PhoeNicks

That's the result from years of efforts of the BMW marketing machine. Everyone knows what the M3/M4 is/are. Lexus are not in that league, not in the UK anyway. In the US the car buying public are much more aufait with Lexus products, they see them as high-end luxury cars. I don't mind, I like some anonymity. I had an Alpina 3 series a couple of years ago, no-one new what that was. Most thought it just another BMW. I quite like that too. When I feel the need to shout my success from the rooftops, I'll get another M3/M4 😉

Ha, barely any elbows left Paul. I'll get some better ones if it ever stops raining!

Stop stop! I don't think my wallet can take it 🤣

Finally got around to sorting my private plate out... now the car properly feels like it's mine. I gave the car a proper clean and wax while with the plates off, actually felt the car looked better without plates altogether...

Looking awesome Paul. I'm glad these aren't a direct fit for the ISF, would go lovely with USB 😁

Cannon Ball got me interested in cars, Smokey and the Bandit got me into V8s. RIP Burton ☹️

Hi Dan, I'd be interested in a front splitter. I need to read up some more on Shine's products; their website is missing info in the materials section. Can anyone tell me any benefits to opt for the Kevlar version over the carbon? Apart from making my wallet lighter that is.

Some really nice cars in this thread. Here is our 'family' car, Nacho. Our first SEAT actually, but we really like him. It's basically the same 2.0T DSG petrol engine as in my previous S3.

In no particular order and by no means a complete listing, but I find these tunes perfect for my pre 7am blast to work 😎 1. Prodigy - Smack my b*itch up 2. Sash - Ecuador 3. Bob Sinclair - What I want 4. David Guetta - Lovers on the sun 5. Flo Rida - Right round feat Ke$ha 6. Kevin Rudolf - Let it rock Am I out of the club now?

The average pu The average punter won't know that however...

Funny that, the first time I recall seeing a Lexus it was also a CG LS400... however it was on the bonus stage in Street Fighter 2, on the Super Nintendo 😁 Future classic or not, the ISF appealed to me mostly because it was different and probably because it was blue! The fact it was comparitively cheaper than the M3 and AMG just clinched it. I know everyone else will buy the other two 9 times out of 10 because Clarkson told them, but that makes me even more satisfied with my choice. Ps I still remember how expensive my M cars were to run and maintain. With my ISF I sleep soundly every night.

Sadly I don't hold out any hope for my ISF increasing in value, when I look at some of my previous car history. 1. I have a 70s Reliant Scimitar shell in storage. Has been since I was a kid. The reason it's still there and not restored is because it's always been possible to go out and buy a complete and running example for not much money. 2. E36 M3 and E39 M5. I had a pristine example of both. They were still falling in value when I sold mine, the M5 was already a classic M5 and certainly more lauded and desirable than an unknown Japanese saloon. I think good examples of these are only now starting to increase... years later. 3. Mk2 XR2s. I had 2 of these when I was 17. I think good ones are now worth a few k but that's 30 years after they were made and there's always been a huge following. I love my ISF, it's character reminds me so much of my old M5, but im not expecting to make any money on it in future.

Haha, awesome 😎

On that note, im thinking of replacing the false tips when I go for an aftermarket exhaust. Only thing putting me off is that I'm worried the new tips will melt the bodywork. Is this a reasonable concern, or only an issue if the tips make contact?

I've got a new set of PS4Ss sitting waiting to go on, so will be good to hear more feedback. Thinking of getting my old Audi dealer to fit them, only place I know locally where the wheels don't get damaged in the process.

Before I bought my F I was looking for outright power and thus considering a GTR and a C63s Coupe. The GTR was a stretch to get a nearly new one, but it made the Merc seem good value. A good friend ran a GTR for a few years and threw a serious amount of money away keeping it serviced and in discs/pads/tyres. As a daily he told me not to bother unless I was really, really commited to the high costs. The Merc wasnt hugely cheap here either, but the more I read and spoke to owners, the more they put me off; Interior rattles, brake squealing, clutch issues and electrical gremlins. You're largely paying for the badge anyway and it's not like they have the great build quality they used to, to make up for it. You can't even make full use of the power, its worse in the wet and I live in Scotland... When the F came along and I realised I could get most of the power I wanted, but at half the cost... I sat on it for two weeks and then totally gave up on ploughing all my cash into a C63s. When it comes time to change and drop some serious money on a replacement, I'm going to find something a bit more special than the Merc to make it worth it.

Just awesome. I wasn't prepared for that sound either, so I too chuckled when the camera backed away. You will be driving everywhere with a massive grin now. I need to examine my IS exhaust options, your thread has opened my eyes to unleashing the glorious V8 howl 😁

Ooh nice. I really like these, shame their version for the IS looks really odd with two different diameter pipes to the back boxes. Jealous, this is my favourite car related purchase, after actually buying a new car ofcourse 😁

Exciting. Which exhaust is it?

Thanks for the feedback guys, I used to be a big fan of the previous Supersports so it'll be good to get another tyre that's highly rated.

Slightly ot but I've just ordered a set of PS4s, how are you finding them? I'm changing over from the original Bridgestones so they must be an old compound now, compared to PS4s

Ah well that was interesting; I've just had a delve into the ML company history only to realise (as Voodoo already mentioned) that it's all owned by Samsung now. Small World. @JonP Spurred on by people's comments I had a good dig into the audio settings this morning and I think I found the issue. I had previously played about with the bass/mid/treble settings, however it seems that these settings are per source -? I had done this while listening to the radio, but didn't check them again when playing audio cds. I checked this again this morning and the mid value was very low. Moving it back up and hey presto, there was the definition I was looking for. I do agree however it is a little lacking in bass, the Prodigy's Fat of the Land confirmed that. Still, I'm happier with it now and I could always add an amp and sub in future. @ISF V8 JAY Totally! I keep catching myself looking at it across the carpark. Just stunning. I originally thought the Red was my favorite colour, but USB in the flesh is truly awesome 😎

Thanks guys, like I said I'm really looking forward to letting this car get under my skin. @Stuno1 I was trying to choose my words carefully here. I'm yet to really test the audio properly, but I feel like it's missing some... definition. The S3 (while not the last word in automotive hi-fi) had a reasonable Harman Kardon system, so I'm comparing it to this. It could just be down to how technology has moved on, but I'll have a good look through the settings and see if I can tune it a bit better. Eitherway, I do like my tunes but it's was really the noise generator under the bonnet that i was after. @Tfp Thanks, I'll get the plate moved over soon. It was originally for my old M3, but funnily enough i think it wont look too out of place on the ISF 😎

So, I've had an interesting weekend... I'm really happy with the car so far. A little sad to see the S3 go as I'd had it from new but it was the right decision I think. Got a good feel for the car having to drive it down to Edinburgh for the warranty check and then back home. Car passed the checks with no issues, warranty is in place now and all is good. Had a fantastic drive back home, weather was amazing (showing 26 degrees) and the roads largely clear. Got to stretch her legs and test my favourite bit - the point from 4k revs. It's like a different car... almost like the induction is in the cabin with me! I love the smoothness of the ride and near seamless change of the gearbox. There's a noticeable weight difference to the S3 but that was to be expected, however once you pick up speed it's quite alarming how fast you can be going without really feeling it. Very much a license loser if you're not careful. I do need to spend more time to gel with all the quirks: the sat nav is as terrible as expected, the audio is ok, it took a couple of goes to pair the phone and I've still got a load of buttons to press and see what they do. I best trawl the manual to workout all the options/gadgets, I didn't even realise it had radar cruise control... awesome! It's been chucking it down since I got home, so I'll need to give her a little clean. Upcoming jobs: she'll need tyres in the not too distant future and some attention to the stone chips on the bumper and a couple on the bonnet. I know a good place so that wont be an issue. The overall condition is a real testament to previous owner's care. A little bit on effort on my part and we'll nudge her up to 100% pristine :-) Beyond that I might fancy a nice stainless or Titanium exhaust and maybe a Wald carbon rear diffuser. A bit pie in the sky atm, none of this stuff is available in the UK and needs to come from the US or Japan. All in all it's great to be back in a V8 and I'm intrigued to see where this little adventure takes us.

Thanks Toothy. Yes totally understand the non warranty approach too. I could just set money aside as a backup, but I honestly think a non third party warranty for under £800, for two years including breakdown cover isn't too bad. It's a 5 yr old car so I think it'll give me a little more piece of mind. A little presumptiously I've booked it into lexus on Friday, so if all goes smoothly with the sale, I can pop down right after for the checkover. Fingers crossed.