Was walking past a line of parked cars today and came across an L reg Toyota Lexus Altezza in silver, Up until today I had never saw one of these cars and was quite impressed with the styling for that year.
Are they any good?.
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It's a Lexus IS.
So will be brilliant from a reliability / quality aspect.
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Did a google and came up with the impression it is an import from Japan, is that correct.
Great looking car, My son is talking about changing and is at present driving an R reg Toyota Corolla auto so could be a nice step up for him.
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It is the Japanese market version of the Lexus IS (Lexus was only introduced in Japan quite recently).
The are very good and reliable cars of course, but L-reg is getting on a bit now - could prove costly in the long run.
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I'm guessing the 'L' plate is a private one; wasn't the IS introduced in 1999 in the UK? Surely the Altezza in Japan was launched no more than a couple of years earlier... By my reckoning that'd make 'S' reg the earliest - 'L' is a good 6 years earlier still
Peter
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Yes, you're probably right. L sounds too early for an Altezza.
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The first IS's over here were on T plates.
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post a quickie on the lexus owners club..they will fill you in :-)
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There are two versions.
6 cyl 2000cc as per UK IS200
4 cyl 2000cc
I used to have an IS200 and loved it but I've heard the 4 cyl version is a high revving absolute hoot! The BTCC racing version was based on the 4 cyl engine.
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Yes, the 4-cyl was the Beams engine I think?
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Many thanks for the info, son is thinking about it but it will have to be an automatic as his Japanese wife can not and will not drive a manual.
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Auto IS200 (6 cyl) isn't great. It's only a four speed (manual is 6) and that engine needs serious revs to move swiftly.
The IS300 auto is OK (but more expensive).
I don't know if the 4 cyl was sold as a manual in Japan and, if so, whether most imports are manuals or autos. Ask on the owers club website.
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