Suspension Upgrade + LC500! (Part 1)

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!

Nothing special about these cars other than the new car smell...

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.

"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!

Trust me, looks WAY better in person!

Hard to tell with the black leather, but the interior is ALL leather...and GORGEOUS!

Nice little touch there

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...)

First "Performance" Mod!

So even before I took delivery of the ISF, I started thinking about how different this car was going to be from my GT-R. Smooth, refined, and... quiet?

I kept hearing about how the car was quiet enough that you often surprise yourself at how fast you are going.  Perhaps that's why I've never gotten a speeding ticket in my GT-R? The anonymous silver color that hides the car in traffic, coupled with the excessive noise which makes me painfully aware of how fast I'm going?  In any case, I realized that driving a very BLUE car, and a quiet (to me) one, increases my chances of getting a speeding ticket.

In Japan, not only do the police engage in catching speeders (using speed traps, undercover cars and highway patrol motorcycles), but there are also the photo-radar machines, both permanent and moving-type, called "ORBIS."  I don't see many black and whites doing speeding duty, and just like back home in the US, undercover cars are painfully obvious if one is paying proper attention when driving.  The white motorcycle "shiro-bikes" are probably the most deadly, however I have been lucky enough to avoid having to deal with them. (Knock on wood!).

Here are some examples of these ORBIS machines, just in case you find yourself driving in Japan:

"H" system type ORBIS. From https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/自動速度違反取締装置

Example of speed camera (ORBIS) commonly found in the Tokyo Metropolitan area (i.e. Wangan).
From: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/自動速度違反取締装置

"LH" system ORBIS example: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/自動速度違反取締装置

In all fairness, the government DOES warn you when you enter an area where these ORBIS machines are set up:

Admittedly these signs are relatively easy to miss...
From https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/自動速度違反取締装置

On my GT-R, my aftermarket Navi has all of these ORBIS locations programmed in (and updated annually).  And warns me very annoyingly when I am fast approaching one. While sometimes you can't avoid the cops, a stationary radar machine can certainly be avoided.  Unfortunately, I found out that the OEM Navi in the Lexus, however, does NOT have such a warning feature. So at minimum, I would need some method to let me know where these ORBIS are.

This meant the purchase of a JDM radar detector, as I'm not about to replace the OEM Navi (which in true Lexus fashion has some pretty impressive features).  Although I did some research, I could not definitively determine whether or not the radar systems used here operate on the same frequency as in the US (I really like the Valentine unit).  So, I decided that I would stick to one of the 3 main manufacturers of detectors here: Cellstar, Yupiteru, and Comtec.

Market competition has ensured that all of these radar detector products have the same features - GPS positioning, TFT LCD screens that display maps in a very navi-like way (showing exactly where the speed traps are), ability to upload new maps, compact size, OBDII connectivity, etc.  I had done the research online and it appears that the actual radar-detection performance is pretty much the same. So it then became a matter of figuring out which unit had the optional stuff that best fit in with my needs.

For example, I wanted to be able to upload new maps by Wi-Fi (or via iPhone).  Some of the units require the user to take out, from the unit, the micro SD card, plug into a PC and then download new maps.  I also wanted FREE updates, and some charged per update. So I eliminated those types.  I also wanted something that could mount on a visor, but these all would end up with their physical buttons upside down (the screen would flip but not the labels on the physical buttons) which of course would drive me crazy.  I also wanted one with the ability to mount on the dash but without causing permanent damage, whether in the form of holes or double sided tape.

I ended up choosing this model from Cellstar: The Assura AR-282GA (you can check out the videos they have there).  Despite the unfortunate name, (they were probably trying to modify the word, "Assurance"?...) it has some pretty nifty features:
- pre-installed 125,000+ GPS points (includes restaurants, gas stations, etc.)
- pre-installed 41,000+ known speed traps (including ORBIS)
- free WiFi map updates
- OBDII linkage to provide over 180 engine data points
- 3.7inch WVGA screen
- connectivity to a driver recorder (dash cam)
- use of a "gel mat" to mount on the dashboard
- and yes, made in Japan (vs others which are made elsewhere...hey gotta support the local economy!)

So the Friday before I was to pick up the car (yes, I wrote this post a long time ago but forgot to publish it!!), I went ahead and ordered it, and (thanks to Japan's amazing package courier system) it arrived the next morning!

I ordered the optional OBDII cable because I knew that the ISF was a non-smoker's car (so the center console cigarette lighter was deleted), and was worried about the 12V outlet in the armrest being too far away - plus might not the cord (extending to the center console) get messy?

I first had to locate where the OBDII plug was - which was under the steering wheel (I borrowed this photo, as I forgot to take a photo)

From: http://minkara.carview.co.jp/en/userid/917564/blog/28163144/ 

Then mounted according to the instructions - not too close to the windshield, and hopefully at an angle where the GPS and radar can still be detected.  Cellstar kindly provides a type of "sticky pad" which allows you to mount it without permanent damage to the dashboard... when it loses its stickiness you just wash it and it revitalizes.

However, it failed to turn on via the OBDII port (I have to figure out why still), so I eventually resorted to plugging the unit into the cigarette lighter plug in the center armrest.

Also, yes there is another unit I was interested in, which hooks directly into the OEM Navi, but I have another reason for picking this particular model... which I'll post in a future post.  In the meantime I'm counting on this Assura unit to keep me ticket free.

My impressions? Well the unit certainly does give you plenty of warning of EVERYTHING that could possibly come at you. Not just these ORBIS things, but it warns me when there is a Koban (police box) nearby, or a marked police car (it doesn't work with undercover cars, as I soon learned... that's a story for another post...). It also warns when you enter a zone where police are known to set up speed or other types of moving violation traps.  In short, it's almost TOO noisy...and because it IS too noisy sometimes I have the stereo turned up and sometimes I don't hear all the warnings...

In any case, the psychological effect of having this is nice. Although the reality is, if you pay close attention and don't drive like a maniac here in Japan, then you shouldn't get in trouble with the law. Hopefully. Stay tuned....

Disappointment... in the Lack Of Tuning Parts!?

So coming from the GT-R world, where there are plenty of magzines and "Mooks" (Magazine+ Book) which are literally catalogs of tuning parts available for the GT-Rs, I've been searching for something similar for the IS-F.

Something like this:

I see these for the Civics, RX-7s, GT-Rs, even Toyota Crowns and
Celsiors (=LS400) and Altezzas (IS200)... but NOT the ISF

It turns out that, as Lexus has only been in Japan for the last 10 years, when they did begin selling them the two "new" models were the IS and the GS, which were clumped together in a lot of the Japanese press.  So I finally found this:

FYI, the LS was already sold as a Toyota (the "Celsior") and the SC was sold as the "Soarer" and even the previous IS was sold domestically as the "Altezza."

In any case, I eagerly ordered the Mook (from a used bookstore) hoping to find some cool parts I hadn't come across before on the Internet.  Strangely, no matter how hard I looked, I also could not find a "Volume 2".... ok this is not a good sign...

It arrived nicely wrapped not just in clear plastic, but also this protective foam:

I eagerly opened it up, only to find:

ARGH! My eyes!!!

What kind of junk is this? And then I really wasn't expecting anything IS-F related, but then:

Sorry, but what IDIOT would run around with these heavy cast wheels?

The other wheels they had weren't much better either, at least for me:

Yeah not for me.

It's really strange - with the RB26 GT-Rs, it was almost required to change out the wheels to something more aggressive, fatter, and bigger.  With the IS-F, I think the OEM BBS designs are all great, even though I have yet to see the versions other than the ones on my car now.

In any case, it means that, other than OEM items, I will have to rely on these shops for cool aftermarket parts, at least here in Japan.

Let me know please if there are others outside Japan I should know about!!

Meanwhile, I guess maybe they didn't make enough numbers of the IS Fs to make it worthwhile to publish more dedicated magazines and books? Although this really was Lexus' first supercar...?

Closing the Deal - Part 1

So after I personally inspected the car which was at another Lexus dealership, found it to be acceptable (but having drawn up a mental list of things that I will need to have taken care of), I immediately went back to my local Lexus dealership to finalize the paperwork.

Well hello again, Mr. RCF. Still not sold??

This wasn't a hassle, but the salesman told me to expect a wait, as the car was currently in Toyota Saitama's inventory and had to be transferred to Toyota Kanagawa's.  This would take a maximum of a couple of weeks, which was not a problem.  I signed some papers, put down a deposit, and now just had to sit back and wait.

The bigger problem for me was, clearing out my garage.  In Japan, a person cannot buy a car until he provides proof of an adequately sized parking space, for that car.  Proof means that a police officer from the local precinct comes by and actually physically measures the parking spot.  After that, he forwards the approval document ("shako shomei") to the car dealer who will need it to register the car.

Makes sense in a country where everything is crowded together and space is at a premium.  Luckily for me I live in a house with two garages, the only problem is that until now, I've kept my R33 GT-R in one bay, and used the other bay as my workshop/man cave (and on occasion rent the space out to deserving cars).

From a post on my GT-R Blog.  I know the ISF will fit -
and you can see the shelving that I had to move behind my friend's R34 GT-R

I don't have any photos of what I did, but basically I moved over shelving and sundry items (bicycles, etc.) to the other bay (where the GT-R is) because that bay is wider. And this wasn't as easy as it sounds - I had to operate mainly at night during the week (after I was given notice from the dealer that the police would arriving on a Tuesday), after the family and the neighborhood was asleep, and box things up, etc.

As if that wasn't enough, although initially I was NOT going to get a personalized license plate like I did for my GT-R (which has a "33" for obvious reasons), after finding this website on Japanese personalized license plates, I was inspired to get a fun one. (the way it works - numbers in Japanese can have the same pronunciation as other words/characters. A well known one is the number 4, which is pronounced "shi" - which is how the word for "death" is also pronounced. Hence a number to be avoided, usually.)

Because personalized number plates must be ordered ahead of registration, my delay in telling the dealer I wanted one, pushed things back a few days as they had to redo some paperwork. Any guesses as to what I decided on?

A few days later (Thursday after the police inspected the garage) I finally got the email from my local dealer that the car was due to arrive that day from Tokorozawa (Saitama) and that at earliest, the process to register would start the next day (Friday), and that likely I would get the final invoice on Saturday.  However, because payment isn't possible by wire transfer on weekends I would have to wait until the next week - Wednesday - to pay, and the could at earliest pick up the car on the following Thursday.

Next post - payment...but not delivery...

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.