Finally test drove a manual Supra

03-30-2026

Long story short, the actual transmission is sound. Very good feel to it. But it had been so long since I had driven a manual that the rev matching just killed the experience (yes, I know it can be disabled, but we were on a test drive and I didn't want to take the time to stop and turn it off). Seriously, who came up with rev matching? Must be for beginners.

The rest of the car was "meh". Way too cramped inside and lots of rattles (it was a 2025 model with around 6K miles). Just did not feel solidly built.

Of course, the B58 was glorious. Power delivery is great and it's very quick. I even thought the steering was better than my old M2C and also better than my IS 500 (but that's not saying much). Of course it handles on rails. But ride quality is way too rough even in comfort mode. Very similar to my old M2C.

TLDR: It's quick, handles well, and the transmission is great. It's also stunning looking. But too many rattles, and too small and cramped for my liking.

03-30-2026

I frickin love rev matching. Sure, I would do it myself in my WRX, but in the Camaro, it's brilliant, especially for autoX racing against automatics for that downshift to 1st...which you'll never shit "as fast as", but pretty damn close. The no-lift-shift is also a blast...but so limited for me in when I can use it, since 1st goes to 55 and 2nd goes beyond 80, you are well into illegal speed off a track. There is no launch control for me when all the nannies are off though and IMO you get plenty of fun out of a car with them off...to make up for any "too controlled" stuff.

03-30-2026

RM7 wrote
I frickin love rev matching. Sure, I would do it myself in my WRX, but in the Camaro, it's brilliant, especially for autoX racing against automatics for that downshift to 1st...which you'll never shit "as fast as", but pretty damn close. The no-lift-shift is also a blast...but so limited for me in when I can use it, since 1st goes to 55 and 2nd goes beyond 80, you are well into illegal speed off a track. There is no launch control for me when all the nannies are off though and IMO you get plenty of fun out of a car with them off...to make up for any "too controlled" stuff.

You may be on to me. Maybe I gave it a bad rap because I have never manually shifted a vehicle with rev matching. It just felt super strange, because when coming to a stop, I like to put the transmission in neutral and have the car coast to a stop. But now putting it into neutral, the engine is still revving. Just felt off to me.

03-30-2026

The rev-match functionality in the M3 works flawlessly. I never found it to take away from the experience whatsoever and never bothered to disable it.

It has never felt "super strange," as it always works as intended. Putting the car in neutral and letting it coast to a stop is not generally thought of as the proper way to drive a manual, but you do you. Regardless, it won't rev unless you push the shifter into the gate, so not sure what you're experiencing there. If you're in gear and put it into neutral to coast, it just drops to idle.

I'm sure it helps a lot with beginners, but I can't see it as something that will negatively impact anyone experienced. 2 out of 4 of my Cup cars are manually-shifted, and even with 25 years of track experience, it doesn't bother me one bit.

03-30-2026

If rev matching transmissions keep manuals alive by lowering the bar to learning for new stick shift drivers, then bring it on!

03-30-2026

Rev matching is horrible. First thing I disabled every time I turned on my first M4. I would never even consider a car where you couldn't turn it off.

Supra V is a huge miss if you're over 5'9. I have never been in a car so cramped, so uncomfortable, and with so little visibility (felt like I was in a pillbox). My test drive lasted about 1/2 mile, couldn't get out of that car fast enough.

03-31-2026

DSC off mode turns it off. On f30, you can fdl code it off always, fem_body module, change tcm_startlock_brake and clutch around active/nicht_activ. It thinks the car is auto in some ways. It's neat you can start it just by tapping the clutch, save the thrust bearings. I would bet that still works on the supra. I always use DSC off mode. Never understood why the rev matching was needed and why so many like it. It can get out of sync I think, some times you want to delay a bit, and the computer doesn't get it. I test drove an auto supra and hated the windshield, couldn't see shit, I was used to the x5 windshield. I think it's a pretty stupid looking car anyway, especially the trunk. I'd rather have the Z4.

03-31-2026

25 V8 IS wrote
You may be on to me. Maybe I gave it a bad rap because I have never manually shifted a vehicle with rev matching. It just felt super strange, because when coming to a stop, I like to put the transmission in neutral and have the car coast to a stop. But now putting it into neutral, the engine is still revving. Just felt off to me.

That's odd behavior in neutral. In neutral mine just falls to idle RPMs. If you put it in the gate for the gear, it instantly blips up or down to what it needs. You can make a car with loud exhaust make lots of "engine noise" when you downshift coming to a stop...but that's not the best way to take care of the car, should put it in neutral and use the brakes instead of engine braking, but I can't help the cool noises a lot of the time.

03-31-2026

25 V8 IS wrote
Long story short, the actual transmission is sound. Very good feel to it. But it had been so long since I had driven a manual that the rev matching just killed the experience (yes, I know it can be disabled, but we were on a test drive and I didn't want to take the time to stop and turn it off). Seriously, who came up with rev matching? Must be for beginners.

The rest of the car was "meh". Way too cramped inside and lots of rattles (it was a 2025 model with around 6K miles). Just did not feel solidly built.

Of course, the B58 was glorious. Power delivery is great and it's very quick. I even thought the steering was better than my old M2C and also better than my IS 500 (but that's not saying much). Of course it handles on rails. But ride quality is way too rough even in comfort mode. Very similar to my old M2C.

TLDR: It's quick, handles well, and the transmission is great. It's also stunning looking. But too many rattles, and too small and cramped for my liking.

What rattling are you talking about. As a supra owner I never had any rattle issues. The only time rattles if the cargo cover isn’t latched into place. I have 78k miles and zero issues of yet. But again, I’m a religious guy when it comes to maintenance. A good quick jacks definitely helps the process.

An image attached to this post, provided by the poster

03-31-2026

RM7 wrote
That's odd behavior in neutral. In neutral mine just falls to idle RPMs. If you put it in the gate for the gear, it instantly blips up or down to what it needs. You can make a car with loud exhaust make lots of "engine noise" when you downshift coming to a stop...but that's not the best way to take care of the car, should put it in neutral and use the brakes instead of engine braking, but I can't help the cool noises a lot of the time.

Yeah, that's weird and must be a Supra-specific thing – my G29 Z4 doesn't do any revving when I shift into neutral and let it coast.

03-31-2026

SaltyVeteran wrote
What rattling are you talking about. As a supra owner I never had any rattle issues. The only time rattles if the cargo cover isn’t latched into place. I have 78k miles and zero issues of yet. But again, I’m a religious guy when it comes to maintenance. A good quick jacks definitely helps the process.

Maybe sitting? My little summer convertible sits all winter and every spring when I take it out - I am like JESUS! The squeaking and creaking are terrible, but then I take a few corners and let everything move around a little and it all goes way.

It's like every piece of plastic wedges against each other and needs to move and rub to get back to sliding instead of creaking. LOL

I just went thru this last weekend when I took her off the trickle, leveled the air in the tires and took her for her after hibernation cruise.

03-31-2026

I'm 6' 1" and didn't feel any more cramped in the my buddy's 2025 Supra 6MT than my 2011 Cayman. The only thing that felt more confining are the fatter windshield pillars.

I didn't find the rev match system to be intrusive and honestly, I totally forgot that it had it because it's was so well executed.

The shift feel of the 6MT in the Supra was quite a bit better than the one in my prior M235 and the M2 6MT I've driven. Toyota did a great job pulling out the BMW rubberyness. BMW should be ashamed of themselves for half-assing the 6MT in the F and G series cars. It's like they intentionally made the experience poor to push people to the DCT and 8AT. There's no debate that the DCT/auto cars are faster in all acceleration contests and are more efficient as well, but that is no reason to make the 6MT experience so poor.

The Supra is a a legit sports car. I just can't do the looks. It's odd and over-styled for me. The bulges and swooping lines are a bit too much and the front and rear bumper cover way over-styled. And then all those fake vents. Really? It's clear that Toyota tried to do their best with the Z4 chassis to match their Supra concept but the end result looks like a caricature of the concept. I know I'm in the minority as the most people like the new Supras.

03-31-2026

25 V8 IS wrote
now putting it into neutral, the engine is still revving. Just felt off to me.

Release the clutch pedal, perhaps.

RM7 wrote
when you downshift coming to a stop...but that's not the best way to take care of the car, should put it in neutral and use the brakes instead of engine braking

ABS, ESP are only good before you overheat the brakes. :rolleyes:

To keep within "the limits of physics" (especially on mountain roads) engine braking is still necessary. To save the brakes too.

Just don't downshift too low: one gear is a good compromise usually. I brake in the third gear to save the transmission and disengage the clutch the last moment only, to avoid a stall.

03-31-2026

X2^

There is ONLY 1 Supra, and it ain't this mess w a Bimmer engine..haha.

03-31-2026

No one wrote
Release the clutch pedal, perhaps.

I'll have to try that. If I ever have the chance to drive a manual again.

My last manual was an MKV GTI. I absolutely LOVED the manual on that car.

All this amounts to is me never experiencing rev matching so I just thought it was weird and intrusive. :confused2

04-05-2026

Did it feel small even compared to your previous M2?

04-05-2026

XutvJet wrote
I'm 6' 1" and didn't feel any more cramped in the my buddy's 2025 Supra 6MT than my 2011 Cayman. The only thing that felt more confining are the fatter windshield pillars.

I didn't find the rev match system to be intrusive and honestly, I totally forgot that it had it because it's was so well executed.

The shift feel of the 6MT in the Supra was quite a bit better than the one in my prior M235 and the M2 6MT I've driven. Toyota did a great job pulling out the BMW rubberyness. BMW should be ashamed of themselves for half-assing the 6MT in the F and G series cars. It's like they intentionally made the experience poor to push people to the DCT and 8AT. There's no debate that the DCT/auto cars are faster in all acceleration contests and are more efficient as well, but that is no reason to make the 6MT experience so poor.

The Supra is a a legit sports car. I just can't do the looks. It's odd and over-styled for me. The bulges and swooping lines are a bit too much and the front and rear bumper cover way over-styled. And then all those fake vents. Really? It's clear that Toyota tried to do their best with the Z4 chassis to match their Supra concept but the end result looks like a caricature of the concept. I know I'm in the minority as the most people like the new Supras.

You're not alone. It's weirdly proportioned and quite heavy for its size. Interior is weird since it's so obviously BMW but has Toyota badges and style accents. I loved the concept.

I haven't driven the manual, the auto was well, an auto.

Chris Harris agrees with us. Must be the correct position.

04-05-2026

XutvJet wrote
I'm 6' 1" and didn't feel any more cramped in the my buddy's 2025 Supra 6MT than my 2011 Cayman. The only thing that felt more confining are the fatter windshield pillars.

I didn't find the rev match system to be intrusive and honestly, I totally forgot that it had it because it's was so well executed.

The shift feel of the 6MT in the Supra was quite a bit better than the one in my prior M235 and the M2 6MT I've driven. Toyota did a great job pulling out the BMW rubberyness. BMW should be ashamed of themselves for half-assing the 6MT in the F and G series cars. It's like they intentionally made the experience poor to push people to the DCT and 8AT. There's no debate that the DCT/auto cars are faster in all acceleration contests and are more efficient as well, but that is no reason to make the 6MT experience so poor.

The Supra is a a legit sports car. I just can't do the looks. It's odd and over-styled for me. The bulges and swooping lines are a bit too much and the front and rear bumper cover way over-styled. And then all those fake vents. Really? It's clear that Toyota tried to do their best with the Z4 chassis to match their Supra concept but the end result looks like a caricature of the concept. I know I'm in the minority as the most people like the new Supras.

I am with you on the weird looks, so wanted BMW to make a coupe version of the Z4, as the B58 with manual definitely has an appeal

but alas they never made one just like they never put the S65 in the E86!

04-05-2026

quakerroatmeal wrote
Did it feel small even compared to your previous M2?

Oh yeah...Really small inside.

04-05-2026

baege wrote
I am with you on the weird looks, so wanted BMW to make a coupe version of the Z4, as the B58 with manual definitely has an appeal

but alas they never made one just like they never put the S65 in the E86!

A coupe Z4 with some slightly punched out fenders would have been it!!!

04-06-2026

XutvJet wrote
A coupe Z4 with some slightly punched out fenders would have been it!!!

I might have bought that, didnt like the roadster.

Still considering a Z3 to this day.

04-06-2026

quakerroatmeal wrote
Did it feel small even compared to your previous M2?

An M2 is hardly small inside, and way bigger than a Zupra coupe/roadster.

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Finally test drove a manual Supra