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jeffg

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  1. Tempting - don't suppose you have a link to a picture of one on a car ? jeff 2002 Gita AS300 L Edition
  2. Hi Christian I ran a 98 Harrier S for 3 years until I moved over to an Altezza Gita about 6 months ago - paid ~60k for one of the first signature class imports (I suspect they've come down a bit since then.... ) As far as I'm aware there is no way of converting the screen displays to english (despite the RX300 using the same system) or of getting an NZ map data base for them - I looked long and hard while I had the car with no luck. The basic sound and temperature displays are fairly intuative so lack of english was not a major hassle. Mine had the NAV system and still had the Japanese data CD so the maps 'worked' and I seemed to spend a lot of time in the sea off Tokyo :) - one point to note on the NAV versions the clock is locked to the GPS system time - accurate to the second and precisely 4 hours slow. It is set for the Japan time zone and can't be changed. If you are considering one or the 'original' model Harriers, ie RX300 shape, the following applies The G version had wood trim, while the S had the 'titainium' trim. The S had a better JBL sound system and alledgedly had a firmer 'sports' suspension setting compared to the G, though I found the suspension too soft for our sealed roads, too much roll in the corners, but great on rutted dirt tracks. The S spec also got the xenon HID headlights, though the later Gs may have got them as well, not sure there. Leather seats were always a factory extra. I assume you are looking at the 3l 4wd versions ? - there were also front wheel drive only versions and 2.4L engine 4wd and fwd versions. The very cheap models you sometimes see out here were often the 2.4 fwd version. Performance wise they were fairly good, the 3l V6 actually developed more power and torque than the 3L straight 6 in the Gita - surprised the occasional Holden / Falcon owner in a straight line. The auto gearbox was very nice, only 4 speed but very smooth. The E shift option is a gimic, totally useless off road and basically unnecessary on road due to the very nice auto box. If your looking at getting one of the new models, ie the RX330 shape, then I would go for the AIRS version, with air suspension - I toyed with the idea of trying to bring one in new myself after test driving the new RX330 and being dissapointed at the level of extras being offerd on the NZ version, but at the time they were still relatively new and the 2002 model Gita with less that 10Ks showed up on the Toyota signature class lists so I went that way instead - very nice machine and a lot less hassle. PM me if there is anything else you want to know about the earlier model Harrier. jeff
  3. Can also pop up after electrical work. When I had my alarm installed the light was on and the installation company said "yeah it happens a lot with Altezzas - get Toyota to reset the code and that will clear it. I did, Toyota did (no charge) and its been fine since. jeff 02 Gita L edition
  4. TV was part of the navigation system - a factory option on the JDM models. It's basically useless here in NZ since Japan uses the yank NTSC TV system, not the PAL system we run. My Gita came with it, and still has the Japanese map DVD in the drive ( mounted in the boot, remove the floor panels it should be just to the right of the spare wheel.) I can get a crappy picture with no sound on the TV but the display is blanked as soon as the gear selector is moved out of P. There are apparently after market PAL to NTSC conveters around but I've not bothered . Unfortunately the NAV is useless down here as well since you can't get an NZ map disk. Every now and then there is a rumour that Toyota NZ are going to produce a disk for the systems but it never seems to happen. Have a look in the mobiletronics forum on IS300.NET - a number of people in the US have put aftermarket DVD players in using the space for the standard screen, but converting the standard system to play DVDs is not easy apparently. jeff
  5. Gita import - flashes and beeps (L edition obviously comes with ALL the extras :D )
  6. I had a Dynatron D4800 fitted in my Gita. Very happy with it. Main reason for selecting it was it allowed me to use the existing keys to ar/disarm the alarm so I don't have to carry 2 remotes.
  7. I vaguely recall mention of an ECU software upgrade over on the ClubLexus forums some months back, otherwise nothing much in the way of problems as yet. I think the upgrade was to improve the smoothness of the auto shifting. Try http://www.clublexus.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?forumid=9 I had a 98 Harrier (JDM version of the RX300) for 3 years, had a really good run out of it. I test drove the 330 when it first came out but eventually went with an Altezza Gita - When the RX400H (or the Harrier version) starts appearing down this way I may well move back. I went to the Gita mainly for the better handling. My only minor dislike with the Harrier was the over-soft suspension and consequently excessive body roll on our roads - I guess it was set up for US freeways .... though it did handle the minor bumps and corregations off road very nicely. welcome tyo the club jeff
  8. Having traded over to a Gita wagon from a Harrier 6 weeks ago, I'd have to say the only thing that dissapoints me about the Altezza is the sound system . The Harrier's was definately better. Admittedly the boxier interior of the Harrier probably helped the bass a bit, but it also had a JBL 9 speaker system that sounded pretty smooth at any level that I could stand - I could sit at the lights and watch the windscreen and rear hatch widow vibrate to the beat - a lot of glass area in a Harrier. jeff Gita Lspec
  9. Cute - I'll check it out at the weekend. Thanks.
  10. I know I'm showing my ignorance - but how do I check the diagnostic codes ?
  11. Thanks for the suggestions guys. I checked out the UK club site, but the problems there seemed to be confined to IS200s cold starting in wet weather (ie most of the time in the UK ;) ) I'll be keeping an eye on it and it it happens too often then Toyota will have to check it out for me. Could be injectors I guess, though the car is only 18months old and only 11000 Ks, signature class import so the numbers should be kosher. jeff
  12. Hi Folks Has anyone had any hot starting problems with their IS300/Altezzas ? Twice now my Gita has died and refused to restart again after a very short stop when hot. Situtation - at work I have parking in the back of the warehouse, nice - dry and secure .... When I arrive at work early I have to stop the car, go in through the offices and open the roller door from the inside. At this stage I've just come off the motorway and the car is hot. Time with the engine off - about 60 secs. When I get in to restart, it fires and then dies almost immeadialty - before I can even get it in gear. It will then crank for about 2 minutes before it fires again. I'm assuming some sort of fuel evaporation problem due to the hot engine. Has anyone else experienced anything similar ? The card is the Gita 3L rwd/5speed auto- stock standard as far as I am aware. jeff
  13. Hi again Matt. According to Toyota NZ my Gita (it's a signature class import) was first registered in Japan in May 2002, but based on the information at http://altezza.toyotaimportsforum.co.uk/al...tproduction.htm it was probably actually built in July 2001, so just predates the availability of the immobiliser. Gitaman, nice to hear there is another locally. King Toyota in the Hutt also delivered a blue one back before Xmas, but I believe it was a 2L version. In terms of performance, I took mine over to Martinborough on New Years day - by the time I got to the summit of the Rimutaka Hill, my smile was a mile wide ...... jeff
  14. Hi Guys - realised I left out the most important detail in my post - it's the JCE10W model, 3L, rwd, 5 speed auto. Matt - tried your suggestion, waited 1 minute. Nothing happened when I moved or unlocked from inside and the car started with the key. The Mongoose immobiliser I had in my Harrier would kill all the dash displays to indicate it was armed and active and the car would not start until I unlocked it again with the remote. Looks like I need an aftermarket unit. Muzza - I'm down in Wellington. Came across the Dynatron models on a web search this morning, and looks like Mongoose also has an 'alarm upgrade' model, MAP1100S, that uses the existing key remote, so I don't have to carry a second remote. jeff
  15. Hi folks Took delivery of my Gita yesterday, May 2002 model, L edition with factory leather, nav and HIDs in silver, 10 000 Ks. A question - do the Altezza's have any form of security system tied to the remote locking ? - I'm looking for an immobiliser as a minimum. If not what would you recommend ? jeff
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