some information on Toyota's IST?

[regamaster]

hey all,

family member is in the market for a new car, and a smaller type.
have come down to make a choice (yes we've had a quick look around) and its sorta an urgent issue to get a car quickly. I know its not a thing to rush, and we're not rushing, but don't have the time to shop around and look at this and that and compare this and that etc.

has come down to a suzuki swift or a toyota IST.

Now I understand that the IST was more produced for the US market?
were any of them brought in to NZ new by Toyota themselves?

anything good or bad you can say about the IST's, please do speak up!

does anyone know if these are hard to get parts for etc? and also, any common problems with it or anything?

and lastly, this might be for people who have owned IST's previously, I found a switch/button underneath the steering column, right of the centre console/dash part with 'IST' on it. Does anyone know what that is suppose to be for or does?

thanks

[Mr Revhead]

some signature ones bought in
as for parts... they are a bit of an orphan, so some bits like lights and panels are specific to them, the engines are used in a few other things so service items won't be a problem. But I'd get a Vitz/Yaris over an Ist. Why are are not looking at them?
out of swift/ist then i'd go swift no question.

[regamaster]

have never really liked the vitz/yaris body to be honest. ist really wasnt my style either, but the one we viewed today just happen to catch our eye. actually went to look at a different car but when we arrived at the yard, the IST that was out front was nice too. its a nicely dressed up black one with 17" weds wheels, TRD springs, fullkit, aftermarket grill etc. drove pretty well too, suspension was quite stiff.

why would you go for the swift over IST? just personal pref or better qualities of the car?

[Mr Revhead]

bigger, more around so easier to get worked on or parts for.
plus look better!
if it was me, a 1500cc Vitz RS would be my choice

[regamaster]

yeah it'd definitely have to be the RS model if we went down the Vitz route! ahhh, now we keep finding other cars in hte price range .. .. makes the decisions harder! haha

[Boosted_162]

Swift May or may not be biased...

[tsoob]

swift a better option

[Lloyd]

I'd say Swift too. Nice little cars for what they are

[regamaster]

is that the general pref if it was Swift Vs Vitz RS?