There is no shortage of stunning SXE10s in the US and Canada, with there being many examples that can boast stunning wheels and gleaming paintwork. This might be due to the level of aftermarket support that the platform receives Stateside in comparison to the European market, or it might just be that the IS is seen as a mini-JZX in countries where JZX ownership is often an expensive dream to have. Either way, I always thought that the UK and Europe has definitely been lacking in cool ISs.
Maybe that’s because I spend most of my time being involved in the drift scene, but who knows. What I did know though, is that I liked Chris Phillips’ IS200 that I spotted at the Meguiar’s BBQ last weekend. I assumed it was on air ride but I couldn’t spot a control unit in the interior. I then noticed the telltale marks on the front wings that this car is definitely driven at this ride height, and then I really liked Chris’ Lexus.
The outer lips of the front Enkei NT03 wheels sit perfectly in line with the rolled and pulled front wings, while the tyres sit within the confines of the arch thanks to a nice amount of stretch. It’s never easy to get this sort of setup right and it often takes a lot of trial error to achieve the fitment you want while also having clearance for the tyre on lock but, once you’ve got it dialled in, the results are always worth it.
The Vertex-style kit hangs fantastically low; considering any car that I’ve owned and driven at this sort of ride height has been a drift car and damage to the bodywork is always to be expected, it’s pretty impressive that the fibreglass adorning this IS is still in such good condition (especially considering the poor condition of the roads in the UK).
The gleaming red vinyl wrap was also hugely impressive, although once I’d learnt that Chris earns his keep by detailing Ferraris, I kind of expected nothing less!
The rear wheel setup tucked nicely within the rolled and pulled rear arches with the help of a little camber, with a touch of tyre stretch aiding clearance.
A quick peek inside revealed a King of Vertex dished steering wheel (a must-have item for any Vertex fan) featuring bright yellow stitching. It’s always nice to see subtle and classy interior mods as opposed to lots of bright colour coding, sticker bombing and other similar approaches that people take.
I guess the IS200/IS300/Altezza has always been a bit of a misfit in the Lexus/Toyota lineup; it’s not as large and as luxurious as a GS or LS series car, nor can it boast the performance of a turbo JZX model. It is, however, still a very good looking car and one that can look fantastic when built to a high standard like Chris’ example that you see here.
Considering how cheaply you can buy a half-decent second hand IS200 here in the UK (and the JDM-spec Beams Altezzas aren’t particularly dear either), I think they’re a great platform for which to get your teeth into and enjoy some four door style.