Manual Supra Shift Knob Options out there?

[Obsidian]

I just came to the Supra from five years of GT350 ownership with an Alcantara wrapped steering wheel.

Those wheels can get gross looking in a few thousand miles if you aren't careful. They soak up skin oil like a sponge. Mine looked pristine when I traded it after 10k miles, but only because I was fanatical about hand washing before getting in the car, not touching my face, and I forced myself to hold it by the smooth leather at the bottom of the wheel any time I was just cruising around. On track I would wear gloves.

Needless to say I don't want the same experience with the Supra, I want to drive it more and worry less - which means ditching the alcantara. My friend's wife got a Mercedes with an alcantara wheel not long ago and I warned her about all this. That wheel was trashed in 5000 miles, it looks completely gross.

How does the Supra compare to the gt350? I know this isn’t the main topic of the thread but I was curious. Also AMMO NYC I think is the name of the channel but he describes how you can keep alcantara like new.

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[Spart]

How does the Supra compare to the gt350? I know this isn’t the main topic of the thread but I was curious.

About like you'd expect. The GT350 (even the non-R) is pretty raw. 295's on the front and a track-oriented alignment (0.1° toe OUT in the front) means that you have to be focused when driving at all times, because a subtle groove or undulation in the road will yank the steering wheel right out of your hands. And then there's the lack of daily drivability: the front splitter sticks out too far and too low to make getting into almost any parking lot that isn't level with the street a challenge. The Recaros are great on track, but hard to get in and out of without putting wear on them or crushing the bolstering. Big fat tires like to hydroplane easy, so keep it out of the rain. Expensive to replace vinyl stripes can be ruined by bird poo, so don't park it outside. The external engine oil cooler has no thermostat and the car doesn't unlock the full redline until 190°F oil temp is reached, so you have to drive it around for quite a while before you can beat on it. On cool days, you may never hit that temp. The day I traded it in, I drove it for four hours (!!!) before the ambient temp hit 51° and the oil temp finally hit 190°F.

The Supra on the other hand - and I mean this in the nicest way possible - drives about as easy as a Focus ST and is just as fun. You're more isolated from the road than in the GT350, but that's not always a bad thing. I can tell it won't be as much of a riot on track as the GT350 was, that's where the GT350 was really at home. But for the other 99% of the time it's going to be a more livable car, if a less exciting one.

 

[Obsidian]

About like you'd expect. The GT350 (even the non-R) is pretty raw. 295's on the front and a track-oriented alignment (0.1° toe OUT in the front) means that you have to be focused when driving at all times, because a subtle groove or undulation in the road will yank the steering wheel right out of your hands. And then there's the lack of daily drivability: the front splitter sticks out too far and too low to make getting into almost any parking lot that isn't level with the street a challenge. The Recaros are great on track, but hard to get in and out of without putting wear on them or crushing the bolstering. Big fat tires like to hydroplane easy, so keep it out of the rain. Expensive to replace vinyl stripes can be ruined by bird poo, so don't park it outside. The external engine oil cooler has no thermostat and the car doesn't unlock the full redline until 190°F oil temp is reached, so you have to drive it around for quite a while before you can beat on it. On cool days, you may never hit that temp. The day I traded it in, I drove it for four hours (!!!) before the ambient temp hit 51° and the oil temp finally hit 190°F.

The Supra on the other hand - and I mean this in the nicest way possible - drives about as easy as a Focus ST and is just as fun. You're more isolated from the road than in the GT350, but that's not always a bad thing. I can tell it won't be as much of a riot on track as the GT350 was, that's where the GT350 was really at home. But for the other 99% of the time it's going to be a more livable car, if a less exciting one.

That’s an interesting perspective. I know those are not daily friendly like you said with the wide tires and the lowered stance. The gt350 has always been a goal for me but for one reason or another it hasn’t worked out. I could certainly get a used one but I have a daily commute that just isn’t friendly for that kind of setup. I’m currently in a gt but am looking heavily at getting into the Supra.

 

[Sharocks]

That’s an interesting perspective. I know those are not daily friendly like you said with the wide tires and the lowered stance. The gt350 has always been a goal for me but for one reason or another it hasn’t worked out. I could certainly get a used one but I have a daily commute that just isn’t friendly for that kind of setup. I’m currently in a gt but am looking heavily at getting into the Supra.

A local friend of mine went through 4 engines in his GT350 that was primarily used for track use.

All through warranty since he bought the car new but it spent more time sitting at a Ford dealer than actually being used.

One of the all time greatest sounding motors I won't lie. I considered a GT350R last year heavily, went to look a few of them but they all have these engine issues, even the Gen 2 Voodoos.

Also, the car is like 17ft long and only has really 2 seats. That's alarming.

 

[Spart]

A local friend of mine went through 4 engines in his GT350 that was primarily used for track use.

All through warranty since he bought the car new but it spent more time sitting at a Ford dealer than actually being used.

One of the all time greatest sounding motors I won't lie. I considered a GT350R last year heavily, went to look a few of them but they all have these engine issues, even the Gen 2 Voodoos.

Also, the car is like 17ft long and only has really 2 seats. That's alarming.

You'll hear those stories, and you'll also hear stories like mine: 10k miles on the car, beat on it plenty (after being properly warmed of course) and several hours of track time, but it just purrs along. I did a Blackstone used oil analysis every time I changed the oil and the wear metals in the oil were always perfect.

I can't say you'll have my same experience, but just know that there are 2020's out there that you could buy and still purchase a Ford extended warranty on. Time is running out on that though...

 

[Spart]

That’s an interesting perspective. I know those are not daily friendly like you said with the wide tires and the lowered stance. The gt350 has always been a goal for me but for one reason or another it hasn’t worked out. I could certainly get a used one but I have a daily commute that just isn’t friendly for that kind of setup. I’m currently in a gt but am looking heavily at getting into the Supra.

If it's going to be your only car and you commute with it daily, get the Supra for sure.

The GT350 is awesome, but it was my second car and stayed in the garage most days. Honestly a GT is much better suited to your situation and you already have that, so if you're looking for something different the Supra is probably right up your alley. You're going to hate how quiet it is though.

 

[Obsidian]

If it's going to be your only car and you commute with it daily, get the Supra for sure.

The GT350 is awesome, but it was my second car and stayed in the garage most days. Honestly a GT is much better suited to your situation and you already have that, so if you're looking for something different the Supra is probably right up your alley. You're going to hate how quiet it is though.

I do admit I love the active exhaust. I get to leave early for work and have it quiet but if I want to be a menace I can switch to track easy. I think the supras sport mode is similar but I’m not expecting the same tone from the Supra. The Supra is just a bit more special to me and I figure if I get tired of how quiet it is that can be fixed ?

 

[Spart]

I do admit I love the active exhaust. I get to leave early for work and have it quiet but if I want to be a menace I can switch to track easy. I think the supras sport mode is similar but I’m not expecting the same tone from the Supra. The Supra is just a bit more special to me and I figure if I get tired of how quiet it is that can be fixed ?

It's not similar at all, there's basically zero difference between sport mode and regular mode on the Supra in contrast to what you get with a Mustang. I'm frankly not even sure why they bothered with a valve on the factory Supra exhaust.

 

[UYCR]

It's not similar at all, there's basically zero difference between sport mode and regular mode on the Supra in contrast to what you get with a Mustang. I'm frankly not even sure why they bothered with a valve on the factory Supra exhaust.

I can definitely feel how the steering and suspension tighten up on sport mode but this is also my first car where sport mode does anything so it could also be that I'm expecting the bare minimum out of it. If you don't feel at least that difference, it might be turned off in the settings. I agree on the valving, noise wise its crappy regardless, only the autos get the nicer burbles and pops. Feels like they need to be forced out in the manuals and Toyota could've just opted to exclude it at this point.

 

[Spart]

I can definitely feel how the steering and suspension tighten up on sport mode but this is also my first car where sport mode does anything so it could also be that I'm expecting the bare minimum out of it. If you don't feel at least that difference, it might be turned off in the settings. I agree on the valving, noise wise its crappy regardless, only the autos get the nicer burbles and pops. Feels like they need to be forced out in the manuals and Toyota could've just opted to exclude it at this point.

I was speaking only to the exhaust note since Obsidian was talking about the active exhaust on his Mustang GT.

 

[Spart]

Getting this thread back on track, the part number for the non-alcantara shift knob and boot is 33504-WAA02 - at least according to my local Toyota dealership. It's on backorder. I placed a backorder, we'll see how long it takes.

 

[Sharocks]

Getting this thread back on track, the part number for the non-alcantara shift knob and boot is 33504-WAA02 - at least according to my local Toyota dealership. It's on backorder. I placed a backorder, we'll see how long it takes.

What does it cost? I just want the boot and BMW makes all their stuff one piece (horrible).

 

[Spart]

What does it cost? I just want the boot and BMW makes all their stuff one piece (horrible).

Google it and you'll find a bunch of dealership parts sites that list it anywhere from MSRP ($195.24) to somewhere in the $130's.

 

[UYCR]

Getting this thread back on track, the part number for the non-alcantara shift knob and boot is 33504-WAA02 - at least according to my local Toyota dealership. It's on backorder. I placed a backorder, we'll see how long it takes.

Any chance that your dealer can try getting a hold of the P/N for the bezel that the boot has? When I tried to get it the technician couldn't find it. It's probably cheaper to get the bezel and everything else aftermarket vs the price of the oem knob.

 

[Spart]

Any chance that your dealer can try getting a hold of the P/N for the bezel that the boot has? When I tried to get it the technician couldn't find it. It's probably cheaper to get the bezel and everything else aftermarket vs the price of the oem knob.

It's all one piece, so I would imagine you'll be waiting on the aftermarket for the retaining ring on the bezel.

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