IS200 budget daily skidda - talk to me....

[Rochey]

Wow my first post on DW in about 7 years.... hello again

So I have recently been researching Chasers and Laurels for 4 door skids but honestly its just out of reach financially right now - single income, 2 kids and a wedding in November.... just not going to happen so I need to lower the bar a bit.

I'm rocking a 1.8 RS MX5 and its fantastic bit its a couple seats shy of what I need in reality.

So with a teeny tiny budget of whatever I get for the MX5 - I'd say €2,500 I'm looking at getting an IS200.
Now before people start shouting its got no power - my dad had one for years so I know its asthmatic 6 cylinder is poor but needs must.
But considering an SE is around a grand and the sport with lsd can be had for less than 2k its kinda where I'm at but I've an eye on the future so an SR20 or 1jz swap would be the plan next year.

So tell me who's drifted one with standard power?
I've seen some vids and it doesn't look terrible.

What would i need for skids - coilys, welder? extra lock?

Why is an Altezza so freakin expensive by comparison?

Advice and thoughts appreciated

 

[Captain]

I'm no expert by any means but an altezza get better mpg and has a load more power, I was in the same boat had to get a family car so I thought an IS would be great but I managed to find a cheap as manual altezza which is miles better engine wise than an is200 which my mate has. If it's any help I'd say keep checking everywhere for an altezza as I think there just all round better cars

 

[Rochey]

I'm no expert by any means but an altezza get better mpg and has a load more power, I was in the same boat had to get a family car so I thought an IS would be great but I managed to find a cheap as manual altezza which is miles better engine wise than an is200 which my mate has. If it's any help I'd say keep checking everywhere for an altezza as I think there just all round better cars

Yeah man thats the problem over here in Ireland the Altezza is to petrolheads what the BMW 520D is to 97% of the regular motoring population... Motoring Nirvana. Hence the Altezza makes around €5k where an IS200 Sport makes around €1300.
And I suppose at €5k you're nearing Sbody territory.
It'll get a 1jz transplant next year but need to make sure it'll slide enough between now and then.
I've budget for coilys and I'm going to get the sport with the LSD, induction kit and iridium plugs...
This lad here seems to be doing grand on standard power
What else would it need.... bravery probably

 

[Captain]

They definitely can be drifted on standard power, there's a few build threads on here of them. But if your planning on swapping a jz into it anyway, until that point im sure it'll be just fine

 

[BenRice]

I'm guessing the Altezza's you're talking about are running the Beams 4 cylinder?

Wouldn't bother with it, the difference between the 6cyl and 4cyl for drifting is 15psi in the tyres

Considering #dadlyf and if you're not afraid of a bit of DIY keep an eye out for a 3L Sport Wagon - plenty more room for family outings and quite a bit more torque. There was even a thread on here about a guy doing one. Even if you find an auto 2JZ one (but make sure it's RWD, not 4WD), it's worth the extra ballache to throw a W55 and clutch in. All the manual interior pieces & ancillary clutch bits can be taken off a wrecked manual IS200/Altezza. Just need to factor in driveshaft modifications.

Then when you want more power swap in a 2JZGTE or piece together a +T conversion

 

[Rochey]

I'm guessing the Altezza's you're talking about are running the Beams 4 cylinder?

Wouldn't bother with it, the difference between the 6cyl and 4cyl for drifting is 15psi in the tyres

Considering #dadlyf and if you're not afraid of a bit of DIY keep an eye out for a 3L Sport Wagon - plenty more room for family outings and quite a bit more torque. There was even a thread on here about a guy doing one. Even if you find an auto 2JZ one (but make sure it's RWD, not 4WD), it's worth the extra ballache to throw a W55 and clutch in. All the manual interior pieces & ancillary clutch bits can be taken off a wrecked manual IS200/Altezza. Just need to factor in driveshaft modifications.

Then when you want more power swap in a 2JZGTE or piece together a +T conversion

Yes, the Beams Altezza is mad money. As is a 3 litre to tax in this country about £1400 per year so the IS300 is out too. But I like the logic.
I'm pretty much out of options on what to get now so it'll be the IS200 sport.
What mods do people recommend?

 

[matthew_l]

I've had three IS200s, they skid good for what they are, my most recent is a sportscross, practical as hell, love it.

standard engine, decats, welder, coilovers, hydro and some 7mm lock spacers and off you go pretty solid base, they dont need this to skid, but its pretty easy and cheap items to sort out if you're looking at keeping it.

Standard, with coilovers, sport lsd and 60psi in the rear tyres i was able to easily skid south bank at Teesside Autodrome and link all of west.

Im currently sourcing all the bits to do a home made turbo conversion on the black sportscross. if you look into it you will see it can be done at home for less than £1000 and you will have up to 280hp which is more than enough!

 

[Rochey]

I've had three IS200s, they skid good for what they are, my most recent is a sportscross, practical as hell, love it.

standard engine, decats, welder, coilovers, hydro and some 7mm lock spacers and off you go pretty solid base, they dont need this to skid, but its pretty easy and cheap items to sort out if you're looking at keeping it.

Standard, with coilovers, sport lsd and 60psi in the rear tyres i was able to easily skid south bank at Teesside Autodrome and link all of west.

Im currently sourcing all the bits to do a home made turbo conversion on the black sportscross. if you look into it you will see it can be done at home for less than £1000 and you will have up to 280hp which is more than enough!

Smashing info my man!
Thanks
The Sportscross is epic and if I could get a manual is200 I'd chomp at it but so few of them around.

 

[matthew_l]

Smashing info my man!
Thanks
The Sportscross is epic and if I could get a manual is200 I'd chomp at it but so few of them around.

Thanks man! My sportscross is only a 2.0 manual. I have paid £700 for all three cars, not a penny more.
You're only in dublin, a lot of these cheap cars from england have been snapped up recently and brought over to ireland. not considered getting the ferry and bringing one back for yourself?? you will get a minter for a grand, and something half decent for £500!

need any info or help let me know!!

 

[Rochey]

Thanks man! My sportscross is only a 2.0 manual. I have paid £700 for all three cars, not a penny more.
You're only in dublin, a lot of these cheap cars from england have been snapped up recently and brought over to ireland. not considered getting the ferry and bringing one back for yourself?? you will get a minter for a grand, and something half decent for £500!

need any info or help let me know!!

Cheers pal - unfortunately I'm confined to Ireland due to the import taxes and transport costs but thankfully there are plenty of them here for €1000 and some Sport examples cheap too.

Regarding power upgrades did you get any noticeable gains from the decat?

 

[matthew_l]

Cheers pal - unfortunately I'm confined to Ireland due to the import taxes and transport costs but thankfully there are plenty of them here for €1000 and some Sport examples cheap too.

Regarding power upgrades did you get any noticeable gains from the decat?

I've done mani decat, main decat. I didnt notice much tbh, pops and bangs now, but it feels like it revs 'freer'. its done something, i wouldnt like to say its done much though.

 

[Rochey]

I've done mani decat, main decat. I didnt notice much tbh, pops and bangs now, but it feels like it revs 'freer'. its done something, i wouldnt like to say its done much though.

Am I right and saying that you cant do much to improve power out of it?

 

[matthew_l]

Am I right and saying that you cant do much to improve power out of it?

absolutely nothing really, just appreciate them for what they are or boost them.