Toyota Supra MkIV

[jamieduff1981]

I've always liked the look of Supras, but am a little concerned about the sort of image they portray.

My wife and I are considering what options we have as we've never really bonded with the AWD X-Type. We want RWD, decent power, ideally a manual gearbox and my wife wants a convertible again (hankering after our old MX-5s). 4 seats are essential though as we have young children. A Targa top Supra seems to tick all the boxes.

We must be hardcore because we consider the Cerbera to have enough room. More room than the Cerbera will be great. I do not need suggestions of a boring car for daily use and a 2-seat toy. We're out of space with 4 cars and what we're looking for is an interesting daily driver. Before anyone suggests an M3 convertible - yes it's probably better in objective terms but everyone and his dog has one up here and they just don't do anything for me.

Anyway, this isn't a "what car" but more a "how are Supras to drive and to own?". I could go and join a Supra forum but most dedicated forums have very tinted spectacles and are pretty bias.

How do Supras handle and how do they wear milage? What are the manual gearboxes like?

[Baryonyx]

They handle surprisingly well given their (relative for the time) size, though I have asked a similar question before and was told that they make little sense on UK roads, as they don't feel like they're hitting their stride until they're doing about 90mph! They're definitely great GT cars though; the twin turbo engine is a legendary unit and the wraparound dash is a superb piece of design. Good cars without the usual tacky Fast and Furious/Veilside tat are becoming scarce and when I last looked, a manual TT would fetch £10,000 or more.

[TheHeretic]

I have only driven one a few times, but they feel much smaller when driving them. They never felt 'heavy', and that was from an MR2T owner at the time. As said, the dash is very nice, and the seats are very comfy. They still look superb to my eyes. The engine is superb.

[jamieduff1981]

Thanks chaps. That's encouraging.

Most of the decent looking ones are based hundreds of miles away from me so I want to convince myself that I'm not barking up a tree in the wrong forest before the time and expense of travelling to a specialist dealer to see a few.

I'd be looking to get a manual twin turbo targa top, so I know I'm going to have to pay top money for one.

[trick3000tt]

There is no such thing as a manual twin turbo aerotop from the factory. A few exist, but they are conversions - some better than others. The auto box suits the aerotop better anyway - with the roof off, it's much softer than the hardtop and much more suited to cruising than a fast A road blast.

[jamieduff1981]

Hmm, maybe she'll have to make do with a hard-top then! I have yet to meet a 1990s auto'box that I've liked so would look elsewhere before considering an automatic Supra.

Thanks for the tip-off. A dealer is advertising one in the PH classifieds and I wouldn't have known it was a conversion. That may not be a deal breaker but I'll certain approach them with extreme caution.

[AnimalMkIV]

I would really suggest you take an auto Supra for a test drive. It really is a great auto box, very responsive.

[AnimalMkIV]

I would really suggest you take an auto Supra for a test drive. It really is a great auto box, very responsive.