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02-03-2008, 01:18 PM | #1 |
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Top Gear Lexus IS-F review:
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02-03-2008, 02:55 PM | #2 |
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Nice find.
Seems like Lexus did a good job with the IS-F. Damn, another competitor. "Plus, it dresses like a group of Vegas strippers: false bits all over the place. The vents behind the front wheels are just for show, and the side skirts don't appear to have any real use. But the worst bit of fakery are the four exhaust pipes, which are not connected to anything. Really, they're not. The real pipes finish a couple of inches before the four chrome rings even start." "...it's much harder to give a car soul. To do that you have to understand the passion that makes a car fun to drive, fun to own and worth £50k. BMW has known how to do that for years, and more recently so have Audi and Mercedes. And now, for the first time with the IS-F, Lexus has too." Best regards, south |
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02-03-2008, 06:57 PM | #3 |
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Competition is always good. But it obviously still has a lot of learning and improvements to do. Those disconnected exhaust has to go, even though it does'nt really bother me that much.
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02-03-2008, 07:49 PM | #4 |
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Good review. I wonder if Clarkson and the other guys will like it?
I think not connecting the exhausts was a smart move by Lexus. They look ridiculous and if I was to get one, that'd be the first thing I'd change. Shouldn't take the aftermarket too long to come up with something more appropriate looking. |
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02-04-2008, 12:41 AM | #5 | |
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Again, like I've always said, a very fast car, a nice car but with some serious flaws and not anywhere close to the M3. |
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02-04-2008, 10:18 AM | #6 |
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While I agree with swamp that it not close to the M3 does it really have to be?
We already have an M3 and we surely don't need a carbon copy, there is many ways to skin a cat and when you look at both the RS4 and C63 you see totally different product competing in the same market place. I don't know about you but if I didn't like how the M3 drove then I would hardly be considering the IS-F it is was something the same. For me I am expecting the Lexus to offer a smooth and polished interpretation of a hi-performance saloon with a touch of luxury that the other seem to shy away from. It's take the position that Mercedes use to occupy with the C32 and C55. Would I buy it? No because I am happy with the M3 but I don't doubt it will get some very satisfied customers. |
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02-04-2008, 10:36 AM | #7 | |
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02-04-2008, 02:32 PM | #8 |
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gbb357,
You and swamp seem to be as bad as myself and T-Bone. It's not until you see someone else at it do you relies that it's plain stupid to be arguing over what are after all just cars. Please remind me the next time I start. Probably later on tonight I suppose. |
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02-04-2008, 02:54 PM | #9 | |
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02-04-2008, 09:57 PM | #11 |
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too much FAKERY going on here. have you seen the plastic cover that looks like an engine? it hides a horrible looking mess of wires, excuse for an engine. speaking fo the engine its a worked over (by Yamaha, not Toyota) LS460 motor.
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02-05-2008, 01:21 AM | #12 |
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I agree about the looks of the engine but then again the M3s engine is not the best looking engine nor the best looking part of that car. I'm not so sure why folks dis the Lexus engine because it is based on the LS460 motor and because it is massaged/partially tuned/partially devleoped by Yamaha. They make some really mean, high hp/l street bikes that rev to 17.5 k rpm, yes that is 17,500. If you read a list of the innovations and tech. behind this engine I think it is quite respectable. Sodium filled valves - that is cool. Furthermore the M3 V8 is really close to the M5 V10 that is getting a bit aged, simply with two cylinders lopped off. Of course it is a new design but is it in many ways REALLY close to the M5 under the hood.
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02-05-2008, 09:48 AM | #13 |
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Yamaha has long offered high performance tuning consulting services, similar to Porsche and Lotus and others. Remember the Taurus SHO of the mid-80's...220 HP was a lot back then for a sedan, engine developed by Yamaha.
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02-05-2008, 02:30 PM | #14 |
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i hate the fake pipes too but i hear that they're only on preproduction and press cars
also, i wouldn't complain about engine covers...sure BMW and other performance manufacturers like to display their engines sans coverings but from what i've heard this makes them hard to service because the placement of certain parts makes it hard to get to...the engine covers allow the frequently used parts easy to access without hurting the overall asthetic...not a bad thing |
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02-05-2008, 04:33 PM | #15 |
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Wait till the GS-F comes out (2011) by that time the F10 M5 should be out
GS-F: 500 HP V10 M5 (next-gen): 600+ V10 No competition, considering the F10 5 series will be lighter and more dynamic than this one. Toyota came too late, and as for that LF-A super car... anyone remember what happend to the NSX (was on competitive for only a model year or so) |
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02-05-2008, 05:32 PM | #16 | |
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Last edited by gbb357; 02-05-2008 at 07:05 PM.. |
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02-05-2008, 08:52 PM | #17 | |
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I agree. my point is that if Toyota and Lexus want a performance image they should be able to build and tune thier on thier own without outside consulting.
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02-06-2008, 07:29 AM | #18 | |
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Porsche built cars for Mercedes. Porsche licensed twin balancing shafts from Mitsubishi. BMW uses Mitsubishi turbos GM used Lotus to tune the ZR-1 Vette, and still use much the same head design today. BMW uses GM transmissions. Lotus uses BMW engines. BMW partnered with Peugeot on engine development. It's really just how the industry works. |
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02-06-2008, 11:02 PM | #19 | |
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