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

Swapped

The day I viewed the third Toyota Altezza was a Thursday. At first, I thought I could not proceed with the swap the next day because there are things to prepare beforehand. The soonest I could swap would be another day later but the land authority office would be closed on a Saturday. I told my buddy of the dilemma and he told me I could do it at night and on Saturdays because, in Malaysia, we have special centers where several government offices operate until night time. I wonder how I could forget about the centers and that was why, I thought I must do it on a weekday. I should not delay anymore as the owner might back out of the deal. So, I quickly contacted the Altezza's owner and told him my plan to do it that same night. Both of us made arrangements for our respective cars to send for inspection and I applied for car insurance. The whole day I was excited and could not concentrate on work. It was finally happening and although it is not a faster car, I was looking forward to the experience with the Altezza. When I had my Toyota Celica, I wanted to have an Altezza. That way I could have a sports coupe and a sports sedan for every occasion. It is kind of a dream come true to experience how an Altezza would drive.

Everything was in a rush. I had to arrange for a runner to send my Nissan Fairlady Z for an inspection and then purchase new insurance coverage for the Toyota Altezza. Both these tasks had to be completed before the end of the day's working hours, in order to make it in time for transfer of ownership to take place on the same night. It was a relieve when both tasks were done before 6 pm and I was able to go to the special center, straight after work. Aside from the queue, the whole process only took around 15 minutes. After the transfer, I renewed the road tax for the Altezza but the new owner did not renew for the 350Z. It was understandable because the cost of 350Z's road tax could renew more than 10 years for the Altezza. The next thing to do was to bid my 350Z goodbye and transferred all my items to the Altezza. I briefed the new owner certain quirks about the 350Z and he left. I had to meet my friends and this would be a good test drive for me. The first issue I had with the car was the headlights because one was green and one was not working well. The second thing happened when I turn the steering wheel fully left and tried to drive. There was a scraping sound and I remembered that this car was lowered and maybe the tire is scratching the fender. I also had to pump petrol for the first time.

Overall the drive requires some getting used to. I noticed several issues but I was not sure whether if it is a characteristic of the Altezza or something is not right with the car. There's only one way to find out and that is to drive more and bring the Altezza to a workshop for a full check.

3rd Time was the charm

After a disappointing end with the previous viewing of the turbocharged Toyota Altezza, I had one appointment left. I was getting desperate and depressed. Nevertheless, I went ahead to make an appointment with the owner to meet up. I asked to meet at a local Tesco to view the car and this time, I bought my friend as well. I told my friend that if this 3rd viewing does not go well, I would need another plan. The Altezza owner was late to our meetup but when he arrived, he came with his crew of 3 more persons. His friends arrived in a first-generation Lexus LS460 and it was modded. As soon as he arrived, all 4 of them looked at my Nissan Fairlady Z. One was looking at the boot, another at the interior and another 2 at my engine bay. I was surprised because each of them was asking me a lot of questions regarding my 350Z and the questions were very professional. I knew these guys were either mechanics or real enthusiasts. I made sure to inform them that my car was in good condition and comes with a lot of goodies. The only fault was the fading paint. I could tell the Altezza owner was very interested and in his mind, he might think that I was such a fool to want to swap with his sedan. After around 45 minutes (longest view ever), it was my turn to look at his Altezza.

The owner started the engine and the first thing I noticed was the loud exhaust. The engine bay was clean and stock with no modification. The idling was stable and there was no weird sound. I looked around the exterior and, to be honest, it looks so much better than my 350Z. The paint must be either newly painted or well taken care of as I could tell it was polished. I found out later the owner works in a paint shop. The Altezza had the Neo Sports body kit from the factory and that is exactly what I was looking for. If I had to pick a fault, it would be the white, Advan RGII rims that were not my preferred design and its color is too much of a contrast to the black paint. Inside, everything was stock and very well preserved. The only thing out of the ordinary was the re-wrapped steering wheel and carpets. Both these were red and black colors, bringing some contrast and sporty feel to the interior. The car as a whole is a beauty to me because of its pristine condition. It is not in perfect condition but this is close. Next, I drove this Altezza around the carpark of Tesco with one of his friend in the passenger seat and vice versa. I was glad I asked my friend along.

When we were done with the test drive, we exchanged feedback. The clutch was a bit weird as it was hard to balance but the drive was pleasant. I did notice sometimes the pedal would not bounce back after being depressed. I was ready to make a deal with him to swap my 350Z with his Altezza. The condition of the Altezza was in good shape to me and I was willing to swap without the need for a top-up from him. I could just swap, drive with no issue and not need to spend a large sum to restore like I did with my 350Z. However, I did mention about the pedal should be checked. It could be a lack of clutch oil or the clutch pump was dying. The night ended with me shaking the owner's hand and agreeing to the swap. I told him that he needed to check the clutch and I could only proceed with the change of ownership next week. So, we shall wait for that but I am excited that I will be changing a new car.

Old Lady to Young Lady Part 13

Seeing that I am about to sell my Nissan Fairlady Z, I figured I should do a final restore that has been annoying me for some time. At the beginning of my ownership, I noticed the plastic cover on the driver's side of the rear bonnet that was always hanging. Once I thought it was loose, I just gave it a hit and it was ok. After a while, it was hanging again but the previous trick does not cut it anymore. One day while I was walking from the rear, I realized that it was not just the cover but my third brake light was also hanging. Another thing to restore was the dampers that support the boot while it is opened. I tried to find a replacement in the past but due to the high price, I did not proceed. The price for a pair of new boot dampers usually goes for around RM 400 but after 2 years, I found someone selling a pair of used dampers for only almost half the price. I decided to go ahead at the same because both are from the same section of the car, the rear. I went to buy the used dampers and I was excited that the dampers still has some strength to it. I need the boot to stay open in order to check and repair the hanging third brake light and plastic cover. So, the first step was to replace the boot dampers.

Pic Left: Using Wood to Hold, Pic Right: Used vs Original (spoilt)

The steps are easy and only simple tools were needed as I have removed the dampers before. I only had a problem attaching on the boot side because it was not easy to get the right height. The wood I used to hold up the boot was not long enough and so, I had to get help. When it was done, I thought the damper could hold the boot on its own but I was wrong. It was at that moment, I realized why it only cost almost half of a new pair. The answer was because the strength it had was only half of what it should have. I guess it could have supported the boot but the extra weight of the spoiler made it difficult. I did feel a difference with this used dampers though. It only requires half the energy to open the boot now. I still need the wood to hold the boot in place though to move to my next restore. I started to remove the plastic cover and saw that the third brake light was attached to another cover with screws. I opened the second cover and found out my third brake light was broken and that was why it was hanging.

Second Cover with light hanging. 

I checked the first plastic cover and was relieved that although some of the plastic was broken, all the clips were still there. This meant I can attached the cover properly. The second cover was also removed to access the third brake light. There is a part that was tightened onto the boot that broke off from the body. I removed the body of the light and the broken bit. Then, I found some super glue and stuck them together. I thought I saved a lot by DIY-ing but when I attached the repaired third brake light, it could not hold well. The second cover had to be attached to the light, while the light has to be screwed onto the boot. So, the heavy second cover was pulling the light down and the glue could not hold properly. It was a failure but I put everything together and covered with the first cover. The first cover supported both the second cover and light, relieving the stress on the light. I was able to cover everything nicely and I need to test my work. I drove around a couple of days and the cover never fell again. I might not have fixed the third brake light properly but the whole thing turned out well. I am happy.

After Glue

After Glue

Attached without cover flawlessly

Turbocharged Altezza

Originally, I planned to buy a Subaru Impreza WRX STI when I manage to sell my Nissan Fairlady Z. The WRX STI has always been known for its flagship color, the World Rally Blue, its turbo boxer engine and AWD system. The second Toyota Altezza that I was going to view had me really excited. From the moment I saw from the photos, I knew this is the Altezza that I want to swap with. The reason is how similar this unit is to the WRX STI. It has the same color (maybe not the same shade) and a big turbo in the engine bay. The only thing missing part being the AWD system. Initially, if I swap for an Altezza, it was to be put on sale the moment I get it and it would be my temporary ride. However, if I could get my hands on this unit, I might change my mind and keep it instead. Then, without further delay, I quickly made an appointment to view this beast. There was one small issue though. He lives in another state and we had to meet in the middle between our respective states. In the end, we decided to meet at a Tesco parking lot, in the state between our states. Luckily, it was only a 45 minutes drive away from my house.

When I arrived, I looked at the exterior and I was already grinning. The paint was immaculate and it was the right shade of blue for me. It really looks well taken care of but something was amiss. I did not like the Vertex body kit it had, the lack of a spoiler at the back and the rims were only acceptable to me. Then, he started the engine and open the bonnet and I like what I saw. It had the original 3S-GE engine but along with a few shiny parts. It had aluminum piping, aluminum radiator and of course, the main star, the huge turbo. The thought of me owning a turbo performance car like this Altezza already set me on cloud nine. I was ready to swap even without a test drive. However, I had my worries because modified engines, especially turbocharging often have a lot of issues such as reliability, overheating and leakage. The owner was a friendly and knowledgeable guy and he explained how he modded his car. The engine makes around 300 hp on wheels but that there is no reason to worry. He even looked at my 350Z and told me he realized it had a leak with one of the exhaust manifolds and the fuel mapping is on the rich side.

  

After looking at both cars, the owner asked me to test his Altezza. The interior was very clean and stock except for the aftermarket boost meter and boost controller. The front seats have been replaced with locally made, SSCUS semi bucket seats. A great addition to a super-fast car but I prefer Recaro I drove around Tesco because I only wanted to test the clutch. The clutch was Ogura's Super Single and it was hard for me. I was told that this is the softest clutch he could use that would not slip with the power his Altezza is producing. When I park the car, he told me that I did not feel the power of the turbo by driving around Tesco. So he asked me to sit in the passenger seat and he drove around showing me the power. It was the first time in many years, have I felt such power and excitement where every time he accelerated, my body would get pushed by the G force and stuck to the sport seats. I found myself smiling at the torque this beast is producing. Next, he tested my 350Z with me in the passenger seat. He quickly noticed and mentioned the weakness of the 350Z which I agree to all. When it was all done, we talked about details and I left feeling happy that I will be getting this beast. However, when I contacted the owner the next day, he was not keen on the swap and the deal was off. It looks like I have to keep finding then. What a shame.

New Idea

There was an ad in the Nissan Fairlady Z Facebook page, posted by a guy who owns a Toyota Altezza. In this ad, he said he was interested to swap his Altezza with a 350Z. When I saw the ad, it gave me an idea and I started considering his ad. In the end, I did not pursue it as I was more keen on selling my 350Z. For those unfamiliar with the Altezza, it is a 4 door sedan made by Toyota from the year 1999. It was powered by Toyota's 3S-GE engine, a 2 liter, 4 cylinder with 210 hp and 216 Nm of torque. The Altezza was also sold as the IS200 under its luxury brand, Lexus. The IS200 had the 1G-FE engine which was a 2 liter, inline 6 cylinder with only 150 hp and 195 Nm of torque. Many were baffled by the specs of the IS200 because it has more cylinders but less power than the Altezza. That is also why the Altezza was more sought after by enthusiasts in the markets where both models were offered.

1999 Lexus IS200

I was getting anxious about selling my 350Z because I have waited a long time but still I have not sold it. So, I was looking for a quicker way out by swapping for an Altezza. The Altezza fits my requirement because it has 4 doors, a decent boot, manual transmission and the power produced is fun enough. The Altezza is also an easier car to sell compared to my 350Z, with prices being quite similar, here in Malaysia. That was my deciding factor and I decided to move along with this idea. I found one guy online where he was looking for a swap and I contacted him. In the ad, his Altezza looks to be in great shape. After that, I also posted on the Altezza Facebook page to ask if anyone was interested. I had 3 interested parties by the end of the week. I met with the first owner on the same day I contacted him and he seems really eager to meet. The first owner was a student from China who has 2 friends that own 350Z. We decided to meet at a petrol station and he came with one of the 350Z friends. I was working on that day and I drove my Mazda 6 instead of my 350Z.

When he arrived, I was mesmerized by the condition of the paint. His Altezza has shiny red paint with Advan SA3R rims, which was nothing like my 350Z and its old, fading color. All the doors and boot are working and the engine bay looks clean. However, the rims were double, a three-spoke design that I dislike. The owner told me that it is not an Altezza but a Lexus IS200 with the 3S-GE engine transplant from Altezza. Being an IS200, it had beige interior with electronic, leather seats instead of the black interior with cloth seats in an Altezza. I definitely prefer the black interior as it looks sportier and easy to maintain, compared with beige. It also does not burn my butt like how leather seats would when I park under the sun. The driver seat was changed to a Recaro, full bucket seat and usually, sports seats are a plus point for me but the full bucket is hard to access and is very uncomfortable. There was also a large cut on the passenger seat. I started the engine and it starts well with no weird sounds. After a bit of rev to test the exhaust, I talked to him but I was not really interested in this unit. I did not even take photos of his car and left. This is a video that he sent to me before our meeting.

Reselling

The drama with the buyer of my Nissan Fairlady Z continues. It has been 3 months since the last payment from the buyer and one month after the buyer's friend agreed to settle the payment but did not. I prepared a document that indicates that I did not ask for payments but the buyer willingly transferred money to me. She would not sign the document and instead has since ghosted me and disappeared. My WhatsApp messages were not read and I could not call the buyer. It seems like my number was blocked by her. It is strange since the usual case is where the buyer paid but the seller ran away with the money. I had no choice but to resell my 350Z but before that, I need to protect myself. Upon my friends' advises, I made a police report to tell my side of the story and protect my interest. After that, I re-post my ad online but at a lower price. This time I widen my post range and posted in a few car groups on Facebook.

Repost

I had mix feelings when facing this situation. On one hand, I am glad that I could finally move on with the sales of my 350Z. It was a gruesome 4 months to wait and wonder every day when I will receive my payment. There is also the opportunity cost of buying my next target car. Whenever there is a nice unit for sale within my budget, I could not proceed because I do not have the money as my 350Z has not been sold. It was not great for me because I just wish I had the money. On the other hand, I have to go through the whole selling process again. There is a sudden surge of 350Z selling on Facebook and most of them are letting go at dirt prices. It is as if they are all desperate and this makes me unable to sell anywhere near the previous price sold. I had a potential buyer that viewed the car and he likes it but it was too expensive for him. The next week, he got himself a cheaper unit.

It was also disappointing for me when I had to wait a long time before someone comes to view my 350Z and only to tell me it is too expensive. Most of the 350Z that I have seen for sale in the market are stock units. Of course, the automatic variants are cheaper but there are many manual models that are cheaper than me. Those units seem attractive because of new paint and a great body kit but there is no performance part. My 350Z seems dull in comparison due to its fading paint and common looks but my selling point is that I had spent a large sum to make it drives perfectly and also the rare performance parts inside. If someone were to test my 350Z, it would become obvious that it drives perfectly. I hope I could sell it soon and proceed with the next stage in my driving life.