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Does anyone know the code for the sport model? I recently purchased a 2005 from a private source but it was also listed by a U/C dealer as a Sports model. A VIN check did not specify Sports model. It did come equipped from the factory with 18" wheels. Is there any other way to ID the sports model besides checking out the suspension? The car has a black grill. Is this indicative of a Sports model or do all 05s have black grills?
Sports model has little badges on the front quarter panels that says “sport suspension”. They have a larger sway bar in the rear. Thats it. I could be wrong but the struts are the same as regular. Someone correct me.
You could also contact Lexus and ask them to email you the build sheet for your car. That would indicate once and for all what it was, what was installed at the port, etc.
Struts are different, springs are different, UCA are different (bushings), and rear sway bar is different. Easiest way is to measure the rear sway bar, if it's 14mm (IIRC), then it is the sport version and I would then assume the rest of the components are sport.
Just for the sake of confirmation, the sport suspension came with slightly stiffer springs and bushings, thicker rear stabilizer/sway/anti-roll bar, and differently valved struts (increased rebound). Yes, the sport did come standard with the wider 245/45/18 tires on 18” rims, but those were an option on all 2004+ models without sport suspension. As Rush said, the sport models came with very discreet badging just behind the front tires that actually say “Euro Tuned Sport Suspension” and that’s going to be the easiest way to tell if it really is. I’ve never heard of a sport model that has had those badges removed. If you look at my signature, you can see where the badges are on my car - just above a strip of molding between the front tires and the front doors, and this is on both sides.
And as Jay said, a black grill was 100% definitely not a factory or even dealer installed option, at least as far as the original Lexus brochure has spelled out, as well as my 10+ years of being obsessed with and reading about these cars.
*edit: Lexus did not code options in the VIN, so without calling the dealer and having them look it up internally, you won’t know 100% for sure if the car doesn’t have the badges and you suspect it might be just about the only one that has had the badges removed.
I can't imagine why anyone would take the badges off.
Me either... then again, some people do really like that ‘debadged’ look, so maybe if the car doesn’t have any badges on the rear/trunk area I might look into it... but if the car has all the rest of the badges but not the sport suspension badges, I’m 99.999999% sure it’s not sport
Here is the easiest and surest way to tell. Register the vehicle on Lexus website. Select "Manage Vehicle," then "Vehicle Specification," then "Port or Factory Installed Equipment." You will then learn exactly how your vehicle was optioned when new.
PT Modern Luxury Package Includes
Factory
SK Smart Key
Factory SP Sport Package 1 Includes
Factory
Z1 Preferred Accessory Package Trunk Mat, Cargo Net and Wheel Locks
Port
Why do you say yours is a unicorn, bradland? Your option list appears to be fairly typical for a sport suspension LS 430.
Interestingly, when I click on your supplied link my own car comes up!
Tongue in cheek mostly...
Apparently a Sport Suspension equipped car with no fender badges is extremely rare. I've mentioned it a few times in the past year and one member even went so far as telling me both my fenders must have been replaced! Both my fenders still have black VIN tags btw. Honestly I really don't care if the badges are present or not. I'm just happy to know which suspension parts to buy when the time comes...
Tongue in cheek mostly...
Apparently a Sport Suspension equipped car with no fender badges is extremely rare. I've mentioned it a few times in the past year and one member even went so far as telling me both my fenders must have been replaced! Both my fenders still have black VIN tags btw. Honestly I really don't care if the badges are present or not. I'm just happy to know which suspension parts to buy when the time comes...
Thanks, your comment now makes sense! I wonder, though, whether those badges are bolted on or affixed with adhesive.
Installed Equipment code for Sport model?
