Toyota Soarer ( JDM goodness)

[ClioPowa]

At last back into a JDM Motor. Will mainly be used over the Summer and packed away in the winter. Sadly, the Clio will be making way in the summer, the crave for something JDM and made in the 90s was too much to resist.

Picked it up over a week ago. I was initially looking for something comfortable but quick and having driven a Soarer before the choice was made. These are quite rare to come by and this particular one comes with a electric Sunroof, electric folding mirrors, factory fitted wind deflectors, roof spoiler, gold emblems and the all important factory manual gearbox.

The car is pretty stock with only some minor modifications. I don't plan on increasing the power any time soon, the long drive back was a dream. Cruising along the motorway at 80mph and overtaking cars so effortlessly and a good fuel economy to boot, what more can you ask for? I've never owned a RWD car, especially one that pushes over 190bhp so to say I was very excited is an understatement. The car still has the speed limiter intact, I might choose to keep this in place so that I behave

Here are the specs:

1998 Toyota soarer 2.5 VVTi single turbo
Facelift model
Factory R154 manual,LSD
SSR Vienna sovereign alloys
HSD Coilovers
Side mount ARC intercooler
Supra mk4 single exhaust

I would like to take it to a specialist just to make sure everything is working fine and run some diagnostics for peace of mind. Let me know if you have any suggestions

 

[Iain C]

Needs under car neons.
Arnt these really slow? I remember having a run against one about 10 years ago and thinking is that it?

 

[_Tom]

Needs under car neons.
Arnt these really slow? I remember having a run against one about 10 years ago and thinking is that it?

280bhp and 1550kgs. They go alright but nowhere near as quick as some of the other jap imports. Easily sorted though as the sky’s the limit with a 1JZ really.

 

[Clio_fool]

Vety cool barge👍. Not too different to drive than the Clio I imagine? 😂😂

 

[Krarl]

280bhp and 1550kgs. They go alright but nowhere near as quick as some of the other jap imports. Easily sorted though as the sky’s the limit with a 1JZ really.

It's a 2J if it's VVTi iirc

Even better really

 

[Louis]

I really like these, love the colour too! Look forward to updates.
Someone had one at CSF last year and it seemed to go well

 

[Krarl]

I really like these, love the colour too! Look forward to updates.
Someone had one at CSF last year and it seemed to go well

Wasn't that a V8 one?

 

[Louis]

Wasn't that a V8 one?

No idea

 

[Krarl]

No idea

Was fun to watch tbh. Especially when it got chased down by a c**t in a LET Corsa hahaha

 

[-Jamie-]

It's a 2J if it's VVTi iirc

Even better really

It's not, The single turbo 1JZ had VVti

 

[Clio_fool]

@Rojer will jiz his pants when he sees this.

 

[Krarl]

It's not, The single turbo 1JZ had VVti

I stand corrected

Thought it was just the later gen that came with VVTi

 

[ClioPowa]

Needs under car neons.
Arnt these really slow? I remember having a run against one about 10 years ago and thinking is that it?

Depends on how you define slow, but coming from a Clio and previously a B18CR swapped Honda Civic it definitely feels faster on the straights. From factory these are 280 BHP, although some say it's slightly more due to: https://thenewswheel.com/moments-in-car-history-the-japanese-gentlemans-agreement/

280bhp and 1550kgs. They go alright but nowhere near as quick as some of the other jap imports. Easily sorted though as the sky’s the limit with a 1JZ really.

Correct, On the straight once they are rolling they can go. The factory manual gearbox has long gear ratios so the power is more at the top end. The coilovers definitely help in the cornering department, I've driven one with no suspension mods and it feels like a boat to be honest.

I believe only the the JDM spec Soarers came with the 1JZ GTE VVTi engines, the ones sold in this country were mainly Automatic V8s.

 

[AdDaMan]

I stand corrected

Thought it was just the later gen that came with VVTi

this is a 2.5l. All 2J's are obvs 3.0.

Cool car man, super rare in manual and that looks mint too so bet it wasnt cheap!

 

[Krarl]

this is a 2.5l. All 2J's are obvs 3.0.

Cool car man, super rare in manual and that looks mint too so bet it wasnt cheap!

Fark true lol!!! 😂 😂

 

[197.]

Looks good, and seems to have a decent interior too. Well it's better than the one in my Clio that's for sure.

 

[Rojer]

@Rojer will jiz his pants when he sees this.

I would if it was in a Chaser body, but either way it looks nice and clean, fantastic engine with a manual box to boot. As much as it pains me to say the jz engine is better than the RB....

Jz engines are so solid if looked after and can run silly power even on stock internals. If I had one would like to fit a BMW box as I think they are stronger I believe.

 

[-Jamie-]

I would if it was in a Chaser body, but either way it looks nice and clean, fantastic engine with a manual box to boot. As much as it pains me to say the jz engine is better than the RB....

Jz engines are so solid if looked after and can run silly power even on stock internals. If I had one would like to fit a BMW box as I think they are stronger I believe.

Like this, They go very well for what looks a big car. Not as heavy as you'd think


This was a pretty basic in terms of setup but it went well on track

 

[cat171]

Proper!! I've not seen one in years! I only ever saw them badged as Lexus Soarer though.

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

I always liked these, even though they strike me as more of a tourer than a sports car. Nice with the manual box and turbo lump.

I'd be all over a body kit and big power though!

 

[Rojer]

Like this, They go very well for what looks a big car. Not as heavy as you'd think


This was a pretty basic in terms of setup but it went well on track

Yup now we are talking, I should of just took the risk and got one instead of that s**t S3 I had a while back.

I still keep an eye on eBay and still hope to own one at some point.

 

[AdDaMan]

I always liked these, even though they strike me as more of a tourer than a sports car.

Yeah they defo are. Super super comfy cruisers

 

[Rojer]

I'm just playing the noise in my head. They sound so good!!! Much better than any BMW six cylinder turbo!

 

[Bluebeard]

I love these. I’m not usually a fan of Jap crap but I could quite easily smoke that bad boy around.
(Is it not super rare in a manual? Apologies, I have no knowledge of them)

 

[Scrooge]

Really like that!!

 

[Philip.]

Awesome car. Very jealous as I’m extremely tempted by another JDM car at the moment.

R154 makes it even better. Suuuuuper rare!

 

[Hixle]

Awesome! Manual too!

I know I’m in the minority but there’s something I love about 90’s Jap car interiors!

 

[ClioPowa]

I love these. I’m not usually a fan of Jap crap but I could quite easily smoke that bad boy around.
(Is it not super rare in a manual? Apologies, I have no knowledge of them)

It is rare to find one that came out of the factory as a manual. The vast majority here in the UK and in the Japan auctions are automatics, there are some that have been converted from automatic to manual but the VIN plate doesn't lie. These gearboxes fetch stupid amounts now, I did contemplate buying a cheap automatic and doing the conversion myself but when this one became available it was a no brainer.

 

[Christopher]

Nice! Rare to find a factor manual one too. 1J goodness.

They sound about 300% faster than they are as standard though, get that side mount binned and a proper FMIC. Wind the boost up

 

[Christopher]

Proper!! I've not seen one in years! I only ever saw them badged as Lexus Soarer though.

Lexus SC300/SC400 it would've been, Japanese models were Soarers. Really cool cars, especially manuals!

 

[JamesBryan]

Cool motor.

Bet it has a nice sound.