Business 256
Experts explain how to negotiate a fair deal on a used car
Toyota Century V12 luxury sedan goes to auction with no reserve
A 2000 Toyota Century, the flagship Japanese limousine with a 5.0-liter V12, has been offered at no reserve after its import to the United States, with a clean Maryland title and recent mechanical work.
By Charlotte Redford · 3 min read
A 2000 Toyota Century, the Japanese flagship limousine powered by a 5.0-liter V12, is being offered at no reserve by the selling dealer. The car was imported to the United States in September and carries a clean Maryland title, with the sale running as a no-reserve listing on Bring a Trailer.
The Century is finished in white over gray leather upholstery. It left the factory in black, and the car was repainted white under previous ownership in Japan. Its equipment includes electronically controlled air suspension and antilock disc brakes, with four-wheel vented discs doing the stopping. The 16-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels wear Bridgestone Regno tires bearing 2017 date codes. The exterior carries polished stainless-steel lower cladding and bumpers, power-folding mirrors, brushed aluminum window trim, chrome door handles and V12 badges on the C-pillars.
The right-hand-drive cabin is trimmed with heated, power-adjustable front seats and woodgrain accents across the dashboard, center consoles, seatbacks and door panels. Automatic climate control, navigation, a front cassette stereo and a rear CD head unit, which is an aftermarket fitment, are included. The car also has the Dual Electro Multi-Vision package, which adds touch-screen displays at the front and rear. The rear bench is heated, massaging and power-adjustable, and rear privacy curtains are fitted. A front passenger seat pass-through, grab handles on the front seatbacks and a leather-wrapped airbag steering wheel complete the cabin. The digital speedometer sits behind the wheel alongside gauges for fuel level and coolant temperature. The digital odometer reads 259,000 kilometers, roughly 159,000 miles.
The 1GZ-FE engine uses VVT-i variable valve timing and was rated at the factory at 276 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. Power reaches the rear wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission. According to the selling dealer, work completed before export included a timing belt service and replacement of the water pump, battery, serpentine belt, air filter, engine oil and coolant. The brake master cylinder was also replaced and the brake fluid flushed in preparation for the sale.
The sale is a clear-title, no-reserve offering, meaning the car will be sold to the highest bidder regardless of whether a set minimum price is met. Prospective buyers are therefore able to bid on a vehicle whose recent service history has been documented by the dealer, though the listing details come from the seller rather than independent inspection.
4
