No direction IS200 'project'
No direction IS200 'project'
I usually roll round in this low-ass e36 convertible:
![[Image: aqe9e2yd.jpg]](http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/08/25/aqe9e2yd.jpg)
With winter approaching I knew I'd have to raise it up and stick my other wheels on to avoid salt damage. Being a lazy sod I thought it'd be easier to get a winter hack and flog it on come spring. Initially I was after a mk5 fiesta zetec s as I knew I could sell it on really easily. I started having second thoughts though as I hate small cars and manuals suck in day to day traffic. Having a mooch on autotrader I set a budget and suddenly realised I could get an IS200.
Now, here's the kicker - I really, really dislike jap cars! Don't know why, never owned one before, just always have. I thought, sod it, it's only for winter and went to have a look. Some cash changed hands and I ended up with this:
![[Image: seranete.jpg]](http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/08/25/seranete.jpg)
It's not in bad nick for a 15 year old car, few dents and about a million scratches, lol! I got it home and immediately had to put a new battery on it as the one it had was old and been left flat for a while so wouldn't charge. The remote central locking didn't work and I had to replace a few bulbs.
2 days later I got the locking working for a massive £2.19. 2 batteries changed and a door dance for 1 key and it was working again.
This weekend I put a new drivers door check strap on as the old one was broken and did the skyline rear light mod.
https://vimeo.com/104254310
Then something shocking happened (well for me at least!)
I realised I actually quite like my IS! So I set about making it look a bit more presentable. I gave it a was and clay barred it (worst I've ever seen the clay go). Weather permitting it will get a polish and seal tomorrow. But for now it's not looking too bad:
![[Image: 9ysajyty.jpg]](http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/08/25/9ysajyty.jpg)
![[Image: myhapajy.jpg]](http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/08/25/myhapajy.jpg)
So, where is this project heading? Who knows?! I've got lots of general maintenance to get on top of and then we shall see.
Has my opinion of jap cars changed? Well, let's just say I'm already eyeing up an IS300.
Ok, so I'm not even sure this is a project!
I usually roll round in this low-ass e36 convertible:
With winter approaching I knew I'd have to raise it up and stick my other wheels on to avoid salt damage. Being a lazy sod I thought it'd be easier to get a winter hack and flog it on come spring. Initially I was after a mk5 fiesta zetec s as I knew I could sell it on really easily. I started having second thoughts though as I hate small cars and manuals suck in day to day traffic. Having a mooch on autotrader I set a budget and suddenly realised I could get an IS200.
Now, here's the kicker - I really, really dislike jap cars! Don't know why, never owned one before, just always have. I thought, sod it, it's only for winter and went to have a look. Some cash changed hands and I ended up with this:
It's not in bad nick for a 15 year old car, few dents and about a million scratches, lol! I got it home and immediately had to put a new battery on it as the one it had was old and been left flat for a while so wouldn't charge. The remote central locking didn't work and I had to replace a few bulbs.
2 days later I got the locking working for a massive £2.19. 2 batteries changed and a door dance for 1 key and it was working again.
This weekend I put a new drivers door check strap on as the old one was broken and did the skyline rear light mod.
https://vimeo.com/104254310
Then something shocking happened (well for me at least!)
I realised I actually quite like my IS! So I set about making it look a bit more presentable. I gave it a was and clay barred it (worst I've ever seen the clay go). Weather permitting it will get a polish and seal tomorrow. But for now it's not looking too bad:
So, where is this project heading? Who knows?! I've got lots of general maintenance to get on top of and then we shall see.
Has my opinion of jap cars changed? Well, let's just say I'm already eyeing up an IS300.
Looks good for an old girl but sure she will come up lookimg sweet after a good detail.
Well ur in the right place for ideas thats for sure
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk
![[Image: FB_IMG_1474048273787_zpsnbfq6a3s.jpg]](http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee440/davis5835/Mobile%20Uploads/FB_IMG_1474048273787_zpsnbfq6a3s.jpg)
To be fair mate im shocked u didnt look at jap before, just better cars for the money esp on the second hand market u get alot more for ur money.
Looks good for an old girl but sure she will come up lookimg sweet after a good detail.
Well ur in the right place for ideas thats for sure
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Lexuspat To be fair mate im shocked u didnt look at jap before, just better cars for the money esp on the second hand market u get alot more for ur money.
Looks good for an old girl but sure she will come up lookimg sweet after a good detail.
Well ur in the right place for ideas thats for sure
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk
Can't agree with you more Pat... Bang for Buck you wont beat the performance looks and reliability of Jap cars.
Lexuspat To be fair mate im shocked u didnt look at jap before, just better cars for the money esp on the second hand market u get alot more for ur money.
Looks good for an old girl but sure she will come up lookimg sweet after a good detail.
Well ur in the right place for ideas thats for sure
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk
Can't agree with you more Pat... Bang for Buck you wont beat the performance looks and reliability of Jap cars.
I've had german cars for about the last 10 years, super reliable, great handling and performance - just love them! Reliability I guess time will tell, but performance of it is comical, it's the slowest car I've had for ages, lol! That said the build quality isn't bad and it's pretty good on the road. It's certainly sparked my interest.
ZAIS200 Can't agree with you more Pat... Bang for Buck you wont beat the performance looks and reliability of Jap cars.
I disagree with this. BMW's are routinely more powerful and more economical for a similar price bracket to the equivalent Lexus, with very little difference in reliability. Jap cars are fantastic, but I'm in it for the love of Jap cars. They feel different, particularly now that (particularly Lexus) have moved on to hybrid cars.
This isn't the 90's any more.
el_bandido
14-07-2021, 04:55 AM #5ZAIS200 Can't agree with you more Pat... Bang for Buck you wont beat the performance looks and reliability of Jap cars.
I disagree with this. BMW's are routinely more powerful and more economical for a similar price bracket to the equivalent Lexus, with very little difference in reliability. Jap cars are fantastic, but I'm in it for the love of Jap cars. They feel different, particularly now that (particularly Lexus) have moved on to hybrid cars.
This isn't the 90's any more.
Yes bmw have more power but the people round here who own them spend more time parked behind a cop car as I drive past lol
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From my view I see my friends buying cars around the 5k mark and have nothing on them most looking at audi and bmw dont even have leather, for that money I could buy a IS300 with full leather, Cruise control climate pack and an amazing sound system with heated and elec seats just better value for money in my eyes.
Yes bmw have more power but the people round here who own them spend more time parked behind a cop car as I drive past lol
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Hmm, I paid £5k (trade) for my e39 3 years ago. That had nav, cruise, full electric sports leather. Paid £3k for my other halfs 52 plate 325i sport with Harmon Kardon sound system, again full sports leather. At the risk of being unpopular I don't think you can class the IS as a prestige car. You can't rebadge a toyota and then expect it to run with the big boys. It does make them ****** good value though.
el_bandido
14-07-2021, 06:08 AM #8The 1st gen IS is definitely entry level, I'd say the new ones are prestige.
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Before I got my IS I was looking at Audi A4 as a normal family car but wanted all the bits, I didnt find one under 6k with all the toys must just be my experience but thats why after the first few cars I owned I went to jap and so far had a civic, civic coupe, a mazda a celica and 2 IS's was looking at the later IS250 but now being charged im happy with where I am
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