yeah, you dont have real wood, but painted plastic... sorry about that...

 

IS-F has real carbon fiber trim. Way better than the wood. LOL

 

here is what it is:

"Unique dark aluminized composite"

doesnt look as good to me as dark wood option... I guess thats the same problem IS F-Sport has, i prefer dark wood than unique aluminized plastics.

 

Really? Though they were carbon fiber with laque finish on top of it. Anyway, they still looks and feel better than the dark wood. I really like it.

 

Back to what OP said, I to tend to agree.
I feel like the current engine just doesn't cut it for me anymore.
With competitors putting out engines that looks good at least on numbers (good HP and MPG), the current engine does look lacking.
Can Lexus sell the 3IS well with the falling-behind engine?
As much as I like the 3IS, I will probably wait until next year for the engine refresh, and maybe even the hybrid model.
Meanwhile, Audi S3 does sound tempting, but I'm worrisome about its reliability...

 

Audi's 3 and Mercede's CLA are not in the same class as the IS. Hot-rod engines do not put a car in the next class. Need to be looking at the A4/S4 and C-Class/AMG if you are going to talk about future IS/-F competition.