JDM Cars with iconic engines — Toyota Caldina GT

THE 3S GTE is a 4-cylinder turbo charged engine that produces 260hp and was just a tad shy of reaching my favourite 1jz gte’s 280hp, impressive right? Well, I think it is. For those that think that an Altezza is fast and powerful, then think of something more powerful than the 3s ge in the Altezza-it can only be the 3s GTE! It is the engine running in the Toyota MR2, the celica and the car you wouldn’t expect to have the same engine is the Toyota Caldina GT.

On this series of JDM cars with iconic engines, you will notice that all the engines we have looked at have a GE stamp and not FE. That is because GE engines are made for performance while FE engines are made for efficiency and economy. The 3s also has its fe counterparts and the fe engines come in the Ipsum, Gaia and such other cars just to name a few.

The Toyota Caldina is a station wagon. Ideally, the station wagon is a family car that can carry the whole family and a whole lot of goods at the same time. It’s the type of car you can use for camping trips. At least that’s what you can think when you see the first generation Toyota Caldina. The third generation Caldina GT four from 2002 onwards is a station wagon with a difference, I’d rather call it a sports-wagon for some obvious reasons-it’s got a lot of power from the 3s GTE engine and its quite a beauty truth be told. Anything that Toyota made with a GTE at the end of its name has some kind of aura that comes with it – it’s unexplainable, its the type of aura that makes your foot heavy. Do not let the Caldina looks fool you, its packing under the hood and few people realise what machines they have in these Caldinas GTs

The 3s GTE is a DOHC 16 valve 2litre inline 4 cylinder engine that’s turbo charged. It is based on the 3s ge with a few modifications to accommodate a turbo charger and some extra horsepower. DOHC refers to dual overhead camshafts. Somehow I wish the Toyota Altezza came with the 3s gte, perhaps its power output would be as good as its looks. The 3s gte in the caldina is a transverse setup and the easiest way to understand transverse setup is to understand that transverse setup if for front wheel drive cars and the opposite is longitudinal set up which is for rear wheel drive. In the Altezza its longitudinal set up because power is transferred to the rear wheel through the use of a propeller shaft and a rear differential and that makes it a fun car to have.

I will say this again, don’t be fooled by the mummy van looks. The Caldina GT comes with a manual five speed gearbox for the obvious reason that its a 3s GTE monster— basically its an Altezza engine with a turbo. The best way to enjoy that is to have a manual. It’s unfortunate that it is front wheel drive or four wheel drive. The later GT Four Caldina came with a tiptronic four speed automatic transmission and it was the only option with no manual option. As time went by, manufacturers decided to lose touch with their clientele base. We still love a good old manual transmission to play around with. How about we leave the automatics for the grannies Mr Toyota? Apart from it having no manual option, this was one of the fastest sports wagons ever offered by Toyota, so if you think your Toyota Altezza is fast, try driving these station wagons, it makes all Altezzas look like a joke.

It boasts of an all wheel drive system that gives it a better edge where grip is concerned. AWD is something Subaru has mastered thus far and Toyota made use of similar technology on this sports wagon. It may not be that much fun but will give this car credit for being a powerful sportswagon.

Station wagons are traditionally known to be family cars with the capability of carrying loads of whatever and people for those camping trips. Ideally most are designed to be touring cars and it’s not everyday that you find a super sports wagon that has enough power and looks to make me want a “mummy van”. By the way, ladies should stay away from these cars— they are not unisex (lol).

If you are the fun-loving car guy like me, this is the car for you, there’s no better way to enjoy your car than to have a family sports car! Sports cars don’t need to have 2 doors all the time and family cars don’t always need to be bulky and boring, they need to have the space, the looks and of course a 3s GTE. It can only be the Caldina GT-Four. Till next time. Happy motoring.

Feedback: lovert10@gmail.com -www.facebook. /facebook.com/ automartzimbabwe WHEN patriotism called ahead of one’s personal health in 1995, forgotten former Eagles, Hwange and Highlanders FC goalkeeper, Johannes Tshuma stepped in to serve his country.

He is among a group of players who despite sacrificing their lives for the country were paid a pittance by the ever troubled Zifa.

“The remuneration did not match the sacrifice but as soldiers for the country, we were happy to have come to the rescue,” said Tshuma on Friday morning.

The entire Dream Team gang turned down the call up to play for Zimbabwe in an Africa Cup of Nations tie against the Democratic Republic of Congo, then Zaire because of the Ebola threat.

Tshuma then in the twilight of his career and enjoying his game was called up with a squad of relatively younger players who included legendary Mercedes Sibanda and a few others who went on to make names for themselves on the domestic scene.

As fate would have it, Zimbabwe were whacked 5-0 in that match but the Man-of-the Match was none other than the goalkeeper, Tshuma. He, however, had to retrieve the ball five times from the back of the net as the Congolese ran riot on the pitch. It may still be the highest losing score line for Zimbabwe in that competition. But he was named Man-of-the-Match!

That was to be Tshuma’s only national team cap in a career that began at Eagles with the likes of Boy Ndlovu, Rahman Gumbo, Pernell Mckop, Tanny Banda, Stoneshed Moyo, Asani Karigeni and Eddie Zimunya.

Tshuma said ahead of the Zaire trip he got a call that he had to be at Zifa offices within an hour in Bulawayo. It was the meeting point for all Bulawayo based players who were to proceed to Harare to meet the rest of the travelling party. The team did not even train to build up combinations. “It was at the 11th hour. Zifa wanted us to fulfil the fixture,” said Tshuma, who travelled with national teams to Cameroon and Mozambique in a career that landed him a number of silverware pieces with Hwange and Highlanders. He said the team left for the DRC at dawn.

“Zifa chartered a plane for the trip. We left our clothing behind and we were dressed in football kit and we were