Opinions on the SC400 as a sports car
12-27-12, 12:16 AM
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Opinions on the SC400 as a sports car
I have been researching, and trying to learn as much as I can about the SC400, and people seem to have a BAD opinion on the SC400, but I am thinking, cant you use many suspension parts from a MK4 supra on a Soarer body? I have been looking for a list of parts that are interchangeable between the Supra and Soarer.
You could say just buy a Supra, but they are overpriced, I hate the interior, and I much prefer the 1UZ over the 2JZ-GTE
I have an 92 Toyota MR2 Turbo right now and I LOVE the car, but I want a bit more displacement and back seats, with some more luxury features.
I have even heard of people putting down the steering capabilities of the Soarer, so I am just confused about it, any way to get a Soarer to be even remotely like an MR2 in drivabilitiy?
My MR2 is so keen edge on handling, its like a go-cart, I adore this car, but the time calls that having two back seats, REGARDLESS OF SPACE, would be so helpful.
I am just hoping that the SC400 could be like my Impreza, where I can swap in STi and WRX parts and make it custom, something you dont see everyday.
You could say just buy a Supra, but they are overpriced, I hate the interior, and I much prefer the 1UZ over the 2JZ-GTE
I have an 92 Toyota MR2 Turbo right now and I LOVE the car, but I want a bit more displacement and back seats, with some more luxury features.
I have even heard of people putting down the steering capabilities of the Soarer, so I am just confused about it, any way to get a Soarer to be even remotely like an MR2 in drivabilitiy?
My MR2 is so keen edge on handling, its like a go-cart, I adore this car, but the time calls that having two back seats, REGARDLESS OF SPACE, would be so helpful.
I am just hoping that the SC400 could be like my Impreza, where I can swap in STi and WRX parts and make it custom, something you dont see everyday.
12-27-12, 01:11 AM
#2
i love the sc as a sports car. its so much more classy than other soprt cars out there but can still put down power. with the right mods. why dont you like the 2JZ-GTE? alot of people swap those, or the 1JZ into these cars to make the power they want becuase the 1UZ is really expensive to mod and there are not a ton of parts for them.
anyone correct me if they feel im wrong with anything
welcome to CL OP.
anyone correct me if they feel im wrong with anything
welcome to CL OP.
12-27-12, 07:13 AM
#5
I don't see an SC400 dancing around a race-course like a mid-engine car that weighs 1000 pounds less would. I tend to think of the SC as a "sporty" car, not a sports car.
I used to race autocross with my Camaro and it was ranked nationally for a couple of years, yet I was still able to drive it regularly to work without issue or discomfort as it had a full interior and even had extra sound insulation. To make a competitive road-course car out of an SC400 (or 300 for that matter) would mean taking a huge amount of weight out of it, removing a lot of comfort items, and making it much less of a good daily driver. That's another thing I strongly suggest to younger builders, make sure you understand there is a difference between a race car and a street car so build your's accordingly.
There is potential to make a nice handling car out of an SC400 I just don't see it as a race car. In fact, I can't remember ever seeing a Supra that wasn't tricked-out to the max running competitively in any racing in the states. There were a few guys who would show-up with them at the autocross events but they would have their a$$es handed to them on the course.
I used to race autocross with my Camaro and it was ranked nationally for a couple of years, yet I was still able to drive it regularly to work without issue or discomfort as it had a full interior and even had extra sound insulation. To make a competitive road-course car out of an SC400 (or 300 for that matter) would mean taking a huge amount of weight out of it, removing a lot of comfort items, and making it much less of a good daily driver. That's another thing I strongly suggest to younger builders, make sure you understand there is a difference between a race car and a street car so build your's accordingly.
There is potential to make a nice handling car out of an SC400 I just don't see it as a race car. In fact, I can't remember ever seeing a Supra that wasn't tricked-out to the max running competitively in any racing in the states. There were a few guys who would show-up with them at the autocross events but they would have their a$$es handed to them on the course.
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12-27-12, 02:19 PM
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Well an SC/Soarer/whatever you prefer to call it won't have go-kart handling; it is much more neutral and will understeer at the limit of adhesion.
However, on a relatively tight budget these cars can be made to handle much more competitively by swapping over the multitude of Supra suspension components that will fit, which is namely all of them except some of the control arms. Shocks, struts, and front lower control arms can be swapped by themselves. Front and rear sway bars will need the Supra sub-frame and sway bar mounts to fit. From most accounts, swapping both sway bars can lead to unwanted oversteer, however you might find it comfortable coming from an MR2. Most people just swap the front sway bar and are satisfied.
I am very certain that most strut tower braces from the supra will work as well, but you will want to confirm that before purchasing anything.
Beyond that, a good set of tires can transform the handling of any car. Speaking of tires, you can find OEM Supra wheels on the cheap, which will allow you to mount wider tires than possible on the stock Lexus wheels. Aftermarket Supra wheels will also fit the SC/Soarer.
Edit: Shocks and struts from a Supra MUST be swapped together or your car will be tilted slightly up or down.
However, on a relatively tight budget these cars can be made to handle much more competitively by swapping over the multitude of Supra suspension components that will fit, which is namely all of them except some of the control arms. Shocks, struts, and front lower control arms can be swapped by themselves. Front and rear sway bars will need the Supra sub-frame and sway bar mounts to fit. From most accounts, swapping both sway bars can lead to unwanted oversteer, however you might find it comfortable coming from an MR2. Most people just swap the front sway bar and are satisfied.
I am very certain that most strut tower braces from the supra will work as well, but you will want to confirm that before purchasing anything.
Beyond that, a good set of tires can transform the handling of any car. Speaking of tires, you can find OEM Supra wheels on the cheap, which will allow you to mount wider tires than possible on the stock Lexus wheels. Aftermarket Supra wheels will also fit the SC/Soarer.
Edit: Shocks and struts from a Supra MUST be swapped together or your car will be tilted slightly up or down.
Last edited by SoaringSC; 12-27-12 at 05:18 PM.
12-27-12, 08:05 PM
#11
Im not comparing our cars to aston martins, but DB9's probably weigh just as much as these cars, except they have very nifty suspension, better tires/brakes, and a V12. Although it is very luxurious, a DB9 is still very much a sports car right ?
The proper suspension, tires, and engine can make these cars feel great.
The proper suspension, tires, and engine can make these cars feel great.
12-27-12, 09:33 PM
#13
Im not comparing our cars to aston martins, but DB9's probably weigh just as much as these cars, except they have very nifty suspension, better tires/brakes, and a V12. Although it is very luxurious, a DB9 is still very much a sports car right ?
The proper suspension, tires, and engine can make these cars feel great.
The proper suspension, tires, and engine can make these cars feel great.
Don't get me wrong, these are wonderful cars whose engineering still amazes to this day but they are really more of a sweet cruiser that can be made into a fun car to take around mountain roads while doing so quite comfortably...
12-28-12, 10:19 AM
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your looking on the wrong site for performance mods for the "uz" engine the sc section on CL is mostly the "jz" series you need to go to lextreme.com thats the forums for the toyota V-8's