Faults:

When I bought my car in June of 2003, it was running perfectly. Two months later, it refused to start immediately. My Supra would make these annoying clicking noises when I would try starting it. It was pretty obvious that it was the starter, which it was. I had it replaced and it starts up fine now. About one week ago, I let my brother borrow the car, he told me that he had been downshifting on my automatic transmission and that it had an impressive jump of power. I told him not to do it again because I don't want him messing with it. Anyways, the next day my Supra started making a very loud knocking noise...loud...louder than my radio, my exhaust, and I'm pretty lost to what it is. I thought it was a piston, but everyone is telling that its not. My car runs, but I don't really want to use much because it sounds like my engine is about to fall out. So it's in my driveway until I get it to the shop. Anyone got any advise?

General Comments:

The comfort level is very good. The bucket seats are comfortable with the lumbar controls which squeeze you into the chair or loosens it up. Its low to the ground, a very nice ride. Electronic chair movement, digital air conditioner which tells you what specific degree you'd like to set it at, I don't think there's really a difference between 67 or 68 degrees. The suspension is a little stiff, I'm not sure if I need new ones or not. The handling is great, even though it weighs like a tank. I had a new exhaust installed for christmas, a nice big fat one, it creates a nice deep tone. The body is perfect... well it was... it was raining one night and I stopped for a dog and a pick-up truck behind me rammed me. Took off going over medians, red lights, almost crashed again. Well it left three identical dents on my bumper because it had a grille. It is an all-around great car.

Faults:

So far, all that has gone wrong is a leaking rocker cover gasket. This was due to the car having only covered 4000 miles in the past 6 years.

General Comments:

The turbo supra is basically a gt tourer with a kick. It oozes quality of build and you feel encased in a solid cocoon. This though is probably its only downfall as the weight of the car impairs the performance. Having said that, mine is the auto version so you cannot get the revs up before you go, you are always pulling from 800 rpm.

The only upside of the auto is that the engine is not put under as much stress as the manual.

Normal round town running is around 22 to the gallon and a good run at a constant 80ish will give you around 250 miles to a tank. (around 45 quid).

Handling wise, the car is very agile for its size, you do feel the weight and length around tight and bendy lanes, but all in all it marries comfort and sports like handling very well.

Before departing, a note. BEWARE! the supra does make you complacent and you forget that you have 230 bhp at the wheels, there should be a big sign on the dash saying THIS CAR DOES NOT COME WITH TRACTION CONTROL! Just when you think youve got it tamed it likes to remind you that along with a healthy budget for petrol, youll need a hefty clothing allowance for underwear!

Oh and by the way... usually the head gasket blowing is as a result of the coolant pipes corroding and therefore leaking coolant, air gets in there and bye bye head gasket so it pays to keep up the service history.