Interested in a disused car
Discussion
Wasn't really sure what to put in the title, but there is a Toyota Supra near me that I'm quite interested in taking on as a project. As I'm looking into it as a long term project, even serious mechanical maladies are not too much of an issue.
According to the tax disc, it's not been taxed since September 2007 and the apparently solid rust brake discs back up the lack of use, combined with never seeing it move (It's been parked in exactly the same spot for as long as I've been paying any attention and I go past 2 or 3 times a week) makes me think it's never used.
A quick look around reveals it's quite a desirable car if it is factory spec (3.0 Turbo, UK car from what I've found).
Now, my question to the wise folk of PH - would you consider dropping a note through the door expressing an interest in buying it? Or would it being parked in a prominent location* for so long with so little use suggest that there is sentimental value or otherwise involved in it's lack of use and lack of sale?
According to the tax disc, it's not been taxed since September 2007 and the apparently solid rust brake discs back up the lack of use, combined with never seeing it move (It's been parked in exactly the same spot for as long as I've been paying any attention and I go past 2 or 3 times a week) makes me think it's never used.
A quick look around reveals it's quite a desirable car if it is factory spec (3.0 Turbo, UK car from what I've found).
Now, my question to the wise folk of PH - would you consider dropping a note through the door expressing an interest in buying it? Or would it being parked in a prominent location* for so long with so little use suggest that there is sentimental value or otherwise involved in it's lack of use and lack of sale?
- (On a fairly busy residential street near to the centre of town, on a drive that is basically a concrete slab next to the pavement with no walls so is clearly visible)
Turtlez said:
Is it manual, they where rare , my sister had one though auto.
An amasingly fast car ,twin turbo.
Yep it is a manual, thought I had included that in the OP but obviously forgot - doh! An amasingly fast car ,twin turbo.
Seems the general consensus is it's worth a punt so i'll have a crack at writing a brief note and see what the outcome is.
Thanks for the replies all!
T33JOB said:
No harm in dropping a note through,
There's a 993 round the corner from me which has sat for atleast 3 years, rear window has totally degraded (being plastic), 4 flat tyres, roof literally has moss growing on it..
I put a note on the car about 12 months ago, and it's still there haha
If it's on the road you can apply for the v5...There's a 993 round the corner from me which has sat for atleast 3 years, rear window has totally degraded (being plastic), 4 flat tyres, roof literally has moss growing on it..
I put a note on the car about 12 months ago, and it's still there haha
It does seem very strange to be honest, which is half the reason I was even hesitating about attempting to contact the owner.
It looks fairly clean from a distance, though there are a few more marks up close - plenty of small scuffs on bumpers etc. and the wheels are badly corroded - even so it is a few grands worth and rather desirable in good condition.
I'm not 100% sure it is a UK car, only what I've been told. It is definitely a turbo manual though.
It looks fairly clean from a distance, though there are a few more marks up close - plenty of small scuffs on bumpers etc. and the wheels are badly corroded - even so it is a few grands worth and rather desirable in good condition.
I'm not 100% sure it is a UK car, only what I've been told. It is definitely a turbo manual though.
Go and ask. I have a car hidden behind conifers. It's been here for years. When I took it off the road, I intended to put its engine into a Dax Rush but lack of time got the better of that idea.
Word has got around and I've had loads of people knocking on the door.
One of the scumbags stole the rear leather seat recently.
Word has got around and I've had loads of people knocking on the door.
One of the scumbags stole the rear leather seat recently.
That's not a UK - it's on the 16" alloys and they don't go over UK brakes - also has J-Spec rear bumper and import rear lights (although my old UK had the facelift ones of these because I liked them better). Could be an import NA, given how cheap they are to buy and how much parts can cost to bring them back to life it might not be quite the find it initially looks unless you get it for nothing / close to nothing.
thetapeworm said:
That's not a UK - it's on the 16" alloys and they don't go over UK brakes - also has J-Spec rear bumper and import rear lights (although my old UK had the facelift ones of these because I liked them better). Could be an import NA, given how cheap they are to buy and how much parts can cost to bring them back to life it might not be quite the find it initially looks unless you get it for nothing / close to nothing.
I knew there would be someone with enough knowledge to shed some light on it - I love PH! 
I guess that somewhat explains it, putting the plate through an insurance site and also some fancy app my friend has on an iPhone it comes back as "TOYOTA SUPRA TURBO" which means there is still some potential there if that is correct.
Is there much difference between imports and UK cars other than the brakes?
matty_doh said:
I knew there would be someone with enough knowledge to shed some light on it - I love PH!
I guess that somewhat explains it, putting the plate through an insurance site and also some fancy app my friend has on an iPhone it comes back as "TOYOTA SUPRA TURBO" which means there is still some potential there if that is correct.
Is there much difference between imports and UK cars other than the brakes?
If it's a J-Spec turbo then it's worth a punt but also more likely that they know it's worth or that it's broken in a spectacular way I guess that somewhat explains it, putting the plate through an insurance site and also some fancy app my friend has on an iPhone it comes back as "TOYOTA SUPRA TURBO" which means there is still some potential there if that is correct.
Is there much difference between imports and UK cars other than the brakes?
A range of differences between the UK and J-Spec but nothing that can't be swapped out or that doesn't need to be changed unless you are chasing more BHP. UK would have proper leather front and back, heated seats, headlamp washers (aka "dildos"), larger brakes, 17" wheels, steel turbo internals rather than ceramic (more top end but slightly slower to spool), 550 injectors rather than the J-Spec 440s, MAF on the UK, MAP on the J-Spec, EGR on the UK... blah blah blah and so on. Ultimately standard performance is similar with the J-Spec having slightly harder suspension and less focus on autobahn speeds and the need for cooling.
Chances are someone over on mkivsupra.net will know the car but then you also risk alerting a group of nerdy Supra enthusiasts to it and they will want to strip it for parts, those side skirts are in demand, especially if they are proper polyeurothane ones rather than copies in GRP.
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