Last month we gave you an in-depth look at Lexus' IS flagship, the IS-F, and if you couldn't tell, we found it to be a smooth and powerful player. All of its 400hp neck-breaking goodness is enough to please the speed addict in all of us, and Toyota's design staff has done a good job designing it to be a notch above the standard IS 250/IS 350 by giving it a wider stance and more aggressive rear end, which is great if you're looking at it from a pure enthusiast's point of view. But how well does the IS-F compare to the rest of the Lexus family? Does it stick out like Bmw's m-edition cars? we didn't notice nearly as many heads turning when we paraded the streets of Los Angeles as with an older E46 m3 or the current m5 sedan. This got us thinking: can Lexus' reliability, combined with ultra performance, be enough of an attractor to make the IS-F a sexy contender in the super sedan class? can it make a not-so-cool guy look like a stud? we hit the Melrose district of L.A. to find some answers.
Los Angeles is a town where it's hard to walk a few feet without passing some of the most beautiful women in the world. we figured if they could get into an IS-F, we're sure Lexus will have a true winner on their hands by appealing to a greater mass market and not just car nuts like us. we hand-picked (more like bribed with the promise of magazine celebrity fame) a small group of your everyday women from all walks of life and professions to see what they thought of Lexus' IS-F. In a town that's fueled by brand names, expensive cars and baller status, we thought it would be an excellent way to see how well this A-lister could stack up against its competition. The responses took us by surprise.
Attorney Allison C. Allison C.
Initial Response: "It's very sporty but small. Good looking for a Lexus, although I'm not sure if the front of the car matches the shape of the car. The top is like a GS, very elegant; the front end seems a little too muscular for me. It definitely stands out from all the other Lexuses; it's not your dad's car, which is good. It seems like it would appeal more to a male audience just because of the car's lines. I like the way an m3 looks more, but I know this will be far more reliable because I own a GS. Sitting in it, it feels very much like my car and the power is pretty good. I like the paddle shifters; very nice.
If A Guy Picked You Up In The Is-F Versus A Honda Civic, Would It Make A Difference? "Sure, I think this would make them seem very cool."
Overall Impression: "I think this would look a lot better in black because this blue seems a little honda-like. I like that the wheels aren't chrome."
Natasha W.
Public Relations
Initial Response: "This is a very flashy car. I might drive it if it were a different color because this blue is very 'rice rocket' to me. The interior is gorgeous; that center console is stunning and the seats are super comfortable. my only issue is that I can't see enough of what's ahead of me because the dashboard blocks a lot of the road. The shape isn't completely unconventional, but the color isn't what I'd expect from Lexus. It looks like it's really fast, a total speeding ticket generator."
If A Guy Picked You Up In The Is-F Versus A Honda Civic, Would It Make A Difference? "Yeah, if it was in a different color; it's a gorgeous car."
Overall Opinion: "I would buy this over a Bimmer, but that's the Asian in me."