Is a Supra the best high power option?
Discussion
I've got an itch for a really powerful car to use occasionally, I'm thinking 500bhp and above, no reason, just fancy owning a bit of a monster. Ideally I'd find one that someone else has modified!
I run a Subaru as my every day car and would like something different to ; the internet tells me that the Evo is happiest at 400bhp, while the RX7 doesn't have a great reputation for reliability at very high power. The R32 and R33 GTR (discounting the R34 and R35 due to the price) also don't seem to be hugely reliable and suffer from rust etc., although I love the looks and AWD.
I keep coming back to the Mkiv Supra. It has a reputation of fantastic build quality, a really strong engine and 6 speed manual box. Obviously its RWD, potentially 20 years old and is quite a lump, but is it still the ultimate "tuner" car?
I run a Subaru as my every day car and would like something different to ; the internet tells me that the Evo is happiest at 400bhp, while the RX7 doesn't have a great reputation for reliability at very high power. The R32 and R33 GTR (discounting the R34 and R35 due to the price) also don't seem to be hugely reliable and suffer from rust etc., although I love the looks and AWD.
I keep coming back to the Mkiv Supra. It has a reputation of fantastic build quality, a really strong engine and 6 speed manual box. Obviously its RWD, potentially 20 years old and is quite a lump, but is it still the ultimate "tuner" car?
The RB26DETT is a fine engine and can take lots of power, there is some debate on how much it can take before you need to replace the internals but 500-600bhp seems to be a comfortable range if you are using proper parts.
Sorry but I had to laugh at the rust comment, that's just retards not taking care of them, you'll get evil rust on a Supra too if you don't look after it.
On the subject of Supra's I have only heard good things about the power that they can take, and I believe it is more than the Skyline's before you have to sort out the internals. Certainly there are alot more 1,000bhp+ Supra's than there are 1,000bhp Skylines.
Whichever one you choose you will love as they are both fantastic cars!
Sorry but I had to laugh at the rust comment, that's just retards not taking care of them, you'll get evil rust on a Supra too if you don't look after it.
On the subject of Supra's I have only heard good things about the power that they can take, and I believe it is more than the Skyline's before you have to sort out the internals. Certainly there are alot more 1,000bhp+ Supra's than there are 1,000bhp Skylines.
Whichever one you choose you will love as they are both fantastic cars!
TommoAE86 said:
The RB26DETT is a fine engine and can take lots of power, there is some debate on how much it can take before you need to replace the internals but 500-600bhp seems to be a comfortable range if you are using proper parts.
Sorry but I had to laugh at the rust comment, that's just retards not taking care of them, you'll get evil rust on a Supra too if you don't look after it.
On the subject of Supra's I have only heard good things about the power that they can take, and I believe it is more than the Skyline's before you have to sort out the internals. Certainly there are alot more 1,000bhp+ Supra's than there are 1,000bhp Skylines.
Whichever one you choose you will love as they are both fantastic cars!
Sorry - I know that rust will be a problem on all these older cars. Its just what I've read. Next step is to try and sit in a few, as I'm tall and need the space. I don't need 1000bhp, I want a driveable road car, just a really fast one! Sorry but I had to laugh at the rust comment, that's just retards not taking care of them, you'll get evil rust on a Supra too if you don't look after it.
On the subject of Supra's I have only heard good things about the power that they can take, and I believe it is more than the Skyline's before you have to sort out the internals. Certainly there are alot more 1,000bhp+ Supra's than there are 1,000bhp Skylines.
Whichever one you choose you will love as they are both fantastic cars!
If you are much over 6ft you may struggle with Skylines generally , i'm bang on 6ft and struggled to fit in my 33 with a crash helmet on even with the seat reclined, even without I only had 1" of headroom, my 34 had a sunroof and that was even worse!
Mind you the 33 is 20 years old and most 20 year old cars have rust, In my opinion I would spend a lot to buy a really exceptional 33 or buy a Supra .
Mind you the 33 is 20 years old and most 20 year old cars have rust, In my opinion I would spend a lot to buy a really exceptional 33 or buy a Supra .
A bit of food for thought. I have had 2 different friends have big power GTR's. One R33 and one R32. 1st car was single turbo, forged engine built and mapped properly. Around 750bhp. Was driven fairly hard but not trashed. It lasted 1500 miles before it spun a main bearing and wrecked the crank.
2nd car(R32) again forged, properly built and mapped though this one still had twin turbos. 660bhp ATW. 2000 miles and it may be a coincendence but this one also spun a main bearing and wrecked the crank. Again, driven fairly hard but not hammered. Bearing failed at 60mph on the way to a track day. This car I know for definite had a nismo high pressure oil pump.
Both engines built by different, well respected companies. Hence why I believe it wasn't their fault, more a common RB26 issue. I don't know the engines that well though.
1st friend sold the car as it was, stumped up the cash for a supra which had nigh on 800bhp. Forged Pistons, eagle rods?, standard crank and big single. This car did track days, weekend thrashes, drag racing etc. It took everything you could throw at it and laughed it off. Last thing I heard of the car the engine had done over 10k with no issues, serviced regularly and it was fine.
The 2J motors sound epic running big revs and big boost too!
2nd car(R32) again forged, properly built and mapped though this one still had twin turbos. 660bhp ATW. 2000 miles and it may be a coincendence but this one also spun a main bearing and wrecked the crank. Again, driven fairly hard but not hammered. Bearing failed at 60mph on the way to a track day. This car I know for definite had a nismo high pressure oil pump.
Both engines built by different, well respected companies. Hence why I believe it wasn't their fault, more a common RB26 issue. I don't know the engines that well though.
1st friend sold the car as it was, stumped up the cash for a supra which had nigh on 800bhp. Forged Pistons, eagle rods?, standard crank and big single. This car did track days, weekend thrashes, drag racing etc. It took everything you could throw at it and laughed it off. Last thing I heard of the car the engine had done over 10k with no issues, serviced regularly and it was fine.
The 2J motors sound epic running big revs and big boost too!
Its pretty clear that the Supra's engine is top drawer for power hikes - hell I even remember it being the weapon of choice for straight line power and speed on Gran Turismo :-)
Going a bit off piste, what about a Nissan 300zx twin turbo? Certainly a rarer car, lower entry cost (£5k will get you a very good quality rust free one) and 'subjectively' I think a better looking car than the Supra. The engine apparently is good for 400bhp before needing any upgrades to it or the gearbox.
Going a bit off piste, what about a Nissan 300zx twin turbo? Certainly a rarer car, lower entry cost (£5k will get you a very good quality rust free one) and 'subjectively' I think a better looking car than the Supra. The engine apparently is good for 400bhp before needing any upgrades to it or the gearbox.
The RB engines do need more care than a 2JZ, but I wouldn't say your friends experience is the norm. There is a guy with a RB25DET (so a GTST) running 509bhp and he has had no problems in 2 years. It's also an epic machine lighting up the rears in 4th! 
I admit I only know what I garnered info when I was thinking about owning a 300ZX but surely the engine bay is uber restrictive in them? Even normal servicing costs quite alot compared to a 2JZ or RB because of it. I guess that is an entirely subjective point of view though
I admit I only know what I garnered info when I was thinking about owning a 300ZX but surely the engine bay is uber restrictive in them? Even normal servicing costs quite alot compared to a 2JZ or RB because of it. I guess that is an entirely subjective point of view though
Toyota jz engines are one of the strongest engines I know off. Plenty of standard unopened engines in the states doing 650hp with a bolt on single turbo. Look after them and they seem to last! same with Nissan RB engines tbh, although they do tend to be more fragile than the toyota jz engines. If an engine has been looked after and built properly then it should be fine. Both rb26dett and 2jz come with at least forged pistons and possibly rods from the factory iirc.
Supra's are great cars. I've had two and they are right up there as my favourite car owned, more so than the GTR actually. They are heavy and drink petrol but the driving position, solidity and feel of them are top notch. The biggest problem now is trying to find a good example for sensible money. If you buy badly, like anything it'll cost you and there aren't many decent ones out there left.
I've also done the R32/R34 GTR route and that gets pretty expensive because they need a load more power than factory to come alive. A lot of people think you can just run big power through an RB26 but that's not the case, there are a lot of supporting mods to get there and it doesn't come cheap.
The most entertaining car I've ever owned is a Skyline GTS, 450bhp, rwd and with the automatic version shorter geared rear lsd (makes it feel like it has 100bhp more without the associated cost and strain) means ludicrous acceleration, as mentioned above, it will spin the rears in fourth, yet it's light enough to control even when the rears are lit up and can be placed inch for inch where you want it. If its that type of lunatic thrill you want, the GTS delivers, no driver aids just a pure rwd finely balanced machine with a lot of torque. It's a hoot to drive and the running costs are very reasonable. I think it is one of the best kept secrets out there. Mine is currently up for sale with not a spot of rust on it. It is quite track focused but you did say you wanted a sense of occasion type car!!;
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/motorsport/...
I'm mainly selling because after suffering for a year with a bad back I've finally been scanned and my back is officially shot so I can no longer enjoy this, otherwise I wouldn't be selling up.
I've also done the R32/R34 GTR route and that gets pretty expensive because they need a load more power than factory to come alive. A lot of people think you can just run big power through an RB26 but that's not the case, there are a lot of supporting mods to get there and it doesn't come cheap.
The most entertaining car I've ever owned is a Skyline GTS, 450bhp, rwd and with the automatic version shorter geared rear lsd (makes it feel like it has 100bhp more without the associated cost and strain) means ludicrous acceleration, as mentioned above, it will spin the rears in fourth, yet it's light enough to control even when the rears are lit up and can be placed inch for inch where you want it. If its that type of lunatic thrill you want, the GTS delivers, no driver aids just a pure rwd finely balanced machine with a lot of torque. It's a hoot to drive and the running costs are very reasonable. I think it is one of the best kept secrets out there. Mine is currently up for sale with not a spot of rust on it. It is quite track focused but you did say you wanted a sense of occasion type car!!;
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/motorsport/...
I'm mainly selling because after suffering for a year with a bad back I've finally been scanned and my back is officially shot so I can no longer enjoy this, otherwise I wouldn't be selling up.
I think they're cracking cars, even in standard guise, it's nice to see an unmolested one. There are so many nastily modified examples about that when anyone thinks of the GTS-T they think of poorly fitting body kits hanging off and daft paint/graphics.
I almost bought a stock series 2 a few years back but decided not to at the time so showed it to a friend who bought it instead, and proceeded to put HKS exhaust, filter, boost controller, greddy FMIC and nismo fuel pump/reg on it. Took it to about 310bhp from memory.
Enjoy...If I sell this one I may consider a standard one on stock suspension because they're a great drivers car. Mine is a bit too far gone to convert to stock, I'd love to keep my engine and mods and put it in a sleeper chassis, maybe even a Stagea!
I almost bought a stock series 2 a few years back but decided not to at the time so showed it to a friend who bought it instead, and proceeded to put HKS exhaust, filter, boost controller, greddy FMIC and nismo fuel pump/reg on it. Took it to about 310bhp from memory.
Enjoy...If I sell this one I may consider a standard one on stock suspension because they're a great drivers car. Mine is a bit too far gone to convert to stock, I'd love to keep my engine and mods and put it in a sleeper chassis, maybe even a Stagea!
Will try not to thread hijack! Yes they are lovely machines, it frequently surpasses my expectations of what a 22year old car can do
I plan to keep mine as OEM as possible, however I do have a modern amp and will have to do something about the fog light (current plan is to get a motor and articulate the bracket so you can only see it when it's on and then retracts when it's off)
Only thing I would like to change it for is a R33 GTR
I plan to keep mine as OEM as possible, however I do have a modern amp and will have to do something about the fog light (current plan is to get a motor and articulate the bracket so you can only see it when it's on and then retracts when it's off)
Only thing I would like to change it for is a R33 GTR
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