New Owners' Driving Impressions?

So it seems some lucky people have had their brand new Supras delivered. If you've had a chance to drive your car properly, I'd be really interested in driving impressions.

Specifically
- How's the gearbox? When you lift off the throttle at high revs, do you get engine braking, or does the torque converter release and the revs drop more or less back to idle? How responsive and predictable are the gearchanges on the paddles? Have you been frustrated by having shifts refused?
- How's the steering? Does it weight up as you build up cornering load decently?
- Much understeer in tight corners? How adjustable does it feel?

Even better, if anyone's previously had/driven an FD RX-7, thoughts on how the A90 compares to that?

There is not much engine braking when you lift off the throttle, mainly due to the way modern cars are setup for emissions. Normally you only get downshifts and some minor engine braking out of the ZF8 auto when you also apply the wheel brakes, and it is fairly smart about the downshifts to match speed and RPM, so the gears will keep pace with your speed when slowing down and you'll be ready for acceleration again.

I am not a fan of paddle shifts or manual shifts of an automatic, but the ZF8 does this very well. Fast and very snappy.

Steering is better than BMW's typical feel but it's electric power steering so it has limitations. Any firmness or weight you feel is completely artificial. You tend to feel the car's intentions through your butt more than the steering wheel.

There is some understeer on corner entry (like any front engine RWD car wants to tend towards) but it quickly transitions to oversteer and you can then control cornering by modulating the throttle in addition to the steering wheel.

Like many BMWs, the most efficient way to corner tends to be going in with steering and exiting as a partial drift. Fun as heck once you get used to it.

samoht said:

So it seems some lucky people have had their brand new Supras delivered. If you've had a chance to drive your car properly, I'd be really interested in driving impressions.

Specifically
- How's the gearbox? When you lift off the throttle at high revs, do you get engine braking, or does the torque converter release and the revs drop more or less back to idle? How responsive and predictable are the gearchanges on the paddles? Have you been frustrated by having shifts refused?
- How's the steering? Does it weight up as you build up cornering load decently?
- Much understeer in tight corners? How adjustable does it feel?

Even better, if anyone's previously had/driven an FD RX-7, thoughts on how the A90 compares to that?

Click to expand...

I think the engine braking is quite good. I drive it in traffic in sport mode for fun, and I rarely use the brakes to slow down. In manual mode or sport, the car will not release the torque converter. The shifts are quick and predictable. If you drive hard they are immediate and responsive. A little slower if you do it randomly and the car is not anticipating a gear change. The only shifts it has refused are going 2-1 which I am pretty sure is because it would rev the engine too high.

The steering is good. Not too heavy, not too light in sport mode. It does build weight as you corner. I think the feel is good, but not great. It would fall around an E46? Maybe a little more E90. Definitely no comparison to say a NSX. However, I will say that the information that does reach the wheel is useful rather than just incessant vibrations through the wheel.

I haven't pushed it hard enough to get it to understeer, but I am certain there is a touch at the limit if you were to just dive into a corner. Due to the compliance in the suspension, you could definitely trail-brake to get the car to bite a bit harder.

I have driven a fully done up single turbo FD with Ohlins, solid bushings, braces, etc. I would say the RX7 definitely feels lighter (obviously) but capability wise, the A90 would likely kill it. My problem with the FD is that the chassis is definitely not as stiff as a modern car, so it seems to get easily upset on anything but perfect roads. The A90 is rock solid and very stable even over midcorner undulations. I think the A90's turn-in from my driving was surprisingly better than the RX7 which surprised me.

I do not know if I could really comment on how the "feel" between them is different as the RX7 was so modified. I will say, the steering in the RX7 is much more pure in its feedback of the road (as in I can feel all the grooves and rocks and whatnot) but the A90 does give you enough feel that you can sense road imperfections and the car's behavior. If you were looking for an outright classic sports car feel, the RX7 would be better. But if actual pace, reliability, power, safety, etc. were your main focus, the Supra would be better.

Thanks so much both of you, that's exactly the sort of insight I was hoping for. Sounds pretty encouraging !

Keen to hear opinions if anyone has driven a W204 C63.... I know they're completely different types of car (Deutsche muscle vs. Sports car) but interested...

I'm thinking about trading in my OG BMW M2 (N55). I would love to hear the opinions from those who had driven both cars. How did the Supra feel in driving dynamic when compare to the M2? Is it worth trading in one for another? For me the M2 DCT transmission is quite jerky in stop and go traffic and the ride is a little rough for the roads we have here in Bangkok.

I’ve been using the A90 as my daily driver for almost a month now (since 7/23) and I’ve got to say that it’s a really nice ride compared to some of these other cars. It may not let you “feel” the road as much, but that’s not something that you’d want in a daily anyway. The feedback has been surprisingly good and so has the shifting. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but after months of people hating on the A90 without ever having driven it, I’ve got to say that I’ve been really impressed with what the car offers at its price point. Definitely worth at least giving it a drive if you have the chance to feel how it handles for yourself.

IS2000 said:

I'm thinking about trading in my OG BMW M2 (N55). I would love to hear the opinions from those who had driven both cars. How did the Supra feel in driving dynamic when compare to the M2? Is it worth trading in one for another? For me the M2 DCT transmission is quite jerky in stop and go traffic and the ride is a little rough for the roads we have here in Bangkok.

Click to expand...

I own a 2020 M2 Comp with 6MT. The Supra is not as raw and is nicer all the way around (it's more of a 3/4-series BMW in terms of trim and finish, compared to the 2-series of the M2). I feel like the M2C has sharper handling and feel. The Supra is more along the lines of what you'd get in a BMW equipped with the M-sport package in terms of handling and feel, which is to say generally excellent but softer and more livable as a daily driver. The ZF8 transmission is excellent. Based on what you described, I think you'll like the Supra over the M2 for sure. You'll be gaining comfort and livability on the road and only sacrificing a small amount of track capability.

Stock brakes are one area where the M2 is far superior, but for road use it's a non-issue and this is something you could remedy with an aftermarket upgrade.

I don't have a whole lot of experience with the N55. I do think the S55 in my M2C has more character than the B58 (which I also own in an X3 M40i), but as you know there are debates between N55 and S55, so all of this is up for opinion.

s219 said:

I own a 2020 M2 Comp with 6MT. The Supra is not as raw and is nicer all the way around (it's more of a 3/4-series BMW in terms of trim and finish, compared to the 2-series of the M2). I feel like the M2C has sharper handling and feel. The Supra is more along the lines of what you'd get in a BMW equipped with the M-sport package in terms of handling and feel, which is to say generally excellent but softer and more livable as a daily driver. The ZF8 transmission is excellent. Based on what you described, I think you'll like the Supra over the M2 for sure. You'll be gaining comfort and livability on the road and only sacrificing a small amount of track capability.

Stock brakes are one area where the M2 is far superior, but for road use it's a non-issue and this is something you could remedy with an aftermarket upgrade.

I don't have a whole lot of experience with the N55. I do think the S55 in my M2C has more character than the B58 (which I also own in an X3 M40i), but as you know there are debates between N55 and S55, so all of this is up for opinion.

Click to expand...

s219 said:

I own a 2020 M2 Comp with 6MT. The Supra is not as raw and is nicer all the way around (it's more of a 3/4-series BMW in terms of trim and finish, compared to the 2-series of the M2). I feel like the M2C has sharper handling and feel. The Supra is more along the lines of what you'd get in a BMW equipped with the M-sport package in terms of handling and feel, which is to say generally excellent but softer and more livable as a daily driver. The ZF8 transmission is excellent. Based on what you described, I think you'll like the Supra over the M2 for sure. You'll be gaining comfort and livability on the road and only sacrificing a small amount of track capability.

Stock brakes are one area where the M2 is far superior, but for road use it's a non-issue and this is something you could remedy with an aftermarket upgrade.

I don't have a whole lot of experience with the N55. I do think the S55 in my M2C has more character than the B58 (which I also own in an X3 M40i), but as you know there are debates between N55 and S55, so all of this is up for opinion.

Click to expand...

Thank you for your input. I might do this trade in when the MKVs are available here.

I only had mine for a few days and I absolutely love it for a daily driver. It's fun, sporty and sexy. I mostly use the car in normal mode for my commute to work. I'll probably switch to sport mode if I'm at a light, in the front, to blast off of course. But I find the balance between the modes fun to play with. I'd prefer a manual trans but I'm picky about shifter feel. The ZF is crisp and responsive. It's easy to live with. The car has more than enough power for public road use. I commute 10 miles each way to and from work, all local. I like zipping through slower traffic with some pulls here and there. The handling is very precise and nimble. I notice a lot of thumbs up and ppl taking pics of my car at stop lights, that's new to me. I think there's no denying, once you have the new Supra, you will be very happy.

Kaizen said:

I only had mine for a few days and I absolutely love it for a daily driver. It's fun, sporty and sexy. I mostly use the car in normal mode for my commute to work. I'll probably switch to sport mode if I'm at a light, in the front, to blast off of course. But I find the balance between the modes fun to play with. I'd prefer a manual trans but I'm picky about shifter feel. The ZF is crisp and responsive. It's easy to live with. The car has more than enough power for public road use. I commute 10 miles each way to and from work, all local. I like zipping through slower traffic with some pulls here and there. The handling is very precise and nimble. I notice a lot of thumbs up and ppl taking pics of my car at stop lights, that's new to me. I think there's no denying, once you have the new Supra, you will be very happy.

Click to expand...

I noticed you had/have a RC350. I've had the RC as well for about 4 years. How would you compare the two? I know the size comparison but in acceleration and overall fit and finish? My Supra won't be here until December so I'm anxiously awaiting it!

Ale81 said:

I noticed you had/have a RC350. I've had the RC as well for about 4 years. How would you compare the two? I know the size comparison but in acceleration and overall fit and finish? My Supra won't be here until December so I'm anxiously awaiting it!

Click to expand...

I absolutely loved the RC. I traded her in for the Supra. Surprisingly, the fit and finish is quite Toyota. I was worried that it wouldn't be but it is definitely a premium interior as far as materials go. There are a few cheap bits here and there. None that will really bother you coming from Lexus/Toyota. It has a Toyota "new car smell" too. Doesn't smell "German".

Acceleration blows the RC outta the water. This thing makes 335whp where as the RC made around 260whp. The torque is where you will see the difference vs the RC. Sooooo much torque stock, it is a blast to drive. For me, the classic straight 6 sound (very Supra like) is my fav part of the car.

You have tremendous patience lol. December can't come fast enough!

Not just driving but overall impressions below:

First 2 posts really sum up my impression driving impression. I'm currently DD'in, as well. (maybe off for 1-2 days). Transmission definitely is crisp. Don't have any problems with manual upshift or downshift. In auto it's quite fast and responsive. In auto-mode, upon braking or lifting off the throttle, it does downshift automatically, don't know if I'd call that engine braking. I'll closely check that in the afternoon. Always great to hear the pops and crackles.

Compared to my GT86, I'll say Supra is much more refined (no surprises there). However, you do feel the weight difference easily. Turn ins on the 86 are sharper. Less weight and body roll to chuck around. Currently I'm more confident in my 86, since I had it for 7 years and it has less power. I think the Supra is rather capable, haven't pushed it too hard. One thing is, it's effortlessly fast! Tires are too soft for my liking out of a sports car. With a stiffer compound and slight suspension tuning, it'll handle and feel better.

Been a while since I drove in a BMW, so I don't know if the infotainment system is the same or not, but I find things lacking. Brightness of the screen at max setting is inadequate! I check for tire pressures, all the info is on the far right, like my passenger cares about it, there is glare.
Nav is good. ApplePlay and bluetooth connectivity is seamless.

Love the HUD! I wish there was a setting to move it to the right. (there is raising/lowering option). HUD died on me yesterday for a while. I stopped and restarted the car, didn't wait too long in between, it was still off. I was super annoyed. Toggled HUD on/off didn't change.
After parking and returning hours later, luckily it was working!

Despite the number of speakers in the car, music feels as though there is sound dampener in front of the speakers like it's muffled. I'm exaggerating, but that's kindda how it feels like. Equalizer is nice, but there are no pre-set configs I was able to find. Like Pop, Jazz, etc.
I haven't played around with the secret dash menu too much. At this day and age, I expected a built-in 0-60 lap timer from a purpose built car. Why are oil temps, etc in a secret menu? You can't even assign a shortcut for that...

I've used the "Normal" mode and stop-start system on this car feels interesting. I've driven SUV's and sedan's with stop-start, I'll say they "soft" stop, meaning things quiet down smoothly. On Supra, it's more of an abrupt shut down. Luckily, I don't use the normal mode too much currently.

Fit & Finish, on my car at least, is pretty good. Panels line up perfectly inside and out.

Washing the car is not the easiest thing! Those fake vents fill up with water, impossible to individually clean, unless you have compressed air. The trunk, oh my, all the water collects under the glass like a puddle. So many details to clean

I just drove the car through the streets of Detroit as we just had the Woodward Dream Cruise here. Got lots of thumbs up and pictures taken. People wanted revs, but under the loud V8 rumbles, I didn't even rev Many people recognized it and yelled "SuprAAAAA". few people were like what is this car.

How annoying is the small fuel tank?

Car is very agile and throttle response is impressive. I don’t know what pads they use for brakes but they grip like race pads. I have had several performance cars and this is best one from factory for sure. I just can’t wait to get it on the track.

Here is my other toy which makes more power over 500 with mods but weighs in at 4000 lbs. The only plus it has a back seat for my son or I’d sale it today. Lol.

View attachment 15435