Toyota Problems

Much to the disappointment of many local buyers Toyota Australia chose not to import the stylish Soarer GT coupe or its Lexus SC300/400 cousin, but those who still desired the sleek Japanese coupe could still own one thanks to the specialist importers who took on local compliance of the cars.Presumably Toyota believed it couldn’t sell enough of them to turn a profit on the Soarer/Lexus if it brought it in, but that simply left the door open for the importers to fill the void and satisfy the demand from local buyers. Judging by the number on the road that demand has been quite strong.Buying a so-called ‘grey’ import can be a harrowing experience, but shouldn’t be if you do your homework and err on the side of caution when you set out to buy.Recent changes to the import rules have made buying a second hand import a much safer proposition, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be careful.It pays to buy from a recognised specialist in these cars, one that has been doing it for some time and has a solid reputation with the people who buy and drive them. To find out about who is reliable go to the clubs and talk to members about their experiences with the car, and with the importers and dealers.MODEL WATCHToyota launched the Soarer and its Lexus equivalent in the early 1990s. It was designed in America and aimed at affluent Americans who wanted a stylish well built and fully equipped coupe.In the Japanese market it was badged a Toyota, the Soarer to be precise, and was conceived as a sporty model, but on the other side of the Pacific it carried the Lexus badges of Toyota’s premium brand and was a luxury model.The cars that come here are Japanese Soarers, but some have been rebadged as the Lexus SC300/400.Whichever way you look at the two-door four-seater Soarer/Lexus coupe it’s elegant. Its lines are long and languid its proportions are perfect.Apart from some minor styling changes during the model’s 10-year life span there is little to tell one model from another.The choice of powertrains offered either heady sports performance of a turbo six or the more laid-back effortless performance of a V8.The ST-T was the tearaway of the Toyota bunch, its 2.5-litre twin turbocharged double overhead camshaft, 24-valve straight six pumping out 157 kW at 6200 revs.When asked the 1560 kg rear-wheel drive coupe will reach 100 km/h in a little over six seconds, but will continue to pull hard well beyond that, reaching 250-plus km/h in no time at all.The progress of the normally aspirated 3.0-litre straight six GT is more sedate, it will require almost 17 seconds to cover the standing 400-metre sprint, which is some four seconds more than the turbo requires.The quad-cam 4.0-litre V8 is the same engine as sold here in the Lexus so it should be familiar to local buyers. It’s a silky smooth unit that is equally at home cruising around clogged city streets as it is at speed on the open road.Most have a four-speed electronic automatic gearbox, but the 2.5 GT-T is also available for a five-speed manual gearbox.Independent suspension was under both ends, with coil springs on earlier cars and airbags on later ones.Variable ratio rack and pinion steering ensured handling precision; the sportier twin turbo Soarer was the most precise. The luxurious Lexus rolled a little more in the interests of overall ride comfort, but none-the-less still handled with assurance.All Soarers were well equipped with a range of features, from air-conditioning, anti-skid brakes, traction control (optional), tele-tilt steering column, power windows and mirrors and a rear window demister.All had a driver’s airbag; some also had a passenger airbag, which came as part of the option pack that included traction control.IN THE SHOPThe first thing to consider is that these cars are brought here as second hand cars, some of them now with high mileage on their odometers. The digital odometer is relatively easy to alter and without a previous history it’s hard to pick, so be careful and make sure the car looks like it’s done the mileage shown on the odometer.An old car with a low odometer reading should be regarded with suspicion unless the owner can provide evidence of its authenticity. A 1991 model car would normally have in excess of 200,000 km on the clock, a 2000 model around 100,000.Many were landed in the 1990s and have been here for some time, which makes it hard to establish their early history before their arrival. That makes it imperative that you buy from someone you trust.They also have plenty of zip and being relatively inexpensive many have been within the reach of younger drivers who have used up all of that awesome performance potential.While the Toyota mechanical package is pretty robust it’s well worth having a check carried out by an expert to determine the state of play inside the engine in particular.All engines require high octane unleaded and the consumption can be quite high, especially if driven enthusiastically. Driven carefully you could get 12.0 L/100 km, but don’t be surprised if it’s more like 14-15 L/100 km.Water pumps can be a problem at high mileage and they’re expensive to replace.Power steering pumps can be a problem as well, so have a good look for oil leaks in the vicinity of the pump.Electrics can also be a problem. The headlamps suffer from condensation build-up, the central locking often gives up the ghost, and the EMV screen is another item that often stops working and is expensive to repair.It’s a good idea to check the operation of all the accessories to ensure they actually work.The leather can be a problem where fitted. It’s basically through a lack of maintenance in the car’s early life, probably because the Japanese know they’ll be getting out of their cars after a relatively short period of ownership so they don’t bother looking after them.IN A CRASHThe mix of high performance and youthful exuberance is a potent one with the Soarer/ Lexus, but thankfully it has a very competent chassis with powerful brakes and anti-skid brakes to help avoid a collision.All have at least one airbag, for the driver, and some have dual airbags providing the front seat passenger with some protection in the event of a crash.OWNERS SAYPeter Smith was looking for something different in a motor car in 1988 and settled for the Soarer due to the classic looks and exhilarating performance. He says the car is a dream to drive in and around the city, but what a difference when you put your foot down. It is a no frills, economical black beauty with 110,000 km on the clock. He has done 85,000 km in it and has had no trouble whatsoever.Frank Pettiford currently has a 1991 Soarer TT manual. It just turned over 145,000 km and is running perfectly. He has the oil and filter changed religiously every 5-6000 km and uses mineral based oil. He says he has had no problems in three and a half years, and says it offers excellent value for money in that it still appears stylish, gives 8.5L /100 km on the highway and is extremely reliable.LOOK FOR• elegant coupe styling• altered odometers on high mileage cars• accessories that don’t work• signs of hard use• mechanically robust and reliableTHE BOTTOM LINEA good looking coupe that still turns heads, but age is catching up with them now that the oldest is 14 years old.RATING60/100

Toyota played the quality card when it ran up against the cheap and cheerful Koreans in the mid-1990s. In an effort to turn the surging tide of sales relative newcomers like Hyundai, Daewoo and Kia were enjoying, Toyota tempted to lure customers back to its showrooms with the well-built Starlet mini car.Sales of mini cars were booming when Toyota decided to enter the fray with the Starlet in 1996. Such was the strength of Mini car sales that Toyota felt compelled to be part of the action, partly in an effort to regain market leadership it had lost because of the sales of cars such as the hot-selling Hyundai Excel.The Korean carmakers, particularly Hyundai, were dominating the segment with attractive driveaway pricing that manufacturers like Toyota simply couldn’t match.At the time Toyota didn’t have a mini car on the local market, they relied on the strength of the Corolla in the small car arena. But the mini cars were smaller and cheaper than the Corolla, and despite its popularity with Australians it couldn’t compete in the cutthroat mini market.The Starlet was new to Australia, but had been a top-selling badge in Japan for many years, so while it was unknown here it came with a well-proven pedigree. Importantly for car buyers who didn’t yet trust the Koreans, it had a Toyota badge on the bonnet.When the Starlet arrived here in August 1996 it had only just been released in its home market. While Its styling wasn’t anything to write home about, it was rather plain in the way of most Japanese cars at the time, it was inoffensive, even pleasant to a market that can easily be spooked by anything even slightly radical.The real appeal of the Starlet was the assurance of quality and reliability that came with the Toyota badge. In a market dominated by Korean cars that were yet to fully gain the confidence of the car buying public, the Toyota promised quality, refinement and reliability, even if it wasn’t quite as cheap as the price leaders from Seoul.Toyota offered two body styles, both hatches with either three or five doors, with a choice of three models offering a range of standard equipment.All had a nippy 1.3-litre 16-valve four cylinder engine which delivered good performance for the class. It pulled well, had plenty of punch for overtaking and good fuel consumption.There was a choice of a five-speed manual gearbox and an auto. The auto was an extra cost option ($1500) and, disappointingly, was only a three-speed.The three-door Life was the price leader, and boasted standard features like a headlights ‘on’ reminder, intermittent wipers, and a radio/cassette sound system with two speakers.The Group X had, in addition, a rev counter, four speakers, rear headrests, driver’s footrest, cup holder, and body coloured bumpers.At the top of the model range was the five-door Style which, as well as the Group X features, had power steering with tilt adjustment for the steering column.Options included air-conditioning, dual airbags and ABS.A new model, Max Life was introduced in 1998 with 13-inch alloy wheels, a CD player and a rear sun shield as standard equipment.There were few criticisms of the Starlet when it was launched. The rear seat room was thought to be insufficient, suitable for a couple of kids or smallish adults. It would definitely be too tight for a couple of brawny wharfie types, but then it was unlikely you’d ever find a wharfie in the back seat of a car called a Starlet.There was also some criticism of the size of the boot, which was said to be too small, but apart from those complaints the Starlet was quite highly praised.The renowned Toyota build quality shone through. Doors closed with a solid ‘thunk’, panel gaps were even, and the paint finish was deep and lustrous. Inside the quality was equally obvious with the fit and finish of the plastic trim components.On the road the Starlet drove with the assurance of a much bigger car, with a comfortable ride and secure handling. Performance was on a par, or better, than the competition in the class, with impressive low down grunt that made for zippy response in city traffic, and effortless cruising on the open road.Start with the usual suspects when looking at a Starlet. Uneven body gaps, overspray and mismatching paint on adjoining panels are signs of body damage.Look for signs of abuse or lack of attention. Being relatively new still there is little likelihood of major wear showing up on interior trim, but look anyway. Check driver’s seat, which will be worn more than the other seats due to greater use, and the carpet under the driver’s feet.Check for a service record. As evidenced in the recent revelations about stolen cars being easily rebirthed, a service record becomes even more important, particularly if you are buying from a private seller. A service record can give you a picture of the mileage accumulation of the car.Mechanics record the mileage of the car when they service it so the record will show the pattern of mileage through the life of the car. It can be quite reassuring to see that the mileage has grown at a steady rate that would take it to that shown on the odometer at the time you inspect it.A service record also gives you some clues on who to talk to when you find out more about the life of the car you’re about the spend your hard earned cash on.Mechanics have a high regard for the Starlet, and report few faults with it. Serviced according to the Toyota recommendations, mechanics say a Starlet will do 300,000 km-plus without any major problem.Major service item is the cam-timing belt that should be changed every 100,000 km. As the engine is a free-spinning design no internal damage will occur if the belt breaks in service, but of course you will be left stranded on the side of the road if it does.• renowned Toyota build quality• robust and reliable mechanical package• refined road manners• quality interior trim and plastic components• zippy performance with miserly fuel consumption• boring but inoffensive styling

Before Toyota released the space age Tarago in 1990, peoplemovers were fairly crude devices based on commercial vans. The Tarago was the first purpose-built vehicle for those people who had a tribe to transport, one that had many of the attributes of a regular family sedan.Today’s buyer has a number of capable peoplemovers to choose from, all decent vehicles to drive and with the safety needed to protect the family. Back when the Tarago was new the choice was limited.The smooth bubble-shaped Tarago arrived on the local market in 1990, replacing a model that was based on a Toyota van with all of the dodgy dynamics that were the norm in vans of that time.The new series was purpose designed for the task of transporting people, which meant it came with few of the compromises that vehicles adapted from other models inevitably have.Where the van-based peoplemovers were tall vehicles with a high centre of gravity, narrow track and a layout suited to carrying a payload, the Tarago had widely spaced wheels —one at each corner — and passengers sat low down and inside the track so they had a much lower centre of gravity. All that meant greater safety and stability, better dynamics, and much more comfort.To help get the centre of gravity down Toyota laid the fuel-injected 2.4-litre double overhead camshaft four-cylinder engine flat under the floor. Access for checking the engine’s vitals was through the bonnet.Peak power was 102 kW at 5000 revs, torque is tops at 208 Nm.Toyota offered a choice of five-speed manual gearbox or electronically controlled four-speed auto trans, with a column shift and drive through the rear wheels. There was also the choice of a four-wheel drive model.Inside, there was comfortable and flexible seating for eight. Access to the rear seats was through a kerbside sliding door, or a rear lift-up hatch.At launch there was a choice of base GLi, four-wheel drive RV or luxury GLX models. GLi came with power steering, AM/FM cassette sound, tachometer, and central locking.The GLX also had four-wheel discs, alloy wheels, a roof spoiler, front driving lamps, power windows and velour trim.An upgrade in 1994 added cruise control, remote central locking and ABS to the list of GLX standard features.The Tarago’s body generally remains tight and taut in the long term, but look for bumps and scrapes that suggest neglect. Rear hatch struts can lose their lift after a while, but they’re easily re-gassed if needed.Inside the Tarago had hard wearing trim and well made plastics so there’s little that goes wrong with them, but age will always take its toll so anticipate wear on high traffic affected items like seats.The Tarago’s 2.4-litre engine was designed for low maintenance, important when the engine is laid flat under the floor and access is through the short bonnet.To keep maintenance to a minimum the engine has a timing chain instead of a belt that would need changing on a regular basis.It does, however, have long life spark plugs, which cost plenty when you do need to have them changed. Unfortunately it is such an awkward and time consuming job that many mechanics simply don’t do it.Some owners report a mysterious overheating problem they say they can’t explain, but others claim they’ve found the problem is due to a broken baffle in the radiator that affects coolant flow.Check the engine’s vital fluids to make sure they’re fresh and clean, a sign they’ve been regularly checked and changed as necessary.A verifiable service record is a comfort when buying a used Tarago.Moving away from the old van layout meant much improved crash performance of peoplemovers, and the Tarago led the way with a reasonable crumple zone ahead of the cabin that was able to absorb much of the energy that is generated in a crash.The GLX got a standard driver’s side airbag in 1993, which makes it the pick of the early models.Anne Dwyer and her family bought a 1992 Tarago eight years ago. It had done 90,000 km when bought and now has done 260,0000 km with no sign of trouble. Anne says she it has made transporting her family of five much easier. It is easy to get in to and out of, and there is plenty of room left for sporting gear, shopping, luggage or whatever needs to be transported.John Eliezer brought a 1990 Tarago GLX for his wife, and rates it one of his best ever buys. It is used mostly as a driver-only vehicle, but is fantastic when the family moves about together and is very popular for school car pool runs. John’s plan was to keep it for four years and update it when the lease ran out, but it behaved and felt like new on its fourth birthday so it stayed and to date has stayed taut. Apart from normal service items it has had two starter motors and three sets of rear door struts.Craig Power has owned a number of Taragos. With four kids of his own, and a steady stream of their friends, the Tarago was perfect family transport. The seating could be quickly reconfigured to take less passengers and more luggage as needed. His 1991 car did 100,000 km on LPG without a problem. In his view, the Tarago is fantastic transport for a large family.Lindsay Taylor has a family of five and owns two Taragos, one of which is a 1993 Ultima purchased in 2004 and now has 196,500 km on the clock. Lindsay rates peoplemovers as the best format for transporting a family of five or more in comfort. Overall, he says the fuel consumption is quite reasonable at 12 L/100 km around town and about 10 L/100 km on a trip. Even though it is almost 12 years old it still compares favourably with more recent vehicles when it comes to driving position and passenger comfort.• comfortable transport for the large family on the move• safe and secure handling• reliable drive train• relatively modest performance from four-cylinder engine• breakthrough design for people moversSafe, solid and reliable transport for the large or extended family with plenty of room left for whatever they need to take with them.