JZZ 30 Soarer

[kuroi s14]

Alright! This has been on my mind for a long time. With all the increasing popularity of Silvias these days, why has there not been as a successful following for the toyota soarer (lexus SC400) . I beleive it has the same potential as the silvia, it's RWD there's tons of JDM parts available from L.S.D.'s (TRD, Tomei) body kits (Bomex) and there would definately be a huge demand for engine swaps to the 1jz GE or 2jz GE which is available here in the states. The SC400 has beutiful body lines like the s14 and s15. Don't get me wrong, I love my s14 and will never let it go, but if I was in the market for a RWD car for drifting or somthing to build up I would be different and go with a '92 SC400 which runs around $5,000 and do a supra engine swap your choice single or twin turbo!!!

[particleeffect]

i really don't know anything about the modern toyota brand. i've seen these things around central florida and wondered about them, i wasn't even sure if they were fr. maybe the initial sticker price was high being a lexus and all and thats why they didn't catch on? interesting though.

[AJ]

I looked at these a lot before i got my s14, they are great cars. if i ever start making good money, i will def buy one. However, u have to buy this car with the intent to swap the engine.. i've never seen a 5 speed,, actually.. i'm going to go do some more research.. i'll b back...

they also weigh a lot ;)

but.. err i gotta research it.. caus none of what i'm saying is fact at this time...

[kuroi s14]

that's what I'm saying, jz gt engine 280ps , I'm suprised there's no Soarer clubs in U.S. it would take the heat off of Silvias for awhile if they too became popular.

[particleeffect]

yeh i looked around for specs now, all i saw were v8 auto 4 speeds. that plus the cost... =\

[AKADriver]

The SC300 would be the better option for performance.. they come with the 2JZ-GE, and some of them have 5 speeds. From there getting a turbo engine into it is no different than doing the same with a Supra non-turbo (which has been done plenty of times).

They are very big and heavy, but the Soarer is no different, and they're still popular in Japan.

[kuroi s14]

the SC 300 comes with 2jz GE engine? wow I'll check that out... Yeah I know the soarer is still popular in japan because most underground drift videos I've seen, there were just as many of them as there were s14's

[KiDyNomiTe]

Actually you do bring up a good point. At first I thought SCs were expensive, but I guess not. Thats a good price for something that will be faster than a 240 with SR. And they even are good drifters (o how I lvoed that one Red Soarer, that someone posted a vid of). There are a few Soarer people on SupraForums, but honestly I would love to have a soarer, the interior is nice (it's lexus) and real nice power (BPU :D ).

How popular are Soarers in Japan? Also SCs I think would be harder to find than 240s.

[KiDyNomiTe]

Well a little more info on the swap.

After lookign around it is more expensive than an SR, but not by just a little, but by a lot.

Powerhouse Racing:
Price: Engine Conversion $10,500.00 including parts and labor. Six Speed Manual Transmission Conversion $5,000.00 Additional, including parts and labor.

Here is someones Soarer http://www.turboimports.com/clinpoh97t76.html

Still a bad ass car, just a big price tag.

[adey]

I think the main reasons SC300s (soarers) haven't caught on are beacuse they're expensive (I picked my 240 up for half the price of the cheapest soarer) and they're heavy. They're also realllllly hard to find (I've never seen it) in 5MT. You'd have to swap in an (expensive) 2JZ-GTE tranny, and most likely, the whole engine. That'd be a sweet car.
Lexus pats are also more expensive... and harder to find than S13/14 stuff. So yeah...

edit: the "good" drifter who drives the Soarer is Ueno. :)

[kuroi s14]

Nice link kiddynomite! Droooolll... last time I checked 1jz GTE engines were going for 1000-1500, thats not bad for the amount of power it has but this was a couple of months ago on venus-auto and those were special offers. I just check ebay and there was a SC300 going for $3,000 no reserve!!!

[chokudoriS13]

The irony is, the 5-speeds are actually more expensive than the autos (due to their rarity, I guess). I've seen several being sold in L.A., with the average price tag somewhere between $9-10k.

[KiDyNomiTe]

I think most of the problems lie in the tranny. Only SC300s came in manual, and everyone says they are super rare to find. Engines are pretty cheap, on Powerhouse site they are selling the motor for 1500, I'm assuming that the prices are low due to lack of demand. Not that many people swap Supra Engines into anything.

It also seems that swap would be more of a you have to do all the work by yourself thing. And most people want a shop to do it for them, but not many places have done it.

[chokudoriS13]

here's a '92 5-speed for sale in L.A... $8800.

http://www.recycler.com/asp/AdDetails.asp?iID=69526&sBAC=818&bSQ=0

[AutoDestruct]

I think you guys might be ing a little skeptical. There are literally crap loads of these things around the east coast and most of them are the 400's. I drive these things a lot for my work and the Tranny is really not that bad. We take them out back and kick a few controlled power slides, and they handle quite well. For 10 g's though, the sure do look odd. O well, I still want one for my own. It will need a serious makeover though.

Anyway to get a six or five speed onto the 4.0 or the LX 4.7 liter??
I highly doubt it. but maybe you guys know better.
Also what is the relation of the soarer frame / engine build to the Supra's?
:confused:

[MikeFD3S]

Soarer's are awesome cars. I was seriously going to get one before I got the FD. All parts from the Supra-- all the way down to the suspension are interchangeable. I wanted to do the 1JZ swap. A lot of people will say "why not get a supra" The Soarer weighs the same and looks better in my opinion. It's a fairly unique car to fix up as well, i'ts not something you'll see every day.

The Soarer has a very big following in Japan and a bit of a cultish following here in the states. I think they became a little more well known after Clint Pohler released his video, and turboimports.com featured his car.

Also, the 300 5MT is very difficult to find

[kuroi s14]

It's Funny, were all on the same brain wave or something. It seems that if we all had the time and money for a 2nd project we could form a soarer club here in the states, I know I would (no disrespect to all nissan enthusiast).

[MikeFD3S]

http://www.geocities.co.jp/MotorCity-Pit/7017/soarer2.JPG

http://www.geocities.co.jp/MotorCity-Pit/7017/jzz30.JPG

you know that ish is sweet.

For more info www.clublexus.com

The SC300/400/Soarer is a very respectable car...it came out in 1991 and it's design elements changed how a lot of automakers designed their vehicles. I'd be tempted to say that the SC typifies autodesign of the 90's. A classic in my books. It was one of the first few models by the newly formed Lexus, and made an immense impact on the luxury coupe scene by outselling rival BMW and Mercedes.

The best thing about these cars is that they are Toyota reliable, and can be purchased extremely inexpensively. You get a lot of your car for your dollar. Brand new, a 1997 SC300/400 cost from 44k-56k. Now, a '97 can be bought for as little as 21k.

These cars were in production from 1991-1998

[kuroi s14]

Thank you Mike, the soarer looks damn good in white. Oh yeah, I thought the girl w/ the tig O bittys looked familiar on your post, it's Koike from a japanese show called GOIE.

[chokudoriS13]

A guy in my area has one that looks almost exactly like this as a daily driver. His fun car is a silver AE86 hatch.

http://www.geocities.co.jp/MotorCity-Pit/7017/jzz30.JPG

[Roly]

Actually... there's quite a few of them here in Miami.
http://www.toyomoto.com/sc300.htm
Also a couple of other companies do it, but just mainly concentrate on the SC300, GS300, IS300, and non-turbo Supra turbo kits.

[adey]

Originally posted by MikeFD3S
The Soarer weighs the same and looks better in my opinion.
I dare say you're not the only one who thinks that! Soarers (JZZ30) are beaauuuuuttttiiifffuuuulllll. Seriously, compared to a supra, the supra looks like an inbred sunuva mutt. (Actually, even by itself, I think the JZA80 is ugly.)
I'd love to get my hands on a soarer, but again, the $$$$ is hard to come by to fix up one of those things. If 15" SSR mesh cost 800/set in 15x7 trim, imagine how much a set of Work VS-XX cost in 18x9!! Soarers are easily one of my top 5 "to own in the future" cars. :) Along side the FD3s, FC3s, AE86 and BMW M Coupe'. ;)

[christopher]

I have wanted to do a soarer for about two years now. However like everyone else here the money is an issue. So I put it into my future plans. As it stands, when I feel finished with my silvia, I will either buy a SC300 or a 300zx(tt.) I think that to do what I wan't with them I would spend about the same amount of money. Either one would be a good car. It is all just a matter of time.

What is funny is that I have seen this mentioned before and the toyota got flamed. I was scared to put in my 2 cents. Anyway, there is my 50.;)

[live2drift2live]

Not trying to get off topic but besides the tailights and headlights I can see somewhat the lines of a S15. Might just be me but the way the silhoutte looks. But the SC came first so maybe its a controversy.hmm. Ohh I would definetly buy one if I had the money.
JBM

[KiDyNomiTe]

Originally posted by adey
I dare say you're not the only one who thinks that! Soarers (JZZ30) are beaauuuuuttttiiifffuuuulllll. Seriously, compared to a supra, the supra looks like an inbred sunuva mutt. (Actually, even by itself, I think the JZA80 is ugly.)
I'd love to get my hands on a soarer, but again, the $$$$ is hard to come by to fix up one of those things. If 15" SSR mesh cost 800/set in 15x7 trim, imagine how much a set of Work VS-XX cost in 18x9!! Soarers are easily one of my top 5 "to own in the future" cars. :) Along side the FD3s, FC3s, AE86 and BMW M Coupe'. ;)

Yes soarers are one beautiful car. I remember seeing one for the first time, and I just loved that car. I am still debating what to do after I graduate college (5 years from now). It is between a Datsun 240 with a 1JZ in it, or a Soarer conversion.

I love both cars though, the Z has that nice old school look, and the Soarer has that nice new school look. But either way I will have some sort of Single Turbo Supra engine in a car (in like 10 years :rolleyes: )

But the SC has a whole lot more advantages. I could buy it and use it as a daily driver (auto, and luxury interior, how much lazier could I get) Then just save for the conversion and get it in due time. Now I am just typing what I think so blah

Go Soarers :D

[Stee Flo]

Actually i think the soarer has bodylines more in common with an s14 than an s15. There has been a few occasions when ive seen one off in the distance thinking it was an s14. The soarer is a sweet ride.

[mbmbmb23]

I'd think the insurance payment would be a bit steeper than a S13's insurance payment.

You guy are right on however, those are sweet cars. I know people have said the 5 speed's are rare, but....wouldnt the supra engine + tranny swap in there anyways?...and you could just pick up a engine+tranny combo that was 5 speed?

When I look at the Soarer compared to the Supra, it kinda reminds me of the 90's Ford Thundebird compared to the fox body Mustang.

-M

[MikeFD3S]

Swaps are not easy by any means...but for anyone who understands what things are involved, the only hard part about this swap is the wiring. Luckily for me, someone I know has a 2JZ conversion SC300 and knows where each wire goes on the ECU connectors ;) Hookups will definitely help anyone trying to undertake this swap

Did anyone know that the 2JZ conversion can also be swapped into the IS300? Good stuff

edit: kuroi> super bikini model eiko koike 0wnz m3h :p

[mbmbmb23]

http://www.turbofast.com.au/lexus.html




-m

[240Dori]

two reasons:
1. they are lexus so they arent the cheapest...maybe in years to come there will be a bit of a stronger following
2. these cars were marketed as luxury cars and therefore the target buyer was not as much of a hardcore car enthusiest so most of them sold were automatic and a manual trans sc is very rare

[goodjuan]

How about infiniti M30's?? Infinitis don't really hold their value very well (early ones at least) cuz of the rushed q45. But yeah. M30's have the RWD VG30 powertrain right? IIRC 300zxtt swap would be sick ass. Sleeper city.

[Kenzoku]

Hey there guys just happen to run by this Forum and really interested me. I currantly have a jzz30 (soarer) and is OG 5spd, Currently doing a Gte swap and how the car is, its a bit heavy but has no problem getting its angle its really fun but for now with the diff I have to go welded with the Funds dont get me wrong this car is kinda pricy to get parts for this swap alone is costing 7k alright take it easy late

[C-unit]

Yes..SOARER are awesome cars!! so ppl please buy my car now..
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc239/GenerisLabo/1991%20Toyota%20Soarer%20JZZ30/IMGP5647.jpg

http://zilvia.net/f/cars-sale/246430-fs-vip-inspired-toyotal-soarer-sc300-totally-pimping.html

but LOL AT BUMPING AT 2003 thread!!!

[louisdaboois]

lol jesus, thats a hell of a bump.

[DrtyRat]

Hey there guys just happen to run by this Forum and really interested me. I currantly have a jzz30 (soarer) and is OG 5spd, Currently doing a Gte swap and how the car is, its a bit heavy but has no problem getting its angle its really fun but for now with the diff I have to go weld with the Funds dont get me wrong this car is kinda pricy to get parts for this swap alone is costing 7k alright take it easy late
Holy bump from the dead thread!

[Enna]

Fucking christ this is an old one. Your definitely gonna get a warning or something for that. Also tho just to throw this out there, these things are actually pretty damn easy and cheap to work on.

2jz bolts right in, you dont have to swap harness's for the turbo model. Everything is interchangable with the supra, literally. All you do is pick up 2jz-gte motorset and bolt it in. Seriously that is it. The tranny will handle any and all power you throw at it, and the rear end is just as stout as a stock supra. They made these at the factory with this engine and tranny. Well the 5spd 1jz tranny, but same shit otherwise.

[simmode1]

Some clarification to recent posts. The SC300 comes with the non-turbo 2ZJ-GE. The SC400 come with the v8 1UZ. The JDM Soarer have both twin & single turbo versions of the 1JZ-GTE. 2JZ-GTE's come out of Supra TT's (mostly). 5spd's are hard to find, but tranny swaps are common now.

I think the reason the Silvia/240 became more popular than the SC300 is the weight and inital price differences (they cost about the same as your average s14 now...). Plus, I'm learning recently that the SC's preferred swap isn't as potent as an SR in one of our cars. Apparently it's rare to see a 1JZ with more than 350whp and stock internals. Kinda soft for a 3300+ lbs car, IMO. But baller nonetheless.

There is a Soarer forum btw. ClubLexus.com. Very cool forum over there...

[chokudoriS13]

Jesus, that was a bump... I thought I was in some sort of time warp, reading my own posts from 6 years ago. Well, that was fun in a "way back when"-kinda way. Carry on...