Lexus IS 350 F Sport 2011 long-term test - 1

Price Guide (recommended price before statutory & delivery charges): $71,800
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): Moonroof $2500
Crash rating: Five-star (ANCAP)
Fuel: 95-98 RON Unleaded
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 9.4L/100km
CO2 emissions (g/km): 223
Also consider: Audi S4, BMW 335i, Mercedes-Benz C 300

From time to time we also take the opportunity to spend more time in a vehicle. These longer term tests can be as short as a couple of weeks, but more recently we've settled on a six-month period as indicative of 'normal' ownership. Long-term tests give our staff writers and contributors a chance to get to know a car as an owner would. While the car is with us, we pay for fuel, pay for the servicing and generally use and live with the car as a new owner would.

We believe long-term tests give car buyers an added insight into the vehicle on test, but also the qualities behind the brand and nameplate. The extended period also allows us to touch base with the dealer networks in question.

Our recent long-termers have included the Volvo C30 DRIVe, Suzuki Kizashi XL, HSV E2 Maloo R8, Jeep Patriot Limited, Kia Cerato SLi, Subaru Forester XS and Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI.

No surprise manufacturers tend to have a love-hate relationship with long-term tests ... Six months is plenty long enough to fall out of love with the latest and greatest, and start to nitpick -- just like real owners do.

Our earlier reviews of the sportier IS (see bottom of page for links) rated it as an accomplished performer, though to some reviewers at least, was said to lack the hard edge of at least one of its aforementioned rivals.

With more time to experience the car in a wider variety of settings, we aim to investigate if indeed the IS 350 F Sport is as potent as its German counterparts and, equally, if it is as easy to live with on a day-to-day basis -- a strong suit of the German product.

As you may now be aware, Lexus' 3.5-litre V6 brings 233kW/378Nm of spice to the familiar IS range, which first went on sale locally in November 2005. Long regarded as a capable mid-size luxury sedan, the IS 250 was always left wanting for more sting in its tail, with a vast performance chasm evident between the entry level model and its almighty overlord, the V8-powered Lexus IS F.

A few weeks into our test, the IS 350 F Sport has satisfied many of our initial misgivings with some previously unexploited power reserves highlighting a true Jekyll and Hyde persona nearly every sport sedan owner could wish for, including our Melbourne-based motoring writer Matt Brogan, who had the following to say about our IS 350 F Sport long-termer.

The performance is not.

As soon as you hit the starter it's obvious that IS 350 F Sport is better endowed than the donor car. It's not audacious or garrulous in any way, but instead has a subtle brassy resonance at idle to denote the seriousness of its intent.

Plodding around town and IS 350 F Sport is docile, biddable and nearly leisurely in its response with a generous amount of throttle required to provoke any real motivation. It's off-putting at first, as one assumes the level of acceleration on offer in DRIVE has been reached, but flick the ECT control to POWER and the six-speed transmission's reaction time and throttle response sharpen considerably to rouse lively performance; visually indicated by a none-too-subtle glow of the tachometer as the engine speed snaps skyward.

The contrast in power delivery between the two modes (there are three in total, but SNOW mode is redundant Down Under) is as obvious as a prom night pimple, and can be further enhanced by the SPORT shift pattern or manual override by way of the stick, or steering wheel-mounted paddle shifts, but more on that next time.

For now, as an unfortunate coincidence in timing, IS 350 F Sport has been relegated to commuter duties which, I hasten to add, it executes consummately. The daily run to and from work (a distance of approximately 90km) in heavy stop-start traffic with a 10 minute stretch of freeway at each end sees the Lexus regularly return an 8.9L/100km average, half a litre under the manufacturer's claimed combined average.

As petrol prices continue to rise, it's satisfying to be driving a car that can deliver performance so readily on tap while still averaging similar fuel economy scores to those achieved by a pokey five-door hatchback.

During the first week or so with the IS 350 F Sport we also noticed a slight quiver from the brake pedal as we applied the stoppers, and as the car had been on loan to various press outlets before making its way to the Carsales Network garage, feared the rotors were warped. Interestingly, the shudder lessened as the fortnight wore on leading us to postulate that the car had been strapped hard against steel restraints when transported to Melbourne, and with the tyres now round once again, has all but disappeared.

That issue aside, and IS 350 F Sport's braking is both linear and confident, hauling the 1645kg sedan to rest at a rate that would have shamed many sportscars not that long ago. Although our particular IS has dark coloured 18-inch alloy wheels, it's also worth noting how quickly these blacken after a few hard stops.

On the downside IS 350 F Sport's steering is a little numb and to that end detracts from what is otherwise a tenacious handling package. Shod with Bridgestone Turanza tyres our latest long-termer offers more than enough grip wet or dry, its stability control package set to chime in whenever required, but not a moment before. Sadly, switching the system off entirely takes a little doing, a simple on/off switch disabling the traction control separately, and then only briefly.

Where ride and creature comforts are concerned the IS 350 F Sport, not surprisingly, is quite accomplished.

There's some debate among the Carsales HQ team on whether its ride is too sharp, but this is a 'sporting' sedan.

No arguments about the electronically adjustable leather-clad front sport seating which is both supportive and well cushioned. Note, however, taller drivers may find themselves sitting quite proud when optioning the tilt and slide moonroof. By the same token the IS is not the biggest midsizer out there and taller rear seat passengers will also struggle for legroom.

The infotainment system is simple to use (though we've already found the satnav to be past its use by date in terms of map accuracy) and the car's HVAC system effective.

While there's been no issues with the Editor-in-Chief's old-fashioned iPhone 3, I should point out that I've had several episodes where my iPhone4 has failed to reconnect to the car's Bluetooth system without being manually prompted. Lexus suggested a re-flash of the software may be required which is free of charge to owners and takes around 10 minutes.

Initial setup is very straightforward but, like Lexus' satellite navigation input, can only be carried out while the car is stationery (Did they ever consider the passenger may wish to enter an address?).

In our next update we'll put the boot in a little more and see just how the IS 350's F Sport tackles an enthusiastic punt down some of our favourite country back roads. Watch this space. 

Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at the carsales mobile site