(first posted 7/13/2016) Well, Cohort regular William Rubano did it again. This time he has found another rice age unicorn: An unmolested Matrk IV Toyota Supra. And, sadly, even here I’m still not a fan.
Yes ladies and gentlemen I understand that, much like shouting that the South will rise again while sitting in a soapbox in the middle of an expensive bit of San Francisco (so, any bit of San Francisco), this is an unpopular thing to say. You like cars, you are a millennial, you’re supposed to like the Supra in the same way that you’re supposed to document every single second of your life for the internet and hang on Bernie Sanders’s every word.
But I don’t know anything near enough about American politics for that. I’m sure nobody is bothered about the fact that I had a cheeseburger for breakfast and I think that the Mark IV is not the pinnacle of the Supra. For that you have to look at the much more elegant and dignified Mark III. The ‘super round’ styling may have been beautiful on the Celica (I may be biased), but on the Supra it just made it look like a TVR before someone let the axe maniacs in the building. Besides, the Mark III had pop up headlamps, you could have it in black with red velour bucket seats…but I digress. Point is, I’m not one to call myself unbiased and in this case the bias is very firmly on the “Do Not Want” tip of the scale.
I think it mostly has to do with the fact that I prefer my cars comfy rather than sporty. The Supra, after all, began life as a comfy and mature version of the normal Celica. But by this stage in the game their relationship had moved on from that. For the Celica, it meant front-wheel drive on anything but the top models. For the Supra it meant going head to head with the Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 and the Mazda RX-7 in the final blaze of glory of the Japanese sports coupe market. No expense was spared to make the Supra as sporty as it possibly could. Everything from the newfangled six-speed manual to the 200lb. weight reduction over its predecessor thanks to the extensive use of aluminum and the now-legendary 2JZ-GTE under the hood producing 320 horsepower for anywhere that wasn’t Japan, where the 276 horsepower agreement was respected on this particular case. 60 in 4.6 seconds means that on a drag race it’s every single bit as fast as an Aston Martin DB9 or a 2000 BMW M5
This obsessive approach for sportiness was followed on the interior too. The cockpit was reworked into a cocoon for the driver. The tachometer was placed centrally to maximize visibility. HVAC, stereo controls were placed in the driver-hugging center console at an angle that would make them easier to use and even the controls for the electric windows on the door followed the design of the dash instead of being relegated as just part of the door. It achieved motorsport success in Japan, where Supras got the title for four years and raced until 2006, as it seems that there wasn’t anything good enough to replace it. Unfortinately, this is what brings us to the reason of this article.
That thing that makes the 2JZ-GTE legendary? It’s tough, insanely, incredibly, supremely tough. Tuners can get up to 1500 horsepower out of one, with enough boost. This and that movie that ruined my childhood and that must never be mentioned means that the Mark IV is a favorite of the sort of people that, according to a lot of movies in the 2000’s, would meet about and make a lot of noise from purple-painted monstrosities while fart canning their way through quarter miles. Which is incidentally their unit of choice when measuring their lives. That’s why I think of it as a taste test. Look at it stock and think that Lamborghini green would compliment the Lambo doors you want to install and your taste and mine are going to have a bit of an argument. Look at it all unmolested and pray the owner either keeps it for a very long time or that you have enough money to keep it away from that first group come selling time and my taste would probably want to buy you a pint.
I’m glad that not everyone has the same taste as me; the world would be mightily boring if it was homogeneous, but most of the Supras used by the tuner crowd look to me as if someone used a DaVinci painting as the fire-starter for the family barbecue. To each his own. And the Mark IV was so good that even as we speak Toyota is filling trademarks to revive the name for another go at it. Even though, as Paul argued, Toyota already has a Supra successor. It’s for sale right now, anyone can buy it for less money than what a Mark IV was when new(adjusted for inflation) and yet everyone seems to ignore it.
The Lexus RC. It and the Supra will have to go head to head for the minuscule coupe market.
These cars are beautiful. Removing the spoiler cleans it up a lot. Turbo ones in that condition will become classics,
And then there’s the SC400 or the Soarer with the TT engine.
The single-turbo 1JZ-GTE is a good deal faster than the twin-turbo version — the wonders of variable valve timing. Of course, one could always install a 2JZ-GTE in it instead, which I know people have done.
In a spectacular example of the CC effect, I saw one of these yesterday morning, first one I’ve seen in a while. It was on the grass verge beside the (suburban) road near my workplace. A lengthy set of skid marks led to an electricity transformer box, and then ricocheted to the prone Supra a few metres away… The big oops had just happened, and the police arrived as I drove past. No one injured, and the Supra looked drivable. Very frosty morning with ice on the road, but the skid marks were so lengthy I suspect ice and speed were the cause…
Your post puzzled me for a moment before I realized, oh yeah its winter down there.
Yeah, that threw me off as well, having just come back inside the building after a walk in 90+ degree heat and lovely Baltimore humidity.
Ice speed and zero driving ability seem to crash a lot of fairly capable cars here Scott plus the idea that the guy on minimum wage at Mag and turbo knows more about making cars handle than the factory design team that built the bloody thing
LOL at the TVR comment — that’s funny.
I’m more ambivalent about these. I don’t hate the styling, but at the same time, I agree with most of the criticisms of it. It should be gorgeous, but the proportions are a little off and the detailing is blah. In this genre, I have a lot more affection for the Mazda RX-7, Acura NSX, and the Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo (despite the sense that the Supra is probably mechanically sturdier than either the Mazda or the 300ZX). Mostly, it leaves me feeling like the Lexus SC/Soarer is more my speed. The same goes for the earlier Z20 Soarer and the A70 Supra.
Theres a MK3 nearby every so often the owners cut the grass and it emerges once again lately only the roof has been visible now the whole car is back again.
Rapid-delivery riffing. A great piece of writing, Gerardo.
I’m with you, Gerardo. I vastly prefer the more ‘mature’ design language of the Mark III, as well as it’s mission. They were sophisticated touring cars for adults, the Japanese equivalent of the Thunderbird SC. Despite its stellar credentials, I see the Mark IV as being more of a parody of a sports car, and its image has only grown worse over time, as so many met their demise at the hands of the ‘Too Fast, Too Furious, Too Stupid ‘ crowd.
A great way to get a good wake-up as I get ready to settle in to work. As one who has occasionally been prone to ripping into a car, I approve this post. A delightful read, Gerardo.
These cars never really made it onto my radar. By the time they were out, I had outgrown my youthful sporty performance coupe phase, and these didn’t have any relevance in my life. I am now starting to understand my children’s disdain for 90s styling. At the time, I considered it an improvement to 80s styling, but in the case of the Supra, I don’t think it is.
Get real, they all look good for their time though the 1993–2002 Mark IV is still awesome looking well beyond its sell by date, the most muscular Japanese car ever, with respect to Skylines. Their performance humbled anything but supercars. They do look best without the rear wing, like this Ferrari only better and a decade before.
http://images.dealerrevs.com/gallery/photo.php?id=111661577
http://images.gtcarlot.com/pictures/77854565.jpg
While perhaps not a home run, the Supra was a soild double for Toyota during the time when everything they did was at least double. The ’96 is a beautiful design if you lose the wretched spoiler. Quite the interior as well.
Saw a Lexus RC when I had the wife’s car at the dealer for service. Though I’m not a fan of the aggressive grill, it was a nice package. Really don’t know how these will sell, as the small, sporty coupe market is quite limited. The go-fast, high HP fans have Camaro, Mustang and Challenger. Don’t know how much market is left for something like this, especially if gas prices remain low/stable.
100K plus for Camaro Charger Challenger etc here, theres a huge market for fast Japanese hotrods
I don’t hate 90’s styling, there’s a lot to like in that decade. But this is most of what was wrong in one vehicle. Blob-ish with odd proportions and rather cartoonish overall while still somehow remaining dull. And arguably the nadir of the Great Spoiler Epoch.
By all accounts it was a good car though.
“…cartoonish overall while still somehow remaining dull.”
Nailed it.
A succinct and on-point criticism. Look at one of these and then look at its direct competitor RX-7, one of the most beautiful cars of the 90’s. Not even close.
Rice age, really? I get it — we all want to be clever — but just like malaise era, it’s a little too broad and back-handed.
Hey I only fit one of those millennial tropes! And yes it’s the MKIV Supra love. I prefer them in this condition, I liked them before the first F&F movie ruined their image. These along side the FD RX7, 300ZX, 3000GT made for an incredibly distinctive selection of Japanese Muscle coupes. The Mark III never did anything for me, it looked like every other late 80s Japanese sports car, make mine a Mark II.
Check off another vote for the Mark III. Granted, I’m a child of the 80’s, and once owned a Starion, which as XR7Matt has pointed out pretty much fits in the “Every Other Late 80’s Japanese Sports Car” category, but as others have stated the Mark IV looks to me like it sat in the sun too long, thus melting into the shapeless blob seen above. I’m going to spare everyone my personal feelings about that spoiler…and the movies we’re not mentioning. It’s for the best, trust me.
I do, however, love that cockpit design. And I think the Lexus RC is a very elegant design, in spite of its face, which in typical Toyota fashion of late looks like it was drawn by a Manga artist.
Ironically I love the Starion, and like I said the Mark II Supra is a favorite of mine too. I like the true sharp edged cars of the early 80s and I like the true jellybean early 90s cars, but the Mark III just looked too much like a Mark II with all the interesting bits smoothed away, I feel the same way about the FC RX7 or the Z31 300z.
Starion/Conquest was a really nice car for its day, very Japanese but not in an overdone way. I personally liked the look of the Starion over the 3000 GT that replaced it.
The Mark IV may have struck many eyes as blob-like but from what I understand the shape is aerodynamically sound, with enough boost the things will run past the safe limits of it Z-Rated tires with ease.
The Starion is perhaps my favorite of the 80’s sports cars–I just loved that shape. the Mark II Supra is right up there with it.
The Mark III has a bit of a split personality. A pre-facelift non-turbo? Yawn. A facelifted Turbo? Yes, please! It’s amazing what difference can be made by a mild front fascia tweak and a set of full-width tails.
Wow – I totally forgot these even existed! I remember all of the previous Supra models, but for some reason this gen was forgotten. They weren’t very popular when new, maybe that is the reason.
I prefer the cleaner styling of the previous generation Supra as well, though I LIKE both and have to give the Mk4 credit for being “timeless”.
I never followed any of those millennial stereotypes and I never will, and unlike Matt that includes love of the fourth gen Supra. I always thought this car was highly overrated, it reminded me of all the worst traits of 90s car design. Too many curves and swoops that make the car look melted, extraneous crap added on that’s meant to look sporty but looks sad, and a front end that thanks to a gaping mouth and those weird gloopy style headlights, makes the car look like a fish. The third generation Supra was my favorite, it always looked like almost jet fighter like in it’s sleekness and smoothness.
I rented one in Southern California (Budget actually offered them) and enjoyed it. But to own…I’d want the ’80s model.
I knew a rich kid that bought one new shortly after they came out for something like $75k Cdn. I was looking at it one day and noticed an extra “tuning computer” on the dash. I was told it helped him shave off a couple of points on the 1/4 mile or some such explanation. Fast forward a couple of weeks and it was missing. I asked him what happened. Apparently one fine day cruising on the highway at mostly the speed limit someone in a camaro blew past him so he put his foot into it and the motor ate a valve or some other expensive piece. It was still under warranty so he took it back to Toyota to be repaired, the service writer and techs laughed at him when they saw the tuner box on the dash. After something like $12k for a new motor he was rolling again…
It says something to how much I love these Supras that even their lamentable association with the ricer crowd doesn’t dim my admiration.
Remember visiting my sister in Vegas one year back when the BIL owned a hotted up Grand National. He drag raced one of these Supras with me in the car, got a car length off the line (Good launch with a properly tuned auto), held his own to about 70 then got STORMED by the Supra as the brick-like Buick ran against its aerodynamic limitations.
Most ricer-rods are all show/no go but, as noted here, those Supras can be absolute rockets.
I liked the MKIV but absolutely can’t stand current Lexus styling. They all look like electric shavers.
“for anywhere that wasn’t Japan, where the 276 horsepower agreement was respected on this particular case”
Should read that the agreement was paid lip service to, I understand the only change was the horsepower number in the brochure! They were all doing that at the time of course.
I agree that the styling is not quite there, blobby is a good description. Some tauter surface treatment to the bumpers and flared wheel arches would help I think.
The 3rd gen car is too much like a Japanese Firebird for me, and the later more rounded bumpers don’t help. Plus I just picture the excess weight when I look at it. I also prefer the 2nd gen car.
As a mid-80s-born and playstation-raised I do admire it for what it is – the pinnacle of the optimistic, powerful and afforfable(-ish), yet honest japanese sports coupé, which didn’t ask you to suffer on your daily commute. Nissan took it way too far with their 300zx and Skyline (2door sedan) GTR, just too plush and snobby the one and too many hightech doodads the other – basically the nucleus of the drift button and todays fool proof rolling sports car simulators.
Still, for my taste a little on the porky side and too corny in appearance. And I hate that dash.
Slot me in a class below, right for the Silvia, JDM notchback please.
This generation Supra is large and bloated on the outside but cramped on the inside. It is like it is a Japanese version of the 1993-2002 Firebird. My 1998 Firebird was huge on the outside but felt cramped(like I was sitting in a bathtub) buy contrast I have driven several Miatas over the years which are smaller then the Firebird and yet have more room inside.
That rear wing is not quite Plymouth Superbird/Dodge Charger Daytona tacky. But it’s nearly there.
Not a fan especially after the previous generation, though better than today’s Supra-oddity. When we bought our two year old lease return Land Cruiser in 1995, at the small neighborhood Toyota dealer on Geary in San Francisco, there was a new red Supra in the tiny showroom. As I paused to look at it, the salesman told me that it had been there for a while, maybe even from the previous model year … which was 9 or 10 months.
These are platform mates to the Lexus SC300/400. The Lexus now sells for less and is more likely to be found in better condition. I like sporty cars and had a non turbo,’92 Nissan 300ZX. Pearl white, saddle leather, T Tops, and five speed. The turbo model was a worthy competitor to the Supra. It was a comfortable high speed GT car. I drove it for a few years, sold it, but held onto my old “77 280Z. The last version of the Cadillac ElDorado was something that I would have been interested in but they’ve been gone for a long time. I had my experience with their Seville sibling. I find that my Mustang now takes the place of all the PLCs that I loved at one time. It’s not as focused as the 300ZX or Supra but it satisfies me. Lots of performance, great looks, comfort, four seat utility, and a manageable size.
Like this, but in pearl white.
I think most people are missing the point of the mark IV Supra.
This was the first monster fuel injected, turbocharged 1000whp street car, at least here in the USA where we didnt have Skylines. Yes your built Chevy big block with a blower would make that sort of power but it really wasnt streetable like the Supra. Guys were outrunning hayabusa bikes with their big single turbo Supras
It did this 20 years ago, before people had really figured out the now ubitiquos turbocharged LS Chevy V8. Gotta remember around 2000 the LS1 had been out 3 years, maybe only a year or so in the pickup trucks and Tahoes.