Toyota Supra MK4 Review

Overall Rating

Monstrous super car performance with superb looks and toyota reliability. Ferrari like performance for a fraction of the price.

Big car for carting 1-2 people around (dont even consider squeezing someone in the back) and the boot is very shallow. That said, no one buys a Supra to go shopping in it!

Before I made my mind up to buy a Toypota MK IV Supra, I test drove everything from the Audi TT and Subaru Impreza Turbo to the 300zx and M3 EVO BMW (which felt slightly light on the back when putting the power down coming out of tight bends). The first time I drove a Supra I was hooked and couldn't help but be impressed with the thing. Ok, so you can't accelerate on full-lock round a mini-roundabout in 4" or rain quite as well as the 4WDs, but this pails into insignificance the first time you take the Supra round some twisties on a dry day. The car has double wishbone suspension so steering is ultra precise. It also features a rather clever traction control system which incorporates a lateral-G sensor and gently applys individual rear wheel braking to help you accelerate round those bends with minimal wheel-spin. Make sure you go for the Twin Turbo, and preferably a UK model. I've got nothing against greys but the UK ones have all the extras as standard and the suspension setup is more suited to our roads here in the UK. There are also a surprising number of parts that are different, for example the UK car has bigger turbos/injectors and produces 321bhp as oppose to 280bhp in grey import form (see www.supras.co.uk/imports/differences.htm for details). I decided on the 6sp manual but am told that the auto box is so efficient that there's not much difference in performance between the two. After some very mild modifications, mine is running 400bhp and feels quick. The standard brakes/suspension are more than a match for it. I've had mine for 6 months now and still haven't really reached the boundary of its abilities. Quite simply, I love this car!!

Members' Comments onAde.'s Review

• SupraTT. on 24th May 2002

  Excellent review.
  The only thing I would like to point out is the power of the Japanese Spec Supra TT has been underated by Toyota to pass strict BHP competition laws in Japan.
  Which states that no manufacturer can claim BHP figures of above 280bhp, this is to stop a trade war.
  The J-spec as it is known, has the differences in the original review, plus it has more low end torque and ceramic turbo blades which make the turbos spool quicker. This makes the car quicker at low end speeds, because in Japan all cars have limiters which limit the car to 112 mph.
  This gives the UK spec and J-spec Supras similar performance figures.
  If you do look to buy a Supra, I would advise the UK spec for insurance reasons, but don't over look the J-specs especially the RZ-S which is the options car.

• Mike. on 24th Jun 2002

  I was unaware that the Supra TT was released in the UK. I thought they were all imported from Japan. Where can you get hold of UK spec Twin Turbos?

• Ade. on 10th Jul 2002

  Mike,
  The UK-spec Supra is now a very rare beast indeed. They were only sold throughout the UK between mid 93 to mid 96 and somewhere in the region of 300-400 were sold in total. Thus, very good low mileage examples of a UK-spec tend to command a bit more money. That said, the points in the previous review re. the J-spec Supra are all very valid comments so don't disregard the J-spec. There are now 1000s of them in the country so there are a lot of good cars out there to choose from. Just make sure you do your research on the options available with all the different models as the J-spec car had quite a few variations. All UK versions were twin-turbo and fitted with every feature available, as standard (except removable roof panel which you will find on some of the J-spec cars). The only options available on a UK car were Colour, Auto/6sp-manual. I sourced mine through a wanted add I'd placed on findit.co.uk. You will occasionally spot them on the Autotrader web site and most tend to make a song-and-dance about the fact if it's a UK car. Unfortunately though, most of the UK cars you see now are fairly leggy and that's because they make such good motorway mile-munchers over here. In Japan they don't tend to do the mileage. Still, I found mine tucked far away in Crief, Scotland and it had only done 11k since new in June 96, so they are out there.... Best of luck! Ade.

• D12 on 13th Jun 2004

  I agree entirely with the comments here...as a UK spec searcher myself, I have recently test driven a UK and Jap import (both on the same day). The UK car was in another league in terms of cabin noise (Bilstein suspension), turbo noise (bigger injectors and turbo), and refinement...oh and it also had twice the mileage of the Jap version, so don't believe the mileage claims...take a test drive always!
  
  A great website to check is http://www.supras.co.uk/imports/differences.htm for an easy to follow comparison table - there you'll see that the UK spec is plain better than the Jap version. Also, UK cars have Cruise, Airbags and Rollcages (apparently). With a Jap import, you'll lose out on Active Front Spoiler and Air Intake Scoop on the front bonnet.
  
  Mileage on UK cars tend to be high (90k+), whereas most Jap cars CLAIM to be 60k (hmmm I could buy a kit from Halfords for £30 and wind mine back!).
  
  I have found a couple of UK spec cars on Autotrader, but they appear overpriced for a 10 yr old car. Good luck if you find a good example, but don't pay more than £8k for a high mileage UK spec (regardless of the sellers chat about how rare the things are and how you won't find another).
  
  Good Luck! D