Bad Karma
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2021
- Threads
- 9
- Messages
- 90
- Reaction score
- 74
- Location
- Rhode Island
- Car(s)
- 2021 GR Supra 2.0
- Thread starter
- #1
The time has come to move on to my next project; so I thought I'd do a little writeup on the best car I've ever owned.
I bought this car during COVID. Initially going in to grab a red 3.0, they sold that on me; so they offered me a steal on a white 2.0. Being a frugal man in his late 30s, I already did the high-horsepower fight-for-traction thing when I was younger, and the 3.0 didn't have the pull over me when they look the exact same (honestly, they should differentiate them more for you 3.0 owners).
The stock power is a little underwhelming, but the handling was addictive, pushing the car a little bit more as I got used to my first rear-wheel sports car. The main draw for me was the looks and the Supra nameplate; so she was off to the detailer to get a ceramic coat and front PPF. After my break-in oil change, the mods started. A RaceChip GTS was my first mod, bought on sale and promising some gains. I've had turbo cars before; so I knew even turning up the boost a few PSI could make a world of difference -- and that's what I did.
Next was the exhaust note. Admittedly, I went overboard here, as I've never owned a car where I tried a catless downpipe, but it being a four cylinder, I wanted every horsepower I could get, and I paired a catless DP with a full AFE exhaust. It actually sounds pretty deep and decent for a four cylinder, and on Map 5 of the RaceChip, I felt significant butt-dyno gains; but the exhaust can be a little loud for my tastes. Thankfully, I can drive around with the valves closed whenever I'm sick of the snap, crackle, pops.
Somebody had posted a glowing review of xHP; so a Stage 2 xHP tune was my next mod. Wow. What a difference it makes. The car was a joy to drive and engine braking became my daily destresser.
Next was improving the handling for those twisty back roads. I bought a set of TE-37s and stretched the stock tires to fit them. Shortly after, I dropped it on Swift-R springs and added a front strut brace as well, as the 2.0s didn't get one from the factory. At the same time I installed an ADRO front splitter. I wanted the front to be more aggressive, and that gave me the look I wanted, and completed my build.
If I were to keep the car, I'd upgrade the brakes and finish the ADRO kit. Maybe down the line try and find a crashed 3.0 for the differential. It's a crime that Toyota didn't feel the need to put an LSD in these when the European 2.0s got them.
As it stands now, the car is "finished" in my eyes. I've owned it for four awesome years, and it's seen me through my GF moving long distance for a year, my dad getting sick with cancer and succumbing to it less than a year later, and a whole bunch of landlord bullshit that's too long to type out.
As for all the hate the 2.0 gets, I'm used to it. My first car was a hand-me down Dodge Neon R/T. Needless to say, modding that was always met with jokes and laughter, but I loved that little car. Same with the SRT-4 I bought after that, so forth and so on. Yes, it's not as powerful as the 3.0, but that's never made the driving experience for me. I still get the same amount of thumbs up, compliments, and smiles per HP as the 3.0 owners out there; and I paid a lot less for them.
The best was this past weekend, after I had made the decision to sell her. I was getting gas late at night when a woman in her mid-50s pulled up to the pump next to me. She goes, "Oh, my god. I have that car," and honestly, at first glance, I thought she was drunk. Then she pulled out a white diecast model of a souped-up Supra, the same color as my car, and smiles. She said she's a new grandma, but she can dream of owning one some day. I gave her some revs and a wave before driving off.
In conclusion, the Supra is an amazing car. It doesn't matter if it's the 2.0, the 3.0, a BMW, a Toyota; it just is. It's a gift from GR/BMW, and I'm going to miss her tremendously.
Now for some pictures:
She's for sale here, if anyone is interested. I'm located near the MA/RI border. Thanks for reading and letting me be part of the Supra community. It's been a pleasure.
I bought this car during COVID. Initially going in to grab a red 3.0, they sold that on me; so they offered me a steal on a white 2.0. Being a frugal man in his late 30s, I already did the high-horsepower fight-for-traction thing when I was younger, and the 3.0 didn't have the pull over me when they look the exact same (honestly, they should differentiate them more for you 3.0 owners).
The stock power is a little underwhelming, but the handling was addictive, pushing the car a little bit more as I got used to my first rear-wheel sports car. The main draw for me was the looks and the Supra nameplate; so she was off to the detailer to get a ceramic coat and front PPF. After my break-in oil change, the mods started. A RaceChip GTS was my first mod, bought on sale and promising some gains. I've had turbo cars before; so I knew even turning up the boost a few PSI could make a world of difference -- and that's what I did.
Next was the exhaust note. Admittedly, I went overboard here, as I've never owned a car where I tried a catless downpipe, but it being a four cylinder, I wanted every horsepower I could get, and I paired a catless DP with a full AFE exhaust. It actually sounds pretty deep and decent for a four cylinder, and on Map 5 of the RaceChip, I felt significant butt-dyno gains; but the exhaust can be a little loud for my tastes. Thankfully, I can drive around with the valves closed whenever I'm sick of the snap, crackle, pops.
Somebody had posted a glowing review of xHP; so a Stage 2 xHP tune was my next mod. Wow. What a difference it makes. The car was a joy to drive and engine braking became my daily destresser.
Next was improving the handling for those twisty back roads. I bought a set of TE-37s and stretched the stock tires to fit them. Shortly after, I dropped it on Swift-R springs and added a front strut brace as well, as the 2.0s didn't get one from the factory. At the same time I installed an ADRO front splitter. I wanted the front to be more aggressive, and that gave me the look I wanted, and completed my build.
If I were to keep the car, I'd upgrade the brakes and finish the ADRO kit. Maybe down the line try and find a crashed 3.0 for the differential. It's a crime that Toyota didn't feel the need to put an LSD in these when the European 2.0s got them.
As it stands now, the car is "finished" in my eyes. I've owned it for four awesome years, and it's seen me through my GF moving long distance for a year, my dad getting sick with cancer and succumbing to it less than a year later, and a whole bunch of landlord bullshit that's too long to type out.
As for all the hate the 2.0 gets, I'm used to it. My first car was a hand-me down Dodge Neon R/T. Needless to say, modding that was always met with jokes and laughter, but I loved that little car. Same with the SRT-4 I bought after that, so forth and so on. Yes, it's not as powerful as the 3.0, but that's never made the driving experience for me. I still get the same amount of thumbs up, compliments, and smiles per HP as the 3.0 owners out there; and I paid a lot less for them.
The best was this past weekend, after I had made the decision to sell her. I was getting gas late at night when a woman in her mid-50s pulled up to the pump next to me. She goes, "Oh, my god. I have that car," and honestly, at first glance, I thought she was drunk. Then she pulled out a white diecast model of a souped-up Supra, the same color as my car, and smiles. She said she's a new grandma, but she can dream of owning one some day. I gave her some revs and a wave before driving off.
In conclusion, the Supra is an amazing car. It doesn't matter if it's the 2.0, the 3.0, a BMW, a Toyota; it just is. It's a gift from GR/BMW, and I'm going to miss her tremendously.
Now for some pictures:
She's for sale here, if anyone is interested. I'm located near the MA/RI border. Thanks for reading and letting me be part of the Supra community. It's been a pleasure.
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