Toyota Soarer Questions - read inside.  

jacksonx
  • jacksonx
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  • Joined: 14-February 11
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  • From: Sunshine coast
Post #1 post 31st August 2011 - 09:00 PM
Looking at getting one in the near future as a daily,JZZ30 SHAPE but as with most cars ive heard good and some pretty bad shit about them too.


so im asking anyone on here about YOUR EXPERIENCES with this type of car. or your mates experiences or whatever,.


name some/all common problems you know of with these cars,

whether its the twin turbo or n/a model i dont mind, just the sharing of knowledge would be appareicated. i dont want to go and buy something that i cant use as a daily because it ends up being too much of a shit-tin riddled wth problems.


thanks everyone. thumbsup.gif hsdance.gif

--------------------
QUOTE (truffles @ May 31 2011, 12:26 AM) *
They'll tell you to funk off, like I am now. funk off, you won't get an exemption. Follow the laws, don't be a cunt.


WANTING TO BUY JZA80 COMPLETE DASH SURROUND PIECES, I DONT WANT ANYTHING THAT IS WRAPPED OR COATED IN THICK PAINT. PM ME IF YOU CAN HELP (MAY SETTLE FOR A WELL DONE CARBON FIBRE WRAP
jacksonx
Post #2

anyone?

stig0000
Post #3

my mate has one that he converted to single turbo,, never had a problem,, he only hates that his has a open diff, will be swaped very soon, other then that, no probs at all, had it a few yrs

jacksonx
Post #4

QUOTE (stig0000 @ Aug 31 2011, 10:08 PM) *
my mate has one that he converted to single turbo,, never had a problem,, he only hates that his has a open diff, will be swaped very soon, other then that, no probs at all, had it a few yrs

thats what i want to hear! no problems with the digital dash cluster?

LowgZ
Post #5

All the electrics are pretty bad, window regs commonly fail, blinky dash lights, fans stop functioning etc etc

Mechanicaly the CT-12's are getting really old on the TT's watch them but they are cheap to replace, if you dont mind paying the extra for rego the 8's a pretty reliable in my mind.

I have had both the TT and V8 model they are about the same on fuel, in all honesty though the TT handles better and just feels right if you plan to punt it around a bit. The V8 is really nice with the Airbags and you can grab yourself a controller and some nice rims and have some nice stance on them.

Hope that helps smile.gif

stig0000
Post #6

QUOTE (jacksonx @ Aug 31 2011, 09:10 PM) *
thats what i want to hear! no problems with the digital dash cluster?



he hasent no, he only took the twins off for a single, had 190k on them and still felt good with no smoke, but i have herd of them going,

jacksonx
Post #7

QUOTE (LowgZ @ Aug 31 2011, 09:14 PM) *
All the electrics are pretty bad, window regs commonly fail, blinky dash lights, fans stop functioning etc etc

Mechanicaly the CT-12's are getting really old on the TT's watch them but they are cheap to replace, if you dont mind paying the extra for rego the 8's a pretty reliable in my mind.

I have had both the TT and V8 model they are about the same on fuel, in all honesty though the TT handles better and just feels right if you plan to punt it around a bit. The V8 is really nice with the Airbags and you can grab yourself a controller and some nice rims and have some nice stance on them.

Hope that helps smile.gif



i was always dodgey about the digital dashes, is there a normal dial speedo/tacho,temp etc dash cluster that fits? from either another model of soarer or possibly a supra or someshit?

i'll even settle for an N/A one if i like it enough, its only going to be a daily afterall.

53XXN_ST80
Post #8

Ive got a white v8 one for sale with leather...191 xxx ks will have 6 months reg n rwc

Pm me mate

LowgZ
Post #9

QUOTE (jacksonx @ Aug 31 2011, 09:20 PM) *
i was always dodgey about the digital dashes, is there a normal dial speedo/tacho,temp etc dash cluster that fits? from either another model of soarer or possibly a supra or someshit?

i'll even settle for an N/A one if i like it enough, its only going to be a daily afterall.


Not that im aware of however there is a guy on the Gold Coast who does full repair of them for $250 a unit as long as you bring it in to him. They are not overly hard to remove like any Nissan really.

As for buying the N/A 2j's dont for 2 reasons,

1. P Plater tax on them
2. They are epically slow, honestly if you dont want a turbo grab the V8 they are really good cruise around cars

I can happily say I will own another one once the new house is built and I have space to put it. I have always liked them and drive a nice Series 2 Stagea and a 32 at the moment but would love a V8 one again just to put some nice rims on, drop it and decent exhaust to hear them roar.

B Unit
Post #10

I have owned a factory manual TT 91 model for the past 8 years, it's sitting in my garage unregistered as we speak, genuine less than 100k on the clock. It's been a great car, only problems over that time has been:

Top tank on radiator once split. New top tank, fixed.
Front right hand tyre cut through all of the wiring to the front of the car, and the bonnet release hatch. I always thought I should lift the coil overs one day, too late. Re-routed all the wiring and new cable through under the bonnet to prevent this happening again.
My dash does blink, sometime doesn't work at all. Plenty of people fixing them now, and from what I have read on Soarer forums, they won't ever play up again with the new parts.

I also owned a standard TT auto for a few months, as well as a V8 (yes I love Soarers, had 3 in the garage at one time). Both also good reliable cars. I only had these for about 4-5 months, never had any issues with them. They would make a very good daily, luckily mine have just been weekend toys most of the time. Most of the general issues they have are covered very well on Soarer forums, and are generally nothing major. Toyota really do make good reliable cars.

May be selling my beloved manual TT soonish sad.gif

blacky83
Post #11

A friend and his dad both have them, both V8s, never had anything majorly wrong with them. They're really comfortable cruisers, and really quite cheap for what you get. 90s Toyota reliability FTW.

I've heard to avoid the air suspension, as they can cost a fortune if you need to replace them.

EUniqe
Post #12

mate had a 1uz.

Spent more time in the shop than on the road. From my experience, they're heavy, impractical, not desperately good looking and don't handle very well.

i honestly cannot see the point. but then, too each his own.

jacksonx
Post #13

QUOTE (LowgZ @ Aug 31 2011, 09:25 PM) *
Not that im aware of however there is a guy on the Gold Coast who does full repair of them for $250 a unit as long as you bring it in to him. They are not overly hard to remove like any Nissan really.

As for buying the N/A 2j's dont for 2 reasons,

1. P Plater tax on them
2. They are epically slow, honestly if you dont want a turbo grab the V8 they are really good cruise around cars

I can happily say I will own another one once the new house is built and I have space to put it. I have always liked them and drive a nice Series 2 Stagea and a 32 at the moment but would love a V8 one again just to put some nice rims on, drop it and decent exhaust to hear them roar.



N/A being epically slow, i suppose its alot of weight for the 3 Litre to be hauling around everywhere espcially with the auto behind it too, i cant imagine fuel economy would be that great either with the N/A. Never the less i really wont be doing much of a commute to and from work. I just want a comfortable car thats reliable that looks clean and well.... not as old looking as it really is. To me a soarer is just that, plus ive always liked them anyway.


Im going to be a real estate agent so i want a comfortable and respectable looking car without going down the european car path until later down the track... if at all.

jacksonx
Post #14

QUOTE (EUniqe @ Aug 31 2011, 10:11 PM) *
mate had a 1uz.

Spent more time in the shop than on the road. From my experience, they're heavy, impractical, not desperately good looking and don't handle very well.

i honestly cannot see the point. but then, too each his own.



this is what ive heard a few times before from different people but they've always failed to tell me what went wrong. i'm thinking maybe the people that have bought these so called dud soarers, have either not maintained them very well if at all, or the previous owners have failed to do so. juuuuuuuuust a thought..... ph34r.gif

MR 3KGT
Post #15

Having owned an auto Twin Turbo JZZ30, I had NO mechanical issues with it whatsoever.

Maintained it to a high standard and oil change every 5000kms and it started first time everytime and went hard.

The best thing you can do for this car is install the below before you even bother increasing the perfomance.

- upgraded brake pads
- slotted rotors
- braided lines
- coilovers

Braking is probably one of the cars weak spots, the factory brakes get heat soaked quick when driving hard so an upgrade is in order asap!

Coilovers TOTALLY redefine the car! i had mine dumped on some hard as fuck Jap coilovers 14kg front and 10kg rears and it handled like it was on rails! Prior to that it was a wishy washy boat!

They are too cheap these days, Good luck!

Wraith
Post #16

Good cars. Mine was pretty abused and still went alright. Besides the blinky dash there isn't too much that goes wrong. Oh and the seats can stop working but you can pull the ones out of a wrecked supra and save 30 odd kg's in weight. Oh and fyi they weigh just as much as a R33 skyline GTS-t.

stockmy00
Post #17

If you can deal with an auto then go for it ... If you find a reasonable priced manual then jump on it. They are good cars, cheap as chips too.

176OES
Post #18

I've had both the UZZ30 and currently have a JZZ30. Most of the issues these cars have can be fixed cheaply.

Some other common problems.. Aircon leaks/probs can be hard to trace in them I have read on SC

Blinky fuel gauge, but that really is a simple fix.... remove the reader... clean it... put it back in.

Brake accumulators often need regassing with nitrogen... there's a bloke in NSW who does a changeover service for about $400 though, and brakes are amazing once it is done.

Error messages come up on the dash written in klingon (japanese)... so you need a sheet in the glovebox which translates them

Feel free to msg me if you have any other Q's

Post #19

i have a 90 model soarer for sale at the momment 7m_gte was low k,s1 owner allways garaged //serviced etc and has given me plenty of grief o ring failures overheating electrical brake squeeks excess fuel use radiator head gasket hoses leaks sspeedo now low oil presure.
dont waste yr time and money with cars that were never made to last!and thats most jap cars unfortunately.
dont get me wrong technoligy is great but dated!!!
give me quality not disposable
AL.TORANA PANELVAN MAN

stockmy00
Post #20

QUOTE ([email protected] @ Sep 1 2011, 10:53 AM) *
i have a 90 model soarer for sale at the momment 7m_gte was low k,s1 owner allways garaged //serviced etc and has given me plenty of grief o ring failures overheating electrical brake squeeks excess fuel use radiator head gasket hoses leaks sspeedo now low oil presure.
dont waste yr time and money with cars that were never made to last!and thats most jap cars unfortunately.
dont get me wrong technoligy is great but dated!!!
give me quality not disposable
AL.TORANA PANELVAN MAN

Plenty of 7mgte and 1jz 's have clocked up 300-400,000kms on original motor... As with any car it comes down to it's service life etc.

They do have alot of electrics and (at the time ) brand new technology was shoved in every where, obviously some of it was done without as much knowledge as nowadays. That's really the thing id be sussing out in any you look at. Check everything works as it should.

180sxy
Post #21

QUOTE ([email protected] @ Sep 1 2011, 10:53 AM) *
i have a 90 model soarer for sale at the momment 7m_gte was low k,s1 owner allways garaged //serviced etc and has given me plenty of grief o ring failures overheating electrical brake squeeks excess fuel use radiator head gasket hoses leaks sspeedo now low oil presure.
dont waste yr time and money with cars that were never made to last!and thats most jap cars unfortunately.
dont get me wrong technoligy is great but dated!!!
give me quality not disposable
AL.TORANA PANELVAN MAN


Theres is so much wrong in that statement its hard to begin flaming you

polishstorm
Post #22

I used to own a JZZ30 and it was a gem...

Common faults are:
door trims cracking due to weight of doors (they have double door brackets to help hold them)
blinky dash
leakage in the aircon/heater displays (as do most early lexus type vehicles including the celsior/LS400)
Airbags in the V8's should be replaced with the struts from the TT6 or even coilovers for much better handling
brakes can be interchanged with JZA80 for heaps better stopping power.

Apart from that they are an awesome budget cruiser

mark1414
Post #23

QUOTE (polishstorm @ Sep 1 2011, 12:41 PM) *
I used to own a JZZ30 and it was a gem...

Common faults are:
door trims cracking due to weight of doors (they have double door brackets to help hold them)
blinky dash
leakage in the aircon/heater displays (as do most early lexus type vehicles including the celsior/LS400)
Airbags in the V8's should be replaced with the struts from the TT6 or even coilovers for much better handling
brakes can be interchanged with JZA80 for heaps better stopping power.

Apart from that they are an awesome budget cruiser


This guy knows. Also the fuel pump ECU is a pretty common problem, I know that happened to mine. They are/were a good car, just look for a good example because since they are so cheap many have been poorly maintained in recent years. I would stick with the JZZ30 (twin turbo model) but if you want a v8 it would be advisable to get a UZZ30, which is the lightest of the v8 soarers and has regular coil suspension not airbags.

B Unit
Post #24

QUOTE ([email protected] @ Sep 1 2011, 10:53 AM) *
i have a 90 model soarer for sale at the momment 7m_gte was low k,s1 owner allways garaged //serviced etc and has given me plenty of grief o ring failures overheating electrical brake squeeks excess fuel use radiator head gasket hoses leaks sspeedo now low oil presure.
dont waste yr time and money with cars that were never made to last!and thats most jap cars unfortunately.
dont get me wrong technoligy is great but dated!!!
give me quality not disposable
AL.TORANA PANELVAN MAN

7M GTEs were prone to trouble. I know people who have had them for many years with reasonably big HP and no issues, but they are more commonly known for trouble.

Surprised no one has mentioned yet how near bullet proof they are if you did decide to do some work to the engine for both the TT and V8 engines.

176OES
Post #25

True... but it kinda goes against the direction of the topic which was wanting a daily smile.gif

B Unit
Post #26

QUOTE (176OES @ Sep 1 2011, 11:07 PM) *
True... but it kinda goes against the direction of the topic which was wanting a daily smile.gif

Nothing wrong with a 500hp daily laugh.gif

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