Neil E

On your last point Glyn, installing a double din replacement unit isn't so difficult these days as a 'plug and play' European spec. model interface is available but it is a very costly option compared to Calvin's solutions or even one of the other plug-in boxes such as Grom. It's all about finding the right satisfactory solution for the individual's needs. If the sound quality using Bluetooth via the SC430mods.com adaptor is very good then that's impressive for the cost and a credit to Calvin as when I do an 'A' - 'B' comparison of sources via the Alpine HU, CD/DVD is still best, USB is good and Bluetooth is simply dreadful. 🤣

I'm sure the steering will be much sharper after the bushes and arms are replaced. It's a convertible so there will always be some flex in it but the uprated sway bars will provide a more positive cornering experience. I noticed it more at the back with the ISF ARB upgrade than the Aristo front bar. It's well worth doing if you're looking for a little less drama through the quicker twisty bits. It's a lot more expense after everything else but I would also consider the merits of swapping the struts whilst you have the car off the ground. Just about everyone agrees adjustable coilovers are the best upgrade for the car ...and fancy speakers, I might look into that. 👍

Well that was an excellent thread starter piece. Some of those maintenance and repairs on an old SC430 are to be expected as you said but I think you were a little unlucky with a few on the list. Good idea to use some 8ohm speakers from home hifi spares to match the LM set up. Once the suspension, steering and pedal lag is addressed, I think you will see what a good thing the SC430 can be. The later suspension was a significant improvement, a decent set of coilovers can help transform it to something that behaves quite well for convertible.

Head unit upgrades or perhaps I should say changes, (including reverse cameras) have been covered many times so it is worth a look through the related threads and indeed the usual search engines to see the various options and routes possible. It does depend on what you want to achieve overall. Many of the usual hifi shops will still shy away from the complex amp and speaker set up in the SC430 but there are a few in the UK who now know enough to install some more modern tech using an interface or add-on unit. As soon as streaming and bluetooth are mentioned, I immediately consider that a sound quality downgrade but to some it's a convenience upgrade. You might try Huets in Shoreham or Cartronics in West Byfleet for a decent 'shop' but others have self-installed various aftermarket 'plug and play' devices. A few brave souls have taken it a bit further. There are some decent instruction threads on here and the US sister site and videos on youtube and they are easy to find.

Hi Phil, there's no better recommendation than from a Grand Master, how are you? I thought it might be a bit too far to 'Sussex by the Sea' and there's the Kent/Sussex border crossing permit to consider too but it would be worth the trip to have John do the work. I'm sure Lexus Guildford or Gatwick would do it too.

Hi Ken, I think it cost me about £650 last time. 2-3 years ago. Lexus supplied parts, cam-belt, pulley x 2, water pump, tensioner, sundries - trusted South Coast garage (he's an expert) if it goes smoothly with no issues, a master tech would probably do it in 4-5 hours. @Malc, that sounds about right if I recall my Soarer days correctly, I think the 1UZ in the LS takes a little longer than the 3UZ in the SC430.

Most of the problem may be a simple electrical component failure affecting the gauge cluster but I think I would try one of the national parts search services or Lexus Parts Direct for a reasonably priced used cluster to replace it with. It's not a common problem in my experience.

Haha very true Ant. A few obvious enhancements through proper manufacturer due diligence would have made it a better car out of the box. It bugged me that Lexus put so much effort and resource into making the previous Soarer so special and downgraded the SC430 in so many respects.

Thanks for the reminder Malc, I noticed a flaw yesterday morning. I need to re-polish and ceramic coat one of the wheel weights on the GS460.🙃 Yes it's quite mad. Detailing has become an obsession. I admire all of the owners and professionals who do it but if you use a car for its intended purpose, going to such extremes on a frequent regular regime is just silly. I'm convinced that some owners enjoy looking at a pristine car, listening to a loud exhaust or talking/typing about the car more than they actually appreciate driving it. There are plenty of owners of high performance cars with very low mileages in near pristine condition to prove the point.🙂 next level wheel and car care

It's odd how some things don't seem to attract the duty and others do. All of my more expensive parts have required duty to be paid, some before the packages are delivered and some afterwards. More recently the duty invoice arrives 2-3 weeks later.

It is indeed a very rare thing in the UK. Shame Lexus didn't put the 8-speed 1UR-FSE into the SC430 with some upgraded tech, suspension and brakes.

Highly likely a straight 6 if it has an aftermarket single exit exhaust. Any pics, number plate?

No matter how much I abuse it the RX just keeps going and going and with decent tyres it's a proper 4x4. I'm not particularly attached to the SC but I do understand how that can happen. It's been great fun but it's served its time. I did try to sell it a couple of times in the past but no one was brave enough to take it on and so the modification has continued. It almost had a new owner (a fellow enthusiast) a couple of years ago but that didn't work out either. The only car that I really regret selling was a very nice modified high spec TT Soarer for a bargain price to a young guy from Hamburg who managed to write it off about 30 miles from getting it home.

I agree entirely, would love an LC500, I regard it as the new Soarer but couldn't justify £60k or indeed near £40k for a GSF. The GS460 is my poor man's GSF for now. It's ultra rare, practical, quick and understated. The RX is just a luxury tool. Testers wrongly compare it to a Range Rover conveniently forgetting the LX570 and Landcruiser. With some M+S winter tyres on it, there's not much the RX wont do - tyres are the only thing I've modified on that one.🤣 I should really sell the SC as it was finished a while ago but I might just try another couple of mods before Spring arrives.

Ah yes of course, the exhaust issues. Toby is a really good guy and knows his stuff. We met at the Sleaford meet. As you say, your SC430 is a lovely example as it is and too good to modify beyond cosmetics or enhancements that don't detract overall or can be easily reversed. So how long before you buy a second SC to go wild with?🙂

Lots of owners change the wheels, tyres, exhaust and shocks through choice or necessity + a few minor cosmetics but after that it gets a bit tricky. Looking back through the threads there are few more to be found on here. Toby and Graham weren't at the Coventry meet but they've done a fair few mods. There are a few others but as you say, not many. Aquanuke was prolific in the early days, I think the car is still around the Cotswolds area but I've never seen it in the flesh.

If you do decide to go for it, please log project progress with lots of pics on here. Plenty will follow and make up the cheerleading section.

The V8 is the proper Soarer, the TT was cheaper. Big single, manual box you need to head to Lextreme and Soarer Central for advice.

I think I remember the car from Soarer World. If it's the same one, it was resprayed at the SSS, the burnt orange colour is quite distinctive. Some of the early miles registered may be kms but it's been in the UK for a while so may have been converted properly. I think the seller overvalues it at £4k, I doubt it's worth £2k. Looking at the advisories, assuming the engine is good, I would say this car is saveable but you would need skills, good contacts, deep pockets and plenty of time or helpful resource to succeed with it. Unless your mate is a renowned expert Supra tuner, my advice would be to forget going big single turbo. I've seen too many failed attempts and the 1JZ will only take a certain amount on stock internals. A 1991 properly sorted standard 2.5TT Soarer does 5.5s to 60 and 170 mph delimited, in greater comfort than most modern cars. How much better do you want it to be? (Ignore that - I always wanted to do a V8 TT, I dare say a 2UR-FSE Soarer is possible too) The fuel issue is often the fuel ecu in the rear nearside quarter panel - easy fix when you find a good one but the 9V-12V wire bypass will keep it going for hundreds of miles. I think I may still have some spare fake/replica staggered BBS 19s sitting around needing a refurb....yes here they are being abused in the Highlands. This was my V8 limited. Okay so likely budget? Wheels and tyres £2k, paint and body-kit £3k, suspension and steering £4k, Engine and cooling £2k, brakes, interior and other stuff? That's quite a project. You could buy my ugly UZZ40 Soarer for much less than that. As Malc and Steve say there are probably a few better deals to be had with a full search. I think I would try the Soarer FB group, they may know of a decent one that someone is thinking of selling. You might find one that's been looked after or mostly restored that you can add the kit to and enjoy much sooner.

Any more details, pics, which type is it, number plate? Soarers are certainly cool particularly the higher spec TT and single turbo models but you need to be sure that this is essentially a good car or it could quickly turn into a money pit. It doesn't take very long to fit the turbos so why hasn't the present owner done it? If it hasn't been refreshed, all of the suspension will need to be looked at. Read through the old Soarer threads on here. If you can't find what you need here, look on Soarer Central or LOC in the US or clublexus for advice and potential sources for parts. For a while, Soarers were cheap and many fell into the hands of young inexperienced guys who wanted to race or drift them but they soon found out they are expensive cars to run and maintain. Many potentially lovely cars were neglected and destroyed. There is still a small owners club in the UK so it would be worth making contact with them. They may know the car and some of its history. We met with some of them at the Coventry SC430 meet last Summer. And if you're looking for subtle bodykit ideas, this was my well preserved GTT many years ago.

Hi Glyn, I think all kits need a bit of fettling, even the really expensive, well known brands from Japan. It's fun to do but you would probably need some dry space/rent a garage/lock up. I modified the kit, filled in the marker lights, had a challenge with rear lights and headlamp washers but it wasn't too bad. When I bought the SC as a project I knew it was going to be an expensive journey, I just didn't realise how long I was going to keep it or how far I was prepared to go with it. I doubt any other SC in the UK could match it for 'entertainment' but if I reveal that it has cost around £22k in mods so far then I think that confirms Perry's take on it.🤣 For examples of owners with class, subtle mods, see Lex legends Texsexlex in the US and WIL44 in the UK.

The kit from Poland needs extra work to fit around the headlights of an early model SC430. Actual costs for the kit, properly fitted and painted, budget around £3500. Or perhaps go for the SLC when they complete production......

Cheap but who would do such a thing? 🙄

It does point to the disc or the drive unit in the boot. Is it trying to read a genuine disc or an aftermarket updated disc? Also make sure the disc and player are the correct 'Gen' for the car.

That's good service. TPMS can be a proper pain with programming and failing batteries. I was quoted £500 for all 4 sensors on the GS and that's before fitting and Techstream. Back to re-painting the roof, it's a simple fix. It always tickles me that so many owners are so attached to their original paint and lacquer. If you use a car for its intended purpose, it will pick up stone chips and road salt and the odd scratch here and there. Any decent body-shop should be able to match the colour and restore the affected panel to good order.