1988 Toyota Supra 3.0 from North America

Summary:

It's a great car for the age, handles very well with plenty of torque

Faults:

Currently I have had to replace the following:

Replaced head gasket which blew at 120000

Clutch master cylinder at 125000

New clutch on cooling fan, repaired radiator due to overheating

Replaced rusted exhaust from the cat back

Dome light won't work, seats coming apart at the seams.

Power steering blew out, replaced it.. then it blew again.. pretty challenging to drive a 3200-pound car with 16" tires with out it.

General Comments:

This car will defiantly be a classic, however be prepared to the price or repairs and maintenance in owning one.

Gas mileage is not the best at around 19 city.

It's fairly fast for such a heavy car, but if you want true speed invest in the turbo models.

Beautiful ride with the targa top off, but not so much with it on due to lots of interior noise.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 22nd October, 2005

1988 Toyota Supra V6 from North America

Summary:

Best car I ever owned

Faults:

Brakes had to be replaced.

Headlight switch broke. $135 to replace.

Smoked slightly under hard acceleration.

Front and rear bumper faded due to sun.

General Comments:

Very fun car to drive.

Not built for highway driving or rough roads.

When the targa top was removed the car felt less ridged and seem to flex a little under harder driving.

Most reliable car I've ever owned.

Would most diffidently buy another one if it had less than 80,000 miles on it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 17th September, 2004

4th Oct 2004, 19:00

I disagree. I own a Toyota Supra and it loves the highway. To me that is were the car is most comfortable.

7th Jul 2015, 17:46

I agree that it IS a highway star. A true Gran Turismo! Comfortable at high speeds for a long distance.

16th Sep 2024, 17:27

Inline 6, not V6 :)

1988 Toyota Supra 3.0i Auto staight 6 3.0 litre from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Lowered by some idiot who didn't know what he was doing

Faults:

Aircon inop.

Head gasket went (uneconomical to repair)

General Comments:

I'd always wanted a Supra. I think they look great, and being a Toyota should be reliable.

I saw this one advertised for £1,000, it was in a light met blue, had lowered suspension, different alloys, came with a raft of service bills and except the a/c (needed a re-gas), everything worked.

So I bought it for £850 after some haggling. The first thing I regretted was buying an auto, the performance was O.K, but not exactly quick, and its the last time I buy a modified car, you only had to half push it round a bend, and the tyres started chirping, the ride was knock your fillings out hard, and the camber on the rear wheels made it look a bit stupid. I can't understand why people do cars up in the first place, just buy something better that's designed to be quick/handle really well etc and be done with it!

If I did buy another it would be a Supra Turbo, unmodified and spoilt by some pillock who dosn't know what he's doing, and have less miles on the clock as the head gasket went on mine and it was too expensive to repair.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 16th September, 2004

16th Sep 2004, 08:24

VERY common fault on this type Supra, head gasket failure, its not a problem that affects the superior 1993 on model.

21st Mar 2024, 19:48

Even 20 years ago it was hard to find a Supra from the 1980s that wasn't modified by someone who didn't know what they were doing!

1988 Toyota Supra Turbo 3.0 turbo In-line 6 from North America

Summary:

Supras in general, are loads of fun for the dollar

Faults:

At about 190000 miles I had to replace the exhaust.

At about the same time I did a 4 wheel brake job, and replaced the rotors since the originals were getting thin (from previous re-surfacing).

At 206000 the dreaded BHG (blown head gasket) symptoms started showing, and I ended up replacing the engine with a used/low-mile Japanese replacement.

The sport roof (targa top) has always leaked to an extent or another, but I learned to live with it.

There is a little bit of rust on the roof at the windshield line.

And now, my ECU decided to go sideways. The car works great, but the ECU no longer outputs diagnostic codes, so it will be impossible to smog the car without replacing it. The dealer wants $1400, and some places on line want 200-300 to repair the existing one.

I like the car, and if it wasn't for the fact that I'm getting tired of driving stick in commute traffic, I would consider fixing it, but as it stands, I may look for something else.

General Comments:

The car is fast indeed and will give any would be "rocketeer" a run for their money. The Turbo is very smooth and gives the car a definite push when you press the gas.

Where the car really shines though, is the handling. It takes turns flat as a pancake. Even whe the TEMS (Toyota Electronically Modulated Suspension) is set for "normal" soft ride, the TEMS kicks in and stiffens up the ride in turns or heavy breaking.

I once saw a review of this car in Motor trend right next to a review of the Porche 928, and the final paragraph red: "If you like performance and comfort, buy this car instead of the Porche 928 and save yourself $50000."

If I could find another, with AT for a bargain in great shape I'd buy it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 26th July, 2004

23rd Feb 2009, 13:48

I love mine. It is still running great except for a little clutch leak, but that's not a big problem.

The one thing I found wrong with this car is that it tends to burn through tires quick, but that's all my drifting for you.