A 2000s V-8 Compact Sports Sedan That’s A Reliable Used Car Bargain

Lexus originally started as a luxury brand with the sole aim of competing with German luxury cars at the highest level. With time, dedication, and a lot of money spent, that goal was achieved with the Lexus LS400. This car shook the industry and put the whole world on notice of the potential of the Lexus brand. Today, the LS remains the flagship vehicle but in 2008, Lexus decided that it needed to take another market share from the Germans.

The compact sports sedan market was being led by Mercedes, BMW, and Audi with their AMG, M, and RS performance line of models. So, Lexus decided that it needed to build a compact sports sedan of its own. This choice gave birth to a rival worthy of leading the Lexus sports car division. It might have been a Skunkworks project built by a small team, but it was fast, loud, and delivered an exciting performance.

Information

The First Lexus F Model

In 2006, Lexus filed for the “F” trademark which showed intentions to create a performance division. This was a well-calculated move as Lexus had just launched the new IS product line in 2005. The lead engineer, Yukihiko Yaguchi, assembled a small team and, with a limited budget, began the development of a high-performance IS model. This man was also responsible for the design of all previous generations of the Toyota Supra.

The IS F made its debut in January 2007 at the North American International Auto Show alongside the Lexus LFA Concept car. The new IS F maintained the same design as the regular car but with some noticeable visual differences.

Exterior Changes On The Lexus IS F:

• A new bumper and grille design
• A new hood with a big bulge
• New fenders with integrated air vents
• New side skirts
• 19-inch BBS wheels
• New rear bumper with stacked quad exhaust tips.

These Changes To The Lexus IS F Were Subtle To The Uninitiated

All of these changes were necessary to help differentiate the regular IS from the F model. But in keeping with the theme at the time, it wasn’t made to be aggressive and show off the fact that it was a high-performance sedan. You had to spot the subtle differences and badges to find out. Sales began in late 2007 in Japan and early 2008 in North America and Europe. The IS F was a success and started the F performance brand that spawned cars like the legendary LFA, RC F, and GS F sports cars.

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A Reliable And Powerful V-8 Engine

The beating heart of the IS F is its 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V-8 engine co-developed with Yamaha, and MotorTrend clocked a 0-60 MPH time of 4.3 seconds back when it was released in America. Early test mules made use of a 4.6 liter V-8 from the LS460 but later switched to the new powerplant which was developed for this car.

Engine Specs: Lexus IS, W204 C63 AMG, E92 M3

​​​(Sourced from Lexus, Mercedes, BMW, Motor Trend, and fueleconony.gov)

It was mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission known as Sport Direct Shift, sending power to the rear wheels. Manufacturers at this time were fond of giving fancy names to their automatic transmissions, like BMW with SMG and Porsche with its dual-clutch PDK.

The Lexus IS F Stood Toe-To-Toe With Its Competitors At The Time

• It featured a high-performing 5.0-liter V-8.
• It had quick acceleration, going from 0-60 MPH in 4.3 seconds.
• Advanced eight-speed automatic transmission.
• Sport-tuned suspension and upgraded brakes.
• Large forged alloy wheels.

Being a Japanese brand, not bound by the German gentlemen’s agreement on limiting the top speed of their cars to 155 MPH, the IS F came out of the factory with a significant top speed advantage over stock competitors, while its acceleration was on par. Its engine was quite charismatic and loved to be at the upper end of the rev range for the driver to fully exploit its performance.

But low-end power was available for everyday usability, as it had adequate torque to propel the car forward without lighting up the tires at every stab of the gas pedal. More brute power would come in at around 4,000 RPM where the secondary intakes open up, making the V-8 sing its song.

Built with the craftsmanship and reliability standard of its parent company Toyota, this was also one of the most reliable V-8 engines. While the German brands were having engine issues with their cars, the IS powerplant proved to be bulletproof. It is so reliable that it made its way into the RC F, GS F, and current LC 500 and IS 500 performance cars.

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A Sports Sedan From Lexus Built To Take On The Germans

The timing was just right for Lexus, as the direct rivals BMW and Mercedes released their cars in the form of the W204 C63 AMG and E92 M3. The trio all had naturally aspirated V8 engines making over 400 horsepower, with the AMG making the most and the BMW making the least power. All cars had similar performance metrics, with the IS getting the best fuel economy of the trio.

The IS also wasn’t lacking in its interior, since it was a Lexus and made use of leather inside. The car could seat up to five and had sporty front and rear seats. Its interior build quality was also up to par with the BMW M3 and Mercedes C63 AMG. Nonetheless, when it came to sales, it did not hit the projected numbers Lexus had for it.

Flopped Sales Target

A sales target of 5000 cars a year was set for the IS F but by the end of production in 2014, approximately 11,500 units had been made, which makes it quite a rare car for its type. The BMW E92 M3 and the Mercedes C63 AMG both enjoyed more success in sales. One major reason for this was that the Lexus IS F just didn’t have the stronghold the rivals had in this segment.

F performance was a newcomer to this scene, while Mercedes’ AMG and BMW’s M division have been around for a long time with notable motorsport heritage. Its pricing of $56,000 placed it in direct competition with the BMW M3 and Mercedes C63 AMG. But if you were a buyer at the time, no matter how good the Lexus IS F was, it would be a hard sell if you could go for either one of those established German alternatives that were similarly priced.

It also didn’t help that Lexus offered the IS F as a single trim throughout its six-year production run. The Mercedes C63 AMG and BMW M3 received updates to the powertrain and body styles over the years, making them more powerful, aggressive-looking, and attractive.

The Lexus IS F Only Received Minor Updates Throughout Its Production Run

• 2010: Addition of a Limited Slip Differential
• 2011: Electric power steering and revised suspension
• Interior Updates with a new gauge cluster design similar to the Lexus LFA.

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A Sports Car Bargain That Holds Its Value

Lexus has proven to be one of the best options for luxury and performance without the hefty price tag of more premium brands. While the IS F may have had a similar starting price as the competition, it boasts a great value proposition today. A lot of used Lexus IS F cars are still in great shape almost a decade after production.

Price Comparison

(sourced from Classic.com, Kelley Blue Book)

Watch Out For Engine Issues

The W204 C63 AMG engine, while reliable, was known for having issues with the head bolt and the BMW E92 M3 had rod bearing issues among other problems. Both issues, if not taken care of, could grenade your engine, especially in the BMW. But the IS F only seems to require regular maintenance, and you’re good to go.

This reliability factor helps make this car hold its value much better than the competition. An E92 M3 can be found for $15,000 and a C63 AMG will come in around $18,000. But at that price, they’re at the bottom of the depreciation curve and will most likely have issues that will need to be addressed by the new owner. A cheap used 2008 Lexus IS F on the other hand, has a slightly higher price at around $20,000 with most good ones around $25,000. These cars tend to have fewer issues that are easily fixed, whereas the others are known to be more high-maintenance vehicles.

For the BMW and the Mercedes, it would be wise to have about $5,000 set aside for almost any repair when they come up, which does not apply to the Lexus IS F. This has been reflected in the current values and mileage of these cars, as the IS F still brings in great money for its sellers with over 100,000 miles on the odometer. Used buyers aren’t scared of buying them, since they aren’t afraid of any catastrophic failures. An IS F is a sports sedan you could buy and put more miles on reliably without wasting your money. It is also the rarest of the trio, and could likely join the ranks of future collector cars.