New owner of a 2002 IS300 Sportcross - from the Mitsubishi world
#1
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Hey guys, new guy here, My name is James.
I just picked up a 2002 Sportcross two days ago, and I already love the car. I ride bikes for a living, but I hate driving my truck everywhere, and I really wanted a wagon so I can put my bike in the back. But I also really wanted a RWD car as I've had AWD cars for the past 7 years and it's time for something different.
This narrowed my options down to either a CTS-V wagon, or an E63 Wagon, which are both very pricey. Then last week I saw a Sportcross on the freeway somewhere, I had completely forgotten they existed, so I promptly started searching for them. I got lucky, a few days into my search the car I bought popped up on Craigslist locally, clean title, 140k miles, well taken care of by a caring owner. Needless to say I bought it immediately, and here I am!![Smilie](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
The way I see it, I can have the car now, swap in the 5-speed transmission, build the motor and turbo it, and I'll still have significantly less invested than if I bought a used CTS-V or E63 Wagon, AND I'll have a much more unique, kickass rare Japanese car. The choice was obvious.
I seem to have an affinity for extremely rare Japanese cars, as I already own a highly modified 1992 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4. (One of 3009 ever brought to the US in 1991-1992.) Details can be found here:
http://www.galantvr4.org/ubbthreads/...page=0&fpart=1
My plans for the Sportcross are to swap in a 5 speed transmission, and eventually either rebuild the 2JZ-GE motor with the GTE internals or swap in the GTE motor, and turbocharge it, aiming for somewhere around 350-400hp while keeping it a reliable daily driver.
Good to be here, I hope to learn a lot here about the IS300 in the coming months.
Here's some pics of my Sportcross. The wheels are going to be changed out ASAP. I'm gonna look at a few different options for wheels, but I have a set of Enkei RPF1's in the garage for my Galant in 17x8" +35 on 245/40/17 tires, so I might throw those on and see how they fit/look.
I also like the Volk TE37's so I might look into those. Still trying to decide on what wheel size/offset I want also. I don't want to go "hellaflush" but I do want a good looking/functional wheel/tire fitment.
![](http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg70/xjamesfosterx/Lex/167FB953-B1D2-47F7-8CDC-0C09C3A20BAA.jpg)
![](http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg70/xjamesfosterx/Lex/98867328-FE40-40F9-9465-B988F754C8A6.jpg)
![](http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg70/xjamesfosterx/Lex/EC9070A0-87EB-46C3-A889-D3C97B944A92.jpg)
![](http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg70/xjamesfosterx/Lex/9AA37319-C279-40A7-852A-DC8932C44461.jpg)
![](http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg70/xjamesfosterx/Lex/AEC5231E-8CD6-49CF-9CD1-246526D73216.jpg)
And here's a few pics of my Galant.
![](http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg70/xjamesfosterx/674/IMG_6480.jpg)
![](http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg70/xjamesfosterx/674/IMG_6482.jpg)
I just picked up a 2002 Sportcross two days ago, and I already love the car. I ride bikes for a living, but I hate driving my truck everywhere, and I really wanted a wagon so I can put my bike in the back. But I also really wanted a RWD car as I've had AWD cars for the past 7 years and it's time for something different.
This narrowed my options down to either a CTS-V wagon, or an E63 Wagon, which are both very pricey. Then last week I saw a Sportcross on the freeway somewhere, I had completely forgotten they existed, so I promptly started searching for them. I got lucky, a few days into my search the car I bought popped up on Craigslist locally, clean title, 140k miles, well taken care of by a caring owner. Needless to say I bought it immediately, and here I am!
![Smilie](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
The way I see it, I can have the car now, swap in the 5-speed transmission, build the motor and turbo it, and I'll still have significantly less invested than if I bought a used CTS-V or E63 Wagon, AND I'll have a much more unique, kickass rare Japanese car. The choice was obvious.
I seem to have an affinity for extremely rare Japanese cars, as I already own a highly modified 1992 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4. (One of 3009 ever brought to the US in 1991-1992.) Details can be found here:
http://www.galantvr4.org/ubbthreads/...page=0&fpart=1
My plans for the Sportcross are to swap in a 5 speed transmission, and eventually either rebuild the 2JZ-GE motor with the GTE internals or swap in the GTE motor, and turbocharge it, aiming for somewhere around 350-400hp while keeping it a reliable daily driver.
Good to be here, I hope to learn a lot here about the IS300 in the coming months.
Here's some pics of my Sportcross. The wheels are going to be changed out ASAP. I'm gonna look at a few different options for wheels, but I have a set of Enkei RPF1's in the garage for my Galant in 17x8" +35 on 245/40/17 tires, so I might throw those on and see how they fit/look.
I also like the Volk TE37's so I might look into those. Still trying to decide on what wheel size/offset I want also. I don't want to go "hellaflush" but I do want a good looking/functional wheel/tire fitment.
![](http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg70/xjamesfosterx/Lex/167FB953-B1D2-47F7-8CDC-0C09C3A20BAA.jpg)
![](http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg70/xjamesfosterx/Lex/98867328-FE40-40F9-9465-B988F754C8A6.jpg)
![](http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg70/xjamesfosterx/Lex/EC9070A0-87EB-46C3-A889-D3C97B944A92.jpg)
![](http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg70/xjamesfosterx/Lex/9AA37319-C279-40A7-852A-DC8932C44461.jpg)
![](http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg70/xjamesfosterx/Lex/AEC5231E-8CD6-49CF-9CD1-246526D73216.jpg)
And here's a few pics of my Galant.
![](http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg70/xjamesfosterx/674/IMG_6480.jpg)
![](http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg70/xjamesfosterx/674/IMG_6482.jpg)
![](http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg70/xjamesfosterx/674/55A040A2-7D9F-40F8-BA9A-30E2735D0C75.jpg)
#4
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Join Date: Feb 2014
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Nice wagons! I wanted one but the cheapest one I could find in my area was more than three times what I paid for my sedan. Please don't ruin them, they're like unicorns.
#5
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congrats! loved the first generation IS300. I had one way back in 2003 when I bought it new. too bad I sold it in 2007 for profit of $10k and it only had 14k miles. never drove it ever since I got my 2006 evolution IX MR.
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#10
Driver School Candidate
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Nice sportcross, I just sold mine & I cried, (a got a CT) I read you ride bike you should defiantly put a roof rack makes the are look great! Enjoy your sportcross
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