My mom called me today and asked if I wanted to buy my dad’s old car, a 1989 Toyota Cressida. Someone was looking to buy it for $3000, but she would sell it to me for $2000. I’m not moving back to the States until next winter, but if I didn’t jump on it now, I wouldn’t have a car when I went home. As everyone knows, you really need a car in North America. Otherwise, how will I ever make it to the mall and load up on Cinnabons and Orange Juliuses? Walk? What are you, European?!?

Anyway, I don’t plan on driving around too much, but will instead be taking the MAX to school. Still, I’ll need wheels. As some of you may know, my dad was a Toyota mechanic, so it’s in tip-top shape, with leather seats and a sunroof. My mom will start the car every week while I’m gone, until I go back to Oregon next year. As strange as this may sound, this is my FIRST car purchase. My dad has always just “given” me cars, or let me drive cars he had.

In the United States, the Cressida was also known as a “four-door Supra“, because the Supra and Cressida shared the same M series I6 engine, had rear-wheel drive, and were both flagship cars for Toyota North America at the time.

The 1989 model year marked the final generation of the American market Cressida when the body was updated and the 7M-GE engine was introduced, resulting in power growing from 156 to 190 hp. J.D. Power and Associates also rated the 1989 Cressida as one of the most reliable luxury vehicles for its time, competing with other car makers such as BMW and Mercedes. The Cressida was discontinued in North America in 1992; the introduction and success of the Lexus division meant that Toyota no longer needed a large luxury sedan in its lineup.

The Cressida also played a large part in the design of the first Lexus models, most closely resembling the LS 400. Many parts and ideas from the Cressida were carried over into the original Lexus models, which is why these cars look so similar.

Even though it was discontinued in early 1992, the Cressida still remained Toyota’s largest luxury sedan until 1994 with the introduction of the front-wheel drive, American-made Avalon. The Avalon is now considered the modern-day Cressida in North America. [source]