Stock Number: 4519

The Toyota Aristo is a midsize luxury sedan packing a serious power plant. While similar to its U.S. counterpart (the Lexus GS300) in many ways, there was one huge difference available for the Japanese models not offered in the United States. That difference was the 2JZ-GTE twin-turbo 3.0L straight 6 engine. This is the same engine Toyota used in the JZA80 Supra that we all know and love. Who says you can't have your cake and eat it too? All of the performance you want on tap yet the comfort and practicality of a luxury sedan. This all OEM '95 comes to us in great shape with only 38K verified miles. Even the three-piece deck spoiler was part of the original aero package and gives the back end a great little pop. Its Polar Silver (199) paint looks great and offers a nice luster when you get it out into the light. The body has been kept up to the same standards and really reflects the fact it only has 38K miles. Barring a small door ding or two the car looks spectacular. Clearly the previous owner cared about their vehicle and treated it accordingly which is always reassuring. It is worth noting that the original wheels are starting to flake, however most will probably want to swap them out for something more sporty anyways.

The all-original interior follows suit and has been very well kept. The executive grey cloth interior is in great condition and surprisingly soft. The dash, which is prone to sun damage, looks excellent with no major cracks or discoloration. The supple seats have been well preserved over the years; free of any noteworthy stains or wear. Per usual the back seats look like they've hardly ever been used. While both front seats are powered the driver's side has to be manually adjusted forward and back. It does still have all of the tilt features, but it's a common issue with Toyota's for the plastic gear that drives them to crack. The carpet is in overall good condition as well along with the door panels which offer a nice two-tone gray/gray combination. One of the more rare options of the time was a driver's side airbag and the original wheel is in surprisingly good shape. Typically that's one of the first things to start showing its age. All of the accessories function just as they did when new. Power windows, folding mirrors, power-adjustable steering wheel, cruise control, even the original tape/cd player (despite being a bit limited in reception.) You'll even find the original books and spare keys in the glove box.

The Toyota Aristo really is the definition of a GT car. The 2JZ-GTE fires right up and is quiet at idles along. Actually, in factory trim it's surprisingly quiet at any RPM, however, that could easily be corrected. Since there's a US counterpart tracking down parts is far easier than with some of our more unique JDM only vehicles. The 3 Liter has two sides to it, a little Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde if you will. On one hand, it will comfortably cruise around town all day with the A/C blasting. On the flip side when you select power mode and put your foot down, the turbo's spool up, and the Aristo disappears. The power delivery is very linear and it feels like there's no end to it. The automatic transmission does a great job selecting the right gear for the amount of power requested. The suspension is traditional Lexus, so it's designed a bit more for comfort than performance. However, it does a good job handling all of the power; you feel stable and in control at all times even if you do hit an offramp with a little more speed than intended. The JZS147 touched down in great shape only needing some routine service work to get it back into fighting shape. New tires on all four corners, a new valve cover gasket, and a routine oil change to wrap things up. The Aristo may just be the perfect daily driver. A quiet, relaxing, ride with all of the creature comforts you look for while secretly having all the power on tap of a proper sports saloon. With the best of both worlds at your fingertip, what more could you really ask for?

*California Residents: In order to register a Grey Market vehicle in the state of California then it will have to be made CARB complaint first. CARB certifications will have to be performed within the state. Depending on the vehicle and any existing modifications will affect the pricing. Typically CARB compliance will range between 5-10K. Additional information can be found on the California Air Resources Board website.