Hey there.
As the title says, I'm a recovering Honda modifier. I wouldn't say I was a ricer, but it's a Honda... anything I do to it is considered rice.
I own a 95 Acura Integra GS-R, still enjoy the car but it's not a daily driver. Mostly because of how often it gets stolen.
I drive a 92 Toyota Corolla and on 12/22/2006 a Semi-Truck changed lanes into me and totaled it. Now I need a new car. I am considering a 2nd Generation GS300. So starts with the questions.
1. How is the car (2nd Gen GS300)? Reliable? My Corolla had 196,000 miles and never once had a problem. It had never seen the inside of a shop other than one timing belt change. I look to Lexus or Toyota because, dang, you can't beat that reliablilty. It's sad to see the car in the shape it's in considering the service it gave me...
2. Is there some quirky things about the car? For example, I also own a 2006 Toyota Matrix (I'll never own anything but Toyota or Honda in my life again... long story) and one of the quirks about it is apparently at about 60,000 miles it starts to squeek. That'll drive me nuts until I find the squeek and irradicate it. But things like that.
3. I don't know how many of you know Honda's, but I can take nearly any engine from any Honda and stick it into a Civic given that it has four cylinders. They make the engine mounts and the piggyback harnesses to complete said engine swap. Now I know that the Lexus stuff isn't as popular, hence not as much support. But I've been searching this site for someone that has completed the Toyota Aristo swap and I'm not finding much. It seems like a no brainer to me though. The exact same model of car, with nearly the exact same engine (same dimensions and mounting points, anyway). There has GOT to be a reason that everyone that owns a GS300 isn't doing this swap. What do I not know? Heck, it seems to me if you are worried about smog testing, just get a 97-98 Toyota Supra Twin Turbo Automatic ECU to swap in with it and your golden... but again, I've searched, didn't find much so I don't know much.
4. My main reason for asking about the Aristo swap is because I am tired of driving a car where everybody in a 3 block radius hears me coming. My Integra wasn't as loud as most of the Honda's out there (I took extra measures to make sure of it) but it wasn't quiet like stock. I'd love to have the Aristo swap with stock suspension and stock exhaust just to have that little extra kick but still stay quiet. Has anyone had experience with a stock exhaust turbo GS300? Is it still quiet?
5. Does the leather hold up well over time?
I'll come up with more questions as time goes on...
