I was out in old town Pasadena, and I spotted this. YEA I thought it was the ccx but the production model. Well I was close, it's a toyota caldina. I think only availible in Japan. Odd thing was I thought I saw it had michigan license plates.

what you guys think?

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/atcars/impression/img/mihori_caldina.jpg


http://www.c-one.co.jp/aero-image/caldina_fb.jpg

i like it i think it looks cool shoot anything thats weird looking will or odd will gte my vote

what the matrix should of looked like in the first place, imo
is it true that the matrix will be 'freshened' up or updated this year, cuz the vibe is gonna get some changes from what i hear.

nice, and I second the motion to admire all that is strange...

nice, and I second the motion to admire all that is strange...

cool im not the only one 8) :) 8) :) 8)

I like the triangle rear c pillar window

I dig it

definitely looks like what the Matrix should have been, and I'm for the odd... bring it on!!!

The first pic looks kinda Benz-y :D Sweet!

What size it it? Isn't it a bit big though? Maybe what the "Camry station wagon" would be! :lol:

I think it looks pretty cool.

It looks like a cross between the Matrix and the WiLL....which was at the LA auto show 3 years ago. I kinda like it. I wonder if the hood scoop is actually useful. And yes the Matrix is getting a "face lift" as Toyota calls it, it's nothing major though.

And can you believe there's some one in the US and in Calif. actually has one. Lucky bastards.

You can get any car from japan if you want. go to http://www.batfa.com/ and have them import it into usa. The shipping cost is roughly $900. But all of them RHD

But this was strraight up left hand drive. Does anyone know if the Canadians got the caldina? Who's up for road trip. J/K

Oh I forgot to mention. You can convert RHD to LHD. I saw someone convert their skyline R35 to LHD in some magazine

You can get any car from japan if you want. go to http://www.batfa.com/ and have them import it into usa. The shipping cost is roughly $900. But all of them RHD

theres also www.japanvehicles.com

But the Caldina I saw last night, had a family in it. I don't know any family who would purposely import a station wagon and convert it to left hand drive and smog it for state side legal.

I am truly baffled at the sight of one. I now know the torment I give to all the first time on- lookers of my xB.

I really don't know how they get caldina. The only way I can think of is someone import it and convert and sold it out used. That family might have bought it.

Anyway... I actually wanted to buy XA...now I change my mind on this. Thinking of getting one:
http://www.batfa.com/new_car_toyota_will_cypha.htm
but really don't know whether worth to convert it or not

I want one of these. :D
1800cc . 2WD . Manual gear
http://www.batfa.com/new_car_toyota_corolla_runx.htm

the caldina definately looks nice.

The car is from TTC (toyota tec. center) Its located in Michigan, so its a company car. Someone got to take it on vacation it looks like if a whole family was in it.

Hey guys, this is my first post, but I have been viewing this forum for quite some time now.

If Toyota brings the Caldina over to the US, I would be first in line to buy one. This is one of the most gorgeous designs I have seen in quite some time.


Here are some sweet interior pics!


http://www.auto-g.jp/news/200209/19/newcar03/01_b.jpg

http://www.auto-g.jp/news/200209/19/newcar03/08_b.jpg

http://www.auto-g.jp/news/200209/19/newcar03/05_b.jpg

http://www.auto-g.jp/news/200209/19/newcar03/03_b.jpg


The top of the range AWD 2.0 GT four comes with a 256hp turbo engine mated to a 4 speed automatic with sport shift. It is too bad that a manual tranny is not available with the turbo.

Also available are the 2 liter (150hp) and also the 1.8 liter (130hp) engines.

I definitely agree it is what the Matrix should have been....clean sweeping lines!

Sean

That interior is sweet.

I have no idea why, but Toyota is becoming almost anti-stick shift. It really sucks...the camry SEv6 would be a blast in 5 or 6spd. At least the Scions aren't going to have that BS sport auto.

I have no idea why, but Toyota is becoming almost anti-stick shift. It really sucks...the camry SEv6 would be a blast in 5 or 6spd. At least the Scions aren't going to have that BS sport auto.


werd

I really hope that car comes over here. It'll bring back the 3S engine back to the U.S. and give Toyota something to compete with against the EVO and STI.

I really hope that car comes over here. It'll bring back the 3S engine back to the U.S. and give Toyota something to compete with against the EVO and STI.
Either that or bring out a new SUPRA :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

I really hope that car comes over here. It'll bring back the 3S engine back to the U.S. and give Toyota something to compete with against the EVO and STI.
Either that or bring out a new SUPRA :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

I wish. But Toyota publically stated that they weren't going to bring back the Supra. Although there is talk of a Lexus performance line, kinda like BMW's M cars and MB's AMG cars. So maybe that could compensate for the Supra not returning.

that lexus is430 they had in LA was awesome!!!!

I'd be suprised if the Supra didn't come back. It'll probably be 5 more years, but it'll come back.

that lexus is430 they had in LA was awesome!!!!

I'd be suprised if the Supra didn't come back. It'll probably be 5 more years, but it'll come back.
Everything else came back, why not the Supra too.

why 5 years? i thought they already have a new 2005 model in japan

why 5 years? i thought they already have a new 2005 model in japan

Nope. If they did it would be in the Toyota Japan website and apparently I don't see any Supra's there.

the IS430 was painted really ugly though... I couldn't handle the paint job... bleah http://www.scionlife.com/forums/images/smiles/icon_mad.gif

the IS430 was painted really ugly though... I couldn't handle the paint job... bleah http://www.scionlife.com/forums/images/smiles/icon_mad.gif

Yeah, the red and grey wasn't working for me either.

they did a track race between the new legacy 2005 2.5 gt auto, manual and rs6 and caldina and caldina came in 4th well that is good enough i think.

While we're at the topic of manufacturer cars, the other day I was shocked to see that I saw a Toyota Avensis down here in FL. That's right, a Toyota Avensis. The car with the same chassis as the Scion tC. It didn't look like one of the new models that are sold in the UK. It had Michigan manufacturer plates as well. I was only able to see the back of it and not the front. The car was being driven on the left side. Could this mean that the Avensis is coming over? Or they're testing out the chassis to work on the tC's chassis? I wish i had my camera there to record it.

Again, The car is from TTC (toyota tec. center) Its located in Michigan, so its a company car. But thats a possibility that their testing the chassis, but I think by now they'd be testing it on the tC not the Avensis. Since two people have seen two cars that dont beling in the US, i'm wondering if they are driving them about the country to get feedback and see if they should bring them here. Dont' know, just a thought.

If that's the case, they should bring over the Caldina first. :D

This is really terrible. I wish I could get a car from Japan without going through all this. There HAVE to be some loopholes...

While we're at the topic of manufacturer cars, the other day I was shocked to see that I saw a Toyota Avensis down here in FL. That's right, a Toyota Avensis. The car with the same chassis as the Scion tC. It didn't look like one of the new models that are sold in the UK. It had Michigan manufacturer plates as well. I was only able to see the back of it and not the front. The car was being driven on the left side. Could this mean that the Avensis is coming over? Or they're testing out the chassis to work on the tC's chassis? I wish i had my camera there to record it.

No. The work on the tC is done. Over. They're probably going to start rolling off the line any day now. Too late to do any work on the final design.

Anyway, Japanese companies bring over vehicles all the time to do commercial shoots. A little while back there was a big hoopla because someone photographed a JDM Odyssey on the streets of some city in California. Turns out they were just shooting a commercial. Could be the same situation with the Avensis you saw.

Toyota is the most secretive company on Earth. No spy shots, very few leaks, and if there are leaks, they're usually not very helpful.

However, it would be cool to see either (or both) the Caldina and Avensis here. I saw the new Avensis when I was in Spain, and I was very impressed.

I just hope we get some news soon if they do indeed intend to bring them over (so I don't regret buying a tC).

toyota should of made the matrix that way is right, i would of bought one and you wouldn't have to deal with me now. Damn, I like that car, Bill

You can get any car from japan if you want. go to http://www.batfa.com/ and have them import it into usa. The shipping cost is roughly $900. But all of them RHD

Only problem is once it gets there, U.S. customs will not release it to you for use on the road until you can:

1) Pass US EPA emissions
2) Replace all window glass with DOT approved glass (good luck doing that on a non US model)
3) Replace headlights with DOT approved headlights (same as above)
4) Replace bumpers with 5 mph U.S. bumpers (which do not exist for non US models)
5) Provide at least two extra cars so they U.S. DOT can crash test and certify it
6) Replace all gauges with mph instead of kmh
7) You can keep it RHD though, most of the legally imported Skylines are RHD

That's just what I could remember, there may be more. If it were just THAT easy, don't you think you'd be seeing JDM cars all over the place?

The federal government killed the gray market in this country in the early 1980s with these stupid regulations designed to protect Detroit automakers. It adds expense and complexity for any company wanting to import a car here and makes it impossible for you to do so unless your a billionaire.

The only exceptions are when a registered importer takes care of these things for you, which is the case with the Skylines, or if you are a foreign diplomat or head of state or you are a foreign national living in the U.S., in which case you can bring any car you like for a period of ONE year, then it has to go back or be destroyed. It is illegal for you to sell it or rent it to anyone while you are here.

Ah, you can also import a car for "research" if it is only going to drive a very limited number of miles on public roads. I remember a university in Michigan, I think, brought over a Volkswagen Lupo 1.0 turbodiesel for fuel economy research that way.

Sorry. :eyebrow:

I don't know why this company even advertises because I can promise you once the car gets here, customs is not going to allow you to have it until you meet these criteria.

One other way you could sneak a car in though, is if you brought it in in pieces. Parts are legal. So if you had someone get you a Toyota Crown there and dismantle it and ship the pieces over, you could reassemble it here.

Of course then you have a VIN that no DMV in the country will recognize and you won't be able to get a title or license plates and it will be illegal to drive it on public roads.

Gotta love America and our freeedom huh?

Over in "socialist" Europe, this is not an issue. People in the UK import JDM models all the time.

hey ive parked one of those before. i valet in socal and about a year ago a customer of mine was driving one, he works for lexus design studios, car was nice, but i can think of other jdm rides id rather have

brent

Man that is a sweet ___ car