I'm currently looking at getting a new car (i want to upgrade from a 93 Ford Festiva) and a Soarer is at the top of my list currently.
A friend of mine used to have a soarer (V8 GT Limited), and i fell in love with it, hence im thinking of getting one myself. He directed me to this site so i could talk to people that know about them
im considering getting a soarer in 10-15k bracket, preferably with a 1JZ in it. If i do actually go ahead with getting one, are there features that i should look for in particular? and are there things that i should pay special attention to when i go for an inspection?
no real rush at the moment, cos it's another 2 months •• i can apply for a loan, im just trying to get my homework done in advance
Ben Socratous DieHard SA Iv'e started to put my interior back together!!!
Sunday, September 17, 2006 - 08:52 am, by: Ben Socratous(Socrates)
Few things to keep in mind;
1/ Welcome.
2/ There are a few threads around here in regards to buying a soarer, try the search function out.
3/ 1J equipped soarers come in either pov pack or gt-tl trim, other than that the only options are lsd or manual. The V8's are where all the bells and whistles are.
4/ Noticed that you are rather young atm, can your income support a soarer? I have seen many young people fall into that trap in regards to imports. Factoring in loan repayments of a 5 year term, insurance, rego, servicing, petrol and the parts that will invariably break and need replacing, you will need at least $7500 per year just to keep it on the road, without mods. Start modifying it and that price goes up dramatically. Not trying to sound to pesamistic, just trying to give you all the facts that a car yard or private seller won't.
Ken Cornell DieHard Western Australia 4.0GT V8 Soarer
Sunday, September 17, 2006 - 09:27 am, by: Ken Cornell(Dunadan)
Welcome Jeremy! I wish I had found this site before I had my first Soarer experience. I test drove one, fell in love and brought it. Then found out all the problems it had. It was still worth every cent, but I spent a lot of cash at dodgy mechanics before I found this site and was pointed in the right direction. I would recommend buying from an established member on this site. The price might not be the lowest, but they are more likely to have looked after 'her', and to tell you what is still to be fixed.
Sunday, September 17, 2006 - 09:50 am, by: Mike Triggs(Mikeandimah)
Welcome, Jeremy
Why not consider a 3.0l? Many come with the bells and whistles while the pov pack is perfectly adequate. You get all the Soarer attributes of looks and comfort with very respectable performance, better fuel economy, less running costs, and, most importantly, lower insurance. They can also be had a little cheaper than the turbo.
For what it's worth, we have two 3.0s, a pov pack '95 and a G_Pack '97 with VVTi. They are both gems- the '97 is better looking because of the update body kit. 165-169kW is far better than a Festiva!
I know that it will be a little pricey to maintain and such, but im fairly confident that i'll be able to. im making around $650 a week •• tax, and im trying to save everything so that i can insure what ever i buy as soon as i get it, and then have money on the side should somehting break (so living at home and a festiva's fuel economy of 6.5L/100km on 91ron is great for that :P)
i've allways wanted a turbo car, hence im after a 1JZ powered soarer, as opposed to a V8, despite the awesome leather trim, dash and center console goodies that my mate's V8 GT Limited had
i admittedly know next to nothing about Soarers other than they look great, and the V8 GT Limiteds are really comfy (havnt been in any soarers other than my mates). do the 1JZ powered ones come with leather trim and such or was that only the V8s? and if they do, how much would they be roughly?
Sunday, September 17, 2006 - 08:08 pm, by: Bill Bogiatzis(Boggie23)
No 1jz came out with leather. But you can stick in a v8's leather seats.
Also you are excalty like me LoL.
I have a 1993 festiva and upgraded to a Soarer. It is a bit of a difference HeHeHe.
And i kept the festiva and drive the Soarer on the weekend. And also the soarer is the best bang for your buck on the market. Things to look for. The bleeding of the cluster and air con unit. Conditions of the turbos, and timing/100k service. Also that the car has been looked after.
Monday, September 18, 2006 - 05:09 pm, by: Mike Triggs(Mikeandimah)
If you're considering an Aristo (GS300) why not a 3.0 Soarer (same engine)? Actually the Aristo would be a good choice, if my wife weren't so infatuated with two-door cars it would be my choice of rear wheel drive saloons (followed by the Chaser family).
yeah, im really in between a soarer, GS300 and a post 1998 aristo, but the only aristo's i've seen have heaps of KM on them. the GS300's have less KM, but are way more expensive. a soarer with a 2JZ from what i've seen is out of my price range, and the aristo is really at the pointy end of my budget. that leaves a 1JZ soarer as my most logical choice at the moment...
anyone know where i can talk to aristo/gs300 owners to ask about them?
It was good to drive my gf's Festiva, because then as soon as you drive the soarer you just get a huge smile on your face when you notice the difference
Monday, September 18, 2006 - 07:01 pm, by: Nathan Evans(Soarer7)
ive got a TT and i have had no reasonably big problems, as mentioned above, just watch for the conditions of the turbos and just have a general good look over the car. i can guarantee that there is something you will miss and then find it and say, hey thats cool i didnt know i had that. Happened to me all the time (as i didnt have the soarercentral site to look at before i bought). All you have to do is look after your soarer and you cant go wrong. GO THE TT'S!!!!!!!
Ben Socratous DieHard SA Iv'e started to put my interior back together!!!
Monday, September 18, 2006 - 09:34 pm, by: Bill Bogiatzis(Boggie23)
I recon it is time to expand soarer central to include a ford festiva section.
We will need a interior section, mechanical section, general festiva chat section and a picture section.
Go the festivas. did a acceleration test last week 0-100 in na (still trying to reach it). I am sure the festiva will be good for a 10 pass down the dragway. How proud will people be having a 10 min car.
Ben Socratous DieHard SA Iv'e started to put my interior back together!!!
Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - 06:07 am, by: Mike Triggs(Mikeandimah)
David Vaughan wrote on Monday, September 18, 2006 - 06:55 pm:
Hey Mike, wanna swap wives?? Then we could all be a perfect match on doors
David Vaughan wrote on Monday, September 18, 2006 - 06:55 pm:
Thanks for the offer, David My wife is far too good a cook (not to mention sexy and beautiful) to pass on. I have also fallen in love with her car (the Soarer) despite its shortcomings (like less luggage room than a Festiva).
Don Bagnall Moderator New Zealand I have WAY less Soarers than Hayden :-(
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