Looking For Some Advice On My First MKIII :)

DemonCrest · 11-23-2009, 04:46 AM

Hi all, I'm new to this forums, but not new to Supras, just the specifics about them I have a little trouble with.

Anyways, the first thing that I am sure you all can at least agree with me on here is that we are all here since we share the love and sex appeal of MKIII's... so hopefully I can get some help here ?

Well, to start things off, I am a 2nd year university student and it's about time I get my own car. I have been looking for an MKIII for quite some time now with a rough idea in my mind: Manual, hopefully a repaired head gasket since thats needed right off the bat etc. So to add to my list and hopefully clear some things up, I wanted to ask the following things about performance:

General Questions about MKIII's and the various year models:

1. About what mileage do they seem to last well up until for each year's make? All I mean by this question (I know it's somewhat naive) is how strong should they be going up until I will start to probably look at replacing some things or it needing repairs if it is being maintained relatively well? I am just curious to know so that if I do come across some ads I can have a rough idea when I see a KM read... (or miles lol sorry I'm Canadian

). And I say this all knowing that mileage doesnt really mean too much if it's maintained and kept well but just using it as a rough estimate.

2. If I was to find a nice TT model or something for example which was automatic, is there any sort of estimate on how much it would cost to have it converted to Manual? I know for most cars it isnt even worth it due to it costing sometimes more than the car itself is worth... but I am wondering if I was able to find a TT one and convert it, it may end up being equal to putting a TT in a stock manual?? Logic flaw?? I dunno lol.

After-Market Performance:

1. Is there anything which I should look at replacing right away (I already am aware of the head gasket problem so other than that?) or should check up on when I find one that I am interested in?

2. As far as turbo kits go, would it be more worthwhile to find a supra which is already turbo'ed, or to attempt to turbo it myself with a kit? How tough do you all think it would be and also how practical remembering that I have a limited income as a student? (FML ... lol)

3. I have been looking around on eBay and came across all sorts of ECU upgrades which seem WAY too good to be true, especially for the price. Is there any significant legitimacy to them, and if not, where should I look for one and what would the price range be?

For example here is a few that I found, it seems like such BS lol..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/88-89-90-91-92-93-94-95-Toyota-Solara-Supra-Chip-Module_W0QQitemZ330378428993QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMot ors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item4cec16c24 1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TOYOT...item2a02aba536

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Perfo...item2a02bc83ef

And lastly,

4. I was wondering if there is a certain order I should look at adding aftermarket performance parts, such as Intake/Headers/Exhaust, then ECU ... etc.

Thanks ahead of time for actually bothering to read through my post! I have been looking around with search and getting used to these forums so before someone replies back with a link to the search button lol, I am not that much of a noob... just a noob to under the hood stuff lol

. Hopefully there are some great replies and helpful comments in this thread and it may even end up being stickyable if it really clears things up for people with these same questions

11-23-2009, 04:46 AM	#1
DemonCrest Stock Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 11	Looking For Some Advice On My First MKIII :) Hi all, I'm new to this forums, but not new to Supras, just the specifics about them I have a little trouble with. Anyways, the first thing that I am sure you all can at least agree with me on here is that we are all here since we share the love and sex appeal of MKIII's... so hopefully I can get some help here ? Well, to start things off, I am a 2nd year university student and it's about time I get my own car. I have been looking for an MKIII for quite some time now with a rough idea in my mind: Manual, hopefully a repaired head gasket since thats needed right off the bat etc. So to add to my list and hopefully clear some things up, I wanted to ask the following things about performance: General Questions about MKIII's and the various year models: 1. About what mileage do they seem to last well up until for each year's make? All I mean by this question (I know it's somewhat naive) is how strong should they be going up until I will start to probably look at replacing some things or it needing repairs if it is being maintained relatively well? I am just curious to know so that if I do come across some ads I can have a rough idea when I see a KM read... (or miles lol sorry I'm Canadian ). And I say this all knowing that mileage doesnt really mean too much if it's maintained and kept well but just using it as a rough estimate. 2. If I was to find a nice TT model or something for example which was automatic, is there any sort of estimate on how much it would cost to have it converted to Manual? I know for most cars it isnt even worth it due to it costing sometimes more than the car itself is worth... but I am wondering if I was able to find a TT one and convert it, it may end up being equal to putting a TT in a stock manual?? Logic flaw?? I dunno lol. After-Market Performance: 1. Is there anything which I should look at replacing right away (I already am aware of the head gasket problem so other than that?) or should check up on when I find one that I am interested in? 2. As far as turbo kits go, would it be more worthwhile to find a supra which is already turbo'ed, or to attempt to turbo it myself with a kit? How tough do you all think it would be and also how practical remembering that I have a limited income as a student? (FML ... lol) 3. I have been looking around on eBay and came across all sorts of ECU upgrades which seem WAY too good to be true, especially for the price. Is there any significant legitimacy to them, and if not, where should I look for one and what would the price range be? For example here is a few that I found, it seems like such BS lol.. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/88-89-90-91-92-93-94-95-Toyota-Solara-Supra-Chip-Module_W0QQitemZ330378428993QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMot ors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item4cec16c24 1 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TOYOT...item2a02aba536 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Perfo...item2a02bc83ef And lastly, 4. I was wondering if there is a certain order I should look at adding aftermarket performance parts, such as Intake/Headers/Exhaust, then ECU ... etc. Thanks ahead of time for actually bothering to read through my post! I have been looking around with search and getting used to these forums so before someone replies back with a link to the search button lol, I am not that much of a noob... just a noob to under the hood stuff lol . Hopefully there are some great replies and helpful comments in this thread and it may even end up being stickyable if it really clears things up for people with these same questions Last edited by DemonCrest; 11-23-2009 at 04:53 AM.