[s0yb0mb]

Last week, I was on vacation and took the IS on it's longest road trip yet: 1300+ miles.

The car had 2 people (myself + 1 passenger), gear in the back seat, a full trunk, and a roof rack with 2 bikes and a rocket box with 100+lbs of gear. let's just say I overloaded it a bit.
Anyway, I found that my gas milage was substantially lower on the highway, about 17 miles/gallon, but would get closer to 19 mpg if I went over 75mph, which I'm guessing has to do with the gearing overcoming the wind resistance... or something of that nature.

The car spent the entire week outdoors in the woods, getting rained on for 1/2 the time and serving as my mobile "home base" and I must say I've never been happier with the car. It held up to all my dirt and abuse fairly well, better than it had against other test like the cab door slam-test, or the parking rigors of Hoboken.

I expected the car to be a bit sluggish, and to react like a large boat in water when turning, but after I got more comfortable, I found that the car behaved quite well! Even on the ride home in which wI hit Friday rush hour, the car stopped and avoided moron drivers quite well.

My only complaint would be the seat. My legs would cramp up often because of the lack of lumbar support in the seat and me having to compensate w/ my legs. Other than that, I'm really pleased, and would take this car on any trip again

here are some pictures...
Driving on the rocky cost shore:

Soaking wet, 12 hours of pouring rain... tents leaked!

No comment:

 

[STKSKI]

Geez this could be a picture used by lexus promoting the IS as more then just a sports car! Thats a very nice pic man, nice photography.

Sam

 

[s0yb0mb]

Originally posted by STKSKI:


Geez this could be a picture used by lexus promoting the IS as more then just a sports car! Thats a very nice pic man, nice photography.

Sam

Thanks

I'm learning photography on a Nikon Coolpix 990... The beauty of a digital is I have all my settings saved w/ every photo, so I can see what works, what doesn't, and if a shot comes out poorly I know better for the next one and just delete it and shoot again!

[ June 06, 2001: Message edited by: s0yb0mb ]

 

[vsin]

s0yb0mb

that's a great shot of your is300.
i just bought myself the canon g1 a couple weeks ago and it is too much fun. i haven't picked up a camera in years but now i take it everywhere.

here some pics

 

[s0yb0mb]

wow! u put my amatuerish photos to shame! I did shoot a bunch of amazing photos, but nothing lexus related, only sea/mountain shots... had some great ones on the rocky coast with waves exploding near some rock climbers practicing on some short walls.

Random, but do you know of any good resources for learning more about digital photography?

 

[vsin]

im just an amateur myself

the pics were taken at a place called vasquez rocks. the rock behind my car has been in quite a few commercials and movies. i took the pic at a different angle than it's use to be seen just to avoid the crowds.

i did some color correction and blurred overlay layers in photoshop to get that kinda saturated glowy look.

some cool links to check out are


dpreview.com
studio on the net (canon related)

peace

 

[IS300#1]

Soy,
Nice pics!
Hey, where did you get the roof rack? how much and is it easy to install?

thanks!

 

[s0yb0mb]

Originally posted by IS300#1:
Soy,
Nice pics!
Hey, where did you get the roof rack? how much and is it easy to install?

thanks!

I got it all at a place in NJ on Rt. 17 north called Campmor. They rule, I can't say enough good things about them. If you have a couple hours free, go there and they'll hook you up. Basically, I originally bought the rack (Yakima) from them for a Honda Civic, with 1 Steelhead locking bike tray. It comes with a super strong 9mm locking skewer than also locks the tray to the rack (which is locked on all 4 contact points to the roof).

I updated the rack 9 months later to have the RocketBox on top, which is a huge space booster that can fit most any ski under 200cm (but nobody except Glenn Plake skis that long anymore). I ski Salomon 9100 Equipe 2s (PR6) & Salomon SuperForce9 (PR6) and the GS skiis fit with plenty of room. The Rocket box has 2 gas struts that hold it open and has 2 locks at the latches. The 1 downside is that they are built in and requires a separate key from the rest of the rack (which uses a same key system fo all the locks).

When I contverted the rack to the IS, all the parts were the same, except for the rubber feet and the "clips" which go into the rain gutters in the tops of the doors, which cost me $50 dollars shipped. All that had to really change was how the cross-bars/towers were spaced and loaction on the roof.

I added just last month a 2nd (blue) bike tray from Rocky Mounts, which makes generic (fits both Thule and Yakima) trays, non locking, but comes in Blue, Black, Yellow, & Red.

I think cost is going to be a complete guess as prices have changed, but the standard rack should be $120-$150, add locks (come in 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 & 12 packs depending on how many you will need. ALWAYS buy extra in case you add stuff later and want to still use the single key system), and then $50 for plain bike trays, $90 for the heavy-duty locking one, $250(?) for the rocket box... It adds up, but it's all modular so you can but it as you need it.


I hope this helps, check www.campmor.com for pricing, or www.rei.com is good too.

 

[Lexus Luthor]

Sinister...are you from Santa Clarita. I ask because I am from there and used to go to Vasquez frequently as a kid. Great place for hiking and taking pics.

Nice pics.

 

[ckolsen]

Dude, are you wearing the Army's urban camouflage pants? Those are heinous.
Gorgeous scenery where is that?

 

[Risk3233]

I am glad that the IS is portrayed as more than just being an urban cruiser.

I like to MTB as well, but only load up my 94 Toyota 4x4 pickup w/my bikes.

 

[vsin]

lex,

i lived in canyon country for a year but now i'm livin in santa monica. i'm probably moving back to buy a house next year though.

vasquez is great to go hiking and takin pics for sure but it's also a great place to take the ladies

ooops i'm married

 

[Lexus_IS300]

canon G1 is a nice p&s digital cam. i bought one, havent used it much though.

 

[s0yb0mb]

Originally posted by ckolsen:
Dude, are you wearing the Army's urban camouflage pants? Those are heinous.
Gorgeous scenery where is that?

ok fashion police, I picked them up at a surplus store while driving htere for $20 because I wanted a pair of beater pants I could wear all week and trash, unlike the clothing I own that I actually like. It looks even more garish because I'm wearing a bright rugby jersey... but if I cared what mass-hole's opinion was, you'd be the first I'd ask

That was a 460 foot mountain called The Beehive(small I know, but it goes STRAIGHT UP, and you are assisted by iron rungs bolted into the rock face for some of the way) on Mt. Desert Island, Maine (Acadia Nat. Park).
I have a ton of pics, that I'll be posting sometime soon on my website that document all the hikes, all the scenery.