Supra fever

So I made the mistake of browsing ebay recently, and came across this little gem

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1987-Toyota-Supra-5-Speed-Runs-Good-Non-Turbo-HTF_W0QQitemZ360236586374QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item53dfc61586

I've looked at Mk3's with passing interest before. The car is decent shape (interior is really nice), price is pretty sweet. Just missing a little bit of exterior trim, and the back bumper needs resprayed. Does this smack of bad idea? Or should I push forward?

Get a MKii instead. A black one. With rear window louvers. The batmobile. That's wut car is gud.

my buddy had a 600 WHP turbo 87 a while back. it was so cool.

had tons of old HKS stuff, etc. even had 90's graphics. so awesome. wasnt that fast,only ran low 12's (on street tires).

oh, and it was automatic. lol....

(he bought it that way, then sold it for a profit)

redzcstandardhatch wrote: my buddy had a 600 WHP turbo 87 a while back. it was so cool. had tons of old HKS stuff, etc. even had 90's graphics. so awesome. wasnt that fast,only ran low 12's (on street tires). oh, and it was automatic. lol.... (he bought it that way, then sold it for a profit)

All turbo Supras run 12s, haven't you heard?

Do it, I love my 90. Thus far it has been very easy to work on, and in my view, it is a very pretty car.

If you get one, I probably have at least one part that you would need.

This was on BAT not long ago:

1985 Toyota Supra SUPRA V8 Good stuff.

looks like a cheap repaint on that 85.. I see a lot of painted over rubber.

I always liked the looks of the Mk2s also.. but I have NEVER seen one without a rotted out hatch

Big issues with Mk IIIs is their weight.

An N/A Mk III wieghs same/slightly more than a SN95 Mustang GT, turbos pack on even more.

I've always wanted to swap a crazy-built 3S-GTE into one, though.

I had an 86.5 (same as 87) NA way back when - a real GT car. I sold it after a couple of years to get in to my first MR2, not because I didn't like the Supra, but because the Supra was still in the rapid depreciation price curve, and because it was such a great real-world car that it wasn't much fun to drive. The over-the-road limits were very high. These were the days of the 55 MPH speed limit, and if you didn't look at the speedo, you'd find that a comfortable speed where you felt in perfect control was about 95. Cruise control became a lifesaver. There was virtually no wind noise, it was very comfortable, got good gas mileage for the day (20+ at 90 +), but was no fun to autocross and was utterly helpless in the snow. And back then 16 inch tires started at $150 each and went up from there. And they are really heavy.

But for a car for long trips, superb.

If I was to get another Supra, though, it would be a late Mk. II with a built engine, probably out of a Mk. III Turbo. Or an LSX.

The plan for mine is LSX turbo power...eventually...

Would this be a respectable car for having teh funz in? I've seen some wild Mk3's, but I'm not terribly interested in doing anything crazy. Would it be a good platform to slowly work with? I'm sort of looking for a car I can slowly upgrade as I have time and money. Not really looking for another long distance car.

GI_Drewsifer wrote: Would this be a respectable car for having teh funz in?

What kinda funz? I think of Mk IIIs as a Japanese alternative to a Mustang or Camaro that happens to trade a little bit of power for a little bit of handling.

They're definitely a GT car, though, not a sports car. I know I'd definitely have more fun in a RWD Corolla, but the Supra would make for a far superior DD/only-car.

GI_Drewsifer wrote: Would this be a respectable car for having teh funz in? I've seen some wild Mk3's, but I'm not terribly interested in doing anything crazy. Would it be a good platform to slowly work with? I'm sort of looking for a car I can slowly upgrade as I have time and money. Not really looking for another long distance car.

No.

Start with a Turbo model.

I test drove an '87 once and seem to remember a turning radius like the QE2. Are they all that bad or did I find a red herring?

ultraclyde wrote: I test drove an '87 once and seem to remember a turning radius like the QE2. Are they all that bad or did I find a red herring?

They're all that bad. Some toyotas are weird like that. My Celica has the turning radius of the Queen Mary. Where the Escort pulls a U-Turn, i'm looking at a 3 or 5 point turn. Amusingly, the Celica above 10mph feels one bazillion times more nimble.

Supras feel pretty decent once they're moving, but they aren't THAT small of a car.

I'd like to quantify this with a true scientific study, but I think everyone has or will get Supra fever at least once in his lifetime.

81gtv6 wrote: This was on BAT not long ago: 1985 Toyota Supra SUPRA V8 Good stuff.

I REALLY want to build a car like that, except mine would have a 1UZ in it...