Pricing on Repairs

[animus]

I am looking at purchasing a supra but I was told by a mechanic friend that 'you basically take the price of a repair of any standard car and double it for a supra'.

Does this seem accurate to anyone/Has anyone else had to deal with high priced repairs/replacement parts?

[pwpanas]

Originally Posted by animus

I am looking at purchasing a supra but I was told by a mechanic friend that 'you basically take the price of a repair of any standard car and double it for a supra'.

Does this seem accurate to anyone/Has anyone else had to deal with high priced repairs/replacement parts?

I have a very hard time agreeing with your mechanic friend - mainly because it isn't a fair comparison. Consider this: the Mkiv Supra Turbo sold for about $50K or so - back in the mid '90s (about 15 years ago). That's about $75K in 2010 dollars, adjusted for inflation. If you do a fair comparison of the Mkiv Supra Turbo against any other 'sportscar' in that price range (or any other sportscar with similar performance characteristics), I am 100% certain you'll find that repairs for the Mkiv Supra Turbo are VERY reasonable - proabably about the same or less. In other words, just because you might be able to find a deal on a used, 100K+ mile, 15-year-old Supra Turbo for $20K, you can't compare its repairs to a much newer chevy cobalt that might also go for $20K. If you buy an Mkiv Supra Turbo, and plan to maintain it as you would any other $50K+ sportscar (Corvette, Porsche, Ferrari, Viper, etc.), and you'll be on the right track.

P.S. Also note that Toyota lost $ on the Mkiv Supra Turbo, mainly because each Mkiv Supra Turbo cost so much to make. At the time it came out (mid '90s) it was by far the best performing GT Sportscar for the $...and that doesn't even consider the incredible degree of latent upgradeability in the Mikiv Supra Turbo (eg. the 1000hp-capable drivetrain and engine). In other words, in 1993 that $50K bought you something that competed favorably against sportscars costing twice as much. Even though $50K may seem like a lot of $, it was actually an incredible value considering the overall package of components you got for that price. You wouldn't plan to maintain a Ferrari with a honda civic budget, would you?

[animus]

what sort of budget would you deem necessary to maintain a 1993 $8k 60k+miles?

[pwpanas]

Originally Posted by animus

what sort of budget would you deem necessary to maintain a 1993 $8k 60k+miles?

It's very tough to say without a lot more information. First of all, you can't get a '93 Mkiv Supra TT for $8k unless it's got 250K+ miles or it's been in a wreck or a flood. Are you talking about an n/a or a TT? How many miles per year will you put on it? How well has it been maintained? How hard will you drive it? etc. etc. All of that factors in. I'd advise you to go through the owner's manual, look at all the perscribed maintenance procedures, and add up the costs. Look at the oem tire sizes and specs and cost out your tires based on the mileage you intend to put on the car (remembering that softer 'sport' rubber doesn't last as long as high-mileage non-performance rubber). Although synthetic oil changes are recommended for a TT, not everyone follows that recommendation. There's a LOT to this - probably much more than we can resolve with a forum discussion...