Toyota Supra MK IV: The Best All-Around Sports Car Ever
78The Toyota Supra MK IV was arguably one of the best all-around sports cars ever made. The fouth generation Supra was produced from 1993 to 1998 and only about 2000 per year were sold in the U.S. This is the same car that was featured in the The Fast and the Furious with Vin Diesel. In the movie, the Supra beat a Ferrari...in real life, it still would have beat the Ferrari, trust me.
It Was Fast
I once had a 1994 twin turbo model. Beautiful solid black inside and out with a Targa top. I modified it with an electronic boost controller to double the boost from the turbochargers, put in a TRD racing clutch, a high flow air filter, and a high-flow exhaust. These mods are what Supra enthusiasts like to call the BPU (basic performance upgrade) for that car. It would take a stock twin turbo Supra from 320hp to about 400hp and go from 0 to 60mph in right at 4 seconds flat. All that power and speed from just a 6-cylinder 3.0-liter engine!
And I'm Furious
Ever since I totalled the car in February 2000 (that's another story), I've been on the lookout (and on a waiting list) for Toyota to re-introduce the Supra, but it doesn't look like that is going to happen, at least not the way I was hoping. Here you see a photo of Toyota's FT-HS (Future Toyota Hybrid Sport) concept car.
If this car goes into production and hits the market by 2010 as some enthusiasts have speculated, it should boast some impressive stats: 3.5-liter NA (normally-aspirated, meaning non-turbo-charged) engine, 400-hp, 0-60 in 4 seconds...my kind of numbers.
What has me furious is that the price tag will be around $70,000 and that may just not fit in my budget. The MK IV Supra twin turbo sold for $45,000 new and was priced to compete with Nissan's 350Z and Mazda's RX8. Call me old fashioned, but I like my Japanese sports cars priced to compete with other Japanese sports cars, not German ones.
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You gotta deal ;-)
I want to buy this today LOL
Lgali, if you get one before me, you have to let me take a spin...
Shayne Hall sure i will
Interesting, but I don't know about best sports car ever =) Sadly the MKIV Supra is a bit dated now and the newer Corvette Z06s and such running around would take a heavily modified Supra to match their performance. It was pretty much king of Japanese cars for a long while though.
Of course I'm biased toward the Supra. I agree with you, the Vette Z-series is an incredible car...I'm speaking from experience because I have driven a Z. And yes, the Z which goes from 0-60 in 4 seconds (ok, 3.9) outperforms the stock MKIV Supra which had a 0-60 time of 5 seconds. BUT, the Z is a $80K car! The Supra sold for 1/2 that and was just as fun to drive. It handled just as good as the Z. So, all-around a better deal, IMHO.
is the mk5 supra better then the mk4
Nick, I don't know. It depends on your definition of better. We'll have to wait and see what the actual production car is like...it's not out yet.
Oh yeah the SUPRA is KING!
1cardude, thanks for your vote in favor of the Supra! Have you owned one before?
i own a 83 toyota supra, celica. 2.8L stright 6. fastest car in my town, beats the shit out of all thought GMC trucks in my town from red lights- 120kms
Interesting, but I don't know about best sports car ever =) Sadly the MKIV Supra is a bit dated now and the newer Corvette Z06s and such running around would take a heavily modified Supra to match their performance. It was pretty much king of Japanese cars for a long while though.
skytop: Thanks for your input...here's a comment I left a few months ago:
Of course I'm biased toward the Supra. I agree with you, the Vette Z-series is an incredible car...I'm speaking from experience because I have driven a Z. And yes, the Z which goes from 0-60 in 4 seconds (ok, 3.9) outperforms the stock MKIV Supra which had a 0-60 time of 5 seconds. BUT, the Z is a $80K car! The Supra sold for 1/2 that and was just as fun to drive. It handled just as good as the Z. So, all-around a better deal, IMHO.
Love Supra's and anything about Supra's nice hub.
Harper,
Thanks for your comment. I like your taste in sportscars ;)
Sorry, but it looks like the "Supra Replacement", the Lexus LFA, will cost upwards of $350,000 and only 500 will be made.
Eliezer,
I appreciate the update. Yeah, $350K is a little out of my price range...wow.
the ultimate aero ssc would demolish that supra.Same with the Bugatti Veyron and Ferarri Enzo
Zach, You're absolutely right about that, but what's the sticker price on those cars...six figures, right? My hub title says "All-Around" meaning that, FOR THE MONEY (about $45K), the Supra MKIV was the best, IMHO.
Love the supra. Im i have only had mine for a little under a year. She is still beautiful and such a great robust engine.
smallshinyant - nice. There are very few left on the road these days. If you have pics, I'd love to see them. My email is msh4665(at)gmail(dot)com. Thanks for your comment.
Its all about the single turbo conversion with a t51r spl, there’s a bit of turbo lag but once its on boost it is a truly terrifying experiences (in a good way)
Chris44 - Yes, I'm familiar with that conversion and have read reports about the monster it creates. I ran the BPU (basic performace upgrade) with an electronic boost controller to dial up the stock 11psi boost to 22psi with a high flow air intake and a 3" downpipe with no cat to open up air flow. And I threw in a TRD racing clutch to avoid any slippage. That was enough for me!
Shayne i think your right about the supra being one of the best all around sports cars it’s deferentially value for money, the 2JZ is pretty much bullet-proof.
I agree: A very under-rated sports car.
The definition of a good sports car is one that is not only fun, but one that the majority of us can afford to drive to and from work or shopping. Just my opinion, for what its worth.
Thanks Rob!
I have a 1995 Supra SE which I bought used for $17K and it had 19K miles. Now I've stopped regularly driving it at about 60K miles. (NOT for sale)
I'd LOVE to see Toyota come out with the Alessandro Volta...GAWD that is a Gorgeous HYBRID car ! Google for photos ! The Volta is carbon fiber and real exotic...Toyota could just duplicate the styling in less costly materials ... and perhaps an upgraded Prius drive system...Awesome ! Maybe I'll build a fiberglass reproduction !
Supra is King of all sports cars end of story, they are like the lego's of the car world just like a civic(i personally hate the civic). you can do almost anything withthese little monsters and still whoop domestic and european cars almost all around
Hey ! I'm a fourteen year old boy and I love cars! But lately I've fallen in love with the supra ! Thanks for the great article it filled my supra cravings..for now
The skyline R32 GTR would ravage the supra.
Nsan, "Ravage"? Don't think so, unless you were running NOS. Beat the Supra? MAYBE, anything's possible. But the GTR is one ugly ride. Sorry, just being honest...truth hurts sometimes, lol. The MKIV Supra is a work of art...it turns heads. The GTR? Not so much.
stock, i believe the supra isnt nearly as aesthetically pleasing as the gtr and neither of the them respond to exterior mods as well as the classic look of the FD RX7....but to say that a supra turns more heads then a GTR when a GTR is incredibly rare in the U.S., RHD, and much faster around a track in stock trim is kind of silly
You know I will admit this car is amazing, its something totally different than the common Corvette. Its got a great interior. The tuning potiential is one of the best however id never go as far to say its the greatest Sportscar ever made. There's a reason why the Corvette, Mustang and Porsche 911 Turbo are still in production after 50 years. They are simply great cars.
supra is the best car ever
man i dont know if toyota is still making these cars as fast, but i can say, these were one of the best sports sedans, yet underestimated. The Toyota Mark II. I have one, with the Jz engine,2,5 litre, a 1999 model,and damn,its just more than a fast car to drive. I wonder how the tourer v version with the turbo does perform. But supra,another great car
supra rules u can come with what ever ive seen with my own eyes a modified 2jz take out a enzo on a quater mile ive seen my friend run in the 8 seconds on the qater mile.ive also seen my friend try to push the 2 bar boost barier and rip out the whole difriential 1000+ hp motor servied gearbox and diff did not
shane, that's what I'm talkin' about!
Not disputing that porsche and corvette aren't great cars in their own respects, but the supra is in a league of its own. Aesthetically its more appealing than any sports saloon i've ever seen, certainly more affordable than some of its rivals meanwhile maintaining toyota reliability. Words cannot describe the supra, lets just say there's a reason for its fanatical fanbase. We all have our opinions but fact be told the supra is indeed one of the greatest sports cars of all time and holds rank #2 in the texas mile following the ford GT, and I'm more than confident that it will make it to #1 this year. I've owned four MKIV supras and have had the financial ability to buy any of its so called competitors but for me the supra was the best bang for my buck. And in regards to the skyline turning more heads than a supra...get real. I've driven in both and I've hospitalized many more onlookers in a supra than a skyline.
2JZ ROCKET.GOSE WITH OUT SAYING you r spot oni also will not diss anyone for what rthey drive i do find other sport cars awsome.Unknown to the whole world,the little folk from japan where biulding the likes of nissanr33gtr,mazda rx7fds,honda nsx and of course,the TOYOTA SUPRA,While europe was producing ferraries and porshes etc that where stealing the limelight and grabing the public attention. These jao cars where all special in there own way but it was there designers and engineers that pulled the riens tight and limited them to 206kw.This was in order to compete in the prstigious JGTCC GT 300 CLASS and was often refered to as the Gentelemans Agreement-to limit the power to 206kw.Just about every manufacturer that took part in the JGTCC over-engineered there chosen power plants making them potential diamonds if left in the right hands,thats why it gose with out saying the supra motor is bullet proof and 206KW can be substancialy pushed up to about 450 with out upgrading any internals.
Ah man this is rediculus i think im gonna order a suprs from japan right now a non turbo though is i have a 2JZ and gear box in the pipe line which then gives me the opportunity to work on the 2jz while still using the vehicle.
I agree with you Shane, the mkiv is really among the best, especially when we look at price, cost of running, reliability, handling and so on - The basics of, well any car.
I have one myself, only an N/a, but i love it just as much - Im more into looks than performance, and i like the n/a, old style BHP`s :0)
I took the liberty of adding a link, to a gallery, with a few pictures of my mkiv!
Sebastian, I don't see the link to your gallery, but I would like to check it out. Thanks for commenting.
gentlemen: I agree but with this proviso- this was the best gt/sports car ever built. I.e. gran turismo homolagato. A porsche 928s w/a $50K rebate. A reliable XKE. A Ferrari that you can drive all the way across the continental US without a mechanic following you in a utility truck packed with expensive Italian parts for the inevitable breakdowns.
Yet someday I would love to 1drive one of these V12 marvels .- but I afford 1 of those and a wife? For now I will be content w/my nearly cherry89MkIII turbo stick. I bought herfor about half price a few months ago. At Triple digits she doesn't frighten my dates. She is as luxsurious (sic) as anything curently in production. And she is an investment. I expect to sell or trade her at a profit and ventually find a MkIV.
Cheerio lads
GTO
Sorry, the Skyline is FASTER and BETTER than the Supra
Stock:
Skyline R34 does 4.9 0-60 and 13.2 1/4 mi.
Supra does 5.1 0-60 and 13.5 1/4 mi.
World's fastest:
Supra- 7.2 sec (Youtube.com)
Skyline GT-R- 6.76 sec (Metacafe.com)
NO SUPRA IN EXISTENCE HAS BEATEN IT!!!!!!
Supras are overrated. SKYLINE IS KING!!!
Video is on Metacafe.com. Still think Supras are better? well, you can tell yourself that as you shed tears in bed tonight.
Supras have beaten skylines it depends on the driver.
I for instance have a friend with a 98 TT stock and have devoured the Skyline R32,R33, & R34.
I agree with supraTT. When its all said and done someone somewhere will take a better corner, get a better launch and not miss a shift ect... There are a ton of amazing sports cars in that price range. I own a 3000gt vr4. I have had the jump on a few supras but also have choked on 2jz exaust. So what if one corners harder. so what if ones faster in a straight line. If you argue variables its a never ending war of cyber babble. Show respect where its deserved. Real car enthusiasts dont tell people what to drive or how they should have built a car. My thumbs are up for the supra. ONE of the greatest sports cars of all time. (RUN YOUR CAR! NOT YOUR MOUTH!!!)
I love My 89 Supra Turbo, it seats on my driveway most of the time, but it's my baby. I love to take it out and fy on the highway.
Supra is the legend of japanese sport car.
American jeep is the lagend of 4 wheeler.
Once you adjust for inflation, $45k in the 90s is much more than $70k in the present day.
Jennifer Bhala 3 years ago
Maybe by 2010 the $70,000 will fit your budget. I will hope and pray for you that it does, so long as you promise not to total that one.