Soarer Central: New user, still looking for a soarer

Soarer Central Say G'day New user, still looking for a soarer

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David McMillan
Newbie
South Australia
-

Posts: 1
Reg: 08-2007

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Sunday, August 19, 2007 - 11:33 pm, by: David McMillan (Phrenzy)

Hi all,

First off I just have to say thanks for the incredible resource that is this forum, its solved my running dilemma about what Im going to drive when i get back on the streets. Ive spent the last year and a half stuck at home with shoulder reconstructions and Ive finally resolved to sell my garden scuplture alfa super 90 instead of fixing it. Im dead set on a soarer now, nothing short of the '06 s2000 I saw turning out to actually cost 8k could stop me.

Im still trawling older threads looking for relevant advice, so far the only conclusion I can draw is that soarers kick alot of ass.

Im still a little confused about whats available as a manual (only mid spec 1jzgt?). Inspite of reviews saying the auto gives better power delivery in the 6 cil and the awsome touch screen in the 8 I just cant bring myself to buy an auto.

In about a months time I should have my finances in order to buy a car, hopefully one under 12k, so I have that long atleast to search out a solid car.

Seems South Australia has plenty of soarers but prescious few manuals. Id be interested if anyone can give me some advice on interstate purchasing. My running plan, if I end up finding my ideal car interstate is just to fly there and drive the (hopefully registered/road worthy/running) car back to Adelaide and just register it here.

Any help with my plan or advice on what to look for in a manual soarer is much appreciated. Also if anyone knows of a good Adelaide (even better northern suburbs) mechanic who can help with inspections I would be much obliged.

Sorry for the length, Ive got a weeks worth of thoughts and enthusiastic research to get down...

Cheers in advance for your help and I look foward to posting more and hopefully bringing my new soarer out to a cruise.

P.S: Im happy to hear about any local cars that might be comming up for sale.

Elizabeth Hogan
TryHard
western australia
V8 Limited edition

Posts: 110
Reg: 02-2006

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Monday, August 20, 2007 - 02:44 am, by: Elizabeth Hogan (Snowcatz)

Hi david and

hope you find the car your looking for liz/greg

Peter Nitschke
JunkFilterer
South Australia
GT4.0 V8

Posts: 8270
Reg: 11-2004

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Monday, August 20, 2007 - 02:47 am, by: Peter Nitschke (Pen)

David, I can't help with your search for a manual, but we are having a fix it day in a couple of weeks that you might want to come along to.

Tim McMullin
Tinkerer
Alberta
TT

Posts: 26
Reg: 05-2007

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Monday, August 20, 2007 - 03:50 am, by: Tim McMullin (Dirty380)

Hey, Welcome!

Like you said this is an incredible resource, use it!

As for buying a soarer..I just bought mine 2 weeks ago and I love it. Never a bad day now

David McMillan
Newbie
South Australia
-

Posts: 2
Reg: 08-2007

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Monday, August 20, 2007 - 09:57 am, by: David McMillan (Phrenzy)

thanks guys.

A fix it day sounds like a good place to sort out what I should be looking for in a car.

I just cant believe how overlooked soarers are. I suppose people like me assume they are out of their price range, I mean DB9 'esque look, leather, electrics AND a supra engine for the price of a vs commadore?

Matthew Sharpe
Goo Roo
North Island
JZZ31

Posts: 2891
Reg: 10-2005

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Monday, August 20, 2007 - 01:10 pm, by: Matthew Sharpe (Madmatt)

Coupe's are always a limited market.

Gary Morriss
DieHard
SA
TT

Posts: 671
Reg: 07-2005

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Monday, August 20, 2007 - 06:28 pm, by: Gary Morriss (Gaza)

Welcome David

PM Sent.

David McMillan
Newbie
South Australia
-

Posts: 4
Reg: 08-2007

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Monday, August 20, 2007 - 10:29 pm, by: David McMillan (Phrenzy)

I was wondering if someone could give me a few ideas about what primarily makes a soarer worth what it is. Body and paint work? After market parts? kilometers?

Thing is I have found a manual in my area with basic intake/exhaust mods, turbo timer and apparently an aftermarket LSD (I checked 3 times and its apparently not the torsen). A recent import already registered/complied with 144,000k's thats being used as a company car... It looks and sounds fine superficially and mechanically but its also out of my price range by atleast a few thousand dollars. My most pressing question is: hat should I be looking for or wary of in a recent japanese '93 import with nearly 150,000k's on the clock?

Also:
Thanks for the PM, I tried to reply but it said that you dont accept pm's, I would be very interested in any deails you could provide though, thanks.

George Lu
TryHard
vic
v8

Posts: 150
Reg: 02-2006

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - 09:50 am, by: George Lu (Lux)

there is alot of soarer out on the market, take your time finding the right now. The best thing to do is not to rush it. good luck and welcome

Matthew Sharpe
Goo Roo
North Island
JZZ31

Posts: 2893
Reg: 10-2005

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 06:17 am, by: Matthew Sharpe (Madmatt)

Factory manuals do seem to fetch higher prices.

Whatever you do, don't buy something you can't afford to maintain.

Kyle Wathen
TryHard
Vic
GTTL

Posts: 156
Reg: 02-2007

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 10:06 am, by: Kyle Wathen (Cspot)

David McMillan wrote on Monday, August 20, 2007 - 10:29 pm:
Thing is I have found a manual in my area with basic intake/exhaust mods, turbo timer and apparently an aftermarket LSD (I checked 3 times and its apparently not the torsen). A recent import already registered/complied with 144,000k's thats being used as a company car... It looks and sounds fine superficially and mechanically but its also out of my price range by atleast a few thousand dollars. My most pressing question is: hat should I be looking for or wary of in a recent japanese '93 import with nearly 150,000k's on the clock?

Rule #1 - never trust the km's an import is said to have by what it sais on the odometer. Its not illegal to rewind clocks in Japan and MANY cars have this done before coming out to Australia. I have seen some soarers with a 'claimed' 40,000-90,000 which showed more signs of wear than a model with 190,000km. Dont go by the odometer, rather look for signs of wear which can tell you a better story of how many km's the cars done.

Look for wear in the drivers side carpet, steering wheel, shifter, seats etc.

Any history or receipts showing stuff like belts, water pump, turbos etc have been replaced is also beneficial.

As Matt said you should expect to pay roughly a 2-3k premium for a manual model, as they are much rarer and as you have found hard to come by. But having said that i would stick it out and find a manual, a manual soarer (with LSD)would be awesome fun