To restart my new life, I got this in September 2008
(This type of wife will never run off..)

Just fill it up and off you go...

There's something to be said about modern Japanese automobiles, and that is that they're easy to main and pretty reliable. And then there are Toyotas: what hasn't been said about their legendary build quality, durability, and reliability? And for good cause too; having spent 5 years in the automotive industry, it's commonly known that nothing beats a Toyota. Yeah they may be rather boring most of the time, cranked out by a huge marketing organisation that seemingly is able to create and fill the nookiest of niches with all sorts of products, but once in awhile they produce a stunner. As you know I've previously owned an AE86, and with my new 'single' status it was about time I refound and relived the joys of well-balanced RWD driving!

Initially, for like the 3rd time in my life, I was actually seriously contemplating a BMW E30 3-series. No matter what has been said about saloon cars that fall within these "street fighter" categories, the successor in driving spirit to a well-sorted AE86 is a well-sorted BMW E30 3-series. And if you can find one, an E30 M3 Evo with the wonderful S14 engine would be even better!

But hey, everyone grows up. The car I would end up with would also need to be 'socially-acceptable', if you catch my drift (pun intended!) haha.. can't be noisy, live-able ride, build quality to last the next 3 years at least, pleasing to the eye, christened a name that evokes that knowledgeable sideways "ooh i know that car!" glance from the ladies, powerful enough to drive long-distances in comfort, space to throw my kids in when I bring em out for McD's, affordable maintenance, readily available spares, preferably an NA as I don't enjoy turbo-lag... the list goes on and on really.. and for which meansure, I have thrown my lot in with an Altezza RS200. And it's an automatic. :)

What's not to like? 200hp, small front overhang, twin-pot front brakes, catchy styling, exquisite meter combi design (like a Tag Heuer watch), comfortable, affordable (these days it is), typical Toyota build quality, a car popular with the Playstation generation, and most importantly it's RWD heh-heh!

I got lucky and found an example with absolutely no accident damage throughout it's history: panel gaps were all true, undercarriage straight, and a smooth engine. Funnily the previous owner had installed a set of Tein HA suspension, a TRD 2-way LSD, and the usual air filter/exhaust improvements. Nice. The exhaust was a boomy HKS unit, so I got that sorted with a new system I cooked-up myself and got made up by Hotbits/Speedworks.

I've since installed WedSport racing wheels, 17x7.5 with an offset of 30mm that push the front and rear track out beautifully, as well as fill-up the arches and give that squat stance. These are the same wheels used by the Altezza Cup racers in Japan. Mated to absolutely incredible Michelin Pilot Precedas which give fabulous all-round ride and handling capabilities in the wet and dry, I've got myself a pretty decent ride.

Handling is pretty good! Charge in too fast and the weight (1300kgs) is rather apparent (compared to an AE86 for example) and the nose with wash out, but I'm surprised that, to an extent, it likes to be man-handled on corner-entry ala FWD cars: hard on the brakes in a straight line, turn-in with your foot trailing the brake pedal and whoop-dee-doo out comes the rear, nice and controlled! Swap your right foot over the the accelerator, give it big gas and it'll heroically drift for kingdom come! In 3rd gear!!

I like to think of it as a grown-up's AE86 ;)

2000 Toyota Altezza 5AT, 200hp, NA
TRD 2-way LSD
Tein HA, ride-height level front to rear, alignment stock
2.3 inch cat-back exhaust system with Hotbits straight-through silencers
Mintex Redbox brake pads
Wedsport 17 x 7.5 ET 30mm wheels
TOM's sponge airfilter panel.

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