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Review of the 2008 Lexus IS-F

2008 Lexus IS-F

Starting Price $56,000

suitable for: Diapers
School
Teens

16
City MPG

23
Hwy MPG

4 Seats
2 Rows
2 Latch Connectors
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Interior

The inside of the IS-F has a serious sports-car cockpit. The race-inspired, bolstered leather seats adjusted in 10 ways to provide the ultimate driving position and keep you there. The super-soft leather in the seats was trimmed with color-contrast stitching. In my test car that meant electric blue stitching and details throughout. When I sat in that driver’s seat, I completely forgot who I was. Even now, my devil chuckles with a low, “Bwa ha ha ha…” Those bolsters, however, made getting out of the IS-F more of a struggle than I liked. Even though the steering wheel automatically retracts when the engine is turned off, I still had to haul myself out of the seat. What a way to burst my speed-racer bubble!

There was aluminum trim all over the place that kept things shiny and clean and continued the racecar feel. It looked really cool when the instrument panel was lit by its blue LED lights. The leather-wrapped steering wheel not only sported controls for the stereo, phone and display functions, but it also had paddle shifters for those times when automatic transmission just won’t cut it (or for the control freaks out there). Either way, paddle shifters are cool.

In the backseat, things were less fun. The IS-F only seats four people, so there’s no middle seat. That means that a rear-facing infant seat must be placed directly behind one of the front seats. Since there wasn’t a surplus of backseat legroom, you’d have to slide the front seat forward to a less-than-comfortable position to fit an infant seat back there. And if tall folks sat in the back, they’d face an uncomfortable ride. However, there’s a nice armrest with two cupholders back there, so the kiddies could have their beverages. The seat belts were nice and stable, which made it easy for the little guys to buckle up. While the IS-F doesn’t exactly cater to families, it’s workable.

shopping around: At cars.com

key interior: Features

  • First aid kit
  • Radio steering wheel controls
  • Rear bucket seats
  • Speed sensitive wipers

available interior: Colors

  • Alpine
  • Black

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