Okay, this is the question I have been waiting to ask some of you Supra experts about.

A lot of people are telling me that if you drive a stick Supra, it's more powerful from the get go than the automatic ones. Say it's same years, same car with same turbo and all stock. I'm sure a manule can beat an automatic from the get go. But what I don't really understand is that why people are having so much hyped about manule's?

How 'bout say, we go onto the highways? Who'll win?

My friends are telling me that I should consider a manule Supra next time. But I think it's all the same.

stock for stock and stick supra will burn an auto supra...because when you think about it if you drive stick and you drive hard...can basically redline the car allowing you to use the whole powerband of the motor rather than having it electronically shift for you at a lower rpm, they might have the same amount of power at hte crank but then there are also powertrain losses...an auto loses a little more power because the tranny is heavier and because the power has to run through the torque converter, a manual gets to use all the power up to the redline rather than short shifting...thats basically the main part when the car shifts..a stock auto will always shift way before redline....its not more powerful its just how the car is programmed to use hte powerband of the motor...with stick you control when the car shifts

Depends on the model of supra. Overall, an automatic can out drag a stick because it's shifts are seamless, and toyota's ECT will hold the gear well. But there is the downside, more parasitic loss, more heat, durability after power gains.

Now, once you get into Mk4 territory, the 6-speed manual is the ONLY way to go if you're going to increase power, since they will handle well over 1000hp as long as you don't miss a shift. The auto will go up in smoke far before that...

That, and having to check tranny fluid, and having to take care of it, the manual is lower maintenance and a LOT more fun to drive B)

even though the shifts are uninterrupted...it still doesnt use the power up to redline like a manual does.....haha i still say stick is better...i wouldnt say faster but uses the powerband more efficiently

a thing to remember, in stock form, the intake and exhaust will restrict the engine, so powerband is dropping off before redline, so revving through to redline is worthless. better to shift earlier and use the torque more.

tru...but with an auto the tranny will shift either before in the middle of the powerband therefore you wont be able to use all of the range...with a stick you can utilize the whole powerband, thats what makes a manual faster

You can shift an automatic manually, but that also brings up another flaw.

5 speed manual vs 4 speed auto. The auto has to have wider spaced gear ratios, so the powerband isn't going to be there all the time when you shift.

On a drag strip, auto's are better for bracket racing as the key is to be consistant, not the fastest. Road racing, manual all the way, plus it's just so much more fun to squeak 2nd gear :lol:

ive had both, one year apart, one auto one standard. there is a big difference. the manual was fun and held its own. the auto was more laid back and a cruising car. on a high speed run(100+mph) the standard sucked down to the ground and bolted. i felt like i was riding on rails with precision. unfortunately, at 130++ the car became "floaty" when enough air got under the car. the auto would take off without excitement and was very relaxing. mine wouldnt go over 130. dunno why.

Top speed of the standards is 147mph which is redlining 5th. I'd have to do the math, but I have an odd feeling the auto just doesn't have the gearing to do it. That and parasitic loss is still a factor.

I love messing with my brother about his supposed faster T/A...but I have more fun since his is an auto (and he HATES it).

Anyone that actually enjoys driving, needs a standard IMHO, if you just want to drag-race or cruise, get an auto.

I was gonna start a thread like this, but found this one first.
I have an '89 N/A with intake and exhaust mods, AFM mods, new valve job, etc. I have gone 140mph (one night), with some more peddle left to go. Stop sign coming up fast, so...
I was not up to redline yet, somewhere in the 5K's.
Since then, my son, (it was his car first) who is a C-130 pilot in the Coast Guard (he knows alot about air lift speeds), told me that a dip in the road could launch me airborne at those speeds.
So...I won't be going over 110mph anymore. (So lets not hear of anyone 'flying' their Supra, OK?)

Also, does anyone actually drive their automatic in the 'normal' setting??? I always drive in the 'sport' setting because the car feels like a fat pig in normal.

Also, if I floor the peddle, it upshifts in the 5Ks, which seems to be in its optimum torque range.