[Rushnerd]

I'm sure there are a few threads like this, but honestly I just wanted to hear some stories from the few of us that are still around this site.
I only decided to post this because of my encounter today and frankly how much attention my 88' has gotten since I've owned it in summer of 21' (never EVER had that kind of experience before this car. Nor did I know much about cars before I owned this.)

Today: Guy pulls into the convenience store I was parked at just to talk about my Supra, he was a huge fan of it, said I did a wonderful job. He had an 89' for 20 years. Says he sold it to a kid long ago (180K miles before he engine swapped) and he ruined the engine DRIFTING IT. The same kid also called the guy wanting to know what color he should paint the car. IT'S WHITE PEARL. The car would be worth a lot now with a color like that!

I've had a massive amount of teenage boys for whatever reason lusting after it where ever I go. It's either that or older past owners (no one ACTUALLY owns this car anymore) that remember how much they loved theirs and really enjoy seeing it again. What a community!

 

[Whoosh10]

Same, mostly guys and teenagers gawking and a cop who pulled me over. Doesn't really appeal to most of the ladies though. In fact, my mother-in-law thinks it's uncool..... and she drives a camry!

Here's my story.... my son had a birthday party, and some of the boys wanted to check out my old cars. One of them meandered their way to front, looked at the pop-up headlights, which were down, and asked what those were. I said "let me show you", I flipped the light switch on, headlights rose, and then the little boy's eyes widened as he emitted a loud gasp.

At that moment, he was converted to a car guy.

 

[cartert]

Same experience for me, attention either comes from those who owned one in the past or the younger crowd. The interesting part to me is the transition of attention over time.

I’ve had my a70 since 2006, purchased it as my daily driver. On the rare occasion it received attention, it was from other gear heads asking, “what’s done to it?”.

Sat parked in a garage from 2009-2013.

Drove it around occasionally from 2014-2016, similar attention as to what I received in the 2006-2009 range.

Didn’t really drive it from 2016-2019 because life/responsibilities consumed all my time.

In 2020 I made a goal to drive it once a week when the weather was nice (no point in having a toy that just sits). I was immediately floored by the new found amount of attention it was receiving. My supra looks worse than it did 17 years ago, so the increase of attention can only be attributed to the increase of popularity or “rarity” of seeing an old a70 on the road.

In the past three years I’ve had experiences that I never thought my supra would warrant:

• People yelling at me in traffic, thumbs up, etc.
• Caught people taking pictures on multiple occasions.
• Had someone run across the street from a bar to check it out.
• Had someone ask around the gym to figure out whose car it is.
• Had a group of teens wait outside the gym at closing time to ask questions.
• On several occasions I’ve had teens yell, “Is that a supra???” ( the tiktok trend)

 

[Rushnerd]

Same experience for me, attention either comes from those who owned one in the past or the younger crowd. The interesting part to me is the transition of attention over time.

This is quite interesting. I never really thought about it, but the steep elevation in interest does run parallel to the steep rise in prices and general JDM market from 19' and on.
I suppose everyone just woke up to the fact it's an extremely cool car and they are quite rare (and hell, it's a Supra no matter what year it is!)

Went to DEQ (emissions testing) this morning just for fun because I had no clue if she would pass or not and even the tech there (who has probably seen every car ever) loved it and said "ahh back when Supras were cool!". He was a big fan of 80's styling like the Mitsu Starion. I joked with him that he must see these all the time, but he said every one he has was completely trashed and sadly that's the reality of the MKIII.

Maybe he liked it enough to "make" it pass because it did hah.

 

[SupraMikeCT]

For me it's guys at gym in parking lot.
Having to give engine shows at gas station.
Many 's while driving.
Also this recently under wiper in gym lot:

 

[Rushnerd]

For me it's guys at gym in parking lot.
Having to give engine shows at gas station.
Many 's while driving.
Also this recently under wiper in gym lot:

That is adorable hahaha. I haven't had many ask if I am selling it, but I always tell them $20K because that's low-balling what I put into it not even counting my worktime. I know I'll never EVER get very much for it if I had to sell it, it's just an 88' in grey and a NA auto to boot. Absolutely nothing special aside from the general good condition, all the custom LEDS, and fiberglass window stuff.

 

[Kevine1785]

I have an A80 in black.. its an NA and its completely stock... I have gotten more eyes and comments than I would have ever expected. People pull up to me at lights, follow me around but funny enough.. no one has tried to race me. On the flip side whenever I see a nice A70 I go nuts.. I love those Supras as much. Not too many haters at all.

I rented a Porsche for the weekend and I might have well been driving an old civic.. nobody looked or cared.. but in a Supra lots of smiles, waves and head jerks.

 

[Rushnerd]

I have an A80 in black.. its an NA and its completely stock... I have gotten more eyes and comments than I would have ever expected. People pull up to me at lights, follow me around but funny enough.. no one has tried to race me. On the flip side whenever I see a nice A70 I go nuts.. I love those Supras as much. Not too many haters at all.

I rented a Porsche for the weekend and I might have well been driving an old civic.. nobody looked or cared.. but in a Supra lots of smiles, waves and head jerks.

In my mind at least, I feel like newer cars, even extremely nice ones are almost invisible (obviously an 86 or BMW Supra gets attention, but still).
I feel like car style has come to the point where an MKIII or anything like it stands out like NOTHING else on the road and everyone notices. Of course your MKIV would be the toast of the town easy with it's legacy. I just hope to leech some of that with my car that also happens to be a "Supra" haha.

 

[StanfordSupra]

Was at a stop light the other day. Man in the car next to me gets my attention.

Asks about the year and how much I’d want for it. Answered 97’ and $200k. Predictably rebuked me and said that’s a house in some country (I can’t recall). I said “I know, huh”.

Edit: posted in the wrong group. My bad 🤦🏻‍♂️

 

[Wreckless]

In my mind at least, I feel like newer cars, even extremely nice ones are almost invisible (obviously an 86 or BMW Supra gets attention, but still).
I feel like car style has come to the point where an MKIII or anything like it stands out like NOTHING else on the road and everyone notices. Of course your MKIV would be the toast of the town easy with it's legacy. I just hope to leech some of that with my car that also happens to be a "Supra" haha.

Accurate assessment, IMO.

@Captain stopped by my place last night and I spent a few minutes just admiring his white '87T hardtop in my driveway. Stock exterior but very nice paint and trim, with a modest drop on some 18in 5Zigen FN01RC's.
Seems like such a simple combo but even after all these years, a clean MKIII just tugs at my heartstrings and I can't help but stop and stare. I need to get mine back on the road!

 

[Rushnerd]

I need to get mine back on the road!

I only just started driving mine after the winter and aftermarket light fixes. The guy I mentioned on the top of the thread when I was showing my front blinkers to him, I noticed the passenger side had a big hole in where the LEDS are supposed to signal and I just got them back after almost two months. So that's going to ground the car again

 

[Snipe_sas]

It never stops. Older guys aplenty, a couple older women, a few younger women, and a bunch of younger men. All the time. Couple offers for 20k, one guy wants to trade his Challenger because he always regrets his mistake of selling his A70, too bad for him lol. A few "How much would you take for it?". Funny, couple days ago a lady said"Really nice Z!". She may have been flirting, lol. I corrected her.

 

[Rushnerd]

It never stops. Older guys aplenty, a couple older women, a few younger women, and a bunch of younger men. All the time. Couple offers for 20k, one guy wants to trade his Challenger because he always regrets his mistake of selling his A70, too bad for him lol. A few "How much would you take for it?". Funny, couple days ago a lady said"Really nice Z!". She may have been flirting, lol. I corrected her.

Ironically last week, I had a guy in a newer SRT Challenger absolutely enthralled with my Supra. He has a lowered 64' Impala so knew his stuff, but It does never stop.

 

[KenHenderson]

I was used to the attention in my MKIVs and never really expected similar attention in my MKIII. I was wrong. Right away, on my way to have my coilovers and BBK installed I was getting a lot of attention on the freeway. Even my wife, who was following me, told me she had to give way several times as admirers forced their vehicles between us to take pics from virtually every angle, give enthusiastic thumbs up and the like. Nothing has changed in the ensuing seven years.

The same thing happens when I drive my MKII, so I've concluded that the general public thinks all Supras are cool, have "good bones" and that the Toyota flagship DNA clearly shines through.


Ken.

 

[2jzturbo92]

I pulled mine out of the garage to use the lift to do my mother in laws brakes. She comes into the house and says “ who’s red car that’s beautiful “. My wife says “ ma that’s Keith’s car the one that’s been in the garage all these years” 😂. I tell her, I’ve owned it for almost 19 years and she’s like “oh wow” . It was kinda funny her reaction , she knows nothing about cars and never really seen it all these years.

 

[SupraTrbo89]

I'm running an 89 with 5Zigen FN01RCs as well. Every single time I drive it I get at least one person commenting on it. It's at the point where I start wonder if something is wrong if no one acknowledges it. And I agree the car gets way more attention then newer cars. There is a McLaren dealer ship near my house and people are always test driving them and I bet no one is rolling there window down to comment on them because its a common occurrence. What makes our cars stand out is the fact you never see them in good condition anymore and the 80s styling.

 

[Rushnerd]

What makes our cars stand out is the fact you never see them in good condition anymore and the 80s styling.

I don't get out that much, but even rolling around Portland, it's EXETREMELY rare to see ANY cool 80's "sports" cars around.
Besides my dad's 88' Supra with the same oxblood interior as mine he had for a year in 2000, I've never seen another one besides the guy with the junked 88 MK3 I sold my stock (apparently rare with those silver stickers on them) wheels/tires to last year. That kid never kept his and sold it soon after to fund his Miata.

Maybe MKIIIs are actually out there, but I've yet to see one let alone an older version or celica on the road or at car shows EVER. I'm usually one of the only imports (let alone 80's) at shows and only the last one I went to a brand new Supra parked next to me. She was very nice and loved my car, but that's also the only time I've ever seen a MKV, only spotted an 86 once.

The same thing happens when I drive my MKII, so I've concluded that the general public thinks all Supras are cool, have "good bones" and that the Toyota flagship DNA clearly shines through.

Good GOD Ken, I know you are the OG here, but I didn't know you owned THAT many Supras!
The MKII must be a real prize. It's the least talked about and frankly the rarest. I know they had 50 less horses, but were much lighter too and man they are just cool.
I would love to see one someday, but I feel like it's almost impossible.

 

[Wreckless]

Good GOD Ken, I know you are the OG here, but I didn't know you owned THAT many Supras!
The MKII must be a real prize. It's the least talked about and frankly the rarest. I know they had 50 less horses, but were much lighter too and man they are just cool.
I would love to see one someday, but I feel like it's almost impossible.

More remarkable than the number of Supras he owns, is the level to which he prepares, modifies, and maintains them all.

At a Vegas meet some years back it was jokingly called 'Level Ken' and the term stuck. Wax jobs, paint maintenance, methodical build plans down to the smallest detail - it really is something special to see one of his cars in person. I'm still honored to this day that he offered me the chance to drive his MKIII on a SIV scenic drive.

 

[mistamontiel]

Inevitable for me, wronghand drive! The stares when tryna pump fuel @ Kirkland lol Costco are gold

 

[Suprabruhh]

In my head, it's flocks of attractive women with weak knees yelling my name. In reality it's weirdos like us with the "thumbs up" or "what year is that" etc lol
Though I have had an encounter with some chick in a slammed 240 yell "I love your car" at the stoplight and the barista at my local coffee shop called it "cute"