In New Zealand

For those that are looking for a Altezza / Lexus IS to buy, knowing what the difference models are, because I can tell you most car dealers know around 20% of what I know in terms of models and year differences on these car, forget about the LTSA Year Tag on it, you can only tell by the spec inside the car, my Lexus dealer had a new 2003 IS200 as a demo, I checked out the interior spec and it was a 01 that Lexus sold to them for dirt cheap because the colour was not popular! Don't get fooled! Get what you want! Stay Tuned!

Matt =)

In Australia
Your choices are Lexus IS200, Lexus IS300, and as of late 2005, the IS250. Jap Spec Altezza AS200's and RS200's can also be found in Australia, however in very limited numbers as they are all here under the private import scheme. For this reason, be very wary of an 4 cylinder Altezza wearing Lexus trim,as you may have a conversion, which needs to be properly engineered in most states or your going to have trouble with the law!
Keep in mind also - the IS300 was sold in Australia as an auto only. No manuals are known, and again, any existing would most likely be custom conversions.

OK! JDM Spec To start off...

HorsePower - 3S-GE 154kw (210hp) @ 7600rpm RS 6MT
3S-GE 147kw (200hp) @ 7000rpm RS 5AT

1G-FE 118kw (160hp) @ 6200rpm AS 6MT/4AT

Torque - 3S-GE 216Nm @ 6400rpm RS 6MT
3S-GE 216Nm @ 4800rpm RS 5AT

1G-FE 200Nm @ 4400rpm AS 6MT/4AT



Engine oil
3S-GE oil change only=4.8 Liters/ recomended grade 5W30/SJ
3S-GE oil change with filter=5.1Liters/recomended grade 5W30/SJ

1G-FE oil change only=3.9 Liters recomended grade 10W30/SJ
1G-FE oil change with filter=4.1 L iters recommended grade 10W30/SH

Transmission oil
Toyota genuine MG gear oil special II (API GL-3 and SAE75W-90)

6 speeds MT 1.95 L 70W90/GL3
5 speeds AT 7.2 L Type T-IV
4th gear AT 6.3 L Type T-IV

Diff. oil
The Toyota genuine high boiled gear oil SX (API GL-5 and SAE85W-90)
LSD 1.00 L 85W90/GL5
NO LSD 1.05 L 85W90/GL5

Brake fluid --- Genuine 2500H

Clutch fluid --- Genuine 2500H

Power steering fluid 0.9 L

Coolant
3S-GE 6.8 L
1G-FE 6.6 L

Hi

Im looking at importing an Altezza, now heres my confusion?
Ive seen different codes after the name, eg RS200, RS200 Z ED, 4D,
What do these mean? I would like to buy the 1 with the Beams engine in them,
So If someone can help that would be graet!

Andy

Hi Andy,
Good luck with your search.
I'm far from an expert, but here is what my research told me.
Altezza sedans come with a 4 cyl engine or a straight 6. The wagons are all sixes.
The 6 six comes in 2 or 3 litre (AS200 or AS300), but I think the 3 is only avail in auto with tiptronic. The others come with either the auto or a 6 speed manual.
The 4 is the gruntier engine (200v160 hp) but the 6 is smoother.
I think the 4 cyl cars are designated RS, and the 6 cyl AS. The suffixes designate spec level.
Z edition is a bit more than the standard, L is higher again (leather etc)
Check out this page http://www.japanvehicles.com/newcars/toyota/Altezza/main.htm
and click on the RS or AS about half way down and it will give you std and optional equipment.
Cheers
Tania (remember Google is your friend!)

The AS300/IS300 does come as a 5 speed manual, but only in Japan or US. The IS300 runs the Mk4 NA Supra motor (2JZGE) and hence the same manual gearbox, in manual guise.

im pretty sure the is300's in Australia have the same N/A supra motor...just no option of manual...?

That's correct. Only push button "E-Shift" 5 spd auto in Australia, which is marginally better than a normal auto. You cannot select first gear though, and it changes to the next gear by itself before cutout.

JDM Spec RS200 Manual - Z Edition
Top Speed: 143 mph (estimated)
0-60 Mph: 7.2 sec (estimated)
Weight: 1360 kg
MPG: 29

JDM Spec RS200 Auto - Z Edition
Top Speed: 143 mph (estimated)
0-60 Mph: 8.0 sec (estimated)
Weight: 1360 kg
MPG: 28

Lexus IS200 Manual
Top Speed: 137 mph*
0-60 Mph: 9.0 sec
Weight: 1435 kg

Refrences
http://www.stepmathauto.com/toyota_altezzainfo.htm
http://www.bonsaicars.com/Altezza/
http://english.auto.vl.ru/catalog/toyota/altezza/

"Weight: 1360 kg"

It's funny coz my car weighed in at 1650kgs. Can anyone explain this ? I'm new to the forum so hi to everyone !

Full tank of lead petrol?

Okay, I'm sure someone will be along with a sensible answer soon.

I'm assuming your car is stock? What did you weigh it on? No issues with the calibration of it?

what they quote as the actual weight is probably without driver and fuilds, spare tyre, jack, valet pack and is probably the bog stock is/as with steel wheels and hubcaps, hardly any sound deadening etc. Thats my theory anyway

Interested in the AUS IS200/300 specs throughout the years and available options.

Any other differences between the 200 and 300 besides engine/gearbox/diff?

Looking at picking up an IS for an engine swap and if there aren't any major upgrades in the 300's thinking the 200 might be the better donor car due to price.

Dan.

what you after in particular?

structually i dont think theres any difference. suspension options are interchangeable for the 200 and 300.

the engine mounts are probably different because different engine, but that shoulndt be too much of a worry for you because new mounts will need to be made up

there are differneces between models and the diff though. some have a open diff where some have the torsen diff
more info on diff's here:
http://forum.altezzaclub.org.au/index.php?showtopic=946


there is limited information on the comparison between is200 and 300's here because the 300's a bit of unchartered territory. theres a few in the club but not many!

So no difference in aesthetics, lights, interiors between the two? Not really worried about engine/gearbox/diff as with the plans I have that will all be changed.

Aussie 200's still come with the dual VVTi 3S-GE? Would still be driving it stock for a couple of months before anything happened.

Dan.

Regarding interior, the IS300 added DVD based Sat Nav, which was the first of it's kind in Australia. It also comes with E-Shift (read: auto) only, no manual option was offered to the Australian Market.

I believe the DVD Sat Nav later became an option on later model IS200's, but you would have to confirm this.

IMHO an IS200 Sport Luxury would offer all the interior trim you would be after, and it is the only IS200 to come with the torsen LSD as standard. The only question is do you require the Sat Nav - or just get a Tom Tom instead. At least one owner here has run a mildly boosted 1JZGTE through the IS200's standard diff without any trouble. See the 1JZ? thread in the 'Engines' section of the forum for more info.

we wish we had the 3SGE!!

Aussie IS200's come with the pathetic 1G-FE, giving 118kw in stock trim (opposed to 148 or something like that for the 3SGE)

Aesthetically theres minor differences. I think most 300's come with a spoiler. Lights - look at my sig, see the orange indicator panel, its clear on the IS300's with an orange bulb. THe is300's also have yellow fog lights.

Weights:

1GFE (without gearbox) 176.65 kg
http://forum.altezzaclub.org.au/index.php?act=ST&f=3&t=4832

1UZFE (with W58 gearbox)

1JZGTE (with V160 Gearbox)

Now correct me if i'm wrong but doesn't the Caliente model IS300 come in a manual transmission?

I saw one the other week it was a manually i nearly passed out because it was the first IS300 i've seen in manual format, and I work for Lexus.

My 2c though.

Were the Caliente not an IS200 instead?

Knew they came out with the 1GFE, but un aware they came out with the 2JZGE.

Feel free to prove me wrong if I am though

Nope this baby was a 300 I distinctly remember walking to the back of the car and looking at the badge just to make sure, its hard for me to believe aswell its the only 300 i've seen with a manual transmission!

EDIT: Seems I may be wrong I just did a quick search on redbook and I can't find a 300 with a manual transmission, so the car I saw must of been a 200 with a 300 badge . Great way to debut on the forum lol.

Interesting..

I thought Toyota decided the 6spd wouldn't handle the torque of the 3litre, so they were only offered in autos.

Mind you, I've driven a manual Aristo.. Never seen one for sale.

The Australian Caliente were IS200s

Soarer and IS300 all have a manual option, but not outside of Japan (except import, and the IS300 which was available as a manual in the US). All W154 gearbox i think, but don't quote me on this.

The manual Soarers were limited to a run of 400. So most that you find around are custom jobbys. I've driven one of the genuine ones, and it was very muhc an all or nothing affair. Went like a rocket ship on boost, but not much happening off boost.

2000 Model 6MT Sports/Luxury IS200 Weighed in at 1.55 Tonnes last week.

Car was weighed with these paramaters:

* 20kg lightweight te37
* 10kg ~ 10L fuel
* 30kg deleted electronic seats
- about 20 kg sound deadening
- 95kg (me)
- 70kg (brother)
- 25kg (9kg propane gas cylinder)
- 2kg deleted boot trim

So the car with no fuel and no people i estimate to come in around 1380kg

I'm going to weigh it with a full tank of petrol and just me to get a final idea of the regular weight

Just from this, add about 30kg in fuel and minus 95kg in other shit so that is approx

1400kg race weight

Not to be outdone by Charlie, I craftily headed to the weighbridge, with results:

1480kg (no driver/with spare wheel)

less 45kg (3/4 tank petrol)
less 5kg (assorted junk in the car)
less 15kg (oil/trans fluids/coolant)

equals 1415kg dry weight

Factory specs indicate a 1350kg dry weight, and the new engine/gearbox combo weighs 120kg more, which means about 55kg has been removed in weight reduction.

For race trim:

1415kg dry weight
less 15kg (spare wheel)
less 20kg (bucket seat)
add 35kg (half tank petrol)
add 15kg (oil/trans fluids/coolant)
add 85kg (me)

1515kg race weight

PS. Car is 99 Lexus IS200 Sports Lux Legana, with 2JZ / R154 (stock twins)