Does anyone know a Lexus/Toyota Altezza ??

Grummer

Grummer

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these are awesome cars, fairly compact 4 door sedans with great shape and its said to handle the road real good. and they are quite fast, rumours is true that there s a 3 litre straight six versions which are basically straight off the older toyotas supras , dammit I want one....much cheaper than ferraris or porsches.... erm, even the TVR's arent cheap
i wonder if there are any on american roads? what did you think of it, (if you have had a ride or drove one?
 
Grummer said:
these are awesome cars, fairly compact 4 door sedans with great shape and its said to handle the road real good. and they are quite fast, rumours is true that there s a 3 litre straight six versions which are basically straight off the older toyotas supras , dammit I want one....much cheaper than ferraris or porsches.... erm, even the TVR's arent cheap
i wonder if there are any on american roads? what did you think of it, (if you have had a ride or drove one?
Click to expand...

what year is Lexus IS?
 
Doubtful that model is for the US market, but overseas. The only performance lexus we have is the one with a V8 motor.
 
I think I know what's Grummer referring to. I used to be all over Lexus models when I was younger..

He's referring to the IS300, the generation that died out before the new line of IS250/350 came out. This Lexus was aka the Toyota Altezza in the JDM market.

The key there is Grummer mentioned Supra. The supra engines used the 2JZGTE engines, the IS300 is a 2JZGE engine. Basically, if you know toyota engine mfg schematics, the T symbolizes turbo.

the 2JZGE IIRC is a 3.0L engine, and it's V6 based, so it perfectly matches Grummer's description.

Lexus_IS300.JPG


The line one that started the trend of "Altezza" aftermarket modification lights for just every other popular car out there (*cough, CIVIC, *cough*).

In the USA it was badged as the IS300, in Japan it was the Toyota Altezza. There were a few cosmetic changes between US and JDM markets, but internally they were completely the same. Lemme see if I can dig up some pics.

Here we go:
JDM/Foreign market back:
25phmiu.jpg


USA/Domestic market back:
130_0809_02_z+2003_lexus_is300+rear_view.jpg



That's pretty much it. Yes, performancewise they are how Grummer mention. I have a buddy who went through 2 IS300's, then now a IS350. I drove and also was a passenger in his 300 many many times, the handling was superior, but this can be said of almost all of the top toyota sports cars. Go straight, then try to make a sudden U turn without hitting the brakes at ~15-20+ mph (24-30+ km/h for you aussies). The better of the line of toyota sports cars can do it with ease.
 
V6 engine=ZZZZZZZ...wake me up if it had the supra motor in it.
 
Is300

yep, that is exactly what i was talking about, I didnt want to go on all at once to come across as a know-it-all. Yes i meant the IS300, say between 1998-2002 models? well here in New Zealand we get alot of 'jap imports' that is the the left overs from the Japanese Domestic Models because in Japan they have this strict laws regulating the age of their automotives on their roads. i believe it is something like up to 3 years of age, and they are legally required to trade in for the newer (brand new? is probably likely) models. Weird i know but its true.
Ah yes the IS200 can be fitted with the Supra engine and box, and no its not the V6, its the Straight six. the AS200 is a straight six 2 litre. and Apparently the 4cly 2 litre is more powerful than the straight six brother, not sure why. I am not 'petrolhead' obsessed with engineering and details ( i used to be when I was doing motocross way way back (and dabbled with road racing on motorcycles playing around on a freinds' RG400 square four two stroke) then he got a KR1 (kawasaki 2 stroke, but they disconted alot of 2 strokes in mid 90's real sad.... i loved the bastards of the wee rockets)

i pasted what i found what they say what the straight6 supra is capable of;

If you want to go inline-6, I would check out toyota's 1jz or 2jz series. You can pick up a 2jz-ge (na) fairly cheap and then boost the crap out of it. There is a guy with a Ford Probe who is running a 9-sec 1/4 mile on his 2jz-ge.

finding a IS300 for real, with a supra's str-6 is hard, not difficult- it just takes time and effort, fairly uncommon but its not rare. The easiest way to find 3ltr version in NZ, its getting the stationwagon, and its hardly like a wagon, more like a 3 door hatchback with extra 2 doors.....

my guess the earlier altezzas have toyota badge (so its cheaper?, im not actually sure to be honest

Sorry Naisho, its not v6, its a Straight-six , straight out from the Supras !!,im not growling, just a freindly correction is all :)

you are lucky to have been and even drove one im envious lol

my brother drove the V-8 version the IS-F, that is like $130 grand in the NZ market. He told me it wicks out 315 Kw, which works out as 425 HP, from a 5litre V8, with top speed of 275k's not far from the Ferrari F355 at 290, while it is 3.5 litre (and titanium conrods)... but id imagine the IS-F would last alot longer before the engine needing an overhual, due to lower state of tune, and a bigger block that needs less effort to produce similar power.

sequoias you can google for that, even you'd find some in youtubes (mind you youtubes for ANY cars is pretty boring, its a very poor substitute for experience. other than that, you could see how much SMOKE it churns out, quite a feat , no shit.
 
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while i have a chance to change it,

here's an interesting picture of a 2JZ-GTE in a Altezza/IE200/300


suprainaltezza.jpg
 
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wow, i got to say this, that above picture showed massive motherfucking turbo, the motor is enormous and it must have taken a lot of work to squash it all under this bonnet. It's impressive.
 
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