1986 Toyota Supra Reviews, Pricing & Specs

7.5/10

CarGurus expert score

Search Listings

Compare

Expert review

This first year of the third-gen Supra lights a fire under a sleepy segment.

The second-generation Celica Supra was a trim level in the Celica lineup, but that changes for the 1986.5 model year with the introduction of the all-new, third-generation car. It’s a standalone model, a rear-wheel-drive (RWD), inline six-cylinder Grand Tourer with a manual transmission that's only missing a turbocharger to take on cars like the Nissan 300ZX and even the Chevrolet Corvette.

7.5

out of 10 expert review

Look & feel

10/10

The third-generation 1986.5 Supra is generally considered a high-water mark for Toyota sports car design. You can draw a straight line from this car, right back to the stunning 3000GT. Everything from its layout to its six-cylinder engine to its styling is an evolution of that original road-burner. Put the interior of this car up against anything Toyota produces in the current year, and this car is going to win out every time. The interior is sharp-edged, angular, and high-tech, and the seats are as good as anything you’ll find in the current product line. They’re over the top for the 1986 calendar year. The Sport Roof—an open-air targa top that’s almost as good as a convertible, and light years ahead of a sunroof—lets the sunshine in, but does a perfect job at keeping the weather out when it’s in place. The pop-up headlights peg this as a product of the 1980s, but they're integrated nicely and don't feel as dated as some other cars from the era.

Performance

6/10

Where the 1986 Supra falls down a bit is the drivetrain: the 7M-GE 3.0-liter twin-cam (DOHC) inline six-cylinder, develops 200 horsepower and 196 pound-feet of torque. It’s a great engine, good for a lifetime of performance, but it’s hampered by the car’s 3,500-pound curb weight. You have your choice of an R154 five-speed manual gearbox or the A340E electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission. The Supra records a 0 to 60 time of 7.5 seconds, not exactly quick. The quarter-mile oozes by the open windows in a leisurely 16 seconds. You'll have to wait a year until the Supra Turbo can really keep up with the more recognizable contenders in this class. The Supra features a sporty, double-wishbone independent suspension front and rear, power-assisted four-wheel disc brakes, and power-assisted rack and pinion steering, which helps to make this GT more of a handler than a stop-light drag race champ. With good weight distribution and RWD handling characteristics, it's a car that you won't need to learn to drive to have a great time.

Form & function

8/10

Unlike the pricier Porsche 928 or 944, this is a car that works as an everyday automobile, instead of one that’s going to spend days of every month in the shop. It has its limitations, especially in the rear. Your passengers only get as much legroom as you’re willing to provide, by cranking the driver’s seat to a vertical position and jamming it against the steering wheel. The cargo area under the liftback body style is good-sized, though, with a maximum of 12.8-cubic feet of space with the seat folded. The instrument panel has a lot going on, with buttons and lights everywhere, but the analog tach and speedometer layouts simple and easy to read. The steering column tilts and telescopes for optimal comfort. Seats are available in velour cloth and optional leather, with tons of adjustment, especially when you order the optional power seat.

Technology

8/10

Sports cars from this era really dialed up the technology, and the Supra was leading the charge. The optional Toyota Electronically Modulated Suspension (TEMS) included an onboard computer that dialed in suspension settings between Soft, Normal and Firm. The center stack features optional automatic climate control with a digital readout, and a standard AM/FM cassette player with six speakers, and a five-way acoustic tone control setting. Today, all of this sounds like basic technology, but for the day, it was impressive.

Safety

7/10

Three-point front and rear safety belts are the entirety of the safety equipment available on the Supra, which doesn’t sound like a lot. But consider this: the 1986 IROC Z28 still had lap belts for the rear passengers, with nothing even remotely resembling a headrest. None of the handful of complaints available on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website are related to more than one vehicle each. There are no crash ratings for the 1986 Toyota Supra available, either from NHTSA or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Cost-effectiveness

6/10

The Supra has a base MSRP of $17,990, a significantly expensive car for midway through the 1986 calendar year, and the sports coupe class is crowded with contenders. You could buy a base IROC Z with a 305-cubic-inch V-8 and save yourself more than six grand. But that’s not who was buying the Supra. The intended audience for this car was the same kind of new car buyer that would spend lavishly on a Nissan 300ZX, which was priced at $17,694, or a Porsche 944 at a breathtaking $22,950 Reagan-era dollars.

So yes, this is one of the most expensive Japanese cars of its era, but it’s also a bargain compared to what Porsche was offering at the time. Fuel economy wasn’t great at 15 mpg city/20 mpg highway, but come on, if you cared that much about fuel economy, would you buy this car? A 1986 Supra—lacking the turbo that would transform the car just a year later – sells for reasonable money in 2021 dollars, anywhere between $6,00 and $12,000, but those values spike for cars that came just a year later.

by CarGurus Editorial Team

Published June 22, 2022

What owners say

AI Summary · 12 reviews

"Overall, owners of the 1986 Toyota Supra have a very positive view of this vehicle, praising its impressive performance, handling, and reliability. Many appreciate its acceleration and fun driving experience, particularly on twisty roads. However, some mention that it can feel heavy and may not be as fast as it appears at first glance. The car's maintenance issues, particularly with the engine, are a common concern among drivers, with many suggesting that it's necessary to perform regular upkeep for optimal performance."

4.7

12 reviews

Write a review

by Travis O

Lipp 60-1 turbo, Spearco intercooler, Lipp IC piping, 550 injectors, SAFC2, Zeitronix Wideband 02 sensor, ACT performance clutch, Tanabe 3" Exhaust and downpipe, blueprinted block. Car is amazing fun to drive but needs better braking system. Cost of this beast is a little bit expensive but worth every penny.

March 19, 2010

by Noel A

my first and my favourite... rear wheel drive, 2.8 litre straight six celica supra xx so much fun, always starts. drives extremely well, really good road feeling, turns on a dime, hugs corner unless you on purpose slide the arse out :-) then its even more fun

January 5, 2008

by Steven G

This is my first car, a MkIII Toyota Supra. Its a MA70 7M-GE. This engine is a non turbo. Was great while it was working but i did come across a few issues. The car being the 1986 model had a few aging issues and therefore heaps of problems. So after i killed the first 7M engine i brought another MA70 that was a ride-off to replace the first one... due to not fully filling the gear box with oil i blew the gear box and clutch. I have now since then done a 1JZ-GTE engine conversion. This was stressful due to lack of mechanics willing to take on the project. But now having it fully completed i love it. Performance - The stock 1JZ is a fantastic engine. It puts power down as nice as a Supra can due to stock suspension set up. In saying that my Supra handles very well I've found. Mine still has the 7M-GE brake set, which is the same as the 1JZ-GTE... So I've had no issues braking from a high speed. Build Quality - Well i already mention the 7M's aging engine problem, enough said on that. There is an annoying squeak from the boot hatch. The doors are a very heavy part of the car and due to the shear size of the door it becomes a issue if u park on a slope it falls back onto you or hard into the ground, damaging the bottom corner. Appearance - The exterior of this car screams Japaneses power car. It has slick angles and curves to entice to eyes. With its long nose and stock wide front and rear quarter panels it just has a tough stance. The front bar with its split look, hiding the parkers and indicators and big open air intake to cool engine and optimize intercoolers effectiveness. Fog lights mounted down low and the very typicaly 80's look of pop-up head lights. Interior is a true 80's sports car look. Long dash full of gauges and switches to let you know whats going on at all times. Bucket racing seats to hold you in place while driving. They're also adjustable to hug you perfectly. Plenty of leg room for the driver and passenger, not so much if you get stuck in the back. But thats a given with all two doors coupes. Cost - Well with any sports car its not going to be cheap. They're not great on fuel, but be truthful who buys a car like this for fuel economey?? No one. Maintanence is shocking being an import spares are hard to come by. You need to find a speacilist in the type of car or maker. Due to the age it also makes it hard. Fun Factor - Well this would be the most important part really. Oh MY Goodness!! It is most deffinetly a fun car to drive. Takes off hard, truns heads of other motorists. Gives a real addreninal rush as you push into boost. Throwing you into your seat as you and the car race up to any speed limit. Flying up into the corner then braking hard and droping down to the right gear to boost hard out of the apexi of the corner. A car like this encourages other sports cars to want to race you down the main street. Would i recommend this to a friend? Yes! I would but only if they are willing to fix it and put time and money as owning a sports car is a money hunrgy thing as i've learnt the hard way. But to me the money i've spent was worth it. Overall i would give it 10/10... But in a proper rating. I would say 8.5/10.

October 19, 2008