I always find it interesting that the same models go by different names market to market.

This would be under the Lexus ES branding in the US.

These are very nice cars, reliable and mechanically robust.

The Windom is only for the Japanese Domestic Market, but New Zealand gets a lot of "grey imports" cars sold secondhand not officially sold in the country they end up in. In Australia it was marketed under the Lexus ES range but the import restrictions here are a bit tougher than New Zealand so the Windom is not allowed to be imported into Australia unless as a personal import.

These were sold here as Lexus ES300s too. This one like the majority of cars here is a JDM spec used import from Japan.

The 3VZ-FE V6 was designed for use in trucks and SUVs which is why they are so robust.

hehe ^.=.^

I always like the JDM versions, A lexus ES300 without the snob value :) That's why I'd prefer a Toyota Celsior rather than a Lexus LS400, same car but no snob value.

I’ve only ever seen one Toyota Celsior here because most are rebadged as Lexus LS400s.

i wish they would let all car makers in to the usa it sucks i have to wait 15 years to imports any new car over or that the car hase to be 15 years or older to do so here

The Windom was a JDM ES300 other than the badges there are virtually no differences between the two.

I would have said that it looks like our Camry over here but I've read from the comments above that it is actually a Lexus here. Still, that's a nice car and I really like the color! I can't believe it has such a low mileage to it after 17 years! I can do that much mileage in 2 years...

When it was imported to New Zealand in 1998 it had only 43,000 on it and since 2004 has averaged about 3000km per year. According to my uncle it was owned by an elderly lady.

Wow! I will travel 3000 kilometres in a month without even making any long trips... You are sure to keep that car for many more years to come!

I don’t intend on selling it because I don’t think I’ll find another that is this good for NZ$1000 again.
One thing I’m not looking forward to is replacing the sparkplugs on the rear bank of cylinders they’re supposed to be replaced every 100,000km and I know they won’t have been done because they are such a pain to get at.

The joy of front wheel drive with side mounted engine...

It’s because the engine is tilted 15 degrees to fit under the hood because the 3VZ block was originally designed for use in pickups like the 4runner and T100 rather than a front wheel drive sedan.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_VZ_engine