About a year ago you could get a IS350 for as cheap as $7500! absolute bargin cars, it also helps the 2gr is known as one of toyotas most reliable engines in the last 20 years

Love the comparison and great to see another kiwi ISF! The subtle differences between the two really add up. It's like a Skyline GTS-T vs GTR - on paper the don't seem too far apart, but it's hard to go back when you've tried the full fat option for yourself 😉

I had my 08 IS350 for about a year and I know the whole time I was driving an absolute bargain sleeper, unfortunately i ended up totaling it in an icy road incident. I’ll always have a soft spot for the 350 after owning one

I love these POV shots of driving like in 5:58 with you counter steering, really good :)

Awesome video man, got a 350 myself and absolutely love it!

Another good review mate, I think the IS350 would be a great choice for the 10 grand budget, I know a few people that really hate spending much more than that on a car even when they actually could increase the budget easily!

Very good review! As someone that daily’s a FBO ISF, it is an experience of its own.

Very curious about this matchup.. thanks a lot!

IS 350 is an awesome car. I have owned 3 of them. 2006, 2012 and 2016. The 2006 was the quickest but not the fastest. It fell flat after about 80 mph because of the gearing. Great down low to bang out some high 13 second tines but if you catch it running on the hwy after aboit 80, it's dead. Contrarily, my former 2016 IS 350 would smoke it on a roll. No competition. It just blew it away up top. Down low, the 2006 slaughtered it. Same situation with my current daily, 2008 GS 350, it slaughtered the 2006 IS 350 up top due to the gearing. Nevertheless, the IS is a bargain and so, so reliable. GREAT CAR and review.

Here in Japan, the IS350 is a total bargain! I got mine 2011 for 5k USD with only 45000km, looks almost brand new, The ISF costs at least 4x what I paid and for an older 2008 or 6x for a similar year. I went with IS350 because im poor LOL, on a budget i can get Work wheels, upgrade suspension with coilovers do intake and a few cosmetics mods and it will look fantastic.

I saw one once in San Diego ten years ago. The tips were unique.

Enjoyed the review.... Possibly a fairer review would have been the ISF vs 350 F sport with comparable tyres. Cheers

Yes!! As a owner of a ISF it’s worth it!!!

❤ _couldn’t really go wrong either way🤷🏻‍♂️love them both_

To be honest, i would still choose isf because looks of it. But the 350 is acutally really good choice for someone, who wants power and comfort and good reliability. And love japanese cars and dont want to own infiniti for some reason haha. Great rewiev!

I currently own a 2011 is350 fsport and a 2012 isF! The 350 is definitely more nimble. You can feel the weight difference when u drive them back to back. I like driving the 350 but i love to drive the F. Worth every penny

The stacked exhaust tips on the ISF are actually not fake! This became a common theme for further F cars such as the GS-F and RC-F.

Currently looking into a new Lexus ( only owners a scion before this , im young) and seeing all the great stuff about both of these cars make this choice even harder.. might start with a 2021 IS350 and go from there …

The 2gr screams like crazy with a cold air intake, you need to head this once in your life

I have a 2011 IS350. Stylish, comfortable, reliable and quick for what it is. Very very underrated car. Only thing that brings it down is no LSD and the transmission could be better.

Just sold my IS350 last weekend. Definitely was my bang for buck car and it looked sleek as hell. The 2GR is so unsuspectingly quick but sadly the 6 speed transmission it’s paired to the biggest let down on that car. Hope the new owner enjoys it as much as I did.

How do you find the Japanese infotainment system? Is it easy to use even when you don't read Japanese? I have been considering an import 350, but worry about the controls not being english.

You should’ve got the fsport variant which has a better suspension than the standard is350

I own a 2010 IS350 and a 2012 ISF, both are starfire pearl with the former having black leather and the latter having perforated red. The 350 is stock and the ISF is FBO with about 510hp. The 350 is about 300lbs lighter and feels much more nimble, the ISF does have 18x10 +45's 265 's and 285's respectively with TE37SL's though. Everything in the ISF is better, it feels more buttoned up. smoother shifts, more planted. It 'feels' higher quality like a heavier more solid watch does. The mark Levinson sounds better, though it was an option I believe for the 350 which I did not get. The throttle response in the 350 is much better, though there are things you can do to 'correct' it in the ISF. 0-39 mph 'stock' both cars are the same due to the aggressive gearing in the 350 with a 6 speed trans and 8 gears in the ISF. Gas mileage can be the same at around 25mpg, I get around 12 mpg in the F because it has 500 fucking HP and I love the sound of the V8 and 0.1 second downshifts. It took me over a year and a plane ticket to find the one that I wanted specifically with LSD (MY2010+) SFP and the upgraded headlights. If you want a very rare car (3 or 4 thousand left in the US) that is Lexus quality and can beat a new Skat pack stock, and within hundredths on the track of the V8 M3 and AMG of the same generation get the ISF. It will make your heart POUND every time you get in it.

Any other Kiwi owners with an IS have a fix for the horrendous sticky dash? Mine looks like a furry mess. Not to mention the door cards bubbling, bulging and chunks being taken out of them. Other than that my IS350 has been solid for the 80k's I've owned it. The starter motor went last week, that and the alternator are the only two parts that have needed replacing.

Used to own a is350 for years, own a ISF now. Is350 is a good and quick car, but even add a few mods, it will never be as good as a ISF in any aspects unfortunately.

yeah you can cut the hole in the airbox and get V6 induction noises... just like the "F-sport air intake".. but yes it's a question of 15k vs 40k

How would you compare these to your old cl9? Lexus is definitely quicker but which would you pick? I am confused between getting either a cl9 or is350…..

To be honest, on the surface, paying 3x for a glorious V8 sound may not seem worth it. But if you have the money, get one because it's not like it will be worth a lot less money in 5-10 years. The ISF is a very rare car and with the electrification of modern sports sedans, there will be quite a demand for it in the future.

That's the one engine I can't get here in the Netherlands. It has such an edge over the IS250 because its dual injection and doesn't have it's carbon build-up issues. It's also that bit quicker. But alas, i'd have to import it and that is usually buying things sight-unseen. I dont want to do that..

I'm lucky. I own both! A 2011 ultra sonic blue IS350 FSport and a 2009 obsidian black ISF. Stock for stock, the 350 is the better all around daily useable car. It's more comfortable in every way. It's quiet, softer suspension, and has a smooth engine and transmission. It's also deceivingly quick! Not a slouch at all. The ISF is more of a weekend warrior. Bouncy/sport suspension, the sound, and power. It's a very emotional thrilling ride in every way. You can't go wrong with either!

Have a is250 manual, best car ive owned

IS350 0-60 6.3 secs top speed 143 ISF 0-60 4.4 top speed 177

IS250 best car I’ve ever owned rwd doing burnouts no problem with the strong six speed transmission

What kind of rims are those on the silver one?

can you review a soarer ? please

Drive a facelift 250/350 they have made improvements. My 09 can have its TCS fully disabled and the gear selector is a bit better

originally I have 250 swapped for larger 3.0 (3grfse) I am prepraed to put 4.6 LSD from GT86, Chromoly Flywheel and larger clutch and mayber Carbon propeller shaft I forgot its a manual. Might drop in 2GR eventually i think with current gearing 3.63 and open diff it sucks but with LSD and 4.6 and those transmission mods and some tune it may ripass actually. ~1460Kg

Give it a revin Kevin!

I like my IS350 but the ISF is always on the back of my mind, just can’t get over my pragmatic ways, damn it.

Would you take an accord euro r or an is350 ?

Your point that the IS350 will always be the "lesser car" is absolutely right!

Is that an is350 or a is350f? Sorry might be a noob question but just seeing what the difference is between the two

Please make a drag race video 🏁

You reckon a 200,000 kilometre model would be a good buy for 6.5k nzd??

I have an is350 and raced my buddies is-f at the track 3 times. I always beat him to 1/8th mile by .1-.2tenths but he had 2mph more. My car ran 13.8@100 his best was 13.4@104 that's the moment I realized I can't justify upgrading to the v8 for a car they only traps 4mph more.

If only the people who buy them new could operate a clutch pedal, just imagine what a cult car the IS350 could have been with a "stick shift"

Which would you prefer, Is350 or 3.0r?

what wheels does that is350 have.

The ISF is like an old Rolex. Not being manufactured anymore, but still being bought from generation to generation and keeping its value. And yes the V8 is worth it for me😂 i mean you can tune the V8 up to 700hp and compete with the M2/M3/M4

Yes

🎉

Why didn’t they make the is350 in England 😫

You forgot to do the sticky dash test that all IS250-350-F has

I had both the ‘06 IS350 and the ‘16 IS350 FSport. Awesome cars and I absolutely l-o-v-e-d them, but there’s no replacement for displacement! My IS500 is hands down the best of the 3.

Wish companies would state power and torque to the wheels. Everyone's always excited for big numbers only to be disappointed. My 2006 IS 350 makes 245hp and 230 ft/lb of torque, to the wheels. That's around 280hp and 265 torque to the crank....sad panda

Kiwi

If price concerns you, you better get a turbo Barra for $15k and $5k on mods and it’s can destroy ISF easily too. ISF vs IS350 => ISF wins completely The V8 roar, faster transmission, better brakes, suspension, acceleration times and rarity-discontinued long time ago. The ISF in video is the JDM model (2008) it also doesn’t have torsion LSD. Try 2012 model onward with upgraded suspension is much better to drive and faster. Anyway spend less than $10k for a FBO and the ISF turns to different animal.

Hmmm, what about the heavy front end , the IS 350 is a lot more agile in tight corners

The quad exhaust rips are fake??? Don't think so look at little closer!!! The secondary intake opens at 4k, look closer!!!

350 drivers wya 🫡

Man used car prices today are ridiculous... actually makes me mad knowing that i couldve bought myself a nice ass car for 15k... now i gotta fork over 35k for something nice and new... gr. No thanks.

ISF is worth every penny!

You forgot to mention that the Lexus ISF has Yamaha Enging.

經典

I have both. The 350 is the better daily.

Nicely done, shame the is350 was clearly on rubbish tyres.

Is350 ain't 10k in Australia 😂

70% of the ISF for 30% of cost.. .? Has to be an obvious conclusion. Bare in mind some people don’t NEED to hear the motor…

How about jus engine swap the 350 to a 3uZ or 3uR 😈

The steering wheel is on the wrong side!

too bad that is350's are literally rarer then an IsF. not literally, but you cant find em lmao.

Yes the v8 is worth it.

Funfact: paddle shifters are made for you to not take your hand of steering wheel! You look like a jerk changing theese gears, like the lambo guy

Keep my GS460 over the 350