Author |
Message |
Ian Johnston
Goo Roo South Australia 1995 UZZ31, BA XR6Turbo Ute. 2007 VE GTS.
Posts: 1612 Reg: 07-2005
| Have been thinking about this since posting the VVTI V8 repower thread. I know cars are a never ending money pit, and we all do it, but has anyone drawn the line at a $ value, and looked at other cars instead? I am not talking outright performance cars. I like my Soarers, havent found a car that I enjoy driving as much, and think that even doing a VVTI engine/5 speed auto conversion, plus fitting brand new air bags, I shouldnt be up for much more than $15-16,000 including purchase price. You wont buy much else to compare with a Soarer done to those specs for that money IMHO(unless its another import) Is the pleasure of such a car more important than looking at cost v later model Falcodore? |
Tai Johnsen
Goo Roo QLD JZZ30 Pov Manual LSD & black!
Posts: 1306 Reg: 04-2006
| I got mine for $12k Power-FC pro - $1.8k FC datalogit - $400 Stereo - $400 Turbosmart EBC - $380 100000k service - $800 TT supra pump - $280 HD clutch - $800 Gearbox overhaul - $650 Wideband O2 - $100 Dump pipe - $400 So I am at about $18k so far.. Whats left..? sell dump & twins (+$600?) Sard 650's - $600 Turbo - $1800 Manifold - $1200 Exaust - $600 Brakes - $1000 Suspension - $1200 Wheels + tyres - $2500ish And at the end of that list you are around the $26k which is about the price of a crappy base line bitsashitty lancer, except you have a beautiful 2 door coupe with 300rwkw and smash cars that cost $120k+ and learned along the way and had fun Thats the way I see is anyway.. |
Ian Johnston
Goo Roo South Australia 1995 UZZ31, BA XR6Turbo Ute. 2007 VE GTS.
Posts: 1613 Reg: 07-2005
| Ha ha, yeah, I get where your coming from. I own a BA Turbo Falcon ute that owes me around $40,000, thats worth about $15,000 tops. Been there done that that many times, havent learnt yet(probably never will) |
Tai Johnsen
Goo Roo QLD JZZ30 Pov Manual LSD & black!
Posts: 1307 Reg: 04-2006
| They are only worth bugger all if you sell them.. Don't sell |
Ian Johnston
Goo Roo South Australia 1995 UZZ31, BA XR6Turbo Ute. 2007 VE GTS.
Posts: 1614 Reg: 07-2005
| The ute aint going anywhere. I could easy spend another $ 10,000 or so to get it to where I would be happy. |
Allan Langford
DieHard Vic UZZ31
Posts: 805 Reg: 05-2010
| just picked up another soarer with a good body for less then 1/4 of what it was going to cost to get my rear RHS guard repaired from "attack of the old guy in an XD falcon" and "skippy the blind kangaroo" attacking my drivers door! |
Allan Langford
DieHard Vic UZZ31
Posts: 806 Reg: 05-2010
| ...and as a bonus I get a early beefy conrod motor to accelerate project TVS2300 |
Ian Johnston
Goo Roo South Australia 1995 UZZ31, BA XR6Turbo Ute. 2007 VE GTS.
Posts: 1615 Reg: 07-2005
| Thats half the problem these days, the Soarers are selling for VN Commodore prices. I looked at selling my older one(1991) and just wasnt worth it. Dont know what I will do with it, but reluctant to give it away. My 1995 UZZ31 has everything that I want in a Soarer, and thats why I believe its worth spending money on it. Barr the power, and the brakes, I rather drive my Soarer than my VE GTS. |
Shane Haverkamp
DieHard nsw soarer TT
Posts: 944 Reg: 10-2007
| bought my 92 TT for 8500 5 years ago with 72,000 on it (not sure if legit k's) since then have racked up 80,000k's put in a $3000 - $4000 r154 manual conversion lsd $700 other odds and sods (mufflers, interior bits) $1000 only just bought some coil overs $700 would be lucky to sell for $6k i think. honestly if i had the spare money to do so i'd gladly spend another 10 grand getting it back up to "brand new" style spec, replacing all bushes and suspenion/drive line bits, good set of tyres, fix the rims, clean the interior up that little bit. i'd had to make the car over the top with glitter paint and the PHATEST of bling rims, i just want it like new as its just such a nice looking car on its own |
Ali Saeed
Goo Roo WA '97 JZZ30, '12 ZN6
Posts: 4321 Reg: 09-2007
| Well I bought my soarer for 9K + spent 7.5k on 2jzgte + r154 conversion. Ill probably be spending the following eventually: $2k on brakes $1k on black interior $2k on high flow turbos $1-2k on aftermarket management $1k on fuel system $1k miscellaneous So a similar figure to Tai then. Plus I would also love to import a LHD VVTi SC400... |
Ian Johnston
Goo Roo South Australia 1995 UZZ31, BA XR6Turbo Ute. 2007 VE GTS.
Posts: 1616 Reg: 07-2005
| Ali, have you looked into the import bit from the US? Is it possible? That would be a better way of doing a VVTI transplant, and analogue dash all in one. |
Ryan McDonough
DieHard NSW JZZ30 TT
Posts: 827 Reg: 07-2005
| I have already had mine for almost 10 years, purchased for 20k, and still spending. I dont think that I am ever going to be able to replace it. |
Ali Saeed
Goo Roo WA '97 JZZ30, '12 ZN6
Posts: 4322 Reg: 09-2007
| Ian, I had a look at it and its pretty much the same as importing from Japan. a very nice SC400 will be around 10k, most vvtis are around 6-7K. I think the catch is you cannot register them unless they are 20 years old and you have owned them for a year..I think |
James Buchan
Goo Roo Vic V8, vvti single turbo
Posts: 1611 Reg: 10-2008
| I won't tell you what I paid for my vvti turbo because you'd hate me (under 10k) but here's what's on it so far. Bought it in July last year, 100% stock Greddy E-manage ultimate - let's say a conservative 1.2k installed, tuned etc. Greddy LS intercooler - $700 Supra four piston brakes $950 Turbosmart boost controller $200 Turbosmart boost gauge $100 Mandrel bent dual 2.5 exhaust $550 Tomei ARMS M8280 Turbo $1500 Bosch 550's $500 Walbro GS342 Fuel pump $200 Work CR Kiwami wheels $2k w/o tires B&M trans oil cooler $150 engine oil cooler $250 Koyorad tripple copper core radiator $250 MV autos shift kit $400 Spare gearbox $200 Spare vvti engine ecu $200 Spare vvti 1j soarer throttle control ecu $200 Spare vvti turbo airbox $100 Late model supra 3 spoke steering wheel $300 TRD thermostat $100 dump pipe $400 New front main, crank case, and cam seals $600 pedders shocks/springs $600 And that's still a long way from being finished & I don't want to think about how much if you combined my V8's cost so far either. And the only other cars I'd consider buying would be a late model 6spd Supra twin turbo, or a very clean JZX100. So guess it's kind of worth it?.. |
Scott Vim
DieHard Vic Soarer (1uz) Chaser (1jz)
Posts: 522 Reg: 12-2010
| I did about 50,000km trouble free. Lately I have spent a bit to maintain it. Things I could have let go but im keeping the car so its an investment. Really they just don't make.cars like it anymore. |
James Buchan
Goo Roo Vic V8, vvti single turbo
Posts: 1612 Reg: 10-2008
| ^^This. I figure if you have no intentions of selling and you like the car, you will spend money on it to look after it. |
Dave van Staveren
TryHard South Australia Soarer Limited coupe v8
Posts: 143 Reg: 03-2011
| A car can NEVER be finished, so you will NEVER stop spending cash! Even when ya think its done, there will be a new improved part pop onto the shelf at ya local auto parts store, that is a must have :o) $3000 Car $1800 Wheels & tires $3400 Blower, management, FMIC + pipes (and climbing) $2000 FULL exhaust $1400 Hi-stall and shift kit $800 Diff $700 Discs & pads $170 Walbro $150 Field height controller Not to mention wear and tear replacement items and servicing every 3rd trip around the block. I still plan on spending enough for a small outback hospital wing to get her the way I want... |
Ian Johnston
Goo Roo South Australia 1995 UZZ31, BA XR6Turbo Ute. 2007 VE GTS.
Posts: 1617 Reg: 07-2005
| Ali, I was more thinking of a VVTI SC400 halfcut for the conversion instead of a Lexus LS400. May have to do some searching. And James, yeah, I would love a VVTI turbo as well. They are cheap at the moment. Robs got one in sell section for $7,900. Bargain for what you get. Unfortunately, wifes not happy with the 7 cars my daughter and I currently have at our place, so no more at the moment, unless I can sell off some. |
Mike Beck
Goo Roo New Zealand BMW E36 Coupe 1UZFE V8 340i
Posts: 5686 Reg: 11-2005
| I only ever spend a few grand on my Soarers depending on which ones I had while I was a student. Since then I've spent a good 25k or so on my 1UZ E36 and probably another 10k on tools, and machines in recent years. Do I care? Nope. That money would have never been saved and only ended up buying other stuff like exotic stereos and computers which I can do without. |
James Johnson
DieHard Auckland 95 UZZ31 with R154
Posts: 580 Reg: 03-2009
|
Mike Beck wrote on Friday, February 01, 2013 - 12:28 pm:Do I care? Nope. That money would have never been saved and only ended up buying other stuff like exotic stereos and computers which I can do without.
That's exactly it aye Mike. I have spent so much that I have lost count on my Soarer. But as Mike said the money I have spent would have been spent on other things that I do not need. |
Vincent Chan
TryHard nsw v8
Posts: 284 Reg: 12-2010
| I spend most of my money on wine, women and song. The rest I squander on my Soarer. |
Allan Langford
DieHard Vic UZZ31
Posts: 807 Reg: 05-2010
|
Ian Johnston wrote on Friday, February 01, 2013 - 12:26 pm:Unfortunately, wifes not happy with the 7 cars my daughter and I currently have at our place, so no more at the moment, unless I can sell off some.
so what's selling first wife or daughter? pic's / how much? ;) |
Ian Johnston
Goo Roo South Australia 1995 UZZ31, BA XR6Turbo Ute. 2007 VE GTS.
Posts: 1618 Reg: 07-2005
| Daughters not the problem, shes a car freak like me. She has 2 HSV Clubsports, and my old Soarer. Missus is too old for you Allan, although she is a good cook, and keeps a clean house Hey, if I hadnt spent money on cars, I would be a millionaire, and would have been extremely bored. |
Allan Langford
DieHard Vic UZZ31
Posts: 808 Reg: 05-2010
| http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDXYzUlv0S8 |
Ali Saeed
Goo Roo WA '97 JZZ30, '12 ZN6
Posts: 4324 Reg: 09-2007
| In my opinion Ian, it will be better to take the whole car. |
Ian Johnston
Goo Roo South Australia 1995 UZZ31, BA XR6Turbo Ute. 2007 VE GTS.
Posts: 1619 Reg: 07-2005
| Had a quick look earlier on US Ebay, only a few VVTI ones on there. Not cheap if you are looking for a parts car. Cheapest was about $7,000 US. A couple of real tidy low k ones for around $14,000. What other US sites would I look?? |
Allan Langford
DieHard Vic UZZ31
Posts: 811 Reg: 05-2010
| an ecu, blower, set of rod's and pistons would be better value |
Ian Johnston
Goo Roo South Australia 1995 UZZ31, BA XR6Turbo Ute. 2007 VE GTS.
Posts: 1620 Reg: 07-2005
| As I have said, I am not after power increase(got my other toys for that), I just want something different in my Soarer. Later engine, and 5 speed box would be interesting I feel. Plus, I like doing things different Just finished a GEN111 conversion with 4L60E trans into my 1978 Chev pickup. Did 98% of the work myself, so dont mind having a go. |
Allan Langford
DieHard Vic UZZ31
Posts: 812 Reg: 05-2010
| 5 speed box is nice, I have one in my cressida wagon behind a 1uz... |
Ali Saeed
Goo Roo WA '97 JZZ30, '12 ZN6
Posts: 4325 Reg: 09-2007
| Ian try Cars.com I would love to have a black on black 1999/2000 SC400. Would be the most unique "Soarer" around |