Hey everyone. It seems I'm on the verge of having enough to buy an IS200 Sport but I need your expert opinions.

I've seen great Sports with 20K on the clock for £15k but they're 2000 plates.

I've read after 2001 things got a lot more refined, but a '01 Sport is more costly.

Please could you tell me from your experiences if it's worth me holding out for a '01.

Oh and the newer ones have 3 bars on the grille right?

Thanks

if you can pull £17500 together i can get you a 6 month old is200 sport on a 03 plate

Thanks Supracharged but I can't spend that much.

I read that after '01 things such as the CD player, alloys, paint job and interior were refined..

I just wanted to know if there's a whole lot better about them..

Nope...

I've got a 2000, and it has the newer stereo, and is perfect...

[quote name='Fidgits' date='Jun 22 2003, 10:42 PM']Nope...

I've got a 2000, and it has the newer stereo, and is perfect...[/quote]
no bass tho

there were lots of little things that changed, they all make the car better, but they are also all things you could live without, its whether you can justify whether it is worth paying extra for those things

(in my opinion, it is!)

[quote name='oka97' date='Jun 22 2003, 09:39 PM']Thanks Supracharged but I can't spend that much.

I read that after '01 things such as the CD player, alloys, paint job and interior were refined..

I just wanted to know if there's a whole lot better about them..[/quote]

There was a Sept '01 update that introduced a few changes:

- ESP / electronic stability control
- Curtain airbags
- subtle interior trim changes, but not necessarily an improvement IMO
- more?

Nige

we don't have ESP, only TRC, and i think all the cars had this

[quote name='wildrnes' date='Jun 23 2003, 10:53 AM'][quote name='Fidgits' date='Jun 22 2003, 10:42 PM'] Nope...

I've got a 2000, and it has the newer stereo, and is perfect...[/quote]
no bass tho [/quote]
Apparently I have the newer head unit, but the old amp...

bass is fine (at the mo)

triple jet washers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hmmm...

well there you go... the facts have been laid out, the choice is yours....

[quote name='oka97' date='Jun 22 2003, 10:39 PM']Thanks Supracharged but I can't spend that much.

I read that after '01 things such as the CD player, alloys, paint job and interior were refined..

I just wanted to know if there's a whole lot better about them..[/quote]
paint is still crap tho

I'd say it isn't worth it paying the extra.

The grill looks worse (get the sports grill fitted anyway!), stereo doesn't have as much bass and the paint isn't any better. The improvements to the dash aren't great.

Most people have had the alloys replaced under warranty.

Little things like smoked rear lights and triple jet washers you can change very cheaply.

i agree

the will be there regardless...

your probably better off getting an older model and tweaking..

[quote name='Fidgits' date='Jun 23 2003, 12:01 PM']the will be there regardless...

your probably better off getting an older model and tweaking.. [/quote]
thats what i did

What year is yours then Mat???

Oh, and if you save 3 grand on getting an older car... spend it on a supercharger

[quote name='Fidgits' date='Jun 23 2003, 12:06 PM']What year is yours then Mat???

Oh, and if you save 3 grand on getting an older car... spend it on a supercharger [/quote]
if i told you she would kill me

hang on everyone

the newer ones are much better except for the stereo, here's the list:

the grille is far better than the old one, which was some awful gold colour (you had to have a sport grille with the old one, but not necessary anymore)
both front seats electric
Brake Assist
EBD
Curtain airbags
Better quality materials on dash (not much, but still better)

i'm sure there's more stuff i forgotten, but this gives you an idea of what there is, and most of this stuff can't be added easily

dont forget the ghey chrome speaker grills

the terrible looking all black dash

[quote name='Parthiban' date='Jun 23 2003, 01:10 PM']hang on everyone

the newer ones are much better except for the stereo, here's the list:

the grille is far better than the old one, which was some awful gold colour (you had to have a sport grille with the old one, but not necessary anymore)
both front seats electric
Brake Assist
EBD
Curtain airbags
Better quality materials on dash (not much, but still better)

i'm sure there's more stuff i forgotten, but this gives you an idea of what there is, and most of this stuff can't be added easily[/quote]
hmmm...

I have a 2000...

My orginal grill was fine
Both my front seats are electric
I have brake assist
I dont have EBD or curtain airbags though

you don't like the all black dash? how come no one seems to like that?

i dont think that goldy bit running across the dash was very tasteful in a lexus (in the same way the cream interior should be all cream)

[quote name='Parthiban' date='Jun 23 2003, 02:14 PM']you don't like the all black dash? how come no one seems to like that?

i dont think that goldy bit running across the dash was very tasteful in a lexus (in the same way the cream interior should be all cream)[/quote]
ive seen less black at at Victorian Funeral

did they do the improvements in bit then, if you have the electric seats and BAS, but no EBD or curtains?

[quote]ive seen less black at at Victorian Funeral[/quote]

haha

i agree there's lots of black but i prefer to this to the old one

although, ideally, i'd like a bit of aluminium (real, not plastic) across the dash somewhere............

Yes they introduced some changes in 2000, electric passenger seat, different stereo, windows weren't etched Toyota.

Don't for get the locking system ...

Late 2001 they changed it from a simple 'press' to lock + deadlock ...
to a double press ....

And to disable interior sensors ... went from a 2nd 'press' ....
to some bizarre ritual involving holding this, pressing that .. and rolling a trouser leg i think

interesting stuff..

I think it's inside/engineering changes that matter, most ppl have commented on asthetic changes etc..

So far ppl have said the newer ones have EBD (electronic brake distribution?) and curtain airbags..

I guess throughout the years they haven't changed much internally..

I might hold out for a post 2001 if the price isn't too much and I can save it up..

Thanks guys!!

[quote name='Supracharged-IS340' date='Jun 22 2003, 07:26 PM']if you can pull £17500 together i can get you a 6 month old is200 sport on a 03 plate[/quote]
BARGIN........!!!!!

[quote name='ricky_is200' date='Jun 23 2003, 10:38 AM']Little things like smoked rear lights and triple jet washers you can change very cheaply.[/quote]
Quick question, I've been looking at photos of the rear end and haven't noticed a difference between the 2000's rear lights and the newer smoked lights..

Can someone illustrate the difference to me please?

Best I can do right now:

[img]http://www.lexusownersclub.com/gallery/albums/album08/Brack09.sized.jpg[/img]

The one you can just see the rear light has pre-2001 and the others have post...

You advertising me motor a little there Fidgit

And I too have both front Electric seats, on a 2000 (Dec) IS200

And one of the later Audio units too.