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To add my two penneth worth, there is no way I would buy an UK IS200 knowing what I know about the Altezza. I don't like Leather seats (sweaty in summer and freezing cold in winter), I see no benefit in having Headlamp washers and care nothing for badges. I also find it extraordinary that when the rest of the cars interior is exactly the same (colours and materials), that some Lexus owners consider the Altezza to be an inferior car when it is infact made by the same manufacturer - Toyota - one of the best and most widely produced and purchased car manufacturers on the planet.

As for no appreciable performance difference between the two cars in their standard form - what are you talking about? 57 bhp more surely means an increase in performance, why else would people with UK spec IS200's bother spending thousands of pounds trying to achieve that which is standard to the Altezza.

I enjoy this club and it's camaraderie, if it wasn't for the help I received from this club and it's members before I purchased my car, I may not have gone ahead and got it. I, however, find it perplexing and annoying to be treated as though my car is somehow inferior and my purchase was a lesser one due to the fact it is imported from Japan and doesn't have an "L" on it's grille and bootlid.

As far as I'm concerned this club is for all who have the good taste and good fortune to own a quality vehicle and while they have their differences each of them has a quality we enjoy for our own reasons - we should all be able to respect each other for the decisions upon which model we decide to own and take heart that we all have a common thread as far as the type of car we like to call our own.

The End.

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You may not like leather seats, giving the choice I probably wouldn't have it, but most people in this country seem to have an obsession with leather and it is much easier to sell your car in the future if it has it.

I have no doubt the Altezza RS has extra performance. My old UK MR2 MK2 with it's 153bhp version of that engine easily out performs the IS200, and was almost as heavy, but nearly all the extra power is above 5500 rpm. Not everybody wants to drive that way - It doesn't fit in with the 'Lexus' way either otherwise the engine would be available in the UK. Lexus really wanted the 6 cylinder to compete with the BMW 320 not a 4 cylinder.

The best thing for anybody considering is to test both and make your own mind up. Some people will like the IS200 better, some will like the Altezza, some will prefer the IS200 but go with the Altezza due to cost and some will like the Altezza but go with the IS200 because they don't want an import.

I also find it extraordinary that when the rest of the cars interior is exactly the same (colours and materials), that some Lexus owners consider the Altezza to be an inferior car when it is infact made by the same manufacturer

Maybe some people do. Possibly due to it being much cheaper than their car, many of the imports having a lower spec or because imports normally bring lower residuals to the UK cars due to flooding of the market and cheaper prices.

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Zaphod.

i dont see where anyone has said the altezza is inferior.

my judgement comes from the fact ive driven both Altezza's and is200's.

on more than one occasion, so is my opion, based on the facts i have. Are they not worth anything?

for the price to now buy a good imported altezza you can get a good highish milage IS200.....with all the "extras" that people want from a "LEXUS", after all that is what Martin said he was wanting.

i am at present looking at importing 2 altezza's as i need the engines and running gear, for the race car..........

so i understand the GOOD things that the altezzas, mechanicals offer, but theres more to a car than just its 210hp......

i more than anyone on these forums know there all Toyotas ive stripped and dismantled 3 now!!

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I don't like Leather seats (sweaty in summer and freezing cold in winter),

The seats on mine dont get sweaty or cold, maybe you should try an IS200

I see no benefit in having Headlamp washers

Totally, but there not all fitted with them

I also find it extraordinary that when the rest of the cars interior is exactly the same (colours and materials),

Not true, the door caps,and seats are different materials. window pillar mouldings and headliner are all different, the car has less sound dedening under the carpets,and behind trim panels. Not all are fitted with passenger airbags,seat airbags none heated windscreens.......most dont come with the factory amp, seat heaters,dash dimmer,heated mirrors, Sunroof............No factory alarm, the rear Glass is thinner..yes, ive even noticed that, The std Toyota radio would need a band expander on it......or replacing full stop , which then needs a new Fascia paneL.....(How is yours , by the way, you never did say if it arrived....)

that some Lexus owners consider the Altezza to be an inferior car when it is infact made by the same manufacturer - Toyota - one of the best and most widely produced and purchased car manufacturers on the planet.

i dont dispute that. and so far no one else has, so where are these Lexus owners that hate the Altezza so much

As for no appreciable performance difference between the two cars in their standard form - what are you talking about? 57 bhp more surely means an increase in performance

You dont feel HorsePower, you feel Torque, The IS200 has more low down Torque, the Altezza Torque is started to be felt at 5000 rpm, just as the is200 starts to loose it, but both cars need pushing hard......due to the nature of the engines,

what am i talking about............im talking from experiance, of driving plenty of both cars

why else would people with UK spec IS200's bother spending thousands of pounds trying to achieve that which is standard to the Altezza.

Because the cars you see people spending money on are members of a Car community, of which a large number like to spend money on modifications

I enjoy this club and it's camaraderie, if it wasn't for the help I received from this club and it's members before I purchased my car, I may not have gone ahead and got it. I

I do aswell..i belive i also gave you help, infact i think i tried getting you an Altezza

, however, find it perplexing and annoying to be treated as though my car is somehow inferior and my purchase was a lesser one due to the fact it is imported from Japan and doesn't have an "L" on it's grille and bootlid.

Show me where this has ever happened

As far as I'm concerned this club is for all who have the good taste and good fortune to own a quality vehicle and while they have their differences each of them has a quality we enjoy for our own reasons - we should all be able to respect each other for the decisions upon which model we decide to own and take heart that we all have a common thread as far as the type of car we like to call our own.

I TOTALLY AGREE, however it gets a little repetative, when ever someone asks a comparison question and straight away all you ever get is........(scott :winky: ) banging on about How much faster and more HP the Altezza has......

whereas, if you actually read this topic from start to end, i have tried to keep the playing field flat .for Martin, who wants an unbiased acurate view of both cars,.......

as i have said, having driven many of Both models, and other Lexus/Toyota cars aswell, Having stripped plenty of both the IS200 and the Altezza, i think that i have good grounds to be able to give my view.

mat :winky:

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I TOTALLY AGREE, however it gets a little repetative, when ever someone asks a comparison question and straight away all you ever get is........(scott :winky: ) banging on about How much faster and more HP the Altezza has......

Mat, i am just giving my view, after all i also have drive countless amounts of both vehicle, and am entitled to give my opinion.

After all, when i joined the club a very large number of the club were very degrading towards the altezza, and thanks to my "repetativness" many members' (not all) views have now changed.

I think the altezza is superb value for money and wouldn`t change it for an is200.

I wasn`t banging on at all mate... i said test drive them both and see what you think, as this would by far be the best way to determine which car suits. After all, people (Thankfully) have different views, tastes and requirements from their cars.

We are all members of this superb, friendly and helpful club for the same reasons....

We are all fanatical about our cars... therefore from time to time people are bound to get passionate / defensive about there chosen car.

Mat, i am just giving my view, after all, i also have drive countless amounts of both vehicle, and am entitled to give my opinion. ( Which is unbised believe it or not!)

After all, when i joined the club a very large number of the club were very degrading towards the altezza, and thanks to my "repetativness" many members' (not all) views have now changed.

I think the altezza is superb value for money and wouldn`t change it for an is200.

I wasn`t banging on at all mate... i said test drive them both and see what you think, as this would by far be the best way to determine which car suits. After all, people (Thankfully) have different views, tastes and requirements from their cars.

We are all members of this superb, friendly and helpful club for the same reasons....

We are all fanatical about our cars... therefore from time to time people are bound to get passionate / defensive about there chosen car.

:) :driving: :)

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i used the term "banging on" scott with a winky....... :winky: .see

i was not disputing anything other than the post that i quoted, ive read this TOPIC several times now, and at no point have i seen anyone knocking the altezza........!!!!

as the import laws now stand, it is more benificial to buy a 80,000 mile IS200sport with full LSH than a Imported Altezza with 30,000miles.

my point is, bang for buck, the cars are similer in performance untill the Torque band arrives on the TEZ, pound for punch the IS200 is better specced up..that is fact!!

Now that the Import laws have changed, the only cars that will be able to come in will be STD crs, unless you want the hassel of model reports of swapping bits about........not everyone wants that hassel

and the IS200 will be cheaper on insurance, AND better handeled by the dealers, .i agree there are a couple of import specialist who will deal with the Tez.

lets keep the info un-biased, and what Martin wants to hear.facts, passion is a good thing in the bedroom..........but not when threres this many people involved

:whistling:

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That was quite a read since i last checked last night lol :P.

Some good points for me to ponder on, however i really do feel the choice will be taken out of my hands because of insurance.

I am going to phone around today and see what they say, although as im not looking to get one for a little while (need to save some more wedge up and sell mine) it could be a while before im ready to go.

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Plus at least you guys didnt slate me for owning an escort (maybe thats because you know i have seen the light ) :P

Nothing up with you owning an Escort mate... Not everyone can afford or indeed likes the Lexus...

Each to their own matie... each to their own.

As long as you get a car your happy with at the end of the day... that`s all that matters....

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Is it worth mentioning that they do a 6 cylinder Altezza too (AS200), They are cheaper to buy if you don't mind not having the "L" badge and this might offset the extra insurance cost. That said, the BHP is exactly the same as the UK Lexus (am I right?) but if its lighter, it might feel punchier. :)

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