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I'm looking at purcahsing a 1998 or 2000 Toyota Altezza. Are you able to give me some background information on them, I have been trying to source on the web.

My question is are they good cars mechcanically and what should I be looking out for when purchsing a car like this?

Thanks,

Karamea

From the "Ask Jack" archives - 19 April 2010

The Toyota Altezza RS200 enjoys an excellent reputation for reliability.

Toyota never (until very recently) promoted or sold the Lexus brand in the Japan domestic market, instead choosing to use the Altezza badge for a car marketed off-shore as a Lexus.

This model then is basically the same as the Lexus RS200.

Remember these sorts of vehicles can be expensive to repair when things do go wrong, given its high level of specification.

The engine is fitted with a cam belt (replaced every 5 years or 100,000km's whichever comes first), so make sure its been replaced or allow for the cost of replacement in your buying price. Ring your local Toyota dealer for an estimated cost which I suspect would be reasonably high.

When buying any used car consider these points;

You are buying the rest of the vehicles life, so the lower the kms travelled the better.

Always get an independent inspection especially if you are buying privately .