Cheap SC400 - wafty v8 fun or ruinously expensive timb bomb?
Discussion
So, as per title considering an early 90s Soarer V8 purchase and I'd like the opinions of the collective please - these look comfy, quick, nice-sounding, something of an oddity but cheap and very appealing as a result.
Is this a bad idea? Ticking time bomb, days away from a 4 figure bill?
Anything to watch out for? Toyotas in general very reliable I guess, Lexuses (or whatever the plural is..
) the same?
Thoughts/opinions much appreciated
In Oz btw so fuel prices less of an issue..
I've had a couple of Mk3 Supras and I guess they wouldn't feel dissimilar in terms of footprint, size, layout and character etc? A good thing
Is this a bad idea? Ticking time bomb, days away from a 4 figure bill?
Anything to watch out for? Toyotas in general very reliable I guess, Lexuses (or whatever the plural is..
) the same?Thoughts/opinions much appreciated
In Oz btw so fuel prices less of an issue..
I've had a couple of Mk3 Supras and I guess they wouldn't feel dissimilar in terms of footprint, size, layout and character etc? A good thing
Edited by mat1227 on Sunday 26th September 10:16
Edited by mat1227 on Sunday 26th September 10:17
my brother had an SC400 in Oz, was alot of car for the money and very well built. Only problems he had was failed alternator caused by oil leak, apparently a common problem, also had to replace some capacitors for the digital dash. They are a nice cruiser and they have depreciated alot, good buying if you want something with all the fruit, some even had rear reversing camera and the TV screen can be converted to pick up local tv channels or run a dvd player thru it.
Nice cheers, as I was hoping. Love the idea of one of those with cats/backbox bypassed/done away with..
In terms of affordable RWD jap fun I reckon it's between that at the low end, a bit more for a 300zx, or more still for an R33 GTST.. (everything else in Oz seems so much more than it was in the UK it's hard to bear)
... hmm
In terms of affordable RWD jap fun I reckon it's between that at the low end, a bit more for a 300zx, or more still for an R33 GTST.. (everything else in Oz seems so much more than it was in the UK it's hard to bear)
... hmm
They are fantastic. Get a good one and it'd be perfect for here. Obviously a bad one could spell financial trouble, but the ones I've known of (including a friend's 2.5TT manual) have been trouble-free.
I considered an LS400 before I got mine.
And yes, the cost and the opportunity to enjoy cars here does sap the enthusiast out of you. Hence I've waved the white flag and got a Vienta
I considered an LS400 before I got mine.
And yes, the cost and the opportunity to enjoy cars here does sap the enthusiast out of you. Hence I've waved the white flag and got a Vienta
Sweet, thanks.
Only thing is, I've yet to see an ad for one where the seller doesn't seem to be an illiterate chav intent on festooning the poor car with chrome wheels etc.. and never sure if this is a sign of neglect as it might be in blighty, or just an aesthetic consideration. Hmmmm
So consensus is an average SC400 will be, all things being equal, more reliable than an average 300zx or an average R33 GTST?
Or is that a ridiculous question...
ps. Do they handle like boats? Or like MkIII Supras?
Only thing is, I've yet to see an ad for one where the seller doesn't seem to be an illiterate chav intent on festooning the poor car with chrome wheels etc.. and never sure if this is a sign of neglect as it might be in blighty, or just an aesthetic consideration. Hmmmm
So consensus is an average SC400 will be, all things being equal, more reliable than an average 300zx or an average R33 GTST?
Or is that a ridiculous question...
ps. Do they handle like boats? Or like MkIII Supras?
mat1227 said:
Only thing is, I've yet to see an ad for one where the seller doesn't seem to be an illiterate chav intent on festooning the poor car with chrome wheels etc.. and never sure if this is a sign of neglect as it might be in blighty, or just an aesthetic consideration. Hmmmm...
Have you checked the forums?gareth_r said:
EDIT: Forgot Planet Soarer - http://planetsoarer.com/mat1227 said:
...Do they handle like boats? Or like MkIII Supras?
If anything, they should handle like Mk4 Supras (the Mk4 is basically an Aristo engine in a Soarer chassis).Edited by gareth_r on Wednesday 13th October 13:23
Man it's awesome.
Overall impression is of a design and car that's aged incredibly well, no way does it feel 18 years old. Build quality is great, the paintwork has a really deep lustre in the sunshine and it all still works as it should.
It came on G4 coilovers and is wound right down, so I guess the ride isn't typical being a lot firmer. Ignoring the coilover related stuff I'd say it's a nice balance between comfiness and sportiness. I love the engine. Feels crisp and modern in a way you don't expect a two decade old big capacity engine to feel. It sounds awesome from outside when blipping the throttle, but far too subdued for my liking from inside - so will be remedying this soon with a spot of resonator deletion and see how that goes.
Digital dash etc very cool. Didn't know about this and it's fantastic. Seats and general driving position fantastic, easy to get it all set up nicely. Stereo's a challenge as it's all in japanese but to even have a touch screen with 12 cd changer in 1992 from the factory is pretty mad.
I'm really pleased with it and can't think of how you could get more car for the money. The looks are even growing on me, with the wheels and in that colour, definitely - in the pics they look a little ungainly but in the metal I really like it.
Big thumbs up
..and thanks to the chap who posted those forum links, that's where I found the car and the wealth of knowledge there is fantastic.
Overall impression is of a design and car that's aged incredibly well, no way does it feel 18 years old. Build quality is great, the paintwork has a really deep lustre in the sunshine and it all still works as it should.
It came on G4 coilovers and is wound right down, so I guess the ride isn't typical being a lot firmer. Ignoring the coilover related stuff I'd say it's a nice balance between comfiness and sportiness. I love the engine. Feels crisp and modern in a way you don't expect a two decade old big capacity engine to feel. It sounds awesome from outside when blipping the throttle, but far too subdued for my liking from inside - so will be remedying this soon with a spot of resonator deletion and see how that goes.
Digital dash etc very cool. Didn't know about this and it's fantastic. Seats and general driving position fantastic, easy to get it all set up nicely. Stereo's a challenge as it's all in japanese but to even have a touch screen with 12 cd changer in 1992 from the factory is pretty mad.
I'm really pleased with it and can't think of how you could get more car for the money. The looks are even growing on me, with the wheels and in that colour, definitely - in the pics they look a little ungainly but in the metal I really like it.
Big thumbs up
..and thanks to the chap who posted those forum links, that's where I found the car and the wealth of knowledge there is fantastic.dudleybloke said:
i'v always wanted a soarer.
they spent an incredible amount of money developing the v8 engine and it shows.
does yours have the rear 'fart suppressor' air freshener?
Not sure what that is, sounds intriguing?! they spent an incredible amount of money developing the v8 engine and it shows.
does yours have the rear 'fart suppressor' air freshener?
Talking of strange toyota features, it reminds me of my Mkiii Supra that had an airvent on the steering column that seemed to be entirely designed for keeping the driver's nuts at optimal temperature
mat1227 said:
...Stereo's a challenge as it's all in Japanese but to even have a touch screen with 12 cd changer in 1992 from the factory is pretty mad...
http://planetsoarer.com/buttons/EMVplanet.htmlEdited by gareth_r on Monday 25th October 00:36
gareth_r said:
mat1227 said:
...Stereo's a challenge as it's all in Japanese but to even have a touch screen with 12 cd changer in 1992 from the factory is pretty mad...
http://planetsoarer.com/buttons/EMVplanet.htmlEdited by gareth_r on Monday 25th October 00:36
1.) It sounds like the bass is turned right up to 11 but treble and mid down to 0, and fader all the way back. But the sliders are somewhere in the EMV, and the bottom right audio physical button just takes me to a blank screen, where the pdf above suggests there should be sliders.
2.) The CD changer is missing a magazine, before I buy a new one I just want to check it works. Someone on the site above mentioned "testing" it with a single CD wihthout the magazine, how the devil do I slot a single CD into the boot based 12 CD changer without a mag? I can't for the life of me see the slot where it goes..
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