I Drive Toyota's Most Pointless Car: The Four Cylinder Supra. Am I Wrong To Doubt?

Summary

The video reviews the fifth-generation Toyota Supra, highlighting its connection to the BMW Z4 and its shared features, including the BMW-built engine. The presenter revisits the 2.0L Supra, previously criticized, and reflects on its performance, economy, and appeal, comparing it to the more powerful 3.0L variant. Despite its quirks, such as interior design and driving dynamics, the 2.0L Supra proves to be reliable and enjoyable for daily driving. The video emphasizes the car's value, particularly with its attractive finance offers, and praises its ability to balance performance with practicality.

Takeaways

• 🚗 The fifth generation Toyota Supra was met with initial excitement due to its iconic nameplate but later faced criticism for being too similar to the BMW Z4.
• 🔧 Despite sharing a platform and engines with the BMW Z4, the Supra has received significant input from Toyota, especially in the engine department.
• 🏎️ The BMW-built B58 3.0L straight-six engine with a twin-scroll turbocharger is highly praised for its performance in the Supra.
• 💨 The 2.0L 4-cylinder B48 engine option, which is a cutdown version of the B58, offers 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, providing adequate power for everyday driving.
• 🌟 The Supra's design has grown on the presenter over time, and the car has received more attention than expected, suggesting it has a unique appeal.
• 🛠️ The interior of the Supra is mostly derived from BMW parts, including an older version of BMW's iDrive system, which is still considered very good.
• 🚦 The car's proportions have been criticized for being narrower and visually taller compared to the concept car, affecting its aggressive look.
• 🛣️ The Supra's road manners are smooth and intuitive, making it an easy car to drive, with good visibility at the rear and sides, though the front is somewhat limited.
• 🏁 The 2.0L Supra has proven to be reliable and economical, with the owner reporting no issues and an average of over 4 miles to the gallon.
• 💰 The presenter suggests that the 2.0L Supra is a good value for money, especially considering its performance, reliability, and the remaining warranty.

Q & A

What is the primary criticism of the fifth-generation Toyota Supra discussed in the video?

The primary criticism is that the fifth-generation Toyota Supra feels too much like a BMW Z4 Coupe rather than a true Toyota sports car. Despite being highly anticipated, many felt disappointed that it shares so much with BMW, including the platform and engine.

What element of the Toyota Supra stands out positively, according to the speaker?

The engine, specifically the BMW-built B58 3.0L straight-six with a twin-scroll turbocharger, is praised for its power and performance, exceeding Toyota's official claims.

Why did the owner, Ian, choose the 2.0L Supra instead of the more powerful 3.0L model?

Ian chose the 2.0L model because it was available with a tempting finance offer at 0% interest, and he wanted a more economical car. Additionally, the 2.0L version was a good fit for his driving needs, and he could afford it with the money from his previous Subaru BRZ.

What were the initial concerns about the design of the Supra compared to its concept car?

The production Supra appeared narrower and taller than the concept car, losing some of the aggressive stance and proportions, which led to a somewhat disappointing visual impact.

How has Ian's Supra performed in terms of reliability over the years?

Ian’s Supra has been very reliable, living up to Toyota's reputation. Despite being built by BMW, it hasn't had a single issue in the two years and 26,000 miles he has driven it.

What changes did Ian make to his Supra, and why?

Ian changed the tires to Falkens and the wheels to ones from a company called Two Forged. He felt that the factory-fitted Michelin Pilot Super Sports became sketchy as they aged, and he preferred the new wheels' appearance.

What are some of the key features that Ian’s 2.0L Supra is missing compared to the 3.0L model?

The 2.0L Supra lacks parking sensors, electric seat adjustment, memory functions, and a heads-up display, which are available in the 3.0L version. However, it does have heated seats, cruise control, and a reversing camera.

How does the 2.0L engine in the Supra compare to the 3.0L in terms of performance?

The 2.0L engine is less powerful, producing 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, compared to the 3.0L's significantly higher output. While it's adequate for regular driving, it lacks the firepower of the 3.0L, particularly on open roads.

What was one of the speaker's corrections regarding the Supra’s vents?

The speaker initially believed that the Supra's vents could be opened up and had a functional purpose. However, after further inspection, he realized that the vents are entirely fake and do not serve any practical purpose.

Why does Ian prefer the smaller 2.0L engine despite its lower power?

Ian appreciates the 2.0L engine because it offers a more manageable power output for regular driving, especially in wet conditions, and provides better fuel economy, making it a practical daily driver.

Outlines

00:00

🚗 Introduction to the Fifth Generation Toyota Supra

The script opens with an introduction to the fifth generation Toyota Supra, a sports car that generated significant excitement due to its iconic nameplate. However, the enthusiasm was dampened when it was revealed to be a collaboration with BMW, sharing the same platform, engines, and even the factory. The car's proportions were criticized for being narrower and visually taller than the concept car, losing some of its aggressive appeal. Despite these criticisms, the presenter admits that the car is starting to grow on them, especially in the vibrant yellow color seen in the video. The script also touches on the car's interior, which is largely derived from BMW parts, and the older version of BMW's iDrive system that was considered good but somewhat outdated by the time of the Supra's release.

05:01

🏎️ The Supra's Performance and Practicality

This paragraph delves into the practicality and performance of the Toyota Supra. The owner, Ian, chose the 2.0L version over the 3.0L due to financial incentives and his preference for a more economical car, especially considering his high mileage. The car's reliability is highlighted, with no issues reported over 26,000 miles. The script discusses the car's features, such as heated seats and cruise control, and the absence of electric seat adjustment and memory functions. The Supra's fuel efficiency and the owner's satisfaction with the car are also mentioned, as well as the presenter's envy over the car's reliability. The paragraph concludes with a mention of a discount code for a car history check service, emphasizing the importance of due diligence in used car purchases.

10:02

🌟 The Supra's Dynamic Capabilities and Modifications

The script describes the Supra's dynamic performance, particularly the 2.0L model's capabilities. It mentions the car's sport mode and manual gearbox, and the reviewer's experience driving the car on a wet road. The car's handling is praised, especially its grip and stability. The script also discusses modifications made by the owner, including new tires and wheels, which improved the car's appearance and ride quality. The reviewer notes that the car feels a bit laggy compared to the 3.0L model but still provides a fun driving experience. The visibility and road manners of the car are also discussed, with some minor criticisms regarding the car's high bonnet and the lack of parking sensors on the 2.0L model.

15:02

🌈 Final Thoughts on the Toyota Supra and Its Legacy

The final paragraph wraps up the review with the presenter's final thoughts on the Supra. They acknowledge that while they initially had reservations about the car, their opinion has softened, especially considering the car's performance and the owner's positive experience. The script mentions the car's road manners, smooth driving experience, and the impressive suspension calibration. The presenter corrects a previous mistake about the car's vents and discusses the interior's simplicity and functionality. The video concludes with a recommendation for potential Supra buyers, suggesting that while the 3.0L is preferable, the 2.0L is a capable and enjoyable option, especially considering the car's residual warranty and the Toyota brand's reputation.

Keywords

💡Toyota Supra

The Toyota Supra is an iconic sports car that has been in production for decades, with the fifth generation being the focus of the video. It represents a return of a well-loved model after a long hiatus. The video discusses the anticipation and subsequent mixed reactions to its reintroduction, particularly due to its shared platform with the BMW Z4.

💡BMW Z4

The BMW Z4 is a roadster that shares the same platform as the Toyota Supra, which is a point of contention in the video. The script mentions that not only the platform but also the engines and even the factory where they are built are shared, leading to a debate on the Supra's authenticity as a Toyota model.

💡BMW B58 engine

The BMW B58 engine is a 3.0-liter straight-six engine with a twin-scroll turbocharger, which is praised in the video for its power and performance. It is noted that despite being a BMW engine, Toyota had significant input in its development, and it's considered a highlight of the Supra's capabilities.

💡BMW B48 engine

The BMW B48 engine is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine offered in the Supra, which the video suggests is less desirable compared to the B58. The script mentions that some buyers chose this option for its fuel efficiency and lower cost, despite it not being as powerful.

💡iDrive

iDrive is BMW's infotainment system, which is used in the Supra. The video points out that the Supra uses an older version of iDrive, which, while still good, was considered outdated by the time the car was released. This is an example of the part-sharing between BMW and Toyota that the video discusses.

💡Fast and Furious

The 'Fast and Furious' reference in the script is to the fourth generation A80 Supra, known for its appearance in the popular film franchise. This association adds to the Supra's legacy and the expectations surrounding its return.

💡GR86

The GR86 is Toyota's sports car and the sibling model to the Subaru BRZ, mentioned as a comparison in the video. The script discusses how the owner of the Supra considered the GR86 before choosing the Supra, highlighting the personal preferences and decisions in the car buying process.

💡Finance offers

Finance offers are discussed in the context of the owner's decision to purchase the Supra. The video explains how attractive finance deals influenced the owner to opt for the Supra over other potential choices, showing the impact of financial incentives on car purchases.

💡Reliability

The video emphasizes the Supra's reliability, despite it being built by BMW. The owner has driven the car extensively without any issues, which is a testament to Toyota's reputation for building dependable vehicles and a point in favor of the Supra.

💡Performance

Performance is a central theme in the video, with the Supra's capabilities being tested and evaluated. The script describes the car's handling, acceleration, and road manners, providing insights into whether the Supra lives up to its sports car status.

Highlights

Introduction of the fifth generation Toyota Supra, an iconic sports car returning after over a decade and a half.

Initial public excitement and subsequent disappointment due to the Supra being effectively a Z4 Coupe.

The Supra's engine, a BMW-built B58 3.0L straight-6 with a twin-scroll turbocharger, is highly praised.

Mention of the lesser-known 2.0L 4-cylinder turbo option and the reviewer's confusion over why anyone would choose it over the 3.0L.

The Supra's shared platform with BMW's Z4, including the same engines and construction in the same factory.

Criticism of the interior being largely from BMW parts bin and the use of an older version of BMW's iDrive system.

The Supra's proportions changed from the concept car, making it visually narrower and taller, losing some aggression.

The owner's perspective on choosing the 2.0L Supra over the 3.0L due to previous positive experience with a Subaru BRZ.

The Supra's fuel efficiency on a run, capable of over 40 mpg, making it more economical than its 3.0L counterpart.

The Supra's reliability, with no issues reported over 26,000 miles, despite being built by BMW.

The Supra's ride quality and handling, with the 2.0L version being praised for its balance and fun-to-drive nature.

The car's visibility and practicality, with a high bonnet and narrow door aperture affecting ease of entry and exit.

The Supra's performance in sport mode, with the gearbox and engine responsiveness being tested on a demanding road.

The Supra's road manners and ease of driving, making it an intuitive and smooth car to operate.

The Supra's impressive performance on a demanding test road, showcasing its suspension and handling capabilities.

The Supra's value for money, with the 2.0L version available for around £33,000 and still offering a lot of the 10-year warranty.

The emotional appeal of the Supra badge and the car's ability to put a smile on the owner's face, despite initial criticisms.

Transcripts

[Music]

hello everybody today on cars which are

actually just about still in production

and yet you've already forgot about them

I give you the fifth generation Toyota

Supra the car that we were all

desperately excited to see The Return of

an iconic name plate after over a decade

and a half away and yet as soon as it

landed we were very very keen to forget

because it turned out that what we were

given was effectively a Z4 Coupe and on

a number of occasions I have now sampled

the Supra and each time come away

frustrated like so many that Toyota came

so close to Greatness and yet still were

so far however on each occasion there

has been one element of the Supra about

which there is no doubt whatsoever the

might of its engine the BMW built

although Alle ly with much input from

Toyota b58 a 3 l straight 6 with a twin

scroll turbocharger and far more power

than Toyota ever claimed it is

absolutely fantastic and though Toyota

did offer the car with the 2 L

4-cylinder turbo of the day the b48 I

could never understand why anybody would

actually ever buy one but it turns out

that at least one person did his name is

in this is his car and today I am

revisiting the Supra asking if I was a

little bit too harsh on it and if there

is something to be said for it in lesser

specification

[Music]

okay then just to bring us all up to

speed what is it we're dealing with

today this is the fifth generation of

Toyota's iconic Supra a sports car

dating back decades now which last Saw

Service in the late 1990s with the

fourth generation a80 Supra that's the

very rounded Fast and Furious one which

went out of production in

2002 and naturally we were all excited

for its return but Spirits were

understandably dampened when we learned

it was to be a collaboration between

Toyota and BMW with not just a little

bit of part sharing going on but a lot

to the extent that not only is this car

built on the same platform as BMWs then

new Z4 it also uses the same engines and

is even constructed in the same Factory

but to add insult to injury though the

interior was chiefly liberated from the

BMW parts Spin and that's actually fine

because it's a good beenin to loot they

were forced to use the older version of

BMW's iDrive which is still very very

good indeed but by the time this car

came out was already a little bit

[Applause]

old it also didn't help that because

this car was built on that shared

platform when you looked at it and

compared it with the concept car that

essentially previewed The Styling you

realized that the proportions had

changed the car had become a little

narrower and therefore visually a little

taller and it lost a key bit of that

aggression meaning that to my eyes

initially it it just didn't look quite

right however I will confess that years

later seeing it arrived today in this

resplendant yellow I've got to say it is

rather beginning to grow on me and

apparently Ian says he has never had

another car that gets as much attention

as this now I know you have some very

very important questions to ask the

first of which and I'm sure most

important is James what on Earth are you

doing looking like you've just come back

from a particularly dull conference at

the NEC where you've no doubt been

discussing your company's new strategy

well no I haven't been sneakily hiding a

day job from all of you instead I have a

Tesla press car on the driveway and this

is how I was handed the

key because I didn't know want to be

recognized driving a Tesla I also

decided to put on a fairly plain shirt

and other things you'll likely also want

to know will be why did Ian go for the 2

L when if you check the classified

you'll see that the 3 l can be had for

more or less the same money well that's

fairly simple and easy to answer you see

previous to this he had a Subaru BRZ and

he was very very happy with it it

replaced a Golf GTI and although it

wasn't as fast as the golf it was a lot

more fun so he was keenly waiting for

the new generation of BRZ to arrive but

he then found out that here in Britain

we weren't to get the second generation

BRZ instead receiving only its Toyota

sibling the

gr86 which as it turns out I've also

driven and is a brilliant car but at the

time 2022 he was waiting for it to be

announced and the Toyota website simply

said helpfully coming soon so while he

was waiting for soon he started playing

around on the configurator for the Supra

and saw that they were doing some rather

tempting Finance offers and he realized

he'd been a fool because he was looking

at three or fouryear deals and then

realized if he click the button for a

2-year deal they were doing % interest

which meant that if he were to put down

the money that he already had in his BRZ

he could actually have this for the same

amount ount of money a month provided he

went with the 2 L which also was

available only in Pro specification so

you've got plenty of nice features in

here heated seats cruise control that

sort of stuff though not electric

adjustment or naturally memory heads up

display and it's missing a few other

things too but overall it's fine it does

the business it's got everything you

need and nothing really that you

don't however perhaps more importantly

because he does actually use and dve

drive his car he wanted something that

was a little more economical and this on

a run will comfortably do over 4 to the

gallon and he really has driven this car

in the two and a bit years he's had it

now he's put on just shy of

26,000 miles and happily in that time

despite it being built by BMW it's been

as reliable as a Toyota it has not had

one single issue and I am a little bit

jealous

about that I'll be honest it would be

nice to have one car that doesn't

require consistent

maintenance he has enjoyed it so much

that when his Finance did come to an end

earlier in this year he then bought the

car outright and so is now very happy to

call this his Supra 2 years on it still

puts a smile on his face and it does for

him absolutely everything that he would

need so if after today's video you head

towards the classified in search of your

dream Toyota be it a Supra or a Sara

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JM naturally many of my comments and

criticisms of the previous video will

remain valid I don't think it looks

quite as good as it should but I do

think it has improved in my eyes the

boot is still a little awkward to get

into as is the rest of the car this door

aperture is um not anyway near as

generous as it might appear though

knowing this I did manage to get in it

today without bashing my head the Bonnet

is impossibly high so you feel like

you're in a car that's much much larger

than it is and compared to say a Cayman

or something like that visibility out is

um it's quite compromised these cars the

2 L also don't for whatever reason have

the parking sensors of the 3 l but they

do at least have a reversing camera and

to be honest that makes the rear

absolutely fine but that front though

you can can see a lot of it you know you

can't see all of it so I would

appreciate parking sensors but you know

what he does say you do get used to it

and if it's your one and only car I'm

sure you would at normal speeds with the

caring Comfort it's a little bit bouncy

through some of these more demanding

sections here I'm only doing 40 mph now

cuz I'm following a couple of other cars

the steering has a a reasonable waiting

to it it's not particularly

communicative or fome but it does a nice

job it is reasonably Speedy whether it's

different between the and the 3 L I

couldn't tell you but that may become

very apparent when I do put my foot down

road noise is pretty decent doesn't seem

to be all that intrusive the gearbox is

excellent too the classic ZF 8speed and

if you did want a Supra with a manual

Toyota did eventually introduce one but

for the 3 l only Honestly though this ZF

was always such a good box I actually

never really particularly felt the loss

of a manual and I think Toyota were very

wary of the fact they knew these were

going to be modified and the auto box

was always going to be able to cope with

a lot more power and torque and on that

note this 2 L 4-cylinder b48 effectively

a cutdown version of the b58 6-cylinder

makes 255 horsepower and

295 lb ft of torque that's 400 Newton M

so all well and good then but if you

wanted a car to just cruise up and down

the motorway you could get a Corolla you

buy a Supra because every now and again

you want to have fun so what's this one

like let's put it into sport mode put

the gearbox into manual and find out

[Applause]

you know what despite the fact that on

paper it may be a little lacking and

when you put your foot down it certainly

doesn't have even close to the Firepower

of the 3 L for a road like this the car

has more than enough particularly as

there was a burst of rain just before I

put the cameras on the car and now the

road is wet I'm actually grateful that

it isn't overburdened with masses and

masses of talk the road though does seem

to have quite a bit of wildlife on it

thus far today two squirrels and one

pigeon have both seen their life flash

before their eyes I would say this car

feels a touch laggier than the b-58 but

that could simply be the fact that car

just has a lot more to give all the time

right patent pending three-point turn

hillst torture test how are we doing

visibil is not cracking we got hillh

hold thank you very much for letting me

out

Madam actually no take that back the

visibility out the back is sort of okay

it's a little compromised but to the

side all right that side it's good that

side not so much I have put the car into

its sport traction mode but even so

seems to have absolutely no trouble

whatsoever finding the grip that rear

end has remained planted which I suppose

it should with 275 wide boots on it the

fronts are 255s and they are now all

round Vulcans in place of the factory

fit Mitchell imp pilot Super Sport those

apparently became very very sketchy as

they aged and that's one of the many

reasons that Ian decided to change them

he also at the same time changed the

wheels they're from a company called two

forged and I got to say they look

fantastic to the point that I was fairly

convinced they were a Toyota option when

I saw them seeing 18s on the car like

this too I think actually does make it

look that little bit better I like

seeing a good bit of sidewall on a tire

and it's likely contributing to the fact

that when you do press on the ride

quality is actually pretty good I've got

the dampers in normal everything else in

sport but honestly doesn't really feel

like it's made a massive difference the

gearbox can be a touch slow on the

downshift but it's really not that bad

upshifts they're fine doesn't have a

snap or a bite to it but you know what

get into the groove with this thing you

can make good progress my only real

criticism is I do want to rev the thing

out a little bit more but the red line

is set at just 6 ,200 RPM nevertheless

though I'm having a good time in this

sure if you went to Santa pod it's

likely going to disappoint although Ian

did say that he watched the carwow drag

race where they had this the 3 l and an

old fourth gen and off the line in the

wet this was actually the quickest

simply because it didn't have too much

power to try and put down makes a

pleasant enough noise too though I know

most of it is probably artificial and

it's a decent place to be this interior

is nice you're reminded constantly by

the view of that Bonnet those side

arches that you are in something quite

special although I do have to make a

correction to my earlier review of the

car in that I said that all of these

fake vents over the car which nobody

ever liked could actually be opened up

and did have a purpose because this is

what we were told back in the day this

is not true have a look at where some of

those vents are and it's very clear this

is not true and I feel a bit silly about

that but it's also important to correct

that and say yeah don't know quite why

they did that but they did and

um it is what it is in fact from in here

just about the only thing I'm not really

a fan of is this little gr logo that

ends installed down here behind it is

simply just a a blank plate there's

nothing really there and he wanted to

just put something nice there he looked

at buying a badge as you would get on

the back of the car but they were too

big so he printed this off and fitted it

and it it just looks well it's offset

doesn't look quite right and um you can

see the edges where he's had to cut it

so that I don't like but I know it also

would come off very very easily I also

love the nice simple very compact Dash

which tells you everything that you need

to know you've got plenty of buttons in

here for all of your important functions

and honestly having just come out of a

Tesla I am reminded of why there is a

lot to be said for this way of doing

things pulling away from a stop the car

got nice decent Road manners it's very

smooth very nice very intuitive it's an

easy easy car to

drive easier apparently than a Nissan

micro which is so big it can't fit on

its side of the road and all look this

range driver has got out of my way just

ahead of the roller coaster my most

demanding piece of test Road and as we

here let's give the Supra a proper

workout shall we

[Applause]

you know what I have taken an awful lot

of cars down that piece of road it is

the undoing of a great many of them but

I think this might be just about one of

the best behaved I've ever encountered

it's incredible it took all of the lumps

and bumps in its stride did not deviate

from its course

very very impressed I did not expect

that is the suspension calibrated

differently to the 3 l oh possibly I

suppose it must be to compensate for the

loss of the weight over the front axle

all in the saving over a 3 l isn't

really going to be all that much but

still it is a hair lighter the wheels

certainly will be contributing

incidentally I don't know how you have a

semi forged wheel surely it's forged or

it's not not oh TR 4 five not sure pass

Triumph yeah this is a lot of fun

this and here's the thing right I drove

the Supra and and came out of it last

time

going what have you done Toyota what

have you

done and many of my comments I stand

by

but like Ian a little while after this

car had come out in

2022 when you couldn't get anything if

you wanted to buy one of those

Mitsubishi Warriors or you wanted to buy

that Volvo xc40 you wanted to buy a

fiesta you wanted to buy a Tesla

anything you had to basically pay overs

you bought a brand new cooking focus and

your dealer would offer you three grand

more for it 3 months later you couldn't

get a hold of a single car for a

reasonable price this was Peak car price

Madness and Toyota clearly had a bunch

of Supras lying around around and so

they started doing these really really

good Finance deals and I remember seeing

them and thinking CRA you as Supra for

like 500 OD quid a month I mean I would

unfortunately the time I just wasn't in

the position to do it but I was tempted

Ian was tempted and he took a real leap

of faith because when he spoke to his

dealer they didn't have one in that he

could even look at let alone drive so he

had to order it and hope that he liked

it two years down the line he does not

regret his decision one

bit and you know

what I think he's pulled a Blinder now

anybody that asks me and says James

which Super should I buy of course I'm

going to tell you get the 3 l because

they do only cost a little bit more than

the two but if you are doing that many

miles or if you just not that fussed

about having the big engine the 2 L does

its job very very well indeed and today

you can pick one of these up for

£33,000

and because it is a Toyota it's still

going to have a lot of its 10-year

warranty left and I love the gr86 I

really really love the

gr86 but that Su

badge that does count for

something I like this car a lot anyway I

want to say a big thank you to I for

bringing it out and as ever to you for

watching don't forget to hit the like

button comment down below and subscribe

if you haven't already bye-bye

[Applause]

[Music]