I've been asked to come along and view one of these with a relative.

Trouble is, i know faf all about them.

Anyone got any info?

what goes wrong?

common faults?

are they as quick as a zed tt?

why are they all so cheap ?

Cheers guys.

You're best off registering with the owners club, but from what i remember yes they're as fast as a stock tt as the've got the 1jz-gte engine which is highly tunable.

They're cheap because when things go wrong(suspension usualy) it's expensive.

I thinkn they are cheap because they are so ugly! lol

I think the vast majority are autos.

 

Probably less cheap than a zed to fix IMO...

yeh most are auto's manuals are as rare as a rocking horse winning the derby lol

This website gives alot of history about the car -

 

http://autospeed.com/cms/A_1187/article.html?popularArticle

 

But not really what to look out for etc.... :(

 

HTH.

Here's somethings to look out for on a Soarer TT:

 

1) The digital dash tends to play up, due to resistor failure, sometimes dash will go completey blank othertimes it will flicker on/off

2) Rear quarter damage, because of the RWD nature of the car

3) Worn driver door hinge - because the doors weigh a tonne!!

4) Suspension creaking - worn bushes due to weight!!

5) Faded front lights

6) Sometimes aircon display doesn't work

 

 

Engine-wise very very reliable, much more reliable than a 300ZX :eek:

I've had two Soarers. A Uzz32 (Active suspension) and we currently have my wife's Soarer Twin Turbo. They are very fast. The suspension isn't a problem really. Main problems tend to be related to whether the turbos are knacked. Usual turbo examination rules apply. Look for smoke and listen for noise. There is tons of room in them and they will carry four people comfortably. My wifes TT (2.5 litre) was faster than my V8 4ltr at acceleration. Typical mods are a straight through exhaust and a BFI induction kit. If its a late model VVti then its a rarity and a great built car. If it is an early one (like my wifes) they run superbly but have a harsh ride. A lot of the Supra parts (including suspension) will fit. Are they reliable? Yes if they are looked after.

 

I would recommend the Lexus Soarer Owners Club over its rival Toyota Imports Forum. People are much friendlier and the help you get isn't loaded around using the owners garage with people bowing and scarping to him as though he was a god (he told me that my active suspension pump and power steering pump where seized and therefore the car wasn't worth repairing when a belt snapped - in fact it was a tensioner and pulley that was seized which cost less than £100 to repair - had he had his way my car would have been scrapped).

 

In short, the TT Soarer is VERY fast and a sod to handle in the wet. It can fishtail easily. Positives are it is very comfortable, very well built and very fast. If you find a well looked after one it is a superb car capable of easily doing a sub 5 seconds with very little work. Negatives are that parts are quite expensive, people are scared of them because of that and the perceived complexity of them. If you can work on a Supra you can easily do a Soarer.

 

As has been said, the digital dash (proper digital with bar style speedo) can be problematic if it hasn't been fixed (there is a Soarer electrical guru called Luke based in Southampton), the lights do fog horribly and replacements are around £150 each.

 

I'd say it probably is a little faster than the 300zx at least in my wifes modified Soarer. In Soarer circles the TT is considered to be the most 'Savage' of the breed.

Bit of a Luxury bruiser rather than a Sports car. Can look good with some styling tweaks.

Bit of a ploished turd IMO. I've never seen a manual infact didn't think they made a manual. They are very lardy and handle like poo on a stick but the engine is just like a small bore Supra. Which means its bullet proof and highly tunable.

Have to disagree with Markzx.

They did make some manual versions. The autobox is one of the best going and handling them is pretty easy unless you change the set up and forget about its tendency to go out a**e first on a wet roundabout. I have to say this, my wife's TT (a '91 model with povpac suspension and no traction control) feels far more spritely than my 300zx tt, my previous GTO or my Soarer V8. There is a ton os straight line fun in a Soarer and a lot of fast cruising which will leave most other standard sports cars behind.

Have to disagree with Markzx.

There is a ton os straight line fun in a Soarer and a lot of fast cruising which will leave most other standard sports cars behind.

 

Thats true but i like the bends an generally judge a car on the way it performs that task.+ to me they just have that 1980's American syling that i don't like, but if it floats you boat.

 

I love my Volvo T5's and they aren't to everyones cup of T, but IMO they'd p1ss all over the Soarer on the mountain roads and still drive like a limo when you want. It's all horses for corses.

Thanks guys, seems like i've stirred people up :smw:

So,Is this about it then?

they are fast,reliable + a bit tail happy?

Usual jap reliability? ignore them + they die?

But you have to have an auto.........?

Good owners review flightgear.cheers :bow:

i saw a drift soarer a little while ago and imho it looked the dogs danglies !

Pic ??

 

Alan.

Click Me Manual Soarer on Ebay

Click Me Manual Soarer on Ebay

 

I like that ! ;)

 

Alan...........