Lexus SC Coupe

...bullet proof reliability of the Lexus hallmark.

My car is a Soarer V8 Limited Active. One of only 850 ever made. I believe when it was originally on sale in Japan, this cost the equivalent of £61,000. Why? Because of the technology this car demonstrated.

Firstly you have the awesome Lexus V8. This is the same engine as used in the Lexus LS400 and the Toyota Landcruiser. It has plenty of power and a performance that will ...
...length as the more sedate Lexus LS400 but inside it give you plenty of room. Boot space is great but would be better if it was a hatchback rather than a boot.

On the inside is where this car is pure Lexus. The car has an amazing digital display which seems to float on the black background. On my model you have a digital diagnostic which checks brakes, suspension, engine, fluid levels and lights when you start it. You can even get it ... more

I think my car differs from the previous review. Mine is an SC400 rather than the newer SC430.

This is probably the best car I have ever owned. Although mine is a 1991 model and was imported from Japan, it is still totally stunning.

This car was never sold in this country. Only Japan, Australia and the USA. Not sure why Lexus/Toyota made this decision but it was a bad one. These are now cult cars with stunning looks and the bullet proof reliability of the Lexus hallmark.

My car is a Soarer V8 Limited Active. One of only 850 ever made. I believe when it was originally on sale in Japan, this cost the equivalent of £61,000. Why? Because of the technology this car demonstrated.

Firstly you have the awesome Lexus V8. This is the same engine as used in the Lexus LS400 and the Toyota Landcruiser. It has plenty of power and a performance that will leave most modern sports cars in its trail. It is incredibly smooth and responsive and almost silent. The downside is the fuel consumption. It currently (97p per litre) costs about £70 to fill the car and for normal driving this would give me about 300 miles. On the motorway this would increase to around 450 miles. But those miles are eaten up by the smoothest and sexiest ride around. The automatic gearbox is perfect for the job with a 'bolt-you-back' acceleration on kickdown in power mode which will have you sailing to 60 before you know it.

The body is nothing short of being a masterpiece. It's smooth lines remind you of the new model Jaguar sports car while also bearing a strong resemblance to its smaller Toyota sports car siblings the Celica and Supra. It is a long car, about the same length as the more sedate Lexus LS400 but inside it give you plenty of room. Boot space is great but would be better if it was a hatchback rather than a boot.

On the inside is where this car is pure Lexus. The car has an amazing digital display which seems to float on the black background. On my model you have a digital diagnostic which checks brakes, suspension, engine, fluid levels and lights when you start it. You can even get it to do a more thorough diagnostic simply by pressing a couple of buttons where it will go through each check individually and notify you of its status.

As if that wasn't enough, the Active and Limited models have a video display in the centre consul. This is called the EMV. This 8" screen has a host of responsibilities and (bear in mind this was from 1991!) touch screen controls. It will control the air conditioning, the radio and cd changer (12 cd changer in the boot), mine has a built in television and DVD player, it will show in depth diagnostics, trip computer (giving you details of the last few trips and economy for each), GPS (YES, 1991 GPS although this was fixed only for Japan, it can now be updated to cover the UK and Europe), telephone (on some models) and, wait for it, even a reversing camera! A 1991 car which had TV, reversing camera, touch screen controls, GPS and telephone?? That is why this car would have cost so much. Other manufacturers make one concept car that no-one drives, Lexus made 850 and sold them!

The sound system is amazing as you would expect from Lexus. The car is filled with subtle speakers which give the best sound I have heard in any car. No need for upgrades here. Plus the sound proofing is so good you hear hardly anything outside and they hear nothing inside.

The seats are all electric with considerable scope for preferred positioning. It even has memory seats which are heated. The rear will happily hold a couple of teenagers or smaller adults (we are talking of a sports car here) and they are comfortable. There is wooden trim all round and the leather is great quality.

Now down to what makes this car REALLY special; it is called the Active; what this is referring to is it has what Toyota called Active Suspension. The car will automatically adjust the suspension to all four corners to make sure the car stays flat around corners. You may think this is like you get on Citroens but it isn't this is much more refined and sports oriented. It enables a 2 ton car go round a roundabout at 60 mph without losing grip. This car will corner like a mini cooper! There are films available of this car holding racing track corners while Porsche's spin off the track. An amazing innovation controlled by its own ECU computer brain. For its diagnostic, it will even do a dance. The car will raise and lower itself on each of its corners in numerous different combinations to show the pumps are working. A fantastic jaw dropping sight even in todays mega technological world.

Tied into this is another innovation back in 1991 (and still very rare now) - FOUR WHEEL steering. Although the car is rear wheel drive (it needs to be with the power) it has steering to all four wheels. This means the turning circle is less than our other Peugeot 407 even though the car is larger. It makes parking much easier and cornering (especially with the Active suspension) a dream.

This car is probably the nicest handling sports car you could ever drive. It handles like a sports car and feels like a limo.

It even has mirrors which not only heat up but will shake water and ice off them at the press of a button as well as retract to the sides.

So thats my Soarer 1991 Active. As you can guess I like it a lot. Plus, there is something very special in knowing only 850 were made and this is one of only 10 in the UK. Would I sell it? Don't know 

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