Diamond White Pearl is the name of a paint color for the Lexus IS300. Sounds pretty fancy, huh? For the late ’90s/early 2000s, the sport sedan was. It offered straight-six power, rear-wheel drive, attractive styling, and an unusual interior in a class dominated by the BMW 3 Series.
Think of that as a plain gold band, though.
Think of forum member Jordan_Inc‘s Diamond White Pearl 2001 IS300 as a ring with some sparkle to it – but not too much. Picture Tiffany diamonds, not the bling on a Super Bowl ring.
Jordan_Inc has a list of mods on his car, such as 20-mm-wider vented front fenders, a slammed ride height, a 360-degree body kit, and powder-coated 19-inch wheels, that’s just long enough to make his Lexus look tuned and tweaked, but not tasteless. The changes to his exhaust system are multi-faceted and include a Joe-Z intake pipe, a carbon-Ti axle-back exhaust, and a custom 2.5-inch midpipe.
The pictures of Jordan_Inc‘s ride are just as glitzy as the results of his work. Check them out on the forum by clicking the link below.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
Where do you go for answers when you have a Lexus with a gorgeous leather interior but are not sure about how to maintain that luxurious look? The "Club Lexus" forums, of course.
