Might buy a MkIII

[Tom.D]

Well I'm new here, signed up because I wanted to get everyones opinions on this car I may buy.

Its a 1988 MKIII, 7MGTE, rebuilt at some point, new clutch, HKS BOV, Boost Gauge, new plugs and wires, new alternator. Red leather interior, white exterior, fading clear coat, average wear for car of its age. 311000KM (about 192000 miles), the guy wants $4000 for it. Now Supra's generally go for around 5000 - 5500 out here but this still seems a little steep

 

[strictlySupra]

if there is no rust id probably say thats a reasonable asking price..

take a good look at the car , underneath , inside and out.

 

[Tom.D]

Good, thats re-assuring. Also forgot to mention its a targa, but you can tell by the photos lol.

I am hopefully going to look at it this week, gonna try to get it for around 3500 hopefully. I wanna know when the head gasket was last done though.

 

[BrandonW]

hey, welcome

give me your seatbelt guides if you get the car!!! :biglaugh:

 

[joel903]

For another $1.5k you could have yourself a 89+ with 1jz installed already. Don't waste your money on a almost stock pre 89 model, but this is just my opinion. Do what you may.

 

[GrimJack]

For another $1.5k you could have yourself a 89+ with 1jz installed already. Don't waste your money on a almost stock pre 89 model, but this is just my opinion. Do what you may.

In Canada? Really? I'll take 2.

Find out where the head gasket was replaced - Toyota is likely to screw it up, as the torque values in the manual are insufficient. So are many other repair shops, unless they are familiar with the torque problem, and that is pretty much limited to Mk3 enthusiasts.

Check the oil, of course. Oddly enough, nice black oil is a good sign in a Mk3. Clear oil means the gasket might be popped and the seller is willing to spend the $20 on new oil for a sale. Nice black oil has obviously been in there a while, and coolant in there should be obvious.

Check that the coolant level is between the hot and cold marks in the overflow tank, take it for a drive until the temp is in the middle of the gauge, then stop and check if there was any coolant pouring out of the overflow onto the intercooler. Another sign of a BHG.

Check the trunk under the carpet and spare tire for signs of rust.

With the targa installed, spray down the top of the car with a hose and look for leaks. There probably will be some, so plan on replacing the targa seals.

Look for the plastic engine undercover and radiator fan shroud. Not that either or both of them being missing should be a deal killer, but they are good signs of an unmolested vehicle.

 

[supramanocnsd]

its not too bad.. about avg... 3200-3500 tops... why not save up more or get a loan for something more built? Canada gets R32 GTR's ....

 

[skipbarber]

price seems a bit steep, Id say keep shopping around.

 

[Tom.D]

Well have been absent here for the last month, still searching though. Found another Supra I may buy, its the first version of the MKIII, 87 I think it was. This one is $3000, just had $2500 worth of work done to it by a mechanic (head gasket, with head bolts now tourq'd to higher specs to prevent blowing), and a bunch of other engine work, a long with some suspension stuff. White, NON Turbo , 5 spd, short shifter, intake, exhaust, 219000KM (about 132000 miles), Burgandy interior (not leather), 2 switches inside the car that were added by a previous owner that we can't figure out what they do lol. Great condition, but 3000 for a non turbo non targa roof is the only thing holding me back. It goes like a bat out of hell though, first time I ever rode in one, DAMN its nice! I could probably get it for 2800. Opinions? Pics next week lol.

 

[Dunckel]

If a turbo is what you really want, I would wait until you find one. They are out there for $3k.

 

[Tom.D]

Personally I don't mind between turbo and NA, I already have a turbo Prelude so it would probably be better to have the NA so I don't run around wasting gas like mad lol. I am going to take another look at it in more detail. What kind of mileage do the NA supras get?

 

[Quin]

From what I've read 20-30 MPG depending on how heavy your foot is. I was getting an avg of 22 with a 60-1 and boosting 3-4 times a day, mixed highway and city

 

[johnathan1]

That looks like a good price for that car. The body looks great, and I haven't seen an original burgundy interior in that shape in a pre-89 for a LONG time. In fact, the only other time was in a 50k mile car on eBay.

 

[Tom.D]

That looks like a good price for that car. The body looks great, and I haven't seen an original burgundy interior in that shape in a pre-89 for a LONG time. In fact, the only other time was in a 50k mile car on eBay.

Thing is those are the pics of the old one I was gonna buy, that one had 300000 + KM. The one I am looking at now is the same minus targa roof, leather and turbo. The one I am looking at now is in WAY better condition inside. Clean as HELL, and they are polishing the outside up for me when I go look at it again, its in way better condition than that one I have pics of.

 

[turbojuiced]

well im not too sure how the market is for cars in canada but I know here in the states you can find a decent 7mgte for around 3500. Now if you are certain that you dont mind a NA car then sounds like its a good deal from what you told us.

On a side note, ever since I have driven a turboed car its hard for me to enjoy anything else.

 

[Tom.D]

Im happy with the NA. I have one chance with a turbo but I don't think it'll work out, im going back to look at the NA again, any suggestions of what to look for? I sat in it and he ran it last time, and i just went over the body that was pretty much it.

 

[turbojuiced]

Im happy with the NA. I have one chance with a turbo but I don't think it'll work out, im going back to look at the NA again, any suggestions of what to look for? I sat in it and he ran it last time, and i just went over the body that was pretty much it.

well there is a thread about what to look for when buying a supra. Just look in the sticky section. You cant miss it. But major things are suspension(how it rides) the hg, do a compression test, listen for wierd sounds. But honestly check out that sticky it has alot of good info.

 

[Tom.D]

well there is a thread about what to look for when buying a supra. Just look in the sticky section. You cant miss it. But major things are suspension(how it rides) the hg, do a compression test, listen for wierd sounds. But honestly check out that sticky it has alot of good info.

I thought there was but I can't find it? The search keeps giving me errors.

 

[teamslow]

Personally I don't mind between turbo and NA, I already have a turbo Prelude so it would probably be better to have the NA so I don't run around wasting gas like mad lol. I am going to take another look at it in more detail. What kind of mileage do the NA supras get?

If you want the car to be NA then you might as well get an 8 cylinder vehicle like a mustang or a lighter car like a Honda CRX. NA mk3s are mules if they're not turbo. But if your buying the car just for looks, then i guess buy a NA mk3 supra.

 

[Tom.D]

If you want the car to be NA then you might as well get an 8 cylinder vehicle like a mustang or a lighter car like a Honda CRX. NA mk3s are mules if they're not turbo. But if your buying the car just for looks, then i guess buy a NA mk3 supra.

Been there with the CRX lol :icon_razz It wasn't bad to me at all, but then again the fastest car I have been in is my Prelude before the turbo, which only has like 130 foot pounds at best. Supra is supposed to do 0-60 a second fast, and .4 faster in the 1/4. Not much for being a whole liter bigger I guess. With intake and exhaust the GE should be at least close to 200 foot pounds I thought?