My Impression

Modern cars are now tuned to have great drivability in the city where engines have more torque than power. Older, Japanese sports cars like my previous Toyota Celica had a different recipe. For example, my 2005, Celica had an impressive 190 hp but only 180 Nm of torque from a 1.8 liter engine. When you compare that to my 2013, Mazda 6, it has a lesser, 184 hp but a good, 250 Nm of torque out of a larger, 2.5 liter engine. My next car, the Nissan Fairlady Z, had high power and high torque from a very large engine. When I compiled my experiences, it brings forward an expectation for the Toyota Altezza. On one hand, I knew the engine would be similar to the Celica by having a high power but low torque. However, it is rear wheel driven and is promising to drive, much like the Fairlady Z. I told myself, this would be an educational but fun experience for me. I have always wanted to drive an Altezza and already knew its specification but we all know, the actual driving experience will not be the same as reading the details.

2ZZ-GE (Celica) vs 3S-GE (Altezza)

Skyactiv-G 2.5 (Mazda 6)

I had to experience how the Altezza would perform and so, on the same night I got my Altezza, I went to a highway behind my house with my friend. This was my usual spot to test cars because the highway is 3 lanes wide and usually empty with a long stretch. Usually, I would pay the road toll and exit with 1st gear, driving hard, all the way to the redline. The Altezza accelerated well and frankly, quite easy to handle but the wait for the rev to hit redline at 7800 rpm, was honestly, too long. I felt like I waited a long time before I had to shift gears. Immediately, it felt slower than my Fairlady Z, which was obvious but reminds me a little of my time driving the Celica. However, there was a serious flaw about the Altezza and that was the suspension. While I was sprinting and almost reaching the speed of 170 km/h, the car was very jumpy, an indication of a setup that is too stiff. There was no way I felt confident to continue. This test gave me a clear picture of how the 2 liter, 3S-GE engine works. It is definitely slow by modern standards because torque picks up only starts around 3000 rpm while modern cars provide instant torque.

In the city, the Altezza continues to feel underwhelmed compared to modern cars. Once when I was going over a bump, there was a hatchback, side by side with me and after crossing the bump, I accelerated. Despite my acceleration, the hatchback had already pulled far away from me. Although the Altezza was supposed to be a sports car and had a loud exhaust note, there was a 5 seconds throttle lag. This had something to do with a throttle body design that was neither wire pulled nor electronically pulled. It had a semi-electric throttle body, which in my opinion, was an experimental design. In layman terms, the input from acceleration is the same as modern, electronic throttle but the movement of the throttle flap was done mechanically, like a traditional throttle body. Meanwhile, the stiff suspension setting continues to be a problem in the city. There is the need to go very slow over speed bumps and on any road with a bend that needs cornering, the car becomes very unstable. Another issue was during left U-turns, where there is a sound of metal scrapping. The suspension desperately needs adjustments.

Uses Positioning Sensor from Accelerator and Motor to pull the cable

Having written the above downsides of the car, The Altezza is not without its advantage. When compared to the car I replaced, the Fairlady Z, it is a much accessible car. It is much more convenient to be a daily ride because it is a sedan with extra seats and a large boot. If comparing power and torque, the Altezza is like walking a mid-sized dog that follows the direction that you lead while the Fairlady Z feels like a big German Shepherd running around enthusiastically, pulling you and you need to control it. Gear shifting is very smooth and engaging, and I dare say it has a better feeling. It does not make you feel stressed when driving around the city. Furthermore, the soundproofing of Altezza is done very well. The loud exhaust does not intrude into the interior and I could talk without needing to shout. The fact that it has doors with frame helps keep the noise out, unlike sports coupes. Overall, an Altezza is a very nice car to drive around daily. It could be a comfortable car most of the time and it could be a quick, fun machine when needed. However, my Altezza does not give a sense of confidence to its driver and it desperately needs a suspension tuning. There are also many things that need a bit of love.

D2 Hi/Lo Soft/Hard Adjustable Suspension