Suggestions for a new model IS-F

This post is in no way in disrespect to the current IS-F, but the world is constantly changing, and the IS-F will eventually be the recipient of a redesign. The first issue that must be addressed is the ride comfort. It can be horrid at times, and definitely needs an adaptive suspension system. The seating is comfortable but lacks the X package features of the lower model IS cars. I would love to see a seat coolant. The 2008 IS-F center console does not fit flush with the rest of the vehicle, and the silver lininng seems cheaply added. The center console needs to be beefed up and must utilize less plastic. It's a big step up from the competitors, but still lacks a supercar feel. The carbon fiber should come in different options as well, perhaps a darker weave. The fenders on the IS-F seem a little bit out of place and need to be better integrated with the entire vehicle. A coupe version would be nice. A thicker paint is necessary for the hood, where rocks can easily add new irreperable chips in the paint. Even a clear bra cannot save some of this. The Mark Levinson sound system is excellent, but the bass is lacking in the lower end. Perhaps they can add an enclosed subwoofer. The braking system is superb, however it attracts a ton of brake dust. Lexus must develop a system to mitigate the damages the brake dust will cause to the rims of the vehicle. Lexus should consider adding a real true dual exhaust as opposed to the fake tips. Many critics have written this feature as gimmicky and unattractive. I love the stacked exhaust look, but unfortunately it is fake. Fans would like to see a real exhaust. The IS-F is great in many ways, but still can use a few changes.

IS-F Wheel Pitting

Lexus is known for producing the most mechanically reliable vehicles today. The IS-F follows in the same path, with a very sturdy engine, but there are a few other aspects of the vehicle that need work. The brake pads on the IS-F emit showers of burning dust that can etch right into the rims. This is a major problem considering the pricetag on the IS-F wheels are well over $3,000. Many IS-F owners have discovered recently, gray matter in the corners between the spokes. This matter cannot be easily removed, but with some luck can be somewhat reduced with a claybar. The result of this brake dust are some really pitted wheels. Many IS-F owners have submitted complaints to their dealers and Lexus for this issue. The IS-F is a daily driven vehicle. People do not have the time to clean their wheels after every trip. Even if they were able to, it still would not stop the problem of the burning metallic dust. One option is to seal the wheels multiple times and then add a layer of wax. This is still not effective. So what can you do? You could replace the brake pads with ceramics. You could purchase different aftermarket wheels that will not collect as much brake dust. Or, you can wash your wheels every time you stop at the traffic light. This might become tedious, but Lexus seems to think it is reasonable. Many IS-F owners have claimed that their dealerships and Lexus have little knowledge on the wheel pitting issue and offer little to no support. Many have claimed that they will recondition the wheels for you once, but it is your responsibility after that to maintain the wheels. Some members on forums have even considered raising a class action lawsuit regarding the wheels. This is a bit extreme, and will most likely not occur.

Lexus IS-F Aftermarket ECU

For those of you that have been looking to tune your IS-F with a chip, you are going to be disappointed. Many of the competition, including the M3 have aftermarket chips available to increase the acceleration of the car. Unfortunately, the IS-F ROM can not be overriden and you will have to be content with the stock chip. Maybe this is not such a bad thing? We know there are stage 3 chips out for the BMW 335 that will actually put it up to the same speed as the IS-F! That seems good for the BMW, but in actuality the wear and stress caused by this chip will significantly reduce the life of the vehicle. For induction upgrades such as a turbo, you can add a piggyback ECU. In the end, you are still adding a ton of stress on a vechicle that was designed to be naturally aspirated. We understand you want to tune your vehicle faster, but any modification th the engine is going to cause stress, and it's just not a good idea.If you are concerned with speed, you could have bought a faster straight line vehicle. If handling is a concern, you can always lighten the vehicle and adjust the springs. Stick with modifications such as exhaust, headers, and intake before you consider any internal engine / computer modifications. Your are less likely to run into warranty problems this way. Yes, the Lexus terms state parts are warranted unless the modification directly effects them, but you do not want to take the gamble. If going 0-60 in 4.5 seconds is not fast enough to you, you are most likely a very important individual or should consider a new profession, such as driving.

Lexus IS-F Drag Times

In the first time of Lexus history, the IS-F is hitting low 12s and with forced induction, even 11 seconds. Currently, the fastest IS-F drag time proven and recorded is a quarter mile of 12.2 seconds. For $56,000 you may not think this is fast, but it does blow away most of the competition at the same price, unless the car is bought cheaper and tuned. This vehicle is nearly stock aside from intake / exhaust modifications. Many factors come in to play when racing on a drag strip. What tires is the driver using? How full is the gas tank? How much does the person weigh? Is he or she shifting precisely or losing time due to early / late shifts? Some people will even go to the extreme of going to the bathroom before a race to lighten the load. The vehicle is trapping speeds of nearly 117 miles an hour. I believe 11 seconds is certainly possible without forced induction, and we will most likely see some 11 second drag times next year. This vehicle certainly pleases the crowd and shocks many spectators at the strip. Nobody expects a Lexus to achieve speeds this fast, unless of course, it is the LF-A. The LF-A is a supercar though, and will most likely never be spotted on a drag strip. The IS-F is not meant for the drag strip either. Many people take their stock vehicles which are ill prepared for a drag strip, and will race them beyond their potential. The problem with this is the sticky subtance found on most strips. The stock vehicles simply are not meant to take this abuse on the sticky track which can often mess with the drivetrain. The drag times are courtesy of http://dragtimes.com

IS-F Top Speed

Anybody that has owned a fast car has at one time or another had the curiosity and eagerness to find out the top speed on their vehicle. For most people, a Youtube video simply does not do justice. This driver in Japan decided to take the public tunnels for a top speed run in his IS-F. In Japan, speeds are limited electronically, so he modified his IS-F so it would shift to 7th gear beyond it's limited speed of 176mph. This act was extremely dangerous and could have put the driver and surrounding traffic at serious risk. Luckily, there were no cars in front of him and his lane was empty the entire trip. I am glad he safely accomplished this, but at the same time very angered he did it on an open road. If you want to psuh your IS-F, please do it safely on a closed circuit. I have attempted a top speed run a few times myself on a closed circuit, but could not stomach the ride over 160mph, when the steering became rough. A top speed of 186mph certainly puts the IS-F on a pedestal beyond much of the competition, but naturally is not possible due to the speed limiter. There are currently no aftermarket modifications in the United States which allow the driver to surpass the legal limiter on the vehicle. In Japan, there are several modifications available. Not many people can say they cruised at speeds of 186mph in a luxury sedan.

Clear Bra for the Lexus IS-F

If you are driving an IS-F, you absolutely need a clear bra. A clear bra does exactly what it seems like it would do. It is a clear film that covers the front of the car, protecting it from chips and dings. If you are riding fast in this car, you will no doubt run into insects and pebbles. These will quickly sand blast away the front of the car. I previously drove an IS350 without a clear bra, and the entire front end was quickly ruined. The IS-F is in nearly mint conditon. On my way to Chicago, somebody tossed a thick floor mat out of their window which I was unable to dodge due to traffic on both sides of me. It slammed into the front end of my car. Had I not placed the clear bra on my vehicle, it would have slammed into the paint, right through the clear coat and into the metal. I thankfully was able to replace that little area of clear bra and my vehicle was looking new again. For only $300 or $400 you can save your vehicle from harsh depreciation due to rock chips and bug etching. I wish I could have extended the clear bra to the entire hood, because I now have several irreperable dings on the hood. The best part about the clear bra is the fact that is protects the vehichle from UV rays, and still retains the same luster as the rest of the vehicle. You can also comfortably remove bugs from the bra without worrying about scratching the surrounding finish on the vehicle. If you drive fast, you must get this! This was the best $350 I spent on my Lexus IS-F. The only downfall to having the clear bra is a small line you will be able to see on your hood, where the bra ends. This is not a big deal, but people will notice it if up close to the vehicle and will most likely comment on it. It does look like a scratch. Regardless, the clear bra is a great option.

Intake Mod Problem

Earlier in this blog I showed you how to modify your dual stage intake so both intakes remain open at any RPM. This little modification initially sounds great and makes you feel like you are going faster, but it's not as effective as you may think. The additional roar from the second intake is slowly lost over time as the computer learns the new modification. Not only that, but the car is actually more sluggish from 0 RPM with both intake valves open. This seems to defy logic since the secondary intake sucks air from out of the cabin, and more of it, but it is true. The stock intake setup with no modifications is the optimal setup and is not as restrictive as you may assume. Lexus designed the dual stage intake to retain the plush Lexus feel while at the same time offering maximum intake at higher RPM. The car simply does not need as much air at the lower RPM, and both flaps open at low RPMs provides detriment to the overall acceleration. The detriment is not large, and it only becomes the matter of a few tenths of a second in a quarter mile, but that can be big to some people. After nearly a thousand miles with the intake modification, I have come to the conclusion that the stock setup is better, and I will be removing the modification. I will miss the additional roar at lower RPMs, but the nearby traffic will not.