While it may seem easy to say this with the Toyota Supra no longer on sale in the UK - we’ll live in hope for a GRMN - the manual version never seemed destined to sell in significant numbers. Partly that was because the eight-speed automatic was already such a good fit for the 3.0-litre turbo six; you’d have to be very committed to the manual cause to give up the more efficient gearbox.
Those that were die-hard self-shifters, moreover, might have been tempted by the GR86 that was launched at the same time. Manual gearboxes - front-engined, rear-drive coupes, in fact - don’t really come much better than the smaller GR Toyota. Add all that to the fact that Porsche offers a superb six-speed manual gearbox for its six-cylinder sports car and it’s easy to see why there aren’t many Supras with the red boot badge and 10-spoke wheels around.
Which isn’t to say it’s bad - not by a long chalk. The manual Supra was the most fun A90 Toyota made; the obsessiveness over gearknob weighting made for a very satisfying shift, and a few suspension tweaks (part of a wider mid-life facelift) sharpened the driving experience as well, without detracting from its GT credentials. Toyota even offered the manual with standard, non-electric seats that dropped the hip point a little and reduced weight just a little bit more. It was a considered, thoughtful integration of a manual gearbox, not something cobbled together to satisfy demand.
That’s exactly how the GR Supra drove, too, the manual a cohesive part of the package rather than standing out for all the wrong reasons. It ensured a closer relationship with that fantastic straight-six, for starters, as happy lugging from low revs as chasing 7,000rpm. The ratios were more appropriate for a B road than the equivalent Cayman, and even with less than perfect steering it wasn’t hard to enjoy a front-engined, rear-drive coupe with lots of power and limited-slip diff. All for less money than the auto.
Nevertheless, you’ll do well to find a six-speed for sale in 2024. This yellow example is the only manual A90 in the PH classifieds at the moment (with a dozen autos around). Because this version only came around with the mid-life update, too, there wasn’t very much time for manuals to find customers. So grab the ones you can find, basically. This one has the lighter seats, is showing just 6,000 miles for two years use, and comes in at £10,000 less than the new price. You’ll not find a 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 for much less than £55,000, the latest BMW M2 still commands £50,000, and an Emira remains at least £60,000 also. Any deficiencies the Supra may have as an out-and-out sports car are a lot easier to overlook at £42,000 - and with such a huge saving over comparable cars. Indeed, with a six-speed manual, a famously tuneable straight-six turbo and money to spend, it’s easy to imagine living out the glory days of the Supra with this one. Next stop, 500hp…
SPECIFICATION | 2022 TOYOTA GR SUPRA 3.0 MT
Engine: 2,998cc, straight-six turbo
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 340@5,000-6,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 369@1,600-4,500rpm
0-62mph: 4.6sec
Top speed: 155mph (electronically limited)
MPG: 32
CO2: 198g/km
Year registered: 2022
Recorded mileage: 6,000
Price new: £53,495
Yours for: £42,950
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