Altezza Pros & Cons

[Santa'sBoostinSleigh]

im interested and searcing for some info between the different altezza models and motors

any advice/info/suggestions welcomed

[Distrb]

www.altezzaclub.org.nz - Doing a search on the forums there would be the best way to find any information..

theres all sorts of variances in both lexus and toyota versions...

Lexus Is300 - 2jzge
Lexus Is200 - 1gfe
Altezza Rs200Z - 3sge (Beams)

There are other models in the altezza range that come with the 1gfe, but i dont know what they are, so i didnt list them

Personally i wouldnt look at one that wasnt Beams 4cyl and 6spd manual, but then again, it comes down to why you want one... (but since i own one, i would say that, wouldnt i?)

Pro's (in general, not variant specific)
- easy to get aftermarket bits to suit (if modding them is your thing)
- newish car
- comfy
- plenty of interior cabin space
- cavernous boot
- rwd
- yearly warrants (if you get one thats 2k or newer)

Cons
- middle to upper sized capacity engine (fuel costs could be an issue if you mate it with an auto box)
- easy to knock wheels out of alignment
- throttle response isnt terribly great on factory spec one (manual only)

[anthonym]

Personally i wouldnt look at one that wasnt Beams 4cyl and 6spd manual, but then again, it comes down to why you want one... (but since i own one, i would say that, wouldnt i?)

Indeed, but IMO the 2JZ-GE 3.0L Altezza Gita (or IS300 sedan, probably moot given the respective cost) is a better car in every respect by some margin, and that opinion is based on having owned both. The Gita 3.0L is also considerably superior to the Caldina GT-T stock for stock IMO (again based on ownership of both cars), but the Caldina has greater tuning potential.

Cons
- throttle response isnt terribly great on factory spec one (manual only)

You mean poor torque at lower RPM, not throttle response.

[Distrb]

Cons
- throttle response isnt terribly great on factory spec one (manual only)

You mean poor torque at lower RPM, not throttle response.

No i dont mean that. Its hard for me to describe the behaviour. Pity i cant give a practical example as to what i mean. I find the torque at lower Rpm (1-3500) to be quite good actually. Mind you i have come from driving a 20v, so the extra displacement will do that for you to a certain degree.



Never ended up driving a 2jz as the car they were in was a little out of my price bracket, but the 1g versions i drove were quite disappointing compared to the 3s versions.

[Santa'sBoostinSleigh]

eventually i want to get one and artifically aspirate it, not sure if to SC or Turbo it tho, or what motor would be best suited.

definitely would be looking at a 6spd manual

chucking a v8 lexus motor in would be great, but yeah probably not going to happen!

the gita is 4wd am i right? but only on the wagon version?

[Santa'sBoostinSleigh]

GRADE BODY SHAPE ENGINE TRANSMISSION DRIVE
AS 200 Sedan 4dr 1G-FE 4A Rear
AS200 Z ED Sedan 4dr 1G-FE 4A Rear
RS 200 Sedan 4dr BEAMS3S-GE 6M/5A Rear
RS200 Z ED Sedan 4dr BEAMS3S-GE 6M/5A Rear
AS200 L Ed Wagon 5dr 1G-FE 6M/4A Rear
AS200 Z Ed Wagon 5dr 1G-FE 6M/4A Rear
AS300 L Ed Wagon 5dr 2JZ-GE 5A/4A Rear/4WD
AS300 N Ed Wagon 5dr 2JZ-GE 4A 4WD


Engine

MODEL CM³ FUEL TYPE POWER (KW) TORQUE (NM)
1G-FE 1988 P DOHC 24 valve VVT-i 118/6200 200/4400
BEAMS3S-GE 1998 P DOHC 16 valve Dual VVT-i 154/7600 216/6400
2JZ-GE 2997 P Twin Cam Six VVT-I 162/5600 300/4000

[Santa'sBoostinSleigh]

(sorry for the stupid formatting, or lack of)

[Santa'sBoostinSleigh]

oh yeah and whats the main dif between Lexus models and Toyota ones (apart from doubling the price)

[Perky]

Not a lot of difference -- and I'd expect prices to converge over time.

The Lexus IS200 comes standard with foglights, 17" alloys and (probably) leather upholstery, that my mum's AS200 doesn't have.

Also the IS200, 1G-FE is/was available with the 6 speed manual gearbox.

[Perky]

And badges, obviously.

Not many Altezzas are quite standard so it's hard to tell what the differences were originally.

[B1NZ]

Pro: Look good standard

Con: Too expensive

[SIKTOY]

Another thought to consider (if you care) is that the sedans have 6.5" fronts and 6x9's rear from factory. They arent the best, but decent for factory speakers. Plus lots of space in factory (ie optimum) posistions, for a wikid upgrade.

The RS200Z is the best of the 2L lot, but needs revving to get down and boogie. & Manual is a must unless your going 2JZ.

They arent that expensive now, can get a pretty decent one for 17ish give or take a grand or so.

[Santa'sBoostinSleigh]

Another thought to consider (if you care) is that the sedans have 6.5" fronts and 6x9's rear from factory. They arent the best, but decent for factory speakers. Plus lots of space in factory (ie optimum) posistions, for a wikid upgrade.

The RS200Z is the best of the 2L lot, but needs revving to get down and boogie. & Manual is a must unless your going 2JZ.

good info, thanks

[Santa'sBoostinSleigh]

what are the differences between these two?
RS 200 Sedan 4dr BEAMS3S-GE 6M/5A Rear
RS200 Z ED Sedan 4dr BEAMS3S-GE 6M/5A Rear
?

[Dell'Orto]

BEAMS motors are pretty fragile when it comes to forced induction, so keep that in mind.

[Santa'sBoostinSleigh]

i still dont understand the whole beams thing really....

[SIKTOY]

Differences arent huge. Here are the main ones:

Modification RS200 RS200 Z edition
Frame GF-SXE10-AEFVF GF-SXE10-AEFVF(Z)
Weight Z edition approximately 20 Kgs heavier.
Front fog lamp Option Factory.
Windows Normal Factory Tints
Interior Normal Leather Option.
Sterio Z edition has a slightly better headdeck.
(either in dash CD over stacker or CD over no CD, something like that.)
LSD Option Factory
Both have ABS, traction control + all the goodies from factory.

They have exactly the same engine, and unless you were launching hard (ie need LSD) would have practically identical performance.

Personally, I'd go for the Z edition out of the two, they are the same sort of price as no-one really knows the differences. Plus its just that littlebit flasher.

I disagree with the forced induction on beams.

There are many aftermarket kits (most well known is blitz) for SC and turboing the beams engine with pretty good results using factory internals and cams etc.

[SIKTOY]

damn, they are supposed to be in columns, i forgot about that, hope you can understand.

Beams = bloody good valve timing system (basically)

Note: Toyota quotes the RS beams engines at 147KW. (197 HP)

[sergei]

btw on 1GFE model, on egnine says BEAMS

[SIKTOY]

I think the 1ge beams have vvt on exhaust only???
or am I getting completely muddled up.
now Ive confused myself.

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