During the economic boom in Japan during the '80s, the country's GDP was rising at an unheard of 4% on average every year. As Japan shifted away from a militarized state and invested in domestic technology, the country experienced a better standard of living — ultimately leading to better health, medical, and leisure activities for the citizens of Japan.
Once the oil crises that began in 1973 leveled out, carmakers began building the luxury-inspired vehicles the recently affluent citizens yearned for. Enter the Toyota Soarer, which is one of the first personal luxury JDM cars ever built. A massive hit in the westside of the pacific, the Soarer saw multiple generational updates before going quietly in 2005, when production ceased.
Some decades later now, the Soarer — or Lexus SC if you live in the United States — can be had for next to nothing. Today, automotive YouTuber JayEmm on Cars explains how this slick coupe that came with a 2JZ or V8 engine is virtually worthless compared to its JDM brethren.
The Japanese 8-Series: The Toyota Soarer
Now in the defense of the Soarer, Jay does manage to review what Toyota enthusiasts consider the worst generation of the flagship car, and for good reason. Debuting at a time when Toyota was in the middle of an identity crisis with Lexus, the Soarer suffered for a multitude of reasons. However, in Japan, the Soarer celebrated much success with its domestic market. It was Toyota's halo car, after all.
The Soarer was Toyota's way of bragging to the competition regarding their engineering prowess, year after year. From its adjustable air ride suspension to the 3D digital dash and touch-sensitive display screen, the Soarer placed itself miles ahead of the competition.
A Luxury/Sporty Identity Crisis
In what Jay claims is essentially the Japanese version of BMW's 8-series, Toyota managed to take the performance and technology of their flagship saloon car, the Toyota Crown, and placed it neatly in coupe packaging.
Unfortunately for Toyota, the Soarer experienced a major identity crisis outside the Japanese market. Although touted as a luxury-inspired sports car, it doesn't necessarily do either very well. As Jay explains while driving through the backroads of Scotland, the Soarer isn't very comfortable at highway speeds, nor does it caress the turns as a Toyota sports car should. This is very surprising for a car that features double wishbone suspension, four-wheel steering, and the option to run a 1JZ, 2JZ, and 1UZ engine.
So what does this all mean for you? Well, unless you were one of the unlucky ones to purchase the very expensive Soarer new, it means you can acquire a legitimate Toyota sports car, for the price of a 10-year-old Ford Fiesta. This makes the Soarer/Lexus SC quite possibly, the last cheap JDM icon.