I was the owner of Altis 1.8G. Passed the car already.

If i can share with u, toyota or not, all cars are mechanicals and will need more care after 5 years to maintain its pristine condition.

Depend on your driving style, some Altis do get warped disk quite early. You'll notice that when braking from high speed, at around 120-100 significant shaking on steering and brake pedal. Skim or change both front disk (UMW around rm500 IINM). Brake pads gone case.

After 5 years (over 100K km), all the absorbers and rubbers on the springs were tired and need to be changed. Also the stabilizer bar link sure gone (typical for Altis-both front). That link itself cost RM300 a pair.

If you're unlucky, there's also tok-tok sounds from front suspension, means u have to replace lower arm bushings. 2 bushes per arm, cost around rm500 plus press.

Engine mounting were also finish, 4 pieces, the right and left were are the most expensive. U'll notice the mounting rubber broken when engine noise very obvious from inside the cabin, and some jerk when the gear shift.

Engine wise, some leaking of engine oil after 6 years, from the valve cover or some people call rocker cover gasket (rubber) hardened and have to be change.

Some shaking on highway speed (110-130) due to worn drive shaft. Dont asked me how much it cost.

My Altis cooling coil (aircond) failed on its 8 years last time. Cost RM900 to replace outside (Denso authorised).

2 most unacceptable problem on my Altis were the meter illumination gone and need to change the meter (RM2K UMW), and gearbox whining at 80 to 100km/h very obvious. Change ATF, add additives, but still the 4AT emit whining sounds and it only disappear after 100km/h. Very annoying.

Other than the above, its a good car.

p/s: Better buy new car.

well i(my dad) already have a j vios. and it's giving me headache. with all the dust problem. but i think it's quite good aside from the dust problem.