So I just got the latest issue of Car & Driver where they tested the entry-level luxo-sport cars.. like the BMW 330i, Infiniti G35, Audi A4, etc etc.. among them was also the latest and greatest 2006 Lexus IS350.. when I got back from Taiwan, I really wanted to hold off on buying a car and waiting it out for the new IS350.. knowing Lexus, I knew it was going to be great and vastly improved over the first generation IS300 (which I also briefly owned and liked).. but I kind of liked the idea of owning a VQ35 based car (even if it is a 4 door) and I figured the IS350’s back seats would probably be much smaller than the Infiniti G35 sedan’s.. and I was right.. the new IS350 back seats are much smaller.. and out of all the cars that C&D tested in this group, they said the IS350 back seats were the worst (Acura TL’s were the best, which I kind of have to agree).. anyhow.. on first glance, I figured that the BMW 330i probably deserved to win.. I mean, its been the benchmark for all luxo-sport cars to date.. but a friend sent me this forum post from IS300.net/my.is and it just made me laugh..

OK… it’s official… BMW is paying off the media!

Let’s see… during a test of a BRAND NEW 330i:

1. The airbag warning lights turned on
2. The ABS warning lights turned on
3. A brake malfunction caused the car to spin out of control when they tried stopping
4. The engine wouldn’t always start when they pushed the starter button
5. They admit the active steering is garbage
6. They admit the i-Drive system is horrible
7. They say the navigation system sucks ass
8. They say the audio system is difficult to use
9. They say the air conditioner wasn’t working optimally

Yet… let me get this straight… they STILL rank the car number 1??? This test was FIXED! How could the Lexus loose by only one point?

Yes, after reading the C&D article, I can confirm this.. the 2006 Lexus IS350 lost by one measly point.. and this is even after the BMW 330i had all of the troubles mentioned above.. the first paragraph of the BMW 330i section (where they proclaim it to be Number 1) says something to the effect of “shortly after delivery, we had problems with the push button starter”.. I mean, seriously.. thats like worst thing for a new car.. it can’t start? So someone skims this article thinking the BMW 330i is THE best luxo-sport car.. goes out and drops like $40k on a new one.. drives it home and “shortly thereafter” develops a starting problem? So based on C&D’s observations.. a car that has trouble starting when brand spankin’ new, has potentially deadly problems with its ABS system, semi-working airbags, and crappy controls and interior features STILL beats the new 2006 Lexus IS350 by 1 point?

Its laughable..

I dunno.. it doesnt matter.. I flipped to the performance table and saw that the 2006 Lexus IS350 was pretty damn fast.. good enough for me.. it would beat the snot out of any BMW 330i and give an M3 a run for its money..

2006 Lexus IS350 (6 speed automatic) as tested by Car & Driver October 2005 issue:
0-60 MPH : 5.1 seconds
0-100 MPH : 12.8 seconds
1/4 mile : 13.7 @ 104 MPH

2005 BMW M3 (as tested by Car & Driver):
0-60 MPH : 4.8 seconds
1/4 mile : 13.6 seconds (Edmunds.com said they hit 105 MPH in the quarter mile)

enough said..

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I’ve been asked why I want to use an HKS V Pro over the Haltech E6X.. and all I can really tell you is that Eric Hsu @ XS Engineering and Eddie Kim @ Dynamic Autosports both said so.. both shops are certified HKS V Pro tuners so they have the V Pro “key”.. for those that don’t know, you can’t just plug in your laptop and tune your own V Pro.. you need to have a “key”.. Anyhow, Ed just kept saying that the HKS V Pro is “bad ass”.. he’s currently using it on his own racecar and after a few dyno sessions, the car is running pretty good and made a strong showing at the Formula D Finals this year.. When I asked Eric why he preferred the HKS V Pro, his explanation was that he preferred the HKS V Pro maps.. he admitted that perhaps he thinks the HKS V Pro maps are better and easier to use because he has much more experience with the V Pro maps.. but he said that Haltech kind of takes pride in saying that their software is easy to use and tune because of their map structure.. Eric disagrees.. but like I said before, I was ready to just use the Haltech E6S that I have.. so anything is a step up for me.. but yeah, I guess if I had a choice, I’d go with the HKS V Pro.. I guess I should throw in that Eric also suggested using an FD 13B-REW motor, harness and ECU and then using an Apex’i Power FC.. but nah.. I don’t want to go there.. don’t want to spend the extra cash either.. using a 13B-REW in an FC3S is almost like using an SR20DET in an FC3S.. blasphemous..

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Ok, so I sat down to think about all the parts I have and all the parts I’ll need to finish building my RX-7.. I knew what I had, but didn’t really know to what extent I guess.. meaning, when someone asked, “oh, do you have a fuel pump?”.. I’d think about it and respond, “oh yeah, I have a brand new Cosmo fuel pump that I bought like 10 years ago”.. but if someone were to ask me everything I had, I’d usually just say, “man, I got tons of parts.. almost everything I need”.. so alas, here is what I have..

Haltech E6S w/ Harness
MSD 10mm Ignition Wires
Fluidyne Aluminum Radiator
XS Engineering Cast Turbo Manifold
XS Engineering Custom FMIC
Turbonetics TV45 Turbo, P-Trim 0.84 Tangential Exhaust
HKS Racing Wastegate, 50mm valve
HKS EVC I Boost Controller
HKS Large Diameter Turbo Exhaust
Racing Beat Light Steel Flywheel
Racing Beat 6-Puck Race/Strip Clutch, Solid Hub
Racing Beat Street/Strip Pressure Plate, Turbo
Racing Beat Lowering Springs, Cut
Tokico Illumina 5-Way Adjustable Shocks
Mazda Cosmo Fuel Pump
Mazda FD3S Rotor Housings, New (2 pcs)
Mazda FD3S Rotors, Milled for 3mm Apex Seal, Used
1991 FC3S Intake Manifold
1991 FC3S 5-Speed Transmission
Wangan/Drift-Style Rear Spoiler
Side View J-Style Racing Mirrors
Front Headlight Vent (Border?)
After Minor Change Round Taillights
Summit Racing Aluminum Battery Box
Greddy Peak Hold 60mm Boost Gauge
Apex’i EL Series Boost Gauge
HKS Turbo Timer II
Kenwood Tape Deck/CD Changer
Momo Anatomic Shift Knob
Momo Steering Wheel w/Cracked Dried Out Leather

As you can see, I have most of the parts I need to get the car running.. the main issue, at least in my mind, was always that once the car was running, I was afraid the motor would blow.. the motor thats in there now was a Mazda re-manufactured engine that was replaced under warranty back in like 1990.. after it was replaced, I re-installed my downpipe, put in an HKS FCON, HKS EVC with the Manual setting set at 15PSI, High @ 12PSI, and Low @ 10PSI.. the car stayed that way for 2 years.. about 40k miles with 2 out 7 days per week spent “racing”.. a guy that used to work at Mazda told me my engine was doomed to failure.. anyway.. enough history.. so after I had that list, I sat down to think about what I needed to finish.. here’s what I have so far:

Haltech E6X with FC3S Harness or HKS VPro with FC3S FCON harness
Racing Beat Oil Cooler Stainless Steel Hose Set
Racing Beat Aluminum Main Drive Double Sheave Pulley
Racing Beat Aluminum Alternator Double Sheave Pulley
Mazda 13B-REW (FD) Stationary Gear
HKS 5408-R45RE Iridium Spark Plugs (Heat Range 9)
HKS 5408-R50RE Iridium Spark Plugs (Heat Range 10)
XS Power Pack
1000cc Top Feed Fuel Injectors (4) – MSD, Blitz, or HKS
GP Sports G4 Body Kit

Now for some brief explanation:

Haltech E6X or HKS VPro – Eddie @ Dynamic Autosports and Eric @ XS Engineering both couldn’t stop talking about the VPro and how great it was.. sure, it’s a “nice to have”.. but I’d settle for an E6X simply because Haltech said they would have a plug in harness available soon for the FC3S.. and Haltech, I think, is much easier for the “weekend tuner” to tune..

Racing Beat stuff - just to be safe.. and “why not”

13B-REW Stationary Gear – Eric @ XS Engineering said that the oil groove is a little deeper for better lubrication.. he said something else, but I was distracted by his chewing (if you ever meet Eric, watch him eat)

HKS spark plugs – highly recommended by Eric

XS Power Pack – highly recommended by Eric (gee, I wonder why).. but I’ve seen the benefits of higher voltage ignition, thanks to Mike Ferrara and his 1969 Camaro SS back in high school.. plus I’m sure Eric would give me one for free

1000cc x 4 fuel injectors – I read how lots of people go with 550cc primary and 1600cc secondary.. Eric said that most injection systems can handle the transition OK.. but he suggested going with 1000cc x 4 for greater flexibility.. but he said I could go either way.. hey, since I’m in a shopping mood, I’ll just get 4 new injectors..

GP Sports body kit – see my previous Project FC3S post.. you’ll see why..

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