Good news!

LorenaBeana · 05-11-2007, 11:30 PM

Good news! I graduate tomorrow! Yay! How will I reward myself? Well, I'm thinking a Nismo Z? Or - an enthusiast Z (don't want leather) with the nismo cat-back exhaust and suspension and sway bars, black on black with tinted windows. Or, keep my car, and be financially responsible-ish and get a turbo. (for those who don't know me, I've got an '03 IS300; ie 2jz-ge) What are ya'lls thoughts?

**Ryan T** · 05-11-2007, 11:36 PM

Boost the 2jz....but then again I'm partial.

BLINGMW · 05-11-2007, 11:37 PM

Keep the lexus. I don't know why you'd want to boost a daily driver, but knock yourself out!

WRXtranceformed · 05-11-2007, 11:44 PM

Keep the IS! I love mine!

They take well to boost up to about 300whp apparently, then it's time to start swapping engine components. Even with the right NA boltons though, they're supposed to be noticeably quicker.

**Ryan T** · 05-11-2007, 11:45 PM

BLINGMW Wrote:Keep the lexus. I don't know why you'd want to boost a daily driver, but knock yourself out!

To make it a fast daily driver.

John · 05-12-2007, 12:07 AM

Congradulations Lorena!

If you ever have any questions about the Z, let me know. It's a well-balanced street/track car that I thoroughly enjoyed owning for over 4.5 years... I do miss it...

ScottyB · 05-12-2007, 01:20 AM

congrats!

you'll probably be moving some stuff around soon as you look into a place to work now that you're graduated. for the space, and ease of ownership during this time i'd just stick with what you have. the IS is a good car

Apoc · 05-12-2007, 10:29 AM

Ryan T Wrote:
BLINGMW Wrote:Keep the lexus. I don't know why you'd want to boost a daily driver, but knock yourself out!

To make it a fast daily driver.

Or less reliable, whichever comes first. Much easier to buy a fast daily driver and be done with it.

I say buy the Z.

WRXtranceformed · 05-12-2007, 11:08 AM

I guess to break it down, you'll have to ask yourself these questions:
1) Do you want 2 doors or 4?
2) Do you want a quick daily driver or a fast modified daily driver?
3) Are you prepared for the inevitable drop in reliability with boosting a car that wasn't meant to be boosted?
4) Are you prepared to pay for the $10k+ to boost an IS properly so that it can be daily driven?
5) Are you willing to buy a car that doesn't respond very well to bolt on power mods? Do you plan to buy the Z and modify it? (350Zs come well-tuned from the factory and take a lot of money aka boosting to make them a lot faster).
6) Do you want to sacrifice a little luxury/comfort for sportiness/speed?

Those are some I can think of off the top of my head. I find that my IS is more than quick enough for daily driving duties, and with a couple of suspension modifications and a little extra power it would make an awesome track car (if that was my goal for it).

HAULN-SS · 05-12-2007, 11:10 AM

Also: Do you want to be in a Z that looks just like every other Z/infinity that's on the road?

**Ryan T** · 05-12-2007, 11:14 AM

WRXtranceformed Wrote:I guess to break it down, you'll have to ask yourself these questions:
1) Do you want 2 doors or 4?
2) Do you want a quick daily driver or a fast modified daily driver?
3) Are you prepared for the inevitable drop in reliability with boosting a car that wasn't meant to be boosted?
4) Are you prepared to pay for the $10k+ to boost an IS properly so that it can be daily driven?
5) Are you willing to buy a car that doesn't respond very well to bolt on power mods? Do you plan to buy the Z and modify it? (350Zs come well-tuned from the factory and take a lot of money aka boosting to make them a lot faster).
6) Do you want to sacrifice a little luxury/comfort for sportiness/speed?

Those are some I can think of off the top of my head. I find that my IS is more than quick enough for daily driving duties, and with a couple of suspension modifications and a little extra power it would make an awesome track car (if that was my goal for it).

A lot of good questions, but it doesn't take $10k+ to boost a 2jz-ge and make it reliable. Tons of guys have extremely reliable kits built for under $5k. At the same time though they mostly do their own labor, install prices can be expensive.

WRXtranceformed · 05-12-2007, 11:54 AM

Yeah, there are always hidden costs associated with a turbo build... I know this better than anyone =P Ask Scott about that too, he learned it first hand as well. And like you said, especially if you're not doing your own labor, which I'll go out on a limb and say that Lorena is probably not going to do on her own?

Most of the guys on the IS forums, from what I've read, have said that to do a *reliable* turbo build that would last you the life of your car, including installation costs will be about $10k. That's including drivetrain upgrades, everything included. From what those guys say, at 300whp and around 7-9psi on the stock block, you're running on borrowed time basically. I don't know from experience, I've never boosted one of these engines... I'm just going off of what the guys who have done it have said ^_^

Feersty · 05-12-2007, 01:03 PM

Congratulations Lorena. You have your Masters in nursing now?

I am looking at the Z33 as well. I am would like a MY04 in Daytona Blue. It will probably be in a year or so though, and would be in cash.

ScottyB · 05-12-2007, 03:04 PM

WRXtranceformed Wrote:Yeah, there are always hidden costs associated with a turbo build... I know this better than anyone =P Ask Scott about that too, he learned it first hand as well.

my ordeal was screwed up on multiple levels, but the point is the same...whatever you think your build budget is, it's probably safe bet to add another 25-30% to that, at least....maybe more if you're buying used.

LorenaBeana · 05-12-2007, 09:29 PM

Thanks so much for the well-wishes and the advice. While I do all my own work on cars, I think I'd rather trust a turbo install to the pros, especially given the reliability factor. And that's one reason I wouldn't do it. The lexus is a fabulous car, but you know...the grass is always greener.

Well said about having a car that looked like every other car on the road. That's one of the reasons I'd bat-mobile it. (including the cave garage of course...haha) Maybe I'll just get some sweet wheels for the lexus to spruce it up a bit (since I need new tires already anyway).

And, like Scotty said, I'll need the room for moving purposes! Wherever I go that is. Thanks again guys! (but I think I'll still make the nissan guys let me testdrive it anyway!)

white_2kgt · 05-12-2007, 09:33 PM

congrats!

A Co-Worker of mine had a Turbo IS300 a few years back, he had so many problems with it, last I talked to him he ended up taking everything off, selling it on ebay and trading in the car. Get the Z, about the only non-ford family car'd I'd buy.

**Mike** · 05-12-2007, 11:37 PM

white_2kgt Wrote:Get the Z, about the only non-ford family car'd I'd buy.

:lol:

widely accepted as the japanese mustang.

**JustinG** · 05-13-2007, 12:01 PM

pick up an EVO Smile

, and have it shipped from california over to here. They are selling them for like 3-4k under MSRP and you pay like 500-1k for it to be shipped.

white_2kgt · 05-13-2007, 08:46 PM

Mike Wrote:
white_2kgt Wrote:Get the Z, about the only non-ford family car'd I'd buy.

:lol:

widely accepted as the japanese mustang.

lol, I guess I just have good taste :lol:

Dave · 05-14-2007, 09:57 AM

Congrats Lorena!
Where are you headed now? Got a job lined up already?
Personally, I'd keep the Rexus for now. It's been reliable, great platform, super practical, and lots of fun. Once you settle into what you're new role is, THEN figure out where the car needs to go.
And of course, track time >> car mods :-p

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