KC_Prelude

One of my friends picked up an 89 turbo and ever since the first time I drove it I have been in love with these cars. His is in average shape but its super fast and only cost him $2500. I think im going to take the plunge this summer and hook myself up with a 89-92 turbo 5 speed. I will definately wait for the right one and end up paying top dollar probably but they still can be had in great shape for $4000-6000. I plan on keeping it pretty stock for a while, maybe just an intake and exhaust (who knows how long that wil last). It seems to fit the bill for me perfectly until I can afford the 8. It has tons of power (torque!), a good comfy interior with a ghetto back seat for when I need to cram 3 people in the car, and looks fairly good and its pretty reliable for a turbo sports car (I am aware of the head gasket and other common problems). It may be a heavy car but it still handles pretty well and is a great highway cruiser for my 230 mile round trip between college and home. Any experiences with these cars?

Twinturbo2800

supras are badass. i almost bought a 97 Twin turbo supra. but my fiance' wanted me to get somthing with a warranty and all. i test drove it. thier really quick.

mk3's are ok too if u like older cars. Imo get a MK4.

also check out www.Supraforums.com

best forums for supras.

Ike

Super fast MK3 is an oxymoron Cool cars for their time, but when the DSMs came out no one really cared anymore.

AltecLansing

supras are really fast on straight, but u have to becareful at corners during high speed. there were many accidents in hong kong related to Supra turning the corners at high speed. so, take care.

Baller

Heavy metal

KC_Prelude

Maybe super quick would be more accurate. You see, coming from a 4 banger honda EVERYTHING is fast. The car does have intake/no cat 3'' exhaust/bigger turbo/ boost controller/ ecu/ etc so it wasn't exactly stock. I respect what DSM's can do but I would hate to be seen driving one, they look like saturns. Granted they are one of the best dollar/speed ratio cars, so is a srt-4 and Im not standing in line for one of those either.

Ike

The biggest problems with the MK3s was they just were too damn expensive. Most people weren't ready to spend a lot of money on Japanese sportscars, and when the less epnsive faster sportscars came out the MK3 took a backseat. That all changed with the next generation as I'm sure most of us know. Well at least the faster part, the MKIV never did sell very well like most of the higher end Japanese sportscars of the time.

If you want a much better car, and certainly a better car from an enthusiasts standpoint seek out a 2nd gen. MR2 turbo. The Supras were heavy and didn't handle all that well, but that can't be said for the MR2 which to this day is one of the best handling cars around in any category and takes rather well to mods.

wakeech

...not to mention a well tuned Turbo II RX-7 is a much faster car (lighter mass, better suspension, better motor :p): people bitch about breaking apex seals ('cause they're mad and need to blame something), but nothing is much weaker than the gaskets on those heads.

KC_Prelude

I love MR2's but they have always seemed too small and too expensive, especially for a turbo, but god that mid-engine(!). I would definately consider an older one as a toy car. I almost bought a first gen RX-7 and I would love a Turbo II (my best friend had one and blew up the motor cranking the boost up but he beat a ferrari lol) but I require a back seat in my car, even if it is a joke. Also he is currently looking for another Turbo II so I don't really want to get the same car that he gets, we like to mix it up. I need a car thats a sports car but will start every time and be a reliable and comfortable daily driver. I love second gen RX-7's and will own one someday but they are a car that is in a constant state of repair (turbo rotary, brake cyl, EVERYTHING electrical) and they get tiring on the highway. I really just want the 8 but I am in college so I am **** poor and for $4000-$6000 an 89-92 supra seems like a good substitute to me.

wakeech

nice

well i understand perfectly you not wanting to get the same car as your buddy, and for that i think it's a good option to get the Supra (over a Z car or something like that... unless it's a 240 or a 280).

i wish i was as rich in **** as you... i can't afford a 1st gen RX-7 yet :o

Boozehound

'keech - I'm sure you could find a 1st gen for college student money. The one in my sig is even for sale... I'll start the bidding at 1K.

wakeech

the car, sure, but it'd be too big a POS, not to mention i couldn't afford the insurance (way more than double the cost of the car... YEARLY!!) and then afford to do the things i'd REALLY wanna do to it??? dang, i just don't think so... not yet. i had the money before, but i decided against it (with my father's firm advice) and have been living comfortably instead, albeit driving the Echo.

KC_Prelude

You are a much smarter man than I wakeech.

wakeech

...though i'm not sure i'm better for it :-s

Boozehound

POS it isn't in the true definition of the word, but you're smart to stick with said Echo. Even though it (likely) sucks, it's affordable transportation that should last for quite a while. Hell, I got through college in a 91 Park Ave while my 7 sat in the garage at my parents house.

KC_Prelude

Funny you say that your 7 sat in your parents garage because that is what I would likely do if I got a supra. The first gen 7 I almost bought was only $1000 and it wasn't really a pos. Pretty good car for putting around the city, 100 hp and it felt like a rocket. It would have been a downgrade from my current car and needed a new gas tank badly which I had trouble finding. Having a nice car at college is totally irrational and my car is perfectly adequate its just that Im ready for a change. At least I will have my own garage space next year to protect whatever car I end up with. The echo probably gets as good or better gas mileage than a new prius anyway, im sure its nice to have a car that doesn't constantly suck money from you.

NAVILESRX8

iTrader: (1)

I am the king of old school rides....man I love every RWD Toyota, had almost every one...I've owned TE45, TE72, AE86 Corollas, MX73 Cressidas, RA65 Celica GTS's, MA61 Celica Supra, and those rotaries in my sig....I've tinkered with them all......not many have reached their true and planned potential, but very very fun cars overall. I'm still an old school Toyota guy, I just happen to own a new RX8....

Those MA70 supra's do have weak OE head gaskets, but with the newer replacements and revised torque specs can last very very long. Ike, not everybody appreciates those DSM AWD turbo sportsters....I don't really care for any of them. And I don't like Mitsubishis. Great cars and can be very fast, but...that's not me. I like burnouts and drifting....

KC_Prelude

Id like to see pics of your AE86 if you have any.

Boozehound

Yeah, when I said 1K for the 1st gen, that price mainly reflects the market and what's reasonable. It's not a POS - it still runs well, has a good looking interior, but the seats need recovering and the paint has started oxidizing. Other than that, it needs a clutch pedal adjustment and to stop the leaking around the schrader valve in the AC. I just got tired of having something to work on all the time. One thing gets fixed, one thing needs fixing... But it's the same story on any old car.

KC_Prelude

I've seen $1,000 first gens that looked like they belonged in the junkyard and Ive also seen some that were in surprisingly solid condition. Real tempting to buy as a toy or autox car but my current budget will not support 2 cars and 2 insurance payments (let alone feeding me). If I was to go back to being 16 again a $1,000 first gen would sound perfect, maybe a little dangerous as a first car .

Boozehound

That's my market... the dangerous first car... I don't have the budget either to turn it into another toy, especially when my daily driver does so much better at that sort of thing.

kellybrf

iTrader: (2)

if you really want a good supra w/o paying too much put a mkIII turbo in a mkII chasis. its a fairly easy procedure (as far as engine swaps go at least- the mounts are almost identical) and adds a ton of power. a few sway bars and some better springs and you have a very fast, great handling car.

insturctions here:
http://www.celicasupra.com/7mgte/

Boozehound

Better yet, get an old Lexus SC300, add turbos (should be the same block as the supra) and voila! Looks, speed, and a sleeper to boot.

Red Devil

I loved my TII, and always really admired the MR2's. And someone mentioned a lack of reliability. My most common problems with the car was the antenna for the radio always breaking. Besides that, it broke down once when the vacuum line blew off the turbo, after that nothing else. A simple switch to silicone lines and the car was bulletproof. And the original engine went to ~150K before being replaced.