A Short Trip Up To Nagano... and the Prince & Skyline Museum

...and the Prince & Skyline Museum!

I'll post more on the museum itself on my R33 GT-R page later, but wanted to include some photos that just came out right!

Yamanashi and Nagano Prefectures are VERY green this time of year, and with a bit of rainfall the scenery was even more interesting (check out the clouds) and pretty.  Bonus was all the fresh air...

Found a neat bridge with red railings. Had to stop and take some photos! 

Found a look out point a few kms later...

Here was the view... the kind of green I don't see in Yokohama!

Another nice bridge

Still think the carbon lip really balances the car...

Towards the end of the day, found this road...

Had some fun on a gravel road....

Got out to check it out and what a great picture here

Of course this will need a wash....

 Anyway it's been a while since I drove this car so much (over 450km in one day) and this blog also needed an update.

Until next time...

USRS by RR Racing!

So as I mentioned in a previous post, I took the opportunity while the car was at BeAmbitious to get something amazing installed.  Well, it got amazing reviews anyway.  After owning and driving my car for a bit over a year, and getting used to it, there are a few things that are annoying me and so I've decided, must go.

So what is this amazing p It's the crazily named "RR Racing Ultimate Steering Response System" or "USRS" for short, which actually is a properly engineered lower control arm bushing.  No doubt you've seen the photos from their website (the three that follow):

Also, they have a video which explains, and actually shows in split screen, the difference between the stock bushing and the USRS.

So putting aside all of this propaganda, as well as the numerous and overwhelmingly positive reviews on the Lexus forums - how was it for me?

Well, I immediately noticed that the steering was tight, and not as light. So the steering didn't feel as numb as before, although this translates into only slightly better road feel. But, I feel like the steering is much more accurate.

Also, I didn't realize this until I re-road the forum reviews, but yes braking stability has improved dramatically. Even at relatively low speeds, the car is stable, and the brakes feel more effective. So yes, this was definitely a good mod.

I just wish there was a way to improve the actual FEEL of the steering. And, as I learned from test driving a GS-F recently (see, previous post), I need to do something with the E-accelerator...

GS-F versus IS-F

So when I had the IS-F at the dealer for its biannual shaken, they surprised me by giving me a very special loaner car for the day - this beautiful black pearl GS-F!!

Nice number plate. As if the driver would forget...

As I had a few chores to run, well, why not use this GS-F? So I promptly got on the expressway towards Tokyo, and onto Kanpachi Dori.

This Aston turned some heads. Not me, though, in this stealthy black Lexus...

My destination being, my usual Nissan dealership. I had to pick up some parts for a project I am doing on the GT-R.

This car looks SO much more powerful and aggressive than any Nissan sedan they had there.

Parts picked up, I stopped by Dino's to see what he thought. He had praise for the looks, but again, failed to be impressed by the ride and the transmission. Of course, German cars are better he said.

Fits nicely in his driveway though.

Me, I loved everything about the car. I thought the IS-F had plenty of gadgets, but in between the heads up display and 4 different speedometer modes, I thought the GS-F was very nice.  The ride is MUCH better than the IS-F, and frankly, the car doesn't feel any slower despite the weight gain.  In fact, it felt just as nimble, likely due to better body rigidity.

And since I haven't driven the more expensive M series BMWs Dino uses as his benchmark... well, for me this could be the one. Toyota quality, even though it costs more here in Japan than back home in the USA.

It fit nicely in my garage, too!

Alas, it was soon time to pick up the IS-F.

Side-by-side, the GS-F looks much more modern. Of course, it IS!

My overall verdict is, a logical next step after the IS-F. Actually, the natural evolution of how a new IS-F based on the current model might be.  Except, getting back in the IS-F, I could immediately sense how much smaller and nimble the car felt. Not quite as refined as the GS-F for sure, as it lacks the leather and Alcantara the GS-F has, along with all the gadgets. Problem in Japan is, these are $120,000 cars!  So that will have to change before I buy one. 

Meanwhile, what can I do to further improve the IS-F to be more like this...

New IS200t Loaner!

So after the car's 6 month inspection, I decided to order a few parts to begin the process of improving the car. Just some minor tweaks. Yes, famous last words.

Anyway, because the car was kept overnight they offered me the use of a loaner car - in this case the new IS200t - four cylinder with single double scroll turbo (I think that is what Dino said, anyway).

The white one next to my car, with number plate 200, is the IS200T they lent me.

Since I'm not a motorjournalist, I won't bother with all the photos of the exterior and interior, etc. Just a few thoughts on the car itself compared to the ISF.

First, the car felt shorter than it really is. When I parked the car at home, I discovered that it barely fit in the garage, putting the rear wheels against the same bump stop as the ISF. I read somewhere that Toyota had engineered the car to be welded in more spots, and that they also used a new type of adhesive, in order to obtain better body rigidity. Makes sense, because my GT-R felt shorter once I had improved its body rigidity too.

Second, the engine I think is only mediocre. A car this class, I think, needs more power. I haven't bothered to check how much horsepower the car has, but at low speeds it is very Lexus like, quiet, but once acceleration happens the engine is working hard. Too hard, maybe? Still quiet but not the effortless power the ISF has.

Third, even in Sport+ mode I was not happy with how the car felt. Still overpowered and too light, although I think the suspension does a good job of a decent ride. Brakes were strong though.

Fourth, interior - I do like the new LFA inspired OLED gauges, but I think I still prefer 2 stand alone tach and speed gauges. Keep it simple.  The seats were too soft even after 5 minutes, too.

Fifth, exterior - I do like the way it looks. I do like the modern aero touches that probably came from the LFA, like this A-pillar "fin"... I think I saw something offered for the ISF which I will have to get eventually.

I like the way the front of the car looks. The rear, looks like it wasn't quite finished.  I found this, and if Lexus had offered an ISF based on the new platform and it looked like this, I may have gotten it.

why didn't Toyota offer the ISF in this new model?

Rear looks awesome!

Close up. See, that looks great!

In any case, in my next posts I'll show you what I got, and my impressions. Hint, one IS a TRD part...

GS-F Test Drive!

So when I dropped off my IS-F for its 6 month inspection, I took a quick look at the following cars:

The interior looked cheap. Same materials as used in the IS-F? Expected better from a GS!

The look is growing on me. Still think the rear quarter is weird though.

Turbo model! Curious to see how this drives...

 In any case, the next day I went to pick up the car:

And saw this monstrosity...

 But the highlight was when Ishikawa-san pulled this out of the garage:

Check out that license plate!!

Ok so I'm not as well dressed as Ishikawa-san. But very happy!

Forget to take a photo of the ultra-clear heads up display the car has!

Lots more legroom. Love the color actually!

Bit surprised that a real harness could not be passed through...

Same basic engine means, the car feels slower and less nimble than the IS-F

Looks much better though, I think.

Especially with these LED headlights!

Why they kept the brakes on the IS-F black....

Even from the rear, looks great. Hey, real exhaust pipes!!!

Everything in the car is much more refined than the IS-F, as would be befitting a GS sedan, and the power is fine. Not as urgent as the IS-F, but then again we are hauling around another 400kg I think.

What I was really impressed by was the ride quality - Sachs dampers apparently, the same manufacturer as that which supplied the later model IS-Fs.  I may have to eventually replace the early OEM Tokikos with the later model OEM Sachs in my car.

Meanwhile, I have a couple of mods coming up soon....stay tuned!