DFB in 2019; Our Goals and Lexi2 Now

Driving for Broke was started in late 2017 and along the way, we reached some goals, learned a lot, and although we have very few readers, there are no signs of stopping. DFB has a much clearer vision now. We want to bring you all the information you can't find online now. And why am I referring to the website as more than myself?

Work in progress. Will be revealed in 2019 what the deal is. It's gonna be more than learning. Hint? You won't have to learn to make something you see here to have it. And by that I mean own it.

Because welcome my new teammate, my beautiful wife, who will be helping to produce videos for YouTube to go along with the articles! This is a major step for the website, I think. My own opinion is that people shouldn't stop reading about how to fix things just because they can watch a video. The reason for this is because there are typically more details in an article. Questions as to why a certain paint acts like this in that condition - to use as an example. A video format also has its own positives.

We're going to be bringing you a lot more tutorials in general. And not just for the LS400 but other cars. The idea was always to have my readers learn with me.

This is how she sits as of December 25, 2018.

As for other content, 2019 is the year I will really be going at Lexi2, getting the car right in every way. I'm doing the paint myself and you guys will be able to see how to do a quality paint job with spray paint. I will be fixing up any loose ends under the hood and just making the engine run better in general. I can tell it has lost probably 20-30 hp which I aim to get back (a new Coolant Temp Sensor brings back about that much horsepower if yours is very old; just a tip - the part is maybe $25).

Next year is the year I will really get into upholstery. I have a lot of plans that I won't list here but, again, you will be able to watch me learn and I'll explain it to you. The goal for that is re-doing Lexi2's seats completely.

Really, the whole car is going to be re-done. If only cleaned, I mean I will be attending to every part of the vehicle.

Also, a 4-cylinder is joining the DFB car club. A 4-cylinder?! Yes and it's JDM as heck. It's a 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer ES. It has a jammed starter, valve cover gasket leak, needs new everything when it comes to maintenance, and it is super dirty.

That's my wife's car and it needs to be brought back to life. It's only at around 110,000 miles so to sell it for $1000 would be stupid (but a good buy for you - another tip). I'm gonna do all of the work on this car myself. I will probably be starting in a few months. My goal is to bring that back to showroom condition. It's a great car, one owner (my wife), and really, we just neglected it too much.

I'm thinking of possibly messing around and trying to get some horsepower out of the normal non-Evo non-Ralliart Lancer for s$&$s and giggles. Only if I can do it cheap - like set up a turbo from a junkyard for $300.

Oh and she said when she gets her car back, I can paint mine purple. She just doesn't want people to assume I'm a pimp and her... Yeah...

Here you can see the temporary seat covers and the permanent curtains. Also I'm really liking beige and black as a combo.

I'm joking but in the back of my mind, maybe I will one day. Not pimp her out but paint the car purple.

Let's go over the whole car real quick so we can see where it ends up at the end of next year. What I have done to it:

- Got it running good.

- Installed VIP curtains.

- LED floor lights with remote control.
- Fog lights in the bumper with a button inside.

- Amber/yellow headlights. Also the small clear white part on the rear lights is tinted as well and has LED bulbs.

- Carbon fiber wing - not real carbon fiber.

- Changed out ugly front floor matts back to the stock ones.

- Created a dashboard cover.

- Created a center armrest cover.

- Added wide view rear-view mirror.

- Covers for the seats. I really don't like covers so re-upholstering the seats is a priority. However the covers are actually pretty good, especially the one for the back seat that fits tight and doesn't slide too much. Still, those are temporary.

- I changed out the interior bulbs for LEDs.

- Started painting the car to see if I could do a good job. The answer is a definite yes.

- Changed out the shifter that was falling apart.

- Added a steering wheel cover. Next year, I will potentially be restoring the steering wheel.

Honestly, all of this cost very little money. Fixing the car did, of course, but I took my time and looked for deals or did things myself to do everything else on a budget. I was allowing myself a maximum of $20 for every $100 I earn to put in the car. I used a lot less.

The car is close to looking very nice. I get people looking at it already, probably Lexus enthusiasts, but just wait for this gloss white paint job. I think the car will look amazing in all white with possibly gold rims. That is undecided.

Skills are growing; here I'm making a different center armrest cover. Actually the one I use now can be used for the rear center armrest too.

I wanted to show you guys around the car completely here so here's some pictures of different things I've done to it. I hope everybody has a Happy New Year's and a great 2019. That's what we all need to strive for. Thanks!