Buying a Supra

[TheOtherCarolla]

Wasup guys? I don't know much about supras, but ive been looking for a Supra, specifically a later 80s supra due to the price/bang for the buck. I really want a turbo 5/speed car, but they are pretty hard to find not all clapped out. One is for sale locally, auto N/A. Are these total dogs?

[Jeeves]

Yes. N/A's are pretty worthless. You have to keep in mind a simple fact. When Supra Turbo's were new, they made 220-230hp. Now days, there are naturally aspirated V6's and I4's that make more power than that.

Really, stepping into a Mk3, you'll have to do a good deal of work to keep up and pass 2006 model cars, fact of life.

[TcmaBoy]

I like them for the bang for the buck factor. If you can find an NA with a good body for arround $1000 then you have plenty left over to build the car. The catch is that you need to be willing and able to do your own work. That is the only way this works out. If you are going to pay a shop to do everything then you are better off buying a used WRX or something.

[Jeeves]

Even then it's still tough. I mean, don't get me wrong, I just dumped ~$2500 into my motor alone so obviously I love the Supra. But, to make power, you'll initially want the 7M-GTE (Turbo'd engine) to swap in. So, figure $900-1000 for the engine, then the $100-150 worth of fluids, gaskets, seals, block off plates, misc parts, brake parts cleaner, etc. Then figure if you're going to try and break the 400 mark, etc. If you initially fix the primary issue they have (head gasket failures) then they're bulletproof to 450-500, but there's plenty of upgrades, bottlenecks, and work to do along the way. They're definately not 100% bolt on 600hp machines.