Lexus IS200
#2
Good cars, well put together and loads of toys to play with.
Only things to look out for are worn ball joints, leaking water pump, corroded alloys, rusted rear brake discs, ERR3 on the in dash 6 disc cd changer and heavy stone chipping at front. If the car in under warranty and purchased from a Lexus dealer then all these things would be sorted. Lexus dealers also give a years warranty on used cars if they are over three years old.
As for tuning there is a TTE Supercharger available for the IS200. Its not cheap though at around £4k fitted but it brings it from 153bhp up to over 200bhp. There are the usual exhaust, induction kits etc. available as well.
If you want more power as standard then consider a Japanese Toyota Altezza RS200. These come with a 4 cylinder Yamaha Beams Tuned engine which puts out around 210bhp. The Altezza is the JDM equivalent of the IS200 in the UK.
Hope that helps.
Gavin
Only things to look out for are worn ball joints, leaking water pump, corroded alloys, rusted rear brake discs, ERR3 on the in dash 6 disc cd changer and heavy stone chipping at front. If the car in under warranty and purchased from a Lexus dealer then all these things would be sorted. Lexus dealers also give a years warranty on used cars if they are over three years old.
As for tuning there is a TTE Supercharger available for the IS200. Its not cheap though at around £4k fitted but it brings it from 153bhp up to over 200bhp. There are the usual exhaust, induction kits etc. available as well.
If you want more power as standard then consider a Japanese Toyota Altezza RS200. These come with a 4 cylinder Yamaha Beams Tuned engine which puts out around 210bhp. The Altezza is the JDM equivalent of the IS200 in the UK.
Hope that helps.
Gavin
#3
The standard IS200 is painfully under-powered (in the torque dept), you end up thrashing it all the time, still getting no where(!) and using up gallons of fuel.
I've heard the standard gearbox can't cope with the TTE supercharger kit, and I can believe this 'cos I had the gearbox rebuilt on mine after 20k. It was not approved by UK dealers, but could be done in Ireland I believe (2 years ago anyway)
Yes most of the early IS200's had rotten alloys and brakes (all replaced under warranty).
Whilst the Lexus customer service was excellent, I thought the standard of workmanship was poor at times. E.g. The gearbox issue I had came back to me unresolved as well as introducing another problem! When the rusty brakes were replaced the car was returned to me with a very soft spongy pedal - turned out there was air in the system.
Oh, the seating position is a bit high too (even for shorties like me).
Nevertheless I still have fond memories of the car.
I've heard the standard gearbox can't cope with the TTE supercharger kit, and I can believe this 'cos I had the gearbox rebuilt on mine after 20k. It was not approved by UK dealers, but could be done in Ireland I believe (2 years ago anyway)
Yes most of the early IS200's had rotten alloys and brakes (all replaced under warranty).
Whilst the Lexus customer service was excellent, I thought the standard of workmanship was poor at times. E.g. The gearbox issue I had came back to me unresolved as well as introducing another problem! When the rusty brakes were replaced the car was returned to me with a very soft spongy pedal - turned out there was air in the system.
Oh, the seating position is a bit high too (even for shorties like me).
Nevertheless I still have fond memories of the car.
#4
If it were me and I wanted an IS200 (which I do), I woul dgo for an imported RS200
210bhp 2 litre 4 pot, rear wheel drive, lots of fun
Not as smooth as the 150 6 pot but more fun!
210bhp 2 litre 4 pot, rear wheel drive, lots of fun
Not as smooth as the 150 6 pot but more fun!
#7
cheers people I will pass on the info to my mate, it will give him something to think about. I know he will not choose the Import route as he is scared of that and he wont be changed on that front.
Thanks
MKD
Thanks
MKD
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