“Simple is best.”
This saying extends to most things that look and work fine. And in the world of mods, it serves as a constant reminder to the mod enthusiast that things can go really wrong (read: butt ugly and broken down) when modding your car with off-the-shelf parts and components.
Think of the number of four-wheeled eyesores plying our roads with their horrible bodykits, as well as the poor guy whose car cannot seem to work right after installing a seemingly harmless bolt-on component.
Don’t get me wrong; I am not slamming all “go fast” or “look good” stuff. Many of them do work at some level, and some bodykits can really make a mundane car look pretty decent.
Having said all that, it is still better to stick to reputable tuners and companies that have a long history and, better still, are partial to particular makes.
Take Tom’s, for example. They have been in the industry for 35 years and, in that time, have been manufacturing parts and components specially for Toyota and, more recently, Lexus cars.
This IS250 you see here is proof that when it comes to a car as handsome as this, you need not go overboard to make the car look and perform better.
Looks-wise, the designers and engineers at Tom’s wanted to retain the basic styling of this compact executive, while upping its looks quotient by a few notches.
And they have achieved just that with the sports styling kit. Comprising a front lip, side skirts and rear lower diffuser, this kit aptly defines the art of subtle styling.
Add in Tom’s sports exhaust muffler with its twin pipes, a set of Tom’s Advox coilovers (which lowers the car), and a set of VP8 alloy wheels and the car looks just awesome.
Rick, the owner of this IS250, yearns to have his ride’s engine and electronics modified further, but this will have to wait until the warranty period is over.
So, to tide over the wait, he had Tom’s newly developed Linear Throttle System (LTS) installed together with a Lexus F-Sport air intake.
The LTS allows you to choose from any one of four pre-tuned throttle modes that alter the sensitivity of the electronic throttle. Although this type of technology is not new, it is still a great mod, as every mode felt like a whole different car altogether.
Having done all he can (for now) to the engine and electronics, Rick focused his attention on the undercarriage.
With the Advox coilovers, the car already felt more balanced and stable under hard cornering.
After adding on Tom’s front and mid lower braces, as well as the rear tie bars and the Lexus F-Sport sway bars, the stiffness quotient of the undercarriage has increased considerably. While this has compromised ride comfort somewhat, the car still rides well.
The obvious upside is that the body roll has almost disappeared and the resultant improvement in cornering grip is something you need to experience for yourself.
Even mid-corner throttle adjustments could not upset the car’s balance and throw it off its intended line – unless you are ridiculously inconsistent with your right foot. It tracks true as an arrow. Tom’s big brake kit, comprising 6- and 4-piston calipers, delivers superb stopping performance every time.
Look through Tom’s website and you will notice the special section for Lexus cars. Click on the “IS” link and you will see that there are many other mods for the IS250.
Rick still owns a supercharged IS200 with over 300bhp on tap, making it the fastest here. So, watch this space in roughly two-and-a-half years’ time and you may just see Singapore’s fastest IS250.
Tom’s website has a dedicated section for the Lexus IS and there are still many tasty mods that have yet to find their way onto Rick’s IS250. But all in good time.
+ Exterior
> Lexus Sports Spoiler
> Tom’s Sports Styling Kit
> Lexus IS-F Front LED/HID fog lamps
> Lexus IS-F rear clear tail lamps
+ Engine/Electronics
> Tom’s Sports exhaust muffler
> Lexus F-Sport air intake
> Tom’s Linear Throttle System
+ Undercarriage
> Tom’s front lower brace
> Tom’s mid lower brace
> Tom’s rear tie bars
> Lexus F-Sport sway bars
> Tom’s Advox coilovers
+ Wheels/Brakes
> Tom’s 6-pot & 4-pot big brake kit
> Tom’s VP8 19-inch alloy wheels
> Continental ContiSportContact2 235/35 R19 tyres
+ Interior
> Tom’s LED cabin lights
> Lexus IS-F leather gearshift knob
> Lexus Sports Pedal Kit
> Tom’s floor mats
