Actually, let's be honest here, they are most likely the worst Toyota ever built.
These are my top 10 reasons for hating the mk3 supra. How do I know them so well? I worked on them for nearly 2 years, I drove both RHD and LHD mk3's with all sorts of different engines, stock and modified. I've spent a lot of time wrenching on them, and man do they suck badly. Let's begin:
10. Racing History: Let's be honest, there's really nothing special here, Bjorn Waldergard won one event with the MK3 supra in a Beijing Rally, and a few British fellows ran it in BTCC for a while. No real pedigree here.
9. Steering Angle: This is straight up a joke, it can't be real, no way it's even considered safe or functional to have so little steering lock for daily use. You think I'm kidding, but that's full lock below.
8. Weight: This really should be the #1 reason why there's no point in driving an mk3 Supra for any sort of 'sporting' purposes. What's that? you've never known what the weight of a mk3 supra was? Pictured below is a vehicle that weighs nearly identical, and actually produces more power.
(Note: 3800lbs, that's right, the CK short bed, short cab, not only weighed 3800lbs, but it actually produced 230hp and 300ft/lb of torque. Although the 1JZ variant is comparable)
7. Aftermarket Styling: Yes it's a slick looking exterior, simply put, it's the only selling point of the car. However, the aftermarket stuff? yeah, look below...
6.Targa Top: So you have an oval, pretty strong shape, egg's are 3d ovals and resist deformation pretty well. Then you cut a huge chunk out of it. Now you've got an easily crushable "C" shape. Thus is the Targa roof. How bad is it for chassis flex? Toyota actually had high grade, long threaded allen bolts to hold it square when in. When out, people started putting in targa supports to help reduce the horrible flex.
5. Steering Stablizer: The whole Geometry of the MK3 Supra suspension is fucked, and to help reduce bump steer, and ultimately any sort of driver feedback that's left after the hefty power steering, was a shock, bolted to the steering rack to help reduce...something. Road feel mostly, or resist the horrible bumper steer associated with #4. This Stablizer, much like the Cressidas (Although they had different front suspensions and shared the rear) resists and sometimes completely removes the affects of caster during cornering. It reduces the speed of turn by adding a dramatic amount of resistance.
4.Suspension Dynamics: These are just plain FUCKED. For some reason, Toyota decided that going from a single lower control arm McPherson strut setup, that had proven extremely well in the Corolla's, Celica's, and Celica Supras of the past, had to go, and in place a needlessly complex, and albeit poorly designed multi-link/double wishbone setup in it's place. You want to know how bad it is? Camber actually becomes positive on compression and negative on extension. Seriously look vvv.
3. Cock Riders: This isn't about the owners. The amount of people floating around the internet praising the mk3, simply because of it's loose relation to that of an mk4 Supra most of them having never owned a Supra in their lives. Although this makes me curious of the dynamic of buying and polishing a turd.
2. 7M/1G: Pretty weak sauce. So you buy a 3800lb driveway ornament and want to go fast. In North America, your faced with the 7M, and Japan, luckily enough got the 1jz, however, they too got the 7M and even worse, the 1G. Every other M series engine was decent, the 7M screwed that right up. It's head design is the fault. People will tell you it was a bad factory gasket, or under torqued bolts. However, even with those factors coverd, the real core of the issue was a bad head design. Getting past the common, and often debilitating issue of 7m's blowing gaskets (try pushing that thing!) The power of a 7m is a joke. Remember that Toyota publishes not the wheel horse power, but the crank. By the time that inline 6 delivers it's 200hp N/a to the rear, it's about 160hp, got a turbo? Roughly 190hp. Brutal for that amount of weight, but look out! There's even a worse motor: the 1GGTE. Although not plagued with head gasket failures and people thinking they can build the ultimate 7m, only to fail like the next guy, the 1ggte had it's own issues, spinning bearings, and well, being 2 liters! Such a tiny inline 6, and it needed twin turbo's just to make the 210hp. Unless your supra screwed and end up with an n/a 1GGE at 150hp.
And the Number 1 reason MK3 supra's are garbage! *Drum Roll*
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1. Burgandy:
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fucking hater dumb bitch get a life no 1 asked ur bitch ass for an opinion on this car they are sick
only valid points r the head gasket(witch was done before i bought mine and i had it for 6 years and beat the shit out of it,and it never blew again)and the nasty interior,but there where plenty of different interiors for the mk3 includeing the nice blue leather witch i had.targa is not meant for road racing of drifting u tard.the car handled great considering it was so fucking heavy(witch some reductions can help fix)..and to all those who said it cant drift,learn how cause i had mine sideways plenty of time.it aint no 240 but it can get the job done…plus its a great drag car…watch the episode of pinks where an 87 beats a 69 chevelle wit a 383 strocker wit spray head ups.and all this talk of the mkiv…….it is what it is cause of this car..2jz inline 6 turbo was perfected by toyota cause they learned their lessons wit the 7m.its not the greatest car ever made but its most def is one that left an imprint on the car world,maybe not to some but anyone who has had a turbo third gen.loved it unless they bought one someone beat the fuck out of,cause lets face the facts here,any car not properly maintained is gonna start to fuck up sooner or later…
and about the whole ugly aspect,ricers get their hands on everything.period,ive seen hondas with masking tape strips….greddy front bumper,with a nice spoiler(not a big ass fast and the furious spoiler),and straggered rims make this car look amazing…the main thing that under rates these cars is the mkiv.its just like the gtr…r32,r33 dont get the love they should either cause the r34 is everyones main focus….when an amazing car in the import world is made,most tuners move on to it…s15 is another example,they make conversion kits just so the 240 looks like an s15,and they swap in that sr20det…its not like muscle cars guys where they love the older cars,america loves thier old cars,japan doesnt do the same,,how often do u see 70s jap cars at shows,rarely.so stop hateing just cause its shadowed by one of the best cars ever made…grow up…
Youre easily one of the most ignorant fucks i’ve ever come across in the automotive community. 3800lbs? Try 3390lbs, with that said i guarantee you’ve probably never even owned an mk3 let alone driven one.
How about stop hating, get a life and show support for the community rather than bashing a car.
I will reply on all 10 points of view that you’ve made on the best GT sports car of the 80’s and the most powerfull for the year 1988’ in Japan.
10)Racing? Toyota never wanted to really race the A70 model, they
just threw it in the Rallye motorsports for 3 months just for advertising their new logo ‘Supra,the dynasty begins’.
For the history it did race in 3 events of World rallye championship and won 1 out of 3. Like you said in China. In the other 2 races it got the 3rd place behind the 4WD Lancias and Audi quattros. Not bad for a RWD vehicle of it’s size. And quess what motor was under the hood?
A 7M-GE motor. Yes an A/N motor tuned from Toyota Motorsport Division.
So…for it’s short time in Motorsports it very well. In fact it might be a record for a RWD vehicle. I imagine you and what you could be saying about Lamborghini that never entered a Motorsport event.
Worst than garbage hehhhh?
You FAILED ON THAT. next ->
9)Steering angle? While you are showing us a frozen picture from a video on youtube? LOL. Like somebody said,you only need more steering angle when you’re parking the car. Or drifting… But is there a production company that makes production road cars with the main purpose ‘Drifting in Drift championships?’ NO.
You FAILED ON THAT also. next ->
8)Heavy? Yes it is. 3800 lbs ? No it isn’t.
The heaviest edition of a A70 model is an automatic,targa,turbo model loaded with every optional equipment offered. And it will never go over 3650 lbs. But then again for a manual,non turbo,non targa,non leather interior etc. it will be around 3300 lbs.
One reason is that it is built 99% from steel and iron.A very well built stracture that will keep the passangers safe after a collision
in most cases. And is the reason that you cruise with 130mp/h while you’re drinking coffee. This is a GT vehicle. There isn’t a single High Performace GT vehicle made in this world under 3100 lbs…
You FAILED ON THAT also. next ->
7)Aftermarket Styling? This 2 words doesn’t fit into a mk3 Supra,cause it’s their from the factory. The mk4 A80 needs that support more…
Yes we both agree it’s a slick looking exterior!
So we are good and OK with that. We don’t have to judge every body kit that a company makes for the A70 Supra. For the history,as it stands from the factory with some lowering springs and with some nice 17s or 18s wheels will take your breath away. Have you seen Ron R. car ?
Bomex rear add-ons and side skirts,and last a front lip will be nice improvement. This is what serious mk3 owners do!
So..Who cares about riced on vehicles and aftermarket F nd’ F body kits.
This is a serious GT vehicle not for stupid riced kids.
So you partly FAILED ON THAT also. next ->
6)Targa top? Or better Sport Roof. Yes it was optional. And yes the body does flex when is off. Also your head will get wet if it starts raining while is off. Open air driving is something that is more than a luxury option. It adds style,females love it and you got all that without having a real cabrio vehicle (like M3 E46) and it really looks like a 100% coupe GT. I know a guy that bought a targa turbo mk3 Supra
and he discovered that the roof was a targa top after a year!
And last you don’t make top speed runs with the targa off smartass.
So you really FAILED ON THAT also. next ->
5)Steering Stablizer? Issue on the A70 ? You must be jokking…
The mk3 Supra had a very high tech steering system equiped with a PPS ECU (progressive power steering)which was connected with the TEMS ECU (toyota electronicaly modulated suspension) for the best steering and feeling of the vehicle on the road.
You are WAY WRONG here. TOTAL FAIL. next ->
4)Suspension Dynamics? Fucked up on the A70 Supra?
You could be risking jail time for that statement!
The mk3 Supra has one of the best high tech,independent,multi-link,double wishbone suspensions. That’s Formula 1 territory my friend. Wake up!
The photo you uploaded shows a race rallye version which has nothing to do with production cars.And it shows the world that you have NEVER jacked up a mk3 A70 Supra so you can actualy see how the wheel moves.
Loser is the least I can say about you.
TOTAL FAIL – JAIL TIME here for you. next ->
3)Cock Riders? The amount of people floating around the internet praising the mk3, simply because of it’s loose relation to that of an mk4 Supra ?
The mk4 Supra is what it is because of the mk3 Supra. For the history the A70 Supra started the evolution towards performance JZ motor tech, torsen diff, 8" heavy duty diff, High performance robust transmissions,
twin turbos,ABS,Traction control,ventilation / air dams for the brakes and differential,race type suspension,etc. It all began with the mk3.
But every model is connected with it’s predecessor. This is how things work with the Supra Dynasty. From the 2000GT to the A80 Supra. We are a family and we respect each other.
The same here. TOTAL FAIL. next ->
2)Talking trush about the A70’s powerplants? The 1G-GTE was for the JDM market only for economical and tax reasons in Japan. Just a policy of the Toyota Motor Co.
The 7M is the best M series motor.
The 7M-GE N/A motor had 200hp and 185lbs of torque which helped the
car run 7.6 sec:0-60mph and 15.8 sec:1/4 mile. It wasn’t slow,but nothing fast for the mid 80’s,but it was a very respectfull time.
Next year in 1987 the 7M-GTE turbo version came up with 230hp and 265 lbs of torque doing 6.6 sec 0-60mph and 14.9 sec 1/4 mile. This was very good numbers for that time. And you had 80% of the torque available from 1800 rpms till the redline. Road tests gave the R&D people big smiles and the best impressions!
The JZA70 with the 1JZ-GTE took it to another level. Also some 2JZ-GTE post production JZA70 models were put to the tests before the A80 model.
That’s the reason you can put a 2JZ under the A70 hood with stock original parts from the Toyota dealer ;-)
Stock ? All 3 motors 7MGTE,1JZGTE,2JZGTE can handle more than 500whp
though JZ series can go beyond 650whp,when they 100% healthy.
Tuned? They are record holders worldwide!
Again a big FAIL FOR U. next ->
1)Burgandy interior? It was an option smartass…Like Medium Grey, Dark Grey, Blue,and Maroon. And only for the U.S. and Canada market.
All other countries got Dark grey,Medium grey,and Blue. It was the 80’s
after all LOL. Most of them are medium grey or dark grey though.
Many go with black leather or Alcandara velour.