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Lexus IS-F 2008
Lexus IS F 2008 Review: At one time or another, be it as a youngster with friends or while sacked out watching HBO on a dreary weekend, we’ve all watched one of those cheesy high school flicks in which the main character, in highly dramatized fashion, sprouts from a wallflower into the sudden focus on all the cool kids’ attention. The scenario varies, but usually includes a John Cusack look-alike knocking out the varsity quarterback, saving the prom queen, or drawing the delirious admiration of drunken teens as he pounds out some serious guitar licks at a party he had to sneak into.
This extension of established expectations is found beyond the bounds of straight-to-DVD movies, a fact proven with the launch, literally and figuratively, of the 2008 Lexus IS F. About two decades have passed since Toyota introduced American consumers to its newly-created premium brand, one that’s transformed from a slightly-veiled Japanese version of Mercedes-Benz to a class-leading favorite among car buyers seeking everything from entry-level IS 250 luxury to top-notch coddling from the capable LX 570. Aside from the Cadillac Escalade EXT pickup, Lexus had a competitor for most all segments. But there was something missing. Without any true performance models, luxury buyers intent on filling their garages with serious horsepower, handling prowess and muscular styling dismissed Lexus and filled their day test driving a BMW M3, Audi RS 4, the Cadillac CTS-V, or another equally capable sedan.
Enter the 416-horsepower IS F. You know, the baby Lexus that looks like it’s been off its be-nice medication for a few weeks, wears hardware with names like Brembo, and uses a unique secondary intake system to announce to all within earshot that the reservation list has been permanently amended. In other words, consider the luxury sport sedan party crashed.
Like the kid who has his breakout moment at the school dance, the IS F demands that we all view Lexus in a new light. Even so, is the IS F ready to hold the spotlight all on its own? Not quite it’s fast, capable, comfortable, flashy, and competitively priced, yet it requires front end styling less reminiscent of a swollen nose and more of the “it” factor. But if Lexus’ history of success is any indication, we shouldn’t have to wait long.
Model Mix
With one trim and only a few options available, the 2008 Lexus IS F is perfect for car shoppers who dislike an abundance of choices. The list of standard features is quite long, including items such as rain-sensing windshield wipers; bi-xenon adaptive headlights; and a memory function that controls the heated exterior mirrors, power tilt and telescoping steering wheel, and heated, 10-way adjustable front sport seats. As you might expect, there’s also leather upholstery, the same 13-speaker sound system found on lesser IS variants, an MP3 jack, keyless ignition, and the usual bevy of goodies like power windows and door locks.
For shoppers desiring a bit more, Lexus offers the IS F with an optional 14-speaker Mark Levinson sound system pushing 300 watts and incorporating a six-disc CD/DVD changer; a touch-screen navigation system that features Bluetooth connectivity, voice activation, and a rear back-up camera; an intelligent cruise control system with pre-collision technology that tightens the seatbelts and readies the brakes for what it senses as an unavoidable collision; headlight washers; and a park-assist system.
Pricing
Lexus has priced the 2008 IS F at a cool $56,765, including a $765 destination charge. That’s about $20,000 more than a base IS 350 and $25,000 more than an IS 250. Clearly, the performance and visual flash associated with the F nomenclature don’t come cheap, but what might be more significant is how the IS F’s window sticker measures up amongst its classmates, the likes of which wear M, AMG, and RS badges. BMW has announced pricing for the redesigned M3 Sedan, which will come in at about $55,000 and the Audi RS4 sedan rings up at about $67,000 (Mercedes-Benz has not published pri …
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