Stock #6848
Exterior Overview
Toyota’s second generation Aristo is an endearing, familiar chassis, and models like this 1999 V300 pack a huge secret under the hood. With Toyota’s powerhouse 2JZ-GTE supplying power to this sleek sedan, this big-body has Supra DNA, and models like our 1998 Vertex edition are great examples of the chassis. Finished in Black Pearl (202) and set off by adjustable OEM Xenon headlights and a factory rear spoiler, this is far from your typical stateside GS300. It’s also in better shape than US versions, and the impressive 61k miles on the clock are verified and documented. Save for a few chips, dings and paint defects, the paintwork shows well and should make this Aristo a standout at your local weekend car meet or cruise-in. Putting the “sport” in sports saloon, there’s no going wrong with a Japanese Classic Aristo!
Interior Overview
Unlike the tired leather interiors received here in the States, this Aristo is loaded with slick two-tone sport cloth upholstery and enough power amenities to make daily use in the 21st century a breeze. Accessing the cabin is made simple, thanks to a factory keyless-entry remote. For many, safety is a top priority, and SRS airbags are present in the front and sides to give your occupants some peace of mind. The seating surfaces were well kept in a prior life and the headliner, carpet, and door card inserts show well to boot. Toyota prioritized driver accessibility, and all power windows, locks, and power-folding mirrors work as advertised alongside an optional electric moonroof. Additionally, the driver gains power seat adjustment and an electric tilt and telescoping steering column to maximize comfort behind the wheel. Typically prone to ultraviolet fading and distortion, the dash features none of the above, and the center stack boasts optional blackwood trim and an easy-to-use dual-zone climate control unit. As expected, cold A/C and hot heat work as advertised and an adjacent JBL premium audio system pumps out tunes at above-average quality. A comfortable, quick, and clean transporter for all, the rear bench has enough room for three additional passengers, and we kept the OEM carpet mats on hand to protect your upholstery from the elements all the way around. If that wasn’t enough, we even threw in the owner’s manual and maintenance booklets for good measure!
Mechanical Overview
Fast, affordable, and reliable, everyone says you can’t have all three. We’d beg to differ, as the 2JZ-GTE under the hood is a performance powerhouse that’s as tame as your grandmother’s Camry when off throttle. We’ve serviced this Aristo’s 3.0TT powerplant to get you on track for the road ahead, performing the most expensive bit of preventative maintenance. A new timing belt and water pump were installed by our trained technicians, and while we had the front end of the engine disassembled, we took care of a new front main seal, camshaft seals, and a pair of new valve cover gaskets to button everything up. We also installed a new 12v battery, a new engine air filter, and six new spark plugs to aid combustion. With the maintenance performed, it’s safe to say this luxury sedan has plenty of get up and go, and the power is fed to the rear wheels via a smooth shifting automatic gearbox. A new right rear axle puts the power down reliably and was installed to help this Aristo ace its state inspection. The stock suspension rides like a cloud, and we installed new front caster arms to aid handling. We also replaced the rear steering arms. The system operates intuitively, and helps to improve the turning radius at low speeds. The power steering is light and on point, and the ABS brakes grab with authority. The factory polished alloys are wrapped in all new all-season tires, and to cap things off, a fresh four wheel alignment was performed on our rack!
*California Residents: In order to register a Grey Market vehicle in the state of California then it will have to be made CARB compliant 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.
