1991 Lexus Soarer

Summary:

A very over rated car which is very un reliable

Faults:

Emv screen went blank the first week of ownership.

Drivers seat badly scuffed.

Radiator top tank cracked at 100000km.

Left air bag failed at 102000km.

Electric steering column badly worn.

Tappets are very rattly.

Door trims cracking.

Power steering pump failed at 103000km.

Alternator failed at 103000 km.

Front lower control arm bushes failed at 105000km.

Fuel pump ecu failed at 105000km.

Dash went blank at 102000km.

Steering rack leaking at 103000km.

Steering rack bushes replaced at 105000km.

General Comments:

This car is reasonably quick, but not what you would expect from a 4 litre quad cam 32 valve v8.

The interior is reasonably quiet, but it still suffers from squeaks and rattles.

For such a large two door car it handles reasonably good, but smoothness over bumps is'nt the best.

Fuel economy is high not the most fuel efficient of cars.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 4th October, 2006

7th Oct 2006, 15:58

The vehicle in question has only had full synthetic oil at all times since it's arrival in Australia with 60000km on it. They just aren't of the build quality of the Europeans. In few they are as we call a soft car designed for 100000km and then replace.

7th Oct 2006, 17:56

If the writer of this comment had bothered to read to the bottom of this review he/she would have seen that the car was only purchased this year (2006). Therefore, it's a bit rough to blame the owner for not changing the oil on a regular basis. I'd say the previous owner sold it because of these problems and the only thing I could really fault the current owner on is maybe it didn't have a pre-purchase inspection done.

FYI- I'd say this car was probably a Toyota and not a Lexus as car was badged either the Toyota Soarer or Lexus SC400. Therefore I reckon previous owner has swapped Toyota badge with a Lexus one (I have seen this done regularly). So car could then be a used import from Japan with falsified (wound-back) odometer and has had little or no servicing (and definitely not by Lexus).