Farewell....until next time...
Farewell....until next time...
Just traded in the 2008 ISF tonight. After 3 years and 45k miles, it is definitely an awesome car to own and enjoyable with every drive. CL forums have helped me as well diagnosing issues, many thanks to everyone here.
Priorities change, so a new car was warranted. Even trade for a ..... 2012 Camry Hybrid XLE fully loaded. Downgrade with half the HP, but lower maintenance costs and 40mpg average.
I will revisit the ISF in a few years after the redesign, which is a must. Cheers!
Priorities change, so a new car was warranted. Even trade for a ..... 2012 Camry Hybrid XLE fully loaded. Downgrade with half the HP, but lower maintenance costs and 40mpg average.
I will revisit the ISF in a few years after the redesign, which is a must. Cheers!
I feel your pain. I love my F, but commuting over 60 miles a day roundtrip and over 20,000 miles a year is becoming impractical for me. I'm thinking about stepping down to an ES 300h for better gas mileage and a smoother daily ride. But I hesitate because of the "plain" look of the new ES 300h (less performance is not really an issue). It's obviously not the looker that the F is but 40 mpg is mighty tempting. 
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Gasoline prices are manageable until they hit $6+/gal. Main concern of mine owning the ISF long term was maintenance costs. I drove it as it was meant to be driven, everyday. EVERY stoplight, if I was the first car, full throttle through 1st and half of 2nd gear. Onramps, full throttle always. 180/270 degree highway sweepers at maximum grip level, etc. Highway offramps, maximum brake + downshifting in Sport + M mode prior to taking the turn. Redline was seen often through gears 1-4 DAILY. Plus friendly street races every time that presented itself. I didn't abuse it with burnouts, donuts, revving in neutral, just drove it to 90% of its max potential on the streets. VSC did save my a $$ a few times in the beginning when learning the limits of the ISF.
Thus, new tires, brakes, rotors every 10-12k miles. With 65k on the odo (bought it 1 year old in 2009 with 19k on the odo) and the shocks were in need of replacement soon. Could feel the front end bottom out on speedbumps or at highway speeds when going over big humps in the road. Car was 100% stock.
Despite the spirited driving pattern, nothing ever went wrong with the engine and transmission. Still as smooth as 3 years ago. I never tracked the car, however driving it daily at maximum attack for 45k miles most of the time is a testament to Toyota's reliability and engineering.
Test drove the ES300h which is a great cruiser, but dealers are asking for $48-49k OTD. No negotiating, no deals for now since stock is limited and they are always optioned with NAV, no base models in CA. ES's used to cost $40k fully optioned, times sure have changed.
I will be back for sure when the new IS and ISF is redesigned in 2014+.
Thus, new tires, brakes, rotors every 10-12k miles. With 65k on the odo (bought it 1 year old in 2009 with 19k on the odo) and the shocks were in need of replacement soon. Could feel the front end bottom out on speedbumps or at highway speeds when going over big humps in the road. Car was 100% stock.
Despite the spirited driving pattern, nothing ever went wrong with the engine and transmission. Still as smooth as 3 years ago. I never tracked the car, however driving it daily at maximum attack for 45k miles most of the time is a testament to Toyota's reliability and engineering.
Test drove the ES300h which is a great cruiser, but dealers are asking for $48-49k OTD. No negotiating, no deals for now since stock is limited and they are always optioned with NAV, no base models in CA. ES's used to cost $40k fully optioned, times sure have changed.
I will be back for sure when the new IS and ISF is redesigned in 2014+.
I might have to take this route soon as well... there really isn't enough room for a car seat in the back and this car isn't the best for commuting 50+ miles every day. I agree, if gas prices creep up to $6 a gallon, its time to get a hybrid. 
I did look at the CT200h and had them for loaners, so I am familiar with it.
It was immediately crossed off the list due to price vs content vs performance. I know that hybrids and performance do not go in the same sentence.
A fully optioned CT would have been a little over $40k OTD, same drivetrain as the Prius, and based on the Corolla/Matrix chassis. A base model CT200h would be the same as what I paid for a fully optioned Camry Hybrid XLE (HDD NAV, blind spot monitoring, rear view camera, leather.) CT has a better suspension, materials, for sure, but I could swear with 2 people in the car, it was slower than the Prius while getting the same MPG as the Camry Hybrid.
It was immediately crossed off the list due to price vs content vs performance. I know that hybrids and performance do not go in the same sentence.
A fully optioned CT would have been a little over $40k OTD, same drivetrain as the Prius, and based on the Corolla/Matrix chassis. A base model CT200h would be the same as what I paid for a fully optioned Camry Hybrid XLE (HDD NAV, blind spot monitoring, rear view camera, leather.) CT has a better suspension, materials, for sure, but I could swear with 2 people in the car, it was slower than the Prius while getting the same MPG as the Camry Hybrid.
Last edited by itsmike177; Oct 17, 2012 at 12:50 PM.