Peter P18

Even better Glenn, Hawk are hopefully going to start selling rear pads as well. :) Got an email from their MD advising the tech department to give me a part number, or get their R&D guys to develop them! ;) Will keep you all posted. Cheers. Pete

Should be pretty good from what I've read on the US forums. They are certainly cleaner than the OEM pads (less brake dust). Think I may need to get my fronts changed shortly. If so, will let you know how I get on with them.

Paul hasn't listed the Hawk ceramics on the website yet. The fronts work out at £155.14 + VAT. Will check on the cost of the rears. Cheers. Pete :)

Not sure Stu. You'd need to ask them for the prices mate, as I was given all in costs. Think you may find 60% of the price is Lexus labour rates. :(

Plenty! ;) Look at the section on the Whifbitz website. He is offering the proper Brembo discs, and different pads to suit individual budgets (I'm going for the Hawks which are in-between the two on the website). Fitting at the Enfield workshop is around £60+VAT per axle, but could be more if anything is seized, or if the system needs to be bled etc. It works out around half the dealer price, or less if you fit them yourself (I'll probably get them done by Darren over at Whifbitz the first time, then do my own after that). Cheers. Pete :)

Mark, 60K service is costing me £840 including parts, VAT and labour. This is what is carried out as part of the 6yr/60K service: - Engine oil - Rear diff oil - Brake cleaner - Spark plugs - Oil filter - Gasket drain plugs - Washer fluid - Brake fluid - Cabin air filter - Key fob batteries - Full VSR Discs and pads prices from Lexus were as follows: Fronts £909.28 incl VAT Rears £764.38 incl VAT Quotes for 70K, 80K and 90K services were: £339 incl VAT (7yr/70K), £568.32 incl VAT (8yr/80K) and £339 incl VAT (9yr/90K). Hope this helps. :) Cheers. Peter

Why not come to our Bluewater meet to see the Takeda installed on Stu and my cars? You can decide if it's right for you, or opt for the Joe Z instead?

Transmission fluid isn't part of the 60K service. They do the plugs though. Chain driven, so no belt to worry about. ;) My tuner in Enfield sells the genuine Brembo discs for a lot less than Lexus. Also offers three types of pad to suit different budgets. Fitting can be done yourself (good guides from our US brethren), or any good garage/mechanic. Tyres are quite reasonable compared to some, and they seem to last quite well too. Think I've been quoted £850 odd for the 60K service. It's a major, so think that's reasonable considering. Think the next ones after are £300-400 odd? Hope this helps. Cheers. Peter :)

I'm a frequent traveler to the US if that helps anyone? Getting mine in a week or so from a buddy in Texas. Should be going to New Jersey end of February/beginning of March. Could bring one back if someone is desperate??

Hey Neil, If you can negotiate enough money off to fix the issues, then go for it. The car sounds like it's pretty good, but only you can decide if it's the one for you. Bear in mind they are all 5yrs old now, so minor issues should be expected. Both Stu and I have things we are going to address on our cars, but nothing major. The edges of my doors, and the top of the rear bumper needs paint on mine. Not sure if the rear screen was replaced at some point, but might explain the scratches? It's all about what you can live with mate. Mine is here to stay, so I will work my way through the little niggles to get it up to my standards. When it's finished, I will know its all been done properly at least. See what price you can get. If it's not good enough, walk away and wait for another one. Just keep in mind that may be as bad, or possibly worse?! May struggle to find one with such low mileage? Best of luck with whatever you decide. Cheers. Peter :)

Best of luck with it Stu. :) I'll be doing my Takeda in a couple of weeks time. Can't wait! ;) Exhaust will be after that. Thinking PPS headers as well to round things off. Look forward to seeing and hearing yours soon. Pete :)

I thought they were black as well, but if you look at the pictures I posted, mine have a bronze hue about them?? Maybe mine have been re-finished in a different colour? Doubt it though. We can compare them when we do the Bluewater meet next month. :)

Glad you've got a plan to get it sorted at least Stu. :) Be interesting to see what they charge you for the wheels and callipers. Will they be re-finished in the same colour as the originals? Seems like a bronze colour on mine at least. Hope it gets sorted soon mate. I'd be looking to do exactly the same if I was in your position (luckily my alloys and callipers are all good for now at least!). Pete

Looks alright to me Stu. :) Any ideas on what they are going to charge for a dyno run? Might get a better deal if we had a couple of us going? I think they can do Saturdays as well, which might help anyone who can't do weekdays??

Nice! ;) I'll probably try and get mine on the rollers before I fit the Takeda and then the exhaust. Be good to get a benchmark so we can see what the differences are. Not expecting any big power gains, but hoping the intake and exhaust will smooth things out and make better use of what's there. Let us know what rollers you intend to use Stu. Might be good to go together, and run the two on the same day? Would mean the majority of variables would be the same for both readings?

Don't get me wrong, 99% of the time it works fine. I guess I was spoiled by almost instant pull when I had my single turbo Supra. The throttle was on a wire as opposed to electronic, so pickup was very prompt in comparison. I'm hoping the Apexi Throttle Controller will help. Guess time will tell. :) I also find it weird to be in 5/6th gear at 30/40mph! ;) The actual changes are seamless in my opinion (barely hear it change! I just have the display up with the gear position to see what it's doing). Very little I would change to be honest. Great cars!! :)

Hey Stu. You can use the phone to call preset numbers, but not the keypad. Pretty sure that hasn't changed with the new disc.

Sorry! Double post. :(

One other thing I've noticed is the gearbox isn't the best. What I mean by that is when kicking down to overtake/accelerate hard, it sometimes doesn't go down to the right gear. I've had a couple of occasions where it goes too far, and puts me from 7th to 3rd (screams, but not going anywhere fast!), and a couple where I kick down and it goes from 8th to 7th where it needed 5th or 6th at a push. I'm not sure whether the Apexi Throttle Controller I ordered from the States is going to help with that, but will see if it irons out some of the flat spots with the gearing. When it works correctly and pulls and pulls all the way through the gears, it's brilliant.

Probably will go with the system they are going to offer mate. Be good to look at and see yours first though! ;) Having two firms design and build something can be beneficial in my opinion. I doubt they will differ in any major way, but be nice to see how the two compare. Price wise they are pretty much identical, but I have the added cost of fuel to get the car over to them to fabricate the first one. :(

Agree totally. It also seems to be easily scratched up/scuffed as with mine. :( I'm also thinking of doing the silver parts of the door handle in body colour. Will ask for a quote when I get the other bits of paintwork done.

More than happy for you to have a good look at them as and when I get it done fella. :) Given it's more cosmetic than functional, it's probably going to be done after I get my exhaust changed. Hoping my annual bonus will give me enough to do a couple of bits. ;)

If you click on that link I sent in my earlier email, it states they only use genuine carbon.

Just to add those photos are NOT examples from the company I am talking about. They are just examples I found to show the company what I am looking for. They believe the finished result will look as good, if not better than what I sent them.

Not from what I have read. Sounds like they coat the original parts in twill weave genuine carbon, then add a clearcoat of laquer over the top. It's certainly not the 3M style wrap that you see.