Joined: 13 Jun 2011 Posts: 13 Location: Nunawading, Victoria
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 7:00 pm Post subject: Aristo or Chaser
Hey guys, I'm going to be getting a new car within the next year. I am a toyota boy, driving a mx73 cressida at the moment (not a 1jz yet). Im tossing up between an aristo or chaser. I prefer aristos because theyre not as common look comfy as hell, but chasers look mean and have a good range of parts, whereas aristo parts are apparently hard to find. What can you tell me about suspension upgrades? is there any way to make an aristo handle well, because from what ive been reading everyone says they handle shocking, but im sure any car handles better than my cressida. also noticed they dont have regular handbrakes. do they use a footbrake or electronic handbrake? thanks alot
Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 475 Location: RADelaide
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 7:25 pm Post subject:
aristos unfortunately will never handle THAT good, i have HSD coilovers in mine and it handles ok, but prob nothing special. Aristo's arent really good for cornering- more straight power and speed. if u want a car that is really good through corners go the chaser.
As far as the handbrake goes- they are a footbrake with a hand release. But u CAN change them to a normal one if u NEED to (Most people do this when they go manual)
My advice:
If you want comfort a ballsy motor and a car that will fly under the red and blue radar then go the aristo. They can punch out 250+kw with mild mods and they are a nice car to drive.
If you want a car that will handle a bit better, gets noticed more and but has more readily available parts then go the chaser.
Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 4010 Location: Perth, WA
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 7:31 pm Post subject:
Fairly good summary there ^
Some people reckon they can make their Aristo reasonable handling wise, but it really depends what you want it for. Bit of twisties fun, sure. Dedicated circuit trackwork? Mmmm..
Coilies are easy to be had. Swaybars are difficult to find, but can be found. Bushes and balljoints getting easier and more alternatives every year. Add it all up and I'm sure you'll be happy with the handling for most things. _________________
1994 Black JZS147 Aristo - RIP. Went swimming
New 1992 Aristo Project
Joined: 13 Jun 2011 Posts: 13 Location: Nunawading, Victoria
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 7:43 pm Post subject:
thanks for the input daimonson! the whole sleeper idea is what i love about aristos. i still have over 2 years on my p's (stupid vic laws) and i recently drove an xr6 turbo and loved that. now i cant wait till i have something with guts! ahh i guess i could live with the footbrake thing for a while. the aristo sounds like it would be the way to go for just a cruisy car that you can drift around when you feel like it. im sure the coilovers would eliminate a bit of body roll, which is whats annoying about the cressy. i agree rhetto, hopefully i can get one cheap before other people catch on to how good they are! yeah thats what im thinking rusty, some good bushes and coilovers. and it wont be a track car, just a cruiser with alot of go, and good at controlling sideways
Joined: 19 Oct 2007 Posts: 3855 Location: townsville,qld
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 7:51 pm Post subject:
if it makes you choose any better,i used to have a mx83 cressida for 8.5 years before i got the aristo and have never looked back,i was thinking bout the chaser but wanted the 2j
Joined: 28 Feb 2009 Posts: 1869 Location: Adelaide
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 8:23 pm Post subject:
peanutsfmx wrote:
Chaser..
Will sell easier
Resale value is more
More common so therefore parts are easier to find
Totally agree. They come in manual which makes it much more pleasurable to drive (conversions = massive PITA) plus being much lighter and the vvti more than makes up for the half a litre less capacity.
I would go with the aristo, i really like the way it handles now with my TEIN HA's, it's not on rails but a close second. Agreed that a manual would've been much better as an option but i like cruising alot hence i dont really mind. Plus if u wanna settle with a twin turbo engine why not go for the top of the line 2J
Joined: 13 Jun 2011 Posts: 13 Location: Nunawading, Victoria
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 8:48 pm Post subject:
haha i havent even got the car yet so im not thinking about resale value! i would think about resale value if i was buying a new car, but not one that is already 16 years old. but the manual is tempting, however way out of my price range thanks for the input though
You don't even have to try to make Aristo's handle pretty damn well. I bolted on the Federal semis from my 180SX and took my Aristo to the last street sprint at Lakeside just for some fun.
It has the factory LSD, FMIC & trans cooler, catback into stock rear mufflers, Bilsteins, and a SLD, running in TTC (on the track via ETTC switch) and stock 10psi boost. No special brake pads, no special brake fluid.
It handled very well but was a bit on the soft side for track work. A set of swaybars would be nice, but I'm not planning on tracking it regularly - that's what my 180SX is for. Still it pulled 1.2 lateral G on my logger which is right up there with my 180SX and only really lost out in acceleration out of the corners. With the usual BPU mods and a shift kit (or even a manual conversion), an Aristo would really surprise people! _________________
Won't get this unless you are holidaying in Japan and working there for 12 months LOL
Thinking the exact samething
If my sources are accurate, if a car is over 15 years old, you can import it to Aus. Even if the same chassis was sold on the domestic market. _________________
Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 4010 Location: Perth, WA
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 3:20 am Post subject:
Exactly as said ^
That's what they used to call the 15 year rule. Used to be the case, right up until about 2004, when they fixed the "15 years ago" to 1989 and anything after that was SEVS Only.
So, no, the 161 cannot be imported.
Unless you have it "personally imported" which = 12months ownership, and usage, in Japan. Then you can attempt it, but they can still reject it if your paperwork isn't up to scratch. _________________
1994 Black JZS147 Aristo - RIP. Went swimming
New 1992 Aristo Project
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,but you cant beat the heart of a 2jzgte and the first car ever made with it in it,
thanks for the input though 
