2008 Lexus IS F vs 2022 Lexus IS500 F Sport - Head to Head Review! 

ISF vs IS500F, wow. Dude, you are putting out the most driver focused comparisons and content at the best cadence right now. There's nothing like waking up (west coast) and starting the day off to this stuff. The relevancy of the cars and the comparison picks is just different league. So it your nuanced take on inputs, handling and communication. No fancy edits, gimmicks, scripts etc. I've been a long time performance car guy and owned and rented a ton of good stuff, autocrossed, but cant drive em all. That's when you come in!

Amazing how little has changed in the character of the car over 15+ years later. Not a bad thing for anyone wanting to own a new car but have that ISF-lite experience. The biggest two things I noticed between my factory stock IS500 and Anthony's ISF - on a slower speed city drive - was the brake pedal travel and throttle mapping. The ISF having short brake pedal travel and good modulation and the IS500 having a more traditional Toyota/Lexus long-pedal travel and needing to push hard if you want to really stop. With both cars in their Normal modes, the throttle mapping on the ISF felt linear versus the IS500 was mostly dead for 70% of the pedal travel, then all the beans appear suddenly just before and after the kick-down. You had a much better grip experience with Leonard's tire change. The custom Bridgestone S001L tires tested by TireRack and other companies, have shown to have a narrower tread width and poorer grip in all conditions compared to the standard S001 tire. I suspect this custom tire was to give Lexus a higher MPG rating. It's also telling when the same exact tire and sizes are used on the lighter and less powerful IS variants. The down side to the body of the IS500 is you cannot easily fit wide tires up front like you can on the ISF; ultimately the IS500 is mostly a regular IS. Thanks for your review!

Cool to see these two compared. Regarding the steering feel on the isf: Lexus revised the power steering ecu two times during its life cycle. So you can plug and play upgrade your 08-09 ecu with the freshest version from the last 13-14 model years. I did this to my F, and it really improves the steering feel and feedback. During harder turns it weights up the steering much more than the old ecu. Oh and its also at almost 140k miles and has been reliable as a tank, despite a lot of tracktime and daily drives, great car 👍

The transmission is actually pretty damn good because it’s a nice smooth daily slush box. It only has fast shifts if your basically full throttle when you let off and shift it will be slow as the converter is not locked up.

Am I alone in saying, I would HONESTLY rather receive a clean low mileage ISF over the new is500? I must be getting old 😂

My daily, I'm so glad you reviewed this! It's been a project tweaking it with quality mods and parts, but I think over time this will improve.

What an amazingly thorough and thoughtful review! I didn’t get the chance to drive the IS F, but I owned a 2006 IS 350 for 8 years and compared to my 2016 IS 350 FSport and 2022 IS 500 Premium, the throttle response in ECT PWR mode was SUPER touchy! It’s definitely not linear like my 3rd Gen IS models. I think you characterized the IS 500 beautifully, it’s not meant to be a track weapon, it’s just a fun sleeper with the perfect balance of a Jekyll & Hyde personality. Well done. 👏🏽👏🏽

If you are going to drive fast in manual mode you HAVE to have it in sport mode. With sport off the trans will be slow to shift.

finally been waiting for someone to make this video

love that you chose to compare these two cars together gives me and other people content on what we’re looking for

People often neglect to maintain their dampers. A lot of aftermarket dampers require rebuilds or replacement much more often than OEM components. Depending on the brand, some coil overs require service (rebuild) as often as 18k miles. For comparison, OEM stuff typically lasts 60k-100k miles, but still lots of people will neglect to replace those when needed. With 178k miles, depending on how many of those are on the HKS coil overs they could very well need service. That would explain a lot of the body control issues.

That IS F is a beauty!

Own IS500 myself. The review is spot on. I am happy that you changed your mind after your initial review. Few things I have noted so far after 1500KM: 1. Trans. It takes at least 30km or 20 miles to warm up. Once it is warmed up, it is very fast using the paddles. However, the trans is not smooth when you are in lower rpm or in lower speed, it gives you a kick when you upshift and lurch forward when you downshift. You almost feel like you broke the car. 2. Throttle response. In the normal mode it is dead dead. It is even slower than my traded in 350. You don't feel like you are not driving a performance car at all. So once the car warms up I always put it in sport plus. Sport and Sport plus fix the problem. 3. Brakes. For my first 300KM of brake breaking in period, I thought the pads was clamping the ice. I heard many reviewer saying the car had soft paddle, but I did not expect the brake was this soft. After the brake is properly broken in, it got better, but not confident enough. My car does not have BBS so ISF, RCF or GSF's front calipers won't fit. So I might just upgrading the pads. 4. Engine. Engine is amazing, it induction sound sounds so good after 4500rpm. Unlike many turbo cars going PaPaPa, I like singing motors better. Compared to 350, it fixed 350's lack of low end torque issues. Passing on the highway won't require you to double downshift now. 5. Suspension: The car is extremely confortable on the daily drive basis. In normal mode, the car is very soft. When you put in to sport plus, I would say it's 30% more stiff but it is well controlled. I would say it is perfect for daily cruising fast.

First time viewer here. Awesome video, keep up the excellent content.

Love the vids and detail man!

Great analysis. Very informative. Liked your content .

great video !! Wow, thats a lot of steering input for that small turn..

I'd be more than happy with an IS500 and some well made coilovers, a nice exhaust and tints. Noice!

Always great content!

I just found your channel, keep it up dude!

TOM’S Chassis Bracing, Swift Spec-R Springs, Genuine A/T Cooler, Genuine Performance Brake Pads, Motul RBF600 Brake Fluid and you have a better E90 M3. Does everything great but nothing perfect.

Missing that shift and being able to hear the car bounce off the rev limiter is probably the single greatest thing that sets this review apart from all others. That was actually genuinely extremely exciting. Love manual cars and will always own at least one but given family circumstances it would be extremely helpful to have another automatic vehicle in the fleet. If the IS500 ever sells for close to MSRP, I think this could be an extremely strong daily contender. I want a V8 someday, but not sure I need one on track anytime soon--really enjoy flogging the lighter cars out there. So looking for something to daily that is automatic but have it still feel "special" and put that smile on my face.... I think this could be it.... Thanks for missing that shift 😁

Good video. After, 6 months I'm still waiting for my IS500 to be delivered! ☹️

Is the manual upshifting in these actual upshifting? Or is it just +1ing the gear limiter like the other lexus cars?

@Zygrene, what canyons are is roads? Is this Mt Diablo? I would love to take my '11 isf there.

The upshifts would've been faster in sport mode but you were not confident with the throttle busy being touchy. I think that's where men cara shine where some have options to tune the car in every aspect on he you want it in steering, suspension, etc.

I test drove the is500 today. The dealer has a couple new ones in colors I don’t care for but they have a used one in a color I liked. It has a couple hundred miles but they wouldn’t budge below 61k. I loved the car during the drive and I think it looks great. If they came down just a bit in price I’d buy it.

Sport mode shifts feel totally different in shifts. Too bad you didnt keep it on. Great review though! The 500 is newer but im very happy with my F.

Can you confirm if you had it in F mode or not? Forget the sports button, just gear lever moved to side and F up on the dash.

Thank God, I will buy one for myself

Yooooo he blasted tf outa that rev limiter lmaooo😂

Thanks for turning down or off that ASC. So doesn’t need enhanced sound through the speakers.

The coil-overs setup with the factory HKS setting?

Not related to this specific video, but I'm planning to attend a track day for the very soon. I'll be taking my DD and was wondering if Track Day Insurance would be recommended. Considering you've been to multiple track days and more recently with a newer purchased car, I'd like to hear your opinion on this. Thanks!

The ISF (2010 + models) are SUPER FUN to drive and just the look on people's face when you blast past them on the freeway is priceless. I guess they think it's a normal Lexus IS till you put the right foot down lol

Do they both have the same engine???? Can you do a video on what other Lexus products use the IS-F V8 and the IS500 and IS500 F??????

Great review 👍🏻 didn’t realize the IS500 engine has 50+ more HP than the IS F

Years ago I bought a used ‘08 IS-F with 77k miles. I beat the snot out of it for an additional 100k miles with zero issues. Replaced the front rotors and pads and went through about 8 sets of rear tires but that’s to be expected.

You young guys are so use to modern electronics in a car, the ISF is an amazing car if you know how to drive it will make you smile all day long. It’s you that can’t handle the car not the car can’t handle the road.

is this RIch Brian's brother? lolllll good content

that 08 is beautiful

Can’t wait .. when I change my is350f to a is500..

I have driven both and the IS500 is a much better car and has better off the line torque delivery. The ISF needs to be driven hard to develop any power. On the street, torque is king.

Love my is500!. Great car

Right now I got a '23 IS500 Ultra-White & previousely had a '22 IS500 Launch Edition. Excellent video & the oem tires (Potenza) suck. The Michelins are definitely a upgrade for the car.

If performance is your concern, a facelift ISF will get you a lot more for the money. If a fun daily with usable rear seats is what you're after then maybe the IS500 will do you better, but that's a LOT of money you could be putting towards modding a stock ISF. I don't think there are any situations where the 500 is the better value, but it definitely may provide the better experience for someone who wants to do next to no modding and have a more modern infotainment system.

Hope I can get one before production probably stops next year

I currently own an 06 IS250 6MT and I bought it specifically because I did not want an IS350 due to its lack of a manual option and how sluggish the 6-speed autos in the 2IS 250/350s are, it’s slow, but it’s quite enjoyable despite how mediocre the manual is it’s an entirely different level of mediocre in comparison to the auto. I love the ISFs and bought a 250 manual because that was as close as I could get with my budget and I will say if you are to get a 2IS and can’t get an ISF get a 6MT if you can find one otherwise I wouldn’t recommend buying a 250 or 350 if you’re looking to have a fun sporty daily. My 250 is completely stock haven’t done the GT86 4.10 diff conversion and it’s still on a factory 3.73 diff but on the backroads even with the stock commuter suspension I’ve kept up with my ISF buddies that I’ve played with, part of that is driver mod and part of it is that the IS platform truly does have some great handling but for a stock car it’s certainly a fun daily. If you do get one and want to do some spirited driving make sure you do the 350 front brake conversion, you’re gonna need it.

That's why I like manual trans you generally don't see people complaining about them

If you run coils on the isf you need bc racing from figs other wise stock or springs are fine

8:38 - wait, wait, is that permanent strut bar, welded over the engine? Am I seeing things wrong?

How can you upgrade the front brakes to ISF/Brembo? I thought they didn’t fit on the IS 500?

I had my "need rear seats performance car" window shopping heart set on the 500 before you did the first review on it. Quickly moved on to the 86 or GRC as my two top choices along with CT4V Blackwing as another choice (but scared about GM long term, outside of Corvette and Camaro with their V8s they don't have good reliability). SS1LE didn't work for me unfortunately, I did test that. It was the visibility and high cowl.

Love them both! Had an ISF previously and currently own a GSF, can’t get an IS500 where I am though ;/

At sub $60K the NA V8 F Sport holds it's own in terms of performance against European luxury sedans at more than twice the price. Although not a "fine automobile" in any respect, the 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is doing the same to the likes of Ferrari. I love it.

I just drove next to this ISF on the freeway on Friday... I have the silver IS500

That IS F coilover dampening is wayyyyyy too soft for those roads and that demand. I’m curious to see what handling will be with increasing firmness.

So which would you suggest the RCF or is500

Still gotta love that old design. The new looks great too 😂

Transmission shifts faster in sport mode but it was too touchy for you. I daily a 2011 isf. Throttle response and transmission shifts are much better in sport mode but as you said, the rapid throttle response is not great for stop and go traffic, parking lots and drive throughs lol

Use the back button on the steering wheel to clear the warning from the main display.

It irks me no end that Lexus will continue to sell the RCF in the UK, but won't bring the IS500 to these shores. It would sell, in quite high numbers as well.

ISF will always be OG 🫡

The is500 is basically the new ISF. ISF has been my dream car, but I guess the is500 is a modern version of the ISF. I don’t like the back bumper of the is500 tbh. I’d pay any price for a low mileage ISF

for the shifting: you can say push up for upshift and pull down for down shift .. anyway for me it's the fittest

you were high on the ISF vs the W204 on a few things that you ended up commenting negatively about here lol IDK if this is bias due to how you felt about the W204 or this time you were compensating bc you knew that the IS500 should and would have better handling then the original. Albeit, I think based on your criteria for handling being off feeling makes it subjective at best

08 is350 owner here, I bought it on a whim but never really fell in love with the car at all. Lots of strange quirks, like why electric power steering and direct injection but bad fuel economy. The car feels good at 6 or 7 tenths but beyond that it leaves a lot to be desired, and isn’t the greatest highway cruiser either. I ended up giving it to my wife for her daily because I couldn’t bear to sell it after putting so much maintenance in.

This would of been a lot better if both cars were actually stock. While they weren’t extreme modifications the only thing you’re demonstrating is how these cars with these mods compare.

I have an 06 IS350 with 167k miles and it runs better than my mom's brand new Chevy which is currently in the shop 😅

Most cars in the 2000's have a sport mode where they overdo the throttle response

I hate EPS. Thanks for the review. Wish more people, especially reviewers, would talk about the very real downsides to EPS. It's a plague unto the enthusiast market, even if you're not driving sports cars. There is a very discernible difference between the more visceral road feedback through the steering rack and wheel from older cars (pre-2010ish) and more modern ones. It's even a potential safety issue. But I'm a bit surprised more driving enthusiasts aren't talking about this more and clamoring for the manufacturers to bring back HPS systems, at LEAST for sports cars. For the daily driving commuters for people who don't give a damn about their driving experience, sure let them have the numbed out EPS systems, they won't notice or care, but it doesn't need to bring its lifeless contagion to the enthusiast market.

177k miles is nothing. One of the guys at my car meet has 330k miles on is is350.

Let’s hope Lexus comes out with a new ISF!

Good picks for head to head. Good comments on the cars. H just need to improve on video editing to get to the next level

? IS500 vs 2016 GSF perspective? I bought GSF 2016 1.5 yrs ago; induction song at 3,600 rpm under 50%+ throttle is a brassy sound that never gets old. TVD is hilarious, delivering elegant moves that are hard to accept vs my 99 911 manual w 0 options.

So is the 2008 isf more fun or faster than the 2015 RCF ?

I own a 2015 IS250, always interested in how the ISF compared to IS500. Great review, however, IS platform is so dated.. feel like my eyes are set on an M340i. Would love if you could review that. +1 sub

Bought and owned an RC-F for 6 months. It’s a reliable muscle car but that’s it.

How come this Is500 doesn’t have a sunroof? I thought only Canadian spec is500 are slick tops ?

I got my is500 a few weeks ago and I was a little worried about the transmission as I had never test drove one and all the reviews really harped on it. I'd test driven RS3's and 340i's and really liked how quick they shifted it really improves the driving experience. Now after I e had mine a few weeks and gotten through the breaking period, I really don't understand understand what people are complaining about, mine shifts lightning fast, faster I feel than the 340i and on par with the audi. In sport plus its definitely more brutal than both those cars. One thing though the engine and transmission do have to be fully up to temp otherwise yes the shifts can be a bit random.

I have a 13 isf 45k and even though the 500 is the better car I couldn't bring my self to trade her in.

They should make manual version that will be epic more control

it's ok!

Went from ISF to S4 to q50 3.0tt and now a VA STI. ISF was the slowest when all get FBO. Stock it was the fastest. Would still own ISF if I didn’t have 3 kids.

I have had both a FBO ISF and several e90/92 M3 ( see the review on Ross Reviews , the Blue one ISF ) the ISF is the better long term reliability, it’s just not quite as race ,pure bred as the M3’s. Bothe will be rare in the future especially the ISF I feel.

I wonder why Throttle House hasn't done this same review

The price here in Malaysia for this car is killing..

The 2008-2009 ISF is the worst example of the car by far. I appreciate you mentioning the issues(outside of the steering issues which they also addressed in the later models) and what the driver has done to try and address them. For anyone looking at one of these the 2011+ is what you want, outside of the LSD, the steering curves are all completely different(light and direct, very porsche) and the stock suspension is MILES better than the 2008-2010. The 2012-2014 is the pinnacle of this car but I don't think the value is there.

A trans fluid change will tighten up the shifts in manual.

I love both the is-f and is-500. But at close to 70k the value proposition is questionable imo for the is500.

I have an 07 IS350 with 117k miles and I beat the living hell out of it every day. Toyota reliability >>

The IS-F engine was engineered by Yamaha in all the year models and the trans is single clutch and not duel clutch like most manufacturer use ( why slower shifting )

Why did you take it out of sports mode the gearbox shifts so much quicker, you should have had it in manual mode so much better, 2011 even better again, where's the drag race cheers.

I’ll keep my F for now

I love my 2012 lexus isF! Got it with 34k miles too back in November of 2022. Now at 39k miles! Also red interior

I would pick the isf just because it’s looks better in my opinion. Plus it’s been proven by people that the longevity of the isf will last where as the new is500 is still new and we don’t know how long it will last. One thing for sure that ik is that Toyota hasn’t built cars like they did with the older models. Obviously they are still reliable compared to other competitors but the reality is that it’s not the same. They kept it reliable but not too reliable to the point where people keep it for 10-15yrs.

I see a blue rcf in the background

The transmission is really good in the ISF, you just have to tune it. Shifts get almost instant.

I think the fake engine sound was turned off in the IS500.

All the negatives towards the Transmission not being the greatest but man, its a great car.