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Supra Buying Dilemma


Guest Jamie

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Guest Jamie

Hi all

 

Here is my dilemma. I'm still in the market for a mk4 Supra TT, but I am having major problems locating a UK Spec TT manual. I did go for a ride in one the other day and was blown away at the amount of power the car had, awesome was the only thing I managed to say when going 4 a test drive. Anyway, as I can't find any UK TT manuals (most seem to be autos :mad: ) so I have started thinking about a J Spec instead.

 

My question(s) is this....

 

1. The J Spec has a lower bhp than the UK's, but does this make much difference?

2. Have the J Spec's had their power restricted in anyway?

3. If so can anything be done to get this power back?

4. People say the J Spec’s handle better, so do they have a different suspension set up?

5. Does anyone have any problems getting their imports serviced?

 

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

Cheers

 

Jamie

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Hi Jamie,

 

This has been covered loads and loads mate, the search button will reveal all you need!

 

In short. JSpec is a better drivers car as it spools up sooner due to ceramic turbo blades against the UK's steel blades, power is way above the claimed 280bhp, not far off the UK's really. A decat and FCD with restrictor ring will yeild lots more power. Servicing is fine, plenty of specialists around! And yes, JSpec suspension is different and firmer, I prefered it but depends what you want from your car, certainly was soft compared to my old impreza.

 

Basically, Jspecs are faster and lighter and don't have dildo's attached to the front of the car. That should stir the hornets up a bit :p ;) :D

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Swings and roundabouts but I'll give you some info....

UK or Jspec, both great obviously.

Very similar power stock. Japs being lower is a myth. BUT UK has steel bladed turbos and bigger injectors (And brakes), japs have ceramic blades.

This means that the japs are quicker to spool (ie quicker!), but the UK can run higher boost pressure (power) on standard turbos as the steel blades are stronger.

Japs have firmer suspension stock. No biggie.

This Q comes up all the time, the search button is your friend :)

This Q also regularly causes upset, with the "mine is best" thing.

They are all stupidly quick tho. I had a jspec manual, and would be more than happy with a UK auto. Good luck whatever you buy, they are truely awesome cars.

Oh yeah ! I would just buy the best car on its own merits, not UK or Jap or Auto or Manual etc......

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apparently there was a "gentlemans agreement" between the japanese manufacturerd that they wouldnt sell a car with more than 280BHP to the japanese market . skylines are quoted at 280 as well (i think), maybe they have more too! ive got the same problem as you mate, but yeah the advice off Wilson is spot on! :thumbs:

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Guest Jamie

Some interseting points there.

 

I'm in no real rush to get a car, so if my quest goes on for a few more months then so be it, however the only 2 conditions are that it MUST be manual and a Twin Turbo. Sry that's just my stubeness ;) .

 

I had heard people say that the claimed bhp on a J Spec was in fact much higher than stated. From what's been said, the J Spec seems to sound a better option for me as handling means a bit more to me than just power (however I expect both cars will easily surpass my driving ability, in both departments).

 

Insruance will be a big factor for me, and I have been quoted £800 fully comp on a UK spec, and I fully expect this to easily rise to £1300+ if I got an import.

 

I'll have a look a bit harder for some more UK vs J Spec advise.

 

Cheers

 

Jamie

 

P.S. I did try the search button, but if you type "UK" into it, it says that this is below the minimum word length and it can't find anything. So not a great deal of help. :)

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If you realy want a uk manual tt you,ll have to be patient

the main problem when looking for a j spec car is that they all

seem to have a different spec

wheels /brakes would be the main one for me

(a lot of the j spec tt come with smaller brakes)

you have to make a list of the things you want and just keep looking.

my auto kept up with 2 honda CBR 600,s today they couldn,t shake me off and I was loaded up with suit cases,my wife

(not that heavy really:D ) and my 12 year old son.

 

what ever spec TT you choose it will be quick:D

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jamie have you looked at the top of the page

were it says imports click on import supra differences

 

There is a comparison chart between uk and jap

the only thing I can see it not mentioning is that the uk has heated seats

hope this helps a little bit.

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Originally posted by kopite

apparently there was a "gentlemans agreement" between the japanese manufacturerd that they wouldnt sell a car with more than 280BHP to the japanese market . skylines are quoted at 280 as well (i think), maybe they have more too! ive got the same problem as you mate, but yeah the advice off Wilson is spot on! :thumbs:

 

Yep thats pretty much it, I reckon all the evo's scooby's skylines that are quoted at 280 are easily 300+, but the japs all tune them up to double that anyway!

 

Jamie, I would really advise you to try a j-spec, I was very very close to buying a UK for purely insurance reasons but I was too late as someone else beat me to it, but tbh im glad I didnt get it, why? well yes the one I was looking at was low mileage for the age of the car, a 1994 with 86k on the clock, but I couldnt get out of my head that In a couple of years time it'll be 100k+ and trying to sell a car then with 100k+ is not going to be easy and you'll be looking to be buying new parts for the car, eg rad,clutch/flywheel possibly turbo's depending how they have been serviced and it is also unlikely that you'll be able to find the exact one you want eg; maybe you want a black uk manual but in reality the closest you would be likley to find would be a silver or red and you'd only be buying it as you cant find any others which would be silly imo.

 

I dont know what your budget is but a uk manual will almost definately be between 10-14k which could get you a j-spec black manual TT with less than 50k on the clock and in much much better condition.

 

I beleive it would also be much easier to sell on too as I dont beleive the demand for the uk car is there anymore as last year the uk's would be on autotrader for only a day sometimes but now they seem to be around for at least a month.

 

The 2 cars drive completley different aswell, I found the power delivery was very jerky on the uk and I didnt like it at all knowing that the j's didnt do this(very smooth), the uk felt much slower too, im not kidding either! it felt like a 1/3 of the power had gone! but I was willing to buy the car anyway because I was so desperate to have one but I now know that I probably would have made a big mistake and not been happy about it at all!

 

BTW you dont have to take any of this on board as I dont even have a supe!,but i've been looking into them for the past 18 months and have driven every variant many times and this is all my opinion, just dont rush! im glad I didnt/havent as there's so much to learn before buying one!

 

Good luck! and hope this helps!

 

:thumbs:

 

Tom.

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Originally posted by Jamie

I'm in no real rush to get a car, so if my quest goes on for a few more months then so be it, however the only 2 conditions are that it MUST be manual and a Twin Turbo. Sry that's just my stubeness ;) .

 

 

 

Firstly being in no particular hurry is a big plus. Your manual requirement makes your task harder but not impossible.

 

having the funds in place and being able to act quickly is a must, this time of year helps as midweek evening viewings are possible.

 

I'd view any manuals that come up locally so you can get an idea of the average condition etc.

 

Don't ignore cars that appear cheap (go and see it asap, just be initially more suspicious) and remember that all the uk's will have a reasonably high mileage but don't assume the 70K mile car is necessarily better than the 110K car.

 

Put the time in and you'll find one...........

 

BTW there's a nice silver manual (j-spec) on the trader at the moment for 11,400 ish.......looks very clean.........but not overly cheap or exceptional value for money, but one of the best for sale at the moment (also a red 'P' reg but no piccy)

 

I'll let you know if i see something........ (that's if i don't fancy it myself!)

 

happy hunting:)

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Originally posted by TDRAPER

LOL! :p

 

Wouldn't mind diving one!:innocent:

 

me too m8

just waiting on my new engine being finished , seems ages since i was in it.

 

as far as what to buy......jap or uk ?

does it really matter as you'll get the tuning bug no doubt and keep wanting more an more power :D

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Originally posted by Jake

:rolleyes:

J00 are teh new here, right? :D

 

Remind us of the spec of your Supra Tom mate :D

 

Oi:p im undecided!:innocent:

 

Its gonna be nice though! real nice!:cool:

 

Edit: BTW Jake the pic was aimed at Paul, not you, just following one from your comment! had me in tears!

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Originally posted by kopite

apparently there was a "gentlemans agreement" between the japanese manufacturerd that they wouldnt sell a car with more than 280BHP to the japanese market . skylines are quoted at 280 as well (i think), maybe they have more too! ive got the same problem as you mate, but yeah the advice off Wilson is spot on! :thumbs:

 

Yep sure is, GTR is rated at more like 305 bhp..........

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Originally posted by TDRAPER

Jake the pic was aimed at Paul, not you, just following one from your comment! had me in tears!

LOL Gotcha, sorry mate I thought you were having a pop at me spelling the word 'point' wrong

http://www.mpaconsultancy.co.uk/iamstupid.gif

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Guest Jamie

Plenty of useful advise there, so thanks.

 

One more question about J Spec cars. I was under the impression that the models with 17" factory alloys on, came with the larger brake discs (simliar to that found on the UK's)? Could someone please confirm or deny this.

 

Cheers

 

Jamie

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