The First Car

[Jeff Lange]

I think a statement like a Supra shouldn't be your first car is much much too generalized, and totally dependant on the person.

Get the car, drive the car, if you want to test the car's limitations, don't do it where there are people around, but do learn the car's limitations! I suggest joining a local car club and doing some auto-x events, push the car as hard as you can. Don't bother pushing the car as hard as you can on the streets.

The 7M-GE is disappointing to drive, especially after driving the turbo. It feels just like the turbo model, but when you expect boost... nothing, nada. It's very disappointing, lol.

I'm 19, and I doubt there's a person on this site who thinks I shouldn't have a Supra right now, just be responsible and not an idiot. For your own sake as well as others, the desire to live *should* be enough to keep things under control, lol.

 

[wingman]

i think the wisest thing said here is to have respect for the car, as well as others. The temptation to push your car to the limits is very strong, but in most cases your limits are much lower when your 16 and the car will definately let you know when you find them. If I knew what I was getting into when I bought the car, I probably wouldn't have. I've spent countless hours under it, and probably doubled my initial investment from a few years back. I've pushed the car to my own limits, and crashed on a hillside (speed+deer+turn=bad)....all I could think about was what if I had hurt my best friend sitting in the passenger seat, and have since gained a much greater respect for the car...I was lucky to have such a humbling experience, but some people never get the second chance, and do you really want to be one of them?

Anyway, you've got good priorities looking for reliability and gas economy, but you more than likely will sacrafice them with the supra. Whether or not the tradeoff is worth it is all opinion, but I will say that I enjoy working on the car almost as much as I enjoy driving the car...but my friends turbo still takes the cake!

 

[Sparda]

when everyone talks about crashing...it kinda makes me not want to get the supra...haha..but in all seriousness...i know what u guys mean.. reguardless...i can't imagine myself with any other car than the mk3...hopefully..i will be able to treat it well...and..hopefully..it will treat me well

-Thanks guys for all ur replys and help.

 

[Furball]

If you respect the Supra and do things maturely you won't run into problems. About sliding about in the wet, any rear whell drive, heck FWD, car is prone to sliding around. Back when my fiancee owned her Ford Country Squire Wagon she would have to drift it around in the rain. I bought Yokohama AVS ES100s because they have a good wet traction rating. Investing in good tires is very important.

I am tired and rambling so here's my verdict.

IF you can be responsible, get the car. If you can't, don't. My advice, be responsible.

 

[mkIIIman089]

I as well do not agree with people who say it should not be a 1st car.

1. When you get it, do all maintenance work to it what I did was:
-silicone vacuum hoses
-replaced every fluid in the car with full synthetic (motor, coolant, trans, diff, brake, clutch, steering ATF)
-(I didn't do this because it was already done) replace all the coolant lines.
-read read read the TSRM on SF and on here. Don't take everything like gospel except for the TSRM tho.

As far as driving it, like everyong else said just don't be an idiot. I was 16 when I got my 89T just over a year ago. The thing scared the crap out of me because it felt so much faster then anything I was used to. So I just didn't lay into it right away. Best thing to do is in good conditions each time you drive it just get used to the way the power is and how it comes on. What I would up doing was going WOT in a fairly low gear in a safe dry road for a little bit longer each time I happened to be going through there until you get to about 6k RPM. And don't go all crazy at once thinking you can handle it because I think it will get away from you pretty quick. It still can get away from me a bit sometimes; just be careful.

OK, I'm done parenting, lol. Just don't want to see you or another Supra bite the dust.

 

[killersupra89]

I would have to agree with mkIIIman089. my first really car(at 17) that was mine and not my parents was and MKIII N/A. I too wrecked(not my fault) it but i truly believe to this day that i would have been killed if i were driving any other vehicle (especial the Ford explorer) i had previously driven. the low center of gravity kept me from flipping when i ramped the ditch and took out 2 mailbox posts and a couple of 2 X 2 fence posts. i also think that the MKIII being such a tank really kept down the amount of damage and the costs of repairs. that and the other MKIII($250) i was using for parts.

the only other advice i would have to give is
make the TSRM your new BIBLE and put the TSRM at the top of mkIIIman089's list because you will have things break you never know were there or even existed!!!!!

and second

get to know you Toyota parts guy well and never make him mad for he and only he possess the TOY TUNER DISCOUNT!