rider

I think its an interesting question to pose but some owners, probably more those with more modified cars, seem to prefer it isn't. It is all down to price and as all Supras were all were born in the same factory the price is purely specification driven, the rarer and more exclusive the specification then the more valued it is. That's a very constant rule in anything collectable. Once you deviate from the original specification you do a certain amount of harm to the value, hopefully any upgrades can more than overcome the harm and add value at least in the short term. I'll venture though, the last ever remaining Supra Mk4 anywhere in the World will be a nut and bolt on specification Supra, long after all the modified ones have either been returned to stock or hit the crusher. So I for one would never regard a modified Supra as anything but a drivers car. Whereas, I regard stock Surpras as a drivers car, which is why I bought one 18 years ago, but its increasingly becoming a collectable and investable car. Anyone seeking a Supra as a long term investment may not be aware that an advertised UK spec car is anything but a UK spec car. Then you could ask is that their fault for not knowing the product or the advertisers fault or a collective who give a toss fault. Down the road, you'll be talking big money difference though.

It essentially comes down to the word specification. A specification is fixed, a modification to a specification is something entirely different; outside of the specification. So a modified UK spec Supra is really something that was originally a UK spec car but cannot really claim to be a UK spec car any longer. Its a complete bastardisation of the meaning of the word specification to claim otherwise. Seems UK spec has transitioned to now mean only a Supra that was originally UK spec, but that was a long time ago. Which is fine, only trading standards could possibly object.

[ That's the point I'm trying to get across. All Supras were exported from Japan. All Supras came out of the same factory. The only difference was the market specific specification and the UK specification is judged favourably with a price premium. Surely, if you change the specification away from stock the car is no longer market specification specific and the further you move away from stock the more 'generic' the vehicle becomes. There is essentially no difference to a modified Supra running the roads in Japan or the UK as the modifications can be easily achieved from any original market specific platform. It appears the UK premium for a modified car must lie solely in the VIN number though I can't find any reference to UK registered vehicle's being allocated unique numbers or a closed sequence of VIN numbers. I assume they must have otherwise it'd be very difficult to prove a vehicle was UK first registered beyond the information recorded on the vehicles V5 and that isn't a document that you could rely upon to carry totally accurate information. So, it is looking like it comes down to how much is a VIN stamp worth and how easily a VIN can be identified to a specific market specification product?

There was a thread started by me in the classifieds concerning an eBay listing for a 'UK spec' car that had been modified to include things like, Range Rover brakes. The thread commentators were firmly of the opinion that a modified UK spec car remains a UK spec car irrespective of the modifications to the car spec. A potentially interesting discussion topic that never evolved out of that thread is what constitutes a UK or J spec car, or one that is simply a hybrid so lets have a go. For me personally, I'll state up front, I'm a lover of stock. I'm even searching for a good set of 16 inch original boring alloys to sit in the garage to get my car back to stock. The car is all matching numbers; original paint, all original running gear, original engine, seats, steering wheel. Everything original that hasn't worn out. So what exactly does constitute a UK spec car and a J spec car? Seeing they all came out of the same Toyota Motomachi plant, does it just come down to where the car happened to be first registered or does it actually come down to the integrity to the original specification as it left the factory? How I see it and I would apply this outlook were I looking to buy another Supras, but I've just blown a big wedge on importing a Ford Mustang from the US so that's not likely, is that you have UK spec cars, J spec cars and then the modified Supras that could have been arrived at just as easily from either starting platform. Three distinct groups. Another viewpoint offered up is that you either have UK spec or J spec cars, modified or stock is irrelevant, end of. Bearing in mind anything UK spec in the Supra World gains a price premium it is an important claim to make but how justified and justifiable is to apply that claim on car that isn't true to its original specification? The easy answer of course is that it depends on the mods, does Range Rover brakes cut it or is that just down to personal interpretation? From my personal viewpoint, the only possible advantage a modified UK registered Supra has over a similar spec modified grey import Supra is that the UK registered vehicle could, one day, be returned to its UK original spec. So, are there two just specifications of Supras in the UK, UK spec and J spec? Effectively has UK spec become synonymous with UK first registered and really no longer has anything to do with the actual cars running specification. Or should we really not just acknowledge that there are actually three specification classes; UK spec, J spec and modified spec?

Read slowly so you can take it in np89. A forum is normally there to pass comment, or advice not judgment. I am no moron, I'm actually fairly intelligent. I'm not ignorant, I probably know more about Supras than 99% of forum members having owned various variant for 25 years and my current one for 18 years. As for arrogance you have me beat hand down on that matey. So off and play nicely.

I still don't recognise it as a UK spec car. That's maybe my eyesight. But I do strongly object to your calling me a moron. I can only assume you are not familiar with the clinical definition of a moron. Makes you uneducated, I guess?

Pleased its all provided a bit of have a dig sport for some of you guys. Think I'm just about done with this forum. I’ve concluded it just comes down to my appreciation for unmolested stock spec with matching numbers cars is much higher than most and I'll continue to maintain my J spec that I've owned from nearly new in that condition. For me the only difference for a UK supplied vehicle, seeing they were built in the same factory, is that the specification was different, perceived better than the standard J Spec grey imports. So, if you significantly modify the spec a UK spec vehicle then is really no difference to a modified J spec. In which instance, this particular ‘UK spec’ car, is a bit expensive for a non stock TT auto.

Maybe the car should be advertised more properly as UK supplied or once upon a time a UK spec car because the current spec would be easier arrived at from a J car than a UK car. Glass headlights and leather seats does not really leave it anywhere close to a UK spec car.

I must be wrong then, never realised Range Rover brakes were UK spec. Always figured it was steel vane turbos, larger (Toyota) brakes, active spoiler and headlight washers, 17 inch wheels etc. in the UK spec.

Someone is selling a 1995 TOYOTA SUPRA UK SPEC on eBay and I think as many people as can be bothered should tell him his car is only a little bit nearer a UK Spec Supra than a Nissan Micra. Its even sporting that well known UK spec option, Range Rover brakes. You couldn't make it up. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1995-TOYOTA-SUPRA-UK-SPEC/301737147621?_trksid=p2054897.c100204.m3164&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140407115239%26meid%3Dbb1703346c1d494fb0b1feac93b74de1%26pid%3D100204%26rk%3D6%26rkt%3D27%26sd%3D161804964173

Seconded. I use that on anything plastic and it always comes up looking good (and clean) with a hint of lemon freshness. Only kidding about the lemon bit but it does smell nice too.

It really is a shame to see these Classified threads crucified. Maybe Classifieds on the forum should be just the advert end of and anyone wishing to comment could send a private message to the OP. I'm not sure this open comment nice car melarky or overpriced downer or thats a bargain banter achieves anything constructive.

A lot of money. 6 speed boxes are breaking at around £2,000.

The Std. M/C plate should fill your hole with a few mm cover around the edges. This site has plates up to 14 inches wide with 7 inch height

I doubt that. The break has been so long and technology advanced so far that any new Supra wouldn't be so much the next generation evolution as a series would suggest but a completely unrelated motor sharing a name. There are millions of Khans in the UK but I'm sure they aren't all related.

No you don't. A UK motorbike number plate covers the hole and then you can either tape it around the edges which I did for 16 years without loss though the tape did need replacing every couple of years when it started to lift. the final solution that I got around to after 16 years was to tape around the edges and screw to the bracket behind with, I think the size was M6, stainless screws. Now that plate isn't going anywhere.

I replaced my stock clutch after 108,000 miles with a stock clutch on my BPU so there is no problem with handling that slight power rise over stock.

People tend to sell these in pairs and you'd probably be best buying in pairs to have roughly the same clarity on both lenses. I have a pair sitting that I replaced because they were ever so slightly yellowed (plastic lenses) if you want to make me an offer for the pair then I could post pictures if your offer excites me. They would be an easy lens polish job to restore the clarity which only I and similar perfectionists would notice anyway.

You can buy replacement rubbers with replacement units. The Headlight units weren't designed to be serviceable. If you are suffering misting in the light unit the best you can do is use some black sealant around the lens.

Worth a read, and weep for wide tyre fans. http://www.caranddriver.com/features/effects-of-upsized-wheels-and-tires-tested Slower accelleration, slower 1/4 mile and massive drop in fuel economy = wider tyres.

This wide tyre thing is wierd. Lots of people buy them because they think they look cool. OK maybe they look cool maybe they don't. Then you get the race crowd who buy them because they imagine its going to give them extra go faster grip. Thats the nonsense part particularly if you are looking at the lower profile 19 inch rims. Lower the profile and you increase the wall rigidity which means the tyre footprint may be wider across the tyre but it'll be narrower along the tyre. Studies also show that wider tyres are bad news when it comes to wet surfaces. Aquaplaning on a test Porche 911 reported adding an inch to the tyre width lowered the aquaplaning speed by 15%. Then you have the extra road noise on 99% of UK roads, particlarly all the surface dressed variety. Wide tyres, what a waste. The only thing you compromise is your own ears and safety.

That's a poor reason. I just bough a significantly more expensive Ford Mustang that I'm importing from the USA. Didn't stop me keeping my Supra. You'll only regret selling, one day.

If you don't need the money or the garage space I'd recommend leaving it gathering dust. You only need look at Supra prices here and then compare it to the US or Scandinavian countries to work out UK prices are cheap but firming nicely.

Just seen someone talking elsewhere about their fresh Supra import with 40,000 miles. I don't know. I struggle to see how a 20 year old car gets the 40k allocation especially on an import which usually comes with absolutely no service history or something completely Japanese that you'd need a access to a code breaker to decipher. My own import which landed as a little under 2 year old in 1998 had 18,000 miles under its tyres. I must own the only Supra that ever got driven in Japan. Leaves me thinking that's unlikely so I'd take any 40k mile claim with a wheel barrow load of salt and on a 20 year old car does the mileage really matter anyway?

Try an ECU reset. Doesn't cost anything beyond a few minutes with a battery disconnect.