Vanity splurge

[Topdownman]

I had a moment of weakness and went for some smoked side repeaters.

Thats not vanity, on a sable, they are essential.

On a side note, I got a parcel the other day and couldnt help smiling when I noticed that the item had passed within a mile or less on its way from the distribution centre to the courier some 35 miles away before it came back!

[Call the midlife!]

ironically before the auxiliary cable needed to fit them which was ordered

Fingers crossed it works without mods.

Some pins to move around and extra cables to pin into existing plugs and then a few pages of coding.

[Joesson]

[/quote]

I had a moment of weakness and went for some smoked side repeaters.

Thats not vanity, on a sable, they are essential.

On a side note, I got a parcel the other day and couldnt help smiling when I noticed that the item had passed within a mile or less on its way from the distribution centre to the courier some 35 miles away before it came back!

This reminded me of the 70's early 80's when I was involved with equipment for the then new distribution hubs. It was a different way of looking at movement. I guess it's stood the test of time even if, as in this case, the package passed very close to you during it's journey.

[Petrus]

ironically before the auxiliary cable needed to fit them which was ordered

Fingers crossed it works without mods.

Some pins to move around and extra cables to pin into existing plugs and then a few pages of coding.

Which is why I decided to stick with the pfl units and go brighter simple swap red LED ´bulbs´. Philips even.

[Call the midlife!]

ironically before the auxiliary cable needed to fit them which was ordered

Fingers crossed it works without mods.

Some pins to move around and extra cables to pin into existing plugs and then a few pages of coding.

Which is why I decided to stick with the pfl units and go brighter simple swap red LED ´bulbs´. Philips even.

These are for my daily bus, I already have FL rears on the 2.

[Petrus]

These are for my daily bus, I already have FL rears on the 2.

Hats off to you.

[SuperArt]

Hm spent money on things for the car that's barely visible.

Shed full of parts/spares?
Full genuine TRD stage two body kit with rainbow foglights
TRD strut braces and member braces
TRD Genuine VM180 spoiler with correct end plates
TRD Genuine low spoiler (3-piece) with brake light
TRD exhaust
Backup Toyota GB ducktail

Etc etc.
Doesn't get more barely visible than hoarding bits with no intention of fitting.
They'll end up in the classifieds soon enough, not out of choice.

[Dev]

I have also spent a small fortune on the little things some of them used items from other cars like the Audi TT shift knob. 
The latest edition is a custom flat black anodized gear shifter surround and a tight grain leather shift boot of the highest quality. These little details are not so visible but they are blended in to give it a high quality look.

 Another nice detail that is never seen is a real set of aluminum pedals. I went out of my way to color match a set of aftermarket carbon fiber mirrors because I don't like the carbon fiber look since it makes the car look custom.

[Ardent]

Struggling to visualise the gear shifter surround.
For a moment I thought you meant an open fingered type gate. But then you have a leather boot that would cover it.
A pic per chance?

[Dev]

I will try and get a picture for you.  That surround was originally a aftermarket Toyota part for this car that a member gave to a company to reproduce as a limited group buy and thankfully I did not get the chrome option.

[Ardent]

Cheers chap.

[steveash]

My shiny bits arrived but due to snow on the ground, they're not going on the car until it warms up a bit (I'm a southern softie). For now they're decorating my desk. Pity it's not December, I could have put them on the tree...

[Dev]

I was able to get a cellphone image. Just know the gear shift trim looks like one piece with the gear shifter plastic. If it was any other color it will look like I did it which is not what I was going for as I wanted it to look subtile but impactful as a whole.The quality of the leather shift boot is better then what I have seen on some high end luxury cars. 

[Petrus]

Looks very much like a chunky version of the SMT surround.

[Dev]

It is a replica of an actual Toyota aftermarket trim for manual transmissions. Apparently it was a rare part that not many had.

  I found the company that made the limited run with better pictures. They had a difficult time to get it right but the end result was very good. 
https://super-klasse.com/products/spyder-shifter-trim-bezel-pre-order?variant=8102497026151

[steveash]

It is a replica of an actual Toyota aftermarket trim for manual transmissions. Apparently it was a rare part that not many had.

  I found the company that made the limited run with better pictures. They had a difficult time to get it right but the end result was very good. 
https://super-klasse.com/products/spyder-shifter-trim-bezel-pre-order?variant=8102497026151

It's probably a good job they're sold out, I'd be all over that!

S2000 seats?

[Dev]

It is a replica of an actual Toyota aftermarket trim for manual transmissions. Apparently it was a rare part that not many had.

  I found the company that made the limited run with better pictures. They had a difficult time to get it right but the end result was very good. 
https://super-klasse.com/products/spyder-shifter-trim-bezel-pre-order?variant=8102497026151

It's probably a good job they're sold out, I'd be all over that!

S2000 seats?

Yes S2k seats. What I like about them is the shade of leather matches the other leather bits I had made like the center leather arm rest and side rests by the door.
On the rear of the S2k seats I was able to remove and exchange the plastic trim on the back for newer ones in silver which comes close to matching the aftermarket wheels and the silver bits in the cabin. What I did not know is after adding the trim from a distance it looks like style bars or rests that you see on more upscale roadsters.

 It is the little things that may seem insignificant but if properly planed out you see the car as a whole and not the individual parts. 

[Ardent]

I was able to get a cellphone image. Just know the gear shift trim looks like one piece with the gear shifter plastic. If it was any other color it will look like I did it which is not what I was going for as I wanted it to look subtile but impactful as a whole.The quality of the leather shift boot is better then what I have seen on some high end luxury cars. 

Like.
That leather does look very soft and supple.

[Dev]

I was able to get a cellphone image. Just know the gear shift trim looks like one piece with the gear shifter plastic. If it was any other color it will look like I did it which is not what I was going for as I wanted it to look subtile but impactful as a whole.The quality of the leather shift boot is better then what I have seen on some high end luxury cars. 

Like.
That leather does look very soft and supple.

Thanks. It's not as soft but it's supple. The grain is very fine and it has a kind of dull satin sheen that you can tell from a distance that it's high quality. I was told it was air craft leather and I assume it's used in private jet interiors. This replaced a previous aftermarket leather boot which was nice but the grain was too corse. The OEM pleather boot is just awful.
These cars have so much potential because of the many cheap items that can be upgraded. I would say the best interior mod from a design perspective is the Navpod.
 

[Petrus]

Thanks. It's not as soft but it's supple. The grain is very fine and it has a kind of dull satin sheen that you can tell from a distance that it's high quality. I was told it was air craft leather and I assume it's used in private jet interiors. This replaced a previous aftermarket leather boot which was nice but the grain was too corse. The OEM pleather boot is just awful.
These cars have so much potential because of the many cheap items that can be upgraded. I would say the best interior mod from a design perspective is the Navpod.
 

Boy what a barbarian I am :-)

[steveash]

I have to say, when I bought my car it was to be driven rather than looked at but I'm steadily going down that slippery slope of prettying it up. I'd love to have the interior professionally remodelled (I wouldn't trust myself) but it would probably cost more than the car is worth!

[Petrus]

but it would probably cost more than the car is worth!

The work is worth what the result is worth it to yoú.

There a few more clear examples of that than in the low rider subculture:
One taketh sixties Detroit real estate on wheels.
Spend several times the value on a custom paint job.
Ditto engraved chrome.
Ditt custom interior.
Ditto engine tuning and blinging up.
Even more on hydraulics to make the thing dance to the tune of a
silly expensive sound system.

One well over >100K example that started out as a few K Chevy was shipped to London to be exhibited as art.

To put it in perspective very véry few casr beyond hatchbacks are wórth their price for the transport qualities. Never mind the luxury end of the hyper things.

[steveash]

but it would probably cost more than the car is worth!

The work is worth what the result is worth it to yoú.

There a few more clear examples of that than in the low rider subculture:
One taketh sixties Detroit real estate on wheels.
Spend several times the value on a custom paint job.
Ditto engraved chrome.
Ditt custom interior.
Ditto engine tuning and blinging up.
Even more on hydraulics to make the thing dance to the tune of a
silly expensive sound system.

One well over >100K example that started out as a few K Chevy was shipped to London to be exhibited as art.

To put it in perspective very véry few casr beyond hatchbacks are wórth their price for the transport qualities. Never mind the luxury end of the hyper things.

Very true, but despite the time I've spent on it, my wife still considers my car first in line for the financial ejector seat should we have to tighten our belts!

[1979scotte]

but it would probably cost more than the car is worth!

The work is worth what the result is worth it to yoú.

There a few more clear examples of that than in the low rider subculture:
One taketh sixties Detroit real estate on wheels.
Spend several times the value on a custom paint job.
Ditto engraved chrome.
Ditt custom interior.
Ditto engine tuning and blinging up.
Even more on hydraulics to make the thing dance to the tune of a
silly expensive sound system.

One well over >100K example that started out as a few K Chevy was shipped to London to be exhibited as art.

To put it in perspective very véry few casr beyond hatchbacks are wórth their price for the transport qualities. Never mind the luxury end of the hyper things.

Very true, but despite the time I've spent on it, my wife still considers my car first in line for the financial ejector seat should we have to tighten our belts!

Somethings are no go areas in a relationship.
My wife wouldn't ever ask/tell me to sell .
As I wouldn't tell her to sell her designer shoes.

A sorn mr2 costs nothing and they're not worth much.
Sell the engagement ring instead.

[shnazzle]

Agree with Scotte. 
Basically the mr2 is so worthless on the market that it doesn't make sense to sell it, especially if its your main car or your cheapest car to get around with.
Especially off the road... Best locked, covered, isolated and left for a better day