Advice on Buying Older Toyota Crown Models

Hi, I have found lot of mid 2000s Toyota Crowns on 60K - 120K odo and they seems to be…cheap for a car with a brand known for reliability. On top of that, they all look very well maintained and clean.

I am very tempted to buy a mid 2000s white V8 Majesta for $18K with an odo of low 100K. It's for commute so i'd like to know if those mid 2000s range Crowns are reliable and worth to buy for that age?

Had a look at the likes of CarsGuide and they all rated them highly.

Much appreciated, thanks

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Comments

  • +3

    v8 petrol and 20 years old, 7-Eleven must love you.

  • +1

    Was the Majesta even sold in Australia in that era, are you sure it isn't a grey import? Might limit you from Toyota dealers network in Australia, and you sure that isn't a Lexus engine in there? Plus people will assume you're a chauffeur if you start driving it daily to work.

    • +1

      Most dealers don't want to know about them, you'll need to look up part numbers yourself to order from them. Yes they're a Lexus engine.

    • Was the Majesta even sold in Australia in that era

      TMCA stopped selling the Crown here in the late 80s.

  • +4

    Sure they're super reliable, but they are 20 years old and any car that age will be starting to need things replaced, particularly rubber components. The dash boards also crack and the V8 will be heavy on fuel around town, but ok on the hwy.

    Check out insurance costs as well. Being a grey import there's only a few companies who will insurance them and it's often more expensive than the locally delivered Lexus equivalent. Parts can also be an issue, especially body panels.

  • +1

    If its the UZS186 they're very good reliable cars. Just keep in mind they're on the air suspension (unless changed to coilovers) That's an expensive replacement if they go. The URS206 seems to be a similar price without the air suspension, it also had much more modern features but they just don't look at cool imo.

    • And interiors are showing age, dashes cracking, plastics lifting etc.

  • +2

    Checkout older Lexus models. I got one with400k on clock. Have spent $1000 or less in a year on maintenance. Now on 423k.

    • Good ol' Toyota reliability

      • +1

        Toyota reliability PLUS additional lexus quality control.

    • +1

      UZS186 is fairly similar to a GS430.

  • +3

    Unless you are an enthusiast with DIY skills and a penchant for hunting for hard to find parts, these cars are not for you. They are frey imports, so while many parts are common with local models, a local parts supplier is going to have a harder time sourcing stuff - even like oil filters. Youll also likely want to find a specialist mechanic that deals with them.

    I suspect that if you are asking for advice such as this on an open forum that does not specialise in old Toyota's, you arent the right person for these models. Its a hint you don't know much about cars.

    Yes, reliable. No, not the right car.

    • even like oil filters

      I doubt that very much.

      open forum that does not specialise in old Toyota's,

      This is Australias foremost old Camry forum…

      I do agree with your general sentiment though.

      • +1

        You can get all the filters from any Toyota dealer, problem is that most won't look up part numbers. You can't just ask for a V6 Aurion filter either as they're shorter.

      • +2

        even like oil filters

        I doubt that very much.

        Its less about them not ha ing a suitabke filter, and more about them having a hard time matching the catalogue of aussie cars vs rare imports. A good psrt shop will be able to help. The average SCA employee wont be able to compute.

        • I get what you’re saying now.

  • +2

    I would recommend a S/H late model Aurion. Very reliable and has all the bells & whistles that you prefer.

  • +2

    Great, right up to the point you need to find parts for a 25+yo Japanese market grey import. Your local Toyota dealer isnt going to GAF if you go in there asking for parts, not matter how much you say "Yeah, it's got the exact same engine in it as the 98' Toyota LandCruiser Saraha… and the gearbox is from the MA Supra… no the '86, not the 85 model MA… It runs the same steering as the 01 Corolla… you know the one??"

    • +1

      Yep, they just want a vin they can run

      • +2

        And when they do get a grey market VIN is always; "Yeah… that car doesn't come up in our system…" or "that's a weird VIN, are you sure it's PJKF4T, because it should be a BGHR4T" or "Yeah, that VIN comes up, but it isnt listing any parts/part numbers are grey, meaning Toyota Aus has never stocked them…"

    • +4

      If they put the VIN into their system they can see all the part numbers the same as with any local car. Most of the mechanical parts will be the same as local models, anything else can be ordered from Japan if still available.

      Some dealers aren't helpful and will just roll their eyes as soon as you mention grey import. That's why you need to go prepared with part numbers. You can also get after market stuff but will need to be good at cross referencing parts. These cars are more suited to an enthusiast rather than someone who just wants a cheap car.

      • +2

        These cars are more suited to an enthusiast

        This is the imporant part. Anyone asking on this forum is highly unlikely to be the sort of person to deal with a wierd car. If you are the right sort of person, you dont need to ask the questions here.

        • Yes someone who buy such a vehicle because they enjoy driving and ready to maintain it, not because it’s cheap.

  • +2

    Forget the Crown and go for a Century - without irony the pinnacle of Japanese manufacturing quality and attention to detail. There are videos on YouTube reviewing used examples. Truly insane interior with high quality wool seats, 5ltr V12 engine.

    The most incredible car and yet from the outside looks like a oh so boring 70s taxi cab.

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