princesIS

You know,
Lets say, you have an IS 250 AWD Pearl White and you get a chance to upgrade your car.
and you get choices either :

1) changing the muffler tips about $350 total
or
2) Lower the spring $650
or
3) carbon fibre hood $1000
or
4) brake callipers painting $600 ? (can't do it myself)

what would you do first?
i heard the lowering is the base thing for ppl to do for the first job of upgrading car but,, i m not sure if i just lower it and do nothing about other parts at the same time even when with stock wheels then, it would be kind of...not worth it at the moment?
and because i can't do it all at the same time,,it costs a fortune..so juss wondering what to do first.

legomaniac

i don't feel the 2IS needs much lowering but that being said, i've never really looked that hard at the height on a 2IS... if ur not tracking/auto-x'g the car then u need the springs even less practically speaking...

muffler TIPS for $350??? i hope you mean catback?

$600 for brake caliper painting??? i'm not a mechanic but i know guys who have done this for about $20 themselves

assuming u meant a full catback system, i would do the exhaust first then the springs then the hood... but then this is a guy who drives a bone stock car and passed up deals on a catback and coilovers himself

UberNoob

i dont think a 2IS needs much modding except some nice rims

i would dress up ur brake calipers first and get ready for rim upgrades in the future

princesIS

i know it costs a lot but the thing is, i can't do the job myself,,,
so i have to go to autobody or somewhere to do that for me for example, i was gonna go to SR auto group to order carbon hood and pay them to install it for me..
same goes to all other parts..so thats why i can't just spend $20 to buy a paint and paint the callipers myself,,

hmm..

anyways, thanks!

UberNoob

i think those quotes are still a rip off, im sure if u shop around u can get things done for much cheaper

carbon hood is alright

its the brake caliper and muffler tips prices that are too high
they only take a short time to do and not a tough job so they shouldnt be charging u so much for it

princesIS

Oh i saw a picture of the 2007 IS 250 with a carbon hood and carbon lip and i just fell in love with it haha.

princesIS

yeah..i need more research..

Hameed

Just as others have mentioned, those prices are a rip-off big time. Get quotes from other shops in your area.

If it was up to me, this is the order in which I would do those mods:

1) carbon fibre hood - I bought my Seibon CF hood for $645 taxes in. Contact this company and see how much they can get yours for http://www.tires23.com . They are local to me in Ontario and I got my hood in a GB, so the price may be higher for you as the GB is over.

2) brake callipers painting - this is a very minor mod and should not cost more than $100 to get a professional to do it.

3) Lowering springs - as others mentioned, the IS doesn't need to be lowered as a first mod considering that it is not very high to begin with.

4) muffler tips - just go to http://www.hottexhaust.com (they are canadian even though prices are listed in US dollars) and you will find some great stainless steel tips for under $100.00

princesIS

ah-
Thanks very much!!

and sorrie, i don't know much about cars like you guys do...
but im getting better! haha

boosted-gs

if you want an hks exhaust check out carson toyota because there are having a big GB and their prices don't seem so bad.

princesIS

I found a good website that sells the carbon hood for $235 and the shipping fee to Canada for $100 (both US dollar) for IS 250 but i heard that if you buy a very cheap one, it won't fit nicely.. is it ture? should i juss go to SR Autobody and pay about 1000 for the hood including installation fee?

juss out of curiousity,
do you think bodykit would be nice for IS 250?
personally, i don't think IS really need the bodykit..but..
im not sure if the bodykit would be really nice..
juss wanna hear some opinions about bodykit on IS250.

Hameed

What is the manufacturer of that CF hood? I doubt very much it will be of good quality for that price....

Body kits are very subjective and it all depends on what you like.

IMHO, the 2nd gen IS does not need a body kit. Just some mild lowering, bigger wheels (19 inch tops), more agressive sized wheels and that's it, as far as external cosmetics go.

sil-300

hey prince, if you want, maybe let me know exactly what you are looking for. I work at a shop locally and im sure i can get you better deals than what SR is asking... those prices seem especially high.

Of course if you buy from the states, things are cheaper, but there is a certain hassle involved, like shiping, warrenty, etc. That Seibon GB on the cf hood seems like an incredible deal though. Too bad its over and shipping the hood from Ontario to here is pretty expensive.

princesIS

oh thank you sil-300 for your information. I sent the reply pm
oh by the way, i am not prince, but 'princess'. haha
(because i have this pink cute sticker on front of my car that says 'PRINCESS') but (don't imagine! it is not weird as you would think,,)

black_gs99

pics please!