andyk134

The Ebay manifolds are a bit dodgy, go to Fensport or someone like that for a proper on and get a sport cat made. the exhaust itself is pretty good anyway so dont waste 400 quid for a couple of horses. Get the lightened flywheel and then go to TDI for a chip and the CamCon that can change when the cam comes in and then rolling road tuned. Would give you a much more "driveable" car for everyday. You wouldnt quite get the 0-60 or top speed of a turbo car but how many times can you actualy use that anyway for the expense? Never sure about the comments to sell up and buy somethnig else. As well as it not being easy to sell anything at the moment and finding another car in the same condition and colours is never easy as is giving up your manual for an auto. I love my manual Red 200 with the smoked multispoke wheels and wouldnt swap it for any 300. If you want cheap power, get an Octavia RS and do the chip, induction and exhaust swap and watch it disappear into the distance. I bought my Lexus for the look and the reliablity and happily forgo a little power to have something a little different to all the "repmobliles" or "boy racers" but thats just me.

Where can you get 45-50 rear springs that are as comfortable as Eibachs? Mine does have the "raked" look and I would prefer a flatter look but dont want to ruin the comfort for the sake of an inch.

Maybe its just a question of how heavy your right foot is if you keep losing the back end in the wet? We all know it isnt the best car in the wet. Has anyone had an LSD fitted and how much better does it feel?

I have Dunlop Sport Maxx TT all round and run 38psi at the front and 39 at the rear as recommended by the Lexus dealer. I also have Eibach springs and anti roll bars and a front strut brace and in the dry the car is pretty much unshakeable and takes roundabouts like its on rails. Even in the wet it handles way better than when i had it standard and it feels better now i have Dunlops all round rather that a pair of worn Bridgestones at the back. I guess I have never understood why people scrimp on tyres, you should buy the best and safest you can afford, it maybe your life you are saving!

Well as I said it is what the tyre specialists and Lexus said and it feels and handles so much better, it feels very squashy on 33.

Luke I like your idea of spacers and bigger tyres on the back I will do that the next time I need tyres. I used to have 33 psi all round but when I put new tyres on they told me I should have 38 front and 39 rear which the Lexus garage also recommend. Since then it feels and handles a lot better something to try.

Good luck Martin I hope you sort the problem. I love driving my Lexus and to be honest I don't measure mpg, when it gets a bit low I just fill it up with vpower. I check the tyres every month but then I drive less that 5000 a year anyway and most are short journeys. I just love the car and despite it being 8 1/2 years old it still gets looks and I like the red colour with smoked multispoke wheel combination, lowered on Eibachs. It's just a shame there are no cheap ways to increase power.

Thanks Chris, I will book it when I get some time off. My inner tyres were almost bald while the rest of the tyre was legal so understand what you are saying. Hopefully with the Eibach upgrades I have it should handle really nicely. Nice looking car by the way.

Hi Ashar, the garage is called performance autoworks in GLoucestershire. Their labour rate is about half what my local Lexus dealer charge plus they do a complete look over of the car to see if anything else needs doing. Chris thanks for that, I don't have any mechanic skills so I rely on others to look after my car. I am down the road in Swindon, do you know anyone local who could do the proper alignment of the suspension as I know the standard set up is not supposed to be that good and setting it properly is supposed to make a massive difference?

LFA now you are talking! Could just be a heavy right foot or short journeys. In the cold weather and the rush hour traffic mine can go as low as 15 on a bad week!

A decent set of coil overs and fitting wont leave you much change from a grand and can give a harsh ride. I have Eibach springs and roll bars with second hand Cusco strut braces and am really pleased with the handling and the look. Never really felt the Lexus is one to turn into a street racer and doing so properly would cost getting on for 10 grand with turbos and suspension, brake and wheel upgrades. Cheaper to buy something else if you won't to really lower and tune it, I think the car looks great already.

Paid 160, 40 quid an hour for 4 hours work and a half price alignment at 30 quid. Don't have the kills myself so go to someone I trust to work on my car and happy to pay for good work.

Always worth having the car serviced properly although not at main dealer prices. There are good ones around if you look. I had a full service with all plugs filters and fluids changed for 350 and more things checked and changed that Lexus do. Also had the Cambelt done with Lexus parts for 280. The guys who service it build Japanese track and fast road cars so know what they are doing and are really helpful and knowledgeable too.

I have strut braces but also have Eibach springs and roll bars and it handles so much better. Probably wouldn't have bothered if they weren't second hand and cheap but I am pleased with the overall result. I just need some proper alignment done now but don't live close to any of the real experts sadly.

I run mine with standard shocks with Eibach springs. I also have their roll bars too which is a much more enjoyable ride as the comfort is still there but it goes round roundabouts on rails in the dry and has improved in the wet too so go for it I say. Not sure the Lexus is car you buy to "slam it to the floor", mine does look and drive better without looking stupid in such a classy car.

I am a little surprised by this thread. I can't believe that anyone actually buys an IS200 for its fuel consumption or its performance. I bought mine because I didn't want the usual rep mobile and something that providing you look after it and get it properly serviced on a regular basis will be utterly reliable for a very long time. I love driving it, ok so the Eibach springs and roll bars make it I different car, but I enjoy every minute of owning one. I run it on vpower all the time and get around 20mpg around town and 30 on a run which I expected before I bought it. Just enjoy the car.

Try TDI they are very helpful and sell them

If you speak to Mark Catchpole at TDI, he is really helpful on Lexus tuning. If you use the Camcon with the Datasek Unichip you can make the car far more "driveable" It isnt always about BHP and this can make the car more responsive for not a lot of money. If you want to upgrade the suspension without losing ride quality you can go for the Eibach springs and roll bars, this really improves the handling with hardly any difference on comfort.

If you add the Eibach roll bars too, you have a nice set up, a bit lower and stiffer with less roll but the same comfort.

Patrick, you tend to get what you pay for, the Japspeed is a bit cheap. Where did you buy your HKS?

Good question Matthew, I was going to ask the same one. The prices seem to good to be true.

Advice I had from 2 specialists as that a good uprated filter gives the same as an induction kit so dont waste your money. The standard system works well, unless you are just doing it for looks.

TDI are good and give good advice but expensive and you have to remeber to add vat to the prices which is a bit of a con or prolex are a bit cheaper. Motorsportworld can get Cusco stuff if you need it too.

I have Eibach springs and standard shocks and it looks and feels better. Tyre wear is equal across the tread so very happy. Going for Eibach anti roll bars this month, is it worth doing strut braces as well or do they not realy make that much difference? How about the lower braces that TDI sell?

I wasnt aware these cars had lsd, but would benefit from it. Has anyone had one fitted?