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10 Best Sedans Under $25,000

2009 Lexus IS F

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Curious about the newer model? Check out the 2011 Lexus IS F

Overview

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2009 Lexus IS F Review

By KBB.com Editorial Staff

Recalibrate your image of Lexus. The 416-horsepower 2009 Lexus IS F, the fastest production Lexus ever, is the first Lexus to wear the brand's new F performance badge designed to compete with the BMW M series, Mercedes-AMG and various aftermarket tuners. Coupled to the Lexus IS F's 5.0-liter V8 is an automatic transmission that upshifts in a race-car-like 0.1 second. Lexus says that many IS F buyers will have owned Japanese performance cars such as the Mitsubishi Evo, Subaru WRX STi and Toyota Supra Turbo.

You'll Like This Car If...

You'll love the IS F if you want to know (kind of) what it feels like to drive a race car and you don't mind spending time in traffic court. A better, safer and definitely wiser option: Explore the IS F's lofty limits at a car-club event at a race track.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If you enjoy the comfortable, quiet ride of the ES 350 and think it's plenty powerful, the IS F is not for you. On uneven roads, the ride can be harsh, and its 19-inch-diameter super-low-profile tires and wheels may be susceptible to damage from potholes.

What's New for 2009

The IS-F receives a revised center console, backlit outside mirror controls and a new black on terra cotta two-tone interior treatment.

Driving the IS F

Driving Impressions When we pressed on the 2009 Lexus IS F's throttle, our first impression was that Lexus' claimed horsepower figures were more than a bit conservative. After two upshifts we were...

shattering the highest speed limit in the U.S. We didn't disarm the IS F's stability control for the curvy sections, but, unlike similar systems, it allowed very aggressive driving before it kicked in. With wider rear tires and 54 percent of its weight on the front wheels, the IS F can lose front grip first if you get into a corner too fast – but by that time you'll be going way too fast for public roads, anyway. On the other hand, that chassis behavior is ideal for overly aggressive street driving or track-day novices. On the whole, the ride comfort is perfectly acceptable on smooth roads, but – understandably, given the car's capabilities – not so terrific over uneven pavement.

Favorite Features

Eight-Speed Transmission
The 2009 Lexus IS F's eight-speed automatic allows anyone to shift almost as fast as a professional racer: Lexus says it's the world's fastest-shifting automatic. Upshifts take 0.1 seconds, while downshifts occur in 0.2 seconds and include an automatic throttle blip to match the speeds of the engine, transmission and drive wheels.

Paddle Shifters
In the transmission's manual mode, shifting is accomplished with Formula 1-style steering-wheel-mounted paddles. So that drivers can focus on the road, the car gives a single beep when it's about time to upshift. A double beep means the driver tried to downshift at too high a speed.

2009 Lexus IS F Details

Interior

Even passengers will notice they're in an IS F: The F symbol is everywhere. There's an F between the speedometer and tachometer, on the headrests, on the steering wheel, on the console, on the side of each seat and several more places. At speed, the IS F leather-trimmed seats provide excellent lateral support.

Exterior

It's not difficult to distinguish the 2009 Lexus IS F from its IS siblings. First, there's the "F" badging on front fenders and trunk. Next are wider fenders to accommodate wider tires, vents behind the front wheels to reduce aerodynamic lift at high speed and a larger rear spoiler to help keep the rear tires planted to the pavement. Also, the IS F gets its own grille with a wider opening to help cool the V8. To accommodate the larger engine, the hood has a raised center section. Brake cooling ducts are located next to the foglamps. In the rear are quad exhaust outlets.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

If you build a car capable of 170 miles per hour (and more without its electronic speed limiter), you'd better be able to get it slowed down in a hurry. Lexus had Brembo build extra-large brakes and BBS produce 19-inch wheels to accept them. The front vented and drilled brake discs are 14.2 inches in diameter and surrounded by six-piston aluminum brake calipers. On the rear are two-piston calipers on 13.6-inch rotors.

Optional Equipment

Among the few options available on the 2009 Lexus IS F is a 300-watt sound system with 14 speakers and a six-disc in-dash DVD/CD changer. Those who park their IS F in tight places will want the backup video camera and the sonar-based system that warns of unseen objects. Other options include a DVD-based navigation system and a Pre-Collision System with Dynamic Radar Cruise Control.

Under the Hood

For the IS F, Lexus replaced the IS 350's 306-horsepower V6 with an enhanced version of the 4.6-liter V8 used in the LS and GS. To bump horsepower to 416, Lexus engineers added, among other things, electrically (rather than the common hydraulically) controlled variable intake valve timing. This feature is maximized with titanium intake valves, which are lighter and stronger than steel. Also, maximum engine speed was upped from 6500 to 6800 rpm. Torque is down 14 pound-feet and occurs 1200 rpm higher than in the LS 600h L. The eight-speed automatic, based on that in the LS 460, upshifts only about 0.05-second slower than that of a Formula 1 car. Traction and stability control can be adjusted to allow for a more dynamic drive with the touch of the "Sport" mode switch on the dash, or the system can be disarmed completely.

5.0-liter V8
416 horsepower @ 6600 rpm
371 lb.-ft. @ 5200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/23

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2009 Lexus IS F Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

9.1

Out of 10

Based on 341 Ratings for the 2006 - 2012 Lexus IS models.

Review this car

Value

9.1/10

Quality

9.4/10
Reliability

9.4/10

Performance

9.2/10
Comfort

9.1/10

Styling

9.5/10

Nice car but it depreciates very fast

By Natalie (VA) on Friday, June 01, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 10,500

10 8.0

overall rating 8 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 8/10
Value: 7/10
Reliability: 9/10
Quality: 8/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 7/10
Comfort: 8/10

Pros: "Good mix of sport and luxury"

Cons: "the value of the car plummets"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 6

"I have a 2011 Lexus IS 250 AWD with the Luxury and Navigation package. The milage has been much less then what I am used to. However I came from the compact 4 cylinder market so it is to be expected. Just a note for anyone thinking about buying the car, be aware that it uses premium gas only. Consider it an expense of owning the vehicle. The driving experience has been good. The acceleration, while not as fast as the IS 350, is quick enough to get onto the highway without effort. The vehicle hugs turns and feels very solid while at the same time masking bumps on the road enough where they are not as jolting but can be felt to know the road conditions. In this regard I love this vehicle. The interior is amazing in terms of quality of the materials used. The leather seats are very nice and the seats feel great to sit in. On paper many cars in the lower ranges sound like they would match this but having been in both classes of cars there is a very real difference. The cooled seats in addition to the heated are must haves. The features in the car are plentiful. However the back seats do not fold down. You instead get a pass through which is disappointing but not a deal killer. The center console with the navigation while full featured is a mess and difficult to us. For instance there are hard buttons for the temperature but you have to go to climate on the touch screen to control the fan speed. Many of the hard buttons that you need to use to operate the center console are not back lit. The interface in the navigation system is decent but things like switching between bluetooth media players is not user friendly. It uses a category layout with the hard buttons to each side of the screen to select the category. My gripe is that they are again not backlit. Also the car does not maintain it's value very well. My vehicle dropped in value $12,000 in nine months. Now granted the value sets into a more gradual depreciation slope after that it is a very steep loss in value for me to get used to considering that my Honda Fit Sport I had before this was still worth the price of a brand new base Honda Fit when I traded it in a year and a half later. The reason the IS depreciates is because there is not as large of a market for the vehicle after it has been used. Anyone considering buying their first luxury car like this would be well advised to buy a one or two year old used Lexus IS so that someone else takes the huge depreciation hit instead of you."

1 person out of 1 found this review helpful

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Worst car I've ever owned!!

By HoodieVixen (WA) on Thursday, May 03, 2012

I owned and sold this car
Reason: HATED IT! - My approximate mileage is 7,500

10 1.0

overall rating 1 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 1/10
Value: 1/10
Reliability: 4/10
Quality: 1/10
Performance: 1/10
Styling: 5/10
Comfort: 3/10

Pros: "Lots of upgrades were "standard" in price"

Cons: "Overpriced Toyota with terrible performance"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 1

"I sold my Lexus after 6 months. I had 4 flat tires in that time, the handling is horrible, the engine leaves much to be desired... I could keep going, but I'll just say the summary I read re: "You might not like this car if..." was dead on. I should have kept my 3-series."

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