Newbie Soarer Enthusiast Needs Help

[MEZ TT]

Hi,

my heart and mind have agreed a soarer is the way forward....

I've decided on the 2.5 TT, the one that has caught my eye is an H (91) imported late last year, advertised as a GT-TL 52,000 miles.

questions:

- is no uk history an issue?

- reading the forum the GT-TL should have 'tems' suspension, this doesnt but has 'active' suspension. Does this mean its not a GT-TL?

- if 'tems' suspension goes wrong does the credit card take a major hit?

- anyone live near southampton that can spare an hour? to come check it out for me, costs paid!

- what does it cost to change the cam belt?

- the dealer offers 12 months warranty, is that worth anything?

- the car has usual extra's plus a sun roof and new tyres what price for such a car?

any advice'help with regard to my rather vague questions or anything else that maybe relevant is greatly appreciated. I look forward to joining in and contributing to the forum lots......i could crush a grape, shows my age i guess! :)

[norkep]

Welcome to the club,

Don't know much about Soarer's but having no UK History is not going to be a problem on cars of this age, mine has no history as far as servcing is concerned, but you should have a white label by the cambelt to advise on when it was last changed. Mine has the active suspension.

The mileage is about right for imports of this age that have not been in the UK long. Having 12 months warranty is a good thing, so long as you don't ahve to pay extra for this. Not very oftern a car has a sunroof as well as A/C.

BR

Paul

[MEZ TT]

Thanks for replying and taking the time to give me ya thoughts..

- does the active suspension mean the cars is significantly heavier/slower and more thirsty than a non active car?

mez

[norkep]

Not sure about it making the car heavier or not, but it helps when cornering over bumpy roads, the suspensions can adjust to the road conditions giving better handling and making things a bit safer. The car is most certainly not slower but mines a 3.0 Aristo TT so it would be that bit quicker.

Steve - AKA - Admin had a 2.5 TT Soarer, he'd be able to advise on the performance between the models with active suspension and the ones with-out.

[SimonR]

- is no uk history an issue?

Well, it would always be preferable but these cars rarely come with any history from Japan anyway. The closest thing to a UK history is to be from a caring owner who has done all the bits.

- reading the forum the GT-TL should have 'tems' suspension, this doesnt but has 'active' suspension. Does this mean its not a GT-TL?

Unlikely that it has active suspension if it’s a TT. Active suspension comes on the top of the range V8 (UZZ32) only AFAIK. Why do you think that it has active? Dealer tell you? They usually don’t know anything about these cars.

- if 'tems' suspension goes wrong does the credit card take a major hit?

You’ll be able to buy used bits for reasonable money. If you buy new bits you will need a second mortgage.

- what does it cost to change the cam belt?

If you go to the main man Steve Smith you might get change from £200.

- the dealer offers 12 months warranty, is that worth anything?

Are they ever?

- the car has usual extra's plus a sun roof and new tyres what price for such a car?

Impossible to say without knowing what needs doing. You can pick them up on eBay for £3,000 or a good one recently went on an owners club for £6,750. I bought cheap and paid the price. If you want one of these cars you should check out the specialist sites or better still give Steve Smith a call. If you PM me I’ll send you his number.

- does the active suspension mean the cars is significantly heavier/slower and more thirsty than a non active car?

If it had active suspension then yes. Weights range from 1560kg for the GT-T to nearly 1800kg for the UZZ32. As I said, I doubt if it has active, though.

Carlos has a very nice UZZ32. He should be along soon.

[UKPulse]

Dealers often describe TEMS as 'active' suspension - but as Simon points out TEMS is not the same as the true active setup on the UZZ32 Soarer. What TEMS will do is stiffen the ride if you're giving it some wellie (plus it has a handy trackday setting). If you have the choice of a TT with or without TEMS, go for TEMS - on the limit it will handle better than one without, and it's pretty rare for TEMS to go wrong I think.

Have seen '91 TTs go for as little as £1995, but at that price be prepared to spend another £2-3K getting it sorted.

If you're after a Soarer then definately, Steve Smith is yer man :)

[MEZ TT]

Hi,

Thanks for you two taking the time to reply. I did in deed speak with steve smith and i have today put a deposit down on a '91 2.5 tt soarer. :D

The car looked to be in immaculate condition i don't think anyone i show it off to and there will be loads will guess its 14 years old. I should pick it up in a week and then i will be a seriously happy chap...

Great forum

All the best

Mez

[UKPulse]

Excellent news - here's to many happy years of Soarer ownership :D

[road warrior]

looks like old news now as you have picked a tt, however, yes a 32 is slower on takeoff than a 31 (v8) and a tt, on acount of the active suspension, (its heavy) but the active is very special, and will out corner any other soarer, and on a track nothing will stay with it, it does not pitch or roll on corners and has 4 wheel steer. it cost when new 85,000 pounds (7.5 million yen) for the same money you could buy 2 tt's or 2 v8's and have change :o

[SimonR]

...the active is very special, and will out corner any other soarer...

←

Not now that I have my new suspension installed, it won't. :D

[mrdsukautos]

lol