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The new Toyota 86, previously known as the Scion FR-S, is widely acclaimed for its lightweight design and AE86 Hachi-Roku roots, making it one of the top entry-level sports cars on the market today. But could there be more compelling options out there?
Recently, Alex from Car Throttle acquired a 15-year-old Lexus IS 200 project car from eBay and decided to pit it against the new GT86. While the IS 200 is heavier and has approximately 50 less horsepower than the GT86, it offers significant potential due to its design. Notably, the IS 200’s 3SGE BEAMS engine, co-developed with Yamaha, is a favored swap among AE86 enthusiasts because its characteristics closely resemble those of the AE86’s 4AGE, particularly when compared to the modern FA20 flat-four engine found in the 2017 Toyota 86 and BRZ.
However, Alex’s IS 200, being older and more rough around the edges, faced an uphill battle in a direct time trial against the brand new GT86. After completing three laps at the Curborough sprint course, the GT86 recorded a fastest lap of 39.92 seconds, while Alex managed to clock the Lexus at 42.46 seconds.
Although a gap of 2.5 seconds is quite significant on a sub-minute track, it is impressive to see a 15-year-old four-door sedan achieve such a time. What’s even more remarkable is that Alex only spent £900 on his used Lexus, which translates to approximately $1,100 USD—a fantastic deal for the vehicle.
In his pursuit to enhance the Altezza into a budget-friendly track car, Alex plans to source upgrades from eBay and document his transformation on Car Throttle. The improvements don’t need to be extensive; he aims to make the IS feel more agile and stable by removing the back seats, investing in stiffer lowering springs, and upgrading the aging brakes and tires for better performance.
Check out Alex’s journey as he pits his new Lexus IS 200 project against the latest GT86 in the video below:
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