Inspecting An Is-F

[PJP]

Hi!

I hope to be looking at a couple of preowned IS-Fs over the next couple of weeks. I've not driven one before, but I really like everything I've heard about this car (not least from this forum) and the ownership experience compared to BMWs and Mercs. I expect I will have quite a lot of questions, but my first ones are:

- is there anything in particular that I should look for when checking over an IS-F? I'll only be looking at cars for sale from main dealers. In particular, I understand that there can be problems with the satnav?

- what tyres should the car have, ideally? Is it important to have matching tyres?

Thanks very much in advance!

[Stuno1]

No issues with satnav I am aware of. Any good brand of tyre is fine as shows the owner has not skimped on running costs. Make sure the wheels are on the correct way around as the spokes pass air on to the brakes.

Look for paint pealing on callipers. May be able to haggle money off for work needed there. If it's a main dealer ask if recalls have been done. Free but would mean time out for you if not. Check tyre wear and brake disc and pad wear as they are expensive to replace.

Really nothing major to look for. They are very reliable csrs and a hoot to drive. Let us know how you get on and post the cars up as some may recognised them.

Stu

[PJP]

No issues with satnav I am aware of. Any good brand of tyre is fine as shows the owner has not skimped on running costs. Make sure the wheels are on the correct way around as the spokes pass air on to the brakes.

Look for paint pealing on callipers. May be able to haggle money off for work needed there. If it's a main dealer ask if recalls have been done. Free but would mean time out for you if not. Check tyre wear and brake disc and pad wear as they are expensive to replace.

Really nothing major to look for. They are very reliable csrs and a hoot to drive. Let us know how you get on and post the cars up as some may recognised them.

Stu

Thanks for the pointers! I'm not at all mechanically minded, so this is probably a daft question but.....how can I check the wear on the pads and discs?

[stevet]

Put links up of the ones your looking at. As so few sold its surprising what ISF owners know about them. Don't worry about someone rushing in and beating you to the sale they take a long time to sell as people know so little about them.

[PJP]

Put links up of the ones your looking at. As so few sold its surprising what ISF owners know about them. Don't worry about someone rushing in and beating you to the sale they take a long time to sell as people know so little about them.

Here they are:

http://usedcars.lexus.co.uk/used-IS-F/IS-F/5.0/Birmingham/2070391-604825788-1607039.aspx?srcmdc=se_na_re_

http://usedcars.lexus.co.uk/used-IS-F/IS-F/5.0/Coventry/2070391-604868080-1607078.aspx?srcmdc=se_na_re_

http://usedcars.lexus.co.uk/used-IS-F/IS-F/5.0/Cardiff/2070391-604828820-1607064.aspx?srcmdc=se_na_re_

[alter ego]

I have owned my isf since june2014 i am almost 60years old so i have been driving for a long time and the isf is the best car by far i have EVER owned!!When you take one for a test drive put the car into manual open both front windows fully accelerate away up to 4000rpm before changing up to 2nd the same again for 3rd and 4th once you hear that V8 roar you'll have to go to A and E to have the grin on your face surgicaly REMOVED!!!

[stevet]

Put links up of the ones your looking at. As so few sold its surprising what ISF owners know about them. Don't worry about someone rushing in and beating you to the sale they take a long time to sell as people know so little about them.

Here they are:

http://usedcars.lexus.co.uk/used-IS-F/IS-F/5.0/Birmingham/2070391-604825788-1607039.aspx?srcmdc=se_na_re_

http://usedcars.lexus.co.uk/used-IS-F/IS-F/5.0/Coventry/2070391-604868080-1607078.aspx?srcmdc=se_na_re_

http://usedcars.lexus.co.uk/used-IS-F/IS-F/5.0/Cardiff/2070391-604828820-1607064.aspx?srcmdc=se_na_re_

Can't get the first two links to work. On the last link the only comment I would have is that its advertised as a 2010 car but its only a 2009 specification. No LSD etc.

[PJP]

Put links up of the ones your looking at. As so few sold its surprising what ISF owners know about them. Don't worry about someone rushing in and beating you to the sale they take a long time to sell as people know so little about them.

Here they are:

http://usedcars.lexus.co.uk/used-IS-F/IS-F/5.0/Birmingham/2070391-604825788-1607039.aspx?srcmdc=se_na_re_

http://usedcars.lexus.co.uk/used-IS-F/IS-F/5.0/Coventry/2070391-604868080-1607078.aspx?srcmdc=se_na_re_

http://usedcars.lexus.co.uk/used-IS-F/IS-F/5.0/Cardiff/2070391-604828820-1607064.aspx?srcmdc=se_na_re_

Can't get the first two links to work. On the last link the only comment I would have is that its advertised as a 2010 car but its only a 2009 specification. No LSD etc.

Hmm. Not sure why the links don't work (they don't work on my screen now either). The first two cars are at Birmingham and Coventry dealers respectively.

[Grey One]

Kind of 'off topic' but regarding the calipers flaking, are there any good mobile services that would do a repaint of the calipers? It's one of those funny jobs no-one seems to do and isn't an undertaking I'm too keen to 'DIY' on.

Ant thoughts/recommendations of interest.

[Stuno1]

Lots of places will do it. Most will just mask and paint. Where in got mine done they take them off, strip them, paint the component parts and re-fit them.

Stu

[MrW]

The car at Brum (the red one?) is on a SOR, its had a lot of money spent on it according to its owner. It does look expensive as there is a hefty dealer mark up, but the owner will take a lot less.

[Peter P18]

Check the headlights for condensation as well. I know at least two owners who had this problem.

I'm going to get my calipers re-painted by the same firm that did Stu's. I didn't pay a lot less for mine, but they didn't remove them, or strip them back before paint.

For me, it's night and day in terms of the finish and quality between our cars.

Best of luck with your search mate. :)

Cheers.

Peter