CB-Dave

Sorry for taking so long to reply to this, I've had loads of stuff on! I was looking at Altezza's, and a mate of mine runs a car import service so I could probably get one at somewhat preferential rates. I didn't know they were higher powered as standard than an IS200 though. The GTi returns 50 miles to 10 quid whether I drive it like a nun or a nutcase (usually the latter, 6000rpm gearchanges and 120 on the motorway!) so 20 quid for 100 miles isn't anything I'm not already used to, I'd hope that would be able to be modulated somewhat though - ie drive it like a nun and maybe get 150 miles to 20 quid etc! One thing that bothers me a little about an Altezza over an IS is the insurance - surely if it's 50+bhp up, and an import - most ins co's will baulk at it and add another 0 to the end of the premium price? It's taken long enough to get the GTi insurance down to manageable levels (£1095 fully comp - I live close to a dump of a council estate that is chavtastic...) so I would prefer to keep em that way - do people use specialist insurers or do the brokers show the right way to go? Thanks for the input though everyone! It's been most helpful :D

Alright everyone - i'm seriously considering an IS200 within the next year or so, and I'm jus curious about what the costs are usually in the region of. My current car is a '91 Peugeot 205 1.9 GTi, and it's been played with a little bit (filter, exhaust & manifold, strut brace, ecu, lowered, harnesses etc) and it's an ace little point to point racer - the only problems with it are the fact it breaks down if the day ends in a 'Y', and has a rather serious problem with optimax (250mi to a tank, 45 litre tank!) If I get an IS, I'll be keeping the GTi but modifying the IS in roughly the same way; lowered, exhaust, filter, front & rear braces (if poss) and a nice set of wheels etc, maybe a TRD kit. Plus I have a load of incar entertainment to transport into it (it's my job!) Am I going to have to take a loan out for a lex and a loan for the fuel or is it more frugal than the GTi? What about servicing etc, having nigh-on rebuilt the GTi I'm handy with the spanners so is it a car you can service yourself without referring to a ripoff-sorry... specialist? cheers for taking the time to read this!