1989 Toyota Cressida MX83 review from North America

The headlights like to burn out a lot. I can't find out what the problem is. I usually have to replace a headlight bulb every few months.

Sunroof motor only works half the time, you must help it the other half to get it open.

Interior dome light has been burned out since I bought the car off my brother. I never replaced it...

Could the Cressida be the best car ever built? YES, IT IS!! Toyota engineered this car to PERFECTION!!

I bought my Cressida off of my brother who wanted a new Avalon. I bought it off him in Summer 2002 with 103k miles on the odometer. He drove the car very hard and obviously abused it much of its life. Even with 103k miles, the car ran like brand new off the lot. I have put 70k more miles on it in 3 years and NEVER had a single problem!!

The car now has over 175,000 miles, and I still use it as my daily driver. No reason for a new car!!

The engine looks very clean, and whispers along at high speeds.

The 7MGE engine is legendary, and a real work of art.

And quiet? It endangers your driving licence because 80mph feels like 30 and it is easy for a minute's inattention to result in a big speeding fine.

It is uncannily smooth and quiet and linked to the electronic automatic gearbox provides a silent, magic carpet ride that has to be experienced to be believed. It is so quiet that you may have to restrain passengers from opening the door at 30 mph - they think you are coasting to a stop. Quiet? It's so quiet that you can chat to your passengers as they're getting in and start it without them noticing. Then you can suddenly put it in D and move off - this never fails to impress!

The stereo has to be the best I have ever heard. It is a surround-sound 7 speaker HIFI with all the gizmos, including a subwoofer built-in to the bodywork, and the car is so quiet even at 50mph that you can hear the last bars of the Largo from Dvorak's 5th - you know where the basses play those low chords on the wood of their bows. This is a seriously cool setup - owners have been known just to sit in their car in the garage and listen to their favourite CD in the multichanger. It sounds sad until you have heard it for yourself, and then you understand.

Yes, I WILL own another Cressida. Even though they have not been manufactured since 1990, I will hunt down and pay any amount of money for a good contition Cressida. This car has changed my opinion of how well a car can actually be built. I plan on driving a Cressida for the rest of my life... people simply do not understand the level of value and luxury that comes from owning this piece of automotive history.

I found out that "TOYOTA" actually means the highest level of perfection that can be achieved. In a little bit of Cressida trivia, looking on the door hatches reveals this Japanese "symbol" for perfection.

I can't argue with that...