Ok ok so I have been very very bad about posting updates on this car - my excuse is that my free time is spent blogging about my GT-R, and getting used to a new job I started in May. Oh and I was overseas for a few weeks too, back in March.
Excuses aside, after I returned from my trip in March, I decided it was about time I did something about the car's ride. As many know, the early IS-F cars were criticized for having a harsh ride, while some people claimed they got used to it, or that it was the price to pay for the sporty nature of the car.
The problem for me was, I did not want to purchase another set of
Ohlins like I have on the GT-R - which as a result was driving more smoothly and more comfortably than the Lexus! But, while the Ohlins DFVs are superb, they require rebuilding every 2 years or 20,000kms. For a durable car like the Lexus (i.e. Toyota), this was not going to work.
Further, as some of you remember, I been given use of a
GS-F as a loaner - and I loved the way that car rode. Some asking around revealed that the GS-F uses dampers made by Sachs. Then, I read on the
ClubLexus forum that someone had replaced their 2008 IS-F OEM shocks with those from a 2012 IS-F, which also happen to be made by Sachs!
So I knew a swap could be done, and further, these parts were OEM and thus not as expensive as aftermarket Ohlins! And no need to rebuild! So win-win...
My dealer agreed to do the swap, but told me they could not extend the car's warranty to the shocks, only the warranty for the shock itself would be available. Not a big deal. So I went ahead and ordered, and a few weeks later got the call!
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| Nothing special about these cars other than the new car smell... |
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| Lexus hospitality can't be beat! |
While the mechanics worked to install the suspension, the dealer decided to give me taste of what to expect.
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| "Go have fun!" they said! |
Unfortunately, it was all for nothing. Because a few hours later the dealer called and told me that they had only ordered the shocks and NOT the springs! Oh and something called a bump stop needed to be ordered as well.
Obviously, being the first to try something in Japan means that you have be very patient. Or, have a sense a humor about the situation, or both.
In any case, I returned to the dealer somewhat disappointed, but then soon forgot about it as I spotted this car, one of the first ones in Japan!
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| Trust me, looks WAY better in person! |
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| Hard to tell with the black leather, but the interior is ALL leather...and GORGEOUS! |
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| Nice little touch there |
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| My advisor was particularly proud of this touch - the 3-D effect LED taillamps! Hmm, maybe an idea for the GT-R? Lol. |
So this initial visit wasn't a total loss - I got to see the new LC500 (and got a free car wash. Oh and got to drive the GS-F around all day...)
