Lexus IS300 YouTuber Shares 5 Key Projects for New Owners

Lexus IS300 owners who just got their car should focus on maintenance, tires and suspension.

If you just purchased a Lexus IS300, or you are shopping for one and you are eagerly preplanning your first modifications, the Cornelius Veee YouTube channel has some great advice. The IS300 is a fantastic sport sedan, but current owners have learned the hard way what can do wrong, leading to a list of must-do projects for any new owner.

In the video below, the YouTube host and drifting IS300 owner runs through these key areas of the car that should be focused on before really spending any money on modifications. He made this mostly for social media groups, which are chock full of new owners asking “dumb questions”.

Make Your Lexus More Reliable

The first three items on the list pertain more to reliability and maintenance than improving performance, but if you are buying a used Lexus IS300, it is a smart move to begin with preserving its longevity. While doing these projects, you will get a good look at the internal workings of your engine, helping to ensure that you have a healthy, reliable car.

First up, you should replace the water pump, the timing belt, the serpentine belt and the various engine seals. When the host got his IS300, he changed all of these items and since then, even with regular track time, he has no leaks when the car sits for long periods of time. He actually calls it the “most reliable car he has ever owned”, and part of that is due to preventative maintenance.

Next, the lower ball joints are known to be trouble in the Lexus IS300, sometimes snapping just from old age and normal wear. With that in mind, new owners should definitely change those. While you have the front end apart, you can replace bushings around the front end as well.

Finally, to help keep your Lexus IS300 longing properly for a long time, you want to change the fluids, and not just the engine oil. The power steering and braking system can benefit from fresh fluid, but regularly changing the transmission and differential fluids are essential for longevity.

Performance Upgrades

Next, the host touches on two areas where owners can improve the longevity, safety and performance of their Lexus IS300.

He starts by saying “buy some damn new tires“, pointing out how many people ride around on old tires with hard, dry rubber. That is unsafe and it negatively impacts performance, so new tires are always a good move when you buy a car, unless the IS300 has brand new tires that fit your needs. Also, he points out that when you buy a set of tires, it is a good idea to have the car aligned, especially if you have aftermarket suspension components.

The last point is adding a good set of coilovers to your IS300. He points out that coilover suspension setups vary based on intended function, so if you want a smooth daily driver, you might use a different coilover setup than someone who is looking to go drifting or road racing. Adding new coilovers will make your daily driver more comfortable or make your track car more competitive, but it will also make the car safer, especially if you are replacing aging OEM items.

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

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