“$100k for a Toyota sounds a bit rich to me. Is it worth the money? And what else should I consider for around the same money?”
IT’S ALWAYS GOOD SENSE to see what your options are before committing to any car, so thank you for your enquiry.
There’s no question that $100,000 is a lot of money for a car that is, let’s face it, an indulgence, but once you start looking at alternatives, there is a surprising lack of choices at and around this price.
The new Supra has been developed in conjunction with BMW. The engine, gearbox, differential and quite a significant proportion of the interior come straight from the Z4. Both cars are built on the same chassis, specifically developed for them.
However, the BMW Z4 is currently only offered as a convertible (although there has been considerable speculation that a coupe may be in planning). With Z4 convertible prices starting at $84,900 (plus ORC) for the two-litre 20i M Sport, rising to $104,900 for the 30i M Sport and topping out at $124,900 for the three-litre M40i Z4, even if the BMW Z4 coupe came in under the convertible prices (and that’s not guaranteed), the Supra, with so much Z4 DNA, looks like quite a bargain. Of course, there’s no way of putting a price on the perceived value and status of the BMW logo over the less-hyped Toyota badge. Conversely, the Supra has a significant history of its own, especially in Australia and some enthusiasts overseas feel that a Supra should be its own car, not a rebadged BMW.
The real targets for Toyota with the Supra are Porsche’s Cayman and a relative newcomer, the Renault Alpine A110.
Porsche sets prices in Australia by plucking them out of the air (and makes no apologies for charging what the market will bear). The Cayman 2.0-litre starts at $114,900 (manual). The Cayman S raises the ante to $145,100 and the top-of-the-line 2.5 GTS kicks off at $172,700 (all prices plus ORC, of course). The excellent PDK auto gearchange adds $4990 across the range.
The Cayman, unlike the Supra, uses a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, with a boxer layout. The output for the 2.0-litre is 220kW and 380Nm, although like most Porsches, it feels stronger than the numbers suggest.
The Renault, on the other hand, probably sells as much on its pretty lines as its sports car provenance. It’s priced at between $97,000 and $106,500 (plus ORC), a big ask for a brand that has always struggled in Australia, and the Alpine nameplate, despite having a long and proud history, is almost unknown locally.
Overall, the Alpine is more compact than the Supra, and the engine is a 1.8-litre turbo petrol four-cylinder (similar to that in the Megane R.S.) producing 138kW and 236Nm (significantly down on the Supra’s 254kW/272Nm), somewhat offset by the Alpine’s featherweight 1094kg.
Also weighing against the Alpine for many buyers will be the limited number of dealers (at least they now have servicing dealers in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, but only the Melbourne dealer is authorised to sell the A110).
Another possibility, if only it was more affordable, would have been the Jaguar F-Type. In many ways, the F-Type is close to the Supra, with the 3.0-litre supercharged V6 delivering 250kW but its price of $128,400 (plus ORC) puts it out of contention. The more affordable entry-level model 2.0-litre four-cylinder F-Type simply doesn’t deliver the dynamics or driving excitement that the Supra is sure to provide, and at $114,200, it is still considerably more expensive than even the most expensive Supra.
There are some other comparable cars, although none is a precise match. The Lexus RC 3.5 F Sport comes in at $77,529 but is more of a grand tourer than an out-and-out sports car. The now aged and dated Nissan 370Z in Nismo form is still available for $61,990 (compared to the Nissan GT-R that ranges from $189,900 to $299,000) and really, that’s about it.
And there’s one final consideration to take into account. The major competitors (Porsche, Renault and the BMW, if and when it arrives) will only carry three-year warranties, whereas the Toyota, presumably, will be warranted for five years, like all other Toyotas sold in Australia.
2019 Toyota Supra: Specification
Price: $84,900 to $94,900 (plus ORC)
Engine: 2,998cc turbocharged petrol straight-six (most competitors only offer a four-cylinder for similar – or a lot more – money)
Drivetrain: front engine, rear-wheel drive
Transmission: Eight-speed semi-automatic
Suspension: MacPherson struts front, five-link rear
Wheels: 19 inches
Tyres: 255/35 ZR19 front, 275/35 ZR19 rear
Power: 254kW @ 5,000rpm (the Porsche Cayman is 221kW and the Renault Alpine 138kW)
Torque: 272Nm @ 1,600rpm (against the Porsche’s 207Nm and Renault’s 236Nm)
0-100km/h: 4.3sec
Top speed: 250km/h (limited)
Fuel economy: 6.8L/100km
CO2 emissions: 170g/km
Length: 4,379mm
Width: 1,854mm
Height: 1,292mm
Kerb weight: 1,495kg