My 2004 Lexus IS 300 Sport Design 5MT

JDMSteven · 10-14-2021, 10:48 AM

Grew up a JDM kid (hence my username) and this was one of my dream cars. Finally found one for sale earlier this year that seemed too good to be true, but it was exactly as advertised and I jumped on it! 1 of about 1,500 manual 2004 models, and has the much rarer Sport Design package, which gives you titanium housing headlights & tail lights, black pearl badging & grille, unique wheels, and a full double-stitched leather interior. It's also finished in a Sport Design exclusive color called Thunder Cloud Metallic. My particular car has a few more options, like the Torsen Limited Slip Differential (YAY!)

Came across the ad on Craigslist while at work one day. Set the location to Tampa Bay (about an hour from me) and typed in Lexus, and it was the first thing that popped up. Spoke with the owner and I went down that night and bought it.

He was the original owner, and was a former dealer technician turned service manager, Florida since new. It was his pride and joy, he had the window sticker, the brochure, all the books, 3 keys, and a clean Carfax with about 20 pages of service history. The only modification is a period correct HKS Super Drager axle-back exhaust, which is very quiet and refined. It has 242k miles on it and runs like the day it rolled off the showroom floor; the 2JZ is such a stout engine with routine maintenance!

My plans are to bring everything up to OEM specs, replace the motor with a lower mileage model, boost it, and swap the weak OEM transmission for something a little more robust; with the goal being maybe 400ish hp. It will stay almost completely stock appearance wise, except for coilovers for a mild drop and better handling & a TRD front bumper or a lip, along with IS250/350 F-Sport 18" wheels. For now, it alternates between a few of my cars as daily driver and I enjoy rowing thru the gears, revving out that N/A Inline 6 and cruising.

wtwo3 · 10-14-2021, 11:05 AM

That's a beauty. Excited to see the results

KennyFSU · 10-14-2021, 11:10 AM

Nice pickup, always liked those back in college, great color too.

Foggins · 10-14-2021, 11:11 AM

what a great find! Whenever I see a car like that on the road (rare), I always do a double take. Such an amazing, timeless design.

JDMSteven · 10-14-2021, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foggins

what a great find! Whenever I see a car like that on the road (rare), I always do a double take. Such an amazing, timeless design.

It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside, I drive it WAY more than my M6 even lol

inTgr8r · 10-14-2021, 11:13 AM

great find!
I really liked these cars as well and would have bought one back in the day, except the cabin was too small for me.

JDMSteven · 10-14-2021, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

great find!
I really liked these cars as well and would have bought one back in the day, except the cabin was too small for me.

They're very tiny! I'm 5' 3" maybe 130lbs and it feels tailored to me, although I have a buddy that's probably 6' bigger guy and he daily drives an identical car to mine in Alabaster White

Germanauto · 10-14-2021, 11:32 AM

Congrats.

I too had one of those....in Midnight Club 3.

JDMSteven · 10-14-2021, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Congrats.

I too had one of those....in Midnight Club 3.

I've spent A LOT of hours on that game as a kid ; it certainly fueled my addiction to this car and cars in general.

ntg44 · 10-14-2021, 11:47 AM

Badass.

Now start overnighting parts from Japan!

inTgr8r · 10-14-2021, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDMSteven

They're very tiny! I'm 5' 3" maybe 130lbs and it feels tailored to me, although I have a buddy that's probably 6' bigger guy and he daily drives an identical car to mine in Alabaster White

Yeah, I wanted that car sooo bad but just couldn't see it working long term.
I settled for a G35

Th3Walrus · 10-14-2021, 03:26 PM

Make sure you remove the CDV.

stein_325i · 10-14-2021, 04:57 PM

Awesome, always loved the original IS, and the prices on these now are just insane. I especially loved the chronograph watch inspired gauge cluster.

JDMSteven · 10-14-2021, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stein_325i

Awesome, always loved the original IS, and the prices on these now are just insane. I especially loved the chronograph watch inspired gauge cluster.

I'd love to get my hands on one of those watches

keg97 · 10-14-2021, 08:09 PM

LOVED those! My wife can tell you being at the Lexus dealer the summer of 2004 with me trying to get the rear facing baby seat to fit (our first born was on her way) and the salesman suggesting I try an ES (yuck!) instead.

I even remember that color.

JDMSteven · 10-14-2021, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keg97

LOVED those! My wife can tell you being at the Lexus dealer the summer of 2004 with me trying to get the rear facing baby seat to fit (our first born was on her way) and the salesman suggesting I try an ES (yuck!) instead.

I even remember that color.

I've had a couple of those 97-01 ES's too... I was born in 98 so I loved that era of Japanese cars

spazzyfry123 · 10-15-2021, 08:17 AM

Yours sure looks familiar...

I miss this thing. Near little car.

JDMSteven · 10-15-2021, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spazzyfry123

Yours sure looks familiar...

I miss this thing. Near little car.

Yours a 5 speed too? Wow! Love the way it sits, do you rmr what your suspension setup was?

spazzyfry123 · 10-15-2021, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDMSteven

Yours a 5 speed too? Wow! Love the way it sits, do you rmr what your suspension setup was?

Five speed! ...auto

I had to dig for the pictures - those are probably from 10+ years ago. I want to say they were Tein lowering springs?

When I lowered it I put spacers on the original Sport Design wheels and it looked great, but the tech unfortunately hit a curb or something and bent one of the wheels. We couldn't find OEM replacements, so there you see the wheels on it.

JDMSteven · 10-15-2021, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spazzyfry123

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDMSteven

Yours a 5 speed too? Wow! Love the way it sits, do you rmr what your suspension setup was?

Five speed! ...auto

I had to dig for the pictures - those are probably from 10+ years ago. I want to say they were Tein lowering springs?

When I lowered it I put spacers on the original Sport Design wheels and it looked great, but the tech unfortunately hit a curb or something and bent one of the wheels. We couldn't find OEM replacements, so there you see the wheels on it.

Not doing lowering springs on mine with 242k mi now, the front suspension was rebuilt a little while ago hit a fresh set of coilovers would be nice

ramman434 · 10-15-2021, 01:12 PM

Great find. Have had a couple of buddies with Boosted IS's over the years. Very underrated cars (and only one was a manual).

My buddy down here in Fort Lauderdale had a red 5spd about 6 months back, that a guy traded him for an E46 330i + cash. I think it only had 140k on the clock. My friend sold it not long after, but said it was fun to drive.

JDMSteven · 10-15-2021, 01:42 PM

This car to me is in the same wheelhouse as E46 ZHP, I've always wanted to own both with a manual transmission. Simple vehicles with great driving characteristics.

10-14-2021, 10:48 AM	#1
JDMSteven Captain 401 Rep 667 Posts Drives: 13 M6 Coupe, 04 IS 300 5MT 2JZ Join Date: May 2018 Location: Ocala, Florida iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 BMW M6 [10.00]	My 2004 Lexus IS 300 Sport Design 5MT Grew up a JDM kid (hence my username) and this was one of my dream cars. Finally found one for sale earlier this year that seemed too good to be true, but it was exactly as advertised and I jumped on it! 1 of about 1,500 manual 2004 models, and has the much rarer Sport Design package, which gives you titanium housing headlights & tail lights, black pearl badging & grille, unique wheels, and a full double-stitched leather interior. It's also finished in a Sport Design exclusive color called Thunder Cloud Metallic. My particular car has a few more options, like the Torsen Limited Slip Differential (YAY!) Came across the ad on Craigslist while at work one day. Set the location to Tampa Bay (about an hour from me) and typed in Lexus, and it was the first thing that popped up. Spoke with the owner and I went down that night and bought it. He was the original owner, and was a former dealer technician turned service manager, Florida since new. It was his pride and joy, he had the window sticker, the brochure, all the books, 3 keys, and a clean Carfax with about 20 pages of service history. The only modification is a period correct HKS Super Drager axle-back exhaust, which is very quiet and refined. It has 242k miles on it and runs like the day it rolled off the showroom floor; the 2JZ is such a stout engine with routine maintenance! My plans are to bring everything up to OEM specs, replace the motor with a lower mileage model, boost it, and swap the weak OEM transmission for something a little more robust; with the goal being maybe 400ish hp. It will stay almost completely stock appearance wise, except for coilovers for a mild drop and better handling & a TRD front bumper or a lip, along with IS250/350 F-Sport 18" wheels. For now, it alternates between a few of my cars as daily driver and I enjoy rowing thru the gears, revving out that N/A Inline 6 and cruising. Attached Images
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10-14-2021, 11:05 AM	#2
wtwo3 Brigadier General 11948 Rep 4,710 Posts Drives: 2023 X7 40i; 2020 M340i Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: IL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 BMW m340i [0.00] 2023 BMW X7 40i [10.00]	That's a beauty. Excited to see the results __________________ 2023 BMW M3 6MT (On Order) 2023 BMW X7 xdrive40i 2020 BMW M340i xdrive '20 BMW X5 40i... '16 Infiniti Q50 RS 400... '10 Lexus RX 350... '08 Lexus IS 350... '00 Nissan Maxima... '93 Nissan Maxima
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10-14-2021, 11:10 AM	#3
KennyFSU Captain 1086 Rep 734 Posts Drives: Lexus RC F Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Florida iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 BMW F22 M235xi [0.00] 1991 Suzuki Intrude ... [0.00]	Nice pickup, always liked those back in college, great color too. __________________ Estoril Blue E36M3 Mineral Grey M235ix/12.02 @ 115 Ultra White Lexus RC F
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10-14-2021, 11:11 AM	#4
Foggins Restless 1300 Rep 1,046 Posts Drives: M2C Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Dallas & Toronto iTrader: (0)	what a great find! Whenever I see a car like that on the road (rare), I always do a double take. Such an amazing, timeless design.
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10-14-2021, 11:13 AM	#6
inTgr8r Lieutenant General 2297 Rep 11,590 Posts Drives: M2 Comp Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (10)	great find! I really liked these cars as well and would have bought one back in the day, except the cabin was too small for me.
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10-14-2021, 11:32 AM	#8
Germanauto Major General 9055 Rep 5,798 Posts Drives: Alfa Romeo Giulia, Rosso Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: LA iTrader: (0)	Congrats. I too had one of those....in Midnight Club 3. __________________ Former -2008 E90 328 black/brown -2012 Lexus IS250 black/black
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10-14-2021, 11:47 AM	#10
ntg44 Colonel 2823 Rep 2,137 Posts Drives: R8 4.2 Spyder Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Chicago iTrader: (3)	Badass. Now start overnighting parts from Japan! __________________ YT: ntg44
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10-14-2021, 03:26 PM	#12
Th3Walrus Second Lieutenant 192 Rep 283 Posts Drives: 2017 340i xDrive 6MT MPPSK Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Ontario iTrader: (0)	Make sure you remove the CDV.
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10-14-2021, 04:57 PM	#13
stein_325i Ring Leader of G8X Haters 23544 Rep 8,532 Posts Drives: A Car Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: All-Around iTrader: (0) Garage List 2023 Genesis GV70 [0.00] 2022 Mercedes S 580 [9.25] 2007 Mercedes E 350 [0.00] 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata [0.00]	Awesome, always loved the original IS, and the prices on these now are just insane. I especially loved the chronograph watch inspired gauge cluster. __________________ Current Garage: 2022 Mercedes-Benz S 580 / 2023 Genesis GV70 2.5T / 2007 Mercedes-Benz E 350 / 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata Retired: '95 E36 325i 5MT / '04 E46 330i 6MT / '05 E83 X3 3.0i / '11 E90 335xi / '17 G30 540i / '19 F87 M2C 6MT / '19 MB CLS 53 / '20 MB GLC 300
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10-14-2021, 08:09 PM	#15
keg97 Enlisted Member 46 Rep 43 Posts Drives: BMW X5 Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	LOVED those! My wife can tell you being at the Lexus dealer the summer of 2004 with me trying to get the rear facing baby seat to fit (our first born was on her way) and the salesman suggesting I try an ES (yuck!) instead. I even remember that color.
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10-15-2021, 08:17 AM	#17
spazzyfry123 Lieutenant Colonel 3397 Rep 1,857 Posts Drives: Here and There Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Florida and Georgia iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 BMW E90 M3 [10.00]	Yours sure looks familiar... I miss this thing. Near little car. Attached Images
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10-15-2021, 01:12 PM	#21
ramman434 Lieutenant 683 Rep 529 Posts Drives: F30 335i Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL iTrader: (0)	Great find. Have had a couple of buddies with Boosted IS's over the years. Very underrated cars (and only one was a manual). My buddy down here in Fort Lauderdale had a red 5spd about 6 months back, that a guy traded him for an E46 330i + cash. I think it only had 140k on the clock. My friend sold it not long after, but said it was fun to drive. __________________ '07 Montego Blue E92 335i - 6spd. Weiss Licht Angel Eyes, AFE DCI, Vishnu 3.5 - SOLD '16 Carbon Black Metallic F10 535i M-Sport - eBay Special Strut Bar, CF M4 Mirror caps: TOTALED 11/21/21 '13 Black Sapphire Metallic F30 335i M-Sport - unknown charge pipe, MSport Exhaust, 20" 405M wheels, Tech, Driving Ass. (+), Dynamic Handling, Rear Sunshades
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10-15-2021, 01:42 PM	#22
JDMSteven Captain 401 Rep 667 Posts Drives: 13 M6 Coupe, 04 IS 300 5MT 2JZ Join Date: May 2018 Location: Ocala, Florida iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 BMW M6 [10.00]	This car to me is in the same wheelhouse as E46 ZHP, I've always wanted to own both with a manual transmission. Simple vehicles with great driving characteristics.
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