By Tim Odell
The 1986-1991 Japan-only Toyota Soarer shared its chassis with the same era’s Supra, which we did get. That era’s Supras earned a reputation for joylessness, despite the 7M-GTE motor’s tolerance to turbo boost pressures commonly found on the ocean floor. The Soarer made fewer sporting claims in favor of being a grand tourer. Nevertheless, they tend to be magnets for all the worst of treatments JDM cars receive: bosuzuku, VIP, hella stanced, etc.
Thankfully, this one’s been spared that treatment. It was imported to Texas legally under the 25 year rule and is ready for use anywhere that won’t require an emissions test (you’re killing me, California). Per the seller, it’s in excellent, but not perfect cosmetic shape and runs well. Having been in and out of a few late-80s Toyotas, I can tell exactly how that interior corduroy and plastic would feel. Same with the shifter and other driver controls. What I can’t comment on is what the 200-ish HP 1G-GTE twin-turbo 2.0L straight six feels like to drive. If that’s not enough grunt (and front-end weight) for you, the seller has all the necessary parts to drop in a 7M-GTE, as well.
Hopefully the next owner doesn’t modify it further and instead keeps things on the mellow track they’re on today. For somewhere between $5,500 and $6,500, that could be your call to make.
1986 JDM RHD Toyota Soarer for sale – eBay Motors
Jeff Glucker
Wait, is Tavarish writing for Hooniverse now?
“Why buy a box of crackers when for the same price you can have this 1980s Renault”
Why buy a janky old Yaris when for the same money you could buy this even older Toyota?
Because Yaris.
Wow, just four hours down I-45. It’s tempting. I’d be paranoid about getting rear-ended bu some nitwit here in Dallas, and then not being able to get it fixed, due to lack of parts, no to mention insurance value. It would definitely be driven sparingly.
I am painfully aware of such possibilities, although in my case it was some nitwit in an SUV running a red light. The insurance value ended up being essentially nil. On the bright side, the Metro has since gone on to a fine career as a LeMons racer, so it wasn’t a total loss.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3690/9630710931_cb656c834d.jpg
it sounds like it kind of was a total loss?
No, because racecar.
no, i mean literally it was totaled?
The claims agent was surprisingly sympathetic to me being caught in a bind on a rare (but low-value) car with relatively minor damage which nonetheless wasn’t “worth” fixing. It ended up not being totalled.
Plus, as you know dueisduke, every county around us has emissions for inspection, and given you MUST have inspections for registration…this is a problem.
I need to get my South Dakota P.O. box back!
Wait…a fellow Metroplexer on Hooniverse. Cool.
At least the three of us that comment regularly!
I’m going to put on my buzzkill hat here and posit that this car is nowhere near interesting or fun enough to warrant a sale price in the region of $6k. Sure, the wheel’s on the wrong side, and we never got that particular G-series engine here, but you want smooth japanese coupe goodness in your life, you can buy a good SC300 for that money that’s faster, prettier, more comfortable, and more reliable, or even an SC400.
/angry rant from japanese car nut who doesn’t understand why people pay a premium for boring cars just because they weren’t sold here
I’m in complete agreement, unless the slower, uglier, less comfortable, and less reliable non-US-market car is British. Or French. Or Dutch. Or whatever I stumble into next.
Still, I agree $6000 should buy more than one of them.
Well, that’s the thing. I absolutely lust after a Citroen SM, for basket case money. But for the same money, there’s a whole lot of other cars out there that may be near as fun, more reliable, even drivable nearly every day, and not cause my hair to fall out. Fortunately, there’s a wide range of options.
It’s local to me. I’d trade him a Harbor Freight engine hoist for it.
Sedan rear window wiper …
Wait. Are those fender turn indicator repeaters on the fenders?!
Probably.
Pick Up This JDM Toyota Soarer And Drift It Into A Curb