I picked up my first Lexus about 2 weeks ago, and I couldn't be happier. I found an '06 Lexus IS250 w/ under 3k miles on it with the exact color combo I wanted and pretty much all the options I wanted. I got a crazy good deal and just couldn't say no.

She's Saphire Black on Black heated/cooled Leather with NAV but no Bi-Xenon (I'll post later about possible conversions).

I'm very impressed with my Lex. Of course the luxury and ride is absolutely amazing. But I've been surprised with the handling and braking of the car. Turn-in is sharp (which surprises me with the very narrow front tires) and the handling is balanced (the susp. was obviously tuned well to the staggered tire setup). Body roll isn't nearly as bad as I'd expect with the super-soft isolated ride.

The power isn't bad, the six speed auto seems to make it drive like it has more power than it does. It's funny, WOT the car does feel like a luxo car with "only" 204HP. But mid-throttle, around town, or cutting up a mountain road it feels stronger than it is. I ran some of my favorite Santa Cruz mountain back-roads with it and have to say I had a blast.

The worst MPG (as indicated by the comp, haven't calculated it manually yet) was mid 26s. That's with a mix of city/freeway/back-road flogging. The best I've seen was 29.8 on a tank that was probably 80% freeway and didn't see too much beatin'

Pics...





Interior shot (didn't even clean the interior... probably should have :/ ) ...


-TJ

 

Oh... and here's the reason for my screen name. I use the same screen name on a few other forums so I kept it simple and used it here.

'02 Z06

• 348cui Cartek LS6
• Stage IIX Heads
• 224/230-.591/.591-113 Cam
• Comp R Lifters
• Fast 90mm Intake
• Nick Williams 90mm TB
• Ron Davis Radiator w/ Oil Cooler
• Power Steering Cooler
• NASCAR Style PCV Setup & Custom Valve Covers
• CAI
• Kooks Long Tubes & Off-Road X-Pipe
• Stock Ti Catback
• Perfromance Friction Floating Rotors
• Performance Friction Pads
• T1 Sway Bars
• VBP Poly Bushings
• MSI Rollbar
• Crow 6-Point Harnesses (quick-latch system, comes out for street use in 1-2min)
• Partition
• CCW 19x10 & 19x11 505a Rims, Pirelli P-Zero Rosas - Street
• CCW Classics 18x11 & 18x12 w/ 315/30-18 & 335/30-18 Hoosier A6 for AutoCross
• Original 17x9.5 & 18x10.5 Z06 Wheels w/ 295/40-17 & 315/35-17 Over-Used V710s for Road Course
• Cartek Stage VII Clutch
• B&M Shifter
• Shift Light
• Lowered and Corner-Weighted by MSI
• 453RWHP/425RWTWQ

Some motor shots before the Fast 90/Nick Williams 90:



Roll Bar:



I think it's time for some coil-overs...


For comparison, here's the car static:


-TJ

 

Another 29+ MPG tank just finished.

-TJ

 

shes a beauty, so is the z06...

 

"pick your weapon of choice: one for the track, one for the streets."

nice. i like, i like.

 

I'm racing the 'vette on the 21st, but I'm instructing at a driving school on the 22nd. As an instructor I get some free track time and am encouraged to give students a ride. I'm thinking about takin' the IS rather than my Z06. I'd like to save my race tires for the Z0 for points events, my street tires on the Z0 are ~$500 each, and hell I'd just like to really feel out the IS. I'll post pics if I end up runnin' her.

-TJ