ChrisIS200SportTTE

Yeah sad times. LOC looks different nowadays, not signed in for over a year!!!!! Does seem like it's only me and you left Dean from the old lot lol

The 200 was launched in the UK to take on the BMW 316-318-320, Audi A4 2.0 and Mercedes C class. They fitted the 2.0 because the market in Europe don't want bigger engines that cost more to tax and return poor mpg. For the market the IS200 was aimed at the power is right, it's not a fast car and was never meant to be. It's a comfortable cruiser. I'm also pretty sure that they putting in a tuneable engine didn't even enter their mind, why would it? They weren't trying to sell cars to the performance market, but to the corporate business market. The suspension is high because again they were selling a comfortable cruiser not a fast sporty car that's slammed but one that comfortably eats up motorway miles. So yes they did know what they were doing

This thread is full of a lot of misinformation. As Colin has said the vvti doesn't kick in at all. It's a constant variable and it operates all the time. What you feel at 4500rpm is the acis valve. the ACIS system uses a single intake air control valve located in the intake to vary the length of the intake tract in order to optimize power and torque, as well as provide better fuel efficiency. By altering this valve you will not get better performance. In fact it will be detrimental. Toyota worked out how to optimise power and torque from the 1gfe engine using the acis system, they knew what they were doing. So no, a lot of people haven't deleted the acis valve with good results.

Why change it?????? It's all very confusing now

The power steering is a common issue. Prob needs a new belt or a tighten (that's the squeak you hear) and you prob need a power steering fluid change. What colour is your power steering fluid? It should be a nice blue or red. Brown or black indicates worn out oil. The brake issue is probably a sticking calliper. Again very common.

Yeah was gonna say the same thing^ Just because they're not in a wheelchair or hobbling or limping doesn't mean they're not disabled!!!!

Discs dont just warp. Something causes them to warp. Normally sticking front brake callipers. It's a very very common issue. If you replace warped discs but don't find the underlying cause such as a sticking calliper that's causing them to warp then you'll end up with the same problem in a few thousand miles or less.

According to how many left .com there are still 4700 IS200 sports on the road. Compare that to 678 IS300's. It's not that rare

IS200 sports are not that rare a car, not in comparison to say an IS300 in the UK. Your wheels are not Lexus wheels they are aftermarket as Colin says with lexus center caps (very easy to have these made up) The side skirts look genuine TRD (available from dealers). The front splitters look aftermarket.

If your car had had a factory sat nav it would have a control panel where your drinks holder is.

That lead on the dash with the black thing on it is an aftermarket satellite receiver. The button "tm" is also aftermarket. The flip up dash tray you have is standard on a lot of 04/05 cars. I don't think your car ever had factory sat nav fitted. I think the previous owner had an aftermarket sat nav that was probably a double din head unit or where the flip up tray is now. Fitting a lexus nav is way more trouble than it's worth. Would require you to strip the interior of the car and boot to run the 3 meter wiring loom. The lexus nav on the 200 is also very very dated so it's a lot of work for a rubbish sat nav unit basically.

First sign of HG is often pressured coolant on these. A diagnosis can be done in no time using a sniff test to test for exhaust gases in the coolant. Maybe the mechanic did this test?

Research the 220d and it's many faults, the prime one being the head gasket issues.

Does the car have an aftermarket stereo?

Nobody on here with that swap but a couple on the Facebook page https://m.facebook.com/groups/179809172041079?ref=bookmarks