RE: SOTW: Toyota MR2

Friday 15th February 2013

SOTW: Toyota MR2

Shed finds the car Scrof should have bought - and not a trace of newsprint in sight.



TV, radio, internet, jungle drums... there are so many ways to catch up on the news these days. For more historical content, there's the library, or as a left-field alternative the underside of Scrof's MR2 where, rammed in just below the surface of the paint, you will find a motley selection of late-20th century tabloids. Every sill tells a story.

All killer, no filler... unlike some other MR2s...
All killer, no filler... unlike some other MR2s...
This week's Shed is also an MR2, but a second-gen SW20 rather than a crumbly old AW11 like Scrof's. Better yet, it comes with the right sort of history, the sort that bolsters a car's value rather than its undercarriage.

The MR2 is one of those cars that makes you wonder why so many other Japanese cars of the time were so turgid. When you bear in mind the MR2's classic design - mid engine, good power, sweet styling, not too much weight - it does seem that these elegant little Toyotas are poorly served by history.

Things are improving with the passage of time, with all three MR2 iterations now bathing in a growing corona of praise from happy owners. Looking objectively at that recipe, you can see why. It all makes perfect sense. If such a vehicle came forth from Japan now, we'd be crawling all over it. As it is, we must get our 'poor man's Ferrari' kicks from the PH Classifieds.

Wheels a bit naff, but easy to change
Wheels a bit naff, but easy to change
As Scrof will sobbingly admit, solid examples of the first AW11 (1984-89) are not as easy to find as appearances might lead you to believe. The third model, the W30 (1999-2007) was a neat retake on the original car's slabbier look, and it was a full convertible too, but Toyota's refusal to compromise on the stripped purity of the MR2 concept went a bit too far in that no luggage space was provided. This reduced its appeal to a small niche market of minimalists, orthodox Buddhists, and believers in the imminent apocalypse, not many of whom were given to wandering into Toyota dealerships.

The in-between SW20 model (1989-99) that you see here was arguably the most successfully styled of the three. There was a price to pay for that swoopy look: this was the heaviest MR2, at well over 1,200kg, but taking the glass half full approach you could argue that that's more a reflection of the pleasing lightness of the earlier and later models. That 154hp 2.0-litre twin-cam motor endowed the SW20 with very acceptable (and reliable) performance, the seats are brilliantly comfortable, and the T-bar roof is a very nice feature. Plus you get what is surely the world's tallest centre console.

You even get pop-up headlights. Exciting.
You even get pop-up headlights. Exciting.
MR2 folk favour the cosmetically and performance-ly enhanced Rev 3 and later versions over this Rev 1 specimen, but this one is at least a UK-supplied car, rather than a grey import. Sticklers for originality needn't be put off by the aftermarket wheels; they're easy to change and originals shouldn't be too tricky to come by.

The list of potential MR2 problems is short, and mainly age-related rather than endemic. Rust, obviously (sorry Scrof): undertrays and wheel liners do retain road gunge, so make sure to thoroughly check the rear sections of the sills, where slight bubbling on the outside can mean tea-dunked digestive biscuits on the inside. Try to pull the last two drain plugs out and insert your screwdriver. If you can't feel anything, step away smartly. This one also has some frilliness around the rear arches, but as long as that's just superficial, it shouldn't be too costly to repair, should you deign to.

Other stuff? Rad and cooling components generally, especially any pipes that are bolted to the body of the car and that will crack over time. Corroded brake lines, freezing handbrake cables and seizing calipers. Water-damaged alternators. Naturally perished rubber seals on the T-Tops, and inefficient windscreen wiper function - DIY solutions abound for both.

The best-proportioned of the three MR2s?
The best-proportioned of the three MR2s?
Look behind the front slam panel and rear bumper for damage, but other than that it's a case of drive and enjoy. Just watch out for the snap oversteer. Buy decent rubber and maybe a geometry sharpen-up with some of the money you'll be saving on classic car insurance and petrol (consumption in the late 30s or even early 40s).

This car is in Buckinghamshire, which is handily close for Londonites, and reasonably accessible from much of the rest of the country. And what's more, you can look forward to going through an impressive sheaf of paperwork once you get there - one that's kept in a folder rather than pasted to a structural member.


Here's the ad:

1991 / J Reg, ***UK SUPPLIED***, Black, 5 Speed Manual, 1 PREVIOUS OWNER FROM NEW, 2.0 GTi Twincam Engine, 16 Service Stamps, Black Leather Interior, 15" Wolfrace Alloys, Full Toolkit, 157k Motorway Miles, Carefully Maintained and Always Serviced On Time, Mainly Serviceb by Toyota Main Dealer Only, All Usual Toyota Refinements

157k Miles - Full Service History
Tax 31-April-2013
MOT 28-July - 2013
HPI Clear Report

Price £795 - PX to Clear - Excellent Engine and Gearbox

Usual Rust on Arches But Excellent Runner

Vehicle Location - Buckinghamshire / HP13 5AE

Author
Discussion

Dr Imran T

Original Poster:

2,301 posts

198 months

Friday 15th February 2013
quotequote all
Not bad, I used to have a turbo and it was rapid smile

I should also add that they look quite smart and look like they cost a lot more.

Edited by Dr Imran T on Friday 15th February 09:45

Lee540

1,586 posts

143 months

Friday 15th February 2013
quotequote all
Thought this would be an old thread.. bought one of these for shed money back in 2005..

Was a great car.. except wasn't very watertight!!

Martin 480 Turbo

601 posts

186 months

Friday 15th February 2013
quotequote all
Are you guys blind or still wearing your shades from last summer? Those sills
look no better for missing some Sun pages from them.

SHED.

Andy75

43 posts

134 months

Friday 15th February 2013
quotequote all
argh - going through my car history with these posts! I had a UK NA, and then a rev 1 T-bar turbo import about 12 years ago - not quite the tail happy machine everyone seems to make out? Still wish I had the later revision at the time though for that bit more power and chassis tweaks. Would still have another for track use or even daily snotter.

So cruel about the sill comments though! laugh

Shifty Bloke

187 posts

161 months

Friday 15th February 2013
quotequote all
Would definitely change the wheels. But its still looking good today, certainly better than the newest redface

Dr Imran T

Original Poster:

2,301 posts

198 months

Friday 15th February 2013
quotequote all
Martin 480 Turbo said:
Are you guys blind or still wearing your shades from last summer? Those sills
look no better for missing some Sun pages from them.

SHED.
I agree, this one does look a little rough. My comment was about the MR2 in general.

There are plenty for sale sub 1k and it's a nice car to live with.



toonarmy

1 posts

180 months

Friday 15th February 2013
quotequote all
I loved my Rev 1 turbo!!

It is the only car i have ever owned that i miss. I always look to see if there are any tidy examples for only a little bit of outlay. Even the misses likes them and she is not a car person.

Also there is a great V6 conversion that can be done on them that i have always been interested in.

anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 15th February 2013
quotequote all
Rev3 one of these I had was the best car I've owned. Often regret selling it.

SonicShadow

2,452 posts

153 months

Friday 15th February 2013
quotequote all
There are plenty of much nicer examples out there for similar money. E.G:

http://www.imoc.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=16829...

http://www.imoc.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=16512...


y2blade

56,029 posts

214 months

Friday 15th February 2013
quotequote all
shout Luuuuuuuke!

mr2j

516 posts

157 months

Friday 15th February 2013
quotequote all

Scrof

197 posts

153 months

Friday 15th February 2013
quotequote all
Dr Imran T said:
I agree, this one does look a little rough. My comment was about the MR2 in general.

There are plenty for sale sub 1k and it's a nice car to live with.
Confession time. We did find a slightly nicer one than this earlier in the week, but our original choice of shed disappeared at the last minute, obviously having been sold. Not wanting to disappoint, this one was found as a stand-in option this morning. As mentioned in the article, though, if it's not too far gone, that tin worm could be repaired relatively cheaply. Or one could buy it, run it for some summer fun, and not lose too much money on it. Theoretically.

Either way, it's in better nick than mine...

Edited by Scrof on Friday 15th February 10:02

splitpin

2,740 posts

197 months

Friday 15th February 2013
quotequote all
I'm thinking back to having two of these new (loved them), but mostly how come it's SOTW again and only about seven months since the last time?

Are you guys that lacking in creativity?

soad

32,825 posts

175 months

Friday 15th February 2013
quotequote all
Turbo makes more sense over n/a, shirley?

405dogvan

5,326 posts

264 months

Friday 15th February 2013
quotequote all
I agree that history doesn't look kindly on MR2s, but I think it's perhaps partly a Toyota thing and not just the car itself.

The Celica isn't really looked upon fondly either, yet in Gen 4/5/6 guises (the pop-up and bug-eyed years) it's one of the best coupe/GT offered at it's price, not fantastically fast but really well made, nice to drive and cheap to own (jsut keep the cosmetic rust at bay - the rest will fix itself).

The MR2 also evolved oddly, the MK1 was a bit "effete" but a great drive wheras the Mk2 was much prettier package but far less fun to drive. The Mk3 simply looks like an ad for a bathtub mould-maker and seems to share the Gen 7 Celica's slide into poorer quality materials too.

Props, at least, for picking a UK supplied car. Imports are a much bigger pain-in-the-ass at this end of the market with parts often unavailable when you'd think there was no reason for them to be different to the UK cars and yet they are anyway! smile

405dogvan

5,326 posts

264 months

Friday 15th February 2013
quotequote all
soad said:
Turbo makes more sense over n/a, shirley?
I don't get why any driver would actually want a turbo - more power, yes - spiky, unpredictable delivery, NO

and believe me, not much is spikier than an MR2 Turbo this side of a Saab 99 smile

405dogvan

5,326 posts

264 months

Friday 15th February 2013
quotequote all
splitpin said:
I'm thinking back to having two of these new (loved them), but mostly how come it's SOTW again and only about seven months since the last time?

Are you guys that lacking in creativity?
  • tis easy to criticise, tis hard to do better eh?*

Captain Muppet

8,540 posts

264 months

Friday 15th February 2013
quotequote all
I loved my mk2. I had that car for 7 years. Wonderful combination of cheap, reliable, fun and interesting. Amusingly sideways on rubbish tyres, amazingly faithful on good tyres.

I've kept the wheels from my old one on the assumption that I'll have another one at some point.

"Plus you get what is surely the world's tallest centre console." If it wasn't so tall you wouldn't be able to fit all the fuel in it.

And it's tiny compared to a Hummer centre console.

405dogvan

5,326 posts

264 months

Friday 15th February 2013
quotequote all
Martin 480 Turbo said:
Are you guys blind or still wearing your shades from last summer? Those sills
look no better for missing some Sun pages from them.

SHED.
How can you determine that from those photos? Did you go check the car or is your armchair car inspection skill now some form of remote sensing? smile

splitpin

2,740 posts

197 months

Friday 15th February 2013
quotequote all
405dogvan said:
splitpin said:
I'm thinking back to having two of these new (loved them), but mostly how come it's SOTW again and only about seven months since the last time?

Are you guys that lacking in creativity?
  • tis easy to criticise, tis hard to do better eh?*
Similarly afflicted are you?