Monyx

Before we bought our car I enquired about new Flame-blue stock - there were none avail. As of several weeks ago there were four new Lexus Australia stock around the country at various dealers - so it's not as if there's a ton of cars being liquidated. But yes of course deals to be made at the end of model-run.

No press release on Lexus' Australia web summarising updates to MY10, according to TheMotorReport MY10 updates include;

LSD

steering wheel & cluster minor aesthetic tweaks (easiest way to identify MY10 is new coloured section at bottom of steering wheel)

new fascia/switches around touch screen

iPod integration for stereo

updated navigation software

rear foldable head restraints

August was the change over for model update, so car built after this month will be the next MY spec, I have also seen the next MY update (but built in the previous year) referred to as Upgrade spec.

According to media reports the late 2010 model (MY11) gained suspension geometry changes (new camber settings, recalibrated front & rear spring and shock rates, modified suspension arm and anti-roll bar bushes) daytime running lights and the new instrument cluster, became Euro-5 compliant, blacked-out headlight lenses, dark metallic engine cover, extra support in driver's seat, revised steering wheel, carbon-fibre console inserts.

The Torsen LSD was introduced in mid 2009.

MY12 update gained new low-friction shocks by German Sachs coupled with increased spring rates (front & rear) to improve low speed comfort while maintainiing flat-ride and stability at high-speed. MY12 also introduced new style BBS alloys, front width increased 8 to 8.5".

yes 1972 Datto with FJ20ET 5spd

Nice one. I looked at this car earlier in the year, it appeared faultless aside from some light scratches on the bonnet. I say appeared because the dealers were idiots, they wouldnt let me test drive it unless i made an offer on the car. I dont play those games so i walked away.

Yes, I bought the car privately. My wife wanted a Flame-blue, I wanted MY12+ for the revised suspension and BBS wheels...put those together and for last month or so at least I think not many met the criteria (we were keen on low kms MY11 in Parramatta but seller was firm on price).

I paid Lexus of Perth $341 for certified inspection which indicated some minor scratches and low tyres (I was concerned about tyres being low at 14,825 kms...but reading here and talking to tyre retailers that 20k kms is best proposition out of OEM Bridgestones). They're still ok actually as it just passed NSW blue-slip inspection without even a advise on them :)

I was curious why it was delivered to the first owner in 9/12, verified the history with Lexus as mentioned in this thread as the car was brought over from Sydney with 6,600kms to Lexus Perth 6/12. I don't think it was a 'press hack' to be honest.

Cost me $1242 to get it back East but at least through novated lease I only have to finance ex-GST price pruchase price (+ dealer fee) which I was pleasantly surprised as I thought ex-GST only applied to new cars/non-private sale.

Took delivery of my MY12 delivered from WA today! Flame-blue, black interior.

Picked it up from the car carriers and drove it home this afternoon - day off work tomorrow to detail it and organise NSW reg. Will take some better photos when I get a chance.

Prob can see CT18 truck clean on the bonnet ready for wash and detail.

What would you read into a car described as "Lexus Australia Company Fleet vehicle", obtained by a dealer with with a few 000 kms on the clock 9mths after it was first registered? Could be a Lexus exec personal car or could be press vehicle. So far I haven't seen a blue MY12 in online reviews. I don't have Wheels/Motor circa late 2011 - early 2012 to see if any blue MY12 were featured in any tests/comparisons. Just hoping I haven't bought a bloody press-hack after-all

http://www.carsales.com.au/nearnew/details/Lexus-IS-F-2014/AGC-AD-16847508/?Cr=0&sdmvc=1

...well I cheated a bit as you'd need to lease but $99,909 would be the amount financed if you leased ex-GST. I might have re-thought my current purchase if this appeared a few weeks back, my local dealer had one for $119k drive-way. While I have no real problem with the 'date' exterior/interior compared to new IS...it might start to bother me at $100k.

TBO with rev limiters, auto modes in gearboxes when the oils get hot that go into limp (or 'D' mode in IS F) you can sort of abuse them but not really break them I'd expect. Lexus to their credit genuinely built the IS F to be driven on the track at least part-time - it says so in the original press release!

Redbook research does not focus on private sales transactions. They rely on auction houses, motor dealers, automative classifieds websites which would influence their private guide to down to wholesale/trade prices. If Redbook collected transaction data from all state and territory RTA then we'd have very good idea of what vehicles are changing hands for, assuming fudging figures to save rego transfer tax isn't a major issue - how many have rounded down figures to minimise the 3% tax?

Given Redbook don't claim to have access to this wealth of government generated transactional data, safe to say they don't use it. So you can take your private price guides with big grain of salt - as Danny said for run-of-the-mill volume vehicles it's probably on the money, step out of the mainstream and it's just a rough indication and usually just plain unrealistic.

While Redbook is generally regarded as leading valuer for the industry - think about the motivations of this 'industry' - primarly wholesalers and financiers who's main interest is, respectively to bleed you dry in trade and set v. conservative residual values so that neither is out of pocket!

Just curious since I've now watched about 100 IS F reviews, tests, exhaust drive-bys as I patiently wait for my IS F to be delivered LOL - what happens to the press cars? Cos no #$@*! way I'd ever want to own one after all the video-jocks flog the car and rev the bejesus out of at stand-still just so we sample the exahust note through an utterly useless 5c gopro mic! A very general question that applies to most models...just wondering if you buy manufacture's 'demo', could that include press-fleet?

Having been a buyer and soon owner (my IS F is in transit) it's an interesting proposition beating the prices down. Sure, you don't want to pay more than you have to, but that bargaining is contributing to lowering stock prices on your own investment into the depreciating asset The moment you own it you want to see how buoyant the values are instead of watching them plummet!

As Danny said - not realistic to expect significant lower offers on the cheapest advertised cars to be considered. It's not hard to compare with only 40-odd carsales listings to know what is keenly priced and what is a tell'im he's dreaming! price, but conversely it's pretty easy for seller to gauge what their car is worth too. Doesn't hurt to try the cash offer - just expect the justified retort if there's a pile of mor expensive cars above it.

As RC F writing down values - I'm not convinced, it has sticker of $170k, is a coupe. I don't see them selling as well as against BMW as it no longer has the price advantage the IS F had against M3 & C63. The next 5L saloon will be the GS F in 2016 - different beast, it is no longer in the same vein (small sedan / big engine). I see IS F is future classic, it was initally a hardcore (almost to a fault), performance flagship model to legitimise the F-sport and launch the brand to gain momentum against the established M, S and AMG.

oh there's a few 08 on carsale <$50k most above 80k kms

2008 Lexus IS F Sports Luxury Sports Automatic

2008 Lexus IS F Sports Luxury Sports Automatic

this one is pretty good @ 63k kms

2008 Lexus IS F Sports Luxury Sports Automatic

The ACT MY10 with 89k is prob the keenest MY10 advertised:

2010 Lexus IS F MY10 Sports Automatic

pretty sharp on the pricing...I think it's unusual to find someone selling under the lower range of the redbook private price guide even taking into account hard negotiation. Many vehicles are advertised well above redbook - not that they are all justified, but good cars won't dip below redbook in my experience. I say this having just bought an MY12 and selling a euro convertible and japanese sports car.

The 2012 BBS wheels are very stylish - definitely do not look OEM supply, best wheels I've seen on any factory supplied car in my view. I suspect this was one of the cars I was looking at on carsales as Lexus of Adelaide has same car with 23k kms on odometer. I was keenm but my wife preferred black interior.

Flame blue, black interior hopefully finalised in about 2 weeks.

I will loose a weekend detailing the car including claybar before taking some images myself - these from the seller.

Transaction in motion but a few weeks away,

A little about the journey to the IS F. Brief from the wife was for 4-door performance sedan. This all started with test drive in new WRX, but we would be looking at the STi Premium, drove new Audi S3 sedan as more refined option to Subaru. S3 sounded great on full noise...but felt what it is - 2LT turbo working hard.

When Ford confirmed the Ford XR8 pricing was this >< to putting down deposit (first 2 allocations all sold). But my wife glanced over the 'taxi' interior that has remained since 2008 and all bets were off. Dad was "yep, one the last Aussie muscle cars and brand new"..."but it's just a Ford!" I bemoaned, despite the hoon in me loving the specs and potential of the SC 'Miami V8' - 385kW on the overboost mode and finally it will go around corners with GT-F suspension.

So the 'luxury' parameter came to the fore - usual suspects M3, C63 -test drives hard to come by in Canberra, so none taken. Oh, there's one of each already parked in neighbour driveways in my street...scratch that have to get something less common. My wife was adament to not join the throng of BMW/Merc/Audi commuters in the capital ;)

'Hang on, wasn't there a performance Lexus from a couple years back?' I pondered...another night lost to the interwebs...Yep IS F - wow look at that it has a dry-sumped, Yamaha-tuned (I'm a bike nut too), titanium valved stonking V8 and drink less juice than my 350Z V6. Paddle-shift auto...well I do like my manual box, but blip on down change and 8 - count them 8 speeds - economy and performance and luxury - "honey, I found the car for us!".

Been reading the threads on Lexus Chatswood exhaust with warranty upgrades - definitely can't bear any drone...current Nissan 350Z has stainless steel dual 2.4" with resonators and it's terrible under light load

Although I modded the Z with enlarged plennum, Haltech ECU, exhaust I don't really envisage doing much to the IS F so went for the MY12+ which has most (all?) the updates to be virtually same as the MY14 cars in the dealers and I love the BBS wheels.