It was much more at home on the Figure Eight course. The inch or so of soft spring travel needed to be compressed before it would really bite into a corner. Light braking would load the front-end sufficiently for crisp turn in response. Braking harder or deeper into the corners would cause the back-end to step out. It was all very controllable though due to the big tires. Surprisingly, in second gear the little 2.5L could roast the rears all the way through and out of the corners. This made the car a lot of fun to toss around. The performance combined with its street presence makes the F-Sport equipped IS250 one very tempting package.
2008 F-Sport Equipped Lexus IS250
Engine: F-Sport intake, axle-back exhaust
Drivetrain: F-Sport short shifter, clutch (16 percent stiffer than stock)
Suspension (Front): F-Sport/Bilstein shocks, springs (25mm lower, 268-377 pounds-per-inch progressive rate), 28.6mm hollow anti-sway bar
Suspension (Rear): F-Sport/Bilstein shocks, springs (19mm lower, 228-399 pounds-per-inch progressive rate), 19mm solid anti-sway bar, under chassis brace
Brakes (Front): F-Sport six-piston forged aluminum calipers, 355mm diameter cross-drilled two-piece rotors
Brakes (Rear): F-Sport four-piston forged aluminum calipers, 345mm diameter cross-drilled two-piece rotors
Wheels: F-Sport forged aluminum 19x8 (F), 19x9 (R)
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport 225/35ZR19 (F), 255/35ZR19 (R)
1/4 Mile Acceleration: 15.7 at 87 MPH80-0 Braking: 188 feet
Figure Eight time: 25.308 seconds, 0.93 Lateral G's