NorCal members attend THE ULTIMATE IS-F Driving Experience
08-15-07, 11:55 PM
#1
NorCal members attend THE ULTIMATE IS-F Driving Experience
Over 20 ClubLexus members, primarily from NorCal and SoCal went down to Laguna Seca today to attend the First Ever showing of the pre-production release IS-F. These cars just arrived straight from Japan on Monday, August 13, and we are the first of the general public in this country to see and ride in the IS-F.
We also got to test drive the IS350, GS430 Hybrid and LS600 Hybrid models.
AND, when I mean test drive, I don't mean driving on a coned parking lot, but on the famed Laguna Seca Raceway.
After test driving these production cars, we then proceeded to don race helmets to get several HOT Laps in the IS-F driven by professional drivers.
I am sure many others who attended will elaborate on their personal experience in these cars. All I can say is, this car is fantastic. Even with the heavier front weight bias of the V8, the overall balance and handling exceeds the standard IS250/350. The paddle shift 8 speed transmission shifts with precision and smoothness. Do not associate this paddle shift with all previous e-shift Lexus models including the IS350. The upshifts are quick and smooth, and on the downshifts we heard the throttle blips during braking and matching the engine rpms smoothly. No herky jerk ! I won't elaborate much more, but IMHO I will simply say , the IS-F paddle shift is near the forefront of this technology. I believe it will eventually make the stick shift / clutch a thing of the past for performance minded driving. To put it simply, as technology continues to improve, Sticks with clutchpedals will be on their way out. The IS-F is just a stepping stone to this.
In Sport mode , the IS-F will actually chirp the tires in second gear !
There will be many stories to tell by members who attended, and I am sure you will eventually see their posts pop up on various forums over the next few days. All I can say is WOW !!!
This was truly THE ULTIMATE IS-F Driving Experience
It was great seeing all the members who attended and especially those who drove or flew in to NorCal from as far away as San Diego, Arizona, LasVegas and Florida.
Rominl
Jakagane
Indgogrl
Solo
Rolo
Mimi
lightwave76
BC-GS430
AL7EZZA
flipside909
ldynred
jawnthen
pinoychris
yogi_TRD
gsaristo
4grainr
edfrsd
velvet_blue
teeman
sanseiGS43
flippu
doublewoosh - (Todd from TMEngineering)
sorry , but I know there are other attendees that I can't place right now.
I have some of my amature shots of the event posted below. There are a TON of STILL pics and VIDEO footage taken by others, which I am sure will be released over the next few days, either here or on the IS-F forums.
RED, WHITE and BLUE IS-Fs
See video footage of this burnout soon (I will post a link soon)
flipside909 and others feeling the effects of the burnout
Oh Yeaaaahhh !
Solo and Jawnthen comment on their IS-F ride
More over excited members react after riding in the IS-F
Todd (TME) and Rolo having lunch and still reeling from the Hot Laps in the IS-F
LDYNRED behind the wheel of the IS-F
We also got to test drive the IS350, GS430 Hybrid and LS600 Hybrid models.
AND, when I mean test drive, I don't mean driving on a coned parking lot, but on the famed Laguna Seca Raceway.
After test driving these production cars, we then proceeded to don race helmets to get several HOT Laps in the IS-F driven by professional drivers.
I am sure many others who attended will elaborate on their personal experience in these cars. All I can say is, this car is fantastic. Even with the heavier front weight bias of the V8, the overall balance and handling exceeds the standard IS250/350. The paddle shift 8 speed transmission shifts with precision and smoothness. Do not associate this paddle shift with all previous e-shift Lexus models including the IS350. The upshifts are quick and smooth, and on the downshifts we heard the throttle blips during braking and matching the engine rpms smoothly. No herky jerk ! I won't elaborate much more, but IMHO I will simply say , the IS-F paddle shift is near the forefront of this technology. I believe it will eventually make the stick shift / clutch a thing of the past for performance minded driving. To put it simply, as technology continues to improve, Sticks with clutchpedals will be on their way out. The IS-F is just a stepping stone to this.
In Sport mode , the IS-F will actually chirp the tires in second gear !
There will be many stories to tell by members who attended, and I am sure you will eventually see their posts pop up on various forums over the next few days. All I can say is WOW !!!
This was truly THE ULTIMATE IS-F Driving Experience
It was great seeing all the members who attended and especially those who drove or flew in to NorCal from as far away as San Diego, Arizona, LasVegas and Florida.
Rominl
Jakagane
Indgogrl
Solo
Rolo
Mimi
lightwave76
BC-GS430
AL7EZZA
flipside909
ldynred
jawnthen
pinoychris
yogi_TRD
gsaristo
4grainr
edfrsd
velvet_blue
teeman
sanseiGS43
flippu
doublewoosh - (Todd from TMEngineering)
sorry , but I know there are other attendees that I can't place right now.
I have some of my amature shots of the event posted below. There are a TON of STILL pics and VIDEO footage taken by others, which I am sure will be released over the next few days, either here or on the IS-F forums.
RED, WHITE and BLUE IS-Fs
See video footage of this burnout soon (I will post a link soon)
flipside909 and others feeling the effects of the burnout
Oh Yeaaaahhh !
Solo and Jawnthen comment on their IS-F ride
More over excited members react after riding in the IS-F
Todd (TME) and Rolo having lunch and still reeling from the Hot Laps in the IS-F
LDYNRED behind the wheel of the IS-F
Last edited by RMMGS4; 08-16-07 at 02:58 PM.
08-16-07, 12:17 AM
#4
Lead Lap
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: California
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Video
A full length Event article to be posted on Monday at www.LGWNorCal.net
Hear's a teaser:
IS-F Teaser
Link's dead...goto post #45 for an updated link.
.
Hear's a teaser:
IS-F Teaser
Link's dead...goto post #45 for an updated link.
.
Last edited by jawnthen; 08-17-07 at 12:23 AM.
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08-16-07, 07:31 AM
#8
Forum Administrator
iTrader: (2)
Looks awesome, wish I could have been there! Thank you all for sharing your experience with the rest of us.
08-16-07, 09:17 AM
#13
Pole Position
08-16-07, 09:27 AM
#14
Mike & Dave,
I had I hopes that you guys might make it.
The event was great, but I think it was equally special to have so many key members attend this activity. My only wish would of been for us to have gotten an earlier heads up, so that more members could have made it.
I had I hopes that you guys might make it.
The event was great, but I think it was equally special to have so many key members attend this activity. My only wish would of been for us to have gotten an earlier heads up, so that more members could have made it.
