Toyota Mark II (X90): is it worth buying a Japanese legend. Toyota Mark II (X90): is it worth buying the Japanese legend Mark 2 90 body year of manufacture

Why did the Mark II deserve such popularity? Everything here is quite simple: a really successful design, high factory reliability with virtually no weak points, as well as a good level of equipment - this is the key to success among buyers. By the way, when we talk about Mark II, we automatically also mean Chaser and Cresta: these are related models, and almost everything that will be discussed below is fully true for them. Now let’s figure out in order which advantages of “Mark” make it an interesting option to this day, and which ones are only memories.

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From a simple “iron” point of view, it’s hard to complain about this sedan: Japanese cars, especially in the nineties, were painted and assembled conscientiously, so the Mark II body is “naturally” strong. Aesthetes, by the way, will note that this is not just a sedan, but a hardtop, and Mark’s doors are frameless. The interior is spacious and cozy, and the most advantageous interior finishing option is velor, beloved by the Japanese, which pleases not only with tactile sensations, but also with wear resistance. And from the driver's seat you can also note the original digital dashboard: true old-school high-tech.

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However, given that we will be choosing a car that costs 200 thousand and is over 22 years old, the advantages of a strong body and a cozy interior should be looked at through the prism of skepticism and common sense. Firstly, even without taking into account human intervention, one of the main enemies of the machine was time: corrosion and damage in typical places like arches and thresholds, as well as in hidden cavities and on the bottom, cannot be present, but are guaranteed to be present there, so it is worth assessing to what stage the “moral decomposition” has reached. Among the features of the model, one can note the quite common cracks in the rear part of the transmission tunnel. And, of course, in addition to time, these cars were negatively affected by accidents and handicraft restoration after them: here you should forget about dreams of finding something other than a broken one, but simply choose a car that was not pulled out after a side collision with a pole or was not assembled from several “car kits” . Given the budget of 200 thousand, Mark should be able to drive straight without steering, have no through holes in the body and a thick layer of putty on key elements like the roof pillars. Repainted fenders, overcooked sills and non-factory headlights are not a reason to be surprised, but a given. Of course, there are cars that have been preserved in “better” condition, but they are asking much more for them - from 350 to 500 thousand, which only an enthusiast would be willing to pay for a right-hand drive car a quarter of a century old.

Another feature worth remembering is the exotic ways of importing cars from Japan, aimed at avoiding customs duties. Of course, first of all we are talking about “cuts” and “constructors”, and if the latter seem to be a more or less tolerable solution, then the former, and even at such an advanced age, are definitely not best choice, and should be avoided. To do this, you need to carefully inspect the car looking for traces of the “property division”, especially the area of ​​the engine shield where the body number is located, and back for the sake of sawing on the rear pillars. By the way, when choosing a car, you should pay attention to the date of its import into Russia: if you have a copy imported after 2008, it is almost guaranteed to be “cut.”

Toyota Mark II (X90) "1992–94

The list of engines that the Mark II received in the seventh generation is perhaps the most pleasant page of its description. The initial engines - a 1.8-liter inline four 4S-FE and a 2-liter inline six 1G-FE - are not the most powerful, but they are quite simple and problem-free. But the following options have earned a place in the pantheon of the best engines in history - the name “Jazet” is now known to almost everyone who is at least a little familiar with cars.

The line-up of these in-line six-cylinder engines opens with the 2.5-liter 1JZ-GE, which can be considered one of the best options for the Mark II of this generation. There is enough power here - 180 hp, and there is enough reliability for several owners, if all of them, of course, treat it with due respect. Those for whom this power is not enough can choose between a more voluminous option in the form of a three-liter 220-horsepower 2JZ-GE and the same 1JZ-GE, but with a turbine, which gives it the logical name 1JZ-GTE and 280 hp. power. Paired with the engines were four-speed automatic transmissions produced by Aisin with the index A340, which also proved to be extremely reliable and capable, with proper maintenance, of 300 or even more than thousand kilometers without major repairs.

However, these same engines and gearboxes unwittingly served the Brands as a disservice: too reliable and powerful, they attracted the attention of numerous lazy people and “racers”. The former drove them, believing that “millionaire” was a guaranteed characteristic even without proper maintenance, while the latter squeezed all the juice out of them in an effort to satisfy their ambitions. Both of these had the most detrimental effect on the service life of engines and cars as a whole: engines were “stacked” and exchanged for “contract” ones with an unknown fate, and cars were wrapped around poles, hit against curbs and other equipment. Therefore, when purchasing, it is worth checking at least that the engine model corresponds to the one indicated in the documents for the car: now life is after replacing the engine with a similar one, but if the engine model or its power does not match what is written in the title, the buyer of such a car is doomed to problems.

By the way, about “contract” units: it is worth understanding that the differences from an engine from a local disassembly are as strong as between Adidas and Adadis, and if the sales advertisement says “contract engine”, it is worth clarifying what exactly is included in this phrase salesman. As a rule, a “contract” unit does not mean a lot from a Japanese auction that has a clear estimate and confirmed mileage, but something that is the cheapest, but still works, and that happens to be within walking distance. Accordingly, in this case there is no need to count on “legendary reliability”, but what is needed is to carefully diagnose it before purchasing in order to at least approximately estimate the residual resource.

In addition, it is worth considering that although such old cars are chosen primarily based on condition, the engine is something that you have to live with after the purchase, and choosing a 1.8-liter or 2-liter unit means giving up the desired dynamics, while a turbocharged option for little money - these are almost guaranteed problems. So the optimal engine for purchase seems to be the naturally aspirated JZ of 2.5 or 3 liters. But the only diesel in the line is perhaps not worth attention: low power and prevalence, low liquidity and a tendency to overheat make saving on fuel unjustified.

But after reading all of the above, you shouldn’t be disappointed: there is a good chance of buying a car that will drive relatively smoothly and not look too bad. The main thing is to clearly understand that for 200 thousand you should choose a car based on its condition, and that it will definitely not be as “ideal” as it is described in some advertisements. A car that has never been sawed up, with a relatively live engine and remnants of factory paint on the roof, is a collective image of an acceptable Mark II for 200 thousand. But the fact that it will be repeatedly, but not too seriously, beaten, completely or partially repainted, slightly corroded and supplemented with small surprises like garage intervention in the electrical system - this is an almost guaranteed set of qualities. Therefore, when buying, as in the case of any used car, it is worth having a small reserve of money to eliminate unforeseen problems, as well as at least a minimum amount of knowledge about cars in general and about this particular model in particular.

Market prices for the seventh generation Mark II start at below 200 thousand, but options that cost at least 200 thousand or slightly higher are worth seriously considering. For example, this white one is the latest, 1996 model year for 235 thousand it looks lively, and also has the most optimal engine - a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated 1JZ-GE with 180 horsepower. Of course, one can only look at the declared mileage of 200 thousand kilometers with a grin. However, if diagnostics and inspection of the car before purchase show that there is still a fuse in the engine, and the elegant body, which looks recently painted, has not been restored after “total”, this is a very successful example of that very inexpensive, reliable and comfortable car, which many people dream of.

The seventh generation of the Toyota Mark II sedan, which received the internal factory marking “X90,” premiered in September 1992 and instantly gained popularity in its homeland, and in the early 2000s it truly became a “national hit” in the eastern part of Russia. Compared to its predecessor, the car not only noticeably changed in appearance, but also became larger, acquired new equipment and was updated technically. The three-volume model remained on the assembly line until 1996, after which it gave way to a successor.

Despite its decent size, outwardly the seventh generation Toyota Mark II looks quite sporty and at the same time demonstrates some solidity - a squat and slightly aggressive front end, a fairly dynamic silhouette with a long hood and an elongated trunk, a monumental rear with a massive bumper and a narrow “strip” of lights .

The overall length of the hardtop sedan is 4750 mm, and its width and height are 1750 mm and 1390 mm, respectively. There is a 2730 mm gap between the axles of the car, and under the “belly” you can see a gap of 155 mm. In “combat” form, the four-door weighs from 1250 to 1460 kg, depending on the version.

Even by modern standards, the interior of the “seventh” Toyota Mark II looks good, although it does not shine with any special design solutions. A comfortable four-spoke steering wheel, a simple “instrumentation” that provides the basic minimum of information, and a center console that tapers to the bottom, on which the main controls are successfully arranged - the inside of the car is unremarkable, but exudes quality.

In the cabin of the Japanese sedan there is enough free space for four adult passengers - the third passenger in the back will be clearly superfluous due to the high floor tunnel and the profile of the sofa. The front seats “show off” wide ranges adjustments, but have an excessively flat layout with weak support on the sides.

The arsenal of the seventh “release” Toyota Mark II includes a spacious luggage compartment, however, all the advantages of a solid volume are interrupted by a narrow opening and a large loading height, which does not make its use convenient.

Technical specifications. For the seventh generation Mark 2, a wide range was offered power plants– five petrol and one diesel. The engines were combined with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission, driving rear wheels(on “top” versions with limited slip differential) or all-wheel drive FullTime 4WD with hydromechanical locking clutch and asymmetrical center differential.

• The gasoline part of the car is formed by in-line four- and six-cylinder engines with a distributed fuel supply, both naturally aspirated and turbocharged. The first include units with a volume of 1.8-3.0 liters, developing from 120 to 220 horsepower and from 161 to 279 Nm of torque, and to the second – a 2.5-liter “six”, the output of which reaches 280 “heads” and 362 Nm of maximum potential.
• The diesel “team” Toyota Mark II is represented by one engine – a 2.4-liter “four” with turbocharging and multipoint injection, generating 97 horsepower and 220 Nm of maximum thrust.

Fuel efficiency is definitely not weak side of this Japanese sedan: petrol versions consume on average from 7 to 12.1 liters of fuel in combined conditions per “hundred”. Yes, and diesel cars are in perfect order with their gluttony - for 100 journeys they consume no more than 5 liters of diesel fuel in a combined cycle.

The “seventh” Mark II is designed according to the classical design - a longitudinally located engine at the front and a drive on rear wheels(only the 180-horsepower gasoline “six” was equipped with an all-wheel drive transmission).
The front axle of the car uses an independent double wishbone architecture, and the rear axle uses multi-link suspension(“in a circle” anti-roll bars are activated).
The sedan's braking system includes disc brakes on all wheels (ventilated at the front) and ABS, and its steering system combines a rack and pinion mechanism and a hydraulic power steering.

The car combines a reliable design, spacious interior, a good level of comfort, excellent dynamics (especially in the “top” solutions), decent maneuverability and high potential for tuning.
But it also has disadvantages - weak light from the front optics, low geometric cross-country ability and high cost original spare parts.

Prices. On secondary market In Russia, Toyota Mark II is still quite popular in 2016 - cars are available at prices starting from 70,000 rubles, and the cost of some “pumped up” modifications reaches up to 1 million rubles.

Produced between 1968 and 2004, the Mark II is one of the most popular JDM cars and one of Toyota's finest creations. Over several decades, 9 generations of Mark 2 were released. Each subsequent series improved and became better, both in terms of design and technical specifications. Almost 15 years after the completion of production, the model remains in demand all over the world and in particular in Russia. Today we will explore the 7th generation Mark II. Meet the legend among JDM cars, the incredible “Mark 2” in the 90th body!

General information about the sedan

The model of this series was produced from 92 to 96. last century. This is a five-seater business sedan with a sporty bent: the car has a strict design, but with the use of body kits it quickly turns into a sports car and “rolls sideways” very well. According to many car enthusiasts, this car is the best option from all generations.

Starting with the X90 series, important design changes were made, which became the basis for future modifications of the car, which became the X100 and X110. This version retains the same engine size and transmission as the previous one. The main changes to the Mark 2 in the 90th body affected the safety, handling and comfort of the car. And not in vain - at one time this modification broke sales records on JDM.

The Mark II X90 was given the nickname "Samurai" in Russia, although subsequent generations are often called the same. It is reliable and quality car, which boasts rich internal resources.

Characteristics of "Mark 2" in the 90 body

Mark II cars of the 7th generation were produced with all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive. Used various types engines (make / power / number of cylinders / volume):

• 1G-FE: 135 l. s./ 6/ 2 liters;
• 4S-FE: 120 l. s./ 4/ 1.8 liters;
• 2JZ-GE: 220 l. s./ 6/ 3 liters;
• 1JZ-GE: 180 l. s./ 6/ 2.5 liters;
• 1JZ-GTE (turbo): 280 hp. s./ 6/ 2.5 liters;
• 2L-TE (diesel, turbo): 97 l. s./ 6/ 2.4 liters.

The most powerful of the presented engines - 1JZ-GTE - was installed on sports modification"Mark 2" in the 90th body with rear wheel drive, called Tourer V. Its production began in October 1993. By the way, Tourer V does not lose popularity; this car is most often found on the roads of large cities when compared with other versions and generations of Mark II.

As is typical for a real “Japanese”, the sedan is right-hand drive, equipped automatic transmission transmission The “native” transmission is quite durable and easily copes with engines up to 500 hp. pp., and it is also sensitive, quickly responding to the driver’s maneuvers.

External and technical tuning of the Mark 2 in the back of the 90th series

Here, car owners have the opportunity to experiment a lot and for a long time, introducing all sorts of innovations - if only they had the money, time and desire. The standard Mark equipment is unremarkable both inside and out. The interior of the cabin is ergonomic, and the exterior is quite simple.

However, just a few elements will turn this car into an eye-catching, stylish car. On JDM and many Russian markets you can find body kits, “skirts”, bumpers, spoilers, exhaust pipes and much more. Also, some owners of Toyota Mark 2 in the 90 body widen the wheel arches and install “shelves”. After these manipulations, the car takes on a completely different look.

The "stuffing" of the X90 also allows you to make various changes. Correct tuning will help increase engine power several times. Thanks to the mechanics, this car has great technical potential, the main thing is to tune it wisely.

The seventh and one of the most popular generations of the well-known Mark II sedan appeared in October 1992. This generation in the X90 body is notable, among other things, for the fact that at the time of its appearance, Toyota carried out a reshuffle in the number of produced models.

The history of the Toyota Mark II

The Mark II, which had been classified as a “compact car” in the Japanese classification since its introduction in 1968, had increased in size so much at the time of the appearance of the seventh generation that it fell into a higher category. Due to the peculiarities of taxation, the country is transitioning to a more high class automatically means an increase in the cost of owning a car. Therefore, increasing the size of the model, Japanese companies Usually they go to improve the interior and equipment, since wealthier people will obviously buy it. Thus, the seventh generation Toyota Mark II X90 has become a car for middle managers. Naturally, the company provided for a replacement, and the Camry SV30, launched in 1990, became the “flagship” of the compact class. In addition, in model range a new one has appeared Toyota sedan Scepter.

The presence of a “charged” factory configuration automatically turned the Mark II into a car popular among tuners

By general agreement among Mark II fans, the relatively short-lived seventh-generation car is considered one of the most beautiful. For the first time in the history of the model, the rounded shapes of the body did not evoke a feeling of secondary design, the car did not have obvious elements borrowed from European or American cars. It is quite possible that the Mark II in the 90th body became the car whose appearance largely determines trends in Japanese automotive design nineties. Due to the aesthetic component, the car does not look archaic even today and enjoys stable popularity in the secondary market, including in Russia.

Technical features of Toyota Mark II (X90)

Despite the presence in basic configuration GL four-cylinder in-line engine, made famous by the Mark II for its exceptionally reliable six-cylinder units. The range of engines is very extensive, and it even has its own legends, such as the engine that develops 280 hp. This engine was installed on a sports version called Tourer V. In this modification, the car was equipped with a factory LSD differential, ABS, traction control and sports suspension. Along with a four-speed automatic transmission, the Tourer V Mark II could be equipped with a five-speed manual gearbox.

The presence of a “charged” factory configuration automatically turned the Mark II into a car popular among tuners. In drifting competitions, the seventh-generation Mark II Tourer V trim is as common as a Nissan Skyline.

Mark II 1000 hp drove 402 meters in 8.552 seconds at an exit speed of 290 kilometers per hour

Pros and cons of Mark II (X90)

The popularity of the model was largely due to the presence of more balanced configurations. The most common “civilian” version, which can often be found on the secondary market, is a modification with a two-liter 1G-FE engine, which enjoys a well-deserved reputation as an extremely reliable engine.

Unlike previous generation, equipped with the Mark II X90, a double-wishbone suspension was used, which improved handling, but had a more complex, and therefore more expensive, design to maintain. Rear suspension has a multi-link design.

The already mentioned double wishbone suspension requires special attention. Large vertical silent blocks of oblique lower arms especially often fail. When they become unusable, they contribute to the deterioration of controllability.

There is a widespread belief that six-cylinder Mark II engines are extremely sensitive to oil quality and in the case of using low-grade lubricants quickly fail. There is no definite answer to this question, but there are recommendations from the manufacturer, which, of course, differ for different engines. If you follow these recommendations, as well as the oil change cycle recommendations, there is no reason to worry about increased wear.

You can often hear polar opinions about gasoline consumption when equipped with a standard engine, such as a two-liter 1G-FE. They are caused by the fact that it does not have sufficient power for uniformly dynamic acceleration in all speed ranges and when driving at high speeds (around 150 km/h) it really tends to increased consumption fuel. At the same time, one should not forget that when quiet ride At around 100 km/h, the same engine is distinguished, on the contrary, by high efficiency, so in terms of average mode, the consumption of a 1300-kilogram sedan is 10 liters.

The interior of the Mark II in the 90th body can easily be called classic for Japanese car those years. As with any rear-wheel drive car, there is plenty of space in the cabin. The presence of a transmission tunnel makes the Mark II X90 strictly a four-seater car, but with four even large adult men will not feel cramped. Perhaps the only reason for complaint is that the trunk is too small, limited by large arches and “cups” for attaching shock absorber struts that protrude into the trunk. In addition, for back seat There is a gas tank, which significantly reduces the already modest volume. This arrangement certainly adds to the car's safety (the tank is not subject to mechanical damage even in the event of a rear impact), but the trunk of the Mark II is really not very practical, especially considering the total length of the car - 4750 centimeters.

Toyota Mark II in sports

Tourer V Mark II in the 90th body is a regular participant in drag competitions (races on maximum speed at a distance of 402 meters) and drifting. Tourer V Mark II, built by Alexander Sokolenko from Krasnoyarsk, develops 1,000 horsepower.

Mark II X90 often participates in drifting with automatic transmission

With such enormous power, Sokolenko’s car competes in the Unlimited category. In this category there are no restrictions on the characteristics of engines and transmissions. It is especially spectacular, as the Unlimited cars show enormous speeds at the end of the distance. In particular, Sokolenko's Mark II traveled 402 meters in 8.552 seconds with an exit speed of 290 kilometers per hour.

Interesting facts about Toyota Mark II (X90)

Unlike competitive Nissan sedans Skyline, prepared for Mark II X90 competitions, often participate in automatic drifting. This is due to the fact that, unlike Nissan gearboxes, Toyota manual transmissions are expensive and rare. At the same time, the electronically controlled automatic transmission lends itself well to tuning desired mode and can withstand enormous loads.

The first-generation Lexus GS was built on the same platform as the eighth-generation Mark II, but with different engines. The direct "twin" of the first GS is the related Mark II Toyota model Aristo.