You all know this well: Some people just like to go fast – in more ways than one. They love rocketing down the road from behind the wheel of their lovingly modified cars. They also enjoy beating manufacturers to the punch when it comes to high-performance versions of certain models.
Forum member JeffTsai is one of those speed junkies. He not only wanted to increase the power of his Lexus GS300 Sport Design, but to create a GS F before the GS F existed. From the looks of his photos, it looks as if he’s done a helluva job.
For instance, Jeff’s car looks like a real badass. Its Graphite Grey Pearl is as low-key and eye-pleasing as its IS F wheels, which cover large F Sport brakes.
This F-ed-up four-door also has an upgraded suspension and chassis components. Jeff fitted his car with Tein Flex coilovers, a chassis underbrace and polyurethane bushings up front, and a six-link setup in the rear.
Of course, Jeff did plenty of work under the hood, too. He said, “This car actually has a fully forged and built bottom end. I opted to do this instead of just simply dropping in GTE rods/pistons for several reasons.” One of the many things Jeff did drop in was a T04Z twin-ball-bearing turbo. When he’s in his deeply bolstered IS F driver seat, he can put his foot down and tap into 914 rwhp and 785 ft.-lb. at 34 psi.
With that kind of power, I’m sure Jeff has no problem getting speeding tickets in a hurry, too.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
Where do you go for answers when you have a Lexus with a gorgeous leather interior but are not sure about how to maintain that luxurious look? The "Club Lexus" forums, of course.
