So, I was looking to spruce up the spartan interior of my 2005 IS300.

Is this commonly done, and is it effective? For example, something like this:
http://www.wooddash.com/item/LEXUS_Dash_Kits_IS300_2001_2005

Or do you have any other recommendations?

Or perhaps I shouldn't bother, because no matter what I do, it will just look silly?

Thanks.

12/14/2009 1:02:54 PM

Leave it the way it is. You'll just make it look tacky.

12/14/2009 1:24:22 PM

Some of these products get really good reviews.

http://www.autoanything.com/dash-kits/75A4134A1A1.aspx?SortBy=HR#customerReview

Frankly, anything is better than the hard black plastic I currently look at, but pictures can be misleading...^ right?

Anyone here ever used one of these ~$175 kits?

Also I don't ever plan on selling this car, so I'm not worried about affecting re-sale value.

[Edited on December 14, 2009 at 1:39 PM. Reason : ]

12/14/2009 1:35:07 PM

Last time I'll bump my own thread....something like this is exactly what I'd be going for, but probably a bit darker wood:

http://solaris300.com/Friends/Mayo/LexusIS300pics012.jpg

http://solaris300.com/Friends/Mayo/100_2067.jpg

12/14/2009 2:06:23 PM

I'd say it still looks a little tacky, but at least you don't want the black carbon(plastic) fiber kit. But after all, if you don't plan on selling, who the fuck cares? If you want to do it, do it. If it turns out shitty, you can just put the factory pieces back, right?

12/14/2009 2:44:14 PM

those kits are all essentially stickers right?

12/14/2009 2:46:14 PM

^^ No. The kits I've found are all adhesives. They're thick stickers with resin and beveled edges. Definitely a one-way only installation though.

I've just requested some samples, one of which is real rosewood. Should arrive in a couple days. Gonna see how they look IRL.

[Edited on December 14, 2009 at 2:48 PM. Reason : ]

12/14/2009 2:46:58 PM

[opinion]I hate wood trim and prefer a spartan interior due to it's simplicity.[/opinion]

12/14/2009 2:47:39 PM

^ I might come to that conclusion, also.

The car was designed a certain way for a reason.

I'll post pics of the samples up against different parts of the dash when they arrive.

12/14/2009 3:17:19 PM

You're tacky and i hate you...

12/14/2009 3:33:01 PM

Rarely do aftermarket interior pieces/trim etc get anywhere near OEM fitment or build quality.

12/14/2009 4:50:26 PM

how about some http://www.dip-tech.net if you're going to pay ~$200

valve covers are around the $200 i think, so these might be a little more??



[Edited on December 14, 2009 at 6:31 PM. Reason : ]

12/14/2009 6:30:10 PM

have yu ever een the inside of a pt cruiser. the trim is painted the ame color a the car and it looks fucking turrible

12/14/2009 7:40:25 PM

wood doesnt belong in cars. simple fact

12/14/2009 8:00:44 PM

it does belong on them though

12/14/2009 8:30:07 PM

Quote :

"Leave it the way it is."

[Edited on December 14, 2009 at 8:45 PM. Reason : seriously. it's a nice car..don't fuck it up.]

12/14/2009 8:45:34 PM

^ I agree with sexpencil, except if it has a wood trim in a light brown finish, I'd probably opt for some aluminum or "black" (non-carbon fiber, that's just rice-o-rific) trim myself.

I mean, I know I've got wood trim in the Lexus, but it's dark and matches the rest of the black interior quite well imo. It took a couple of weeks but I grew to like it.

12/15/2009 12:41:24 PM

I liked the old IS interior more than the new one. Either way I'd avoid the dash kit.

12/15/2009 1:18:17 PM

Well, I decided against it. The samples look great, but not in this car.

1/6/2010 2:56:11 PM

ithought there would be some hot trim in here.

i like the way that lettus looks

1/6/2010 9:29:35 PM