The Toyota Supra is not an actual Toyota Supra. It is principally a BMW, and most significantly, it does not even scent like a brand new Toyota. I additionally couldn’t probably care much less as a result of I completely like it, and in the event you’re nonetheless held up on “precept,” then I do not know what to let you know. You are lacking a great time simply since you don’t love the best way Toyota went about constructing an excellent sports activities automobile, and the handbook transmission makes it so a lot better that I am nonetheless a bit mad Toyota did not provide it proper out of the gate.
More often than not, a automobile does not really want a handbook transmission. Automatics get higher gasoline mileage and do not include the horsepower penalty that they used to, so there’s principally no cause to supply them in automobiles which are meant for economical transportation. And sadly, as a result of companies deal with employees like a price to be minimized, nearly all of automobiles at the moment are purchased with fundamental, economical transportation in thoughts. You additionally aren’t going to set any lap data in a hardcore sports activities automobile outfitted with a handbook transmission, so I absolutely perceive automakers going the dual-clutch route for his or her Critical Observe Vehicles.
However the Toyota Supra isn’t a Critical Observe Automotive. It is a every day drivable sports activities automobile that folks purchase as a result of they need to have enjoyable, and handbook transmissions are extra enjoyable. The Supra was begging for a handbook transmission the primary time I drove it, and now, some three-and-a-half years later, I lastly obtained the prospect to spend a bit time behind the wheel. Even higher, that point was at a race monitor, and so long as I waited my flip after every lap so different journalists had the prospect to go too, I may lap the automobiles Toyota had on the monitor till the wheels fell off.
Full Disclosure: Toyota needed me to drive the brand new Supra so badly, it flew me out to Fort Value for the reveal of the brand new RAV4, put me up in a resort, rented out a monitor, and supplied gasoline and tires, in addition to meals and drinks. Then many of the different journalists that have been there went to do one thing else, leaving me free to lap the monitor virtually as a lot as I needed. And earlier than you ask, sure, that each one occurred some time in the past, however I have been enthusiastic about the Supra ever since.
One lap at a time
Sure, the one-lap-per-session limitation was annoying, however there have been lots of people who wanted their time on the monitor, so I get it. Fortunately, after some time, most of them succumbed to the necessity to eat meals and disappeared for lunch, leaving only some of us on the market, lapping automobiles repeatedly. I might not be anyplace near the perfect driver within the business, however I do know free monitor time once I see it, and I wasn’t about to let that go to waste, particularly when there are sports activities automobiles to be pushed. Handbook transmission sports activities automobiles, actually.
And after a number of laps within the handbook Supra, I simply could not deliver myself to care in regards to the BMW bones. Yeah, the shift motion felt very BMW, and the engine is a BMW engine, but it surely simply felt good. The turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six sits in that completely satisfied center zone the place there’s loads of energy to make issues enjoyable with out being so quick that you just get your self in hassle, and shifting the transmission felt adequate that I shortly forgot about comparisons to different automakers. All I may actually deal with was having enjoyable and discovering methods to go quicker with each lap.
Secure(r) slides
Higher drivers most likely have extra complaints, and I am certain they’re all legitimate, however I believe what impressed me most about driving the handbook Supra was simply how forgiving it was. Once you’re swapping between automobiles each lap, there is no telling how a lot grip the following automobile’s tires could have, and that made the primary couple of corners a complete guessing sport. One automobile could possibly be recent and grippy, whereas the following one could possibly be slick as hell, and there was just one approach to discover out. Nonetheless, whether or not I used to be in a slidey automobile or a grippy one, I by no means as soon as felt like I used to be in any hazard of shedding management.
Positive, I made loads of errors. I missed apexes. I did not all the time brake laborious sufficient. And yeah, perhaps my laps would have been quicker if I hadn’t been driving a handbook, however would I’ve had as a lot enjoyable? Under no circumstances. And until there’s an precise competitors (or at the very least somebody retaining monitor of lap occasions), is not enjoyable extra necessary than squeezing out the final doable tenth of a second? Not that I used to be ever laying down quick sufficient laps that tenths of a second would matter within the slightest.
Today, energy and acceleration are low cost. You should purchase a used EV for lower than $20,000 that’ll wipe the ground with some severe, new efficiency automobiles, at the very least in a straight line. However what number of new automobiles are actually pleasant to drive? What number of really feel like they need you to push them tougher however nonetheless slide predictably and safely once you mess one thing up? Heck, what number of of them are even out there with a handbook transmission within the first place?
Sorry, not sorry
There are additionally loads of automobiles on the market that may out-lap the Supra, however was I enthusiastic about these automobiles out on the monitor, both? Nope. I used to be simply targeted on how a lot enjoyable I used to be having, doing my finest to tidy up my laps and having fun with a automobile that rewarded me studying to drive it higher. And had it been my automobile, I may have merely pushed it residence on the finish of the day as a result of, nicely, that is one of many huge advantages of shopping for one thing that is not an excellent hardcore, severe monitor machine.
Is the handbook Supra the automobile I might purchase if I had the $58,695 price range to purchase one? I actually do not know. I’ve by no means fairly linked with the styling, and $60,000 buys a complete lot of used sports activities automobile. However would it not at the very least be on the shortlist on this never-gonna-happen, purely hypothetical situation? Completely.
It is not simply due to the handbook transmission, both. That is a part of it, however actually it is as a result of the entire bundle comes collectively. It is balanced, snug, not too quick, sensible and dependable sufficient, whereas additionally feeling fast, participating, rewarding and higher than any part-BMW/part-Toyota ought to really feel. After all, the handbook transmission does assist. It is a sports activities automobile, in spite of everything. Sports activities automobiles deserve handbook transmissions, and whereas I did like the automated, it was the handbook that made me fall in love.
Sorry, Toyota purists.
