I'll start off by introducing myself since I'm new here. My name's Matt and I'm 17. I'm pretty new to the supra world, but really want to pick up a 7mgte. I did have a Prelude before this, so technically it won't be my first car, but close enough because I only had the lude for 8 months. My question is, would this be a good car for someone who has 1 more year of highschool and then is going to college? I always hear the Supra is a love/hate relationship, and this will be my daily driver as well. My concern is that I'll be blowing head gaskets and have to worry about the reliability of it day in and day out. I have about 5 grand for it saved up, and would only add a mbc, hardpipes, downpipe, 3" catback exhaust, and a conefilter. Do you think this would be a good 1st car for me, why or why not?
mkIII - a good 1st car?
- Thread starter interlude
- Start date
If you've got 5 grand saved up (I'm guessing after you've paid for the car) then putting a new head gasket on it (doesn't have to be a MHG), properly prepped block and head for the specific gasket of your choice, ARP head studs torqued to spec using ARP moly lube, along with checking the bearings to make sure they are in spec, along with basic maintenace (replacing any and all old, worn hoses) and you will have a very reliable DD if you don't rag on it all the time.
If you do jump right into performance upgrades this car will bite you in your ass...
If you do jump right into performance upgrades this car will bite you in your ass...
Unless you plan on always having a good bit of spare money and are fairly mechanically inclined, I would say no. If you don't have another car while the supra is in need of having something fixed, it puts you in a bad position. This isn't just supra related though, pretty much any older turbo car. Having the car down for a week+ while you try and get to work/school isn't the best thing. This applies to pretty much all older turbo cars. Any car as your sole transportation needs to be reliable and easy to source parts for.
With a budget of 5 grand, I'd advise against it, unless you'll still be able to get around fine without the car.
With a budget of 5 grand, I'd advise against it, unless you'll still be able to get around fine without the car.
Love/Hate? No way, I LOVE my Supra. But there's a but... unless you have the money and the time to spend working on it, and if you have a garage with a good set of basic tools and some basic mechanical abilities, it's not the best choice and college students rarely have all of these things.
Consider this: I get 17.5 mpg, I run only premium gas and Mobil 1, and it consumes some oil. I have a garage with tools, and a wife who is kind enough to put up with an obsession or two, because I need to spend a little time on my car on a semi-regular basis. I've been through the dreaded BHG and have spent plenty on a few basic performance mods and paint. I'm also gainfully employed in a 2 income family and we can spare a little money for a hobby - and that's what it is. A properly maintained Supra, complete with ARP hardware, can be a great DD like mine, but it really is a hobby and I always have a second vehicle to fall back on. I hate to tell anybody not to get a Supra, but it is one of those perfect examples of things that have a proper time and place. As a college student, you probably don't have either. Just my $0.02.
Consider this: I get 17.5 mpg, I run only premium gas and Mobil 1, and it consumes some oil. I have a garage with tools, and a wife who is kind enough to put up with an obsession or two, because I need to spend a little time on my car on a semi-regular basis. I've been through the dreaded BHG and have spent plenty on a few basic performance mods and paint. I'm also gainfully employed in a 2 income family and we can spare a little money for a hobby - and that's what it is. A properly maintained Supra, complete with ARP hardware, can be a great DD like mine, but it really is a hobby and I always have a second vehicle to fall back on. I hate to tell anybody not to get a Supra, but it is one of those perfect examples of things that have a proper time and place. As a college student, you probably don't have either. Just my $0.02.
i dunno man, this is NOT a daily driver, even though it's MY daily driver. and it's been down for the past 2 months. and its fucked up my whole world.
but with that money, you might be able to pull it off.
but with that money, you might be able to pull it off.
I didn't even bother to read first post. My Supra is my first car and it's eating me alive. If you're familiar with the term "Money Pit" There's a picture of an 86.5 NA-T Supra with 200K miles next to it in the dictonary. Short answer: NO, get a Honda.
Edit: Upon reading the first post, STICK WITH YOUR PRELUDE!
Edit: Upon reading the first post, STICK WITH YOUR PRELUDE!
Yeah I guess that's what I thought and it sucks.. I want one of these so damn bad. I'm just worried I won't have the time and money to keep it maintained. What do you all think would be a good alternative? I've got about $5000 to spend on a car. I'd like something rwd or awd, dependable, and something with potential. I'd also like to hear some more opinions on me getting the Supra.
Like I said, If you have 5K saved up for a supra, that's more than enough to make it reliable once more. Once again, that 5K should be spent ONLY on parts to get the car back up to stock performance/reliability.
No, it's not a good first car.
Period.
A good first car is a Civic. A good first car is a Corolla. These are good first cars.
You can do it but no matter what the circumstance, a Supra is not a good first car. It's old, things break, parts wear out, it has no warranty, etc.
If you want to get one for a first car, well that's your decision, but it's not a GOOD first car.
edit: I see you had a Prelude so this isn't exactly your first car but my point still stands just the same.
Period.
A good first car is a Civic. A good first car is a Corolla. These are good first cars.
You can do it but no matter what the circumstance, a Supra is not a good first car. It's old, things break, parts wear out, it has no warranty, etc.
If you want to get one for a first car, well that's your decision, but it's not a GOOD first car.
edit: I see you had a Prelude so this isn't exactly your first car but my point still stands just the same.
Supra was my first car...NA of course.
You can get a really nice Supra for $5k...I don't think finding a reliable one for that price is out of the question...especially if it's bone stock, and has low miles. I DD my Supra, and it has about 210k miles on it, everything is original drivetrain-wise...but the head gasket and basically everything in the engine bay is new.
You can get a really nice Supra for $5k...I don't think finding a reliable one for that price is out of the question...especially if it's bone stock, and has low miles. I DD my Supra, and it has about 210k miles on it, everything is original drivetrain-wise...but the head gasket and basically everything in the engine bay is new.
If you can wait and really take your time finding one that's in excellent condition, been thoroughly maintained and cared for by an owner who knows what the hell they were doing then yes, it may be a reliable car.
If you're planning on buying one that's a "steal" and fixing it up yourself... keep saving. You don't have near enough cash to keep up with it.
If you're planning on buying one that's a "steal" and fixing it up yourself... keep saving. You don't have near enough cash to keep up with it.
I've had great success with it being my 1st and ONLY daily driven car.
Just don't be a fool with it and you'll be fine. I thought the same thing on the BHG issue when I bought it, but its just blown way out of proportion due to the tremendous number of complete idiots who think they are mechanics working on the car. IMHO.
I will add a disclaimer though, I paid close to 7000 for my car. The saying still goes, you get what you pay for.
Just don't be a fool with it and you'll be fine. I thought the same thing on the BHG issue when I bought it, but its just blown way out of proportion due to the tremendous number of complete idiots who think they are mechanics working on the car. IMHO.
I will add a disclaimer though, I paid close to 7000 for my car. The saying still goes, you get what you pay for.
interlude said:
Subaru SVX
240SX Fastback
Eagle Talon
FC Turbo RX-7
280Z
240Z
AE86 Corolla
3SGTE MR2
4AGZE MR2
Rotary swapped Miata
Foxbody 5.0 Mustang
Something that doesn't weigh 3500 Pounds and has a 70%/30% weight distribution? :biglaugh:
Not saying that any of these are cheaper to buy or faster, but merely stating that there are better choices out there for a "first car"
(Any older model sports car will leave you with your tumb up your butt.)
If you're going to get a Supra and want to upgrade it, do the right thing and the very day you get your hands on it make sure you KNOW it runs well before you start modifying it. Supras will bite you in the ass if you don't know how to take care of them. Ask me how I know
. Thankfully I learned my lesson with my old 7MGE/A340e setup, so I wouldn't blow up my JDM 7MGTE/R154.If you do decide to get a Supra, make sure you do TONS OF RESEARCH. Knowledge is power with the Supra.
I still say you're better off with your Honda...
All i can say is that my first car was a Supra, and oh boy what a mistake it was. Many of the points Shytheed Dumas makes are quite valid. Think of it this way. In it's day it was a top end premium car for only the few who could afford to buy such a car that really had almost no piratical use. It was high cost maintinence then adn is even worse now that it's much older. It's like buying a Ferrari for $5K It can be done but i am quite sure that any repairs will cost you almost as much as a small house lol.
A good first car would be something a little more reasonable. If you still want something you can have fun with there are other choices that might not be as costly and more reliable If you do not have the Capital to sink into it right away.
If i could go back and change my first purchase i am quite sure that i would have gone for something as new as possible that is cheap to fix when needed.
Ninja Edit: my first car/Supra was a Turbo
A good first car would be something a little more reasonable. If you still want something you can have fun with there are other choices that might not be as costly and more reliable If you do not have the Capital to sink into it right away.
If i could go back and change my first purchase i am quite sure that i would have gone for something as new as possible that is cheap to fix when needed.
Ninja Edit: my first car/Supra was a Turbo
1988SupraDreams said:If you're going to get a Supra and want to upgrade it, do the right thing and the very day you get your hands on it make sure you KNOW it runs well before you start modifying it. Supras will bite you in the ass if you don't know how to take care of them. Ask me how I know
starscream5000 said:
Smart guy
.
starscream5000 said:Smart guy
I didn't read the previous posts :biglaugh: Just the thread starters...
My MK3 was my first car.. actually it still is... anyways. In the situation you are currently in I would not get a MK3 unless you have another car or a car you can use while the car is down. I actually never had any real problems with my car which kept me down for a long time. GTE's also tend to be down more then GE's do. If you want to have a good reliable supra make sure you maintain it from the start and fix any problems you see right when you get it. And the key thing.. don't cheap out where you shouldn't be, it will just bite you in the ass hard.