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Is250 lexus jdm1/9/2024 This is to do again with all "imported cars" related issues and limitations. I would even argue that IS350 is "un-sell-able" car in UK, which means to get anyone interested into it you will have to discount it significantly. IS-F has better residual value as well and likely to maintain value in long term. ohhh and you get real Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer interior trim if that is your thing! If we just take UK cars, then yes difference is minimal - DRCC and ML were main features, the only optional thing depending on your taste could be sunroof - optional across the range. Take for example ML sound system, in IS-F it is standard in IS350 it is possible to get a car with poverty line 6-speaker "radio". Now it depends on what options you going to get on JDM car, but at least US imports have really poor level of equipment. I do whole heartedly agree that Lexus should have brought the 350 models into the UK - IS, GS and RC in UK IS-F comes with every single possible extra which was available in IS mk2, including dynamic cruise control for example. Given that there is an approximate 300 GBP difference in insurance for annual cover (my personal quotes), that wouldn't even cover the difference in brakes cost (Euro car parts ISF replacement discs and pads £862 vs 350 replacement discs and pads£512)! And what does the ISF come with that the 350 doesn't, besides the 5.0 engine, 19" wheels and quad exhausts? Given that you can get a 2008 ISF with 100k+ miles for ~15k GBP or a similar aged IS350 with ~50k miles for ~10k GBP with similar on road daily driver performance (obviously out on a track or empty road the F would walk away, but probably not *massively* in day to day usage ) then I'm not sure how the ISF seems better value for money either? Tyres, brakes etc are considerably more expensive. Also, running costs of the ISF are considerably higher than a 350. however dig into a bit further - They have a known fault with the ATF cooler that has been known to take out the gearbox when it fails, which it seems to do without warning - someone on the F owners group had it happen recently. You are correct that the IS-F may seem the logical choice. Really sad Lexus decided no to sell 350's in UK, I certainly would have had RC350 instead of anaemic RC200t I guess current firm prices on IS-F made it more feasible, but when IS-Fs were trading all day long for £12k this wasn't that feasible to do. On this being viable really depends on getting IS350 at next to 0 cost in Japan. Arguably, IS-F is better value for money, has more stuff in it and at the end of the day probably cheaper to insure than "grey" imports. I think the reason not many people are doing it is that after all costs of importing IS350 to UK and changing what is needed it costs as much if not more than IS-F.
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