REDLINE ALLEYToyota Supra A80 (1993 to 2002): buying guide, problems and NZ numbers
The Toyota Supra A80 was built from 1993 to 2002 as a coupe or targa, with a manual or automatic gearbox, rear wheel drive and petrol power. Chassis code: JZA80. Redline has a curated guide to its 8 most reported weak points, from owner club and specialist sources.
Key facts
- Years
- 1993 to 2002
- Chassis codes
- JZA80
- Body types
- Coupe, Targa
- Gearboxes
- Manual, Automatic
- Drive
- RWD (rear wheel drive)
- Fuel
- Petrol
On NZ roads
Counting every one on the NZ register. The first look can take up to 15 seconds.
Known weak points
Curated by Redline from owner club and specialist sources Commonly reported by owners and specialists for the Toyota Supra A80 (1993 to 2002). Not every car has these; check this one.
Sequential twin turbos
The 2JZ-GTE twin turbos run in sequence. A failed first turbo gives no boost low down; a failed second turbo makes boost drop at about 4000 rpm and slowly recover. The actuators can be the cause.
- Where to look
- The two turbos on the exhaust side of the engine, their actuators, and the boost gauge if fitted
- How to test
- Accelerate hard past about 3000 rpm and again past 4500 to 5000 rpm and feel for a clean second surge. Watch for smoke on start up, under load and on overrun; black smoke points to a blown turbo. Listen for a whine.
- Cost if it needs fixing
- High cost turbos or actuators, and labour on a crowded engine
Sources: classicandsportscar.com (opens in a new tab), garagedreams.net (opens in a new tab)
Oil leaks round the 2JZ
Valve cover leaks are very common. Other leak points are the cam seals, the VVTi gear, the rear main seal and, on turbo cars, the turbo oil return line.
- Where to look
- The valve cover edge, the front cam seals behind the timing cover, and the back of the head down onto the crossmember and gearbox
- How to test
- Look before and after the test drive for oil running down the back of the head, and for blue smoke from the tailpipes.
- Cost if it needs fixing
- Medium cost gaskets are cheap; the rear main seal is a gearbox off job
Cooling system and head gasket
Corroded radiators and leaking expansion tanks are reported, and coolant emulsion signals a failed head gasket. The 2JZ can trap air, which makes hot spots.
- Where to look
- The radiator, the expansion tank and coolant lines, and under the oil filler cap
- How to test
- Look for crusted coolant and cracks, check for emulsion in the coolant and under the oil cap, and after the drive smell for sweet coolant.
- Cost if it needs fixing
- High cost head gasket work on a twin turbo engine
Sources: classicandsportscar.com (opens in a new tab), garagedreams.net (opens in a new tab)
Rust hidden behind side skirts
Rust is reported behind the sill covers and side skirts, in the floor and jacking points, the front crossmember under the radiator, round the tailgate glass and in the wheel arches.
- Where to look
- Behind the side skirts and sill covers, the floor pan jacking points, the crossmember under the radiator, and round the tailgate glass
- How to test
- Use a magnet under a cloth or a paint thickness gauge to find repairs. Ask whether the side skirts have ever been off.
- Cost if it needs fixing
- High cost hidden sill rust is costly to repair
Getrag 6 speed and clutch
The Getrag 6 speed gets abused. Look for gears jumping out, synchro grinding, flywheel rattle and clutch slip.
- Where to look
- The gear lever and clutch pedal
- How to test
- Change through every gear warm and cold, and accelerate hard in 3rd and 4th to feel for slip. The clutch should bite 7 to 10 cm from the floor.
- Cost if it needs fixing
- High cost gearbox rebuild with imported parts
Sources: classicandsportscar.com (opens in a new tab), garagedreams.net (opens in a new tab)
A340E automatic
The 4 speed auto can struggle once power is raised well past standard, and heat is its biggest killer.
- Where to look
- The transmission cooler and fluid, and the gear selector
- How to test
- Look for an added transmission cooler on a tuned car. Test all positions standing still, then check the shifts and kickdown at low and high speed. Loud clunks on shifts point to mounts, low fluid or internal damage.
- Cost if it needs fixing
- High cost auto rebuild
Targa roof leaks
Targa cars are more likely to leak, and the front driver side roof bolt under the sun visor can seize.
- Where to look
- The roof seals, the front bolts under the sun visors, and the headlining and carpets
- How to test
- Take the roof off and refit it during the viewing. Check the seals for cracks and the carpets for damp, and listen for a rattle from above on the drive.
- Cost if it needs fixing
- Medium cost seals and roof bolts
Modified and decat Japanese cars
A big decat exhaust on a Japanese twin turbo can raise boost to 25 psi or more, which can destroy the engine. Many cars have been modified.
- Where to look
- The exhaust, the catalytic converter and the boost controller
- How to test
- Ask what has been changed and by whom, check the converter is still fitted, and ask for a compression and boost leak test.
- Cost if it needs fixing
- High cost engine damage from overboost
Sources: classicandsportscar.com (opens in a new tab), garagedreams.net (opens in a new tab)
General guidance from owner and specialist sources. Check the specific car with an independent inspection. Researched 1 November 2026.
What the cost bands mean
- Low: a small job. Typically a few hundred dollars or less at an NZ workshop, often a DIY fix.
- Medium: a proper workshop job. Typically several hundred to a couple of thousand dollars.
- High: a major job. Typically several thousand dollars or more, enough to change what the car is worth.
Service items
- Cambelt and water pump: every 50,000 miles (about 80,000 km) or 5 years (Classic and Sports Car); 96,000 km is also quoted. The job with a pump can top a thousand pounds in the UK. (classicandsportscar.com (opens in a new tab))
- Engine oil and filter: about every 4,000 km on the 2JZ-GTE and 6,000 km on the non turbo. Protects the turbos. (garagedreams.net (opens in a new tab))
- Manual gearbox oil: every 24,000 km (15,000 miles) or 24 months. The Getrag gets abused. (garagedreams.net (opens in a new tab))
Questions to ask the seller
- Is it the twin turbo 2JZ-GTE or the non turbo, and manual or auto?
- When were the cambelt and water pump last done, and at what km?
- What has been modified, and what boost does it run?
- Is the catalytic converter still fitted?
- Have the side skirts ever been removed to check for rust?
New Zealand notes
- Most NZ Supras are Japanese imports. Compare the export certificate odometer with the dash.
- Modified cars need LVVTA certification for many changes; ask to see the plate.
An A80 suits a buyer after the twin turbo icon who will pay for a specialist to check a standard or well documented car.
US recalls
Looking up US recall data.
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