Toyota Aristo JZS147

The first-generation Aristo (JZS147, October 1991 to August 1997) launched the Y-chassis sport sedan as Toyota's answer to the European luxury benchmark. Body design came from Italdesign Giugiaro; the assembly line was one of Toyota's most automated of the era, with roughly 4,200 of the body welds handled by robots. Powertrain choices were three: the 2JZ-GE naturally aspirated inline-six in the 3.0V and 3.0Q grades, and the 2JZ-GTE twin-turbo in the 3.0V Turbo. All were rear-wheel drive. The export market never received the Aristo nameplate — the same chassis was sold as the Lexus GS300 starting in 1993 — and the export Lexus never got the 2JZ-GTE.

Today the JZS147 is the cheaper way into an Aristo. Naturally aspirated 3.0V cars trade well below V300 turbo prices, and the platform is the same. The catch is age: a JZS147 is now 28 to 34 years old, and the timing belt, water pump, radiator end tanks, cam seals, and rear subframe bushings have all reached service-life territory regardless of recorded mileage. Bare-shell rust on the rear subframe mounts and trunk floor is the issue that most often kills an otherwise saveable car. The 5-speed manual that occasionally appears on JZS147 NA cars is the rarest factory variant of the first generation; the twin-turbo 3.0V Turbo with the 5MT is rarer still and commands a clear price premium when one is offered for sale.