adeel.a

I'm contiplating either or... I have a 95' WRX Jap Import at the moment and thinking of the next car... I know they don't compare before anyone replies (they're both in a league of their own).

Any tips, advice... I'm thinking along the lines of servicing, parts and re-sale.

The Altezza is tuned by a Jap org. called BEAMS and is around 210BHP with 4 cylinder; where the UK IS200 is around 150BHP and has 6 cylinder engine.

Any advice on what to go for and why...

kenny.c

the 4 cylinder 2.0 altezza is very like the vtec honda engine as it requires high revs to move , it take getting used to if you're used to torquey engines.


[Edited by kenny.c - 5/5/2003 4:21:20 AM]

NotoriousREV

I had a UK IS200 and became completely bored by it. It might have 153bhp, but it's gutless and needs to be revved. When it finally comes on song it runs into the redline (makes peak power just before the rev limiter).

Good handling, engine sounds good, nice gearbox and plenty of toys, but it just didn't do it for me. Maybe find one with the TRD supercharger conversion?

adeel.a

I am going to have to test drive them both obviously... I'm in my research stage at the moment... it may be difficult to find a relaible source to get hold of an Altezza; or am I wrong...

Is servicing and parts a problem...

Any suggestions; there aren't as many around as the standard IS200.

clarence

BEAMS is not a tuning company, it is merely a monicker used by Toyota on some of their non-turbo engines (BEAMS=Breakthrough Engine with Advanced Mechanism System). This is like the GOA monicker used by them to indicate the high level of passive safety on their cars.
The manual Altezza RS200 has 210ps, whereas the auto (5-speed, not the 4-speed u get on export 2.0 Lexus) has 200ps. The engine on the RS200 is a development of the 2.0 used in the previous MR2 & Celica. It is basically a 3S-GE with dual VVT. There is also a cheaper AS200 version, which is mechanically identical to the export Lexus IS200. As u all know, that car has a 2.0 six (1G-FE), which is totally unrelated to the 3S-GE.
I think the difference between the 2 is the Lexus will have slightly more torque lower down the rev range (difference is small if u compare the JDM factory graphs), but the 5-speed auto would have more than compensated for the difference.

adeel.a

Clarence, wow that's a real insight... thankyou...

Which would you go for if you were to consider servicing, parts and god forbid if the car was involved in an accident, body parts etc...

Is it worth the extra...

Thanks in advance

NotoriousREV

On the servicing and parts side, the UK car is surprisingly cheap. IIRC, minor service was about £100, major about £200.

I managed to crack one of the rear light clusters, managed to find a second hand one for £25, but even if I'd had to buy one from the dealer it was only £60.

clarence

The gadgets in an Altezza is more or less the same as those in an IS200. If sth goes wrong with the gearbox, maybe u can fit one from the IS300?
If u live in London, then I know at least 1 Toyota/Lexus dealer who can easily help u out if there are any problems.

adeel.a

My heart says 'get an Altezza' but my head says go for a UK IS200 whether it be a sport or not... it will be less hassel...

I went through the same when I got my MR2 (Jap Import 300BHP) and again when I got my 95' Classic shape WRX (Jap Import 260BHP)...

I'm concerned about the tiptronic and other electrical gadgets in a car that I have never used before (what if the gear box gives me problems)if they go wrong can they be replaced or fixed with little running around and other little things like that...

What to do... Aaargh...

[Edited by adeel.a - 5/6/2003 10:17:57 PM]