Heaps of people have been asking me (when they're not asking if I miss owning a Z, which I do a bit) what I'm driving these days, well here is the replacement, I thought I'd posted pics already but realize I haven't. The Z's replacement is.... a big fat luxury barge. But there is a difference, it's a widebody VIP style luxury barge The car is a Toyota Celsior which was sold locally as a Lexus LS400, however as is always the norm the Japanese spec versions were much better, with factory air suspension, electric, heated, vibrating rear seats, dual climate control and a bunch of other cool yet ultimately unecessary features. The kit is an Admiration 'Blistor' (or 'Bristor' in Japan ) widebody kit. You can see the edge of the tail lights is where the car normally ends, and the bits on the side are part of the extra width. The car came with 19's which are pretty nice, but we had some 20x12's lying around at work (who doesn't? ) so these went on for a test fit and naturally will never come off again. Note the phone for size reference (ok, so it's a small phone) and the extra width under the door handle. This is looking in the side skirt, you can see where the factory sill ends. I don't know why I bought it, but the more people that said I'd be crazy to daily drive it the more I'm determined to do it It's wider and longer than a Landcruiser but aside from car parks where it hangs out over every line if it's a tight one I haven't found it too bad, and the air suspension helps (provided you set it in advance so it's at the right height by the time you have to pull into the driveway ). I do about 500km a week and aside from the day I have to buy some new 20" tyres it's really not a big adjustment. Part of why it can be driven regularly is the air suspension which allows for about 15cm of height adjustment And then there's crazy-pinch-the-bags-super-low-mode: cool, but you can't drive it like that Check out the gangsta stretch on the tyres, and talk about a lip waiting to be scraped against a gutter. I know, why don't you just put a wide tyre on there? Well, this is a 285 I'll have to stretch a 305/20/20 over there if I can find a tyre store guy that won't laugh uncontrollably when I ask if they can get something like that in. And finally the interior isn't much to show right now (the leather's a bit tired), I'm currently working on a PC install, here's the current progress of the touch screen mounting Ben
V nice, Ben. I remember one of the BEST cars I have owned was a 1976 Toyota Crown. A big Jap luxo barge around 2 tonnes, full length chassis when everything else was front and rear subframes on a monocoque body, but so comfortable on the highway (nicest cruise speed at around 140kph) and not too bad around town. It had only a 2.6 litre inline six (Mercedes copy) so was not real quick off the line, but as a cruiser, tops. Heated leather seats, twin air-con, all mod cons (for the time). And I only bought it because Essendon had just won the Grand Final and the dealer was an Essendon supporter... gave me a really good deal 'cause he was still on a football high, and Tim (Baroo, he was about 3, at the time) had his fingers jammed in the one of the doors when I inadvertently closed it on his hand while I was going over the car.
Man that is nice is for sure unique...i was thinking of getting one at the end of the 15 yr old rule thing but i went for a zed, probably because i thought twin turbo (as many youngsterz do). Just want to ask how much did that set you back and did you buy it from the website stock(j-spec) or they sourced it out for you. I wanna get one now, i think they cant get them in now. dam
Ben you are pimp... all you need now is a seedy hat with a feather in it, and a few lovely ladies hanging off your arm... although not my type of ride, I cant help but look at it with admiration and a feeling of "cooooooooooooooooooooool"....... Does the V8 drive nicely?? and performance mods?? and I know I'm a whinging bitch, but that air suspension has to be a god send for getting down your driveway....lol... Will we see this beasty on sunday? Cheers
I love the look of the Celsior's, and that kit looks great imo, Good stuff, definetly a pimp mobile. Col
Nice cel ben. I got one about 8 months ago. Ill see if i can dig up some pics. In storage at the moment. ive only got 18x12" rims. Very comfortable car. Check out www.ausvip.com. They are a very useful club.
Wow, cool car! I've gotta say though, as far as VIP cars go, this one looks relatively restrained. Restrained that is, if you took those wheels off - that lip is crazy-bad! Mark, i don't think he needs to worry about finding a pimp hat and some ladies - with that car, the hat and ladies will find HIM.
Thats hott! There were a few of them showing at autosalon in Brissie n GC! Stunning cars... Very pimp!
fully sick ben! lol nah mate looks cool, allways been a fan of celisors, especially the VIP looks. think they look hella nice inside too. bullet proof engine too, f40? or something like that anyway, but yeah bulletproof till over 500 000K's, a guy in town uses them for limo cars, hes yet to get under 550 000 out of a engine.
Haha no that was an Infiniti Q45.... and we don't talk about that car. That car COULD look like this if I was prepared to put in tons of effort, but I wasn't, so I sold it and bought this. Ben
Nothing you ever do ,or say, will lessen the unforgivable act of abandoning your Z32, but that fat slug certainly looks shmick! Perhaps,one day (if the Mob doesn't get you first), you will mature enough to realise the gravity of your crime, and return to the fold. One can only live in hope.:zlove:
Ahuh, Ok so ben working for j-spec explains the plates, man i wished i got my zed through you and not imports101. I had to rebuild the engine twice, that doesnt mean its his fault but you know sometimes people are very vague when you ask them wats best to buy and find all the fault later(sorry about the bitchin). Anyways i think i did ring up some one at j-spec recently for buying a chaser or a r34 non turbo but that idea was scrapped when i bought the gs300 at end of last yr. Anyways i hope there is another fat ls400 out there for me out there.....hehe ive got the lexus line up going, soarer, gs300....now i need a ls400. Again ben great looking ride.
nice celsior That has got to be one of the nicest celsiors ive seen, very nicely done and not 2 overly done.
