Buying - What to Watch
We're not talking Altezza lights here, we're talking the car.
Okay, let's get some background model infomation first:
RS200 - 4 cylinder 3S-GE engine
AS200 - 6 cylinder 1G-FE engine
IS200 - Lexus version 6 cylinder IG-FE engine
Now for some more detail. The Altezza AS200 is, for the most part, the same as the Lexus IS200. The differences that exist (electric seats and the like) are just to satisfy the snobby high-end image of Lexus. ;)
Don't make the mistake of thinking 6 cylinders are better than 4, the RS200's 4-cylinder 3S-GE engine is significantly more powerful than the IS200/AS200's 6-cylinder 1G-FE:
| AS200 | |||
| Engine | Transmission | Power (PS) | Torque (Nm) |
| 1988 cc 6-Cyl | 6 Spd Manual | 160 @ 6,200 rpm | 200 @ 4,400 rpm |
| 1988 cc 6-Cyl | 4 Spd Auto | 160 @ 6,200 rpm | 200 @ 4,400 rpm |
| RS200 | |||
| Engine | Transmission | Power (PS) | Torque (Nm) |
| 1998 cc 4-Cyl | 6 Spd Manual | 210 @ 7,600 rpm | 216 @ 6,400 rpm |
| 1998 cc 4-Cyl | 5 Spd Auto | 200 @ 7,000 rpm | 216 @ 4,800 rpm |
Manual vs Auto
As you may have observed from the above table the RS200 manual
generates a little more horsepower. Nope, it's not due to massive
driveline losses - the two engines have slightly different components
in the head arrangement.
The manual 3S-GE dual head has higher lift cams than that found in the
tiptronic model. This is part of the reason for the 7500 redline in the
manual.
The manual should have more top end, but who drives their car at 7000 rpm all the time...
Traction Control and LSD is standard on the 6MT, but only optional on the auto.
Audio
The factory headunits come in two flavours - cassette or minidisk. Both have AM/FM Radio and in-dash 6CD stackers as well.There's also variation in the system post-headunit. The "Live Sound System" has 6 speakers fed from the amp built into the head unit. The "Super Live Sound System" has 8 speakers and is fed from an additional amp external to the head unit.
The big thing to check for here is the infamous ERR3 problem. The 6th CD (and others at times) cannot be read. In worst cases the player will actually jam with the CDs inside and removing them is a messy job. When buying an Altezza take 6 old CD's with you to test out the stacker.
The Rumble
The Altezza is a great car, but this is the one thing that bugs me the most.More tips to come...
DISCLAIMER
I make no promises regarding the accuracy of this information, it's just my version of the truth. You're a fool if you trust it without checking a few other sources yourself.
