Comparing second Lexus IS-F, Chyrsler 300 SRT and FPV GT-E

[Sam_Boss260]

The wife's car went in for a service the other day and I got to drive around in the loaner car whilst the wife drove around in the G6ET for a few days. The loaner car was a near-new Lexus IS sedan. Very nice car, handles very well but the 250 was just too underpowered for me.

So this got me looking into the IS350's then of course the IS-F's. Then the "Why don't I go back to a V8 again" thought started crossing my mind.

The three that I would consider would be the IS-F, GT-E (5.0 engine only) and the 300 SRT.

So if I had around the $50k mark and wanted something second hand what are each car like? Does anyone have any first hand info? Maintenance issues? Fuel consumption? That was one of the reasons I got rid of the XR8, the 5.4 Boss was not great in traffic with consumption and the 4 speed just a bit of a dog of a gearbox.

That or I just get into a FGX G6ET again.....

[rancidpunx]

An ISF I had for a few nights for work was what got me into a GT over the F6. I looked forward to starting it up everyone morning and hearing it purr. Great car, a little bland on the interior and still screams toyota camry just with a cool tacho and the steering wheel moves in and out. Likewise on the outside other than the exhaust oulets. Power wise will be on par with the G6ET just without the turbo rush and will feel slower to drive especially over taking etc. The newer IS350s are quite a nice place to be but I cant comment on how they actually drive. The 300c for me is really ordinary on the inside, even the new one but drive great and there is certainly a sense of theatre with them. Big car though. GTEs are great full stop.

[Sam_Boss260]

Cheers Rancid. This is the type of stuff that I'm after.

[irvinnie]

Haven't driven the other two but my GTE has been pretty much maintanence free. It did sit garaged at a mates for a few months while I lived in an area with no off street parking and developed a coolant leak which has since disappeared since being used again. Fuel economy wise on a highway journey you can expect to get in the very low 10's but around town my car sits in the 18's, but like all fuel economy figures that can go a lot higher with a heavier right foot.

[vevapower]

The 300 SRT8 Gen 2 has to be the best bang for your buck V8 on the market today.

[SensationFG8]

That would surely depend on what you consider bang

I guess considering we're comparing luxury type cars then the bang is all about the comfort and refinement of the ride rather than the outright performance and handling. I didn't think the SRT8 rated that highly on the comfort stakes, I thought their ride was considered a bit harsh. Possibly something that a test drive can resolve for the OP.

[PHawk]

You can change the suspension settings with a push of a button

[WPR1]

The Lexus is a nice car good fit and finish plus a nice exhaust note, different size to the other two so if you carry passengers not so good. 300C has bling if you like that but not sold on reliability or cost of repair/serice like a Jeeps. 300C has a great straight line handling due to a barn storming engine but doesn't like corners. The GTE for me is the best balance between the three, looks good in an understated way, great punchy engine with a nice note plus good handling balance. For me the GTE wins.

[bernbo]

I was also considering a GTE or 300srt but i instead got a fgx g6et. Main reason was that the brand new g6et was cheaper than i could find a low km GTE. I get an updated icc, a fraction less performance and cheaper insurance, rego and fuel costs as well as a new car warranty. The heart wanted a v8 but the head said g6et. The price of the fgx g6et is what people are paying for upspec mazda 6, subaru liberty and hyundai sonata let alone some of the ones you are looking at.

[vevapower]

This seems pretty well priced...

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/d...-3334556/?Cr=0

[2242100]

Originally Posted by Sam_Boss260

The wife's car went in for a service the other day and I got to drive around in the loaner car whilst the wife drove around in the G6ET for a few days. The loaner car was a near-new Lexus IS sedan. Very nice car, handles very well but the 250 was just too underpowered for me.

So this got me looking into the IS350's then of course the IS-F's. Then the "Why don't I go back to a V8 again" thought started crossing my mind.

The three that I would consider would be the IS-F, GT-E (5.0 engine only) and the 300 SRT.

So if I had around the $50k mark and wanted something second hand what are each car like? Does anyone have any first hand info? Maintenance issues? Fuel consumption? That was one of the reasons I got rid of the XR8, the 5.4 Boss was not great in traffic with consumption and the 4 speed just a bit of a dog of a gearbox.

That or I just get into a FGX G6ET again.....

I can confirm what rancidpunx said about the G6 ET's pace with the following Racelogic GPS measured acceleration data comparison.
I'm again posting my stock untuned FG Auto XR6 Turbo's data from WSID along with Wheels (August 2011 issue) test times of a Lexus ISF at Avalon Airport and I've also added the N/A V8 7 speed DSG BMW M3 times from the same test. I've been told driver weight was around 90 kg's (same as me) and I had 18/19 degree temperatures.

I don't know the time of day these cars were tested at Avalon, but the temperatures apparently ranged from 10 degrees at 7 AM to 18 degrees at 2 PM and then dropped down to 15 degrees at 5.30 PM. So good temperatures.

I've also added times from a Chrysler 300 SRT8 test at WSID (published in October 2012 issue of Wheels). Temperature 8 degrees, driver Jesse Taylor (now Evo Australia editor, 75 kg's at the time) and on the same test he got 4.57 sec 0-100 and 12.64 sec 400 metre times out of an FPV R Spec @ 189 km/h. So a good driver on a good day.

Stock untuned XR6 T AUTO
.........IN DRIVE.....2ND GEAR
............................LAUNCH................ .LEXUS ISF V8...... M3 V8........300 SRT 8
0-20........0.84..........0-85........................0.65...................0 .79...........0.7 sec
0-40 .......1.61..........1.64........................1 .56...................1.62............1.5
0-60........2.37..........2.61...................... ..2.42...................2.46............2.5

0-80........3.43..........3.70...................... ..3.53...................3.49............3.5
0-100......4.62..........4.85....................... .4.82...................4.70............4.8

0-120......6.19..........6.40....................... .6.40...................6.14.............6.2
0-140......8.07..........8.19....................... .8.16...................7.88.............8.2
0-160.....10.13........10.24.......................1 0.37..................9.88............10.3
0-180.....12.91........12.96.......................1 2.94.................12.39

400 m....12.84.........12.97.......................12. 9...................12.8............12.9
@..........179.39.......180.04.................... .179.8.................182.8...........181k's

60-180..10.54 .........10.35.......................10.52........ .........9.93 Seconds
12.509 timeslip.......12.731 timeslip

The Lexus got to 267 and the M3 got to 259 km/h on the airstrip.

I'm not sure about economy, but I'd expect a fairly high revving 5 litre N/A engine to be a bit thirsty in general everyday use compared to a 4 litre Turbo engine, but on the other hand, the Lexus has the advantage of an 8 speed transmission which I think should give an economy advantage.
There was a Miami GT Auto at the same (Avalon) test that got 5.15 to 100 and 13.15 sec 400 metre times @ 180.5 km/h but I know they can do better than that, something that I think is pretty obvious given Jesse Taylors WSID 4.57/12.64 sec @ 189 km/h result in the R Spec manual that I mentioned above.
I'm not sure about the pace of the current FGX Turbo's, the rolling acceleration times I've seen so far don't seem too fast to me. Of course if I'm right, I'd expect a good tune to be able to fix that.
One other point to consider, I think the Chrysler now has an 8 speed Auto.

[HULK_I6T]

If i were spending $50k id demand a new car. If spending G6ET money buy a G6ET, if spending more get the SRT8. Recognised all over the world as a great package.

The falcon GT-E looks like a cheap car next to the others, i dont doubt the potency of the motor but people want more than that in cars these days. the G6ET is the looker in the ford crop, rest of the fg/fgx range is ordinary lookin.

[Sam_Boss260]

Originally Posted by bernbo

I was also considering a GTE or 300srt but i instead got a fgx g6et. Main reason was that the brand new g6et was cheaper than i could find a low km GTE. I get an updated icc, a fraction less performance and cheaper insurance, rego and fuel costs as well as a new car warranty. The heart wanted a v8 but the head said g6et. The price of the fgx g6et is what people are paying for upspec mazda 6, subaru liberty and hyundai sonata let alone some of the ones you are looking at.

And what do you think? What does it look like as an overall package? What did you have before?

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by HULK_I6T

If i were spending $50k id demand a new car. If spending G6ET money buy a G6ET, if spending more get the SRT8. Recognised all over the world as a great package.

The falcon GT-E looks like a cheap car next to the others, i dont doubt the potency of the motor but people want more than that in cars these days. the G6ET is the looker in the ford crop, rest of the fg/fgx range is ordinary lookin.

[Sam_Boss260]

Originally Posted by HULK_I6T

If i were spending $50k id demand a new car. If spending G6ET money buy a G6ET, if spending more get the SRT8. Recognised all over the world as a great package.

The falcon GT-E looks like a cheap car next to the others, i dont doubt the potency of the motor but people want more than that in cars these days. the G6ET is the looker in the ford crop, rest of the fg/fgx range is ordinary lookin.

I don't a GTE looks cheap at all

[bernbo]

Had a veloster plus before it and a magna sports before that. I have a territory as well as coming from a hugely ford family so it was about time i got a falcon. First car was a 6cyl cortina so i do like torquey sixes. Overall i love it. I miss the fuel economy, stereo, sun roof and drivers seat out of the veloster but that is forgotten when i give the g6et some welly. If i was really using my head i think the calais v8 is a good buy, i think it's a lot of car for the money and will be cheaper long term than a 300srt. But i could never buy a holden. The Falcon fills the bill. Nothing that can carry people in comfort ìs faster for the price nor have an engine that will last for ages and has cheap and plentiful parts all while supporting aussie jobs and the economy. For the same money i spent i could have had a golf gti or a wrx. With a baby seat and a pram the falcon it still has more room and is over a second faster to 100 than both. I don't know of a better buy for any car in all segments right now. I almost went with an fgx xr6t so i could get a manual gearbox but seeing the two next to each other the g6et looks miles better. Perfect world would be a g8e (aka GTE) with a manual but i wouldn't change a thing.

[PHawk]

I've owned my SRT-8 for around a year now, all I can say is wow these things are one hell of a lot of car for the money, the comments on how they handle make me laugh...they go round corners just fine.

[smoo]

Consider the W211 E55/E63 AMG?

[Sam_Boss260]

Originally Posted by smoo

Consider the W211 E55/E63 AMG?

Budget?

[bernbo]

Originally Posted by smoo

Consider the W211 E55/E63 AMG?

You will have to sell a kidney if something breaks, the recovery from surgery will fill in the few months your waiting on the parts.

[mik]

looking at it purely by dollars, by the look of it you would have to buy a fair bit older (2011 ish )IS-F lexus to get one for 50 k, where as you could buy a new 2015 G6E-T drive away and have change in your pocket out of the 50k........or a 2014 SRT-8 5 speed auto brand new for 50 +.

[bernbo]

Originally Posted by mik

looking at it purely by dollars, by the look of it you would have to buy a fair bit older (2011 ish )IS-F lexus to get one for 50 k, where as you could buy a new 2015 G6E-T drive away and have change in your pocket out of the 50k........or a 2014 SRT-8 5 speed auto brand new for 50 +.

And it's a good chunk of change too. I got mine through a novated lease, so the broker finds it for you. I got it for just over 42k, and it was a dealer order so i had my name on it a week before it arrived at the dealer, so no waiting. Check out a broker and get them to ring around. As I said before you can't get more car for the money than that. This is going to be my keeper, it bookends ford Australia with the 64 xm wagon i am restoring. If in after warranty it bores me i can go drop a small wad of cash to jump up the power.