toyota altezza rs200

[japgt]

ok, so the foray into shed motoring was a mistake, the clio has been used for a weekend and it's off to a new home just as soon as i can get rid, it's just not me.

ive still got the scoob in the garage which will live again at some point but ive just seen a toyota altezza rs200 with the beams engine, 57000 miles in immaculate condition throughout, however, the stumbling block at the moment is the gearbox, it has a semi auto, with paddle shift on the steering wheel, which i know nothing about. ive been and looked at the car, and its in very good condition throughout, runs as sweet as a nut, but wanted to get over my preconceptions of a semi auto gearbox.

are they any good?? are they reliable, are they easy to get parts for if they do go pear shaped?? the dealer selling it states that the gearbox is excellent and you can almost flat throttle shift it's that quick, but having not had chance to drive it yet, im not so sure, and after all he's trying to sell the car so will tell you anything.

any help would be appreciated as ive already found insurance at a good price but need reassurance that im not buying a lemon of a car with a crap gearbox.

cheers

[NateWM]

Test drive it and find out for yourself maybe?

[japgt]

thats really useful!!!!

i fully intend test driving it, but having never driven a paddle shift gear-boxed car before, i'm not really knowledgeable enough to tell the difference between a good one and a bad one, so wanted some help from those in the know with some pointers to look out for and some general information.

[samoht]

I'm 95% sure that it will be a standard torque-converter automatic with switches on the wheel to override. I strongly suspect, therefore, that it will be more of an automatic than a manual.
I'm also slightly dubious that it would suit a high-revving naturally aspirated two litre engine in a not-that-light saloon.

Personally I would only want an automated manual, not a torque-converter auto, in a performance car, but depends on your preference in these things.

[samoht]

http://z4.invisionfree.com/lexusaltezzaclub/ar/t11...

The Altezza RS200 (3SGE) Auto transmissions are 5 Speed Tiptronic (change gears on the steering wheel buttons or leave it in the normal "D" Auto)

[DUBLIN205]

Don't buy the auto, a good smooth drive but very bad on petrol and not quick at all for a six cylinder.
Better of with a manual 4 cylinder beams engine, better on the juice quicker and a lot more fun

[japgt]

the auto is 4 pot beams engine, or at least the one im looking at is, 3g-se i think is the engine code

[Tib]

3SGE is a 4Pot with BEAMS. [in this sense] You're correct. IS300 is the one with a 6 banger in.

Buy a manual. The auto is.... An auto. Shift on a manual is also really quite nice; nice and tight like prom night...

[johnyboy1976]

UK spec IS200 is a 2000cc inline 6 - got around 150bhp - as in the the OP's post the RS200 uses a VVTi 3SGE 4 cylinder engine.
The IS300 uses the 2JZGE out of the GS300 and has around 220bhp

[Tib]

I stand corrected.