BMW M3 Forum (E90 E92)

BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Go Back   M3Post - BMW M3 Forum > M3 (E90 / E92 / E93) > M3 vs....
 
European Auto Source (EAS)
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      01-21-2008, 02:23 PM   #1
spearfisher
Lieutenant
spearfisher's Avatar
12
Rep
409
Posts

Drives: C6 ZO6
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: FL

iTrader: (0)

Drove the Lexus IS-F at Moroso

short facts, I won't go into any story telling.

went up to Lexus drive they had at Moroso, and was pleasantly surprised, they allowed you to hammer the car as hard as you wanted as long as you weren't reckless.


My personal observations of the Lexus IS-F:

Appearance
The car itself does not look much different from the regular IS350 aside from the following
1. The hood has a power dome similar to BMW's M3 but larger to accommodate the V8.
2. the front and rear bumpers are slightly different, fog lights different
3. and of course the cladding, it's sort of you either like it or don't, (I personally don't like it) but the car does look better in person than in pictures.
4. oddly enough there was a lot of controversy on the quad tail pipes and configuration, the are connected to the exhaust and I ended up liking how they came out.

Interior
1. the white interior looks clean, can't imagine it wearing well though
2. the bolsters are more supportive and seats hold you in place in tight corners, and aluminum accents
3. no noticeable squeaks or rattles, other than that basically same as the IS350 with the usual IS-F badges.

Brakes
1. Huge Brembo brakes 14.2 F 13.6 R, hammered the brakes for 4 laps and that's after someone had driven the car, they felt strong and fade free, very good brakes.
2. a lot of brake dust, but considering the car has been tracked from morning and I drove it about 2pm, the pads still looked good and no cracks in the rotor holes, Brembo knows brakes.

Suspension
1. good handling car, handles well, but a bit too much nose dive, braking from about 125mph, made the rear feel a little loose.
2. too much body roll in corners, you can tell this car weighs 3800-3900 lbs
3. easy to catch over steer and pull back in though, instructor had all nannys off by mistake when I took the helm, I went completely sideways on the South end of the track but was able to recover easily.
4. under steers at the limit and like all high HP cars able to control via the gas, car handles well, but it's no corvette.

Engine & Drive train

1. Smooth with a nice but somewhat quiet exhaust note
2. a bit anemic before I say about 3800 Rpms then it begins to pull hard and sounds a bit nicer and louder.
3. one thing I must say is for an auto, the tranny was very impressive, fast shifts and fast downshifts, up shifts were done as soon as you hit the paddle, no noticeable lag, nice thing about the tranny it has a reminder when to shift to execute red line shifts, nice.


I have not driven a new M3 I’ll compare it to what I have driven
1. E46 M3
2. 335I stock 6sp


The Lexus still does not have the steering feedback and road feel that the E46 offers, but funny enough offers more at the limit grip than both the E46 M3 and 335I. Brakes are better but does not inspire confidence when braking from 125-130, rear feels a little light, but that is due to the suspension. The rear is just as easy to control in a slide as the E46 M3, easier to modulate or squeeze throttle out of corners than the 335I. In a straight line though neither the E46 M3 or 335I can hold a candle to the IS-F, and I did say stock 335I, never driven a proceed 335I, but it feels every bit as fast as the claimed 12.7.

I think they did a good job, but based on the information I’ve gathered, the new M3 should be:
1. A better track car
2. be a more rewarding drive
but considering that this is Lexus 1st attempt, it’s a damn good one, it’s a good car.
Appreciate 0
      01-21-2008, 03:38 PM   #2
JEllis
Major General
JEllis's Avatar
529
Rep
5,498
Posts

Drives: E36 M3, E92 M3
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Dallas/Ft. Worth

iTrader: (4)

Thanks for the write-up
__________________
http://www.m3post.com/forums/signaturepics/sigpic14547_7.gif
Instagram: jellismotorwerks
Appreciate 0
      01-21-2008, 03:46 PM   #3
gbb357
Captain
68
Rep
706
Posts

Drives: IS300
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: New York

iTrader: (0)

Nice review. Not surprise about the nose dive, considering the weight distribution on that car. Thanks for sharing.
Appreciate 0
      01-21-2008, 05:26 PM   #4
DASHOCKER
The power of V!
DASHOCKER's Avatar
Germany
99
Rep
1,971
Posts

Drives: 2007 335i coupe steptronic
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: NYC

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
1998 Lexus Gs400  [0.00]
2010 ebony & ivory  [0.00]
2006 BMW X3  [0.00]
2009 pics  [0.00]
2009 e92 335 xdrive  [0.00]
Nice write up I will still take the M3 over this car for the price.
__________________
2007 335 coupe Alpine white, steptronic, sportpack, etc. (gone)
2006 X3 3.0 steptronic Titanium Silver, 2009 E92 335xdrive, next.... Caddy CTS_V! 13 Lincoln MKZ? hmmm.
Appreciate 0
      01-21-2008, 08:17 PM   #5
gbb357
Captain
68
Rep
706
Posts

Drives: IS300
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: New York

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by DASHOCKER View Post
Nice write up I will still take the M3 over this car for the price.
For the price, it's a decent value if you compare both fully loaded. Fully loaded ISF is $63.5k and fully loaded e90 M3 is $72k. But if you get either one standard with no options, the e90 M3 at $54.5k vs the ISF at $56k, the e90 is probably the better value.
Appreciate 0
      03-08-2008, 01:01 AM   #6
ToothDoc
Second Lieutenant
5
Rep
241
Posts

Drives: 997.2 TTS, CLA 45 AMG
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Chicagoland

iTrader: (0)

Nah, just the gas guzzler tax alone makes the base about the same price and a base IS-F has way more options than a base M3.
Appreciate 0
      03-08-2008, 09:54 AM   #7
gbb357
Captain
68
Rep
706
Posts

Drives: IS300
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: New York

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by ToothDoc View Post
Nah, just the gas guzzler tax alone makes the base about the same price and a base IS-F has way more options than a base M3.
You're absolutely correct, I forgot about that. So they're basically the same price stock. And the ISF comes with the sunroof standard, leather, and 19' rims.
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:36 PM.




m3post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST