1997 Toyota Supra Review
1997 Toyota Supra Review
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Pros
- Expressive design, interior ergonomics, newly slashed prices, incredible amounts of turbo power
Cons
- Expressive design, totally impractical car
What’s new
Turbo models get the six-speed manual transmission back, but the bigger news details massive price cuts. Turbos with automatics are $12,000 less expensive than last year! All Supras commemorate the nameplate's 15th anniversary with a rear spoiler, premium sound and special badging. Despite price cuts, equipment levels are enhanced across the board.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 1997 Toyota Supra 2dr Coupe and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.36 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$225/mo for Supra Base
Supra Base
vs
$174/mo
Avg. Compact Car
Vehicle overview
Looking like some kind of hybrid between an F-16, a Honda Prelude and a Ferrari F40, the wide-eyed Supra arrived late in 1993 to do battle with everything from the Nissan 300ZX to Lexus SC coupes. The wild exterior cloaks an austere but inviting cabin where the first order of business is driving. Under the hood, your choice of two inline six-cylinder engines: a twin-cammer good for 220 horsepower or a twin-turbo version of the same that ups output by 100 horsepower.
This year, Toyota returns the 6-speed manual to the Turbo model. All Supras are equipped with 15th anniversary decoration, including a rear spoiler and premium sound. Models with Sport Roof receive added standard features including leather seats and a 3-in-1 combo cassette and CD player. Turbos get the sport roof and polished alloy wheels added to the equipment roster.
Amazingly, these equipment adds were made despite massive price cuts. Base models are $9,000 cheaper than the 1996 equivalent. A Turbo with an automatic transmission runs $12,000 less than the 1996 sticker. Evidently, the retreat by Nissan and Mazda from the high-end sports car market, and fresh competition from Chevrolet, BMW and Porsche, convinced Toyota that if they wanted to sell any Supras at all, they'd better lower the price.
The automotive press has absolutely gushed about the Supra driving experience. No doubt, this is a serious driving machine. However, we've noticed that Toyota has been having trouble lately creating attractive sporting cars. The Celica is quite a good looking sportster, until the bulging eyes' up front seemingly follow your every move as you round the hood. The image is one of a shark ready to strike, and you find yourself wishing you had a spear to jab into one of the headlights. The Supra is also a beautiful work of art, but the hyena-like front styling is disconcerting. The Supra has a wild-eyed look, and the huge air intake below the bumper needs only a row of white teeth to guarantee that small children would never pass within twenty feet of the front end. The rear, with its rows of science-project taillights, massive rear fascia, and obnoxious wing, is just too much. Why Toyota tacked these front and rear aberrations onto an otherwise restrained and wonderfullystyled body is a mystery.
As usual, though, we have a theory. In the United States, the Supra's main market, there really aren't any public roads (save for some desolate desert highway) to use the Supra to its full potential. The stylists wanted the Supra to be noticed. They wanted it to sell. So they gave it Look at me!' styling to generate as much of a commotion at a supermarket parking lot as it would at 120 on Interstate 10. It works.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 1997 Toyota Supra.
5 star(100%)
4 star(0%)
3 star(0%)
2 star(0%)
1 star(0%)
27 reviews
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Most helpful consumer reviews
5 out of 5 stars
Toyota Supra Non Turbo Super White L.E.
ss5153, 11/26/2002
1997 Toyota Supra 2dr Coupe
Bought this car just recently, and I
already received tons of compliments
from strangers in the gas station.
NICE CAR! IS IT A GT? WOW, LOOKS LIKE
A FERRARI, SUPRA? WHAT IS THE MAKE OF
IT? HA HA HA, FEELS GREAT TO KNOW THAT
I OWN A PART OF THE BEST SPORTS CAR IN
HISTORY.
4.5 out of 5 stars
I Still Love My Supra
lexiconby, 06/13/2002
1997 Toyota Supra 2dr Coupe
I bought it new with 6 on the odometer
and it currently has 111,000. There are
no sports cars with this many miles,
that's never been in the shop that can
still go 130mph (10 off its max). I
have original EVERYTHING on this car
and all I ever did was oil changes,
tune-ups and swapping out all fluids,
(it's due for a new timing belt
though). I drove it pretty hard.
4.75 out of 5 stars
A classic worth keeping for one's lifetime
nyindallas, 08/07/2009
1997 Toyota Supra 2dr Coupe
From the second generation from the mid-80's the supra has been my dream car. I found this in 02 with about 22000 K on it. I was looking for a manual, but this was the cleanest Supra I could find. Not a scratch. In the last seven years it has been perfect. It never fails to please. Other than 1 02 sensor, I have not had a single problem. It has ample power w/o the turbo and it s amazing … how well it hugs the road.
4.75 out of 5 stars
Great sportscar
1Supra1, 05/04/2002
1997 Toyota Supra Turbo 2dr Coupe
The Toyota Supra RZ (or TT) is a realy
great sportscar. The car has alot of
real torque and horsepowers. The car
looks really exotic and is fun to
drive. Especially with it's FR
configuration, burnouts and drifting is
easy to do. If you want a corvette or
mustang, go look for a Supra, maybe
you'll change your mind!
We have a limited number of reviews for the 1997 Toyota Supra, so we've included reviews for other years of the Supra since its last redesign.
1997 Supra Highlights
Engine Type | Gas |
---|---|
Combined MPG | 18 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $225/month |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 10.1 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | rear wheel drive |
Safety
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original0
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
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