Sponsored

Anyone on the forum done the Manual gearbox conversion?

A-I

Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2018
Threads
1
Messages
24
Reaction score
41
Location
England
Car(s)
Supra MkIV TT 6-speed (sold), EVO6 RSII (sold), Audi S4 (current)
As Toyota aren't bothered about the strong demand for a manual gearbox from many potential customers, it seems that there are one or two 3rd party companies prepared to rip out the autobox and install a BMW manual 6-speed gearbox in to your A90.
The cost being around $10,000 and seemingly only available at the moment in the USA.

So was wondering if any of you guys have had the conversion done yet?
Particularly looking for feedback to hear what it is like and how well the car drives. I'm guessing it would be fantastic. ;)
Sponsored

 

Probaholic1

Well-Known Member
First Name
Frankie
Joined
Jan 2, 2021
Threads
3
Messages
250
Reaction score
87
Location
Los Angeles
Car(s)
2021 Supra 2.0, 2015 Fiesta ST, 2005 Audi A4b6 2.7
That's news to me, 10k for a manual conversion also doesn't seem excessive. Do you have links?
 

NitroYellowMKV

Well-Known Member
Silver Sponsor
First Name
Phillip
Joined
Dec 15, 2020
Threads
53
Messages
2,240
Reaction score
3,266
Location
South Florida
Car(s)
2023 Burnout A91 MT
there is a group in florida that does it, I know EAG in texas has done it
 

Octane

Well-Known Member
First Name
Jack
Joined
May 27, 2019
Threads
18
Messages
478
Reaction score
569
Location
Chicago
Car(s)
'22 Supra
I've just accepted the fact that the Supra is automatic (my first automatic 'sports' car).

$10,000 just to make it manual seems like a bit of a waste to me, unless someone absolutely loves the car and plans to keep it forever. I'd rather take the $10k and put it elsewhere.
 

H2O_Doc

Well-Known Member
First Name
Paul
Joined
Dec 19, 2020
Threads
24
Messages
623
Reaction score
1,056
Location
Virginia
Car(s)
M240i, Wrangler, MB GLA 250
I've just accepted the fact that the Supra is automatic (my first automatic 'sports' car).

$10,000 just to make it manual seems like a bit of a waste to me, unless someone absolutely loves the car and plans to keep it forever. I'd rather take the $10k and put it elsewhere.
$10k is a lot of beer and hookers. And you could still have $ left for wheels and a tune.
 
OP
OP

A-I

Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2018
Threads
1
Messages
24
Reaction score
41
Location
England
Car(s)
Supra MkIV TT 6-speed (sold), EVO6 RSII (sold), Audi S4 (current)
If the option were available in the UK I would be considering buying a 2nd hand MkV. With some depreciation to offset the cost of fitting the manual gearbox.

However, buying new and then spending an extra $10k pushes the car in to territory where you could have opted for an Audi R8, C7 Corvette, etc. (ie. cars that perhaps offer more value for money and potentially hold their value better than a Toyota).

I'll keep an interest in how these conversions go, hoping one day that a company can offer similar here in the UK.
Should happen sooner or later because the demand for a manual gearbox MkV is very strong, many are wondering why Toyota are ignoring this demand when the MkV has BMW running gear and a BMW 6-speed manual gearbox could easily be optioned.
 

puzzled

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2020
Threads
0
Messages
2,134
Reaction score
2,712
Location
USA
Car(s)
2020 3.0L Premium
At this point if I want to drive MT I'd take out one of my MT cars. Supra is fine with the AT (I am an MT guy saying this). For me that $10K would go towards a new car in the future.
 

Mimosa

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2020
Threads
20
Messages
853
Reaction score
2,203
Location
-
Car(s)
-
I have done transmissions swaps in the past in older cars. But things are different now and so many things are tied together. The only way I'd approach something like this is by gutting out the electronics of this car and doing a custom ECU.

I feel like a manual is coming at some point from the factory. The best thing to do is wait in my opinion.
 
OP
OP

A-I

Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2018
Threads
1
Messages
24
Reaction score
41
Location
England
Car(s)
Supra MkIV TT 6-speed (sold), EVO6 RSII (sold), Audi S4 (current)
At this point if I want to drive MT I'd take out one of my MT cars. Supra is fine with the AT (I am an MT guy saying this). For me that $10K would go towards a new car in the future.
Understand what you are saying but there are loads of potential customers out there who would only buy a MkV if it had a manual gearbox.
For example in my case, I have zero interest in owning or driving a road car with an autobox, no matter if it is a Supra or a Ferrari, the disconnection that an autobox brings to the equation is enough that I simply wouldn't get what I want from the driving experience.
(Driven plenty of autobox examples out there including the modern double-clutch efforts and none of them give the connection I desire from a car - especially when it is a performance/sports car).

I'm sure plenty are happy with the autobox in their MkV and for many they feel the autobox matches the car and what it does - I'm not wanting to come across as disrespecting their choice in that, its just a shame currently that if you want to go out and get that manual gearbox experience it means doing that in another car and not in your Supra (unless of course you go down the path of a $10k conversion).
 
OP
OP

A-I

Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2018
Threads
1
Messages
24
Reaction score
41
Location
England
Car(s)
Supra MkIV TT 6-speed (sold), EVO6 RSII (sold), Audi S4 (current)
I have done transmissions swaps in the past in older cars. But things are different now and so many things are tied together. The only way I'd approach something like this is by gutting out the electronics of this car and doing a custom ECU.

I feel like a manual is coming at some point from the factory. The best thing to do is wait in my opinion.
Yeah, I presume it would mean different ECU, wiring etc. to remove all the computer controlled aspects of the autobox and the corresponding mating of the traction control and emissions restrictions etc. So the $10k mentioned conversion cost probably includes all that aspect.

Manual on the way? - I hope so but why is Toyota keeping us all waiting? Many have the money in the bank ready to spend, but due to the wait many are opting to go elsewhere such as 2nd hand R8's, AM Vantage etc. Toyota's loss as each day of waiting passes (along with many potential customers losing out too). Struggling to see the Toyota's thinking on this.
 

puzzled

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2020
Threads
0
Messages
2,134
Reaction score
2,712
Location
USA
Car(s)
2020 3.0L Premium
I'm not wanting to come across as disrespecting their choice in that, its just a shame currently that if you want to go out and get that manual gearbox experience it means doing that in another car and not in your Supra (unless of course you go down the path of a $10k conversion).
Don't be another cry baby. Just buy one and join the team. MT is fun on slower cars anyways.
 

Mimosa

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2020
Threads
20
Messages
853
Reaction score
2,203
Location
-
Car(s)
-
The reasons why companies are moving away from manuals have been stated numerous times. From torque issues, to efficiency, to people just not really buying them. It's just not worth some companies' time to invest R&D in manual transmissions. More and more companies would rather spend money in other areas such as AI and electrical advancements.

Toyota have some pretty intelligent people on the business side. They understand that people who are vocal about getting a manual are in a niche group. And within that niche group there are even fewer people who buy the manual version of a car. Even recent performance cars released now with manual versions sell VERY little of them.

They'll probably release the manual either in the 2022 model year or 2023 model year just to keep the lineup fresh. With that said, I feel like only the 4 cylinder version of the Supra will get the manual. But that's just me speculating.

If the rumor of an S58 version is true I could see that with a manual since it is offered for the M4 and M3. But that's just a rumor without any concrete evidence whatsoever other than a Japanese magazine interview;.

But if you really want to convert to a manual, you're going to have a tough time finding people willing to do the work. EAG is charging $12K and are asking for $6K upfront. But it seems it's only doing it for 16 cars. I don't know if there are any more allocations. You could probably try to reach out to them and see if they now of anyone in Europe trying to do the same thing.

Personally I'd wait for Toyota. They have a roadmap to keep the Supra fresh with every new model year.
 
OP
OP

A-I

Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2018
Threads
1
Messages
24
Reaction score
41
Location
England
Car(s)
Supra MkIV TT 6-speed (sold), EVO6 RSII (sold), Audi S4 (current)
Don't be another cry baby. Just buy one and join the team. MT is fun on slower cars anyways.
I'd simply never buy an autobox car, they are just not for me. Others enjoy them, and good for them if they do, but for me no thanks. I'll continue to cry until Toyota see the light ;)
Sponsored

 
 








Top