The IS200 has to be about the easiest car in the world to drive hard, and given the limited power, like its German competitors, really flatters drivers who often believe that at the limit they can detect and control better than TRC. The designers know for certain that such people are rare and exceptional because the speeds etc. for the various conditions are so high that the limit is very sudden. 99.9% of drivers have no hope of correcting as well or as fast as TRC, so something horrible is going to happen. What is really needed is even better TRC. Otherwise heaven help us all if such drivers ever get a powerful car.
On the IS200, if the TRC light stays out, it isn't doing anything and it doesn't affect the throttle response except on "Snow" - so it is the same as being off anyway except in some drivers' minds. If it flicks on briefly, it isn't doing much or for long so won't slow you down, but might help you to stay pointing the right way. If it stays on, it teaches you that the car is beyond the point where the majority can cope; and unless there is a lot of space around, an accident is likely. To learn to drive nearly as well as TRC will let you, you need plenty of practice in wide open spaces plus someone elses' car to wreck. To practice on the open roads is all most people can manage and we can't afford the carnage.
This all fairly obvious and raises the question: Should the driving test include an IQ test? :tsktsk:
I think you're confusing the basic TRC that toyota/lexus use in the Altezza/IS with DSC. All it does is cut power to the rear wheels when it sensors that the rear wheels are spinning faster than they should be. Generally I find it does it at the most inappropriate & dangerous time. No power when you most need most it ain't going to steer you away from that ditch in a hurry. The factory LSD does a better job of controlling traction than TRC will ever do IMO, that & decent tyres.
See if you can make any sense of these
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=e...%3Den%26tl%3Dja
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=e...%3Den%26tl%3Dja
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=e...%3Den%26tl%3Dja