my new toy in the driveway

[scottschoe]

Just came back from Putnam Lexus....sealed the deal on a 2003 IS300 Sportdesign (thundercloud color).

Pics to come soon.

[Rocky]

Congrats.

Have you looked at an Infinite G35 coupe? I think it's a much nice car.

[Under Pressure]

Hmmm, IS300. Same block as the Supra. Easy to turbo. :D

[redline]

Originally posted by Rocky
Congrats.

Have you looked at an Infinite G35 coupe? I think it's a much nice car.

:werd:

nice buy though.

[scottschoe]

last week my cousin (who lives in our house now) bought a fully optioned 2003 GS430....that thing is pretty darn fast. i'll try to get some pix of his later. his GS and my IS will be getting tinted sometime this week; I can't stand this heat!

here are some pix of my new car (now with 8 miles on it):

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid67/p2fdea17f0217ab5fb4d48555f20015af/fbd10987.jpg sportdesign wheels

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid67/p3f5d1b323b40d51f0e1ef174a92b1040/fbd1098b.jpg dark emblems, different tail lights

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid67/pd0cf9564c15d8ebedb4c3c67d888cc9e/fbd1098e.jpg

[scottschoe]

Originally posted by Rocky
Congrats.

Have you looked at an Infinite G35 coupe? I think it's a much nice car.

yes I did. it's much more of a sportscar (obviously) and was great fun to drive, but i was really turned off by cabin noise and sound system quality. after riding in my cousins GS430 for a while, I warmed up to leXus.....i like the interiors and the lack of cabin noise.

my parents only gave me two choices: a 2003 acura rsx-S or a 2003 IS (biiiig price difference which was weird). on saturday i was a handshake away from buying the RSX-S but I changed my mind at the acura dealer and decided on the IS.

[So.Cal_Benzo]

Congrats on your new car!:) Just like them 3 series, i also see a lot of Altezza's....

just wondering, why didn't you get a C-class? or a used benz?

[krk230]

Originally posted by So.Cal_Benzo
Congrats on your new car!:) Just like them 3 series, i also see a lot of Altezza's....

just wondering, why didn't you get a C-class? or a used benz?

:stupid:

nice car...

but did you ever look into a 2003 C230K Sedan? My friend just bought one today... black (040) with charcoal, C2, C3, C4 packages, 5-speed automatic transmission, heated front seats, CD changer, and premium sound for a bit over $34K out-the-door from Mercedes-Benz of Laguna Niguel...:)

[So.Cal_Benzo]

Originally posted by krk230
:stupid:

nice car...

but did you ever look into a 2003 C230K Sedan? My friend just bought one today... black (040) with charcoal, C2, C3, C4 packages, 5-speed automatic transmission, heated front seats, and premium sound for a bit over $34K out-the-door from Mercedes-Benz of Laguna Niguel...:)
Is your friend also a desi?:P
He's a member on this forum, Karan... u got pics of his car?

[krk230]

Originally posted by So.Cal_Benzo
Is your friend also a desi?:P
He's a member on this forum, Karan... u got pics of his car?

nope, not a desi :rolleyes: ;) ...he's 25% Russian 75% Hispanic...

he is a member of this forum [screen name: C200K]...although he has not posted yet...pics will be on the way soon...;)

[Statsdreven]

erm...Nice car :) how much do these go for in the us? here they are $50k+:rolleyes:

[krk230]

Originally posted by Statsdreven
erm...Nice car :) how much do these go for in the us? here they are $50k+:rolleyes:

The IS300 sells for low to mid $30K-range USD...;)

[C280Sportster]

Originally posted by scottschoe
Just came back from Putnam Lexus....sealed the deal on a 2003 IS300 Sportdesign (thundercloud color).

Pics to come soon.

How does it drive ? 5/6 speed or auto ?

You going to do anything to it ?





C280Sportster

[scottschoe]

i didn't consider a new C-class because it was a little too $$$ (now that i see how much I paid for the IS300, maybe i should have considered the C). although I do like the styling of the C, it's just not the car for me; I'd go mod crazy trying to fix it up.
Parents said the car had to be new, so my dreams of an e36 m3 were cut short.

it's an automatic with that fingertip shifting thing (eshift?). the car is very very slow compared to what else is out there, so i don't want to burn money on performance. my first plan was to upgrade headlights to HID, but since the car already has em, I'm probably going to do:

-tint
-sidemarkers
-try to do something about that huge antenna
-new shifter thingy
-try to smoke the tail lights (tentative)

I was first saving up for a bodykit, but seeing as how this car barely gets up my driveway (angled) as it is, I don't want to spend on a kit that will tear away as soon as I go home.

there's not much else i really see that needs to be done immediately; i want to keep the rims for now just b/c they're the most obvious indicator of the sportdesign package.

anyone have some ideas on what else I can do to the car? (mods)

[So.Cal_Benzo]

Here's what i think you should do:
Debadge
Lower it
Get smaller antenna
Get an Altezza grill
Get the tailights with the black chrome

Later on:
HKS exhaust
Wheels
...???

[krk230]

Originally posted by scottschoe
anyone have some ideas on what else I can do to the car? (mods)

how is this for an idea? :D

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid67/p78f31fb492943cfe9edf5b2633eea3c7/fbd0a3d7.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid67/pb1c22caf65e448587d56b82efdda343a/fbd0a3d2.jpg

...now that's hard-@$$ ;)

[HaFaMaCa]

Not bad. When you get a chance, can you take some interior pics. I've never been in an IS and im curious what the inside is like.

[Rocky]

The G35 is a great car for the money. Electronic braking (found on the MB SL's), 280hp, 6 speed manual, brembo brakes, underbody aerodynamic kit, AWD (end of year). It's the skyline basically..actually it is the skyline. Same block as the 350Z so turbo maybe be easy to retrofit.

The IS is nice, but my friend has one..i find it quit sluggish.

BTW, isn't a new IS300 due for a facelift soon?

[scottschoe]

according to dealer lexus says it will make convertible and other forms of IS next year......with a 10hp upgrade to engine. BUT he says that the update might happen in two years because lexus delays their stuff

i hope the facelift isnt to drastic.....i mean its only been out for what....3 years?

oh well.....all show no go....i love these headlights

[scottschoe]

impressions after driving it for 50 miles: the engine is pretty quiet, and the ride is firm but comfortable. major peeves are that the area above where the driver left arm rests is made of some fabric, and no memory seats (i think). sound system isnt bad, pedals are nice and grippy. some mexican dude already tried to race me on my first drive out :rolleyes:

eshift is very fun....oh another thing about the G35 (coupe) that the shifts were a little uneven (albeit quick). the is300 has more predictable but slower shifts w/ the eshift.

some quick interior shots:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid67/p1e09cee6208eaa1fa0c5febacbd99fbf/fbd08116.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid67/p88455c7fac6164ad8b4fd7c5de7ab7f9/fbd08115.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid67/p7b79330dea323594544531ab86a5e077/fbd0810d.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid67/pc8e4414ee3507014e407f1c5cda2420d/fbd0810f.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid67/p09dec69b853f065ec1e2c68e992201a8/fbd08111.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid67/p97f6a094cfaf499e300ebe76830d55db/fbd0810c.jpg

[C280 JR]

congratulations...the car is defenitively sweet looking...I just love the guages on it...they look so sporty along with the whole car!!

Elvir

[pokerface]

Originally posted by So.Cal_Benzo
Here's what i think you should do:

Get smaller antenna
Get the tailights with the black chrome



from my old jaunts at Is300.net,

ppl there have used VW antennas (shorter) and used body-painted taillamp covers (to block the chrome... ends up looking like the skyline rear)

[So.Cal_Benzo]

Originally posted by scottschoe
i love these headlights
Get eyelids/eyeliner... it makes the front look sportier/aggressive.

Pokerface, my friend got his antenna specifically for the Toyota... errr Lexus. Scott, i could ask him where he got it if u're interested.

[pokerface]

Originally posted by So.Cal_Benzo
Get eyelids/eyeliner... it makes the front look sportier/aggressive.

Pokerface, my friend got his antenna specifically for the Toyota... errr Lexus. Scott, i could ask him where he got it if u're interested.

oh wait i think you're right.. the North american antennas are longer.. I remember now :o

[So.Cal_Benzo]

Yea, the one my friend got for his Toyota is Japanese made. I dunno why they put such a long antenna.. kinda makes it look like a remote control car.:P

[scottschoe]

btw i'm really sorry dial-up'ers for making this a big gallery

hm apparently you can just take the whole antenna thing off (for carwashes and stuff). i'll try taking it off tomorrow and see how it looks....i only listen to cds anyway [[edit: i got bored tonight and unscrewed it. radio reception wasn't affected. woohoo cost me 0 dollars]]

i do like the eyebrow idea....i'll look into it

IS300.net seems like a really hostile place....members seem to flame the hell out of anyone who points out something wrong with the car


http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid67/pbf75035fe162ddc4823ea97c15660088/fbd01687.jpg look at the inner tail-light of a lexus.....pisses me off lol

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid67/p77df821306fcbc8c5e9ba03c55849422/fbd0168a.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid67/pd723332210fe20c0795dfe66e8081710/fbd0168c.jpg 2003 IS300 & 2003 GS430

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid67/p3c92b1f4e0a74f31825ee1420f4eb46a/fbd0168e.jpg yum

[omegabenz]

I really like your car. My brother loves the IS300, he is saving up for one because he is dying to turbo charge one. I think he did a 350Z reciently, lots of room for the turbo in the front. But nothing beats an I6 for turbo potential, with ease of instalation, strength of block, etc.

Nice man, nice.

[scottschoe]

Originally posted by omegabenz
I really like your car. My brother loves the IS300, he is saving up for one because he is dying to turbo charge one. I think he did a 350Z reciently, lots of room for the turbo in the front. But nothing beats an I6 for turbo potential, with ease of instalation, strength of block, etc.

Nice man, nice.

thanks....if ur brother has any questions about the IS down the road just post it and I'll reply as best as I can. oh there's a quirky situation with IS300's in dealerships; used cars often cost MORE than new ones (result of high resale value and dealer's costs to prep a used car).

[pokerface]

Originally posted by So.Cal_Benzo
Yea, the one my friend got for his Toyota is Japanese made. I dunno why they put such a long antenna.. kinda makes it look like a remote control car.:P

lol.. exactly what I was thinking.. I dont really mind the RC look though :o :D

choe, yeah, is300.net is hUgE and flame-happy.:rolleyes: :stupid:

[amg142]

Originally posted by scottschoe

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid67/pbf75035fe162ddc4823ea97c15660088/fbd01687.jpg look at the inner tail-light of a lexus.....pisses me off lol


Congrats on the new car. Just curious, why would you be pissed off at the fact that it says Toyota on the taillight??? It is a toyota and is called an altezza outside the states..:confused: ... BTW my friend just picked up an L-tuned one. Whats the differnance in price between the L-tuned and a sportdesign??? Why didn't you go with the L-tuned, the kit on it is hot..

[holson]

I was with a friend checking out the RX330. I sat and looked around the IS300 (with the same rims as yours) but it was manual. I really liked the feel of the shifter and just the general feel of the interior.

Another friend of mine was going to buy an IS300 ... but he ended up buying an E46 M3 instead :confused:

[scottschoe]

Originally posted by amg142
Congrats on the new car. Just curious, why would you be pissed off at the fact that it says Toyota on the taillight??? It is a toyota and is called an altezza outside the states..:confused: ... BTW my friend just picked up an L-tuned one. Whats the differnance in price between the L-tuned and a sportdesign??? Why didn't you go with the L-tuned, the kit on it is hot..

it was just something that annoyed me at the moment, i know that its a toyota, i just didn't expect to find it written down

L-Tuned's Level 1 Package offers a performance suspension kit that includes shocks, springs and a re-calibrated steering ECU. One of three wheel/tire combinations and special L-Tuned badging, available in chrome or black nickel, are also included. The Level 2 Package is comprised of Level 1 parts plus a body kit and sport muffler for a sportier look. The body kit, made of durable polyurethane, includes side skirts and a unique body-color grille surrounded with a laser-cut mesh insert. The L-Tuned sport muffler is constructed of stainless steel with a polished tip.

This is the Sportdesign (dealer option):
New exterior color (thundercloud metallic)
New 17" wheels (eleven spoke)
New grill
Chrome tailpipe
Blackchrome bagdes
Blackchrome headlights, taillights and foglights
New leather color (ash gray)
Floormats with "IS Sportdesign" logo

I didn't see any L-tuned IS300's on my search for a new car, so I guess they're not easy to find, and are probably more expensive than Sportdesigns because there are more useful mods. A few dealers didn't even know what L-tuned was. Your friend is in the states right? I just searched online and the L IS300's look really aggressive.

[amg142]

He stays in Miami, FL. It was the showroom car

[MB300E87]

congrats on the car man!

[ThreePointsix]

My buddy has had his for 2 years now, logged 50k & it is still solid as new. He has Koni orange on the rear, Eibach's & some powder coated 18"rs. These cars are quiet on the inside! Stiff bodies that are soundproof! They can make you drowsey while driving. Here are some pics......yhea yhea everybody, dont flame me on the rims - its not my car. I wish he had a chrome lip too! People give the car dirty looks b/c they cant figure out why somebody would put those racy wheels on a 'Lexus'. Houston is still stuck in the chrome movement from 4 years ago....bling bling?


IS V8 is rumored to be here by early next year. Either the 430 motor or a smaller ci V8 like 4.0L I heard??

I think dark wheels, the 'black out' emblems you already have & the JDM blacked out headlights/tailights would look awesome!

Go for the 'mad max' beyond thunderdome evil look!
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid60/pb3fe05a778fc9797e9b20476e525c751/fc4fdbea.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid60/pf40f010f3db1f23911d98d0ed0522860/fc4fdbf7.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid60/pe7fbe1cdca537fa49260c114af9cdb08/fc4fdbee.jpg

[mrjones]

Congrats on the new car! :)
...but what's wrong with a long antenna? :dpress:

[AMGDood]

Car looks great...you made a good choice.

make it look like this:

http://www.onlineshowoff.com/images/cars/4075/pass2.jpg

http://www.onlineshowoff.com/images/cars/4075/interior.jpg

its my buddy's car. he's pretty well known at is300.net.

here are more pics of his car
http://www.onlineshowoff.com/index.asp?sec...name=FlatlineIS (http://www.onlineshowoff.com/index.asp?section=profile&username=FlatlineIS)

[scottschoe]

150shot? nutz

as for the blackened wheels, it's hard to find a pair that will look good on the car, 3.6 your bud's wheels are a little too thin for my liking.

need to get the tint done; #1 priority. already did a layer of wax so its smoooooth.

[scottschoe]

Originally posted by mrjones
Congrats on the new car! :)
...but what's wrong with a long antenna? :dpress:

i unscrewed the antenna so now it's just the black base, kind of looks like a sharkfin. my cousin says he will pick up a shorty antenna for me on his way down to Irvine from a specialty shop (and hopefully i won't have to pay). or i could just jack one from an s2000......:eek:

[Ozzie Bob]

Unlike other people, I'm going to say.............

CONGRATULATIONS! :D :cool: Some Benzes are not all they are cracked up to be! I should know! :(

Have fun with your new Lexus, I'm sure as hell having fun with my new HSV! :D ;)

[scottschoe]

thanks Oz; i know a lot of people rag on the IS b/c it's slow/ricey/non-benz, but i like the car

but i still drive the 420SEL too! :D

[yal]

The thing I like about this car is you don't have to do anything major to the IS. The suspension is perfect right out the box, drop and all:) On top of that you get Toyota reliability and a Lexus quiet cabin. This is one of the cars on my list when I start looking for a car.
I would have got the six speed though....wasn't there a rumour about the automatics slipping?

[scottschoe]

i thought the slipping problem was an issue for the auto 2001's.....but hey any excuse to get a loaner right? :)

[vader13]

congrats, I really like the TRD body styling for aftermarket IS300.
As far as getting a C..You will pretty much destroy any new C in the Lex. I should know..I got spanked all da time by IS300's in my C240 and the 320 might be a challange, but they are around 40 K.
The IS300 is around 32, so for the money a great car.