A Look Back: The story of my GS
07-26-09, 08:21 PM
#1
A Look Back: The story of my GS
After a memorable and enjoyable year of ownership I think I have finished my car. Looking back it's sort of hard to believe just how much I have done to the car since I first got it- I guess it's one of those things where when you see it every day you don't notice the differences as much. I still have absolutely no complaints about the car, and now at just over 76,000 miles the only problems have been one door lock actuator and an O2 sensor...everything else has been trouble free. The timeless interior and exterior design, high quality interior, and bulletproof reliability have landed this car a spot in my garage for the rest of my life- it's part of the family and I love it dearly.
In this last year I have learned so much about the car, correct detailing procedures, maintenance techniques, all of the mods, and most importantly... that I hate all of you.
Yes, hate. Yes, All of you.
I joined this site five years ago as nothing more than an enthusiast, knowing that at some point in the distant future I would get a Lexus and become one of the "big boys". I participated mostly in Car Chat but ventured here every now and then because it was the car I idolized as a young boy.
Looking at all of the pictures of modified GSs and then eventually watching videos on youtube put an urgency in that previous dream of "some day" getting my Lexus. Four years after I joined (and two personal vehicles later) I searched, poked, prodded, and finally found the GS I wanted. It was priced a good $3,500 out of my price range at that time but I was determined to have a GS like everyone else on CL. I scraped money together, raided my savings account, and bought my first Lexus.
At that point in my life I thought, "This is a Lexus of all things, and because of that there is no reason for me to modify it." Not to mention the fact that as a college student, I don't have the means to do so. Well fast forward a year and I have spent so much money on this car that I refuse to sit here and add it up because I would probably get sick. At first it was little things like the VaisTech ipod kit because they were "useful" and "necessary" and then it came to the wheels, because I could would like to fill out the wheel wells just a little more.
And then it got serious. I dropped money on a full paint job, L-Tuned side skirts, TTE Lip, rear spoiler, spacers, exhaust, SRT intake, LED tails, new headlight bulbs, a full suspension overhaul with shocks, springs, bars, and bushings, and countless other things. Don't forget the install charges or all of those things as well. But oh no, that was not enough, because once you make all of these modifications you have to MAINTAIN them, which brings me to the hundreds of dollars that I have spent with Chris, of Glimmer Glass.
I can honestly say that there have been points in this last year where I went without food and clothes, books for classes, vacations, and other things solely so that I could save for mods to my car. If I had never joined this website I would be rich, happy, and never know that there was anything wrong with my old Camrys and 4Runners. For this, I hate you all.
So, look back on the last year and hating all of you, I would also like to mention that it's really not a bitter hate...but rather bittersweet . Despite the thousands of dollars, meals, and hours that this community has cost me in some form or another, it is truly a wonderful place to be and I have enjoyed every minute of it! I would like to thank a few people specifically:
Thank you 2GS forum for draining my entire bank account, nearly maxing out my credit card at times, and also for all of the DIYs, support, encouragement, and assistance. It truly means a lot, and every time I look at my car I have all of you to thank/hate.
- Mike has always been my boy on CL, at meets, in this forum, car chat, etc. Props to the master
- GSteg has really been the go-to guy and has always helped me out in times of urgent need. Thank you sir.
- sakataj, GSJake, istundra, 1GStoEnvy, GS300Tom, LEXUS KID, Jeff Tsai, and others have all either given support, advice, guidance, or some damn good DIYs and I want to thank you all specifically.
Mod List:
Exterior:
- Full new paint job
- TTE Lip
- L-Tuned Side Skirts
- M3 style spoiler
- Smoked LED Sonar Tail Lights
- New Sport Design headlights
- JP Warden LED bulbs for parking lights
- Silvania Silverstar Ultra DRL/High beam
Interior:
- New OEM Sport Design Floormats
- Plenty of Leatherique!
- 8.1 Nav disc update
- VaisTech iPod kit
Suspension
- 17" Gunmetal GS 430 wheels
- Tanabe DF 210 springs
- KYB GR-2 Shocks
- TRD Blue front and rear sway bars
- Daizen steering rack bushings
- JDM TRD Aristo Strut Tower Bar
- 20mm/25mm H&R Spacers
Engine
- SRT Intake with race ECU
- Borla Exhaust
- New spark plugs at 74,000 miles
- Religiously cleaned MAF, throttle body (trust me, these make a big difference)
...and the rest has been maintenance- full synthetic oil changes, watching tire pressure, rotating tires every 5K, and religiously detailing the interior and exterior to protect the car.
In this last year I have learned so much about the car, correct detailing procedures, maintenance techniques, all of the mods, and most importantly... that I hate all of you.
Yes, hate. Yes, All of you.
I joined this site five years ago as nothing more than an enthusiast, knowing that at some point in the distant future I would get a Lexus and become one of the "big boys". I participated mostly in Car Chat but ventured here every now and then because it was the car I idolized as a young boy.
Looking at all of the pictures of modified GSs and then eventually watching videos on youtube put an urgency in that previous dream of "some day" getting my Lexus. Four years after I joined (and two personal vehicles later) I searched, poked, prodded, and finally found the GS I wanted. It was priced a good $3,500 out of my price range at that time but I was determined to have a GS like everyone else on CL. I scraped money together, raided my savings account, and bought my first Lexus.
At that point in my life I thought, "This is a Lexus of all things, and because of that there is no reason for me to modify it." Not to mention the fact that as a college student, I don't have the means to do so. Well fast forward a year and I have spent so much money on this car that I refuse to sit here and add it up because I would probably get sick. At first it was little things like the VaisTech ipod kit because they were "useful" and "necessary" and then it came to the wheels, because I could would like to fill out the wheel wells just a little more.
And then it got serious. I dropped money on a full paint job, L-Tuned side skirts, TTE Lip, rear spoiler, spacers, exhaust, SRT intake, LED tails, new headlight bulbs, a full suspension overhaul with shocks, springs, bars, and bushings, and countless other things. Don't forget the install charges or all of those things as well. But oh no, that was not enough, because once you make all of these modifications you have to MAINTAIN them, which brings me to the hundreds of dollars that I have spent with Chris, of Glimmer Glass.
I can honestly say that there have been points in this last year where I went without food and clothes, books for classes, vacations, and other things solely so that I could save for mods to my car. If I had never joined this website I would be rich, happy, and never know that there was anything wrong with my old Camrys and 4Runners. For this, I hate you all.
So, look back on the last year and hating all of you, I would also like to mention that it's really not a bitter hate...but rather bittersweet . Despite the thousands of dollars, meals, and hours that this community has cost me in some form or another, it is truly a wonderful place to be and I have enjoyed every minute of it! I would like to thank a few people specifically:
Thank you 2GS forum for draining my entire bank account, nearly maxing out my credit card at times, and also for all of the DIYs, support, encouragement, and assistance. It truly means a lot, and every time I look at my car I have all of you to thank/hate.
- Mike has always been my boy on CL, at meets, in this forum, car chat, etc. Props to the master
- GSteg has really been the go-to guy and has always helped me out in times of urgent need. Thank you sir.
- sakataj, GSJake, istundra, 1GStoEnvy, GS300Tom, LEXUS KID, Jeff Tsai, and others have all either given support, advice, guidance, or some damn good DIYs and I want to thank you all specifically.
Mod List:
Exterior:
- Full new paint job
- TTE Lip
- L-Tuned Side Skirts
- M3 style spoiler
- Smoked LED Sonar Tail Lights
- New Sport Design headlights
- JP Warden LED bulbs for parking lights
- Silvania Silverstar Ultra DRL/High beam
Interior:
- New OEM Sport Design Floormats
- Plenty of Leatherique!
- 8.1 Nav disc update
- VaisTech iPod kit
Suspension
- 17" Gunmetal GS 430 wheels
- Tanabe DF 210 springs
- KYB GR-2 Shocks
- TRD Blue front and rear sway bars
- Daizen steering rack bushings
- JDM TRD Aristo Strut Tower Bar
- 20mm/25mm H&R Spacers
Engine
- SRT Intake with race ECU
- Borla Exhaust
- New spark plugs at 74,000 miles
- Religiously cleaned MAF, throttle body (trust me, these make a big difference)
...and the rest has been maintenance- full synthetic oil changes, watching tire pressure, rotating tires every 5K, and religiously detailing the interior and exterior to protect the car.
Last edited by MPLexus301; 07-27-09 at 06:23 AM.
07-26-09, 10:17 PM
#5
July 27, 2008: First mod was a set of IS 300 wheels I got for a good deal. Ended up not really working out, but none the less...
October 19, 2008: Next step was getting the faded headlights replaced with a brand new set of OEM Sport Design ones:
October 19, 2008: Next step was getting the faded headlights replaced with a brand new set of OEM Sport Design ones:
Last edited by MPLexus301; 07-27-09 at 06:24 AM.
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07-26-09, 10:45 PM
#8
February 8, 2009: LED Tails installed:
February 15, 2009: The long awaited drop finally arrives- 1.8" front and 1.5" rear.
March 6, 2009: I decide to stick with the OEM wheels and have 20mm front and 25mm rear H&R spacers installed:
February 15, 2009: The long awaited drop finally arrives- 1.8" front and 1.5" rear.
March 6, 2009: I decide to stick with the OEM wheels and have 20mm front and 25mm rear H&R spacers installed:
Last edited by MPLexus301; 07-26-09 at 10:48 PM.
07-26-09, 10:57 PM
#9
April 11, 2009: My car goes in for a full repaint, TTE Lip install, L-Tuned side skirts install, and smoked LED tails:
Right after the repaint I swap the JP Warden LED bulbs in (previously had Polarg M4s) to match the OEM HIDs:
Right after the repaint I swap the JP Warden LED bulbs in (previously had Polarg M4s) to match the OEM HIDs:
Last edited by MPLexus301; 07-26-09 at 11:01 PM.
