Saturday, October 30, 2010 - 03:46 am, by: Steven Soknacki(Sc_coupe)
I'm from Canada and looking at buying a 5-speed. I think I'm getting a fair deal, but you guys are more familiar with what they're worth than I am. Its a 1994 2.5 GT-T Limited with just over 100k kms, Pearl white on tan.
Pros: -Original R154 car -LSD -Twin-Plate clutch -Aftermarket exhaust -Nice 18" Alloys -96 body conversion with a Vertex rear -Service records and auction sheet from Japan (Grade 3.5) -Seems very strong mechanically -Clean seats and no interior cracks
Cons: -Bumpers, boot lid need paint, rest of the car needs a proper cut and polish -Guards have been rolled and fenders are a little wavy -Stiff 1-2 shift, but the car is due for gear oil.
If I were to purchase it could probably be had for a little under 10 grand. It seems like a pretty fair price - What's your take on it?
Keep in mind today the Canadian and Australian dollars are pretty much on par.
Any input is appreciated.
Cheers,
-Steve
Ben Lipman Goo Roo NT Soarer TT manual, plus TT track car
Saturday, October 30, 2010 - 08:42 am, by: Ben Lipman(Ben12a)
Very hard for us to compare our market to yours. The reason Soarers are now cheaper than ten year old Daewoos is because the market is literally flooded with them and they lack the ricer/P plater appeal of the Skyline/Silvia Nissans.
I think that you are getting a good deal, but with any car around the 100,000km mark I would want to know if the 100,000km service has been done. This cost me $700 in parts to complete and really needs to be done.
The best thing to do is look in the local paper and see what else you can get for ten grand. This is the single reason why I haven't sold my TT. I simply cannot buy anything better for the money I would get if I sold it. (plus I still like looking at it drive off when the missus borrows it).
There is a thread on here where everyone bitched about what has gone wrong with their Soarer. I would have a look for that and check that some of the common/expensive things are OK on the car you are looking at. (My experience: door trims cracked, air con not working, Lower control arm bushes worn out, CD changer playing up. And that 100,000km service-esp timing belt)
Saturday, October 30, 2010 - 09:50 am, by: Steven Soknacki(Sc_coupe)
Thanks for your thoughts on this Ben.
The other Soarers I've seen locally are very rough with no service history and need much more work than this one does.
I have had an SC400 for 3 and a half years so I have considerable experience with the chassis and am aware of the common faults. The car feels a bit tighter overall than my SC with 175,000kms. The bushes seem to be okay - no odd bump steer or clunks. Aircon works and climate display has new lighting.
I've also done a fair bit of research on the JZZ30's and am aware of some of potential issues with the CT12A's. From driving it, the turbos sound healthy and the car is as quick as it should be.
Everything seems to be in order - the timing belt was done at 100,000km with Toyota parts. I will look further into what the 100,000km service includes and ask the owner about what else has been completed. I'll also look for that thread you mentioned and look into anything I may have missed.
Also, I know there was a recall on the early 1JZ's regarding a faulty PCV. Does anyone know if this included the 1994 model year, or had they fixed it by then?
Saturday, October 30, 2010 - 11:13 am, by: Shaydan Penniment(Shaydy)
Sorry, but i'm a P Plater and this car appeals to me greatly! Way more than a Silvia or Skyline. Maybe that's just me.
Although under 10g sounds pretty reasonable considering the year and the amount of kms. The turbo's (i think) are better than the ones you get in skylines etc, as they seem to last longer. the ones in skylines seem to blow up when you drive the car down the road. Any Soarer is a good, well made car, have fun
Ben Lipman Goo Roo NT Soarer TT manual, plus TT track car
Saturday, October 30, 2010 - 12:31 pm, by: Ben Lipman(Ben12a)
I think the PCV thing was sorted pretty early in the piece, but they aren't expensive to buy from Toyota if you are worried.
If you know SC/Soarers and in you own opinion the car seems in good nick, then I definitely think you should go for it.
There is tons written on the CT12A turbos. I have two TT's with stock turbos. One has been boosted to 12PSI for nearly eight years that I have owned it with no catastrophic failure, and the second TT has been thoroughly flogged around racetracks in Australian heat for over two years. Given my cars are 18 and 17 years old respectively, I think they are doing just fine.
Shaydan, you are special. I was making a (fairly accurate) generalisation. It also probably has a bit to do with Toyota Australia's blandness, and a lack of motorsports heritage whereas the GTR "Godzilla" has cult car status, and the 200SX was sold locally wetting the appetite. And then there is the aftermarket support for most of the other Jap import stuff that the Toyotas don't seem to attract.
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