10th Dec 2005, 15:47

Whats the point of this debate? this review is right on. a cressida is an awesome find if you see one!!

22nd Jan 2006, 10:04

Given the mileage of your car I'd recommend you do what I did with my 220,000 mileage BMW - get AAA plus membership.

You pay a little more (about $79/year) vs. the regular membership, but they will tow your car for up to 100 miles for free. More than enough miles to get you to "civilization".

22nd Jan 2006, 12:10

That's the best cressida review (or should I say comment) I ever read above. Having the pleasure of owning a cressida for quite some time now, I know exactly where he is coming from. My cressida has survived 3 accidents and every time I refused to let the car go. I paid up and got the car fixed. Why you may ask? My cressida is almost like a family member to me and my family, we have owned it since day one in 1990 and it was the best purchase I ever made-ever!! My family has gone through many lease cars and company cars in the past 17 years and they never seem to last like the cressida. It's almost like it knows its the ultimate car and patiently sits in our garage waiting for us to come back to it, time and time again. simply fantastic!!

1st Jun 2006, 04:38

As I write this in 2006, I am waiting to confirm a deal from the seller of my second Cressida (1991.) I want to upgrade from my 1984 with 245K, (no rebuild, still strong) and sell it to my roommate who eagerly wants to buy it.

The most comfortable 24 mpg car ever built with acceleration that belies the HP vs. body weight ratio.

These cars are gems (save springs in the door locks!) Overbuilt to the nth degree when it comes to not needing major part replacement (front end parts, suspension, etc.)

Buy one now, a sleeper classic!

1st Jun 2006, 12:09

"1. No, toyota didn't' stop producing them (the Cressida) for 13 years, they simply designed a premuim lineup called "Lexus""

Uh, no... Toyota stopped producing them quite a while ago and then created its Lexus line. Unless you're comparing the Cressida to a Lexus. Please.

13th Jun 2006, 11:33

Understandably, all the respondents have posted very positive comments regarding their Cressida ownership experiences. Myself, I owned a 1989 Cressida and for the most part it was an enjoyable experience.

I must say it was solid, a pleasure to drive and, in it's day, very well equipped. Yes, it was Toyota's Flag Ship model and a vehicle some would say was the fore runner to the Lexus line.

My Cressida developed an annoying engine oil leak at 110,000k. The dealer said the engine rear mail seal had failed and that the engine would need to be removed in order to repair the leak. That was back in 1992. The dealer estimated the repair between $1,200 & $1,500. No, there was no warranty remaining on the car.

Needless to say, I did not have the leak repaired, I traded the Cressida on a 1992 Pontiac Bonneville. The Pontiac proved to be a very good car and in many ways as goods as the Cressida especially when it came to ownership costs. We sold it in 2002 with over 300k on the odometer.

The person who purchased my Cressida repaired the oil leak and still owns the car today although it's not seen the road for a few years. He said it was the best car he ever owned. The engine and drivetrain are still working but the body and undercarriage are rusted well beyond restitution.

15th Jun 2006, 17:25

We inherited a 1991 Cressida with only 57,000 miles on it in 2002. Wow... what a car. I felt elegant driving it until it suffered a rear-end collision that totaled it. We bought it back from the insurance company and our teenager continued to drive it until recently when it developed engine problems. I like the car enough to want to spend the $2000 to repair it (engine & air conditioner), but am being overruled by another family member. I'd like to see its organs donated to another Cressida, but don't know how to go about making it available to other collectors. Any ideas?

7th Aug 2006, 00:52

I would say get that Cressida fixed. There is nothing else wrong with it except the engine, right? These cars are meant to last a lifetime... check out ebay for how to sell it for parts...

28th Oct 2006, 14:17

I bought a used 1989 Cressida in 1990. It was the best automobile I ever owned. A Toyota rep once told me that the Cressida had never had a recall. The reason Toyota stopped making the Cressida was because they started up their Lexus line and they wanted Toyota customers to buy "up" into a Lexus. The Cressida was as good, if not better, than the low-end Lexus which, I think, was the 250 model. The Cressida was replaced with the Avalon. And the Avalon was not the equal of the Cressida and for good reason. Toyota wanted it's customers to see the Avalon as it's top of the line, but NOT a competitor with the entry level Lexus. Toyota customers are supposed to see the Avalon as a stepping stone to a Lexus. The Cressida RIVALED the Lexus. Hence, its production was ended.

I am probably going to buy a used 1992 Cressida next week. It has 72K original miles. I want a cheap car to drive around town in while leaving my Chevy Suburban in the garage exclusively for work. I am hoping that my decision isn't merely based on nostalgia. Only time will tell.

12th Oct 2007, 09:40

I own a 1989 pearl white Cressida with 254,000 miles on it with original engine. The only thing I replaced is the transmission that went out last June 2007. Love this car. I put a TRD springs and tokico gas shocks on it and it handles perfectly. I also put a MOMO steering wheels and magnacor park plug wires.

22nd Oct 2007, 10:09

I want to second, third or whatever my place in line is for saying great things about this car. I don't own a Cressida and never have (though a friend did and I want to), but I do drive its racier sibling, a 1990 Supra, and they are two sides of the same coin. I have long held that these two cars are the all around best cars any car company has ever produced. Yes, there are faster cars, and bigger cars, and more luxurious cars, but giving up one of these for one of those introduces some very undesirable elements, usually cost. Mechanically they share an engine/drivetrain, but more important they shared the design philosophy of a group of people who desired to make the best possible. They were both pricey for their time, but one would be hard pressed to find a competing vehicle that will continue to provide the satisfaction these do when 150,000 or more miles rolls around at the cost these do, even a Lexus. I still plan to buy a Cressida at some point, but even now, with 140K miles on my Supra there isn't a day that goes by when I don't say "Thanks" to the people who designed these cars. With 100% honesty I cannot think of another car I would rather drive than the one I have now. Were this to be damaged beyond repair I would search for a Supra or Cressida as my only options for replacement.