Considering A Tezza...

Zee007 · February 20, 2003

OK,

I am in stuck between a rock and a hard place at the moment. As you know, I have had my IS200 for nearly 2 years and have done a fair bit to it. I am currently looking to get the ECU done, and possibly supercharge too. So all in all, that's another 5k on top.

However, after a conversations with Harty, JB and Gord last night, I got thinking about a Tezza. But I need help from all you owners out there.....

I know I can pick up a Beams 210bhp Tezza for around 12k. I should get that for mine. Things like wheels, exhaust, springs etc will come off mine before I sell and straight on to the import. However, I need advice on the following:

- Importers? New Era I know about, but any others you guys can reccomend?

- Insurance? How much am I looking to pay?

- What do I look out for/take into consideration?

- Servicing issues at all?

I really am confused at the moment, so need your help on steering me either which way.......

Thanks folks,

Zee.

JOHNNY-BOY · February 20, 2003

Importer:

http://www.bkw.biz/importexportscrapcars.htm

http://members.tripod.com/universalcars/IMPORTS_.htm

altezzaz · February 20, 2003

Zee,

The RS200 manual gets 210bhp at 7400rpm, peak torque is about 6400rpm, and is about 160lbft (standard IS gets about 145 if memory serves). Tiptronic tops out at 200bhp at about 6500rpm and 155 lbft torque at 5500.

I find that there's a bit of a lull under hard acceleration between 3500 and 4500rpm, but then the noise starts to get interesting...

It's a group 15 insurance, but is not fitted with an immobiliser or alarm...

It also lacks the heated wing mirrors, windscreen and rear fog lights unless you get the winter pack, and most of the cars have a co**** cloth trim.

Servicing hasn't been a problem, but then I get that done at my local Lexus dealer who seem to really like the car and keep telling me how Lexus made a mistake in not importing them...

Only other thing I can think of for now is that it's got a space saver spare, and that the steering is better because of the lighter engine.

Oh, and you couldn't talk me into an IS200 for love nor money... IS300 manual might be a different matter, though.

Alex

Zee007 · February 20, 2003

Thanks for your advice Alex - the majority of factors you mentioned I could live with if I heard over 50 more hourses under the bonnet as standard....

Would have to be a manual over tiptronic, and the space saver is ideal as I would swap my 18's over........ Insurance been a problem?

altezzaz · February 20, 2003

Well I can't lie - I did only get a quote from 2 companies but I suspect that being 25 didn't help. Tesco will quote over the internet but not over the phone - go figure....

Be worth trying the Owners Club people as well - I will at renewal.

Alex

Kavey · February 20, 2003

I drove the IS200 extensively before I went the way of the Altezza....

Most of the direct comparisons are made here: http://www.japanvehicles.com/newcars/toyot...ltezza/main.htm

Assuming you're talking about the RS200 (of course!) from living with the beast, here's my lowdown:

Pros: :)

- 210hp, 8000 rpm Redline, increased torque and a much easier engine to play with for modifying

- Better weight distribution and lighter front end make it much more responsive to drive

- Jap body kits like mine are much rarer than here

- The car DOES have fog lights - it's just that the boot lid lights also work as night lights, giving it a Skyline look at night

- 0-60 7.9secs, top speed 157mph

- Basic spec includes, Torsen LSD, Gearbox is same 6MT

- Good linear rpm/bhp power delivery curve, and great response from the power band from 5000 revs upwards - the engine is much better suited to the gearbox, where the IS200 1G-FE lacks some revs to exploit the close ratio gears

Cons: :(

- Higher insurance - expect to pay 50% extra on the UK spec, perhaps more. Some companies won't loan you a courtesy car if the car is in for repair due to the time it takes to get parts

- Some parts can only be ordered from Japan meaning longer wait time (up to 2 months perhaps)

- No UK warranty and most Lexus UK dealers won't touch it (I have a 3rd party warranty on mine)

- Basic servicing can be done at some 'friendlier' Lexus dealers, but if anything goes wrong with engine, most dealers don't have the kit to read/diagnose the ECU (or so I'm told - maybe this is propaganda!). I use Jemca/Lexus Edgware Road who specialise on imports. Expect to pay a bit more on servicing (but maybe that's just a London thing - but I do feel that I pay a bit over the odds...)

- No alarm immobiliser as standard, which you will need for Insurance

- Cloth interior as standard, no auto headlamps, no heated mirrors, no electric seats, no heated seats, no headlamp washers

- Standard Jap radio range is 77-90 FM, meaning unless you change the head-unit or get an band expander, you only get Terry Wogan in the morning on Radio2.

- Power delivery not quite as smooth as the 6 pot, but then it's easier to play with with induction etc, like I'm having done

- Need to run it pretty exclusively on Optimax/Super as the car's ECU is tuned to Jap spec 100 Octane fuel. You can run it on less, but you get a much flatter response.

- No 5th Alloy - space saver tyre.

- 60L fuel tank instead of 70L

- Harder to sell second hand

If you are buying a new one, bear in mind taxation, SVA clearance (authority to drive the car in the UK - it has to pass some basic roadworthiness tests), delivery time...

None of this is unsurmountable, and things like electric/heated seats and headlamp washers mean nothing to me. The RS200 makes the car the IS I wanted, however part of that is down to the body kit and sports spec I got from Japan. But then when I bought my car the TTE Supercharger was a pipedream... If you find an Altezza in the UK without the kit, it'll cost you a bomb to get the kit I have as aftermarket - looking on Steve Ganz's site, you'd spend around $2000-2500 to get the car looking slick. However, the TTE Supercharger, does bring the IS200 into same league as the RS200 performance wise. Personally, if I already had a kitted IS200, I'd probably stick with it and get the supercharger, as in the long run I'd save on the reduced insurance and not lose the equity I'd already invested in the existing car, and have a smoother 6 pot. The 4 pot is a racing engine and not so well behaved around town... though it loves letting rip on the motorway, especially accelerating hard to the 8000 redline!

As Graham would say... the choice is yours... :hocus-pokus:

Hope that helps dude!

Kavey · February 20, 2003

Just to add (assuming you're fully comp, which I imagine you would be, and you can drive any car 3rd party) I'd be happy for you to take a little spin in mine at a forthcoming meet. LITTLE spin that is.... I'll do the doughnuts

Having said that, I'll probably have the HKS Racing Suction, TRD Racing Flywheel and the HKS F-CON on by then, so it wouldn't give you a true indication of the feel and handling, but what the hey...

Zee007 · February 20, 2003

Thanks very, very much Asam! Some superb advice my friend........... Lots of food for thought.......

And a test drive would be much appreciated........

altezzaz · February 21, 2003

Hey - wasn't trying to imply there aren't fog lights, just that you have to get them sorted out, unless you get the winter pack.

Did anyone mention they are also lighter?

Mine's still pretty standard - so if you see me around, stop me...

Zee007 · February 21, 2003

Any of you chaps coming to Gaydon.....? Would be interested to have a good look round......... :)

Kavey · February 21, 2003

Any of you chaps coming to Gaydon.....? Would be interested to have a good look round......... :)

Would love to, and to say hello, but read this thread - it's looking unlikely now

Asam

Zee007 · February 25, 2003

Well, thank you all for your advice. Just to keep you posted, I am considering a Tezza at the mo - but am also continuing to further modify my IS200 with bits that I can transfer across.... ;)

If anyone else comes across a Beams RS200, then let me know!........... :)

altezzaz · February 26, 2003

One other thing I almost forgot until I was driving home last night is that not all RS200s come with the stereo amp - mine does have one but I've heard of Altezzas without.

Kavey · February 26, 2003

One other thing I almost forgot until I was driving home last night is that not all RS200s come with the stereo amp - mine does have one but I've heard of Altezzas without.

Yeah mine didn't come with the amp, but then I replaced mine with a phat new one :D

KV