matt526l

Hey y'all, my name is Matt and I recently picked up a 2002 GGP IS300, it is an original 5 speed with the factory W55 and LSD. This is my first Lexus/Toyota and it most certainly won't be my last.

Story of this car: it belonged to a buddy of mine who used it as his daily for the last 3 years. Around the winter time he posted in his instagram saying he was looking to sell his car. I never asked him about it because I didn't have the funds at that time. Fast forward June at our local drift event, I asked him what happened to the Lexus and if he sold it, to which he told me the car had been sitting since February due to misfires and had been sitting at his shop since, and if I was interested he'd let it go.

I checked the car out the following month to see if I can run my OBD2 scanner for the misfire, and it had a pending P0300 code. Additionally the driver side window won't close all the way, there's rust on the rockers and rot starting in side the trunk, a dead battery, among other smaller issues that need to be addressed. Despite seeing the condition the car was in, I still wanted it as I saw the amount of potential it's got, so we struck a deal and I became the proud new owner of a non-running Lexus IS300.



The car was still registered and insured so I called up AAA and had it towed home from Lowell, MA to New Haven, CT. The tow truck showed up at my house at approximately 12:15 AM on a Sunday night, technically Monday. Didn't have a picture of its arrival because of how dark it was, but here's a screenshot of my IG video I posted. Excuse the potato quality.



So what are my plans for the car? I picked this up to be my new daily/drift car to replace my MK7 GTi sometime next year (car payments suck). I've always loved Toyota sedans for drifting and this being already a 5 speed with LSD, it was the perfect candidate for me to start learning and getting some seat time. Along with this, I have an E36 M3 that is my weekender/track car that I'm working on so I'll be going back and forth between cars.

Future plans:
- replace spark plugs and coilpacks
- timing belt and water pump
- address driver side window issue
- install Bride seat
- replace current Pioneer headunit with a double din unit
- replace current coilovers with new set
- Megan Racing downpipe and GReddy Revolution RS exhaust
- 18x9.5 wheels
- address rusting rockers and rotting trunk
- suspension mods - replace all bushings

matt526l

First thing I wanted to tackle was the interior. When I had gone to see the car I knew the interior was in relatively good condition, but it was dirty and smelled like my high school gym locker, probably due to the window not fully closing and letting moisture into the car. I didn't realize how dirty it actually was until I pulled out the seats and saw the amount of trash underneath. So I spent 3.5 hours on a hot and humid New England summer vacuuming, swabbing and lint rolling the carpet and interior.











Mold on the rear bench alcantara that will be replaced. I don't want to go through the effort of cleaning up the mold with the off chance that it'll come back.

matt526l

Such a satisfying feeling to see everything cleaned up (to the best of my abilities)









A full body shot of the car and an artsy fartsy sunset picture to close out the day

Bempa

Great start, love to se those resurrection threads

zaitcev

I agree, this is pretty phenomenal. I always wanted one of those real Altezzas.

Pittsy

Not seeing your pictures, can your reupload them?