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With so many iconic vehicles to return from Toyota within the ’90s, it might be a sin if we didn’t point out the Aristo. It was the automaker’s response to the luxurious four-door sedan market, and in recent times it has grow to be a favorite amongst the VIP tuning neighborhood. Though being produced for under 14 years, it left a long-lasting impression on everybody. Who doesn’t need a luxurious sedan that may be had with the long-lasting 2JZ engine straight from the manufacturing facility? With the Aristo, you get each room and efficiency.

Sadly, Toyota by no means provided the Aristo in
North America, however we bought the following neatest thing, the Lexus GS. Underneath all of the
Lexus badges, the GS was a Toyota Aristo by means of and thru. Nevertheless, purists
nonetheless favor the Aristo over the GS. Though Toyota stopped promoting the
Aristo in 2005, die-hard followers can nonetheless buy a brand new Lexus GS to today.

In its 14-year life span, this Luxo-barge went on to have two generations and principally cemented itself within the VIP scene right here. On this purchaser’s information, we’re going to go into extra element about this iconic and underestimated four-door sedan and why it’s best to think about shopping for one.

Professionals and Cons

Professionals:

  • It was out there with the legendary 1JZ and 2JZ engine
  • Plenty of aftermarket help
  • Room for the entire household
  • Snug
  • Makes an awesome every day driver
  • Components are interchangeable between the Lexus GS

Cons

  • Got here solely in an computerized
  • Upkeep could be expensive
  • Discovering a pristine instance is uncommon and onerous to search out
  • It’s a sedan (not for everybody)
  • Can have its fair proportion {of electrical} points
  • RHD solely

Frequent Points

Ask any automotive fanatic on the planet and they’re going to inform you that no automotive is ideal, until it’s their automotive. Joking apart, each single mannequin comes with its fair proportion of widespread points, relating to how a lot testing the producer did earlier than releasing it to the general public. It could be one thing so simple as random squeaks and cracks coming from the inside, or one thing main as a catastrophic design flaw that causes the engine to fail prematurely. With the Aristo getting up there in age, we have now compiled an inventory of the widespread points to look out for when shopping for your first Aristo.

If you’re on the lookout for the top-of-the-line twin-turbo 2JZ engine, one of the crucial vital issues to search for is a whine coming from the engine beginning at 4000 RPM. That is indicative of the secondary turbo failing. This isn’t an excellent widespread difficulty, however it may be a expensive one.

Toyota Aristo
via bay2car

One other drawback to test for is that every one the electronics are correctly working. Because it was a luxurious automotive, the Aristo was loaded with many electronics that over time have failed. It’s not essentially Toyota’s fault, electronics solely final so lengthy, and attempting to hint one among these points could be very irritating and costly if you’re not helpful with a voltmeter.

These days computerized transmissions have grow to be the norm, and, in lots of circumstances, they will outperform guide transmissions. That was not the case again then. When take a look at driving your soon-to-be Aristo, ensure to undergo all of the gears and hear for any irregular hesitation or knocks.

Lastly, the throttle physique sensor must be
cleaned regularly and finally changed. One of the simplest ways to test for
that is to place the pedal to the ground and test for any warning lights that
would possibly pop up such because the VSC gentle, or the test engine gentle.

Common Costs

The Aristo has been steadily gaining
recognition, due to this fact the value has gone up accordingly and might differ fairly
drastically. Some fashions could be had for as little as $4,600 whereas the highest
examples can attain upwards of $18,000. We’ve gathered a number of of the most affordable
and most costly Aristo’s at present on the market at JDMbuysell.com

View all Toyota Aristo vehicles listed for sale.

Comparable Options

There are a number of decisions when It involves
luxurious sedans. All the key automotive Japanese manufactures have produced at
least one among these luxurious, four-door vehicles. Here’s a record of fashions which are comparable
to the Aristo:

Coupe options:

Fashions and Specs

The Aristo was round bought solely 14 brief years (1991-2005), however its twin brother, the Lexus GS remains to be in manufacturing in the present day. The one motive the Aristo was by no means provided in North America was that Toyota needed to push its luxurious model, which was Lexus in fact. On this part, we’re going to take a look on the totally different generations that Toyota produced over the Aristo’s lifespan.

First Technology (1991-1997)

via speedhunters

Many individuals consider the rationale the Aristo was so effectively obtained was because of the assistance of an Italian design agency known as Italdesign Giugiaro. They have been chargeable for the elegant, sweeping strains and low drag coefficient that mimicked the European vehicles of the time.

First launched in October 1991, the Aristo was in-built a state-of-the-art facility the place many of the work was carried out by automated robots. For instance, 4,200 physique welds have been carried out by a robotic, whereas solely eight have been left as much as people. This meant that the probabilities of getting one thing fallacious have been tremendously diminished.

The primary era was provided with three engine variations and two computerized transmissions to select from. There have been two straight-six 2JZ engines (one turbo and one N/A) and a 3rd 4.0L V8 was added later in 1992, which got here with AWD as normal.

via speedhunters
via speedhunters

Sure, the Aristo has the identical 2JZ-GTE engine because the MK4 Supra!

The inside was additionally loaded with out there luxurious choices akin to walnut trim, leather-based and electronically tilt and telescopic steering wheel, moonroof, and an computerized 12-CD changer. As normal, the Aristo got here with normal driver and passenger airbags.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52p1p95Fqlk

Second Technology (1997-2005)

Toyota Aristo
through leparking

The second-generation Aristo was unveiled
in August 1997. It featured the identical three engines from the earlier
era, but additionally added a fourth 4.3L V8 to its roster. As well as, there
now was a complete of three computerized transmissions out there to select from.

The brand new platform featured a front-engine,
RWD configuration that was additionally discovered on the Toyota Crown in Japan. The outside
now utilized quad headlights much like these discovered on the Lexus SC Coupe. The
inside obtained new electroluminescent “Optiron” gauges and an upgraded sound
system.

When the second-generation Aristo was
launched in 1997, Toyota/Lexus claimed that it was the sooner manufacturing
sedan on the time, even beating out the BMW M5!

A facelift was launched for the 2001 mannequin 12 months. This included a barely revised grille, tinted headlights, and Xenon lights turned normal tools on the V8 vehicles however remained an possibility on the inline six-cylinder vehicles.

FAQ

Are spare elements onerous to return by?

Under no circumstances. For the reason that Aristo was practically similar to the Lexus GS offered in North America, spare elements are very simple to get. 

Is an RHD car onerous to get used to? 

No. Inside per week you’ll really feel gentle at residence within the drivers’ seat. 

Is the Aristo an excellent every day driver? 

Completely! It was the epidemy of Japanese luxurious again within the day, plus it had 4 doorways.

The place did the title “Aristo” come from? 

The title “Aristo” comes from the Greek phrase, which roughly interprets to “greatest”.

Is the Toyota Aristo dependable?

Sure. Like most different Toyotas, they have been designed to final a very long time. That’s why these vehicles have such an excellent resale worth. 

Toyota Aristo
via wikimedia

Sources

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexus_GS
  • https://www.toyota-global.com/firm/history_of_toyota/75years/vehicle_lineage/automotive/id60000091/index.html
  • https://www.automotive.information/en-se/toyota/aristo
  • https://www.cargurus.com/Automobiles/1997-Toyota-Aristo-Evaluations-c17032
  • https://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/discussion board/matter/30094-common-aristo-problemswhat-to-watch-out-for/
  • https://carfromjapan.com/article/car-review/the-toyota-aristo/
  • https://international.toyota/en/faq/automobiles/
  • https://international.toyota/en/element/7835896

Learn how to Import a Toyota Aristo

Learn our final information, How to Import a Car from Japan.

Are you able to make this information higher? Are you an enormous fan of the Aristo? If that’s the case, please contact us.

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