Lexus IS300 rally car

So in a theoretical discussion regarding the lack of ownership of a 'nice' daily driver (or for that matter anything other than a scooter), Mark and I were talking about Lexus IS300 vs. BMW 3 series for rally cars. Personally, we both like the Lexus more. Did some research and one took fourth at Targa Tasmania, but that was about the only rally reference I've seen. I thought someone, seems it might have been Tim Taylor, was talking about building one. Anyone ever looked at them much?

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Grant Hughes

I looked into it a bit. The front suspension would take some major work to sort out. It's entirely possible but the M3 is much easier.

The motivation was to get it down to fighting weight as a G2 car and use the 2-liter Beams-Altezza drivetrain from Japan. The major sticking points were limited front suspension travel, weight and the killer was that they hold their resale value so much better than an M3. Here in the Bay Area the IS300 commands a $4-6K premium over the equivalent high mileage BMW.

Tim

Yup. Here too.
2001 325IC for $8500, vs. 01 IS300 being 12-16K.

Sweet 96 M3 with Dinan upgrades for $12K here too and base E36 318s can be had for like $2-3K. The down side is that BMW owners are such douchebags. Mark technically said that when he sees a BMW he defaults to assuming the owner is some rich prick.

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Grant Hughes

NoCoast Wrote:
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> Yup. Here too.
> 2001 325IC for $8500, vs. 01 IS300 being 12-16K.
>
> Sweet 96 M3 with Dinan upgrades for $12K here too
> and base E36 318s can be had for like $2-3K. The
> down side is that BMW owners are such douchebags.
> Mark technically said that when he sees a BMW he
> defaults to assuming the owner is some rich prick.
>
> Grant Hughes
> www.nocoastmotorsports.net
> Denver, CO


Or more often these days is some poor guy trying to LOOK rich which is even more pathetic. I still want a mint E30 M3 though. Need to work on my douchebaggery.

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Gone fishing

At least the salvage title E36's are starting to drop below $5K. I went to look at one that was listed at $4000 a month ago. Unfortunately, it had received serial abuse from 5 aforementioned douchebag owners... That engine it far to temperamental and expensive to take a risk on.