So I tried a Supra

Player 1

Member
 Cornwall
Not sure whether this should go here or in the G29 section really :poke:
I've been really keen to try the new Supra for a long time now, so jumped at the chance to have a go last weekend despite the weathers best efforts, good grief it was wet!

First impressions of driving it are, the fixed roof does make the whole car feel that bit tighter than the G29, the dampers/springs are setup differently as well. Where the G29 had damper settings from Comfort through to Sport+, the Supra just has two. Normal and Sport. In truth, there didn't appear to be much difference in the two and both felt like the stiffer end of what the G29's dampers offered.
Over bumps the G29 does soak them up much better in Comfort than the Supra will however I suspect that's exactly what Toyota wanted.

Because it was so wet, I did get the chance to explore the chassis far more than the G29, grip is aplenty however give it a bootful on a tight corner and there's a lot of notice the rear end is moving. it's extremely easy to catch a small slide and the way in which it happens is enormously satisfying, I feel the fact you're sat further forward in the car compared to older Z4's helps here as it feels like the car rotates around you rather than something akin to being at the end of a pendulum. Again, I suspect this was Toyota's influence as it's an awful lot like the GT86 in that respect.

As with the G29, I wasn't so keen on how the seat wouldn't go very low, the interior is definitely a bit more upmarket feeling in the Z4 and that steering wheel on the Supra looks godawful. That said it's nice and slim so much nicer to use than the ridiculously fat wheel on the G29.
The styling is subjective of course but I really like the way the Supra looks with a fixed roof, far more so than the G29. I do feel like the front end has too many vertical lines that make it look tall and narrow. The headlights don't help this either, the size of them plays tricks with perspective because your brain isn't used to seeing lights that almost meet in the middle.
Contrast that to my E89 in the photo below and to me the Z4 looks the wider car even though it isn't.

Overall though I'd take this over a G29 any day, to me at least it looks better, drives better and feels more special. I reckon it might be a cheaper prospect than a G29 long term as well. BMW were happy to give a significant discount on a new Z4 whereas Toyota won't budge an inch. I think that for the first few years at least, Supra's are going to hold their value far better than Z4's meaning that although you might pay a bit more upfront, it'll come back around when its time to sell.

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If they offered this Supra with a manual gearbox I would be in like a shot! :wub:

I personally prefer the overall looks of the Supra, and I just can't get on with the front lights on the G29 Z4, but I do like the rest of the shape though.

Thanks for the write up. :thumbsup:
 
LeeZ4MR said:
If they offered this Supra with a manual gearbox I would be in like a shot! :wub:

I did ask them about a manual gearbox and they replay was 'Toyota are always developing these things'. Not really conclusive but as BMW are putting a manual in the four cylinder Z4's, I'd be amazed if they weren't trying it at least.

The ZF 8 speed is a great gearbox though, worth a go if you haven't tried one before for sure. :thumbsup:
 
Well if the last photo proves anything it proves your E89 is a better looking car than the Supra! 😳
 
Player 1 said:
The ZF 8 speed is a great gearbox though, worth a go if you haven't tried one before for sure. :thumbsup:
Agree and it is a great gearbox and I had it in a 640d. :thumbsup:

I haven't tried it with a petrol engine though but the reviews of the Supra do speak very highly of it for sure.
 
All subjective I guess. From the side profile the supra looks ok but the front is gomping.
Good write up and comparison though and your E89 is good looking.
The gearbox is seriously good though.
 
Wyldie85 said:
All subjective I guess. From the side profile the supra looks ok but the front is gomping.
Good write up and comparison though and your E89 is good looking.
The gearbox is seriously good though.

+1 :thumbsup:

Without the professional photos, on a grey overcast day having been driven it really does look awful. I prefer the E89 in that shot!
 
Interesting comparison OP. :thumbsup:

Funnily enough there was a new Supra in that colour at a car meet I went to on Sunday, so I had a good look round it but sadly didn't see the owner around to speak to.

But I'm with you, it definitely looks better than the G29 - then again I do have an E86! :roll:
 
Am I the only one who finds the sweeping rear fended line into the door unappealing? A carpenter might have done better.
 
The last photo of the Supra helps remind me of why I've always loved the front of the E89. Such a great looking car to my eyes from the front for sure. 8)

I really need to tick the E89 box one day! :-D :driving:
 
firebobby said:
From the side, it reminds me of Penelope pitstops car
I wasn't entirely sure about the Supra's looks until I saw one in the metal, it is very colour sensitive too. Blue is usually my favourite colour for a car, but I don't think that it is the best colour for the Supra in fairness.
 
Thanks everyone! Good to see some love for the E89's too, a better looking thing than both the Supra and G29 for sure.
I do wish they'd done something about the sheer amount of metal between the top of the bonnet and the front wheel arch, the second picture really highlights this.

Personally, I really like the lines of the roof and rear arches, sort of reminds me of a smaller Ferrari F12.

I did forget to mention the power delivery, having only tried the 4 pot G29, I can't really compare it to that but it doesn't feel as fast as the remapped 35i, especially after the Z4 gets past 3000rpm and the torque really kicks in.
The E89 feels far more turbocharged and is more of an event in how the back squats down, bonnet rises and it takes off. The Supra is far more linear in delivery and the close gear ratios help keep it in the powerband.
Both cars will struggle for grip in the wet in the first few gears which keeps things entertaining!
 
scootr said:
Am I the only one who finds the sweeping rear fended line into the door unappealing? A carpenter might have done better.
A bit of Marcos in those lines.
https://images.app.goo.gl/DAq2GPoA4zhFZ37H9
 
I like the Grey - current car is grey but to be honest, I preferred the DSB of my previous car.
I bought the current car at the end of the production run so I only had Hobson’s choice - it was the spec I wanted or the colour!
I went for the spec.
 
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