@@zillsburyy1 that's for sure! My parents in the 80s had the little Toyota trucks. It was a odd creme yellowish color with tan interior 2 door. It was a nice little truck AC ice cold and a fives speed. It would outrun any ranger V-6 or S-10. Ran alot better too! Then the Camry same way it's little 4 cyl would move that car better than the Ford's and Chevys with V-6s and rode better no problems ever.
A LOT of people treated seatbelts as the anti-maskers treat masks today. ANY attempt to require mandatory use was met with massive protests about freedom and such. In New Hampshire, to cite one state, the attempt to make them mandatory was met with such criticism that they literally changed the road signs from "New Hampshire requires seatbelt use" to "New Hampshire suggests seatbelt use". Ridiculous. You can't wish away basic physics.
@@LearnAboutFlow the key difference being that seatbelts do in fact save lives while masks provide a false sense of security while exacerbating any existing respiratory problems.
@@michaelwhite8493 Got it. When you or a family member is in surgery you are going to demand everyone in the operating room not wear a mask because, you know, it's just a false sense of security and cause respiratory problems. Next tell us all about chem trails.
@@michaelwhite8493 No sir as a healthcare worker masks prevent COVID transmission. It's science. There are few to zero people who are unable to wear a mask. Can it be uncomfortable/inconvenient/annoying? Sure. If anything someone with pre-existing respiratory issues should be the first to put on a mask since it likely means COVID will put them in the ICU then the grave.
@@Troy_nov1965 Same. My mom had a late-60's Dodge Dart when I was a kid that didn't even have seatbelts in the back at all, then she bought a brand new 86 Chevy Cavalier with only lap belts, so pretty much nothing was safe back then anyway lol.
My Mom got one in 1984 after a horrendous experience with her Buick Riviera that was very poorly assembled. Had every option such as leather, digital dash, sunroof. I think it cost over $17,000 - dealers were marking them up by almost $1,000 over sticker as I recall. I was 15 at the time but eventually did get to drive it - that Supra motor was a real hoot!
I bought one of these used for cheap just over 20 years ago. It was completely loaded, and had over 200k miles on it. The car looked so dirty and dumpy you could have sworn it was on its last leg. Turned out to be one of the smoothest-running, reliable cars I have ever owned. You couldn’t kill it.
There's something special about watching 60fps uploads of classic Motorweek episodes, now that the early episodes are well over 40 years old now. But what makes me geek out and love this even more is the fact that it's STILL on the air with new episodes, John Davis continues to host, AND the review formula is exactly the same. It satisfies the nostalgia lover in me greatly to see some things that are left unchanged and remain successful. :)
I never understood these automatic seatbelts. We had them in my moms 1988 Camry. It never felt like it did anything - eg tighten, lock, etc. and no one ever used the separate manual lap belts.
@@Wasabi9111 It was in response to only about 10% of people wearing their seatbelts in the 1970s. So they came up with the "passive restraint" -- a shoulder belt that automatically fitted in place when you closed the door or turned on the ignition. But they were pretty liberal with the idea of "automatically" -- non-motorized belt(s) fixed to the door were acceptable as well, even though they were awkward to limbo yourself under when you entered the vehicle. By 1990 all passenger cars in the U.S. were required to have either passive restraints or a driver's airbag. By 1995, dual airbags were required.
@@Wasabi9111 They're "Passive Restraint" - people in the 70s and 80s refused to buckle up. The regulation was put in place so that cars would have some kind of restraint system that worked without the driver doing anything. Airbags, and automatic seatbelts were the 2 technologies that met this requirement.
My mother in low has an 1982 Cressida. She bought it a few years ago from an old lady. It has about 200k on it and actually runs extremely well. Its clean and rust free.
These used to be everywhere over here. My dad's first car was an '82 Cressida in baby blue. It wasn't as luxurious as the ones sold in the States (we instead had the Toyota Crown to fill that segment) but it was damn reliable. My mum would eventually buy a '92 Cressida GL as her own first car because of it and despite selling it in early 2010s, it's still actually driving around 'till this very day.
I was born in New York in 1986 and remember these things roaring all over the place in Brooklyn. Right along with Tempos, Cutlass Cieras, and of course IROC-Z's. Great memories!
I was born in 1977, my Great grandparents had jeep grand wagoneers for years. They purchased a brand new 1984 Cressida in the same 2 tone brown /gold-ish - slight rose color combo, with every single option, including leather, digital instruments and trip computer. I loved it, loved going into the garage and listening to the radio and playing with all the buttons. They almost never drove anywhere, and by the time I was 15 I was pushing it out of the garage late at night on sleep overs. I never got caught. Unfortunately my Great Grandma died in 1995 and the car was sold, with something like 15,000 miles.
me too ! with the hood up it was hard to see any vibration on tickover loved it spooky thing here my better half drives an E46 unfortunately not an M though
@@destructoidx99 Pretty is in the eye of the beholder... Nissan Murano, Juke, Sentra, any Tesla Kia soul, three door hyundai Veloster, Nissan Cube, Chevy Spark SUVs, Fiat 500, Ford Explorer, Taurus, Acura ZDX, Honda Civic type R... straight up FUGLY. Back in the day, Cars had distinction! You could tell what a Mustang LX 5.0 looked like from 4 city blocks away🙄
This was my first car and my sister drove from Queens to Huntington in 2nd gear, she shifted the shifter too far and my engine was toast. Put in a Supra engine and rims, 12 inch subs and a head unit and was promptly broken into and cleaned out. They even took a bite of my school lunch. My parents surprised me with a WS6 89 Firebird in Malibu blue and T tops after work one day. Still my favorite car ever.
The one review have been waiting for. We had an '81 Cressida in Riyadh. Though the front end styling is vastly different. Our Cressida had the front end styling and interiors from the Chaser.
Wow I never knew these were classified as subcompact! Great cars but I'm surprised they sold any at that price which was well into fullsize Caprice/Crown vic territory. The "super radio" looks so cool
I owned an 81 Cressida which I purchased from the original owner back in 1996. Great car! Drove it to Halifax, NS from NYC. Also took a road trip from NYC to Quebec City as well as Raleigh, NC..Motorized belts are something you get used to. Mine had 14" tires and the marvelous 116hp 2.8 straight six...Wish I had that car today....
We have been a Japanese car family as long as i can remember. My Dad had a 68 GTO and a 73 Toyota Corona Wagon with a 4 speed manual when i was born. We had the Corona until the early 80s when we bought our first Honda (82 Accord SE 5 speed manual) We have owned many Toyotas and Hondas since then up til including now I own a 12 Avalon Limited,20 Tacoma TRD off road and an 11 Venza with the full glass roof. They make great vehicles even though i do miss the older stying days when the manufacturers had more of their own personality in their designs. Philly ❤️
Heck yeah I'm glad there are still come of these FIRST episodes left and still surprise us in 2022! That Cressida was a great riding quiet car. It really was.
A lot of people back then weren't used to wearing them and people thought the government was over stepping by wanting (and in some states making) people wear them. ...Because flying around the car in a crash and potentially killing the other passengers as a result was apparently worth it. I grew up long after that era but I've never understood why some people had an issue with seatbelts, they only take 2 seconds to put on and usually aren't really noticeable after that.
@@mattwolf7698 While I always use a seatbelt it is no one else's business to tell me what to do with myself. When they establish laws to replace personal freedoms then we start down the slippery slope of tyranny.
We had a beige '83, my Dad's car. Had the digital gauge cluster, sunroof, equalizer. So many gizmos we never had in a car before that. Totally bulletproof, was the car I took to college. He replaced this with a '90. Totally a fan of Cressidas - Lexus before there was a Lexus.
The Cressida name didn’t last long but it’s quality would gain legendary status. I recall watching this episode when I was in high school in82. I was impressed. Today I own two Toyota’s. A 2015 Corolla and a 2021 Camry.
When it comes to aesthetic design, the automotive industry has been "evolving" waaay too frequently and getting way too "futuristic" in comparison to tech and mechanical innovation. Cheaper vehicles tend look too sporty or "cool" for what they are, it's ridiculous... designs made more sense in the 80's.
Nissan's answer to the Cressida was the Datsun 810, later known as the Maxima. I had an 1989 Cressida and had two Maximas: a 1984 Maxima, the last year it was RWD and used the same inline 6 cylinder as the 280ZX and I had 1987 Maxima, same V6 as the 300ZX. Hard to decide which I liked better. Both were good
My mom had an '88 Max, last year of that second generation. First car I remember riding in. I always thought that was the coolest car. It was like a spaceship with all the check lights coming on across the dash on startup, plus the killer stereo with dedicated EQ panel. Also, I later learned, a rocket for its time with that VG30E. My stepfather said he had to be careful driving it because it would get you in trouble quick. I'd own one today if they still made them like that.
Had a 1982 Cressida live-axle RWD wagon. It was the SOHC 2.8 litre version (without the sport/normal/eco mode transmission), but it was far snappier than the carbureted 2.8 Oldsmobile FWD A-body wheezy wagon I had next.
My old girl had one of these when I was a kid. Only thing I remember about it was the kangaroo that totalled it lol. She still talks fondly of it though, that and the HQ premier that was her absolute darling.
This car never competed with a Citation or a Futura. it was designed as a 'Lexus' and was aiming for the European buyer, not really the American one, meaning those who were looking at BMW, Mercedes, Audi, etc. The auto belts were unique to the Cressida, and were more gimmick (you were supposed to feel safer) than really doing anything special.
Haha, yeah, I laughed when they mentioned Citation and Futura (I believe it was the Ford Fairmont Futura). Those were several thousands cheaper than the Cressida and couldn't even come near the build quality of the Creasida. I guess the journalists back then tend to lump cars based only on physical dimensions...
Lexus before there was even Lexus. One of the best cars ever made. I knew someone that had an 83 Cressida in the late 90s; except for typical engine seal leaks from age, it rode like a new car and felt tight and quiet.
That car was what Lexus IS today! High price premium luxury! 14 thousand was a hell of a lot of money in those day’s! 14 thousand back then was like 48,000k today or more!
Facts: if that car full of drivers showed up as is today to a Radwood, they would win the day. Facts: the guy with the helmet testing the door mounted seatbelts is the exact same look the person who owns one today is going for.
At first I wondered why they didn't mention the engine specs but then at the end John Davis explained how Toyota dealers were going to be selling a revised version of this car in the spring of 85 so it makes sense now..
1985 - 1992 Toyota Cressida I like even more, they were more like four door Supras. The first gen 1993 Lexus GS 300 should be closely a successor to the Cressida.
Toyota Cressida is still a great car, best thing you can do is get a set of high-quality Michelin tires on all 4 corners and some really good struts/shocks
Imo cars like these not only represent a different time in the automotive world, but in our lives. I was just entering middle school. It was a simpler time back then. That being said I never owned or test driven one, but it looks like a well balanced.
When cars were simpler and driving was a pleasure. Not like today where cars are rolling entertainment centers and driving is like going into battle against the agressive drivers that are always in a hurry.
YEA TOO MUCH TOUCHSCREEN KRAP LIKE MY SUBIE I STILL HAVE THE MANUAL SEAT ADJUSTMENTS LIKE MY FORMER CARS MY 97 DODGE AND 87 ESCORT! PEOPLE TODAY ARE SUCH IN A AHOLE HURRY TOO CARS WERE SIMPLE TOO- HAD MANUAL WINDOWS TOO WITH THE HANDLES MY FIRST 2 CARS HAD ONE NOW ITS KRAP
Had one with the 5MGE engine. Great when it was new but when the miles stacked up it became terrible. Techs at Toyota said the engine fails because of insufficient oil to the top of the motor causing cam failure..
This or the similar multi-band EQ unit from the second-generation Maxima. Both very cool looking radios. Looked more like high-end home stereo components than car radios of the day.
Wrong, For the 1981 model year, the new Toyota Cressida became the first car to offer motorized automatic passive seatbelts. Toyota was the supplier for those systems to Ford and many others years after that!
They use to be everywhere in my country , we use to call it the Teachers car , as most of teacher owned one that time , my late neighbor had one 1981 model . It lasted with him until the day he left this life , 30 years of everyday use but he wasn’t a teacher .
I’ve owned all Cressidas and all of them were 4 cylinders and Automatic except one 91 with 5 speed manual transmission and all of them never failed me once I appreciate the fuel economy and its powerful cool A/C in the summer… sure they don’t make them as they used to be …
Are you sure? All Cressidas that I know of came with an inline 6 cylinder. You owned em all huh? You might wanna look that up. 1982-1988 Toyota Cressida MX62, MX63, MX72, MX73 came with the 12-valve (2 valves per cylinder) inline 6 DOHC 5M-GE.
The UK version had a 4-cylinder engine, no A/C, power steering, or cruise control. It was a great cruiser, but hard work to lug around town. Rock-solid build and reliability, though.
Sure glad that the Cressida didn't come with those stupid automatic seatbelts in Canada. Those were great cars and ahead of it's time for the early 90s.
RIP PAT GOSS! TODAYS CARS ARE KRAP LIKE THE NEW BRONCOS WITH DOZENS OF RECALLS THE NEW DODGE TRUCK HAS A HUGE TOUCHSCREEN THAT COST A FEW THOUSAND TO REPLACE TOO
Back in 2004 I had a 1983 Celica Supra, great car, but with no replacement parts for it. Japanese classics are great reliable cars, but nowadays parts affordability and availability make them really hard to have, that's why I sold the Celica Supra and now I have a 1988 Chevrolet Monte Carlo LS (since 2004). Greetings
Those MK2's are awesome. You aren't wrong about the parts, but there is quite a scene out there for most of them. No regrets buying my 1988 Supra last year. It's a work of art.
really? in ‘04 you couldn’t find parts? body parts i can understand to a degree but drivetrain wise 5m stuff is still pretty common to come across, even today.
@@5MGE that was a time when online parts sales were not as easy as today, so it was really hard to get parts. By the way, I'm not in USA, so it was more difficult than being there. Nowadays I can buy parts online for my American cars (I have 2 GMs and 2 Fords ), and it's really easy to import them to my country. Greetings
We had a 1981 Cressida 2.0 DX Estate here in Germany. Blue metallic, 5-speed manual, 2.0 litre 105PS in-line 4 (same engine was used in the 82-85 Celica 2.0 XT) With mixed driving it averaged about 10 l/100km. The european models looked better IMO, the 4-spoke steering wheel too. No PAS but the steering wasn't particularly heavy when parking. Tbh, a VW Golf 2 without PAS was probably harder to maneuver. It was a rare car in northern Germany and I only saw maybe 10 in 20 years. It was a comfortable family car for 2 adults + 3 kids with enough space in the boot for another kid and the dog when the other seats were full 😉 Driver Seating position was surprisingly low, nearly coupé-like. It even had seat high adjustment (more a base tilt) and adjustable lumbar support. A thing that is still an expensive option on some new cars today! No electrics like central locking or power windows, those were reserved for the GL models which came in 2,0 litre 4-cylinder or 2,8 litre inline-6 form. Lasted 9 years and 280,000 kms (174k miles) until an '85 Mitsubish Lancer t-boned it. Biggest repair job until then was renewing the rear drum brakes! Was replaced by a 1984 Volvo 740GL 2,3l 114PS saloon which had more space, more refinement, more luxury (central locking, PAS) and more fuel consumption 😉 Edit: Proper seatbelts too, not those american oddities. 3-point belts on 4 seats and lap-belt in the rear centre seat.
My grandparents had a blue 1984 and it had a crazy trip computer I thought was so cool back then.
RIP grandparents and Cressida. FML
One of the best cars I ever owned! The power of this car was amazing and was a total sleeper.
I forgot to mention that those wheels where Fire!
toyota 4 cylinder cars have always had great power
@@zillsburyy1 This had the same inline 6 cylinder as the Supra the 5M-GE engine.
@@zillsburyy1 that's for sure! My parents in the 80s had the little Toyota trucks. It was a odd creme yellowish color with tan interior 2 door. It was a nice little truck AC ice cold and a fives speed. It would outrun any ranger V-6 or S-10. Ran alot better too! Then the Camry same way it's little 4 cyl would move that car better than the Ford's and Chevys with V-6s and rode better no problems ever.
@@davidhoward1653 my 2016 camry is in the body shop. they gave me a 2021 Hyundai kona as a rental. the thing is soooo fucking slow!
The most surprising thing about this video is hearing how only 14% of drivers used seat belts in the early 80s.
A LOT of people treated seatbelts as the anti-maskers treat masks today. ANY attempt to require mandatory use was met with massive protests about freedom and such. In New Hampshire, to cite one state, the attempt to make them mandatory was met with such criticism that they literally changed the road signs from "New Hampshire requires seatbelt use" to "New Hampshire suggests seatbelt use".
Ridiculous. You can't wish away basic physics.
@@LearnAboutFlow the key difference being that seatbelts do in fact save lives while masks provide a false sense of security while exacerbating any existing respiratory problems.
@@michaelwhite8493 Got it. When you or a family member is in surgery you are going to demand everyone in the operating room not wear a mask because, you know, it's just a false sense of security and cause respiratory problems.
Next tell us all about chem trails.
@@LearnAboutFlow What drives me bonkers is that they're simply asking you to do something that, if you had sense, you'd already be doing!
@@michaelwhite8493 No sir as a healthcare worker masks prevent COVID transmission. It's science. There are few to zero people who are unable to wear a mask. Can it be uncomfortable/inconvenient/annoying? Sure. If anything someone with pre-existing respiratory issues should be the first to put on a mask since it likely means COVID will put them in the ICU then the grave.
“Only 14% of all drivers use safety belts anyway”
Oh the 1980’s!
Before mandatory seat belt laws
@@Troy_nov1965 Same. My mom had a late-60's Dodge Dart when I was a kid that didn't even have seatbelts in the back at all, then she bought a brand new 86 Chevy Cavalier with only lap belts, so pretty much nothing was safe back then anyway lol.
Personally I always disable the seatbelt chime whenever I get a different car. I put it on once I go past city driving speeds
NHTSA reports 90% for 2021
I’ve always wore a belt since 1969
My Mom got one in 1984 after a horrendous experience with her Buick Riviera that was very poorly assembled. Had every option such as leather, digital dash, sunroof. I think it cost over $17,000 - dealers were marking them up by almost $1,000 over sticker as I recall. I was 15 at the time but eventually did get to drive it - that Supra motor was a real hoot!
Toyota Cressida is nice and solid car
I bought one of these used for cheap just over 20 years ago. It was completely loaded, and had over 200k miles on it. The car looked so dirty and dumpy you could have sworn it was on its last leg. Turned out to be one of the smoothest-running, reliable cars I have ever owned. You couldn’t kill it.
There's something special about watching 60fps uploads of classic Motorweek episodes, now that the early episodes are well over 40 years old now. But what makes me geek out and love this even more is the fact that it's STILL on the air with new episodes, John Davis continues to host, AND the review formula is exactly the same. It satisfies the nostalgia lover in me greatly to see some things that are left unchanged and remain successful. :)
Great car this Toyota Cressida, nice and solid car
Wow I had no idea Toyota was using automatic seatbelts as early as 1982!
I really like these early reviews, it looks like everyone was having fun.
I never understood these automatic seatbelts. We had them in my moms 1988 Camry. It never felt like it did anything - eg tighten, lock, etc. and no one ever used the separate manual lap belts.
@@Wasabi9111 It was in response to only about 10% of people wearing their seatbelts in the 1970s. So they came up with the "passive restraint" -- a shoulder belt that automatically fitted in place when you closed the door or turned on the ignition. But they were pretty liberal with the idea of "automatically" -- non-motorized belt(s) fixed to the door were acceptable as well, even though they were awkward to limbo yourself under when you entered the vehicle. By 1990 all passenger cars in the U.S. were required to have either passive restraints or a driver's airbag. By 1995, dual airbags were required.
@@Wasabi9111 They're "Passive Restraint" - people in the 70s and 80s refused to buckle up. The regulation was put in place so that cars would have some kind of restraint system that worked without the driver doing anything. Airbags, and automatic seatbelts were the 2 technologies that met this requirement.
They sucked! I hated them!😂
yeah i agree, people werent glued to the social media on their smartphones and didnt have all the depression and anxiety that comes with it
I remember the Cressida. Always wanted one.
My mother in low has an 1982 Cressida. She bought it a few years ago from an old lady. It has about 200k on it and actually runs extremely well. Its clean and rust free.
A timeless classic sedan from Toyota
These used to be everywhere over here. My dad's first car was an '82 Cressida in baby blue. It wasn't as luxurious as the ones sold in the States (we instead had the Toyota Crown to fill that segment) but it was damn reliable. My mum would eventually buy a '92 Cressida GL as her own first car because of it and despite selling it in early 2010s, it's still actually driving around 'till this very day.
This car was my Dad's pride and joy.
I was born in New York in 1986 and remember these things roaring all over the place in Brooklyn. Right along with Tempos, Cutlass Cieras, and of course IROC-Z's. Great memories!
I was born in 1977, my Great grandparents had jeep grand wagoneers for years. They purchased a brand new 1984 Cressida in the same 2 tone brown /gold-ish - slight rose color combo, with every single option, including leather, digital instruments and trip computer. I loved it, loved going into the garage and listening to the radio and playing with all the buttons. They almost never drove anywhere, and by the time I was 15 I was pushing it out of the garage late at night on sleep overs. I never got caught. Unfortunately my Great Grandma died in 1995 and the car was sold, with something like 15,000 miles.
Love this car. Holds a lot of emotional value for me.
me too ! with the hood up it was hard to see any vibration on tickover loved it spooky thing here my better half drives an E46 unfortunately not an M though
this car is ugly
This was the "Lexus" of the 80s
@@destructoidx99 Pretty is in the eye of the beholder... Nissan Murano, Juke, Sentra, any Tesla
Kia soul, three door hyundai Veloster, Nissan Cube, Chevy Spark
SUVs, Fiat 500, Ford Explorer, Taurus, Acura ZDX, Honda Civic type R... straight up FUGLY.
Back in the day, Cars had distinction! You could tell what a Mustang LX 5.0 looked like from 4 city blocks away🙄
Check mine out
This was my first car and my sister drove from Queens to Huntington in 2nd gear, she shifted the shifter too far and my engine was toast. Put in a Supra engine and rims, 12 inch subs and a head unit and was promptly broken into and cleaned out. They even took a bite of my school lunch. My parents surprised me with a WS6 89 Firebird in Malibu blue and T tops after work one day. Still my favorite car ever.
The one review have been waiting for. We had an '81 Cressida in Riyadh. Though the front end styling is vastly different. Our Cressida had the front end styling and interiors from the Chaser.
Check mine out bro
my dad bought this in 82 and it was given as gift in 1999
The fella demonstrating the auto belt 976.5 times then getting slammed in the back seat with two ladies is living his best work life!
LOL! I thought the same thing!
Wow I never knew these were classified as subcompact! Great cars but I'm surprised they sold any at that price which was well into fullsize Caprice/Crown vic territory. The "super radio" looks so cool
I actually laughed when they called this a subcompact.
This is what I would call a small midsize car. A subcompact? That's a joke. Toyota already had two subcompacts: the Starlet and the Tercel.
I owned an 81 Cressida which I purchased from the original owner back in 1996. Great car! Drove it to Halifax, NS from NYC. Also took a road trip from NYC to Quebec City as well as Raleigh, NC..Motorized belts are something you get used to. Mine had 14" tires and the marvelous 116hp 2.8 straight six...Wish I had that car today....
We have been a Japanese car family as long as i can remember. My Dad had a 68 GTO and a 73 Toyota Corona Wagon with a 4 speed manual when i was born. We had the Corona until the early 80s when we bought our first Honda (82 Accord SE 5 speed manual) We have owned many Toyotas and Hondas since then up til including now I own a 12 Avalon Limited,20 Tacoma TRD off road and an 11 Venza with the full glass roof. They make great vehicles even though i do miss the older stying days when the manufacturers had more of their own personality in their designs. Philly ❤️
I remember when the Toyota Cressida competed with the Datsun 810 Maxima at the time as well as the Audi 4000.
Heck yeah I'm glad there are still come of these FIRST episodes left and still surprise us in 2022! That Cressida was a great riding quiet car. It really was.
I had a 85. One of my favorite cars!
That seatbelt use percentage was just sad. Glad that’s improved over the years.
A lot of states where it was optional. When it became law to wear one it become much more used.
Well, freedom of choice, freedom to die. If they're happy then that's fine!
A lot of people back then weren't used to wearing them and people thought the government was over stepping by wanting (and in some states making) people wear them.
...Because flying around the car in a crash and potentially killing the other passengers as a result was apparently worth it.
I grew up long after that era but I've never understood why some people had an issue with seatbelts, they only take 2 seconds to put on and usually aren't really noticeable after that.
@@mattwolf7698 Well... It's for freedom. And it has never changed. (Eg. Masks)
@@mattwolf7698 While I always use a seatbelt it is no one else's business to tell me what to do with myself. When they establish laws to replace personal freedoms then we start down the slippery slope of tyranny.
I'd love to have an 85-88 model still today.
We had a beige '83, my Dad's car. Had the digital gauge cluster, sunroof, equalizer. So many gizmos we never had in a car before that. Totally bulletproof, was the car I took to college. He replaced this with a '90. Totally a fan of Cressidas - Lexus before there was a Lexus.
Toyota Cressida, A.K.A., the N. American Toyota Mark II.
Shame it was pulled from our shores after '92.
The Cressida name didn’t last long but it’s quality would gain legendary status. I recall watching this episode when I was in high school in82. I was impressed. Today I own two Toyota’s. A 2015 Corolla and a 2021 Camry.
It lasted from 1976 to 1992. A pretty good run.
My father had one of these, he loved it.
I had a 86 ! Loved it had the Supra engine . I have a 06 Avalon and a 2021 Avalon same legacy,.
3:02 John: AND EVEN A SPRIG OF PLASTIC WOOD! LOL
Back when Toyota’s (or all cars) had character!
When it comes to aesthetic design, the automotive industry has been "evolving" waaay too frequently and getting way too "futuristic" in comparison to tech and mechanical innovation. Cheaper vehicles tend look too sporty or "cool" for what they are, it's ridiculous... designs made more sense in the 80's.
It looks like a brick, lol! Lots of cars looked pretty similar back then.
Thanks retro Motor Week and the Team for this video .
A car with more emotions than a today's Mercedes-Benz.....
And now 40 years later Toyota has discontinued the Crown. Sad how Toyota discarded one of their most storied nameplates.
It's not discontinued yet, they're producing the final units. Shame how Toyota will be using a legendary nameplate for a C5X-esque crossover
@@krisi.8372 Avalon is dead. The Crown name is functionally still around but effectively the sedan is dead.
At least we still have the Century
At least they added new names like BZ4X.
GM & Ford have pretty much abandoned sedans altogether.
Nissan's answer to the Cressida was the Datsun 810, later known as the Maxima. I had an 1989 Cressida and had two Maximas: a 1984 Maxima, the last year it was RWD and used the same inline 6 cylinder as the 280ZX and I had 1987 Maxima, same V6 as the 300ZX. Hard to decide which I liked better. Both were good
My mom had an '88 Max, last year of that second generation. First car I remember riding in. I always thought that was the coolest car. It was like a spaceship with all the check lights coming on across the dash on startup, plus the killer stereo with dedicated EQ panel. Also, I later learned, a rocket for its time with that VG30E. My stepfather said he had to be careful driving it because it would get you in trouble quick. I'd own one today if they still made them like that.
That side profile reminds me of a Ford Fairmont of the same time. Never noticed that before.
Had a 1982 Cressida live-axle RWD wagon. It was the SOHC 2.8 litre version (without the sport/normal/eco mode transmission), but it was far snappier than the carbureted 2.8 Oldsmobile FWD A-body wheezy wagon I had next.
My old girl had one of these when I was a kid. Only thing I remember about it was the kangaroo that totalled it lol. She still talks fondly of it though, that and the HQ premier that was her absolute darling.
This lamb feels bad for the kangaroo.
My Lesbian family loved the Cressida back in the late 80s / early 90s!
Wasn't Danny Thomas a Lesbian?
My grandma had an 89, when they were redesigned for the last time. I thought the electronic equalizer in the stereo was a nice touch.
This car never competed with a Citation or a Futura. it was designed as a 'Lexus' and was aiming for the European buyer, not really the American one, meaning those who were looking at BMW, Mercedes, Audi, etc.
The auto belts were unique to the Cressida, and were more gimmick (you were supposed to feel safer) than really doing anything special.
Haha, yeah, I laughed when they mentioned Citation and Futura (I believe it was the Ford Fairmont Futura).
Those were several thousands cheaper than the Cressida and couldn't even come near the build quality of the Creasida.
I guess the journalists back then tend to lump cars based only on physical dimensions...
Lexus before there was even Lexus. One of the best cars ever made. I knew someone that had an 83 Cressida in the late 90s; except for typical engine seal leaks from age, it rode like a new car and felt tight and quiet.
Had an 81 in green, super plush interior and pretty quick. Cylinder head went out twice, still wish that I had though.
That car was what Lexus IS today! High price premium luxury! 14 thousand was a hell of a lot of money in those day’s! 14 thousand back then was like 48,000k today or more!
Facts: if that car full of drivers showed up as is today to a Radwood, they would win the day.
Facts: the guy with the helmet testing the door mounted seatbelts is the exact same look the person who owns one today is going for.
I love the old episodes where John doesn't yell.
Wish I could say something but this is before my time 😂 love these retro reviews!
I will refrain from a troll style comment to the above.
@@airconditionerfan2283 did you like your own comment?
I had an ‘87 Cressida. Super nice car!
Is that the one with the 7M-GE engine? That would have been a complete blast to drive.
@@rushnerd I believe the 5M-GE
@@TheCarCrazyGuy Ahh ok. maybe it was a slightly later model that had the MK3 Supra engine.
I always thought of this more in line with the BMW 528e rather than a Citation.
At first I wondered why they didn't mention the engine specs but then at the end John Davis explained how Toyota dealers were going to be selling a revised version of this car in the spring of 85 so it makes sense now..
The revised version was next to John at the studio.All 1983's had the revised motor and suspension
1985 - 1992 Toyota Cressida I like even more, they were more like four door Supras. The first gen 1993 Lexus GS 300 should be closely a successor to the Cressida.
Years ago I owned a 1981 Cressida sedan. I loved that car. It finally died when it blew a head gasket.
Toyota Cressida is still a great car, best thing you can do is get a set of high-quality Michelin tires on all 4 corners and some really good struts/shocks
Imo cars like these not only represent a different time in the automotive world, but in our lives. I was just entering middle school. It was a simpler time back then. That being said I never owned or test driven one, but it looks like a well balanced.
I had one and it was a great car..it started every time..even at -50..fast too.
The Toyota Cressida. ❤. An early Lexus.
Bring this beauty back
When cars were simpler and driving was a pleasure. Not like today where cars are rolling entertainment centers and driving is like going into battle against the agressive drivers that are always in a hurry.
YEA TOO MUCH TOUCHSCREEN KRAP
LIKE MY SUBIE
I STILL HAVE THE MANUAL SEAT ADJUSTMENTS LIKE MY FORMER CARS
MY 97 DODGE AND 87 ESCORT!
PEOPLE TODAY ARE SUCH IN A AHOLE HURRY TOO
CARS WERE SIMPLE TOO- HAD MANUAL WINDOWS TOO WITH THE HANDLES
MY FIRST 2 CARS HAD ONE
NOW ITS KRAP
Yep. That’s why I’ve got a base Lexus IS.
Did this Cressida come as a wagon? If so, I would love to have one.
yes, i have a blue wagon
Yes up until 1988
@@zythr9999 Thanks! I'll see if I can find one.
@@johnnymason2460 YW Good luck. You may have better luck finding an 85-88 one, then the earlier ones.
@@zythr9999 I can see that now. It's a lot harder to find one than I originally thought.
ive got an 83 Aus built granny spec MX62 cressida, original paint and 116k km on the clock and has 5M-E
2:15 "Since only 14% of drivers use seat belts anyway" lol ... a completely different world
90% today
A very collective car today. If you can find one. Toyota/ Lexus.🥇
Been a long time since I seen this generation Cressida on the road
Love it! Great videos!
An absolute dream.
These cars became legends compared to their competitors at the time
Had one with the 5MGE engine. Great when it was new but when the miles stacked up it became terrible. Techs at Toyota said the engine fails because of insufficient oil to the top of the motor causing cam failure..
How?
Awesome! post the 83 review too please!
I still want a 1988cressida classic car, its hard to find a clean one
You mean, near impossible. I tried for years and finally gave up. Good luck though. Man I miss that car!
Even one in
rough shape is hard to find these days now....Sheesh!😜🤔
join facebook groups you’ll find one by next week or earlier if you’re serious
@@5MGE How can anyone be serious and be on Facebook?
@@DugEphresh i get what you mean i only have fb for car related purposes.. you’re really missing out if you aren’t in a fb group for your specific car
Not a huge fan of this year but the later versions shared the same 7M-GE motor as the MK3 Supra. A real winner at 195HP.
Think it was rated as 143 HP in the Cressida
We had a '83 with the 143hp engine. Also later had '90 with the 3.0 liter inline 6 from the Supra, 190hp.
Damnnn I want that radio in my current car
This or the similar multi-band EQ unit from the second-generation Maxima. Both very cool looking radios. Looked more like high-end home stereo components than car radios of the day.
The first car you tested with automatic seat belts!!!! YES!!!!!! 1:02.......um, that's the Ford FAIRMONT Futura, John.
Wrong, For the 1981 model year, the new Toyota Cressida became the first car to offer motorized automatic passive seatbelts. Toyota was the supplier for those systems to Ford and many others years after that!
The renaissance of a Goliath in the making. Good on you Toyota.
Toyota cressida totally bomb proof
They use to be everywhere in my country , we use to call it the Teachers car , as most of teacher owned one that time , my late neighbor had one 1981 model . It lasted with him until the day he left this life , 30 years of everyday use but he wasn’t a teacher .
The beginnings of Lexus...
I feel like I'm watching one of those early 80s drivers ed films .
A friend of mine had one of these. Great car!
I’ve owned all Cressidas and all of them were 4 cylinders and Automatic except one 91 with 5 speed manual transmission and all of them never failed me once I appreciate the fuel economy and its powerful cool A/C in the summer… sure they don’t make them as they used to be …
Are you sure? All Cressidas that I know of came with an inline 6 cylinder. You owned em all huh? You might wanna look that up. 1982-1988 Toyota Cressida MX62, MX63, MX72, MX73 came with the 12-valve (2 valves per cylinder) inline 6 DOHC 5M-GE.
@@DugEphresh 100% 79-96
@@DugEphresh different markets have different motor options europe got a 4-cyl and even a diesel variant cressida
Without looking it up... Possibly 3Y 4Y
I almost Guarantee these had 22R / 22RE 4cyl in different markets..
@@trekinseattle yes I remember the 22 but if its Y or R I’m not quite sure BUT I guarantee you all of them were carburetors.
This Car is 40 years old.
The UK version had a 4-cylinder engine, no A/C, power steering, or cruise control. It was a great cruiser, but hard work to lug around town. Rock-solid build and reliability, though.
Sure glad that the Cressida didn't come with those stupid automatic seatbelts in Canada. Those were great cars and ahead of it's time for the early 90s.
1:14
Of course its John who actually uses the phrase " ...thats the rub.." 😄
I always like these early ones the best
I own this exact car!
RIP PAT GOSS!
TODAYS CARS ARE KRAP LIKE THE NEW BRONCOS WITH DOZENS OF RECALLS
THE NEW DODGE TRUCK HAS A HUGE TOUCHSCREEN THAT COST A FEW THOUSAND TO REPLACE TOO
The "King"
A super stereo… YIPPEE!
Back in 2004 I had a 1983 Celica Supra, great car, but with no replacement parts for it. Japanese classics are great reliable cars, but nowadays parts affordability and availability make them really hard to have, that's why I sold the Celica Supra and now I have a 1988 Chevrolet Monte Carlo LS (since 2004). Greetings
Those MK2's are awesome. You aren't wrong about the parts, but there is quite a scene out there for most of them.
No regrets buying my 1988 Supra last year. It's a work of art.
really? in ‘04 you couldn’t find parts? body parts i can understand to a degree but drivetrain wise 5m stuff is still pretty common to come across, even today.
@@5MGE that was a time when online parts sales were not as easy as today, so it was really hard to get parts. By the way, I'm not in USA, so it was more difficult than being there. Nowadays I can buy parts online for my American cars (I have 2 GMs and 2 Fords ), and it's really easy to import them to my country. Greetings
@@rushnerd I love the MK3, really nice car. Greetings
45k in todays money! This was the Pre-Avalon and Pre-Lexus
Pre-Lexus GS300 that replaced it in 1993
So this is how the Davidsfarm Cressida looked before the rust
Someone remembers! His channel is almost unheard of now.
Haha! Literally searched these comments to see if anyone else thought the same...he's back, search David Brock on YT, Cheviac still exists!
ha! this was my first car in 1992.. loved it.
We had a 1981 Cressida 2.0 DX Estate here in Germany. Blue metallic, 5-speed manual, 2.0 litre 105PS in-line 4 (same engine was used in the 82-85 Celica 2.0 XT) With mixed driving it averaged about 10 l/100km. The european models looked better IMO, the 4-spoke steering wheel too. No PAS but the steering wasn't particularly heavy when parking. Tbh, a VW Golf 2 without PAS was probably harder to maneuver.
It was a rare car in northern Germany and I only saw maybe 10 in 20 years.
It was a comfortable family car for 2 adults + 3 kids with enough space in the boot for another kid and the dog when the other seats were full 😉
Driver Seating position was surprisingly low, nearly coupé-like. It even had seat high adjustment (more a base tilt) and adjustable lumbar support. A thing that is still an expensive option on some new cars today!
No electrics like central locking or power windows, those were reserved for the GL models which came in 2,0 litre 4-cylinder or 2,8 litre inline-6 form.
Lasted 9 years and 280,000 kms (174k miles) until an '85 Mitsubish Lancer t-boned it. Biggest repair job until then was renewing the rear drum brakes!
Was replaced by a 1984 Volvo 740GL 2,3l 114PS saloon which had more space, more refinement, more luxury (central locking, PAS) and more fuel consumption 😉
Edit: Proper seatbelts too, not those american oddities. 3-point belts on 4 seats and lap-belt in the rear centre seat.
Would have been a good police package vehicle
Did not know JonTron was a car tester for Motorweek in 1982 . Very interesting.
I'd still like to see the specs on the engine, but great review as always.