Jeremy Clarkson reviews the Toyota Soarer UZZ32 Active in Old Top Gear - Lexus SC400 Coupe
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- Опубликовано: 5 окт 2024
- This is a video review of the rare active suspension Toyota Soarer - also known as the Lexus Sports Coupe (SC). It's from a segment on cars that are not imported in the UK from the old Top Gear, don't know the year yet, I will update when I find that out.
Jeremy is quite impressed with the handling of the computer controlled hydro pneumatic suspension (A-SUS) and 4WS system (A-4WS) that gives the car great agility and confort. He also goes through some of the cool gadgets this car had.
Remember the UZZ32 has been launched in 1991 and only 873 were ever made so it's quite a rare bird.
Alright, so here's a few things you should know about this car.
I owned a UZZ31 (V8, air suspension) as well as a UZZ32 (hidraulics, 4WS) and I can tell you that the added benefit of the amazing suspension comes at a cost, the 31 is way faster off the line and feels a lot more more responsive power wise.
Until you get to the corners at which point the 32 shames most cars I've ever driven, by far. The way it handles is just strange, it will take any corner and eat it up like it's nothing, only issue, really, are tight hairpins where the weight is a big factor and it starts understeering a bit.
Mine had updated Supra brakes and 275mm rubber so it stuck to the road like gorilla glue, it's the only car I've had the pleasure driving that made me run out of ball$ before it ran out of grip, period. Comparing it to a mid-engined 430 Ferrari it still held it's own and I must say it's a triumph of japanese engineering, any other SC400 or Soarer simply can't compare, not in the least.
The 1JZ sports model (with TEMS) is lighter - by almost 200kg - and should handle better on paper but this thing is just on another level, taking tight turns at 80-100 mph and not breaking a sweat, even on street tires. It's the sort of thing you need to drive to believe, videos just don't do it justice, it's absolutely insane.
The suspension set-up is more or less what McLaren has on their much acclaimed MP4-12C and subsequent models, almost 20 years later, with the lack of the helpful 4 wheel steering. If you stick some proper rubber on it there's still not many cars that can match it in the corners, full stop.
I suppose it was a technological experiment Toyota did and even if it didn't sell that well that doesn't diminish their achievements. I hope that whatever number is left of the original 873 cars will be cared for and kept on the road for years to come, there's plenty for them to prove, even now.
Also, if it helps clear up a few things, on my UK registration papers the car was a Lexus Soarer, I believe the UZZ32 was the only one to get this. All others were either Toyota Soarer or Lexus SC's. If you look closely at the video you will notice that the Lexus badge along with the Soarer badging are on the car Jeremy reviewed. It was the same on my UZZ32.
Cheeers,
Octavian
Octav Chelaru I'd really like to own a Soarer/SC300 someday. Maybe even as a first car, and I just don't understand how cheap they are! What colour was your car? I prefer the Soarer/SC300 in white.
***** I own a white pearl 3.0 1994 Toyota soarer. Bucket of shit!, I don't know if it's the computers in it or something but you put your foot down and the way it delivers it's power is just stupid. Off the line you'll get destroyed by a little 1.8 ltr go kart up until about 30kmh then from 30 to 70 it goes like a rocket then after that it just shuts down and crawls the rest of the way.
+Fps-Gaming-Productions You have the shitty naturally aspirated 2JZ-GE that only puts out 220hp at the crank. Drive one that has the turbo 1JZ or the V8 in it before you call the Soarer a bucket of shit.
***** The V8s are reasonably quick in stock form, not fast like a modified STi/Evo/Supra, but they're satisfyingly fast and smooth as hell. The Soarer I own (stock 1jz-gte, not a conversion) scared the shit out of my passengers when it was stock, and now that I've put over 6 thousand dollars worth of turbos and cylinder head work put into it, its scary in the wet and wheelspins once the boost comes on
I have had lot's of Soarers, in Australia. The UZZ30 was the fastest V8 as it was the lightest and I did lots of track work thrashing the buggery out of it, great fun. Then I bought a 32. It was 2 seconds a lap faster than the UZZ30, I could just not believe it. Don't forget it has 4WS as well and yaw sensors than know if you are about to spin and auto correct the rear wheels... spooky indeed.
That car is pretty damn impressive for an early 90s car. A touch screen with controls and navigation!
***** are you running boost? I raced a 2011 speed 3 with my 95 sc400 and lost
*****
LOL no it didn't.
im an SC300 owner BTW
***** Talking shit mate! I own an SC300 and they;re a bucket of shit.
Thats because it was a poverty pack for the US market, so sad.
T type from ~1986
a few days ago i was bragging about the 1998 ls400's touchscreen to some fans of german cars/tesla. i thought a touchscreen in 1998 was huge, well, this had one in 1991... new benchmark :))
Buick Reatta had touchscreen in 1988
Japanese tech is always ahead of the world, when it comes to computers and cars.
@@evlsc400 also Buick Riviera
Lexus: beating the shit out of the Germans since 1989.
This is a later model, you can tell by the engine power numbers and the front bumper design, this is the vvti engine, which came out in… oh idk, later than 92 though. I have a 92 SC400. Love it.
wow I never expected jeremy to like this...I am not even a fan of toyotas, but the moment I saw this as a kid I was in love...timeless looks, luxurious, fast...I regret never getting to own one
Toyota Soarer / Lexus SC - One of the best built coupes in automotive history. This car was a Juggernaut when it came out. Even Jermey loves it and he usually doesnt like japanese cars.
Also a touch screen GPS NAV back then ? You go Lexus !
I have one of the watered down sc400s, still a great car and fun to drive. Glad to see some recognition of the car on top gear!! way back when... " it has gps, how cool is that!?" lol
I too am the proud owner of a 1998 Lexus SC400 with 45k original miles on the clock. Silver Metallic over Black leather. Showroom condition. Its a museum piece. Just had to have one. Still impressive cars to this day.
243wayne1 is that a vvti?
***** Yes it is. Lexus started vvti in 1998, and carried it through 2000.
243wayne1 my sources told me production stopped in 1998, they physically made VVTI's for only 1 year (98)?? Maybe they were sold until 2000.
And although i thought a V8 4ltr VVTI existed, i never came across one EVER, anywhere , so i began to believe it was only the 2.5TT in VVTI.
I'm still looking out for an sc400 VVTI....im guessing it has the 5 speed auto transmission?
***** Yes, the 1998-2000 have the 5 speed auto transmissions, and ALL Lexus SC400 1998-2000 models have VVT-I. VVT-I started in 1998. Front bumper redesign etc. started in 1997. 2000 Lexus SC400 have perforated leather and 3 spoke steering wheel. 1998-2000 are the models to have because of VVT-I. Horsepower jumped from 260 to 290 these 3 years because of it. VAST improvement in power. There is a ton of it. Hell of a machine...
You got lucky Clarkson, You drove the lsd diff. model!..
The UZZ32 and the Aerocabin are one of my favorite Lexus models. Of course LFA still my dream car.
90s Touchscreen
This was Amazing back then and way ahead for such an sophisticated 90s
Japanese know how made car in late 90s to 2000s
wooow 75,000 pounds back in... what 92-96? i just saw a 94, orignial owner, only 80k miles, for a dirt cheap $3,900 american dollars... that depreciation though lol. Oh well, suits me better, I can get one for so little.
medumdum buy it
www.autotrader.com
I bought my 94 sc300 for $600, things beat to piss but it never fails to start
Got my loaded AirSusp LS400 for $4k and it still had the window sticker that priced it at $80k. I’ve gotten an easy 100k troublefree miles out of it.
Lol. You have to pay 10k $ in Poland to buy SC400...
2021 check those SC prices now 🤣
I have a 95 sc300 manual from factory and I love it! Proud owner right here! :D
I would say stop lying but even your RUclips user name proves it 😂
Got a uzz32 a couple of weeks back abit rough around the edges ( clear coat peel , worn driver sea , shifter and the EMV on the left side doesn't always play ball) But other then that a1 Mechanical condition. Can't wait to get it back to its former glory and for only $5.5K aud
lol here in germany they go for at least 18.000€ (thats over $28K aud). i wish the depreciation everyone is talking about would arrive in germany too
@@bikewolf7455 Helped that I bought it Just before covid so it didn't get affect by covid prices and it has needed some work to get it on the road still needs a paint job
Aww yeah. Love my SC400. Doesn't have the amazing radio gizmos tho... lol
Great handling car. Fun to drive.
We'll miss you, Jezzah.
***** He'll be back, no worries. Just make sure you have a Netflix subscription :)
Ah man I wish my 98 SC300 had those ridiculously 80's digital gauges at 1:05! Look at the horizontal bar for the RPM, that's awesome!
I do like the 98’s blacked out look tho.
My uncle who lives next door has a 98’ SC400 in dark green metallic. Lovely car, I’m a big fan of that dash
the depreciation is insane on this car, I don't know why that is considering it's one of the best lexus cars ever made. And there are so many of them
Not this particular UZZ32, only 873 made with active suspension. Plenty of the others though.... 12,500 air suspension models and 100k+ regular v8 and inline 6 models :)
Speaking of depreciation we got a uzz31 about 15 years ago for about 60k or 80k (can't remember for sure) and then we bought a uzz32 in need of some work a few weeks ago for 3k they are also one of the best cars made not by toyota (the soarer was made by toyota, the lexus was LHD only and did not have any luxuries) but in general.
I know! I found about 5 of these local under 5000 CAD dollars and with under 80000km each!
Kyle Caelian UZZ32s?
Only the manual r154 turbo is the most sought after.
A touchscreen multimedia display on the center dashboard in 1991!? Whoa! At around the same time, GM was showing off concept cars with a digital display on the dashboard, but took years to implement.
watching clarkson actually like technology hahaha too funny
Impressive car, Toyota/Lexus introduced phenomenal engines at the time. I rode one of the new LS models recently, they still make a silky smooth ride.
By far the best coupe I have ever owned - Should have never sold it....
I owned a drove a UZZ32 active suspension Soarer and loved it!
The sad thing is that its successor was shit. Where did they go wrong?
They did try with the SC but, indeed, somehow Lexus set our expectations quite high with the UZZ32 :)
The new LC 500h seems like a more worthy successor in my opinion, what do you think?
The successor was meant to be more luxy based rather than sporty. I still think it's a great car especially if you actually have one you start to appreciate it more.
@@OctavXSW I love the LC. I've sat in one and the interior is the best I've seen on any car ever. Dream car stuff
The pre facelift kodels were shit... facelifted models aren't so bad... it was too sporty to be a boulevatd cruiser but too wallowy to be a b road blaster
@@OctavXSW not the h model... stick with the v8. The gearbox and the general driving experience of the hybrid just lets it down
I love tv from around this time, ahh good old days
this car is amazing in Gran Turismo, one of my favourite car :)
I've owned an SC 400. And now I must own this.
What year is this episode from??? If it is indeed from the year 1991, are you telling me they had touch screen navigation on a Lexus SC400 back then???
From 91 to 97, the UZZ31 and UZZ32 (SC400 chassis) all had touch screen navigation, but only in the Soarers, not the Lexus SC
Damn Man.. so freaking ahead of their time. A car in 1991 had Touch Screen AND GPS Navigation. Shiiiit. Most cars STILL don't have that today.
+Arnold Schwarzenigger The Buick Rivera I think from like 86 actually had the first touch screen
We don't discuss GM garbage in this comment section
David Munoz LOL, look up "Toyota Cavalier" - yes, you read right. I've been getting a lot of heat from Chevy fanboi's for criticizing that insult to Toyota.
1:01 he’s not kidding, they’re really like that
want!!!
have!!! :P
Lorenzo Echevarria
getting !!!!
billab0ng83
have... a 1jz version :D
Lmao I just picked up a 93 sc400 for 3 grand and it’s in GREAT condition, runs like a fuckin dream.
It's scary that he pointed at the radiation leak in Japan, on the GPS... correct me if I'm wrong...
Why does it have Lexus badges and a Soarer badge?
Wait the Soarer has a Touch screen?! This is modern technology in a regular old 90's car! I gotta get one when I grow up (if there are any left)
Theres about 250 of these specific active suspension models with a known whereabouts, around half of that are owners that look after them. They only made 872 of this particular version, so pretty rare.
Little suck)) Soarer was not a regular car.
First touch screen was in the Soarer MZ21 in 1986, and then in crown ms137. And that was a really expensive cars in those time
Had one of the 4ws models in NZ .. and a t/turbo , and a normal gt v8 .. drove them for 15yrs , 1st one (4ws) cost me in 95 about $35k nz ... after them got a 430 coupe ... now got a 2008 GS 460 .. uptuned to the ls HP (extra $1k ) ... gs 460 is rare .. keep one if you own one ... beleive it or not .... only 1600 GS 460s were made for the world ... so very rare lexus ... L imited EX port USa = L EX US ... SO soarors in non usa countrys ..
I KNEW A NANNY WAS LEFT ON I COULD FEEL IT!!! How the eff do I turn off the stability management??
I have a UZZ31 4.0 LTR
Good lookin' cars. Whooda thunk it would have resonated so with you Brits ;-)
Why do I never see these posts, only by accident, when I get lost, and trying to figure stuff out, Hi Bill....LuuV this car :)
You should get one!
uzz32 it's only toyota
Lexus SC400 hasn't UZZ32 version
Wow guys, a touch screen in a car with satnav!!
well, it was in 1991, of course people are amazed. No other car had that in the 90's if im not mistaken
Would love to know what the music used in this review is called?
In 1991 when the Soarer launched, £75k would be equivalent to £171,500 in 2022 accounting for inflation!
1997 is fucken crazy that engine makes you feel like a drift car driver ... and hes got the top of the line japanese version passenger side japanese all the way you have to pay to get that in the u.s bad ass
wish the v8 had a proper manual transmission. They have kits for a swap but it is pricey.
Seems he likes the car who would have thought that Top Gear voted the later SC430 as the worst Car In the history of The world
and quite rightly too.
Quite rightly? Please explain, this should be interesting.
south9563
I, somehow, only like the way it looks in black or maroon but otherwise it’s freaking awesome. Will be giving my LS to my kid soon and getting one
SC430 convertible and SC300/SC400 coupe very different cars. Very different.
SC400 was a great coupe that corners so well and so fun to drive with RWD. But SC430 was made for people who are fond of convertibles and business not for car enthusiasts
Gotta love Toyota Navi. I’ve got a 2010 Lexus with the same screen.
..At least it’s in English now🙄😂
Why doesn’t my LS have any of those radio features?!?
Some Toyota Celsior versions had a similar touch nav screen, but the typical LS400 version missed out on a lot of those Japanese market only features.
Song name please? legendary!
Touch Screen!!! 🤯
1:17 woh, it looked like the rear wheel broke off
I don’t see it
I think Lexus should have spent more money on engineering and using lighter but rigid material on the RCF and sell it for a higher but reasonable price.
El hermano mayor del Supra 😀
This is the coup version of the Supra. My 25 yr old SC manual doesn't have the touch screen. Gr8 solid car but needs a turbo convert. They don't make them like this no mo.
A coup is where chicken live. A coupe (pronounced coupay) is a car with two doors. Both this Lexus and the Supra are coupes. It's true though, that they do share many components.
Well, Soarers were around before supras. The Supra was made because people wanted a hatch version of the Soarer. The tough screen was only offered in Japan sadly. The JDM Soarers came with 1jzgtte’s, so they were twin turbo’d. But you’re right, they really don’t. It’s very unfortunate
И Кларксон Такой молодой, и юный октябрь впереди
why can't I find one of these in manual 😖
never made one with a manual. the SC300 (or variant from your country of origin) was offered with a 5 speed manual and it bolts right up to the 1UZ
The bro got one of these just a basic 1uz model had a w58 swap and faaark me she was mean got it for $1800 NZD and she sent it for years till he thought a ditch was a road
I have the opportunity to own one for 17k, some guy got one imported
This is upscale Toyota Supra (Shared Chassis)
This existed before the Supra. The Supra was made because people wanted a soarer but made into a hatchback, so they made the Supra.
This was space age stuff in the day....
we have the lexus sc400 here which is the same car as the video but nah i'll get the toyota soarer (lexus sc400 with a supra 1jz engine)
My current thrasher, 91 jzz30, 350ish horsies, manual c:
This car is so awesome, If you only it was easy to change the Japanese setting in to English.
agreed!
A touch screen ?! Which year is that car ?
Late 80s car.
The Japanese are well ahead my friend
airtouch01 I know the japanese are ahead in technology but this car can not be from the 80s tihs one is maybe a 95-97 model as it has the UZZ32 280hp engine.
It's a 92-96 at most , the front bumper and rear spoiler change for 97-00
As in the notes, launched in 1991
the late 80's model, known only as toyota soarer also had the EMV screen.
It became lexus soarer in 91, i had one, 4tr limited edition, most bullet proof (affordable) car ever built - take it from a mechanic, got fully submerged in floods, no water got in the cockpit after 4 hours, and it started when i got it out, no fuses, no lights no NOTHING popped, screen/sensors everything working solid.
Doesn’t make much noise for a 4.0
5 mufflers and two cats will do that.
3UZFE or just lose the exhaust and let it come out the headers
Back when Jeremy kept going “schnoppp”
Wtf does he have bro lexus badge with soarer badge, and all japanese features
What madman would actually buy this for £75k in 1991 money anyway? You could buy a bloody great house for that, or alternatively a Porsche 928 GTS.
Lexus Soarer
هذه مثل سيارتي في سوريا ♥️♥️♥️
This is the epitome of boring in that form. The only Corolla I have ever thought looked ok is the AE92 GTI, I have one as a rally car. The new ones a looker though. Toyota's are brilliant cars, they just seem to lack a little bit of creativity.
+Peter Sims Supra Twin turbo. Celica GT4 AWD Turbo. SUpercharged Corolla. MR2 mid engine Turbo. RWD AE86. TRD celica GTS . 2000 GT
The list goes on and on. They have made TONS of creative cars hell toyota has more performance cars under its belt then some brand has models to sale ! Plz stop talking shit. That SC400 in that form is FAR from working... a well engineered car is something to marvel after NOT call boring.
The wing zero of jdm cars
Much nicer than chav supra
Lexus soarer.
Pretty well made, just a VERY UGLY body to me, but take that as an opinion
Дайте перевод РУССКИЙ!!!
u.s.a be holding back wtf
this car has a big engine yet so silent.... that's why i hate this kind of toyota, boring.. maybe this car is for boring people like people play golf..
+Jabar Galaroza Not this one - with active suspension. Best car I ever had in terms of handling. Now I have a Mercedes 320 which is like a boat by comparison. This soarer really seriously takes the piss round a roundabout.
+Jabar Galaroza Boring? Your a fucking troll. The SC is one of the best sport coupes of its time. A well engineered car is not boring what are you 10
+Toyota4Life stay mad
Freddie Redding lol oh man im so mad
Toyota4Life How dare someone have a different opinion that's not the same as mine lol
1:17-1:18 you can see the rear wheel steering assisting. I forsee a return of this tech possibly with the improvement of electrical systems and some other hydraulic systems, as well as manufacturing process/engineering stuffs.
FukU2222 Acura does it