The Search begins

There had been one model of JDM sports cars that has always been on my mind. As early as 2014, I have written here in this blog, that I was interested in getting a Subaru Impreza WRX STI. I even viewed one unit in 2014 and one more in 2015. Both units were Version 9 and until now I still love this model. At that time, I was not financially able to purchase one even though there were several nice units. That dream is still very much alive and I intend to fulfill it since I currently do not own a sports car. Since the moment I decided to sell my Toyota Altezza, I started talking to my friend who had previously owned 2 STIs. He suggested that instead of looking for Version 9, I should look for Version 8 because it is much more affordable, and besides the cosmetic changes, there is little performance difference. I was searching online and realized that the price difference is indeed too much. So, I changed my direction and started looking up Version 8s that are for sales. I planned to convert it into Version 9 for the exterior and interior, which is possible. Before I sold the Altezza, I found one unit at an Auto City at a reasonable price and decided to take a look. Inside Auto City, there are more than 20 companies located there. When I arrived and took a glance at the STI, I noticed it has a new paint job and nice aftermarket rims. I was told it belongs to a friend of the used car owner, who decided to sell it.

My favorite model is Version 9 but Version 8 has its charm and I could grow to love it. There was not much to comment about the exterior because there is no exterior mod and I asked to see the inside. The interior was stock except for the Apexi turbo timer, Greddy boost controller, and Greddy boost meter. It would have been nice if it had some Defi meters but these are fairly good upgrades too. In my opinion, the most important part that should be converted is the interior. Version 8's interior design is dated even for a fan like me. Luckily, the dashboard design is the same for both Version 8 and 9. The main difference lies in the center console. Just to name a few differences, the cupholders, DCCD (Differential Control) mode button, DCCD level knob, and side mirror adjustment switch are all located differently. In addition, Version 8 has manual knobs for aircond controls while Version 9 has electronic buttons. Although having the same design, the speedometer of Version 8 only goes to 180 km/h but it goes up to 260 km/h for Version 9. In order to convert completely, I would need to replace the whole center console and steering wheel with Version 9 parts. I am starting to worry about the overall cost and time needed for such a conversion and whether it is worth it. 

After looking at the interior, I crank up the engine and listened to the engine sound. I was pleased that the start-up was smooth and the engine was quiet. It idles normally and had no weird sounds. I was a little surprised as the car is already 16 years old. I stepped on the accelerator and heard the loud exhaust note. If I was younger, I would be so into the loud sound but as my readers know, I do have a wife to please and was hoping to get an STI with stock exhaust. I opened the hood and checked on the chassis plate. It shows that it is indeed a genuine Version 8 and the location of the windshield wiper fluid tank confirms this fact. The engine bay was dirty but everything looks fairly stock. The air filter and blow-off valve are not stock parts. Both of these 2 items are HKS products. The radiator is also an aftermarket part. Surprisingly, the car is still using a factory suspension set which in my opinion, is rare because one of the first mod for owners would be an aftermarket Coilover kit. I wonder if the absorbers are still up to the task of harsh driving. By then, I have seen all I needed and after talking to the salesman, I think this unit could be the one for me. However, I need to bring my friend over to take a look and give me his opinion before making a decision.

It Is Time

Everything must come to an end and my time with my Toyota Altezza is no exception. After a little over a month, it felt like it was time to move on to a new experience. The Altezza was never my target and was just a stepping stone to sell my previous Nissan Fairlady Z. Having said this, I am grateful for the short experience with the Altezza. Since my time with a Toyota Celica, I had wanted to try an Altezza and now I could check that off my list. It did live up to my expectations in most area but I did have difficulty with the throttle design and the weight. As usual, I posted my car on my favorite online marketplaces but coming with a proper price was difficult. There was the problem of market value and also the fact that I swapped for the Altezza. The price of the Fairlady Z has to be factored in and in the end, I posted a price of RM 49,000. One of the Altezza owners said I will have a tough time selling at a high price. I received several low offers and felt it was difficult to sell. There was even a guy who came to view the car just for 10 minutes and was never heard from again. So, I gradually reduced the price until RM 45,000 before 2 people came to view the car.

The first was an Indian, who used to be a mechanic that had worked on several Altezzas. He grew to love Altezzas and that spread to his son. He hopes to buy one for both of them. He has always been looking for one online and finally came across my unit. Knowing he was a mechanic, I told him about the car and its issues which was no problem for him to get it fixed. The next day, a young, Chinese engineer came to view. I told him the same thing as I did to the mechanic and he understood the issues. Both prospects love what they saw but pricing was the issue. Both offered me a low price and I told them RM 40,000 was the lowest I could go. It was an exciting moment as the two were negotiating with me simultaneously. It felt like a race with both slowly increasing their offer but in the end, the mechanic accepted my offer first. It was arranged for us to meet at the government office two days later. On that day, after the paperwork, I was inside the Altezza for one last time to count my cash. I said my goodbye and watched as the new owner drove it away.

The Toyota Altezza was my shortest car ownership and in total, only lasted for 2 months. It was fun while it lasted but I was not too sad about it. It led me to a new experience and met new friends in the Altezza club. I hope that the new owner would treat it well. I started the Altezza's journey to recovery and I am sure the mechanic can finish the job. I hope to see you again on the road. As for me, it is time for me to chase my dream and get the car that I have been aiming for a long time.