And So The Search Begins

After having seen an IS F first hand courtesy of my friend Mikku, I decided to, while continuing to search for an e39 M5 or C5 RS6 Avant, check out what was out there in the IS F used car market.

Using CarSensor and Goo-Net, two well known Japanese internet used car sites, I gradually became familiar with the IS F, but quickly realized there was a difference between early versions ("zenki") and later versions ("kohki"), post-facelift.  That is, I saw that the 2011 and later versions had the single large tach and the LED daylight running lamps (and apparently there were revisions to the suspension too). And there were also differing options and trim.

I also realized that, even used, the retail used car prices of these cars, even the early models, was more than twice what I had budgeted for the M5 or RS6 (at wholesale auction).

So, I then started searching for cars online at auction, courtesy of Pacific Coast Auto Imports.  I figured having met and gotten to know Derek Weldon, the owner of Pacific Coast, and knowing he was a really nice guy, that he would help me find what I want. The pricing at auction seemed much more reasonable too.

The only problem with auction sales is, the pictures are fuzzy and the descriptions aren't always accurate.  I wouldn't know until the last minute, via a report from an inspector shortly before the auction, what options the car had and its condition.  Because this car would be used as family transport, I wanted all the safety options, as well as those that made driving the car easier (as I am anticipating the wife will be driving it too).  In particular, this meant the parking sensors on both the front and rear bumpers, as well as the radar cruise control feature.

Check out the following three photos (all from the Pacific Coast Auto Imports website).

Here is a typical photo. Can barely make out the bumper sensors

This is readable - unfortunately it does not go into much detail about the options

For me, the chance to finally own and be able to drive a (relatively) quiet car (vs my GT-R) meant I wanted a good stereo, so naturally I was interested in a car with the optional Mark Levinson system.  It didn't help that my motor journalist friend Dino Dalle Carbonare had given me a short ride in a press RC F car, where we were able to enjoy how that system sounded.

At auction however, cars equipped with the Mark Levinson system were rare, and then when optioned that way, most did not have the bumper sensors (or another option like the moonroof).

Sometimes the data sheet doesn't list the ML stereo. All cars in Japan have the Navi screen so from photos one has to find the "Mark Levinson" script to double check.  Also this car does NOT have the optional silver weave on the center console.

So, just when I was ready to settle in for a long search, I stumbled upon Lexus' own CPO (Certified Pre-Owned) website.  And there, I found it - a production date September 2009 (so 2010 model) car with not just every single factory option, but apparently almost every single dealer option as well!

My next blog post will describe in detail the car and the options it had.

Prelude: I Need A Second Car

So for those of you who have read my original blog featuring my adventures with my 1997 Nissan Skyline R33 GT-R, the contents of this blog will not be a surprise to you. However because I don't plan to do too much in terms of modifications (famous last words...??), this blog may actually disappoint those who are expecting to follow me on a full-on car modification project.

Original photo is here, please like it if you haven't already:
 https://instagram.com/p/4eJNQ4rN_2/?taken-by=speedhunters_dino

Obviously I love cars, and (perhaps reflecting my overall personality) when I get caught up in a topic/problem, I tend to research obsessively, to the point where I can justify to myself that I have reached a reasoned and well thought out answer/solution.  With my GT-R, my blog showed my "adventures" as I gradually (and still continue to), add certain bits to "modernize" my GT-R, as well as discover unknown trivia (usually from Japanese sources) along the way.

But when you have a growing family, a GT-R as your only car is limiting (in Japan, even having ONE car in a metropolitan area is a luxury, and most people do with just one...). The ride is too firm, the exhaust too loud, and more importantly, the car lacks the safety features found in more modern cars - like curtain/side airbags, US/EU standard structural crashworthiness, etc.

So now it's time I purchase a second car, not for me (right...) but for the family. Something with FOUR doors (accessing a child seat in the back is not fun in a coupe), safe (or at least, safer than the GT-R which I discovered has minimal (no) side impact protection, at least for the rear seats), with high reliability, decent gas mileage, and preferably, an automatic transmission.

Obviously from the title of this blog you know what I ended up with, but this was actually not my first choice.

I actually wanted something German because of their known high safety standards and superlative driving characteristics, and something which I could keep for a long, long time.  Something which would end up or already is a classic.  Yet modern enough so it would be safe and reliable.  So I began to check out used car listings here in Japan, and then stumbled upon a car which I had vowed one day to own when I saw one driving down the street, when I was walking to work as a freshly minted lawyer struggling to survive in San Francisco - the mighty BMW E39 M5!

From: http://fastestlaps.com/cars/bmw_m5_e39.html

Classic (before Bangle) styling, gorgeous wheels, 6 speed manual, and 400 hp V8 engine. One of the best, if not THE best, sedans BMW has ever made. And check out this no nonsense interior:

From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_M5

I quickly realized however, with constant checking of used car listings, that I needed to study up on the differences. There seemed to be at least two different kinds of seats patterns, various colors, and different instrument panels, center consoles and steering wheels.  I ordered some books, read a lot of articles online, and found the very excellent www.e39source.com, which, with its accompanying youTube page, quickly educated me on the e39 M5, and thus, what I wanted.  All of the articles I read also had nothing but good things to say, which got me even more excited.

Unfortunately for me, finding what I wanted turned out to be quite difficult - only 200 some odd examples were imported into Japan, of which it appears less than half were what I wanted - the 2001-2003 post minor facelift model.  In early June I finally did find a nicely spec'd 2000 model at auction courtesy of my friend Miguel of Newera Imports, but unfortunately was outbid, mainly due to my inexperience.

Normally I would have the patience to wait until another came my way (whether at auction or via an internet listing), but due to a sudden change in my professional circumstances (it's complicated but basically I need a tax-write off) I found myself having to find and own a car, soon, preferably by July or early August of this year.

I then began researching the Audi RS series Avants - RS4 and RS6 - and with my desire for an automatic car (mainly so the wife could drive) settled on finding an RS6 Avant.

Yes, this is a station wagon!
From: http://sa7.1-themes.com/audi-s6-avant-4-2-quattro.php

These were less of a unicorn than the e39, but I had heard that they were not as reliable as the BMW, and repairs were expensive. On the other hand, they were never sold in the US (which satisfies my rule of not getting anything I could drive back home), and their gorgeous interiors and full time four wheel drive certainly were attractive. Oh, and Paul Walker had one.  The real reason I wanted an RS series car, of course, is that these cars represent the best that Audi offered in performance (450ps from a 4.2 liter biturbo V-8!! Oh and the torque!), and further, compared to lesser Audis, promised more residual value even as they age - like the older BMW M cars (e30, e34s).  Plus, the utility of a station wagon would be nice.

Wow look at that space! And the RECARO seats are nice too! (Yes,I know this is a sedan... I would assume the rear legroom in the wagon is the same)  From: http://www.audiaddict.net/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=2278

BUT - just when I was ready to begin serious inquiries on a silver M5 I found on one of the Japanese used car websites (although I had vowed to never buy another silver car, as my GT-R is silver), along with some decent C5 RS6 Avants I had also found, my friend Mikku showed his car to me after a social get together (so June 27 2015 will be the day I first actually saw an ISF close up in person!).  A very blue 2008 Lexus ISF, fully loaded.

That BLUE color is so IN YOUR FACE!

To be honest, I wasn't immediately smitten (it's a Toyota (= boring?), after all). It also appeared that the rear seating area had LESS space than even my GT-R! And what, no middle rear seat? How are we going to haul around grandma when she visits? Not good.

But I began researching it anyway. And the more I did, the more interesting the car became.

I mean, things started making sense, consider:
- it was built for the NA and EU markets.  So it had to be designed to face and pass world class crash tests.  Japan tests cars too, but somehow the US and Euro NCAP tests seem to be the most demanding (click here to see the regulations compared)?  Lots of airbags (non-Takata!) are a very good thing too.

- it's a Toyota. It's not going to have mechanical or electrical issues down the road like a German car, or even in fact like other Japanese brands. Even high mileage shouldn't be an issue. And even if it does break, parts are available locally, meaning there should not be as much down time, and likely the parts are cheaper too.

- it's a Lexus. Looks luxurious on the inside and reviews suggested it was quiet. Build quality is higher than other Toyotas.  And compared to Infiniti, BMW, and Mercedes, etc.,  of course the Lexus build quality is higher.  Plus, the world famous Lexus dealer service!

- over 400 horsepower. Blame the M5 and RS6 for setting my expectations high. Further, those cars I wanted were one generation older, circa 2000-2004, so a newer car should be better in all aspects.

- crazy 8 speed automatic that shifts in sport mode in 0.1 seconds? Faster than some dual clutch transmissions? Hmm, very interesting. Did I mention it's an automatic, so no issues driving in heavy traffic, as well as no excuses by my wife NOT to drive?

- better gas mileage and emissions than my GT-R. (Ok, that is an easy one).

- the local Lexus dealership is less than 1.5 km from where I live. So if any troubles I could literally walk over in a few minutes to get help.

So on paper, things were looking good.  Granted, it didn't have the visual impact that the BMW has (and continues to have for me), nor is it a useful wagon like the RS6.  In fact it has that weird bulky hood, and those fake tailpipes...

In my next post, I'll review what I found and why I decided on my particular car.