Been a long time member of CL, started with an 08 IS250, after four years I came to a cross roads with the build, keep spending money on the VIP route and wide body the car, or buy the car I knew I always wanted, the F!!!
My previous car (static btw, everyone used to think it was bagged!)

So after searching for a couple months for a low mileage, un-modified F, one finally popped up at Lexus of Pleasanton which happened to be fairly close to me!! I went to look at the car, and walked away that day with the keys in my hand!
2008 Mercury Metallic IS-F


47k on the clock!!


First Night with it


First Mods were the RR-Racing Intake Tube with AEM insert, combined with the Air Oil Seperator


Then came the ISS Scoops, and I was able to find a used Joe-Z Catback from OneSiCkF, big thanks to him for working with me to pick up the exhaust!



Since I own a commercial graphics/wrap business, and to be honest, I'm not a big silver guy. I wrapped the whole car using the new Orafol Color, Aubergine Bronze (found on the VIPautosalon cars at SEMA), and Black Chrome for accents.


Added a Tom's Rep Rear diffuser as well.


Was able to pull the 2013 Headlights, and 2014 LED fogs from my previous build to update to the 2014 front end for the F!



In the sun it changes colors constantly!


That's it for now. Next up is suspension, I have FIGs LCA Bushings, Megan Toe and Camber arms, and the F-Sport rear sway bar for the rear. I am NOT slamming this car, I bought it to drive and track it. Thinking of going the Penske route for Coils, but still undecided! Hope you guys like it, I know it's a little different than usual

 

Wow that's an insane looking wrap! I like it a lot despite not being a huge fan of gold/regular chrome wraps. Great looking car so far!

 

Looks great!

Really like that wrap!

You made a great job of applying it as well, looks quality.

Nice selection of mods so far.

Enjoy!

 

Thank you!! My goal was to demonstrate how wild you can go with the wraps, while trying to keep it good looking if that makes any sense lol.

Thank you for the kind words!!

 

WOW!
So unique!
And your previous build was so wild! I can't wait to see whats in store for your car!

 

I like but dont like the wrap at the same time. But more like 99% like, 1% dislike. :P
sick!

 

Car looks great buddy! Love the color of the wrap.

 

Thank you!!

Thank you lol, it's definitely not a normal color, and I for sure don't expect everyone to like it. But I'm glad your 99% on board with it haha! I usually change colors pretty often, I don't expect this to last more than a year!

Thank you!! Sounds great now too!

 

Couple of small updates! Picked up some more bushings from Figs, and finally got them all put in! To go along with the front lower arm rear bushing, sway bar, and toe and camber arms, I added the front lower arm front mount #1, and the front upper control arm offset bushings as well. The car handles so much better, I immediately noticed how much stiffer and more responsive the car is. As soon as it's done raining I'm going to really test it out in the twisties! Couple of updates on the interior. Going with a real carbon fiber/texalium mashup. So far i've added carbon fiber door cups, center console accents, and texalium steering wheel controls for my flat bottom carbon top DCTMS wheel! Couple of nice shots after I washed it! I also wrapped the calipers in reflective Orange with F logos!

 

The calipers look sick. Wrapping will hold up with the heat?

 

Thank you! Yes, reflective vinyl is extremely heat resistant, my heat gun goes well above 1000 Fahrenheit, and barely affected it.

 

Coming along nicely dude.

Still liking that colour as well.

Very cool. Report back on your raft of handling upgrades. Only thing I find is when you do a load of changes at once, it's tough to work out the individual benefits from each item. I'm sure that little lot will make a huge improvement though dude.

Keep up the great work.

 

Car looks great!
How difficult and labor intensive is it to wrap the brake calipers?

 

Thank you!! Hopefully I'll get a small break in the rain and work this week to get out to the twisties and I will report back, I do agree it's going to be hard to single out which one has the most effect. Thank you! Honestly, it was quite difficult wrapping the calipers. If I didn't wrap for a living I probably would've given up lol, it's was pretty frustrating. I do offer it as a service, but it's certainly not a cheap one unfortunately. If they made reflective powder coat I would've probably gone in that direction. I am pleased with the outcome though!

 

Wish you could come to the UK!

I'd get you to wrap my car.

There are firms that do it over here, but I've not been that impressed with their work.

Looks like you've got it down to an art mate.

Let us know once you've had a play on the twisties!