gir.rocksFebruary 18, 2007
#43649Hello, new to the site here!
:dance: Hi all!New to the site, this country and of course new to VIP.
A little bit about me: I was born to a Japanese/Indian father and an American mother raised in a fairly quirky household in Japan I just came to the States for college :rolleyes: I have spent more time modifying bikes and cars than I have ever studied since I could say "engine" in baby talk. So yes, My priorities are in good order.
I have always seen VIP cars growing up in downtown areas of Osaka/Kobe Japan but found absolutely no interest in it since I've been driving MBZ and Porsches (It's a strange family rule... I was not allowed to drive too many other cars). Since arriving in the States, I decided I can't really rely on an MBZ to take me anywhere without breaking down. As I have no family to bother me in the USA, Celsior seemed to be a very reliable alternative to my previous cars. So upon arriving in the US, I began a hunt for a 1997 (prior to face-lift) UCF20 Celsior with under 60000miles.
Long story short, I found a Metallic grey UCF 20 Coach edition with 67000miles on Ebay, the best part? Totally unmolested! Every detail of maintenance has been done by Lexus Dealer! This was the car! So I flew to Houston, Texas and drove it up to Oregon. GREAT CAR. One crank of the engine and I knew this thing would make the 3000mile journey without a single cough or a sneeze. Which it did. Simply amazing engineering.
Within the week I drove the car back to Oregon, I noticed I was fatigued, sore, distant, not-concentrated, and just plain sick of the car. Cursing it's existence. "The worlds quietest cabin" is not something I appreciate a car. Especially in one in which I cannot feel the engine running. It's pretty scary to not know anything the car is doing. Power steering is way too powerful, brake feel is dull and handling of the car is extremely poor (something I would expect on a 14000$ American car, not a $60000 Celsior!). I have never had a totally detached feeling from a car until now. Still cursing the thoughts of buying this hunk of steel, I decide to look for PS controllers, suspensions, and Brembo brake modifications. Curse the fools that compared to this car to outdo the Germans (I now know the reviewers at Road and Track have no idea what is good handling.) But this lead to finding MANY MANY modifications for these cars!
It has now been 4 weeks since owning the car, and I have decided not to sell the car and get a 911 and to make the modifications to the car to meet my standards in terms of performance and feel as well as looks is totally possible, if not awesome.
Although I'm a total N00B I am liking the VIP style and all in good taste these cars can be absolutely stunning. And I am now even happy I went with the first gen. UCF20 instead of the newer! *Phew* I thought I had made the worst car purchase of my life until now! So I opened the hood and tweaked a little here and a little there getting the "feel" right. I can see this is going to take a long time before I get the car right. Not saying I want the car to drive like MBZ, but something that makes me feel more at home and one with the car.
I would like everybody's impression on VIPing this car, The Lexus LS400 or Celsior or UCF20. Whatever you may want to call it, doesn't bother me! The dos and don'ts from the pros and amateurs alike (because I'm 120% NOOB to VIP) Thanks- (arigatou)
My first "exterior mod" on the car was the emblems. The Lexus symbol was just too pimpy and unnatural on the car in my opinion. So now that the emblems are Toyota Celsior thou shalt not refer to the left hand drive Celsior as a Lexus:judge: . J/K.
Not really a mod, but hey I just bought the thing give me a few months to feel every inch.
Within the next 2 weeks I want to purchases the rims and suspension. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
So long intro is over!
Thanks for a great forum!!!
RJ
( I have myspace and yahoo messenger and I'm totally new to this country despite my American heritage, so it would be nice to get to know what is up!)
Thanks- (arigatou) Thanks- (arigatou) Thanks- (arigatou) ARIGATO DUDES!
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:dance: Hi all! New to the site, this country and of course new to VIP. A little bit about me: I was born to a Japanese/Indian father and an American mother raised in a fairly quirky household in Japan I just came to the States for college :rolleyes: I have spent more time modifying bikes and cars than I have ever studied since I could say "engine" in baby talk. So yes, My priorities are in good order. I have always seen VIP cars growing up in downtown areas of Osaka/Kobe Japan but found absolutely no interest in it since I've been driving MBZ and Porsches (It's a strange family rule... I was not allowed to drive too many other cars). Since arriving in the States, I decided I can't really rely on an MBZ to take me anywhere without breaking down. As I have no family to bother me in the USA, Celsior seemed to be a very reliable alternative to my previous cars. So upon arriving in the US, I began a hunt for a 1997 (prior to face-lift) UCF20 Celsior with under 60000miles. Long story short, I found a Metallic grey UCF 20 Coach edition with 67000miles on Ebay, the best part? Totally unmolested! Every detail of maintenance has been done by Lexus Dealer! This was the car! So I flew to Houston, Texas and drove it up to Oregon. GREAT CAR. One crank of the engine and I knew this thing would make the 3000mile journey without a single cough or a sneeze. Which it did. Simply amazing engineering. Within the week I drove the car back to Oregon, I noticed I was fatigued, sore, distant, not-concentrated, and just plain sick of the car. Cursing it's existence. "The worlds quietest cabin" is not something I appreciate a car. Especially in one in which I cannot feel the engine running. It's pretty scary to not know anything the car is doing. Power steering is way too powerful, brake feel is dull and handling of the car is extremely poor (something I would expect on a 14000$ American car, not a $60000 Celsior!). I have never had a totally detached feeling from a car until now. Still cursing the thoughts of buying this hunk of steel, I decide to look for PS controllers, suspensions, and Brembo brake modifications. Curse the fools that compared to this car to outdo the Germans (I now know the reviewers at Road and Track have no idea what is good handling.) But this lead to finding MANY MANY modifications for these cars! It has now been 4 weeks since owning the car, and I have decided not to sell the car and get a 911 and to make the modifications to the car to meet my standards in terms of performance and feel as well as looks is totally possible, if not awesome. Although I'm a total N00B I am liking the VIP style and all in good taste these cars can be absolutely stunning. And I am now even happy I went with the first gen. UCF20 instead of the newer! *Phew* I thought I had made the worst car purchase of my life until now! So I opened the hood and tweaked a little here and a little there getting the "feel" right. I can see this is going to take a long time before I get the car right. Not saying I want the car to drive like MBZ, but something that makes me feel more at home and one with the car. I would like everybody's impression on VIPing this car, The Lexus LS400 or Celsior or UCF20. Whatever you may want to call it, doesn't bother me! The dos and don'ts from the pros and amateurs alike (because I'm 120% NOOB to VIP) Thanks- (arigatou) My first "exterior mod" on the car was the emblems. The Lexus symbol was just too pimpy and unnatural on the car in my opinion. So now that the emblems are Toyota Celsior thou shalt not refer to the left hand drive Celsior as a Lexus:judge: . J/K. Not really a mod, but hey I just bought the thing give me a few months to feel every inch. Within the next 2 weeks I want to purchases the rims and suspension. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: So long intro is over! Thanks for a great forum!!! RJ ( I have myspace and yahoo messenger and I'm totally new to this country despite my American heritage, so it would be nice to get to know what is up!) Thanks- (arigatou) Thanks- (arigatou) Thanks- (arigatou) ARIGATO DUDES!