Anyone tried the Lexus IS500?

Hi all,

Lexus was doing a road show for its cars this year. I attended the SF event and got to drive the IS 350 F Sport as well as the LC 500 and RC F. (Here is my full write-up of the event.)

On paper, it seems like the IS sedan -- stuffed with the Lexus V8 -- would be a proper E90 M3 competitor. In reality, the IS 350 F Sport has numb steering, a decent but not exceptional chassis, and a lackluster automatic gearbox; I doubt the IS 500 (even with that wonderful V8!) can hold a candle to the E90 M3.

Have any of you driven the IS 500? How does it compare to the E9X M3?

Best!

I think savagegeese team did a review on their Youtube channel. It's more of a GT car.

It could be a good option for someone looking for a new, smallish V8 sedan that has full warranty and doesn't have all the drama of a more exotic S65.

The IS- F was more hardcore than the IS500 and the E9x M3 is faster on track compared to the IS-F.

Either way, it's a very niche car. Last time I drove an IS (an AWD IS250), it was very disappointing. Chassis was numb, cabin felt cramped. The E9x chassis, while tuned for comfort, is so much more communicative and lively.

If you want to look like a 70 year old grandpa driving in LA, go ahead.

kyrix1st wrote

If you want to look like a 70 year old grandpa driving in LA, go ahead.

Ha! Harsh...

The Car and Driver Lightning Lap results are out. The IS500 was fast, but not really up to sustained track work.

So, in my book that seals the deal; the IS500 isn't a modern E90 M3 at all.

414bhp wrote

The Car and Driver Lightning Lap results are out. The IS500 was fast, but not really up to sustained track work.

So, in my book that seals the deal; the IS500 isn't a modern E90 M3 at all.

Yup, but it also won't need a bottom end rebuild every 50k miles

UGADawgFan wrote

Yup, but it also won't need a bottom end rebuild every 50k miles

UGADawgFan wrote

Yup, but it also won't need a bottom end rebuild every 50k miles

Because it won't go at full chat for more than a few laps before something takes it to the paddock. Great way to keep the revs down, lol

Disappointing they didn't stealth in the required cooling and brakes for a proper track car when they added the big motah. Must have been all they could get past the beancounters.

My manual has never burped transmission fluid or limped due to transmission temp. Wedontalkaboutpsfluidnonono

Richbot wrote

Because it won't go at full chat for more than a few laps before something takes it to the paddock. Great way to keep the revs down, lol

Disappointing they didn't stealth in the required cooling and brakes for a proper track car when they added the big motah. Must have been all they could get past the beancounters.

My manual has never burped transmission fluid or limped due to transmission temp. Wedontalkaboutpsfluidnonono

Why do people on forums always assume that everyone loves to do track days?

Lexus never built this car to be a competitor to an M3 or RS..it's designed to be an M340i or S4 competitor and in that sense I think it does a great job.

I love our B9 S4 ..it makes commuting and running errands more fun (and it usually makes me want to take the long way home) - and yet it's supremely comfortable, safe and quiet when it needs to be....and in that situation I can see the IS500 being even more fun since I'd have that great V8 sound track. I don't need the family car to be like my GT3...I just need it to not be a boring appliance.

The S4 can hack it on the track though. And has infinite traction to go with similar power, the IS500 wants to be lairy without the stuff to rein it in. The IS500 feels very much like somebody snuck one past the goalie. It's such a cool compact sedan chassis and they just let it die on the vine instead o fthe developing it. Toyota as a rule barely put enough cooling in their cars, name the thing that shouldn't be hot on the street on one of their cars and it's probably too hot if you just do some spirited backroad driving...

Also, the discussion was literally about lightning lap.

<- Tundra owner, have only tracked it a couple times, lol

Uh.. because the OP asked whether a Lexus can be an M3 competitor?

I for one think driver education through track days should be strongly encouraged for road safety from some dumb M owners/leasers.

UGADawgFan wrote

Why do people on forums always assume that everyone loves to do track days?

kyrix1st wrote

Uh.. because the OP asked whether a Lexus can be an M3 competitor?

I for one think driver education through track days should be strongly encouraged for road safety from some dumb M owners/leasers.

Good call on that ..missed that OP was comparing the E9X to IS500.

Absolutely nothing against track day driver education- totally agree.

The is500 is a weird car. More of a daily than an m3 replacement. It has a great engine and a nice ride coupled with Lexus reliability. But the interior already looks 15 years old and just seems like an appliance. I'd prefer a ct4 black wing near that price range even though it doesn't sound as good the chassis, transmission ( manual option) and interior are all nicer in my opinion and the multimedia is on par with what BMW owners expect.

nycplumber wrote

The is500 is a weird car. More of a daily than an m3 replacement. It has a great engine and a nice ride coupled with Lexus reliability. But the interior already looks 15 years old and just seems like an appliance. I'd prefer a ct4 black wing near that price range even though it doesn't sound as good the chassis, transmission ( manual option) and interior are all nicer in my opinion and the multimedia is on par with what BMW owners expect.

I would personally get one for daily and have a e90 M3 in 6 speed as a weekend car.

NA V8 everyday of the week.

I was thinking about test driving one of these as well, but after reading some reviews it looks like these are more M340i than M3. A full F version with more dedicated hardware would make it more interesting for me, but gotta respect stuffing an NA V8 in a small sedan in 2022.

Much respect to Lexus for stuffing a nice V8 into a small sedan. Definitely a cool one off car.

Maybe with some modifications, it'll be up to snuff on track. But as is, it is a good daily driver rather than a performance beast.

I would love to see how it compares to the e9x gen m3s, they are basically the same formula. Being newer and comes with a warranty is definitely a big plus. For street or “touge” use, it might be compatible.

I own a e90 m3 so I was interested in driving the is500 to see if it would be a modern day competitor. I got the chance to test drive a is500 F Sport in Monterey at the Lexus pebble beach event.

The car felt very numb and boaty, it felt super smooth like every Toyota V8 has ever felt and it took a while for it to gain momentum or for the rpm's to climb. It's definitely a great daily driver, but would never replace a weekend performance car. It just didn't have that raw feel the e9x or any performance car provides.

I got to test drive the IS500 in Carmel for Monterey Car Week. The engine is great. The transmission is where it gets let down. It shifts very slow and it is stupid. Floor it in comfort mode past the kick down and it will downshift 1 gear and the V8 will struggle to pull to redline in a high gear. Shift it manually and there is a delay on every shift and it's lethargic.

I don't understand Lexus's thinking. It's like they slapped the transmission programming for a ES300 for their sporty V8 powered sedan. Drive the same engine in the RC-F and LC500 and it feels much better.

New IS500 F is a half a second faster than E9x M3 on Car and Driver Lightning Lap at VIR. 3:04.9 vs 3:05.4. Just as fast in a straight line as well. Probably a great driver with less expensive maintenance and repair costs. And reasonably priced today at about what the M3 cost over 10 years ago.

But I did not even consider one. Spent more and bought an F90 M5 to replace my E90 M3. Fantastic car. No personality but I like the ridiculous speed, good comfort, decent handling, and AWD that lets you put the power down even when conditions are not perfect. Not that it matters, but I get better MPG than my E90 M3.

Better tires = 2 seconds+ faster. E92 times likely done on sliding PS2s.

pbonsalb wrote

New IS500 F is a half a second faster than E9x M3 on Car and Driver Lightning Lap at VIR. 3:04.9 vs 3:05.4. Just as fast in a straight line as well. Probably a great driver with less expensive maintenance and repair costs. And reasonably priced today at about what the M3 cost over 10 years ago.

But I did not even consider one. Spent more and bought an F90 M5 to replace my E90 M3. Fantastic car. No personality but I like the ridiculous speed, good comfort, decent handling, and AWD that lets you put the power down even when conditions are not perfect. Not that it matters, but I get better MPG than my E90 M3.

kyrix1st wrote

Better tires = 2 seconds+ faster. E92 times likely done on sliding PS2s.

Yeah, that's a rough comparison. It managed a lap that is 0.5 second faster after 14 years of tire tech improvements (seriously, PS4S' are like slicks compared to a PS2), a VIR repave and a misbehaving DCT.

It's like people trying to boast that a minivan is faster than a 90s F355. That equation would get flipped really quickly with some fresh tires.