Pics of the Slooooooow Boulevardier
07-23-10, 05:05 AM
#35
*LOL* Last year I let my folks borrow the car and they didn't take long to sweetly ask if there was anything I could do about the ride saying, "It looks great and all, but...can you make it ride like a Lexus again for us?" *ROTFLMAO*So one Saturday I removed the eyelids, (Ksport) coilovers, the wheels (18x7.5 5Zigens) and the tires (Kuhmo ASX).
I left the upgraded braking system, exhaust system, the (Whiteline) strut tower brace, and the (Whiteline) rear sway bar.
I then sourced and installed (KYB GR-2) dampers, (Lexus) OEM ES300 springs, (Lexus) OEM 16" wheels, and (Michelin Primacy MXV4) OEM specification tires.
Immediately after the install I took it out for some test drives to make sure everything was buttoned down before handing it over to them again. My face -->
The ride was INCREDIBLE - and QUIET. I hadn't noticed how low profile tires, high diameter rims, and coilovers tend to bring out chassis noises until that moment. The car was again vault-like and solid - and the ride was creamy smooth. Buttah. Now I remember the car I fell in love with. But with all the remaining upgraded components I had a car that ran, sounded, braked, and handled MUCH better than a stock ES. Best of both worlds?
I handed the car back to the folks and they went ape for it, with a "...I don't know why you'd ever want it to ride like anything but this!" and compliment after compliment.
FAST FORWARD almost a year later, they felt so guilty about driving it (don't know why - too much pressure from my OCD to keep it clean?) that they eventually got themselves another car and returned it. So it's back to being my mostly daily-driver. I still have the stuff I uninstalled and when I look back through this thread I feel strongly compelled to reinstall it for sake of the looks. But then I get back in it and ride and .... ahhhhhh.
So...yeah. I'm on a daily precipice teetering back and forth between enjoying the Lexus ride and silence, versus going back to the look, stance, handling and aggressive ride I like. There's the recent Boulevardier update.
07-23-10, 07:35 AM
#36
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The eyelids could have atleast stayed! Could always see if just the wheels on don't sacrifice ride much, but I thought you got robbed! Anyway the boulavardier is still around atleast.
07-23-10, 08:35 PM
#39
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*LOL* Last year I let my folks borrow the car and they didn't take long to sweetly ask if there was anything I could do about the ride saying, "It looks great and all, but...can you make it ride like a Lexus again for us?" *ROTFLMAO*So one Saturday I removed the eyelids, (Ksport) coilovers, the wheels (18x7.5 5Zigens) and the tires (Kuhmo ASX).
I left the upgraded braking system, exhaust system, the (Whiteline) strut tower brace, and the (Whiteline) rear sway bar.
I then sourced and installed (KYB GR-2) dampers, (Lexus) OEM ES300 springs, (Lexus) OEM 16" wheels, and (Michelin Primacy MXV4) OEM specification tires.
Immediately after the install I took it out for some test drives to make sure everything was buttoned down before handing it over to them again. My face -->
The ride was INCREDIBLE - and QUIET. I hadn't noticed how low profile tires, high diameter rims, and coilovers tend to bring out chassis noises until that moment. The car was again vault-like and solid - and the ride was creamy smooth. Buttah. Now I remember the car I fell in love with. But with all the remaining upgraded components I had a car that ran, sounded, braked, and handled MUCH better than a stock ES. Best of both worlds?
I handed the car back to the folks and they went ape for it, with a "...I don't know why you'd ever want it to ride like anything but this!" and compliment after compliment.
FAST FORWARD almost a year later, they felt so guilty about driving it (don't know why - too much pressure from my OCD to keep it clean?) that they eventually got themselves another car and returned it. So it's back to being my mostly daily-driver. I still have the stuff I uninstalled and when I look back through this thread I feel strongly compelled to reinstall it for sake of the looks. But then I get back in it and ride and .... ahhhhhh.
So...yeah. I'm on a daily precipice teetering back and forth between enjoying the Lexus ride and silence, versus going back to the look, stance, handling and aggressive ride I like. There's the recent Boulevardier update.
07-27-10, 01:41 PM
#41
I can put the 5Zigens back on, but the 18" wheels with appropriate tires have me riding with a bit of wheelgap (see my first picture post in the "Wheels" thread) that's more than I'm comfy with. I tell ya though, with the looks I eventually achieved above, the coilovers and wheels/tires could be back on there at any moment. *lol*
I completely agree!
The Ksports rode better (smoother, firmer, less body lean) than the H&R springs+KYB GR-2 struts, so they were a welcome change. I didn't have major complaints about them when I had them installed, but the extreme contrast with the (mostly) OEM suspension was the cold-water-in-the-face shock.
I agree with your thought for the most part, Maniax. The unfortunate thing is, 3/4 Camry and 2ES owners have no other real coilover alternatives.
*LOL* If you caught me at the exact right second in time where I was pondering sticking with OEM, possibly. I can't express how fleeting and rare those vulnerable seconds are though!
You're more likely to catch me in the garage throwing everything back on! *hahaha*
