Toyota Supra Mk4
Discussion
Always lusted for a Supra, just one of them cars.
Before I go about seriously considering one, I have a few questions.
How hard is it to find a completely stock one? And is there even such a thing as UK spec?
I also can’t find any info on insurance groups.
Answers and help appreciated as always.
Before I go about seriously considering one, I have a few questions.
How hard is it to find a completely stock one? And is there even such a thing as UK spec?
I also can’t find any info on insurance groups.
Answers and help appreciated as always.
There are UK spec cars, yes. Only the turbos were sold in the UK - one obvious telltale sign is that the UK cars have headlight washers and bonnet vents - Jap imports don't.
A lot of modding gets done in Japan, so a UK one is more likely to be stock I guess - but they were quite easily tuned so it might be a struggle.
I've had two - a black turbo which was more or less stock I believe, but I think there are a few simple changes that can be made to give it a bit more power (can't remember what - think it was referred to as BPU on the Supra forums) and I think mine might have had that.
Also had an N/A one - made a very good fun daily car.
Think the prices have gone up a fair bit these days, and for an old car they aren't that cheap - but they're nice cars.
A lot of modding gets done in Japan, so a UK one is more likely to be stock I guess - but they were quite easily tuned so it might be a struggle.
I've had two - a black turbo which was more or less stock I believe, but I think there are a few simple changes that can be made to give it a bit more power (can't remember what - think it was referred to as BPU on the Supra forums) and I think mine might have had that.
Also had an N/A one - made a very good fun daily car.
Think the prices have gone up a fair bit these days, and for an old car they aren't that cheap - but they're nice cars.
shotta287 said:
Bloody heck didn’t know UK spec cars were so rare - apparently only 300 or so registered here.
Are the twin turbo models problematic in any shape or form?
Generally reliable as far as I remember, but obviously they're quite old now.Are the twin turbo models problematic in any shape or form?
I seem to recall heater matrix failing was a fairly common problem that was quite expensive to get fixed. But other than that I don't remember any issues - obviously the more it's been modified the more is being stressed.
ETA : I remember being told that when the Mk 4 came out, they literally doubled the price - in the £20s for the Mk 3 then in the 40s for the Mk 4. People weren't willing to pay that even though they were a big step up.
Edited by davek_964 on Sunday 9th September 11:19
shotta287 said:
Bloody heck didn’t know UK spec cars were so rare - apparently only 300 or so registered here.
Yeah, as well as the price, Toyota held back and re-worked the Supra after Nissan launched the impressive 300ZX, Toyota had to ensure their car was even better - but as a result, by the time it launched in 93 the market was already going away from this sort of car.shotta287 said:
Are the twin turbo models problematic in any shape or form?
It's a sequential twin turbo system, one turbo is blanked off at low revs to allow the other to build boost early like a modern turbo car. Then halfway through the rev range, a series of rubber vacuum lines and plastic junction boxes swing into action to un-cork the other, letting the engine breathe and continue to make power up top. A sophisticated and effective approach, but 20+ years on you may find the rubber hoses and plastic joiners are leaking, leading to erratic or no operation of the second turbo. It's perfectly fixable, but you may need to budget a bit to have a specialist go through and replace these parts to ensure reliable operation. If it fails it won't hurt the engine, it just reduces performance.The engine itself is legendarily strong; with these era of turbo engines I'd always expect to use good quality synthetic oil and relatively frequent oil changes, but given that it should go on forever.
I always fancied one of these - but it looks like I've missed the boat with prices going as they have! 
Back in the 90s I got to do track days with a mate of mine and there were usually a few BTCC drivers giving passenger rides in their company cars - I had a few laps in a Supra on a wet Brands Hatch and loved it - mind you my daily was a 2 litre Sierra at the time!
I might well be wrong, but I seem to recall that as well as all UK models being twin-turbos they were all autos. ?
Anyway I hope you find one OP.
Back in the 90s I got to do track days with a mate of mine and there were usually a few BTCC drivers giving passenger rides in their company cars - I had a few laps in a Supra on a wet Brands Hatch and loved it - mind you my daily was a 2 litre Sierra at the time!
I might well be wrong, but I seem to recall that as well as all UK models being twin-turbos they were all autos. ?
Anyway I hope you find one OP.
Mr Tidy said:
I might well be wrong, but I seem to recall that as well as all UK models being twin-turbos they were all autos. ?
I would be surprised if that was the case - my Jap import turbo was manual so they clearly did do a manual turbo version, and given that manual is more popular than auto here (even more so in the 90s) I wouldn't think they'd only sell autos here.I remember being told that they weren't sold by Toyota dealers - they were sold by Lexus even though they were badged Toyota because they were expensive / premium cars. Don't know if that's true.
Loved mine, L9 SUP , still going by the looks of it. UK spec, steel turbos on the UK ones instead of ceramic on the imports, electric front splitter amongst other things different to the JSPEC. Remember this thing was so fast 20 years ago, I had a 4 speed auto, remember it changing from 3rd to 4th at 130 leptons!! It was so reliable, brilliant car! Put a Blitz exhaust, boost controller and induction kit on it, sounded great.
The Jap scene was really big back then too, remember going to 10 of the best etc, good times indeed.
The Jap scene was really big back then too, remember going to 10 of the best etc, good times indeed.
Gregmitchell said:
Loved mine, L9 SUP , still going by the looks of it. UK spec, steel turbos on the UK ones instead of ceramic on the imports, electric front splitter amongst other things different to the JSPEC. Remember this thing was so fast 20 years ago, I had a 4 speed auto, remember it changing from 3rd to 4th at 130 leptons!! It was so reliable, brilliant car! Put a Blitz exhaust, boost controller and induction kit on it, sounded great.
The Jap scene was really big back then too, remember going to 10 of the best etc, good times indeed.
Working it out, I guess my turbo was ~20 years ago - maybe even a couple of years more than that. I only got it by chance - my budget at the time was £20k max, and Supra's started at about £24k. I'd decided to buy an RX7 from a fairly new import dealer - but on the testdrive it was lacking power. I agreed to buy it if it was fixed - but while he was getting it fixed, I discovered how often RX7s need engine rebuilds. The Jap scene was really big back then too, remember going to 10 of the best etc, good times indeed.
So I called him, and said I'd changed my mind. He said : No problem - I've got a black 6 speed turbo Supra on the way over at the moment. You can have that for £20k if you want.
Didn't have to commit, didn't have to pay a deposit - but when it turned up, I loved it.
When I collected it, the dealer had someone follow me home (I was on a Honda Fireblade). Close to home, I came to a long straight and a couple of slower cars in front of me so I overtook fairly quickly - I was a tad surprised to look in my mirror and find the Supra had overtaken them just as quickly as my Fireblade had!
To say I’m envious is an understatement! ^^
4.6seconds to 60 must’ve been pretty damn quick back in the 90s even now it’s no slouch.
But for me the design, the driver focussed interior, and the lure of the legendary turbo 6 are the features which have me smitten.
I’m not at the point of checking Autotrader and the likes everyday yet. I bought a Mk5 GTI not too long ago so probably will give it a while but boy do I want a Supra!!
4.6seconds to 60 must’ve been pretty damn quick back in the 90s even now it’s no slouch.
But for me the design, the driver focussed interior, and the lure of the legendary turbo 6 are the features which have me smitten.
I’m not at the point of checking Autotrader and the likes everyday yet. I bought a Mk5 GTI not too long ago so probably will give it a while but boy do I want a Supra!!
One owner, 75k, manual TT, U.K., stock car on offer here. Get it bought!
https://www.facebook.com/555040387978303/posts/122...
https://www.facebook.com/555040387978303/posts/122...
Edited by Odhran on Wednesday 12th September 22:32
Odhran said:
One owner, 75k, manual TT, U.K., stock car on offer here. Get it bought!
https://www.facebook.com/555040387978303/posts/122...
This was up for £30k onohttps://www.facebook.com/555040387978303/posts/122...
Edited by Odhran on Wednesday 12th September 22:32
http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?350494...
Interesting to see what they list it for.
I have a J-Spec Aerotop TT that I have owned for a while. It has been 'BPU'd' so its around 400bhp give or take and its a hoot once past 1st gear.
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