint became more obvious over time.  It was when i went to a Lexus meet with a number of people on here and parked next to Mark G's Blue ISF that the difference really noticed.  I'm no expert but i suspect that it would probably need a complete respray to get rid of the difference but others may have a better idea of that than me.  Car drove brilliantly, no issues during my ownership, i only changed as the right RCF came up.  I had a custom exhaust fitted on the car to make the V8 stand out a little, no idea if that's still on the car.  The guy that bought it from Lexus Swindon was Jim @wantaisf, are you still on here Jim?  I don't think that Jim kept it very long but not sure why.  Hope that this helps.

Hello Jon, 

I moved the car on as I wanted a manual sports car, and I found the ISF only fun when I went for it, and too often there wasn't any road or enough of road to go for it.........I have to say I never noticed the paintwork, it always looked spiffing to me!

Don't think it's such a bargain...and ISFs never sell quickly. 

CB's ISF is best value, considering the miles at 17k...why would you buy one at 93k for 12k? And also need to buy probably tyres and brakes and fix sat nav, plus no lexus sh...by the time you buy tyres and brakes and fix sat nav, and give it a service, that 12k car is about 13.5. So only 3.5k difference. 

Sorry just re-read the post....lol

Thanks Big Rat and Paul99. I'll be in touch over PM. 

OK I had a go this afternoon but have decided to throw in the towel. I can't unclip the throttle connector at the top of the gas pedal. I know the guide says there's a clip on the right hand side but u can't feel it and nor do I want to force it. So who's the nearest to Nottingham that can lend a hand with this? Alternatively is there anyone who is going to the July meet that has done this before? 

Maserati GranTurismo

47 minutes ago, paul99 said:

It is really simple to fit, I'd happily do it for you if your local, use this guide by Peter P18 Link and you won't have any problems. To summarize:

Pop off the side panel on the dash (I used a blunt kitchen knife) 

Pop out the switch blank, there's a little clip on the top and it just pops straight out. 

Get in the foot well and undo 2 or 3 screws holding the panel with the odb port on it, and carefully move it to the side (I didn't disconnect any cables) 

At the top of the throttle peddle the is a connector, un-clip it, the clip faces towards the door. 

Fit the Apexi switch, drop the switch wire down through the hole into the footwell, connect the ISF specific harness to the throttle pedal connector and the switch into the Apexi box. 

Now you will notice a red dot on one side of the Apexi harness connector which needs to connect to the connector which was on the throttle, connect it with the red dot on the same side as the clip. Fit the Apexi switch into the blank hole, use a bit of double sided tape to hold the switch in place. 

Now press the start button twice (no foot on pedal). Car won't start put dash will power up. Now do the setup process as guide says above. 

Now put everything back together and use a couple of the supplied cable ties to secure the Apexi cables and box out of the way. 

 

You make it sound so simple! LOL....

May have to give it a go!

Being completely useless at DIY, I am not going to try and fit the Apexi throttle controller myself. Could Lexus fit this for me? And it shouldn't invalidate my warranty right?

Hello All, 

Thought I would post up my 3 year long hunt for a V8! I first registered here 3 years ago!

Within my sights were the usual suspects:

1. E92 M3

2. Lexus ISF

3. Audi RS4. 

So after reading and watching tons of reviews, I was convinced that the M3 was the one to go for, due to the usual stuff - how exciting it is, that it's the best car on track, that it's the fastest. Also to me it was the best looking. Slightly cliched , but I loved the coupe in white with black Competition pack alloys, and I was set on getting one in manual. As I was 100% determined not to have an automatic. 

So cue test drives on the manual V8 M3, now it may well have been the examples I drove but I found them a bit uninspiring and also very unsettled. The car didn't get going til higher up in the rev range (but I am used to VTEC, as have owned virtually all of the Type R models.) I also was not blown away by the sound either, and how it sounds is very important to me. Maybe I had too high an expectation, as I somehow thought all V8's would sound like a Ferrari V8. 

During this time, I on and off looked at ISFs. And actually bought other cars such as the Z4MC, E46 M3, S2000. My first test drive with the ISF left me disappointed, it was at a Lexus Main Dealer but the example was poor and slow. (No Sports mode, or in to manual) The auto kick downs when i put my foot down was really slow in that particular example. Anyway, I gave up with the ISF for a bit and started to look at RS4s. 

RS4s sound great, but there was something that I couldn't put my finger on, I had this feeling that I would get bored with it very quickly, coupled with the fact that maintenance costs were eye watering. DRC = Talking £3k upwards, unless you go Bilsteins. Carbon Clean and Stage 2 map = £2.5k. Clutch change = Over £1k. Everything just costs an astronomical amount of money for the car. And then there was the theft factor which put me off buying it altogther, it was a magnet for break ins - due to the desirable recaros, which I actually didn't get on with: gave me back ache. So I thought it was back to the M3's then, maybe get a DCT one. everyone raved on about how good they were, and I've warmed to automatics ever since my back injury about 1.5 years ago, and driving them in USA - hmm actually pretty good in traffic. 

In the mean time I bought a 335i in manual. And this cemented it. The ergonomics of the car made me realise the M3 is not for me. I just hated the small footwell space in that cabin. So now it was back to the ISF, but in the mean time another contender had entered the fray the C63 AMG had dropped massively and was within my budget. However the hunt had been long, and I was set on the ISF. 

In summary

M3

Positives: Looks great with comp alloys and in certain colours. Thrilling in high rev range. Sound better with modded exhaust, otherwise doesn't sound like a V8 IMO. Manual was poor. (probably me spoilt by Honda gear boxes) Maintenance not too bad apart from rod actuator, usual cost on brakes and tyres.

Negatives: People do moan about the MPG. I couldn't get this car because I didn't like the noise or the ergonomics of it in the main, and didn't like how the back end can squirm quite easily. Also, too many M3s about. 

RS4

Positives: Sounds really good. I like the way it looks too. More comfortable than the M3. Felt planted with the quattro system. Nicer manual than the M3. Quite fast. 

Negatives: I was struck by how many Audi A4s look just like the RS4 (not so much in sprint blue, but black ones, meh they all look the same, especially with the alloys speced up.) Maintenance costs was silly and really put me off. Lastly was the theft thing, I couldn't get over this poor chap on the M3cutter forum (only last year) bought a RS4 within a week it was off his drive and into a container somewhere. 

C63 AMG

I was tired from looking at cars by this stage, and was fed up with driving my wife's Mazda 6 (even though I do quite like it) So even though a test drive on the Merc might have swayed me but in the end reading up on them - MPG/Tyres and people shifting them on quite quickly made me forget about looking at a C63. 

In conclusion:

Getting older and deciding on an automatic. 

Maintenance costs. 

Comfort and ergonomics. 

Rarity.

Still fast! :)

Sound. 

Made me decide on the ISF. 

And after driving it some more on Friday! It was the right decision!

Brakes are OK for a bit, just thought I would stock up as it's so cheap right now with the bank holiday sale! If I was going to get it fitted straight away, I would buy it without hesitation, as any issues upon fitting I would go back to them. But don't fancy keeping it in the garage for over 1 year and then going back to them later if there was a problem. 

Thanks for the posts chaps. It has made me think that £306 for discs and pads all round for a Lexus ISF is suspiciously cheap! So much so, I'm going to delay the purchase, and actually might source OEM discs from Lexis and Hawks pads for Cambridge Motorsport. 

Hello All, 

Looks like my long hunt for the ISF is finally over. Deposit down for the USB ISF in Lexus Swindon. I'll put up a post about my hunt later on. 

As Europarts have a 50% discount on brakes this bank holiday weekend, I thought I would take the opportunity to stock up now. 

Brembo Brake Disc (Front)Product Code: 10482208A

Brembo Brake Disc (Rear)Product Code: 10482209A

Brembo Brake Pad (Front)Product Code: 10182101A

Brembo Brake Pad (Rear)Product Code: 10182102A

I think those are the right ones right? Would appreciate some validation, did stick in the reg plate as well.....

Thanks. 

Well I am very glad you are happy with the condition of the car, looking back maybe I should have taken it at £13k......but hey ho....

Big Rat, I am impressed with your dedication in getting to know all the Lexus ISFs out there!!!

Does anywhere sell the mesh alloys? As I prefer the look of the mesh over the spokes, but all the dealer USB isf come with the spoke alloys 

Looks awesome, however for me once those seats become worn, I would retrim and have ISF on instead of Lotus

19 hours ago, ISF V8 JAY said:

Hi guys, 

in ref to GK58NFN the grey ISF.

 

having sold mine a 6 months ago I’m missing like hell!

 

ive seen the above car for sale at £16,995 which sounds steep is the car any good?

 

thanks

 

ps just added the pic of my old beast 🙂

Have a look through my post mate, I've posted about it. Personally, if it was at £13,500 or even £14,000 it's a good buy maybe.........

2 hours ago, Womble72 said:

@wantaisf...Jim, don’t dismiss dealers, I got mine from Lexus main dealer, I started off at £5k below the asking price, ended up settling at £3.5k off, years warranty BUT took the car “as is”.....no pre service only pre sale inspection, I did go into the showroom, drove it, slept on it after £5k drop dismissed, sealed the deal on the phone a few days later, what with the new reg coming out there’s a lot of reasons to have a dabble as car sales are VERY LOW at the mo,

Paul

yeah tbh, I think it's going to have to be one of the dealers........thank you for that, very interesting! And spot on the new reg also. 

1 hour ago, Big Rat said:

@wantaisf Jim I'm guessing you are aware there are no less than 6 for sale on autotrader in your desired colour, I'm guessing they are not in your budget or you've already dismissed them all ?

If it's a budgetary consideration and I can't remember what yours is this colour didn't come out until a 10 plate, if I'm wrong someone will be along to correct me, but if that is the case any car in that colour  is extremely unlikely to be under shall we say £20k unless it's been to the moon and back and or needs a shed load of cash flung at it.

Big Rat

Thanks Big Rat, absolutely aware, but they are all traders, and I like buying private especially if it's off a forum member that has good traceable history on it. 

Right before I do about 1000 miles criss crossing the country looking at all the USB ISFs for sale at various traders, are there any forum members thinking about selling up? If so, please get in contact with me!

Thank you! I will really look after it!

3 hours ago, rayaans said:

Interesting stuff.

Yes the panel gap seems to be there and it doesn't line up perfectly but its not massive.

The seats have lumbar support, possibly it was on the highest setting? Seats look fine - normal wear and tear for an 87k mile car

All the other stuff can be sorted by a good detailer (and their bodyshop contacts). Worth a punt at £13.5k but I wouldnt pay what the dealer is asking for it with those issues.

It's not lumbar support, I would say it's the backing of the seat has somehow collapsed in the mid section. I have now seen 6 Lexus ISFs, and this was the only one that had this issue with the seat. In addition, this same seat problem/feel was present in an old IS200 that I looked at many years ago. What was interesting was that the passenger seat exhibited the same issue, but not to the same degree. 

Yeah was worth a punt at £13.5k. Spend £1k on service and bodyshop and drive it for a year.........and sell for £13k. 

Which was why I really kicked myself for not buying Stuno's car way back when, as it was mint then. 

Also, I went and looked at Tom's ISF last summer and it was immaculate for about 17k......I didn't know about Apexi throttle controllers then, otherwise I would have pulled the trigger and bought that one, instead I said it seemed a bit uninspiring..... doh!

On 3/8/2018 at 11:08 AM, Wellsey said:

Absolutely get where you're coming from @Big Rat.

Trouble with Alfa, it's never the logical choice! I see my old man (who helps me with most of my wrenching) ageing each time I mention about getting back into the brand. For some reason I'm always drawn to them and now they've finally stepped up their game, I know I'm going to scratch that itch again. Just make sure the piggy bank is full for repairs at the time!!

 

 If you're into your Alfa's then most definitely. We were there for about 3 hours which was more than enough. 

well ricky, if you ever move onto the Alfa, let me know about the ISF!!!

For 17k, you're better off buying the black one at 17,999, and they would probably chop a grand off to move it.