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Don Bagnall
Moderator New Zealand I have WAY less Soarers than Hayden :-(
Posts: 5892 Reg: 05-2005
| Mike, I have driven both the non VVTi & later VVTi Windoms and find them an excellent drive, if a tad bland. In essence they're a 3.0l Camry with better looks & higher spec. I would certainly be looking at the 97 on VVTi ones, as the performance is noticeably crisper than the early ones.
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Mike Beck
Goo Roo Ellerslie Soarer 4.0GT
Posts: 1144 Reg: 11-2005
| Yeah Id prefer the 1997+ ones Still only a thought Id have to test drive a few... How did you feel the performance was for the non vvti models compared to your stock 4.0GT Don? Obviously a difference but still 154kw is quite a decent amount of power in a mid sized sedan... I just like the fact they have a smaller engine, Four door, have all the features the soarer has accept late 90s tech and all newer etc. I love my soarer to bits but just feel a more practical car is need. Especially with University close... My friends however think Im crazy. Soarer -> Windom... Hmm maybe I am? We will see how it goes |
Darryn Dewar
DieHard Gisborne UZZ30 Soarer
Posts: 683 Reg: 09-2005
| Personally I wouldn't buy a Windom, they're a Camry that's eaten too many pies. Performance is bland, economy isn't flash, doing things on a Transverse V6 is all sorts of annoying, the body styling is really dated, been known to blow head gaskets if they're not maintained, the doors have a tendancy to whistle (One of the perks of pillarless doors) and the power is going to the wrong wheels Also for Uni, you want the cheapest, most impratical car possible unless you constantly want to be asked for favours by those with no car, or one they can't fit anything/anyone in. Especially if you're living in the Halls. There are so many breakins in Uni car parks it's not funny. |
Keiran Beytagh
Tinkerer Wellington UZZ30 V8
Posts: 35 Reg: 01-2007
| Almost close to looking at an Altezza Mike? I've driven a few Windom's and i agree they do feel just like its had a few to many mince pies... |
Mike Beck
Goo Roo Ellerslie Soarer 4.0GT
Posts: 1145 Reg: 11-2005
| Heh, I dont want a fast car, just something newer and comfortable - It wont be a V8 soarer sports coupe thats for sure - Not many cars like the soarer... Ill looked at a few windoms today I wasnt that impressed, they were 2.5l V6 models still - but they felt like such a bland boring car, even driving wise. So no thanks! However I did come across a Toyota 1999 Mark II Qualis station wagon, Wow what a car it was! Im very interested in those, fantastic practical interior, with a nice dash similar to the Celsior as well as a decent seven speaker sound system. It was also rather comfortable and had more than enough go powered by a nice 3.0L V6 with a pleasing tone, as well as very good throttle response. Must look around for more of these, Id love to swap my soarer for the one I found, was mint and had a reasonable 114kms. It was Valued well to at under $7000 at auction so quite interested. To bad my car wont be sold by then... Still more will always come up! |
Mike Beck
Goo Roo Ellerslie Soarer 4.0GT
Posts: 1146 Reg: 11-2005
| Heres some pictures of the Qualis, Very nice car. Only problem is just about all are 2.5l models and not the 3.0L! Big problem as the 2.5L has 245nm compared with 290nm and they are same weight so that would have quite an effect on performance! Still I feel if I wait one will come up. Heres the pictures anyway
Nice model of car but probably wont happen, Still not sure if I want manual for a change or go along with the less involving automatics... Hmm time will tell |
Matthew Sharpe
Goo Roo North Island JZZ31
Posts: 2306 Reg: 10-2005
| My advise as you are an Auckland driver, if you are going mid-large saloon with FWD, don't bother with a manual. |
Thads Cooke
TryHard Auckland Twin Turbo Aristo jzs147
Posts: 152 Reg: 07-2005
| You do know these are a rebadged Camry? I was looking at them briefly until i found out, I had hoped that the 2.5 meant it had a 1jz and rwd but unfortunantly not..... They are quite a nice car though.... |
Mike Beck
Goo Roo Ellerslie Soarer 4.0GT
Posts: 1147 Reg: 11-2005
| Oh yeah Sure I know that. Nothing wrong with a Camry! At least this ones a much nicer looking one with a sizable bit of power compared to the common 2.2l Regarding the Auto/manual thing. Id only go Auto for another Toyota like the Qualis or something with 3.0L sorta sized engine. But Id go for manual anything 2-2.5L especially any Hondas which are prone to weaker automatic gearboxes. My best bet it to watcher turners and head down there regularly. Alot of bargains to be had there! Soarer has to be sold first - Ive dropped the price to a realistic level so should sell soon(ish) |
Mike Beck
Goo Roo Ellerslie Soarer 4.0GT
Posts: 1149 Reg: 11-2005
| I had some one call about the soarer the other day, they want to look at it some time in the weekend.... When this really happens though it does make me thing, wow the car could actually be gone soon! Would be rather sad to be honest as it is such a fun car to drive, own and is really superior to pretty much every car from its era! Makes me thing hmm some times do I want to sell it or keep it and just keep it even though it maybe expensive still with insurance... we will have to see how it goes.
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Matthew Sharpe
Goo Roo North Island JZZ31
Posts: 2327 Reg: 10-2005
| One of my work mates sold his Mitsi GTO (N/A) and bought a Camry 3 litre, all the options including leather etc which he abused the crap out of but kept going and going. He had nothing bad to say about the Camry other than dispite being the same displacement as the GTO, and being a fair bit lighter, it was quite sluggish compared to what he was used to. Now I know my JZZ31 was noticibely quicker off the mark than his GTO was due to a couple of traffic light trials on Church street (I suspect the GTO got about as much love as the Camry did), so the Camry really must be pretty slow. |
Mike Beck
Goo Roo Ellerslie Soarer 4.0GT
Posts: 1150 Reg: 11-2005
| Hmmm well FU.CKING great. Today I drove, was very close to catching the bus but though wow my cars such a great drive better drive it once more incase it sells on Sunday perhaps when the person views So just one hour ago I walked to my car, see it from the front smile at how tidy it was after washing yesterday then to walk around to the drivers door.... TO FIND A HUGE LOVELY DENT IN THE DOOR with white paint all over it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All I could do is say F*** about 30x so the whole street stopped what they were doing! The fact Im near broke makes it much worse and since I had person coming to look at it this weekend as well........ Oh what a great day................................
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Mike Beck
Goo Roo Ellerslie Soarer 4.0GT
Posts: 1151 Reg: 11-2005
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Mark Donovan
TryHard Auckland Soarer V8 Limited
Posts: 195 Reg: 07-2005
| that's horrible, Mike. Were you in a carpark, or parked on the road? Would there have been any surveillance cameras around that covered where you parked? Hope you catch the wanker. |
Mike Beck
Goo Roo Ellerslie Soarer 4.0GT
Posts: 1152 Reg: 11-2005
| Ah its done an thats that, Hopefully the folks will pay some of the repair bill they did 3k on my brothers car for a new motor... We will see... Still not what I wanted. |
Mike Beck
Goo Roo Ellerslie Soarer 4.0GT
Posts: 1153 Reg: 11-2005
| Fortunately the paint is not badly scratched most of it comes off with petrol quite nicely but the sharp angle of the dent in the lower left it a bit of a worry as it wont push out like some of the dents that could possibly. |
Bruce Gordon
Tinkerer Auckland Soarer V8 Limited
Posts: 55 Reg: 01-2007
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Mike Beck wrote on Friday, March 16, 2007 - 07:33 pm:
Mike I'm gutted! Your baby is an exceptional car and that is not a good look. Is it worth placing an ad in the paper asking if anybody saw it happen? I guess if they did you would have had a note under the windscreen wiper tho'. I do hope you change your mind about selling, ding or no ding, but you gotta do what you gotta do. If someone did that to my harley, insurance or not, I wouldn't rest until their balls (or applicable female bits) were dangling from a barbed wire fence. . . . |
Mike Beck
Goo Roo Ellerslie Soarer 4.0GT
Posts: 1154 Reg: 11-2005
| Thanks Bruce thats pretty much how I feel. Hmmm probably no one saw it is a very quiet street. Im just going to have to look at any cars local to the area with any marks on the four corners that match mine. Hmmm thinking about it we had Mark's, Don's, now my soarer damaged recently! Hope Matt's will not be next. |
Mike Beck
Goo Roo Ellerslie Soarer 4.0GT
Posts: 1155 Reg: 11-2005
| Hmmmm I think its best to replace the door with another one. The dent is jammed right in the corner and actually twisted part of the lines towards the end so that the metal bar inside has move a decent amount! Any idea on where I could source a Drivers door in good condition? If needed Id have it resprayed and have smaller imperfections removed. What sort of price would a door like this cost with out any other parts on it just the door its self? |
Matthew Sharpe
Goo Roo North Island JZZ31
Posts: 2344 Reg: 10-2005
| I can't conceive how someone could be so rude as to just drive off after something like this! I hope you find them Mike! If you really are intent on selling it, a good panel guy will make it look spot on again, but as you say, its never going to be "right" unless the door is replaced. Good chance to get that hinge sorted out too. No idea what a door would cost, but good prep and paint on a straight door won't see you much change from $500 I'd think, maybe less if you remove the door and trim yourself. |
Bruce Gordon
Tinkerer Auckland Soarer V8 Limited
Posts: 56 Reg: 01-2007
| Hi Mike, Did you get the ding fixed, and find the evil sod who hit you/ |
Mike Beck
Goo Roo Ellerslie Soarer 4.0GT
Posts: 1168 Reg: 11-2005
| No, nothing further on that Bruce. Well the sale has had some interest lately. I got a guy up north which is interested in it, he said he would be keen to buy it with the Dent for a slightly lesser price, havent agreed yet but $6500 is low as Id go and I feel thats too low anyway... He wants to come down to Auckland and have a look at it some time this week, hes rung about 5 times so VERY keen. However Im still 50/50 with if I should sell it as I know it will be hard to find a 4.0GT in a good a condition as this one with a 1994+ front bar & also hardly any other cars are decent in comparison. Hmmmm any ideas of what I should do? |
Don Bagnall
Moderator New Zealand I have WAY less Soarers than Hayden :-(
Posts: 5920 Reg: 05-2005
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Mike Beck wrote on Sunday, March 25, 2007 - 11:58 am:Hmmmm any ideas of what I should do?
Yes, Mr.Beck. KEEP THE BLOODY THING!!!!
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Mike Beck
Goo Roo Ellerslie Soarer 4.0GT
Posts: 1169 Reg: 11-2005
| Maybe your right. Ive had this for 1/2 a year and will be HUGELY missed compared to the gold 4.0GT which I had for a sixth of that time.... That was much easy to sell but this is a bit different especially since its a well appointed 4.0GT with the spoilers and sunroof! I might just have to tell the guy theres some kind of problem etc. We will see... I just think Im being a bit stupid when I know the other persons getting a better deal!! |
Darryn Dewar
DieHard Gisborne UZZ30 Soarer
Posts: 708 Reg: 09-2005
| If you sell it, and then start another thread about buying another one......Violence will ensue |