SS-II and SS-III, What are the differences? Options

[khye]

Can someone tell me what the differences are between the different models, the model dscriptions on this site do not really go into much detail.

My car is a JSPEC GT (3S-GE) is it a SS-II ?

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks!

This post has been edited by khye: Jul 18, 2003 - 7:28 AM

[neophile]

Hi

As you may have guessed the SSIII is the next grade up on the SSII. It is best known for its improved 3SGE engine which is called the BEAMS (Breakthrough Engine with Advanced Mechanism System) engine and it came with VVTi which is Toyota's versions of variable valve timing (much like Vtec in Hondas).

The SSIII is also 10Kg heavier at 1210Kg than the SSII (1200Kg). SSIII's also came standard with Super Strut suspension which is Toyota's attempt at improving on the Macpherson Strut setup - Super Strut was an upgrade option in the SSII as well. It may be due to the Super Strut suspension that the SSIII's minimum turning radius is greater at 5.5 metres, compared to the SSII's 5.2 metres.

From what I can tell SSIII's appeared about late 1996 just after the facelift of the 6gc and from 1997 on most have the Projector Headlights as standard equipment.

As to whether your car is an SSII - yes I believe it is, congratulations you made an excellent choice A quick comparison of my SSII engine in my profile shows the engines to be nearly identical. Neither of our cars have the BEAMS engine - this is easy to tell since the BEAMs has a large red cover on the top of the engine and an emblem that says BEAMS on it - the picture in this link under 3SGE (the 2nd picture down) shows the BEAMS 3SGE. This link shows the non-beams 3SGE (SSII) and 3SFE (SSI).

I have also heard that some rare SSII's came in a BEAMS VVTi option, though I have only seen these on the web and never in real life.

The 3SGE BEAMS (Red Top) also appears in the Toyota Altezza RS200 (but not in the Lexus equivalent as all the IS lexus' are 6 cylinder). There is also a 3SGE BEAMS Black Top which has Dual VVTi which can currently only be found in the latest Altezza RS200s.

The only other differences I know of are that the SSIII consumes 10% (approx) less fuel (VVTi more economical?) and the SSIII interior was updated a little with new fabric design on the seats and doors (with a red fleck instead of blue?) and some SSIIIs had the 'White gauges with Orange needle' option installed (I have seen some with white dashs as well, but don't know if this is stock or not)

I'm sure I've left some things out, but I hope this is helpful