Wanna ride shotgun with GRM?
Welcome to this week’s test vehicle, a 2024 Lexus IS 500 F Sport.
The 500 is the most powerful version of the IS on sale, topping out the lineup with a 5.0-liter V8 rated at 472 horsepower and 395 lb.-ft. of torque. All that power gets sent to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic.
Speaking of wheels, …
Has this chassis really been with us for a full decade? Actually, longer, as ye olde Wikipedia reminds me that U.S. sales for the current IS started in early 2013.
Those early cars didn’t have the V8, though, with that option joining the menu for 2022.
And it’s a shame we had to wait so long. Toyota’s proven V8 just works so well in this chassis. The end result is more Benz than BMW.
In today’s luxury car landscape, I’m actually going to call this a throwback–and I mean that in a very good way.
First, a real shifter. No knob, no buttons. You want D, you can easily find D.
Real knobs for the important stuff, mainly audio volume and HVAC temperature.
Real, clear gauges.
Comfortable, supportive seats.
A screen that’s not comically big yet still more than adequate for relaying the important information.
More to love: The trunk is big, the car itself is the right size, and you can easily get in and out of it.
Oh, and it has a V8. Very docile around town but, when your boot goes to the floor, it wakes up.
It might be a bit old, but for a luxury sedan, this would be on my short list.
David S. Wallens said:In today’s luxury car landscape, I’m actually going to call this a throwback–and I mean that in a very good way.
It's funny you say that, as I recall J.G. saying something very similar about a 2023 Lexus RC 350 F Sport:
For now, it’s a cool throwback to a time when sporty personal luxury coupes like the BMW 6 Series were all the rage, and it carries the banner for that market segment with grace and skill.
I could drive this daily and be happy. It’s like a slightly more comfortable E46/E92 M3 sedan.
I'm hoping the next generation has more headroom. However, the Lexus V8 certainly sounds great when you get on the happy pedal.
Lexus forums are complaining about the brakes and the trans shift logic, any feedback on those?
In reply to J.A. Ackley :
Just spent a few minutes on YouTube listening to exhaust clips. Plenty to like there.
How fast does the 8 speed react on manual up/downshifts?
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ said:How fast does the 8 speed react on manual up/downshifts?
unrelated, how well does it look like the V8 & 8speed would fit in a BRZ? 
In reply to sleepyhead the buffalo :
I'm not seeing any size measurements for you (yet), but I can at least provide the designations if it helps:
It's also worth mentioning that the V8 in the IS 500 is at least partially related to the V8 that went into the earlier IS F.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ said:How fast does the 8 speed react on manual up/downshifts?
Good manual downshifts but sometimes seems a little laggy with the upshifts, even in Sport + mode.
Honestly, between the engine output and eight-speed automatic, I just leave it in D and use Sport and Sport+. Totally fits the character of the car.
And earlier I said that it has knobs for HVAC temp. My bad, it has sliders–but no menu navigation needed to access them. 
Check it out, a full-size spare:
Also, I’m oddly attracted to that wheel color.
So, the back seat: It’s a little tight. I can fit behind myself, but my knees are just touching the seatback while getting in/out takes some dipping. It’s almost more like a 2+3 than a roomy sedan.
The rear seat also lacks any power ports, pretty standard in today’s luxury market.
But I don’t care because I’m sitting up front.
calteg said:Lexus forums are complaining about the brakes and the trans shift logic, any feedback on those?
For normal driving, no issues with brakes and transmission shift logic. Are they having issues on track?
If so, not sure this is my ideal track car, anyway. If staying within the Toyota family, why track this when the Supra, 86 and GR Corolla exist? Yes, you can track it, but it’s not my dream track car.
Trying to track your daily? Okay, I can see that but not surprised if there any compromises.
It's my favorite BMW 3-series on sale today. ;)
I assume a throwback SportCross version is not in the works 
Old_Town said:I assume a throwback SportCross version is not in the works
If it is, that info isn’t in the media site.
True story: I drove an IS 300 SportCross to the second or third $2000 Challenge. It was silver-ish in color.
In reply to David S. Wallens :
A SportCross could solve a lot of problems in my life.
Colin Wood said:In reply to David S. Wallens :
A SportCross could solve a lot of problems in my life.
I reckon the NX or UX are what Lexus would consider SportCross replacements these days?
In reply to calteg :
Have gone to 2 performance driving schools and the master driving school spending quite a bit of time with the Lexus line up. Not going to pretend to know which engine and trans combo's they have in each car that is used during these classes but the ones used on the track has no problems with brakes and trans shifting. the upshifts and downshifts have a nice bark and always seemed to be in the right gear going into the turns and coming out while on the track at Laguna or Watkins.
Cheap way to have a fun time and knock out some bucket list tracks.
https://lexusperformancedrivingschool.com/
sleepyhead the buffalo said:Colin Wood said:In reply to David S. Wallens :
A SportCross could solve a lot of problems in my life.
I reckon the NX or UX are what Lexus would consider SportCross replacements these days?
For a rational person, yes, but I'm not thinking rationally.
In reply to Colin Wood :
I just drove a X1 at OneLap, clearly my grasp on rationality is tenuous at best 
Colin Wood said:In reply to David S. Wallens :
A SportCross could solve a lot of problems in my life.
They were pretty bitching. At least one was run in the Grand-Am Cup.
Next time you’re in the photo server, look at “Lexus IS300 Sportwagon.”
How is the suspension for daily use?
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