A recipe for success starts with one of Toyota's best rear-wheel drive platforms and a 232kW six-cylinder
Then sprinkle on all the options – a sunroof, air-conditioned leather seats and factory aero – to make it just right
The 2008 Toyota Crown Athlete – known as the ‘GRS204’ – is the automotive equivalent of a Swiss army knife.
It’s an extremely versatile vehicle with plenty of power, driving the right (rear) wheels and with more features than your mate’s BMW or Mercedes-Benz.
Power comes from a 3.5-litre V6 engine with 232kW/ 377Nm. Codenamed ‘2GR’, it’s a naturally-aspirated mill that’s done time in everything from high-end Lexus product through to your Nan’s Toyota Kluger.
Call it a workhorse; it’s dependable, reliable as sin, and even powered a Toyota Tarago to a hilarious victory against a Porsche at Sydney Motorsport Park (watch here).
It’s plenty fast and the six-speed auto shifts crisply, too. The front-end utilises a double-wishbone setup for maximum control, whilst the rear benefits from a precise multi-link rear suspension that puts both American and Euro metal to shame.
You can’t argue against it; other than the fact it looks a bit like a Toyota Camry.
The car pictured – 2008 Toyota Crown Athlete G (GRS204)
Our Toyota Crown Athlete G was built in December 2018 and was purchased from USS Tokyo (Japan) as a 4.0B grade vehicle.
As top-spec ‘G’ variant, it features keyless entry and start, leather trim, heated and cooled electric front seats, a sunroof, a rear-view and side-view camera, a rear electric sun blind, rear heated seats with electric adjustment, and cruise control.
It was also optioned with a factory aero kit and sports suspension. The auction sheet states ‘user purchased’ – or one private owner – and notes minor blemishes in-line with its age.
Its factory touchscreen infotainment system can be upgraded to support Apple CarPlay / Android Auto by our workshop.
The ‘2GR’ Toyota engine was sold in Australia, so parts are readily available. We also keep a stock holding of genuine Toyota and aftermarket parts like oil/air filters, spark plugs + more.
Either way, our workshop can assist with maintenance and parts.
Quick facts
- 2008 Toyota Crown Athlete (GRS204)
- Top-spec ‘G’ model
- 113,238km
- 3.5-litre V6 with 232kW / 377Nm
- Rear-wheel drive
- Factory aero kit
- Factory sunroof
- Leather trim
- Heated & cooled front seats
- Heated & electric rear seats
- Rear electric sun blind
- Rear view + Side view camera
- Cruise control
- Japanese de-registration paperwork and auction paperwork available.
- Price includes SEVS compliance
The 13th-generation Crown retains the sense of poise and reliability that characterises the Crown series, which has earned a reputation as the leader among luxury vehicles in Japan for over more than half a century.Toyota Japan, launch of all-new Toyota Crown (2008)
