Get a 02-04 Z06. You won't reget it! Trust me.

 

$25-30K for a 10 year old Toyota with 100k miles? Someone out there is smoking crack.

 

I cannot tell you about the C5 as of yet, as I just bought one a few weeks ago and it hasn't arrived yet (it's being transported up to me). However, I owned a 1994 TT Supra. It was a 6-speed and it was a twin turbo originally and eventually I converted to a single turbo setup

The Supra, as noted, has a a number of pronounced weakness's as well as strengths.

Strength's---Biggest pro is the V160 6-speed. This stock tranny will hold well over 1000rwhp without issue. It has to be one of, if not the strongest manual transmission ever put into a sports car.

HP per dollar(basic mods)...As in most turbocharged vehicles, power is made fairly easily. However, the supra was so over-engineered that you virtually have no other modifications other than turning up the boost. The factory fuel pump flows more than a walbro 255. The factory injectors are 50lb/hr. All you need is a factory boost cut override so you can run over 13-14psi and you are good to go. I went from a bone stock car making 291rwhp/284trq, to a car with a downpipe, boost cut override, and simple manual boost controller (total modification cost of $400), and I was making 408rwhp/398trq. There aren't many other vehicles that you can make 120rwhp/110trq for that amount of money.

The engine.... as noted, is very strong. The block itself is stout, though heavy. The pistons are very strong, and believe it or not...are CAST pistons, which routinely have held up to 800+rwhp for extended periods of time. The crank is pretty much bulletproof. The rods, if you can call them a weakpoint...are that. Safely, 700-750rwhp is their limit to handle power. However, many have made well over that...and a few have made 950-1000rwhp on the stock shortblock.

Driveline...stock axels and differential are very strong as well. Weakpoint is the driveshaft, which is still fairly strong.

Overall rigidity of the body---Though not as stiff as a C5 from what I gather, it is still night and day compared to a F-body or Mustang. Even when I would take the targa out of the supra, I noticed minimal of any additional twisting.

Safety...the supra was engineered like a tank. Mine met it's demise due to a driver running an intersection and I t-boned her at 50mph. My car, though totaled, suffered minimal damage and I was uninjured.

Weakness---Weight. The member on this board who said his was down to 3150-ish is in the minority. Actually, if accurate, his car is THE lightest street car supra that I have heard of. From the factory, the targa top model (most TT's are targa's) check's in at an actual weight of 3520-3550lbs. It is tough to get them down to a decent weight. Even with massive weight removal, it is tough to get down to 3300lbs.

Throttle response....the car isn't snappy. It has very little instantaneous torque and weighs alot. When the turbo/s get ramped up...this changes though. I went from a 650rwhp Supra with a medium-ish sized single turbo to a 1997 Mustang Cobra with a large single turbo w/1000rwhp. It would be hard going back to a 6-cyl now, regardless of peak power output.

Non-supportive Supra Community..There are exceptions to the rule(The main exception I know is at heart a ZR1 guy though..lol)...but MOST supra owners I have encountered have been complete a**holes that have alot of money and have little to no mechanical know-how at all. They are quick to criticize and most offer little help. Corvetteforum > supraforums all day long.


I havn't owned a C5 as of yet, though I have driven a few..so I can't comment on what route you should take. It's all in what you want. Unfortunately there aren't many Supra's to go test drive to get a feel for so you can make a decision. Good luck with whatever choice you make though. Both cars seem to be great.

 

Great overall post and info!

FYI, I had a '94 with a T04R single (~650rwhp), AP brakes, TRD/TEIN suspension, etc., etc. You might know my old car as one of the first Graphite Grey cars (it was put together by Titan Motorsports, still on the site -> DT's car )

Your quoted item below is something that you will really be amazed by. The C5 is +significantly+ stiffer than the Supra. Mine with the targa out was like a wet noodle! (I even had some additional stiffness from a welded in 4-point chromoly rollbar).

In fact, I'd say a C5 Coupe with the roof OUT is more rigid than a Supra with the roof IN (I had a '99 Coupe before my Z06). The C5 (and C6) with it's "backbone" design and hydroformed rails is just really solid.

I used to chuckle at how much the whole chassis twisted with the roof out, boost turned up and a 5K hit in 3rd gear (though that was a ton o' fun!) It was still reasonably capable on track - I ran it at Roebling and Sebring, _low_ boost (~12PSI) and with the big brakes and super stiff suspension, it had decent lap times.

I weighed mine on the scales at RR and it hit ~3565 lbs which is pretty stout (but of course factoring in giant IC, rollbar, some heavy A/V stuff, etc.) On those same scales, ~1/4 tank of gas, my Z06 sitting bone stock was 3088 lbs.

Seeya!

 

im about 2 inches from getting the same degree. congrats! bet you looooooved all the math. haha. supras can make insane power on the stock internals, some 5 to 600 rwhp. and a z with a few major bolt ons and your in the same park. so do you want muscle? or do you wanna be a ricer? its all up to what you want

 

I've owned both. Had a 93 TT Supra and now have the current 99 c5. They're both great cars, no doubt at all:


If I had to start over and choose just one, it would be the Supra, for sure.

BUT, and this is a big but, it would have to be reasonably priced.

Good luck!

 

I don't have a Z06, but do have a twin turbo Supra. When I drive the Supra, it turns the heads of every kid in town, especially the ones that have seen the "Fast and Furious" movies. When I drive the 'Vette it turns the heads of the older crowd.

IMO, you can't beat the quality and reliability of a Toyota. I think just about every mechanic out there will confirm that.

Both cars handle wonderfully, and have great acceleration, obviously the 'Vette has an edge in torque, but when those turbos spool up.........................yeeeeeeeeeeee eeaaaaaaaaaaaa !

I personally like the interior better in the Supra, and the seats have held up way better. The factory stereo though in the Supra isn't so hot.

 

C5 Duuhhh! Import vs. Corvette with the motor that just rumbles. Signifying that your in the presence of greatness! They will hear you coming and bow down to the Corvette God! No contest go with a C5.

 

I couldn't agree with you more. Which is why i added boost to my C5. The Supra's are a great looking and riding car. However a stock car runs in the 14's. Their inline six holds A LOT of potential, however at what cost? I know a girl who went through two driveshafts in one weekend, with just a mild set up. If you thought C5's were easy to break/expensive to fix. Go boost up a supra and see what the new fuel system/drivetrain costs you.

A stock supra might be in your price range, however a properly modded with the big turbo will be a bit more. Or if you plan to mod the supra to that point, the mods will probably cost the same as adding boost to a C5.

I think in the long run a supercharged or small twin turbo C5 can be built, driven, and maintained for less than a Single Turbo Supra. Don't forget the C5 will weigh less, and maintain a better balance on all four wheels.

A daily driver, you're getting a 10 year NEWER car for the same money.

Chris

 

On the Supra v Vette debate one of my very good friends has a 95 TT supra.It still has the stock turbos, he threw on a boost controller and big front mount.I have a 98 C5 with a mild cam,Vararm, Long tubes,xpipe Magnaflow catback.We would have our debates and everything I liked his swoosh sound he like my snap your neck from a dig.Its all in what you really want it to do.I tell this story because he called me over to the house the other day.The Supra had a Forsale sign on it.There is now a yellow 02 Z06 in his driveway.I almost shed a tear.

 

That may be true Stang, but you can't beat the rarity of the Supra, nor the reliability of the 2jz. There were 6977 twin-turbo Supras made, making them very hard to find, and the engine has been known to support 7-800rwhp on stock internals...reliably.

The stock Supra TT at its fastest (magazine test) ran like 13.1 at 109 mph. The slowest was like 13.5 at 105. All of the road tests of the Supra are available online for proof. So, no, they are not slow.



On another note, there are a lot of people on this forum who have never driven a Supra yet have much to say about it. Drive one first before bashing it.

Don't get it twisted though...I am a car guy through and through, and I can appreciate any fast car whether it be a built civic with 500fwhp, Marko's 1400rwhp Supra (street driven!), or a 540ci 1965 Corvette.

 

Buy mine, it's for sale. $25,000

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ighlight=supra

 

I have driven several. Including helping to build an Na-t with a T-67. The 2jz's have supported 800rwhp. But the cost of the parts to get there is well over and beyond what a simple TT or supercharger for a C5 is. The supra would make a great weekend car. But start driving and modding the car everyday, parts will start adding up quickly. The cars can be reliable, but as you start modding any car, they start breaking parts. Same with a C5, just the parts are easier to find/cheaper.

If this is simply a hp war between the two cars, the Supra will win. however look at the power under the curve, and the Vette will have the edge, given both comprably boosted.

 

I have 2000 coupe and have auto crossed w/ a Supra at Lime Rock & Watkins Glen. We did a nice dance on the track. I couldn't over take him and he couldn't pull away from me. Can't say anything bad about that car. Now go off the track and offer a woman to go for a ride. Let her chose which car she wants .............The Vette is still the Sexiest Muscle Car in the road

 

 

Real simple, IF YOU HAVE To ASK HERE, then get the Supra, and dont forget to join thier forum

 

 

It's a tough call, but I think I would just build up a C5 Coupe.

I love the Supra but it is older and most have had the crap beaten out of them. I'm also sick of turbo cars. It does however respond very well to mods and has a targa top.

The ZO6 is a ready to go monster, but doesn't have an open top option. That's what kind of kills it for me.

 

Oh and BTW, as usual there are only about 10 decent posts in this 4 page thread.


"What a ricer! I like to wipe my herritage mobile with a diaper and never take it anywhere near the track. That's what owning a Vette is really about, keeping it clean and cruising on Sunday mornings!"

 

Mine was not your normal example as per weight. I had it pretty much gutted. No A/C, No fans or blowers under the dash at all. No Compressor up front. Battery relocated out back. All interior removed other than the shell of a dash, a 4 point cage and two fiberglass race seats. The rear was gutted out completly. I had light weight wheels and slicks that were very light. I had a TRD fiberglass hood with vents cut into it and it was much lighter than the stock hood. I don't think there was any way to get my car lighter other than cutting into the unibody structure and makeing it a tube frame.

My last corner weights I did weighed the car in at around 3150 wet and no driver. My MTI car wtih full street interior, A/C, etc... weighs around the same but not sure as I have not had this car weighed.

As for the other post about the rigidity of the supra, I totally agree. In high boost mode and putting down over 600 RWHP on the road course, it wouild twist the body and cause the car to steer towards the wall. Very un-nerving. If I keept the boost at 20 PSI ( 520 RWHP) the car was much more stable.

It was a blast to drive on the road course and was the most reliable car I have ever owned. Not the fastest but I could rag on that car year after year with nothing breaking. 7 years of DEs and time trials and I only had to replace consumables like tires, brakes and fuel. Hard to beat that for just having fun with a car.

I still love my new/ used vette. Loads of fun and much more usable power. My 540 RWHP feels MUCH more powerfull than my old supra wtih 640 because I never drove it at 26 pounds of boost. Also the turbo lag made drivng a little more of a chore compared to the instant throttle response of a NA car wtih about the same level of power. The area under my torque curve is the real story here. Can't do that wtih a supra with out N20 to get them spooling up early.

Both cool cars but I vote Vette since you have way more support for both types of racing and also the after market for looks as well.

I like this board and the people that drive the corvettes better as well as a whole.

Good luck.