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The sales figure of £52,990 is the advertised on the road price of the black IS-F in Lexus currently (still) for sale in the Cheltenham dealership. As I said, I have been offered the car at a discount on that price. I'm not anti IS-F at all, just believe there's an awful lot more cars that are quicker and more appealing that I'd buy for similar money....including the forthcoming Nissan GT-R which has been designed from the offset as what its intended to be. If you think it's such a good car then buy one (what are you driving at the moment BTW?)....but don't think for one minute it's going to be an investment, or for that matter particularly rare (and please don't compare it to a Ferrari cos it shares a similar design error ). If its a discount it has to be less than £51905 which is the official Lexus on-the-road, full tank of petrol, Reg plated, taxed price including a sunroof - the only option available. All colours are the same price. You can confirm this by going to the Lexus site. If you buy, expect to have to fit a Tracker or most insurance companies won't touch it. Also none of the Insurance comparison sites offer a sensible price, you can do much better going to the one with the little red telephone.

Suprised you don't really like it - especially after the IS200 Sport which is an IS200 with go-faster trim. I had IS200 LE which is an IS200 with leather & HID lights. Both are really great cars but never the slightest bit exciting, and lacking in performance which was identical for all IS200 models. I find ISF great. The only criticisms an uncomfortable ride on bad roads, the all black interior seems a bit too much of a good thing, and people find it difficult to get in/out the back. The engine/gearbox combo is fabulous - ultra relaxing in D, and really wakes up in Sports/Manual. A happy surprise is that on daily journeys, mpg is not much worse than the IS200!

Yes - one for water, the other for Oil etc.

And all that you mention here is not new or innovative for a new exciting car oh and the g/box is crap...coz Tiff says so :P But saying that i'd have one any day of the week :D , i'll look out for you but then you may not be the type to acknowledge other Lexi owners so i will bow my head in shame if we ever pass each other as you think so lowly of others. Im off to the towers now to recieve my punishment :D Glad to see you in your IS200 sport any day. I don't think Tiff liked the ISF gearbox because it wouldn't let him destroy it - because its a joy in auto, & am starting to find how much fun it is in manual.

the ISF does look similar to the IS250 in some ways, but bearing in mind the only panels in common are the roof and doors, and it is lower with different wheels it does manage to look quite different - I can see the ISF and a IS250 just down the road for comparison.

You haven't driven it properly yet so how can you say that already? hmm, lets hope it is more legendary than the diesel. Bit early to say that for a brand new model. Lets hope you follow up the first time it ends up back at Lexus ;) I'm assuming by those statements that you have you have owned an M3?? As the answer to above is yes, it is interesting you are slagging off what you have been at some point Lexus reliabilty is an industry legend. But had to have a new gearbox on my IS200LE straight away. It was replaced promptly with no fuss and then no problems at all. Although no ball of fire, it was a great really well made car I would have kept if I had the space.ISF worth every penny? A question of comparisons - for a car like that from BMW, Audi or Merc, everything you would want as standard is a high cost extra. Yes I've driven a demonstrator M3 which is the main reason I didn't buy one.

You haven't driven it properly yet so how can you say that already? hmm, lets hope it is more legendary than the diesel. Bit early to say that for a brand new model. Lets hope you follow up the first time it ends up back at Lexus ;) I'm assuming by those statements that you have you have owned an M3?? As the answer to above is yes, it is interesting you are slagging off what you have been at some point

So sorry, but I don't care. When I'm in the car I drive it. I go home to sit around drinking coffee and listen to sounds. Oh, since you actually own one, I wanted to know if it still has the creature comforts associated with a Lexus. After all, up till now a Lexus is known as a car that pampers and cocoons it's occupants. I mean the cupholders on high end BMWs are pretty crappy compared to the robust ones on Lexus cars. The ISF looks after you very well with separate climate control for either side and controlled heating/cooling for the rear, full spec multimedia/navigation centre, 4 supple, supportive & comfortable leather seats with memory adjustment as also with the steering wheel which powers out of the way when you switch off. Good thick tailored carpet mats. All the plastic sliding and hinged bits are well made and look durable. The fitments are almost identical to the top end IS250, but the wood replica is replaced with carbon-fibre replica. The only criticism is that it is a bit gloomy inside because virtually everything is black.

Thanks. Pics will follow if it ever stops raining except when I'm at work. But they don't look good in photos anyway.

So sorry, but I don't care. When I'm in the car I drive it. I go home to sit around drinking coffee and listen to sounds.

Most of the posts about the ISF are from those who don't & won't ever own one, and haven't driven one either. Here are the first impressions of my ISF as a road car. Straight away, it puts a big silly grin on your face and it stays there. When you see it, it looks much better than all the pics on your PC. Where the IS 250 is bland to the point of ugly; the ISF has much more purposeful lines and is a good looking car. The interior is very plain and quite dark with black (really comfortable & supportive) seats, black fittings, flooring, dashboard, roof lining and slightly tinted windows. When it starts up from cold there is a powerful V8 grumble loud enough to annoy the neighbours, but which soon settles. As you drive it in normal traffic, it is ultra smooth, quiet and not at all a beast, using all 8 gears to give good mileage - so imperceptibly you need to set the display to show gear-changes to know when they happen. Parking in tight spots is really good with both front and rear sensors plus a reversing camera which shows on-screen the path the car will take. As you give it some stick, at 3600 rpm the exhaust note opens up with a very healthy V8 bark, very shortly after which you have exceeded legal speed limits. As to handling, I have only had it for 3 days and am treating it gently. I leave it to those who have had their ISF a bit longer to comment on this. The ISF is worth every penny - but with sunroof, extended warranty, prepaid service, gap insurance, separate tyre insurance and a Tracker necessary for road insurance; it took a mountain of them to prise it off the forecourt. Why buy the ISF? Firstly, build quality plus legendary reliability that BMW just can't offer, and costs much more with Audi & Mercedes. Secondly, it is so useable - the BMW M3 is horrible in traffic although great on the track, and the Audi & Merc V8s so big that there is never anywhere to park them. Finally, the ISF is a Lexus - a choice for thoughtful people, as Audis & Mercs are for those who think with their wallets, and BMWs for people who sit on the little bits they think with. Good photos don't do the ISF justice at the best of times - and mine are not good

You won't be disappointed. Picked up mine (Palladio Silver with sunroof) today from Lexus Guildford who I can't praise too much. The car is awesome - quiet and ultra smooth until you give it some stick, then the noise is magic and its away like lightning. I'm not too taken with the black headlining but others will like that - its just personal taste. But everything else, simply great. A shame you have to wait until October, but if you didn't order way back last year, you are lucky to get one at all.

Picked motor up this morning, all as promised, cracking car, colour just right and the power is unbelievable, you have to drive to appreciate the car, still runs quite like the old is250 sport until you hit the throttle, then its awesome, must add Nick at lexus Hull gave me a good run down on how things work, no rush just perfect., i willpost some pics as soon as poss. Get mine Wednesday. Palladio Silver with sunroof. Looking forward to V8 power without the embarassment of driving a BMW. You know what they say - not all BMW drivers are to**ers, but if you are a to**er you probably drive a BMW. No seriously, better build quality and reliability are what makes Lexus stand out.

Well mate I had to sell one wife, three kids and a dog, mines coming into hull friday hope to pick up wednesday, I must admit those pictures are some of the best and clearest I have seen, its been a long time since May when I left a deposit, talk about wishing your life away, anyway, There is a video on u tube, a recent one with two blokes in the netherlands taking one for a run in the dark bit of a laugh really, I will keep you posted

:D Dealers are to fit new 6th gear and all the associated components. Hopefully this will be a cure

If you didn't get the reply, just under 2000 miles

IS200LE, picked up new Nov 2003, and from start has had vibration in 6th GEAR ONLY at 57 - 63 mph. The vibration is just like poor wheel balance but only happens in 6th gear! Dealers (Lexus Guildford) have been very good, always providing a courtesy car, and have tried hard to find cause several times. They now have had car for a week now trying without success. Can't tell what vibration is in sympathy with because Lexus do not quote gear ratios or back-axle ratio but seems to be 40 or 50 Hz. It is not severe but bad enough for passengers to say "what the **** that" when I put it into 6th at the speeds where it happens. Its a shame because it really spoils an otherwise great car. Any ideas?

In 6th gear at just under 60 mph, whole car vibrates - not a lot but annoying. No problem either side of this speed, and is fine in 5th gear etc. Any thoughts as dealers can't find cause - not that they have really tried. The car has done under 1500 miles and was like this from the start!