Anyone driven a Toyota Century?
Discussion
Couple of YouTubers have bought them.
Mat Watson cars and James from Throttle house have shown theirs off if you want to check them out.
I live in the same town as 21stcenturyman (I’ve never introduced myself). I’ve seen his around.
Haven’t got the bottle or available funds to import myself, but would love one.
Mat Watson cars and James from Throttle house have shown theirs off if you want to check them out.
I live in the same town as 21stcenturyman (I’ve never introduced myself). I’ve seen his around.
Haven’t got the bottle or available funds to import myself, but would love one.
I drove one for Modern Classics but it never got used as the title got canned before the shoot got used.
It's not the kind of car I'd choose to own, but it felt so much more cohesive than a Rolls-Royce Silver Spur/Seraph. Certainly not as ostentatious, but this is a car built by the Japanese for the Japanese. Nevertheless, the quality of the paint and the trimmings, the badges, is of a different level.
The interior is also Built For The Japanese – so therefore it was deeply comfortable cloth. It's often glossed over but Japan is a humid country – you're never too far from the sea, after all – and leather can get very sweaty. Not the thing for an important meeting. 4Star Classics had some interesting-spec mid-range Japanese-import BMW E39s over a few years ago, with a full Alcantara interior. So the cloth might be seen as downmarket over here, but it makes sense in the context of its intended audience.
Riding in the back, there's a porthole through the front passenger seat which means you can lie down. Which might look odd if a pedestrian caught sight of it, and potentially awkward if the executive had stepped in something for the driver.
As for the driving? Well, the seat was suspended (for the life of me I can't remember the precise description – I never got to write the feature so it's not been committed to under a rock in my subconscious), which meant that even on the supple suspension and huge-sidewall tyres, you were cushioned from not only bumps and lumps, but any huge body roll. Corner aggressively and it does feel like being in a hammock – but with you staying still and the car moving around you - which is slightly an odd feeling.
You really cannot hear the engine, and it's not what you'd call a thumping V12 – that really isn't the point. It is so smooth though – the only clue there's an engine doing anything is the beautifully clear LCD that shows the RPM – which stops IIRC at 4000rpm (I was driving a V12 model).
It's not a car I'd own – even for a mile plugger I like my cars to be a little more interactive – but I can completely understand the appeal, and why someone would choose one over a Rolls-Royce/Bentley, etc. It is a unique experience – largely due to the suspended-feeling of the driver's seat – and a remarkable feat of engineering.
It's not the kind of car I'd choose to own, but it felt so much more cohesive than a Rolls-Royce Silver Spur/Seraph. Certainly not as ostentatious, but this is a car built by the Japanese for the Japanese. Nevertheless, the quality of the paint and the trimmings, the badges, is of a different level.
The interior is also Built For The Japanese – so therefore it was deeply comfortable cloth. It's often glossed over but Japan is a humid country – you're never too far from the sea, after all – and leather can get very sweaty. Not the thing for an important meeting. 4Star Classics had some interesting-spec mid-range Japanese-import BMW E39s over a few years ago, with a full Alcantara interior. So the cloth might be seen as downmarket over here, but it makes sense in the context of its intended audience.
Riding in the back, there's a porthole through the front passenger seat which means you can lie down. Which might look odd if a pedestrian caught sight of it, and potentially awkward if the executive had stepped in something for the driver.
As for the driving? Well, the seat was suspended (for the life of me I can't remember the precise description – I never got to write the feature so it's not been committed to under a rock in my subconscious), which meant that even on the supple suspension and huge-sidewall tyres, you were cushioned from not only bumps and lumps, but any huge body roll. Corner aggressively and it does feel like being in a hammock – but with you staying still and the car moving around you - which is slightly an odd feeling.
You really cannot hear the engine, and it's not what you'd call a thumping V12 – that really isn't the point. It is so smooth though – the only clue there's an engine doing anything is the beautifully clear LCD that shows the RPM – which stops IIRC at 4000rpm (I was driving a V12 model).
It's not a car I'd own – even for a mile plugger I like my cars to be a little more interactive – but I can completely understand the appeal, and why someone would choose one over a Rolls-Royce/Bentley, etc. It is a unique experience – largely due to the suspended-feeling of the driver's seat – and a remarkable feat of engineering.
The Century is the only car I'd swap my Crown for, occupying a niche within a niche of JDM three box awesomeness. 21stcenturyman's car at Bicester last year was the first time I'd seen one and confirmed that I need one in my life.
Great article about them:
https://www.autoweek.com/drives/a2135311/best-car-...
Great article about them:
https://www.autoweek.com/drives/a2135311/best-car-...
Never knew anything about them till 2007or 8 when meeting friends in a Herts village pub/restaurant one pulled up outside and a chap got out from the rear and the driver cruised silently off through the village, never seen a car with lace curtains before.
I've seen one more recently, possibly the same car a second time, around Northampton and one on the M1.
I saw pics of the 2018 new Century, which to my mind is one of the most quietly handsome cars ever made.
I've seen one more recently, possibly the same car a second time, around Northampton and one on the M1.
I saw pics of the 2018 new Century, which to my mind is one of the most quietly handsome cars ever made.
Smint said:
Never knew anything about them till 2007or 8 when meeting friends in a Herts village pub/restaurant one pulled up outside and a chap got out from the rear and the driver cruised silently off through the village, never seen a car with lace curtains before.
I've seen one more recently, possibly the same car a second time, around Northampton and one on the M1.
I saw pics of the 2018 new Century, which to my mind is one of the most quietly handsome cars ever made.
Agreed, I'd love to own one. I've seen one more recently, possibly the same car a second time, around Northampton and one on the M1.
I saw pics of the 2018 new Century, which to my mind is one of the most quietly handsome cars ever made.
Mr-B said:
PH member 21stcenturyman has one I believe, not sure he dailies it though.
Yep, it's my daily, into my 6th year now.vladcjelli said:
I live in the same town as 21stcenturyman (I’ve never introduced myself). I’ve seen his around.
Please come and say hello. I'm pretty harmless 
Benny Saltstein said:
21stcenturyman's car at Bicester last year was the first time I'd seen one and confirmed that I need one in my life.
Thanks.Smint said:
I saw pics of the 2018 new Century, which to my mind is one of the most quietly handsome cars ever made.
The current 3rd gen is sublime. There's one in London.I really ought to get around to writing a readers cars thread about it.
It's a weird fish, but I do love it.
Benny Saltstein said:
The Century is the only car I'd swap my Crown for, occupying a niche within a niche of JDM three box awesomeness. 21stcenturyman's car at Bicester last year was the first time I'd seen one and confirmed that I need one in my life.
Great article about them:
https://www.autoweek.com/drives/a2135311/best-car-...
Just to follow up on this, I managed to find one at auction a month ago and after a few glasses of wine it was mine.Great article about them:
https://www.autoweek.com/drives/a2135311/best-car-...
The Crown is staying as I’ve found some space and they make a good pair. Early impressions are of a car which is effortless to drive and phenomenally comfortable. There is absolutely no engine noise in the cabin which will disappoint if you’re wanting a howling V12.
(Although that is possible - https://youtu.be/I_sxZmdg1vM?si=i-Cu7CJ3g5oqg7dc)
I was fortunate to meet up with 21stcenturyman and another owner whilst I was spending a few days with my dad in Derbyshire. It was great to see his car again and get a few pointers.
The car is underbraked anyway but coming home it was apparent it needs work and so one of the first jobs will be to replace the disks/pads and refurb the calipers.
I owned pretty much every possible mainstream cylinder count now (not configuration) apart from a V10 and pre-war oddities. So far, so good.
Edited by Benny Saltstein on Saturday 8th March 12:23
Edited by Benny Saltstein on Saturday 8th March 12:24
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