Let me just say that I started this journey almost two years ago now, this is my second Lexus, and I've put a lot of effort into it. When people really notice and comment on it, that's what keeps me going. It was HARD to keep this car as I purchased it basically 5-10k miles from needing major maintenance. Anyway, slowly I was able to acquire different accessories for the car that really makes it feel like my own.
Pictures don't do justice. I want to explain the feeling of this car. During broad daylight, you get in and immediately everything is darkened. You feel cozy. In the back, you can completely tune out the world with the curtains. I built it like a car meant to be driven by a chauffeur.
It has really made me think about what VIP style means. I didn't think my car was but the only thing it lacks - right now - is rims and it needs to be lowered. It actually became a budget VIP car, my original goal, and I am so proud of it.
The roof illuminates blue from the LED shifter. Also you can see the wide view rear view mirror.
To start, the maintenance I've done to this car in the 10k miles or so that I've had it includes timing belt, water pump, fuel pump, fuel filter, spark plugs and wires (have distributor caps - it's okay for now), and alternator. The only thing left to fix right now is this oil leak.
The car drives as perfect as can be. 95% of the time, there is absolutely no rattling or any weird noises driving unless the sunroof lid is sitting weird and moving up and down or something. The suspension is good and the car drives over bumps very smoothly yet has a sporty feel when you want to use it like that.
Anyway, let me get to the features of the car:
1. LED Backup Lights. They're tinted yellow and are very bright. They turn on when I'm reversing.
2. Floor LEDs. With a remote control, I can turn on the mood LEDs which light up the floor. There is about nine colors to choose from. It also has different settings. It can react to music, fade into different colors continuously, and I think you can program your own pattern. This is one of my favorites.
3. VIP Curtains. I have curtains for the rear windows. For those who don't know where this comes from, the Yakuza started this trend because in Japan, it was illegal to tint your windows. It wasn't illegal to put curtains on your car, though, thankfully. Now they could do their blow in peace.
4. Interior LED Bulbs. Most of the normal bulbs on the car, such as the lights on the corners of the doors or the ones that come on when you open the mirror located on the sun visor, have been replaced with blue LED bulbs. A very dear reader bought these for me when I was broke, getting me into LEDs. If that dear reader reads this, please contact me on Instagram. (I have memory issues resulting from a near fatal car crash.)
I lost all of my pictures with my last phone so instead of a picture of the interior LEDs, how about a different look at the floor LEDs?
5. Windshield Banner. I recommend this to anyone that is considering it. Sometimes you don't need the sun visor at all, it makes it darker in the car during the day, and looks cool as hell from the outside. How can you not like it? By the way, I'm somebody that doesn't like the sun visor for some reason so if I don't have to use it half the time compared to before, I'm happy.
Yes, I'm using two seat covers. The top one is padded and only covers the top of the back and bottom. They go together well. You can also see the embossed Lexus logo armrest cover in this picture.
6. Fog Lights. Nobody notices the fog lights unless it's nighttime. I really like these as well. They add to the look of the car and personally, I like how the blue goes with the yellow headlights. I actually like the button setup I'm using, too - a Crown Royal bag covering the wires, the button cozily sitting at the top where the bag closes and ties.
7. 15mm Spacers. I put 15mm spacers just in the rear because the rear tires seemed way too far in for me. The spacers are perfect. I didn't want to get anything bigger for fear of damage but I would probably be fine. Also, now both wheels pretty much match the edge which is wider because of...
8. Fenders. This is another favorite of mine. It makes the car look SO much better in my opinion. It changes the look completely with the spacers I mentioned and...
9. Carbon Fiber Wing. It fits the LS400 perfect. It's tiny - something I wanted in a spoiler. It would at least have to be tasteful but a huge spoiler doesn't belong on an LS400 unless it's a time trial car or something.
10. LED Shifter. I like this one a lot. It has four settings if you include off. You press the top to turn it on. It begins in the first pattern where the one blue light goes back and forth along the shifter. My favorite during daytime. Next you get all five lights strobing which is not one of my favorites. It's distracting to be honest. However, with the first setting and the last one consisting of all the lights simply staying on, it's still great.
At night, I turn it on to where all the lights are on. During the day, I might have it going back and forth. The shifter actually runs off a watch battery that lasts forever (remember, LEDs need very little energy). It complements the floor lights almost too good.
11. Misc. I have a custom made dashboard cover by yours truly and a center armrest cover with an embossed Lexus logo to match. I'm using pretty good seat covers right now but I want to eventually either reupholster the seats or just get nice, clean ones from the junkyard.
I really do like how they add black to the interior, though, so even when I get new seats, there will still be something. Probably like the one of the two front seat covers I'm using that just goes on top as opposed to covering the whole seat.
The car has a bunch of things I've picked up and added along the way like a wide view rear view mirror - a recommendation to anyone. I have a charger that works off the cigarette lighter and has an extension cigarette lighter-type port that I use for the LED lights and the charger also has a USB port on top to charge your phone at the same time.
The car is TINTED. When I say that, I mean it is tinted to the fullest extent of the law here in Florida. The back windows are 80% tint with the front being 70%. 80% on the front would be illegal. The sunroof is tinted too to probably 80%, the front windshield and back window came tinted stock (turquoise). Now, remember I also have not just a windshield banner but curtains as well. Yeah, you can't see inside if I don't want you to.
Much love,
- Rokas K.
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