Not A Sport.

[lexusis200x2000]

Turns out that my car is a SE not a sport. Well that what the log book says anyway. It has the half leather seats, leather steering wheel, sports grill and the metal sill covers. Is the log book wrong or has it been modified. It also has the alloys to suit.

[ColinBarber]

metal clutch/brake/acc pedals? Tinted rear windows?

Leather seats are standard on the SE as well as the sport.

Is the steering wheel two tone coloured? (although I don't think all of the sports were - my old one wasn't unless it had been changed)

[lexusis200x2000]

Not a two tone steering wheel, no metal pedals but it does have rear tinted windows.

[matt-c]

Tinted windows are easy to tell if they are after market - just roll em down and you will be able to see the edge of the film. Or take a razor blade and scratch the inside of the glass lightly (in an inconspicuous spot) lightly - if it's film it'll mark, if it's glass it won't.

With no two-tone wheel or pedals, I'd say it isn't a Sport - I'd see no reason to remove them to replace with SE pedals and wheel. The sill covers could have been added, the half leather trim, as said, is standard in both SE and Sport, and the grille is an option (the Sport as standard had exactly the same grille as the SE and S model)

Additional features of the Sport over the SE were;

Limited Slip Diff (Sport had manual box only, no auto)

Two tone steering wheel

Metal pedals

Stainless sill plates

Rear spoiler

Dark tinted rear windows

Stainless steel exhaust pipe

Plus the Sport had lower suspension than the S and SE (-15mm)

Put your reg into My Car Check (https://www.mycarcheck.com) which I've found to be pretty good for basic info - it's correctly identified the Sport an SE models I've checked when I was looking at cars buying my Sport. I found a few advertised as Sports that were actually SE's, and one that was an S!

[lexusis200x2000]

OK so I'm happy enough that it is a se. I have the alloys, sport grill, front metal sill plate, tinted window (propa ones ) rear spoiler. So I have a se with lots of extras.

[lexusis200x2000]

Rear window are tinted film. How can I tell if it has a LSD without doing a burn out etc. Does the sport have a difference in gear box or power or brakes.

[matt-c]

All 153bhp, so power is the same. Brakes are all the same as far as I know, and the 6sp manual box from the Sport is the same as the 6sp manual in the SE and S, apart from the LSD (as far as I know anyway)

[lexusis200x2000]

So how do I know if it has been upgraded with a LSD I think at some point some has spent a lot money on it at some point.

[ChrisIS200SportTTE]

So how do I know if it has been upgraded with a LSD I think at some point some has spent a lot money on it at some point.

Nobody would put a LSD on it im sure. There's no need to as the IS doesn't really need it, sport model or not. It would be a waste of money....

[lexusis200x2000]

But the sport had a lsd so it must make a difference.

[LexIS200Sport]

From what I can tell, it made a difference in snow. Avoids one wheel spinning freely and the car not going anywhere.

[ChrisIS200SportTTE]

From what I can tell, it made a difference in snow. Avoids one wheel spinning freely and the car not going anywhere.

Yeah and not that much of a difference. Ever driven an IS200 in the snow? Lol...

You really wouldn't spend money in an LSD.

[matt-c]

I'm dreading trying to drive mine when it snows this winter. I've never had RWD before, and it's been a LONG time since having anything with wide, low profile tyres (my last three cars were all FWD, and all had small, 13/14", wheels with "normal" tyres on them - 185/75, or 195/55). Next door said last year he tried to take his Merc (C Class, 1.8 kompressor auto) and it just didn't move. Totally useless! And that has less power than the IS, which isn't particularly powerful anyway!

[ChrisIS200SportTTE]

I'm dreading trying to drive mine when it snows this winter. I've never had RWD before, and it's been a LONG time since having anything with wide, low profile tyres (my last three cars were all FWD, and all had small, 13/14", wheels with "normal" tyres on them - 185/75, or 195/55). Next door said last year he tried to take his Merc (C Class, 1.8 kompressor auto) and it just didn't move. Totally useless! And that has less power than the IS, which isn't particularly powerful anyway!

If it snows heavy your gonna need a set of winter tyres or you won't even get off your drive! Lol....

[lexusis200x2000]

do all is200's have the snow button.??

[ChrisIS200SportTTE]

do all is200's have the snow button.??

As far as I know yes. I've never seen a 200 without snow button

[Tango]

My IS-F stays in its heated garage when the temperature drops below 7 degrees centigrade, and the IS200 Sport is used with a full set of Pirelli Sotto Zeros. It has surprised many a stuck 4x4 driver on summer/all weather tyres when a rear wheel drive Lexus passes them on icy and snow covered hills. :D

[lexusis200x2000]

I did this last year with my peugoet 206 1.4hdi, made some 4x4 drivers look very stupid.