richm

I'm interested in anyone's experience of Lexus Altezza RS200 (3s-ge 215bhp engine)

Seems like these are soo much better than IS200, but anything to look out for that causes problems? What sort of mileage are they good for before needing attention? What paperwork do they need to have as an import - any SVA type tests etc?

S1rst

Just sold my 2002 IS200 Sport and im now beginning to regret it. Performance wasnt great but I didnt buy it for that. Ive driven the IS300 with similar power to the beams engined altezza and that was great.

Only thing with the altezza's is I beleive they come in a lower spec than the IS200 SE's and sports. Its more like an IS200 S spec with the nasty cloth seats. Having said that, an SE or Sport interior (half leather, half escaine) can be bought for a few hundred quid.

I dont think you'll have much to worry about reliability wise, being a toyota. Thats provided you get a good one with FSH. They seem to run forever.

I think ill go for another IS200, possibly an IS300 if I can find a decent one.

richm

thanks for the info!

one problem is a lot of the altezza's are Auto/tiptronic which i don't really want, and i'm not sure what sort of import documentation (and dvla approvals?) to expect them to have? And any way of checking history?

Stavros

RS200s are a totally different weapon to UK IS200s, no underpowered 2litre straight six, you got a screaming 2litre 4cyl that revs to fuckknows how high and gives 210bhp.

Owt ever seems to break, but apart from that, i dunno.

saff_cossie

The RS200's are very rare indeed. The guy I was going to buy a skyline off here had a white one. It came from factory with a carbon bonnet and is one of only a couple of cars allowed legally on the road with one (other being the GTR N1). Didnt drive it but he was after top dollar for it and got it.

I had a normal IS200 which was slower than a wet weekend and my g/f's step dad has the IS300 with tiptronic which is much more driveable. Would never buy a standard IS200 again.

Seem to be a good buy here if you can get them so can only assume they would be the same there. I was a member on a few forums and a good site for bits is lextacy.com based in CA.

Mike1

Little bit of info here Rich - obviously a sales pitch bias......

http://www.altezzasportsandprestige.com/

richm

cool thanks guys.. the ones i've seen aren't silly money, under £7g's for 98-99 cars that haven't been to the moon and back.