GM_IV
Well-Known Member
I posted pictures of my car I believe when I first joined this forum. Its somewhere in the "post your car" thread. I didn't want to make a new thread unless I have new pictures worth making a new thread. My car is a 3rd generation Cressida, its still first hand since my dad did not let go of the ownership to ensure my insurance rates stay very low while my mom "owns" the 2004 Toyota Avalon leaving me as a 3rd driver.
Heres the story about this car for those who may or may not know this is my dad's 2nd car he bought brand new. This was a time where my dad had enough with domestic cars and very willing to go Japanese, one of his good friends is a part time used car salesman and had a first generation Cressida and said it was an excellent car. My dad and his other good friend decided to buy the car basically at the same time, it also happens they both bought the exact same type of car from colour to no sunroof the only option available. My dad's friend had a dying Audi 4000 and had trouble selling it, my dad on the other hand wanted to rid himself of his first new car a Pontiac Phoenix since he felt it was very unsafe and it wasn't reliable at all. Toyota delayed my dad's order but my dad's friend still couldn't sell his Audi, so my dad tell him he needed a car and thus my dad's friend let my dad go in front take what should have been his car.
This car is older than me so for my entire life I've actually lived with this car the whole time. It lasted so much longer than my dad expected and was still in excellent condition when it was 10 years old. Alas because my dad didn't intend to keep this car he did stop some of the rust proofing and the car slowly showed rust particularly around the wheel arches on all fenders. The intention was to get rid of it after I began driving, but after I started driving it I really liked it. I liked it so much that I'm now footing the bill to fix it and basically restore it. Of all these years I never knew until then I had basically the perfect car all along just waiting.
I've driven quite a few cars all of them newer, but I've always come back to this car thinking they all lacked the feel that many describe as one of the joys to driving. Many think all Toyotas particularly the 4-doors are boring, this car begs to differ. The biggest reason why this car is so different to the typical boring Camry is that its not related to the Camry at all despite its looks, its actually more in common with the Supra. From the 5M-GE engine to the same suspension design(this car adjusted more for comfort). Of course it is RWD something no Toyota 4-door has been since its departure from the international market, only Japan has 4-door Toyotas with RWD these days. Anyways enough about the details here are some old and new pics.
This was my car in 2005-2006
Heres some pictures of it inside, the Canadian versions all had digital dashboards. The only exception is the odometer.
This is the 5M-GE engine that is also found in the Mk II Supra(1982-1986). Its power output is low for a 6-cylinder engine in today's standards but in 1986 it was actually more powerful than a 528e for a 2.8L straight-6 producing 156hp for nearly the same fuel economy. My car is an automatic, only the USA seemed to have the option of a 5-speed manual Cressida. That said this automatic is quite easy to get used to and so long as the gas quality is good, never seems to interfere nor seems to lose much of the power. It seemed more like Toyota intended this car to go up against the German competition.
Recently I had to replace both the front fenders on my car because of the rust. So my car looks a little different than it used to. I must say black is a great colour for this car, it looks more impressive somehow but I intend to keep it brown because of nostalgia.
As a daily driver, I've driven it for at least 5 years and the car has never failed me in getting from point A to B and back. I know I'm basically spending enough money to afford myself a brand new car and that I won't get it back but to me I think its all worth it. I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't feel so strongly about it. This is partly why I keep insisting that Toyota could make a fun car, I know they could make one its just that they don't seem to want to.
Heres the story about this car for those who may or may not know this is my dad's 2nd car he bought brand new. This was a time where my dad had enough with domestic cars and very willing to go Japanese, one of his good friends is a part time used car salesman and had a first generation Cressida and said it was an excellent car. My dad and his other good friend decided to buy the car basically at the same time, it also happens they both bought the exact same type of car from colour to no sunroof the only option available. My dad's friend had a dying Audi 4000 and had trouble selling it, my dad on the other hand wanted to rid himself of his first new car a Pontiac Phoenix since he felt it was very unsafe and it wasn't reliable at all. Toyota delayed my dad's order but my dad's friend still couldn't sell his Audi, so my dad tell him he needed a car and thus my dad's friend let my dad go in front take what should have been his car.
This car is older than me so for my entire life I've actually lived with this car the whole time. It lasted so much longer than my dad expected and was still in excellent condition when it was 10 years old. Alas because my dad didn't intend to keep this car he did stop some of the rust proofing and the car slowly showed rust particularly around the wheel arches on all fenders. The intention was to get rid of it after I began driving, but after I started driving it I really liked it. I liked it so much that I'm now footing the bill to fix it and basically restore it. Of all these years I never knew until then I had basically the perfect car all along just waiting.
I've driven quite a few cars all of them newer, but I've always come back to this car thinking they all lacked the feel that many describe as one of the joys to driving. Many think all Toyotas particularly the 4-doors are boring, this car begs to differ. The biggest reason why this car is so different to the typical boring Camry is that its not related to the Camry at all despite its looks, its actually more in common with the Supra. From the 5M-GE engine to the same suspension design(this car adjusted more for comfort). Of course it is RWD something no Toyota 4-door has been since its departure from the international market, only Japan has 4-door Toyotas with RWD these days. Anyways enough about the details here are some old and new pics.
This was my car in 2005-2006
Heres some pictures of it inside, the Canadian versions all had digital dashboards. The only exception is the odometer.
This is the 5M-GE engine that is also found in the Mk II Supra(1982-1986). Its power output is low for a 6-cylinder engine in today's standards but in 1986 it was actually more powerful than a 528e for a 2.8L straight-6 producing 156hp for nearly the same fuel economy. My car is an automatic, only the USA seemed to have the option of a 5-speed manual Cressida. That said this automatic is quite easy to get used to and so long as the gas quality is good, never seems to interfere nor seems to lose much of the power. It seemed more like Toyota intended this car to go up against the German competition.
Recently I had to replace both the front fenders on my car because of the rust. So my car looks a little different than it used to. I must say black is a great colour for this car, it looks more impressive somehow but I intend to keep it brown because of nostalgia.
As a daily driver, I've driven it for at least 5 years and the car has never failed me in getting from point A to B and back. I know I'm basically spending enough money to afford myself a brand new car and that I won't get it back but to me I think its all worth it. I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't feel so strongly about it. This is partly why I keep insisting that Toyota could make a fun car, I know they could make one its just that they don't seem to want to.
