Rich OB

Well material items can't really compare to such things as your house or car. Yes expense is one and probably the biggest factor. I buy the latest iPhone for it's technology, iPad because how on earth do we live without one?! If you were to compare phones to cars then the equivalent to my IS200 would be a Nokia 8210! What more can cars provide, if I was to go and buy the latest IS I would be gaining a host of latest technology, better economy and probably a more credible status among most everyday people that see me in it yes, but what more would it do that my 13 year old IS doesn't? And where do I find the 30k+ to afford it? I can afford to buy a new designer shirt and take a holiday, those things are justifiable, and if a new car was then yes I would probably buy one. I would say those who have the money to buy a new car do not think of it in the same way those do who would have to give up life savings to fund it. And those who buy new super minis as cheap as chips just to have a new car don't understand how much better an older prestige car can be. But of course it's all personal choice yes. You'll probably find people who drive around in 40k motors wearing Primarks best and those in a £4000 Lexus in Armani!

I totally agree that people automatically think a newer car is better full stop, usually people who just buy a car for having a car. By that I mean they buy by looks mainly, not spec, not by it's reputation or it's future value or status etc. I have always said I would prefer to drive a 5+ year old car which is top of its model range even if it costs me the same price as a brand new supermini or city car. I did own a brand new car in 2004, which was stolen a year later from outside my house. That's when I bought my Lexus, which I still have now. I have driven many cars and nothing compares to it even at 13 years old. I have never had a car so long with such high mileage. Now it isn't worth much I will just keep it until, well until whenever. Unless I could afford a brand new car that I would class as equivalent to a top spec prestige marque I wouldn't buy newer just because of it's reg. Although the feeling of collecting YOUR car, driven and owned only by YOU is brilliant! Not to mention that smell!

I'm not a fan of black wheels really, especially on black cars. But saying that I've seen black wheels on a white Focus RS and they looked good. Shadow chrome is nice, diamond cut face, hyper silver. Does depend on which wheels too.

I watched the early series and now watch the new style format. If TG were still using the old format I can guarantee it would of been axed a long time ago, times have changed and you can now find your average road car review on the net. Why would you prefer to watch mundane reviews of your everyday road cars on TV for an hour! The programme is meant to be funny, silly and an hour to get away from boring TV. Ok it may be scripted in parts, but if you think like that you're probably that person that annoyingly sits there watching a movie saying. Oh as if that would happen! Why on earth would you do that! That wouldn't happen in real life and so on... Watch the programme for what it is, don't like it don't watch it it's very simple. As for the stunts they performed during Sundays episode, if my son even attempted something like that I would assume he isn't even mature and sensible enough to even drive your boring everyday road car! Even if the law permits it.

What do you do to keep on top of them? Usually they corrode from behind.

There you go. The later spec fogs are the only cure.

YES!! Replace one the other one goes. I'm going to wire in some later spec ones which have the protective screw on cap on the back. I would just quit replacing them but it ruins the look of the car, rotted, rusting water filled fog lights. Mine always seem to go just before the weather goes through being foggy. Argh!

Failing any of that there's an eBay seller that sells reconditioned calipers for £95. Once you've fitted the new one send your siezed caliper back to them, they give you £30 cash back. I used them when my front caliper siezed and can recommend them.

Haha no not at all, but it is something you tend to put up with if lowering is the way you want to go. If it's your daily driver then of course it may not be practical. I would say with a 35mil drop you wouldn't have many issues anyway.

I haven't lowered my IS but used to have an RS which was lowered 60mil. I was always around North London, City, East end etc. I never let all the bumps put me off, not the most comfortable or convenient mod to have but so what...it looks nice.

We can't all like the same things mate and if you like the look that's what counts. In my opinion I don't like the yellow fog look. If you want that sort of look try the Folia Tec Xenon, Smoke or blue tint film. Failing that go with the IS300 yellow tinted fogs.

I bought my 2001 IS Auto when it was about 3 years old, never ever dreamt of keeping it this long but I can't let go of it! It's never gone wrong apart from routine and wear and tear. It really is a great car, still looks good and the amount of people that say wow how quiet is your car. You can't beat the smoothness and sound either. Downside, it cripples me at the pumps, I get about 100 to 120 miles out of £30 at £1.30 a litre with a mix of roads and driving. Mine has 111k on the clock. I will never sell it now as it's not worth much, it's worth much more to me than it is in money.

Bake headlights, split and it's removable. It isn't fixed or glued in. It's horrible but a pain the arris to remove. Then if you don't seal well you end up with condensation in the headlights, much more ugly than the orange filter!

I like DRLs personally, and as they are law here now in the UK on all newly manufactured cars since Feb 2012 I think it adds a modern touch. Saying that I'm not a fan of the poorly fitted LED strips that people add on, they aren't bright enough usually, a few LEDs blow due to poor quality and they never look OEM. I would definitely go with the main beam at reduced light, looks factory and USA spec Lexus use this DRL. Out of interest what will you use to reduce the light for DRL in your main beam?

Fast Ford fan. Then Black Mk4 RS Turbo Sapphire Cosworth Mk4 Escort Ghia (RST Engine, heavily modified cosmetically) Mk2 Orion (Mostly Cosmetic Mods) Focus ST (Stolen) Lexus IS Now Children Future Lexus ISF BMW 6 Series Grand Coupe BMW M3 ...and so on.

Doesn't almost every modern car come with double din head unit nowadays? Or even larger screens. As mentioned they modernise the look of the dash and are great for entertainment and reversing camera.

A private plate is just that, when you buy it it becomes private to you, you own that plate for as long as you wish or until you decide to sell it. Actually a lot of people buy them as investments, they do increase with value. They can also be called private plates as they can make the cars age/identity private. Unlike tyres, tax, insurance or any other motoring cost these are essential and we all like a moan at how much we spend on them. A private plate isn't essential and is generally a one off cost of choice that in the long run probably works out cheaper due to resale value. I'm sure ultimately we would all like a plate of choice if it cost nothing, I'm sure in America you're given a plate for life of choice once you gain a licence. K1 NGS sold for £400,000 some time ago.

What's wrong with having a private plate that has your initials, business name, favourite number or anything you desire on? I don't think it's anything to do with snobbery or vanity. Is it vain that we like to have nice cars? You may judge from my opinion that I have a private plate, well I don't.

Neat photoshop. To me though the rear fog lights are kind of an identity for the first gen IS. Could you do a photoshop of a black IS with smoothed out side strips? I used to (embarrassingly) have a 5 door Mk4 Escort which had an RS Turbo engine transplant and about 4k worth of bodywork back in 1994/5. I removed all locks and DOOR HANDLES and fitted poppers to the front doors to work with the Clifford alarm I had. Smoothed everything on it including all the Illusion kit into the wings so there were no joins at all. It used to get lots of attention, mainly because it had no handles, lol! I've since grown up, haha. The Escort ended up catching fire in the bodyshop, wasn't insured and the rest is history.

Like the photoshop, and each to their own. Everyone has an opinion and if that's yours you go for it. I have had several aftermarket light options and to honest they're all crap! Cheap projectors that aren't even as good as the OEM lights. Projector retrofit is the only way, but then try to find somewhere in the UK that does it! Failing that go with a good quality HID like HIDS4U 5000k kit, just right.

Just ordered some Hankook i cept evo w310 winter tyres for my IS200. Been searching and searching and have concluded on these this time. Reading reviews and tests they seem to be well recommended. I didn't want to pay an extreme amount and at Camskill they come in at £350 for 4 delivered. Never had winter tyres before so the test should be fun, not that I'm wishing for snow!

I got my garage to clean mine and it made it a whole lot worse! Got it back and had the TRC and engine management on, now they retuned and it's running and idling too fast. Ongoing problem, nightmare.

Cheap kits from eBay are always recognisable from a distance to me. I bought the HIDS4U bulbs, even though the IS bulbs are offset for some reason, they still look better. You won't find a stock look cheap kit, you'll think they're great looking close up and by brightness but the scatter, dazzle and temp from a distance is crap. HIDS4U 5000k anti dazzle bulbs are the best I've used so far. Look almost OEM.

Excellent project expertly executed! Makes me feel embarrassed that I keep putting off silly small projects on my own Lex 🙊

Ah ok I did wonder, as I have searched for a similar finish film unsuccessfully. FoliaTec do a 'Chromolux' film but reviews of their films concludes its crap. I would of thought there'd be more choice on today's market other than mainly black.