Northern Ireland - ISF Owners

mr_s81 · December 24, 2019

Hi All,

Just wondering if there are any NI ISF owners on here? I'm resigned to having to travel to the mainland to buy one but I was wondering if there are any local owners who would be kind enough to let me have a look around theirs? I'm currently driving a Subaru Forester STI, but I owned a GS430 before that, which as good a car as it was, wasn't the fastest or most exciting to drive. From what I have read online, these accusations cannot be levelled at an ISF!

Cheers,

Ian

Womble72 · December 24, 2019

10 hours ago, mr_s81 said:

Hi All,

Just wondering if there are any NI ISF owners on here? I'm resigned to having to travel to the mainland to buy one but I was wondering if there are any local owners who would be kind enough to let me have a look around theirs? I'm currently driving a Subaru Forester STI, but I owned a GS430 before that, which as good a car as it was, wasn't the fastest or most exciting to drive. From what I have read online, these accusations cannot be levelled at an ISF!

Cheers,

Ian

Hi Ian,

not sure if there is, there was but I’m pretty sure that car was purchased from Lexus Belfast and came back this way, 🤞🏻 For you,

paul

mr_s81 · December 25, 2019

Thanks for the reply Paul. It's a bit of a long shot I know, but I thought it was worth asking. It's a rare enough model on the mainland never mind over here!

Ian

Killysprint · December 25, 2019

My ISF was sold out of Belfast last Jan.

I had contact with him before he bought it, and the car was staying in Ireland.

mr_s81 · December 25, 2019

Thanks @Killysprint, that's good to know. Interesting that it was staying over here, but I guess it could be like finding a needle n a haystack! 🙂

AnCarraig · December 30, 2019

Hi mr_s81 and Tim. Yes that ISF is down in Cork. Any questions I'm happy to answer. U won't be disappointed with one, great car!!!

AnCarraig · December 30, 2019

The only thing I done to it was got the chrome around the windows wrapped in vinyl.

Killysprint · December 30, 2019

Good to see it again

glad you’re enjoying it. Is (was) a cracking car!!

AnCarraig · December 30, 2019

Thanks Tim, planning on hanging onto it as long as possible. No problems at all with it. Love it!!!

Irish ISF · January 6, 2020

That makes it two ISF in Cork now. I never thought I'd see a post 2008 one in this country.

AnCarraig · January 7, 2020

Hi Irish ISF, great to see another 1 down here!!! Well wear with urs and I'm sure ull have no problems with it!!! There's definitely another Black 08 and maybe a White 1 but I'm not 100% sure about that.

Ste.Daley · January 10, 2020

There is on for sale in Newry, that i'm in talks with.

104k miles in black.

Id be bringing back over the water though!

mr_s81 · January 12, 2020

I know the one you're talking about @Ste.Daley I sent him a few messages. It sounded fine on paper but from what I could gather it didn't have a full service history, never mind a Lexus one. The car sounded fine from his description though, but I'm unsure how the lack of a FSH could affect resale once the time came to sell again.

Womble72 · January 12, 2020

18 minutes ago, mr_s81 said:

I know the one you're talking about @Ste.Daley I sent him a few messages. It sounded fine on paper but from what I could gather it didn't have a full service history, never mind a Lexus one. The car sounded fine from his description though, but I'm unsure how the lack of a FSH could affect resale once the time came to sell again.

When u say lack of FSH are you talking about a yearly service or no service evidence?........a service every other year if millage is 7-8-9000 over two years is justifiable to me personally, I’d rather that than a yearly one but car having covered 12-15000 miles yearly.......the oil (if correct oil used) is good for 20,000 mile service intervals or every other year servicing on lower mileage cars, personally I’d never run a car for 20k without servicing but oil manufacturers say they can 🤔......I’m a strong believer in a cars to be enjoyed by the owner and you can usually gauge if the person has looked after it.......mine for instance is serviced every other year but covers about 3-3500 a year so 7k in two years. This is where I think private purchase outweighs dealer purchase as you get a feeling for the car around the owner.

mr_s81 · January 13, 2020

@Womble72 I've re-read the messages I had with the owner and he says it has a part Lexus service history. I didn't get all the specifics. I may be incorrect in my assertion above that it hasn't a FSH, but it doesn't have a full Lexus one. I don't really care much for main dealer servicing compared to a good local independent. If there's evidence of servicing having been done, I'm not too concerned whether they are wearing the main dealer overalls or not! In saying this, I know some potential buyers can be fussy about main dealer servicing when looking at a new purchase.

Lexus service history aside, the owner seemed upfront and answered any questions I had for him. If he hadn't have been at the other end of the country to me, I would have been keen to have went and had a look to see what it was like.

Womble72 · January 13, 2020

I would ascertain that the car has a full history of maintenance wether a yearly one or mileage one, I think we need to be realistic in the fact that they are up to 12 yrs old now and main-dealers money isn’t justifiable or needed if a good “proven” Indy is around, my 60k service cost £475 as a pose to £895 at Lexus, £400 increase in labour 😳........People will pay £18k for a secondhand Ford today 🤔.....is a ford service history really worth anything? 😂......by rule of thumb, if the owner comes across as genuine then the car should be........either that or I’m to trusting in people 😂😂

Ste.Daley · January 13, 2020

13 hours ago, mr_s81 said:

I know the one you're talking about @Ste.Daley I sent him a few messages. It sounded fine on paper but from what I could gather it didn't have a full service history, never mind a Lexus one. The car sounded fine from his description though, but I'm unsure how the lack of a FSH could affect resale once the time came to sell again.

Thats true, Ive sent a few messages but never replied on the service history. Still interested though as im over in NI quite abit

mr_s81 · January 13, 2020

It's probably worth a look if you're over here then anyway. The ad I saw only had two photos, there were none of the interior etc, but he did say it was in very good condition.

Irish ISF · February 28, 2020

Hi Irish ISF, great to see another 1 down here!!! Well wear with urs and I'm sure ull have no problems with it!!! There's definitely another Black 08 and maybe a White 1 but I'm not 100% sure about that.

I saw you stuck in traffic on the south ring this evening. It's a small country [emoji16]

C.B · March 5, 2020

With a car as rare as this I am torn between lexus and indepedant servicing. As much as I trust good independants, I would prefer someone who had worked on one of these before. Previously I have used indepedant specialists for audi's and honda's which provides the best of both worlds. There is maybe 2 of these in the country for lexus and both are down south.

Silkmen · March 5, 2020

I was in a similar situation last year, I couldn't decide whether to go down the indy or dealership route for servicing. A local dealership offered me a service plan at a discounted price and when combined with inclusive MOTs brought the price almost inline with what the indy quoted.

The dealership price was too good to turn down and made the decision for me 👍

mr_s81 · March 4, 2021

Bit of a thread bump!

Back in the market now for a new car and I'm ready to make the jump for an ISF once a suitable example appears. Are there are owners in NI on this forum? I would love to have a look around an ISF in the 'flesh' to see what it's like in terms of seating position and how the car looks in real life as opposed to photos!

Thanks in anticipation.

Ian

zeespeed · March 5, 2021

8 hours ago, mr_s81 said:

Bit of a thread bump!

Back in the market now for a new car and I'm ready to make the jump for an ISF once a suitable example appears. Are there are owners in NI on this forum? I would love to have a look around an ISF in the 'flesh' to see what it's like in terms of seating position and how the car looks in real life as opposed to photos!

Thanks in anticipation.

Ian

I am in Luton and am looking to sell my 2008 IS-F very soon. It has approximately 104k miles, serviced 1000 miles ago at Lexus and has a brand new radiator. Luton is a mere 75 minute easyjet flight from Belfast and I could collect you in the IS-F from the airport?

scott-o · March 5, 2021

13 hours ago, mr_s81 said:

Bit of a thread bump!

Back in the market now for a new car and I'm ready to make the jump for an ISF once a suitable example appears. Are there are owners in NI on this forum? I would love to have a look around an ISF in the 'flesh' to see what it's like in terms of seating position and how the car looks in real life as opposed to photos!

Thanks in anticipation.

Ian

If it's any help at all my ISF was only the second one i'd ever seen. I went to look at it as i've a mutual friend through the specialist selling it and he was kind enough to let me have a look around it as he knew i fancied one at some point and you dont get the chance often!

Long story short is that i drove off in it the next day 🤣 The specialist failed to tell me how good an example mine was before i went to view, that it had a Hayward & Scott exhaust already installed, nearly new Michelin PS4S tyres etc. I'm sure he knew what he was doing 😂

They are awesome cars and i cant think of anything that will be able to replace it without spending at least double the amount! I think my next car after it will just have to be something completely different all together.

mr_s81 · March 6, 2021

Thanks for the replies guys.

I've only ever witnessed one in the flesh locally. I was out for a walk on a lunch break one day and it came off a roundabout and drove past. It had a very subtle burble and looked great in white. I've never encountered any before or since unfortunately.

It would act as a second car. I already have a RX400h which works perfectly for family duties / towing the caravan etc. I've now taken a deposit on my Forester STI, so the hunt is on for its replacement. I know it's a bit of an ask, but it would be nice to get a proper look around one locally before committing to travel to the mainland when all this lockdown malarkey is done!

The stories of ride quality concern me a bit. I don't like the idea of pumping a not inconsiderable amount of cash into a car and then have to spend £xxxx more to get it to ride adequately or try and find a 2012/13 model at quite a premium!

Thanks

Ian