ufop Posted October 17, 2005 Share Posted October 17, 2005 Hi I have just joined and have been looking at mk4 supras for a little while but kinda stopped after most of the ones I saw seemed over priced and had way too many miles on the clock! just seen one not too far from me which is a L plate TT import with what seems to be 35K on the clock and all for £7000 too (it's on autotrader at the mo) I thought I would go and take a look to see whats wrong with it as I thought that seemed a little cheap but to my surprise it seems to look to me to be pretty much ok although I have found a few probs. It seems to be a fully standard GZ with original alloys, stereo and nasty space saver wheel (which looks like it's never been used). it's had two owners and has got a couple of signs of wear n tear but everything does seem to fit with the age of the car and the mileage. the wheels I think have the wrong size tyres on them 225/50's on the front and 245/50's on the back all different makes (which is nice lol) the front ones look ok but one rear is new and the other needs changing big time as its right down to the wear indicator. What is the correct sizes for jap import versions as so it will give me sometime to try n get the price down as I would likely want to change all the crappy tyres on it! I need to go back and have another good check over it as im not sure if a full UK conversion has been done as I forgot to check the fog light but it did have one little after market switch so I guess someone could have put it into the rear light cluster? is that difficult to do? The standard toyota stereo (cd/single cd indash and 6 cd in the boot) which worked ok on AM but FM it wouldnt find anything even radio 2 :-0 which I think they still find without a band expander (my prelude import did anyway). It also has a really little box which is kinda a little wider and thinner than a matchbox which is just then the steering column which must be something to do with the stereo. I think it said supra something on it and had power, volume up and down buttons and a mute I had a mess with it but it didnt seem to do anything although wires went off to the dash for it but even so the radio should have found radio2 yeah? I just want to know what the box is and what it does or should do I did have a quick test drive and the car seemed to drive really well and all the electrics I tried (windows, cruise ect) worked but it did have a fair few rattles! the front was just from the top glovebox thing which was the lock so thats ok but in the back sounding like to boot it did make a fair old racket! like you have a lose tool kit ect I know the car has a firm ride and the roads were a little crappy but it was loud.... once I got on to very new resurfaced roads it was fine but is this common? sorry to ask so many questions and things but hey you know how it is you just dont want to buy aload of crap thanks for any help you guys can help to a newbie :-) oh and seems like a good forum/website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted October 17, 2005 Share Posted October 17, 2005 the wheels I think have the wrong size tyres on them 225/50's on the front and 245/50's on the back What is the correct sizes for jap import versions 16" or 17"? For 17" wheels the stock TT sizes are 235/45/17 front and 255/40/17 rear. I don't remember the tyre sizes for the stock 16" wheels. A search will tell you I forgot to check the fog light but it did have one little after market switch so I guess someone could have put it into the rear light cluster? is that difficult to do? no. The standard toyota stereo (cd/single cd indash and 6 cd in the boot) which worked ok on AM but FM it wouldnt find anything even radio 2 :-0 which I think they still find without a band expander (my prelude import did anyway). It also has a really little box which is kinda a little wider and thinner than a matchbox which is just then the steering column which must be something to do with the stereo. I think it said supra something on it and had power, volume up and down buttons and a mute I had a mess with it but it didnt seem to do anything although wires went off to the dash for it but even so the radio should have found radio2 yeah? Yeah I did have a quick test drive and the car seemed to drive really well and all the electrics I tried (windows, cruise ect) worked but it did have a fair few rattles! the front was just from the top glovebox thing which was the lock so thats ok but in the back sounding like to boot it did make a fair old racket! like you have a lose tool kit ect I know the car has a firm ride and the roads were a little crappy but it was loud.... once I got on to very new resurfaced roads it was fine but is this common? Rock hard tailgate rubbers are the usual culprit. About £15 to replace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BURT Posted October 17, 2005 Share Posted October 17, 2005 16" or 17"? For 17" wheels the stock TT sizes are 235/40/17 front and 255/40/17 rear. I don't remember the tyre sizes for the stock 16" wheels. A search will tell you no. Yeah Rock hard tailgate rubbers are the usual culprit. About £15 to replace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted October 17, 2005 Share Posted October 17, 2005 There'll be a few bits to sort on an import no matter how good it is, you'll no doubt find the owner hasn't done everything since it was imported. Mine had new tyres, new battery, new bulbs. As long as you make sure the speedo has been changed and it's been undersealed (lots of debate on whether imports come in underselaed or not - some are some aren't) you should be alright. As Jake says boot rubbers make a nasty squeaky noise, generally it's a big heavy car so there shouldn't be too many rattley bits! Other than that it seems the stereo is your main concern? Just get a cheap UK stereo if that's the case. You're buying an expensive car here just try and get some money off and don't worry about little things like "Will I have to spend £100 on a new stereo!!". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ufop Posted October 17, 2005 Author Share Posted October 17, 2005 the Prelude I have at the moment is a import too and the dealer seemed a little less than fully clued up about the supra, so I think the tyres will have just been changed for cheap rubbish just to get it passed through the MOT. Cheers about the boot rubbers guys will check though. Any easy ways to tell if the car has been undersealed or not? and how much does that tend to cost to get done if it hasnt? I can afford to buy, insure and hopefully run that car (as I dont do huge miles) but im just trying to work out all the stuff I need to go back with to get the price down. At the moment i'm working on all the tyres need changing as they are such a mix n match it's untrue! but they are at least the same size so thats better than some dealers I have seen! oh and I will also have to get a cat 1 alarm and immobiliser on it which I guess will cost me a few hundred too else my insurance wont be valid :-0 anyone have any good or bad stories about alarms/immobilisers to avoide? I current have a GT auto alarms which is the 136/142 I think (from memory) which has always been great except when a passenger hasnt closed the door properly :-0 thanks guys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted October 17, 2005 Share Posted October 17, 2005 I have a Laserline 291, always worked and done what I want. Look underneath and see if there's any dried greyish goo hanging from all the metalwork and chassis beams, that'll be the underseal stuff. Not sure how much it is if it's not been done. Can you get any pics of car/engine bay/interior to post up? Peeps on here are pretty good at spotting problems just from pics! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted October 17, 2005 Share Posted October 17, 2005 For 17" wheels the stock TT sizes are 235/40/17 front and 255/40/17 rear. Sorry to hijack but I have a question. My stock 17 front wheel has 235/45/17 tyres. How does this affect the handling? Why would these have been fitted? Am I concerned over nothing? Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellis Posted October 17, 2005 Share Posted October 17, 2005 My stock 17 front wheel has 235/45/17 tyres. How does this affect the handling? Why would these have been fitted? Am I concerned over nothing? Cheers. They're the correct size for standard 17" wheels!!! Donut!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted October 17, 2005 Share Posted October 17, 2005 Donut, my arse LOL! I'm going with what Jake wrote 234/40 ,where mine are 235/45 According to colleague, this difference may make my steering feel less precise. Thoughts, or doesn't the extra 5 make any difference? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted October 17, 2005 Share Posted October 17, 2005 Sorry Martin, I should have said 235/45/17 on the front not 235/40/17. My bad. (It was 4am though ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted October 17, 2005 Share Posted October 17, 2005 Sorry Martin, I should have said 235/45/17 on the front not 235/40/17. My bad. (It was 4am though ) I'll let you off Definitely 40 on the back though, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted October 17, 2005 Share Posted October 17, 2005 Yeah, if you're using stock sizes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted October 17, 2005 Share Posted October 17, 2005 Seeing as you know where to find just about everything, can you point me at something which would explain why you choose different sizes and the sort of differences you'd expect to find. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ufop Posted October 17, 2005 Author Share Posted October 17, 2005 a couple of pics of the car... see if anyone can spot anything off or just wrong as I say seems ok to me oh and also started first time great from cold with just a little bit of white smoke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted October 17, 2005 Share Posted October 17, 2005 Seeing as you know where to find just about everything, can you point me at something which would explain why you choose different sizes and the sort of differences you'd expect to find. All you ever wanted to know about tyres... and more :zzz: : http://www.chris-longhurst.com/carbibles/tyre_bible.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted October 17, 2005 Share Posted October 17, 2005 Cheers Jake, that's just what I was looking for. Now I can be confused about things I never even knew existed to be confused about. Or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erol_h Posted April 1, 2007 Share Posted April 1, 2007 ive just joined the owners club and im after a supra, it wount let me post anything on the cars for sale forum saying im not a full paying member but i can post here why is that thanks for the help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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