Today we’re back with the owner’s review of Habibian’s Mark X aka Rudy. Habib is a well-known blogger from Lahore who has also been featured in our reviews. Today, he shares his experience with his latest acquisition, a 2004 Toyota Mark X. Talking a bit about the car’s history, the Mark X debuted in 2004 as a successor of the Mark II.
The Mark X was offered in a 2.5-liter engine known as the 250G and the 3.0-liter one known as the 300G. This particular car is the base variant of the 250G, it pumps out 200hp and 243 nm of torque and is equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission, and is a rear-wheel drive car. Mark X has a cult fan following among the youth, and Habib’s Rudy has exaggerated this following even more.
Purchase Decision
Habib was in the market for a car that he could potentially modify in the future. He considered many cars, including 9th gen Corolla, 10th gen Corolla, which he almost bought, and even a Civic reborn. He spent months finding a car but needed help finding something to his liking. Habib was always a Mark X fan, but it was way out of his budget, so finally, with some support from his father, he increased his budget and bought this car in July this year for Rs. 2.6 million.
Mechanical Work
When he bought this car, it had mechanical work which needed to be done, but as time went by, the problems kept arising and were way more than the owner expected. Firstly, the transmission fluid chamber was leaking; then, it had suspension issue. Then, the injectors needed to be fixed and replaced. Other issues in mechanical work include a new ECU, VVTi sensors, which were previously fitted on a Corolla, a draining battery, oxygen sensors, and much more.
The owner quotes,” an average car has 30,000 parts, and I feel like I have replaced two-thirds of it already”. Despite all this work, the car still has some problems that need to be cleared. As per the owner, this car has made him learn much about cars in just a few months.
Modifications
Habib has actively modified the car during its mechanical maintenance and made it aesthetically pleasing. These modifications include 18-inch alloy rims with low profile tyres; the car has been lowered through coil overs, straight pipe exhaust, with the main highlight being the wrap in bright blue colour, which has caught a lot of eyes in the car community. The car has also been fitted with new interior and exterior components like gear knob, ac vents, and headlights to give the car a fresh look. As per the owner, the vehicle is not complete, and he has yet to try many experiments on this car.
Fuel Average
Before the mechanical work, the car was not giving more than 9 km/l within city. However, the owner has witnessed a noticeable improvement post-mechanical work, and 10 km/l is achieved easily, opposing the presumed view of Mark X as a gas guzzler.
Seating Capacity
The Mark X has a roomy cabin, but passenger space in the back row is compromised due to the center hump at the rear. Overall, headroom and legroom are decent, with a decent-sized boot for luggage as well.
Spare Parts
Being a Toyota, the availability of parts is very good, and the owner has had no problems sourcing parts so far, as used parts are highly available in local markets. Although, according to the owner, he is looking for uncut wiring, which he cannot find.
