SoarerCentral: Archive through March 25, 2006

SoarerCentral General Soarer Chat NA 3L Soarers Archive through March 25, 2006

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Gavin Thiele
Tinkerer
QLD
GZ10 TT

Posts: 95
Reg: 07-2005

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

Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 08:49 pm, by: Gavin Thiele (Ndgcpr)

Hey all,

My younger brother is after a new car, and has expressed interest in soarers, he has only just got his licence and i feel that the V8 or TT ones probably arn't a good first car due to power output (you may disagree with me but i don't think your first car should be high powered)

I have seen everywhere 3L NA 6 cyc soarers and i wish to know if they are worth it, as in are they still driveable or are they as slow as crap. Also what motor are in these 7M-GEU???

Thanks

James Johnson
TryHard
Victoria
TT

Posts: 194
Reg: 07-2005

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

Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 08:52 pm, by: James Johnson (Jamesy)

2JZ non turbo

Mike Beck
TryHard
New Zeland
Honda

Posts: 356
Reg: 11-2005

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

Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 09:17 pm, by: Mike Beck (Gold_40gt)

I think they are quite good. I was interesting in getting one a while ago as a way to save gas. But I really need a v8 - dont care about gas costs anymore! So im looking for a new one.

Any way For a first car a 3 litre soarer with 225hp and 300nm torque is alot, especially a RWD coupe! They can do 100km/h in under 8 seconds? and 1/4 mile in the high low 16s from what i have read. So they are not slow at all.

Probably not really a good car for a person thats just got their licence... For example - Wet roads + rwd + unexperienced = crash waiting to happen in my opinion. A 2 litre FF drive is much better idea - at least for a month + to get the hang lots of driving. Then If you brothers up to it he can upgrade to a 3.0GT soarer...

Callum Finch
DieHard
WA
Soarer TT

Posts: 813
Reg: 09-2005

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

Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 11:56 pm, by: Callum Finch (Sigeneat)

v8 soarer with some options like airbag suspension and traction control is a pretty solid car for drivers of any skill. Get a later model one and you have airbags all over the place!

All Soarers are prolly one of the safest cars to be in as well.

TT would be a bad choice as a first car, as would any turbo car given the sudden burst of power as the the forced induction takes over.

Getting ahold of a 3L may be pricey?

FWD would be even better, but there is no wank value in an excel ;D

Matthew Sharpe
DieHard
North Island
3.0 GT

Posts: 551
Reg: 10-2005

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

Monday, March 20, 2006 - 07:54 am, by: Matthew Sharpe (Madmatt)

I bought my 2JZ because I couldn't find a low milage late model V8 in NZ, but I'm very happy with it. Its got plenty of power for what I want (daily driver)

I'd agree I wouldn't want a new driver to own a Soarer though, it'll get dinged up and scratched. Having said that I taught one of my ex's to drive in my UZZ30 (V8) - oh last piece of advise, never give driving lessons to your girlfriend.

Sam Schreck
DieHard
ACT
vvt-i JZZ31

Posts: 640
Reg: 07-2005

Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!)

Monday, March 20, 2006 - 08:22 am, by: Sam Schreck (Schreck300)

Some great advice from you Mike regarding wet roads. I had a few very close calls after changing over from 3 previous that were front wheel drive. Without TRC the 3.0 can be a little dangerous. Mine is not slow, that's for sure. 0-100 in under 8 secs. Fuel consumption is very good for a car it's size (68ltr tank). The 2jzge is one of the BEST motors ever built too. Service it properly and it'll run almost forever.
I'd have to agree with the others, not a good first car choice. First car, in my opinion should be small and a manual. Learn to, or make sure you can drive defensively without over reacting in a car that will respond and manoeuvre exactly as you'd expect when you have to act quickly. A car where you can see the front, rear, and especially your blind spots clearly and easily. A car that, if you put a dent or 2 in it, you won't feel like your dog just died.

Mike Triggs
TryHard
Norfolk Island
3.0GT G-Pack

Posts: 487
Reg: 07-2005

Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!)

Monday, March 20, 2006 - 08:43 am, by: Mike Triggs (Mikeandimah)

I'd add my voice to those saying any Soarer wouldn't be a good first car, but if he insisted the 3.0 would be best. The post late '97 VVTi engine is better, it's a little easier to drive than the earlier model (which would still be a good choice) because the power comes on earler. The earlier model loves to rev, while the VVTi does too you can also dawdle along if required.

I disagree entirely about front-wheel drive being better for a learner than rear. FWD spin their wheels all too readily in the wet, have torque steer and other undesirable traits. AS for learning in if you're not going to own one, what's the point? Gear control is one of the more difficult aspects of learning, controlling the car is more important.

Gavin Thiele
Tinkerer
QLD
GZ10 TT

Posts: 99
Reg: 07-2005

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

Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 06:58 pm, by: Gavin Thiele (Ndgcpr)

I never realised the 3L was a 2J-GE, makes sense and it should go pretty well, thanks. There were a few on carsales for only 10G so i thought they were fairly cheap.

And yeah i have serious concerns regarding a turbo for his 1st car, V8 not so much but it still is a bit torquey in the wet.

Thanks for the info

Oh and i tought my GF to drive in my old mazda, she thought it was very sluggish at 30Kph in 4th....

Mike Beck
TryHard
New Zeland
Honda

Posts: 364
Reg: 11-2005

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

Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 07:32 pm, by: Mike Beck (Gold_40gt)

V8 Not some much a problem compared to the TT? Hmmm well when I purchased my old v8 last year I found I had to be really careful around corners etc while accelerating in it to avoid unwanted wheel spin. That was in the Dry too!

In the wet i found it, really, really dangerous - Had to be sooo careful taking off on stepper roads while raining! Got used to it after a while. Even with my driving experience It took a bit of skill to manage it. I feel the v8 soarer would be just as bad as the TT, especially how it makes more torque at lower speeds and revs! Therefore probably the most dangerous while driving around town etc.

Anyway a New driver in a 3 Litre Soarer is a no no in my opinion - 290nm of torque and 165kw is plenty for even a 50 year old!. However a slightly better choice than a v8 or a TT.

Darryn Dewar
TryHard
Gisborne
UZZ30 Soarer

Posts: 214
Reg: 09-2005

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

Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 09:25 pm, by: Darryn Dewar (Mrphreak)

Sounds more like you had ••••• tyres Mike, my V8 has been one of the more predictable cars I've owned

Mike Beck
TryHard
New Zeland
Honda

Posts: 365
Reg: 11-2005

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

Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 09:39 pm, by: Mike Beck (Gold_40gt)

Lol they were due for a change when i sold them. Fronts had a few mm of tread while rears were 2mm or less. Considering i got back what i paid for it, there was no need to get new rear wheels!

The v8 Limited Im buying is slightly better. more tread obviously - however im getting other rims and tires so the wheels on the limited currently dont matter.

Aka Abedin
TryHard
NSW
TT

Posts: 173
Reg: 07-2005

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

Friday, March 24, 2006 - 01:17 pm, by: Aka Abedin (Soarer_91tt)

put it this way P plater driving by himself or with mates........ next thing you know he/she wants to show off and given not much experience under his/her belt........

accident is waiting to happen.

SC300 arent that slow and personally i wouldnt recommend 1 to any young drivers till they learn to control themself and understand road conditions.

Daniel Czechowski
DieHard
Western Australia
Soarer GT-T

Posts: 521
Reg: 07-2005

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

Friday, March 24, 2006 - 01:32 pm, by: Daniel Czechowski (Dan)

SC300 is probably as fast as a stock standard falcon or a commodore. It all comes down to whether P platers should drive cars like that or whether they should drive little barinas or charades. Personally I reckon they will be a lot more safer in a bigger car during a collision. Also, bigger cars tend to be more stable on the road, from my own experience anyway. My younger brother is just about to get his P's and there is no way we will allow him to get a small car (he's not opposing that neither hehe).

Besides, you'd think that young drivers would be learning to drive on their L's, not their P's wouldn't you? Sure they will shape their skills later on, but the basics of controlling a car in the wet etc. should be taught at the L's stage and not let them out in the open by themselves after they pass the test. Also you can go equally fast in a smaller car, but it will be a lot more safer doing that same speed in a bigger car. Anyway, my 2c...

David Vaughan
Goo Roo
ACT
Soarer UZZ31 V8 manual. Lexus IS300

Posts: 1686
Reg: 07-2005

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

Friday, March 24, 2006 - 02:17 pm, by: David Vaughan (Davidv)

You learn sfa on your L's, whatever the ideals.

An advantage of a smaller car is that it feels faster at a given speed, so you crash more slowly

. It is also more wieldy for a less experienced driver, carrying less intertia and generally a better road feel.

Rather than size, I think power to weight ratio is more important and my own view is that it should be limited, legally if need be, as it is in Victoria and for motorbikes.

Daniel Czechowski
DieHard
Western Australia
Soarer GT-T

Posts: 525
Reg: 07-2005

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

Friday, March 24, 2006 - 04:52 pm, by: Daniel Czechowski (Dan)

That's why the govt should change driver training to something like they have in europe... learn to drive in all weather conditions, and not just how to parallel park.

David Vaughan wrote on Friday, March 24, 2006 - 02:17 pm:
An advantage of a smaller car is that it feels faster at a given speed, so you crash more slowly . It is also more wieldy for a less experienced driver, carrying less intertia and generally a better road feel.

I disagree with the better road feel bit David. I've had the displeasure of driving little hatchbacks of all sorts on quite a few occasions, ranging from Barinas, Festivas, Jazz and all that other junk (that was before I even got the soarer). Honestly those cars don't compare anywhere near a large car when it comes to road feel and stability. The simple fact they have a small wheelbase and have a very high gravity point just makes them so uncomfortable to drive, jumpy and sometimes even unstable. Here in Perth we have a freeway that runs parallel to a river which is few metres away from the road, with no trees or bushes or anything like that. On a windy day that little hatchback seriously tilts over and gets pushed sideways onto the other lane with each gust of wind. Compare that to a Falcon for example. It has a very good road feel and handling I reckon and has the weight to keep it in place and not be pushed around like that. And you do feel the road very well. That's one plus in a falcon.

Surprisingly enough, a lot of the smaller cars have a similar power to weight ratio as the larger cars. They are just as quick. A falcon will go 0-100 k's in 8 seconds, and some hatchbacks in around 9 if not less, not much of a difference is there. I guess you compromise on comfort, handling and safety to save few bucks on fuel (and have easier parking), that's all it comes down to really.