Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 5:55 pm Post subject: help convince a prospective aristo buyer
hey, just been looking around on these here threads, cant really find the info i need so i thought it start one.
im really into the piece of beauty from the gods that is the Aristo, and am very much considering upgrading my Vx commonhore. its not a bad car, its just im earning a bit more money now, so why not get a car that'l tantalize my fun buds instead of a point A to B car.
i would very much apreciate it if the following thesis of questions could be answered so i can make an educated decision .
i basically just need to know if its a great, not good but great car to own? i drive around 100k's to work each day, will this be a problem? or is it more good for an every now and then car?
how is fuel efficiency?
how are the headlights?
is it a rough ride?(standard)
worth upgrading the stez, or is the standard good enough? if so, is it easy to do, room for a sub, and because its a double din sez, are pockets aval?
im very well aware the the 2j is one HELL of a tough and unbreakable donk, but are there any genetic problems? like does any one ever say " oh, my aristo did the_________"
"oh man that shit happens all the time"
any probs with tire wear?
easy to work on?
and the big question, how easy is it to get parts? is it a prob cos its an import, or easy coswould it share parts with the gs330?
i would really appreciate answers to these questions, i find my self lying in bed at night dreaming of owning one, they just seem like my perfect car in everyway.
Joined: 04 Aug 2007 Posts: 282 Location: Sunny Coast
Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 6:21 pm Post subject:
I am feeling generous, so here goes.
where do we start?
Stock suspension rides well, good for highway driving, and is easily upgraded with a wide selection of components.
Tyre wear is not a factor, will be the same as any car with a proper wheel alignment.
Stock stereo is good by most people standards. Might have to replace the standard sub with another free air one, but the stock speakers are great.
I have no problem with my headlight with night driving, they were a little dull, but after i polished them (20 mins work) they are as good as new. Or if they are not good enough for you, there is the HID option, around $180 for a kit seems to be a common price.
Fuel efficiency is not great, not bad, i get around 11L/100km, with 60% highway.
Its a great car to drive to and from work, and in the city and on the highway.
mechanical parts are easy, hardest thing would be if you broke a windscreen or some major panel damage.
Common problem seems to be the window regulators, which your looking at $200 max to rectify.
Also ball joint can need replacing if the car has been lowered alot. _________________
If boost was addictive, I would be in trouble...
...UH OH!!
I bought a brand new VX2 SS Commodore, so I do know VX's - so how about I compare it to that...
I'm going to assume you have a VXI Exec or Berlina.
Suspension - stock is very soft, very comfy, very lazy. Like your VX except in a race it would handle better, and it wont wear rear rubber like your VX does.
Fuel economy. You have the choice. Drive it quietly and it is a 3.0lt twin cam engine. It will drink less juice than your 3.8lt single cam pushrod ecoturd. Or drive it hard, it will perform (in 100% stock form) like a LS1 commodore - but drink less fuel than that.
Headlights. Commodore headlights are GREAT. Its one of the thing Holden does right. Although I have HID's in my Aristo so they are better again.
Standard stereo is superior than many other stock cars. It has an amp and most have a stock 12" sub. It will shite on your Commie stereo and unless you want some major doof doof you can leave it.
Common problems - puffs of blue smoke on start up. If it does it - ignore it - it isn't worth fixing and it doesn't effect power or anything. Common failures in the car is power window regulators & motors - can get them for $150. Plastic clips and the like get broken but not because they are crap, because they are broken by people who don't know how to release them.
Most parts are not shared with the JZS160/161 Aristo / GS300, however there are many Toyota dealerships that will sell you parts new. There are plenty of people wrecking these cars (I'm wrecking one right now) so parts are pretty easy to come by.
Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 4010 Location: Perth, WA
Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 8:08 pm Post subject:
And for whatever you can't find local, there's always Import Monster
Biggest nuances are Power window regs, front balljoints, valve stem seals (not worth worrying about unless theyre torn to shit) and the waterpump (only because it costs so ridiculously much to replace) _________________
1994 Black JZS147 Aristo - RIP. Went swimming
New 1992 Aristo Project
from what ive gathered when looking around for an aristo, is apart from a healthy engine, make sure the front ball joints are ok. very expensive to replace (i think 1 or 2 of the members here spent $1000 or more replacing them or something stupid like that from memory) _________________
Dazwaaah wrote:
techno vikings EVERYWHERE!!!!
seriously thats how they all dance... walk for a bit.. then viking that shit... walk... VIKING... WAAAAALK... VVVVIIIIKKKKIIIINNNNGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!
wow, thanks everybody for your great comments, sorry i haven't replied earlier...you know how work can be.
from what you've all said, im even more liking this car now, since i last posted, ive been doing a bit more research, and the only real buggers are as you said the lower ball joints, and valve seals, but as i understand, once the cars heated up and the seals have expanded, it really is a non-issue unless you want to spend a weekend replacing them.
you right, i do have a vx berlina, its like your psycic! at the mo fuel isnt so efficient cos the box is slipping and not giving me the torque converter, so 11l/100k i can live with!
the only broblem(if you can call it that) is the sound system. from what i understand, the sub is quite hard to replace. i LOVE the sub and amp i have now, so ill guess ill have to look into another, also, i require putting in a pioneer head unit, as i have the ipod thing that wires into it, so i just run off my ipod, but then again, in the research ive done, surrounds for the head unit are easy to get, just a bit of $$$.
ive been on the j-spec site, and have considered getting one in, can anyone give me some feedback as to any experiences they've had doing it this way?
one of my mates old man imports HEAPS of cars(mr2, gtir, starlet gt, gtrs and the sort), but none of them the almighty aristo, and he has not trouble, he does go direclty though a auction house in japan though.
thanks again for everyones feedback, just need to get rid of the commonhore now...
Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 4010 Location: Perth, WA
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 1:04 pm Post subject:
There shouldn't be a difference between getting mr2's etc and getting in an Aristo mate... perhaps it will be beneficial for you to ask your mate's old man if he can get you one in?
Basically from start to finish you will need someone on the ground in Japan to inspect and actually purchase your car and put it on the boat.
Then you'll need to arrange shipping to get it across and landed where in Aus you choose.
Then you'll need to get it picked up from the docks and taken to a compliance workshop of your choosing to comply the vehicle.
From there you basically pick it up and take it home (ship it if need be), and take it in for inspection/registration.
Almost everyone gets an import agent to handle all that stuff.. there's heaps of documentation to fill in, both in Aus for import approval, as well as in the motherland for de-registration and export approval etc. Your mate's dad sounds like he could be able to handle that for a much smaller fee than most import broker's will charge (close to $1k). Either way, you need *someone* to handle all of that. Once you choose a broker, you need to choose your car. Many auction reports, personal inspections from your broker's associates over there, photos, etc, later you will hopefully pick the beasty you want. Then you say "buy it" (usually off auction) and your broker basically handles the rest.
The biggest pain is choosing a broker... finding one you trust with your money and with your time and effort. The last thing you want is to be left stranded or run into any of the numerous problems that can crop up. It's a risky business, but there are winners.
That or you wait for one you want to come up for sale here in Australia and buy it and drive it away that day. _________________
1994 Black JZS147 Aristo - RIP. Went swimming
New 1992 Aristo Project
Just like to say thanks to all that have posted in this thread, as it saves time with me wanting to ask the same questions. I know very little about the Aristo's, but am seriously looking at one that has been offered to me - 1996 Black 2J. It's good to know what the common problems to look out for are in advance. If I do go ahead and get it, will let ya's know...
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All that Rusty said....
