Toyota Altezza - Anyone know much about them?

[anonymous-user]

Hi all.

I'm looking for a new car - something to replace my Mk2 MR2. I really have no idea what I'm after, which isn't a great deal of help I know. I was looking at a Lexus, but was put off because it was only 160BHP, then spotted the Altezza. I can't really find any decent info on them, so was hoping someone in here would know a thing or 2 about them.

What are they like to drive? Quite sporty, or a bit of a barge?
How quick are they 0-60, 0-100, and how do they handle?
Any common problems to look out for?

Thanks

[adam85]

Not the most clued up person on the Altezza imports. I believe the 4-pot Yamaha Beams Engine (found in the Altezza) has most of it's power further up the rev range, so needs to be driven accordingly.
The IS-200 uses a relatively small displacement 6-pot but offers a naturally smoother drive with good low down torque. This appealed to me and suits the car (I haven't driven an Altezza so this is only off the strength of my experiences with an IS.
Both handle similarly one would assume and are a very reliable cost effective alternative to the likes of a BMW e46 3 series.

[anonymous-user]

adam85 said:

Both handle similarly one would assume and are a very reliable cost effective alternative to the likes of a BMW e46 3 series.

Ahh, but having never driver an IS, I don't know what "similarly" entails - similarly poorly or similarly well? Is it quite a sporty drive, as one of the things I love about the MR2 is its handling.

Thanks for the info so far

[anonymous-user]

Anyone else?

[GravelBen]

They are nice drive, as said above the 210bhp BEAMS 3S-GE likes revs while the 6-pot in the Lexus version has more grunt low down (but not the top-end power). Pretty good steering, the 6-speed box is quite nice too.

[rb51]

there are a lot of altezzas over her in eire very common in the south east anyway,
i know a few people with them and a few points iv picked up off them are that the engines love to rev
the gear change is excelent but they have very long gearing
come with lsd as standard
very reliable

[300bhp/ton]

Nyphur said:

Hi all.

I'm looking for a new car - something to replace my Mk2 MR2. I really have no idea what I'm after, which isn't a great deal of help I know. I was looking at a Lexus, but was put off because it was only 160BHP, then spotted the Altezza. I can't really find any decent info on them, so was hoping someone in here would know a thing or 2 about them.

What are they like to drive? Quite sporty, or a bit of a barge?
How quick are they 0-60, 0-100, and how do they handle?
Any common problems to look out for?

Thanks

Afraid I don't know much about these, but what sort of car are you after and budget?

[anonymous-user]

Hi all.

Thanks for the replies.

Think I have now scrapped the idea of an Altezza and am trying to find a standard, low mileage JDM DC2 Type R