Likes
- Arguably the pinnacle of motor vehicle manufacturing
- Reliability and overall build quality are superb
- Exceptional driving experience
- Incredible value for money
Used Toyota Century review
1997 - 2007
Dislikes
- Fuel consumption is frightening
- Availability of some parts may be challenging and expensive
- 1990s tech is more than feeling its age
- Be prepared to explain what it is to every second person
Stuff you should know
Driven by Japanese royalty, heads of industry not to mention organised crime Yakuza bosses, the Toyota Century is the world’s largest car manufacturers absolute flagship luxury vehicle and was initially created to commemorate the 100th birthday of Toyota’s founder, Sakichi Toyoda.
The Century has existed across three generations but in this in cheat sheet, we’re focussing on the second generation G50 available from 1997 to 2007.
All Century’s are handcrafted by Toyota’s most skilled and individually chosen engineers and artisans with many claiming the Century doesn’t just represent the pinnacle of Japanese car manufacturing, but is THE example of pinnacle of car manufacturing across the board.
Powered by a specifically made and incredibly smooth 5-litre V12 engine, the Century rides on bespoke engineered air suspension to provide the most limousine like experience to all occupants.
In terms of updates, as the Century is built to order, each example will vary from the last to a small degree. The original base recipe has remained the same from its first G50 iteration through to the last.
To say the overall build quality, from the fit and finish to the paint and panel accuracy to the driving experience is as good as it can be, would be a massive understatement.
What goes wrong
In terms of the exterior, nothing really. Look out for any signs of repair work but there are no “common” exterior issues.
Inside, there are reports that the wool interiors tend to disagree with the sun and dry out/lose their softness if overly exposed to the sun.
Mechanically, the (1GZ-FE) V12 in the Century was designed to be smooth and quiet and it IS ridiculously smooth & quiet.
Although not designed for big horsepower, there are plenty of after-market performance parts available for the Century so you want more power, there’s plenty in there to unlock.
As far as second-hand cars go, typically they’ve been well cared for and have a good service history, but Toyotas of this generation even when neglected are still super reliable.
Other than age related problems like aged and brittle electrical connectors, leaking oil seals and water pumps, there’s really not much that goes wrong.
Like any used car of this age, there are always random things that can go wrong but there’s no one big common problem.
The (A342E) 6-speed automatic transmission is very reliable. It does share some internal components with some other Toyota transmission but it’s somewhat unique the Century which could make future repairs difficult and expensive.
That caution extends to the whole car actually, yes Toyotas of this generation are very reliable (in fact statistically there’s nothing more reliable), and the Century is assembled meticulously and made to last, however they are ageing and the fact that all Century examples are imported combined with low production numbers, means ongoing availability and affordability of parts may be difficult.
In terms of the exterior, nothing really. Look out for any signs of repair work but there are no “common” exterior issues.
Inside, there are reports that the wool interiors tend to disagree with the sun and dry out/lose their softness if overly exposed to the sun.
Mechanically, the (1GZ-FE) V12 in the Century was designed to be smooth and quiet and it IS ridiculously smooth & quiet.
Although not designed for big horsepower, there are plenty of after-market performance parts available for the Century so you want more power, there’s plenty in there to unlock.
As far as second-hand cars go, typically they’ve been well cared for and have a good service history, but Toyotas of this generation even when neglected are still super reliable.
Other than age related problems like aged and brittle electrical connectors, leaking oil seals and water pumps, there’s really not much that goes wrong.
Like any used car of this age, there are always random things that can go wrong but there’s no one big common problem.
The (A342E) 6-speed automatic transmission is very reliable. It does share some internal components with some other Toyota transmission but it’s somewhat unique the Century which could make future repairs difficult and expensive.
That caution extends to the whole car actually, yes Toyotas of this generation are very reliable (in fact statistically there’s nothing more reliable), and the Century is assembled meticulously and made to last, however they are ageing and the fact that all Century examples are imported combined with low production numbers, means ongoing availability and affordability of parts may be difficult.
In terms of the exterior, nothing really. Look out for any signs of repair work but there are no “common” exterior issues.
Inside, there are reports that the wool interiors tend to disagree with the sun and dry out/lose their softness if overly exposed to the sun.
Mechanically, the (1GZ-FE) V12 in the Century was designed to be smooth and quiet and it IS ridiculously smooth & quiet.
Although not designed for big horsepower, there are plenty of after-market performance parts available for the Century so you want more power, there’s plenty in there to unlock.
As far as second-hand cars go, typically they’ve been well cared for and have a good service history, but Toyotas of this generation even when neglected are still super reliable.
Other than age related problems like aged and brittle electrical connectors, leaking oil seals and water pumps, there’s really not much that goes wrong.
Like any used car of this age, there are always random things that can go wrong but there’s no one big common problem.
The (A342E) 6-speed automatic transmission is very reliable. It does share some internal components with some other Toyota transmission but it’s somewhat unique the Century which could make future repairs difficult and expensive.
That caution extends to the whole car actually, yes Toyotas of this generation are very reliable (in fact statistically there’s nothing more reliable), and the Century is assembled meticulously and made to last, however they are ageing and the fact that all Century examples are imported combined with low production numbers, means ongoing availability and affordability of parts may be difficult.
Should you buy it?
There are really only a few negatives to owning a Century, the fuel consumption, the potential challenge in accessing certain parts and the fact the tech is feeling very dated. Besides that, if you’re after a big luxurious land yacht, surely the Century is a no brainer.
The Toyota Century offers all of the touchy feely delightfulness of a Rolls Royce, Bentley or Maybach with far more exclusivity and atmosphere of uniqueness, yet not only is it a Toyota, it’s the very pinnacle of what Toyota can produce so the build quality and reliability are simply exceptional and the majority of examples on the used market are not only generally in absolutely superb condition, they cost less than a new Camry.
Therefore, it is a huge yes you should buy one.
There are really only a few negatives to owning a Century, the fuel consumption, the potential challenge in accessing certain parts and the fact the tech is feeling very dated. Besides that, if you’re after a big luxurious land yacht, surely the Century is a no brainer.
The Toyota Century offers all of the touchy feely delightfulness of a Rolls Royce, Bentley or Maybach with far more exclusivity and atmosphere of uniqueness, yet not only is it a Toyota, it’s the very pinnacle of what Toyota can produce so the build quality and reliability are simply exceptional and the majority of examples on the used market are not only generally in absolutely superb condition, they cost less than a new Camry.
Therefore, it is a huge yes you should buy one.
Should you buy it?
There are really only a few negatives to owning a Century, the fuel consumption, the potential challenge in accessing certain parts and the fact the tech is feeling very dated. Besides that, if you’re after a big luxurious land yacht, surely the Century is a no brainer.
The Toyota Century offers all of the touchy feely delightfulness of a Rolls Royce, Bentley or Maybach with far more exclusivity and atmosphere of uniqueness, yet not only is it a Toyota, it’s the very pinnacle of what Toyota can produce so the build quality and reliability are simply exceptional and the majority of examples on the used market are not only generally in absolutely superb condition, they cost less than a new Camry.
Therefore, it is a huge yes you should buy one.
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Models, pricing & features
Tech specs
Body style:
4-door sedan
Engines:
5.0-litre V12 petrol
5.0-litre V12 CNG (compressed natural gas)
Power:
206kW – 5.0-litre V12
Torque:
481Nm – 5.0-litre V12
Transmission & drivetrains:
4-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive (RWD)
6-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive (RWD) – From 2005
Fuel consumption:
15L/100km
Length:
5270mm
Width:
1890mm
Height:
1475mm
Kerb weight:
1990 – 2050kg
Body style:
4-door sedan
Engines:
5.0-litre V12 petrol
5.0-litre V12 CNG (compressed natural gas)
Power:
206kW – 5.0-litre V12
Torque:
481Nm – 5.0-litre V12
Transmission & drivetrains:
4-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive (RWD)
6-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive (RWD) – From 2005
Fuel consumption:
15L/100km
Length:
5270mm
Width:
1890mm
Height:
1475mm
Kerb weight:
1990 – 2050kg
Body style:
4-door sedan
Engines:
5.0-litre V12 petrol
5.0-litre V12 CNG (compressed natural gas)
Power:
206kW – 5.0-litre V12
Torque:
481Nm – 5.0-litre V12
Transmission & drivetrains:
4-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive (RWD)
6-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive (RWD) – From 2005
Fuel consumption:
15L/100km
Length:
5270mm
Width:
1890mm
Height:
1475mm
Kerb weight:
1990 – 2050kg
Warranty & servicing
Warranty:
No manufacturers warranty as it is a grey import. Some import companies offered warranties when these were newly built.
Servicing:
6 months/10,000kms
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Disclaimer
Please note that pricing information is subject to fluctuations in the automotive market.
Information correct as of December 30, 2022.
The advice provided on this website is general advice only. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this advice, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs.
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