Hey folks, after years of yearning for a proper performance vehicle, I pick up my 2008 tomorrow. I'm not new to CL as I have an RX450hL. I also have a 2013 Tundra Crewmax which I've modeled into a sport truck of sorts with TRD sway bars, improved brake components, a tune, and a tuned exhaust amongst other things. The Tundra forums are great but people bragging about their TRD Pro, which looks like every other TRD Pro, or complaining about poor fuel mileage with "35" mudders and a 6-inch lift" gets old. And, the RX forum is not exactly a hotbed of performance.

I've done a lot of reading on this forum and looking for recommendations for some mods right out the gate. I'm thinking of suspension ie sway bars, braces, etc. Best bang for the buck that can be installed in your garage-type stuff. Exhaust, Headers, tune, etc will come at a later date. The dealer also did the pads, rotors, and tires so I'm good in the short term in that area. I just want to enjoy the car for the next few months before the snow hits. Thanks in advance.

 

Congrats on the purchase. Based on my own experience with my 2011 cheap and easy mods to improve handling listed in order of most to least impact:
1) front end alignment: I went from 0.1" toe in on each side to 0.05" toe out each side and good lord what a difference. Handlig is so neutral now and overall cornering grip considerably higher. People say this improves turn in but it's not just turn in, it's cornering grip on the way in, through mid-corner and out. By far the most bang for your buck to improve cornering ability if you ask me. Though if you do this, consider getting the USRS or Figs LCA bushings otherwise static toe out will cause even more excessive inner tire wear due to excessive dynamic toe out under hard braking. Credit goes to lobuxracer: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...gnment-17.html
2) F-sport rear sway bar. Very nice improvement in feel. For me it made the rear end more communicative and helped reduce understeer.
3) LCA bushing USRS from RR Racing or Figs. I got the USRS and though it didn't make any difference to me in feel or steering response (as the name would suggest it should) and slightly increased ride harshness, I'm sure that it helps in preventing excessive dynamic toe out during high speed hard braking giving you stability and reduced inner tire wear. Probably even more so for the 2008-2010 MY.
Cheers
mike

 

I would suggest to drive the car as is for about 5000km or 3000mls before doing anything. This way you can make the best choices going forward.

 

The car is way under sprung, and sway bars are bandaids for that problem. Coilovers are what you NEED for better handling. For performance, headers and exhaust. After that, make it lighter if you want to go faster. No intakes have any proven gains. Skip the intake and the tune. Best intake is the OEM one.

 

Check out some of the build threads to get some feedback and ideas. Enjoy the ride!

 

Already doing so and I am! Thanks!

 

Hi Bill,

Welcome and congrats on the IS F!

Our Ultimate Steering Response is an easy, extremely beneficial first mod that will improve steering feel, feel under hard braking (car doesn't wander as much) and also helps to even out the common tire wear issue.

https://www.rr-racing.com/Lexus-Lowe...isfxlca001.htm

We also have you covered for everything from Headers to Coilovers to our Supercharger kits making upwards of 650whp+.

Please give us a shout with any questions!