[swackerl]

I won't be moving up to the big HP class (supra, 300ZX, 3000GT,etc) for a while, but I have some newbie questions about these fine cars. I've got an MR2 turbo (see sig) and maintenance on it costs more than average due to the close quarters in the engine compartment. I realize that with a Supra I'll have 2 more cylinders, an extra turbo + intercooler, etc. I don't know what a supra engine compartment looks like, so I don't know how cramped it is (ie: is it as tight a fit as the 300ZX?). What can I expect for regular maintenance costs over 5 years of ownership?

One more thing: I keep seeing everyone use "BHP" ... what exactly does that mean?

PS: I will definitely be doing a least some minor mods to get it above 400hp, which i hear is pretty easy to do.

 

[Rudy]

Maintenance isn't bad at all (this is from the perspective of a RX-7 TT owner). It's not Camry cheap and the Toyota dealership will charge you extra (6 cylinders, turbocharged) for engine related work such as timing belt change, spark plug change, and etc.

The Supra is extremely easy to work on. I am not a mechanically inclined person and I found myself doing most of the BPU mods and some simple maintenance items with the help of friends and instructions found on mkiv.com

Generally speaking, oil/filter every 2500 miles, coolant change every year and plug change every 3k miles (at BPU level) and the car seems to run forever.

The biggies I can think of are the timing belt at 60k miles and the tranny/differential at 30k mile. Toyota charges about $225 for timing belt and $125 for tranny/differential.

BHP = Brake Horse Power or power output at the crank (the type of HP figure magazine/ car manufactures use).

-Rudy

 

[swackerl]

Thanks for the replies Rudy. I made a mistake and should have asked what "BPU" meant. Got mixed up in my 3-letter words. I see people use BPU all the time and I'm guessing it's like a stage I-III mod level, but I don't know what mods are involved.

How are supras with smogging? If you mod them but keep (or put back on when it's smog time) emissions stuff, will they easily pass?

 

[Rudy]

BPU = Basic Performance Upgrade.
It consists of downpipe, catback exhaust, boost controller and boost cut controller (BCC). Intercooler upgrade, cam gears and etc. are considered +s. That's why you see, for example, BPU ++ on some sigs.

The car will pass smog if you put it back to stock (provided its running right). It will fail CA smog if its BPU.

-Rudy

 

[TurboRed]

coolant change every year and plug change every 3k miles (at BPU level)

Hmmm...I'm not so sure about every 3k for plugs...that seems a bit off, and thats alot of money at $100 every oil change interval...atleast for me, I actually drive my car everyday and will put around 15-20,000 miles on it in a years use...thats alot of plug changes!

 

[gritsak]

Hmmm...I'm not so sure about every 3k for plugs...that seems a bit off, and thats alot of money at $100 every oil change interval...atleast for me, I actually drive my car everyday and will put around 15-20,000 miles on it in a years use...thats alot of plug changes!

what the hell plugs you buyin that costs $100 for a set?! just buy good old ngk 3330's for like $15 a set from an auto shop around u

 

[swackerl]

He may have thought you meant replacing plug wires every 3K miles for $100 ... or maybe he's got solid platinum plugs. Thanks for all of the info on these sweet cars, guys. I'm guessing that to get from stock to BPU it'll cost around $1k. The only stuff that I'd have to replace to pass smog should be the downpipe and the exhaust.