Bought My "Unicorn" today!
09-18-14, 10:52 AM
#31
This is a tough one...that car is so mint the way it is that it will be worth more just leaving it alone...but on the other hand...these do look amazing with some mods...wheels and suspension are easy mods that don't require much. even an exhaust will be nice..just easy bolt on mods that are easily taken off if you want to make it bare stock again.
09-18-14, 01:58 PM
#34
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09-18-14, 02:25 PM
#35
I absolutely love the car, except for the stock wheels. They just don't work on it at all, IMO. (Not a fan of them on the SC, either, but at least they fit over the caliper upgrades.) Go on TireRack and enter the car into their system so you can see what all the different wheel choices would look like on it. I bet you could find something that compliments it perfectly.
09-18-14, 03:13 PM
#36
Driver School Candidate
In my unsolicited opinion, that particular car that you have there represents an era in automotive history that is most enjoyable in stock form.
Is that a boring opinion? It sure is. But my experiences have always been better experiencing cars like that as they were designed. If it were a 100k mile car in need of major upkeep it would certainly be a different story. Mint changes things in my opinion.
Unless you are going to engage in competitive racing of some sort, I don't see how messing with it is a benefit to the overall ownership experience in the long run, given the cost and time necessary to transform it into a one-off.
That's just my $.02.
Is that a boring opinion? It sure is. But my experiences have always been better experiencing cars like that as they were designed. If it were a 100k mile car in need of major upkeep it would certainly be a different story. Mint changes things in my opinion.
Unless you are going to engage in competitive racing of some sort, I don't see how messing with it is a benefit to the overall ownership experience in the long run, given the cost and time necessary to transform it into a one-off.
That's just my $.02.
09-18-14, 04:16 PM
#38
In my unsolicited opinion, that particular car that you have there represents an era in automotive history that is most enjoyable in stock form.
Is that a boring opinion? It sure is. But my experiences have always been better experiencing cars like that as they were designed. If it were a 100k mile car in need of major upkeep it would certainly be a different story. Mint changes things in my opinion.
Unless you are going to engage in competitive racing of some sort, I don't see how messing with it is a benefit to the overall ownership experience in the long run, given the cost and time necessary to transform it into a one-off.
That's just my $.02.
Is that a boring opinion? It sure is. But my experiences have always been better experiencing cars like that as they were designed. If it were a 100k mile car in need of major upkeep it would certainly be a different story. Mint changes things in my opinion.
Unless you are going to engage in competitive racing of some sort, I don't see how messing with it is a benefit to the overall ownership experience in the long run, given the cost and time necessary to transform it into a one-off.
That's just my $.02.
09-18-14, 07:32 PM
#40
Personally I'd lean towards keeping it stock or nearly stock. 1998 TT 6-speeds are the rarest of them all and it does represent a part of automotive history ^^^.
That said, if you want to build up to some more power while still keeping the car very "stock" you can convert it to BPU at around 15-17 psi depending on your local fuel (I'd keep the sequential mode) and store your #1 cat in your garage-- they're quite expensive.
Alternatively, are you aware of the STU GT28 hybrid turbo conversion? It uses stock USDM turbos (just pick up a used set-- don't use your 39k mile originals) with larger compressor and exhaust wheels capable of flowing 18psi all day long and 25-27psi maximum. You'd need a fuel system upgrade, bigger intercooler (front mount or an ultra-rare Chris Wilson SMIC made in the UK) but the engine bay would look 99.9% stock. And you can do all of this in sequential mode with some specific boost controllers.
http://www.supraforums.com/forum/sho...GT28R-s/page93
I wouldn't jump into that though. You've got a pristine last-year classic on your hands. A simple moderate boost BPU conversion should be a first step if you do decide to deviate from stock. Speaking to the guys at SpeedForSale a year ago, however, they claimed that one of their customers who didn't do much of anything to his TT got nearly 200k out of his stock twins.
Just food for thought all around and it really depends on what you want your car to be. As it is right now, I think you have an excellent investment just leaving it stock and enjoying it. Are you planning to use an antique agreed value policy to insure it? Just curious.
That said, if you want to build up to some more power while still keeping the car very "stock" you can convert it to BPU at around 15-17 psi depending on your local fuel (I'd keep the sequential mode) and store your #1 cat in your garage-- they're quite expensive.
Alternatively, are you aware of the STU GT28 hybrid turbo conversion? It uses stock USDM turbos (just pick up a used set-- don't use your 39k mile originals) with larger compressor and exhaust wheels capable of flowing 18psi all day long and 25-27psi maximum. You'd need a fuel system upgrade, bigger intercooler (front mount or an ultra-rare Chris Wilson SMIC made in the UK) but the engine bay would look 99.9% stock. And you can do all of this in sequential mode with some specific boost controllers.
http://www.supraforums.com/forum/sho...GT28R-s/page93
I wouldn't jump into that though. You've got a pristine last-year classic on your hands. A simple moderate boost BPU conversion should be a first step if you do decide to deviate from stock. Speaking to the guys at SpeedForSale a year ago, however, they claimed that one of their customers who didn't do much of anything to his TT got nearly 200k out of his stock twins.
Just food for thought all around and it really depends on what you want your car to be. As it is right now, I think you have an excellent investment just leaving it stock and enjoying it. Are you planning to use an antique agreed value policy to insure it? Just curious.
09-19-14, 09:48 AM
#42
Lexus Test Driver
09-19-14, 03:57 PM
#44
Beautiful Supra. I'd say change the wheels and enjoy on nice days only. Keep the miles low and the car original. That is where the long term investment is! Ask me how I know? I paid $1700 for below....25 years ago now.
