RE: SOTW: Toyota MR2

[Unreal1066]

MY old MR2 N/A revision 3 was fast and accessable enough down windy country roads with some of the usual modifiers tools, air filter, exhaust new spark plugs etc. Unfortunately the price they sell for makes repairs to the bodywork eventually uneconomic. My MPG was amazing you could get at least 30MPG on a motorway at 70 - 90MPH with bouts of heavy right foot acceration. It just got more efficiant, probably to do with the giant air intakes for the mid engine placement.
I have said that I will own another just a better example than I had. When all the st ones eventually get scrapped I hope the prices will start to pick up to gain classic status. Keep talking about them that should help!

[Synchromesh]

Picked up this on Wednesday for little over shed money.


MR2 at services by jlewisbarned, on Flickr

[LukeSi]

Unreal1066 said:

MY old MR2 N/A revision 3 was fast and accessable enough down windy country roads with some of the usual modifiers tools, air filter, exhaust new spark plugs etc. Unfortunately the price they sell for makes repairs to the bodywork eventually uneconomic. My MPG was amazing you could get at least 30MPG on a motorway at 70 - 90MPH with bouts of heavy right foot acceration. It just got more efficiant, probably to do with the giant air intakes for the mid engine placement.
I have said that I will own another just a better example than I had. When all the st ones eventually get scrapped I hope the prices will start to pick up to gain classic status. Keep talking about them that should help!

Part of the reason I'm gradually going to improve mine. Hopefully some day it will be worth more than what it cost (note how I said cost not owes, the smiles per miles ratio is immense) me.

[Wadeski]

They are great little cars. The N/As are reliable, tough and cheap, and the turbos are a thrill.

My one had over 350bhp and was err...challenging but rewarding to drive quickly. It much preferred fast cruising and flowing through the corners.

Caught me out a couple of times, but a learning experience and when they are 3 grand for a good one, unbeatable value.



I really want a Mk1 tin-top with a 3S turbo swap.

[gofasterrosssco]

Meths said:

Gribs said:

The initial impressions were that it was slow and noisy, but has nice steering feel.

Ditto! I drove it, the throttle response was somehow worse than my rover. Don't get the chance to open it up though.

The 3S-GE produced a more than respectible ~170bhp from a 2.0L NA engine designed in the late 80's / early 90's, and isn't optimised for low-end grunt, hence they can feel a bit sluggish in the lower RPM range compared to other engine designs.

[ChalkOutline]

I used to daily drive this, but sold it to a friend:


Bought it back after a year and turned it into this, with PHer elenitro:


Which I eventually modified like this [Cadwell Park]:


So we bought this:


Which now looks like this:


Haven't track tested with all the front end mods yet. Will be doing on Sunday though...

Edited by ChalkOutline on Tuesday 19th February 10:35

[Leebo310]

soad said:

Turbo makes more sense over n/a, shirley?

Might be wrong but thought the turbo was Jap import only?

Had the n/a one at 19 (a while ago..) and I LOVED that car! Yep it went through radiators at a rapid rate and the handbrake would freeze at the sight of frost but it's definitely the only car I've ever regretted selling. Amazing combination of good looks and amazing drive with decent reliabilty and at a bargain price. Plus it was reasonably practical in that I could shoe-horn my entire drum kit in it
Brilliant car!

[Mr2Mike]

Leebo310 said:

Might be wrong but thought the turbo was Jap import only?

The ones we get here are all Japanese imports. They were also sold in the US, detuned and with wrong hand drive.

[SonicShadow]

Leebo310 said:

Might be wrong but thought the turbo was Jap import only?

Had the n/a one at 19 (a while ago..) and I LOVED that car! Yep it went through radiators at a rapid rate and the handbrake would freeze at the sight of frost but it's definitely the only car I've ever regretted selling. Amazing combination of good looks and amazing drive with decent reliabilty and at a bargain price. Plus it was reasonably practical in that I could shoe-horn my entire drum kit in it
Brilliant car!

Need a picture of that! Best I've done is 6ft Christmas tree with a passenger

[gofasterrosssco]

ChalkOutline]Which I eventually modified like this [Cadwell Park said:

:

Edited by ChalkOutline on Tuesday 19th February 10:35

Ahh, the high-level spoiler mod - good for downforces.. :-)

Ps.- Hope that was a walk / stumble away one or I'll feel bad..

[Leebo310]

SonicShadow said:

Need a picture of that! Best I've done is 6ft Christmas tree with a passenger

Jeez, think that's more impressive than my drum kit!

[gofasterrosssco]

Leebo310 said:

SonicShadow said:

Need a picture of that! Best I've done is 6ft Christmas tree with a passenger

Jeez, think that's more impressive than my drum kit!

I've had a variety of things in them over the years:

6x wheels and tyres
A rear bumper
A complete engine crane
A load of large car parts in one go including a complete exhaust, spare seat, full set of suspension.

Wiping the passenger seat out (5 bolts) is easy and opens up a decent load space. One advantage a t-bar has is more loading possibilities..!

[anonymous-user]

Leebo310 said:

Jeez, think that's more impressive than my drum kit!

Nah, a Christmas Tree is easy peasy. Sunroof out, tree in. I got a 4 foot x 3 foot picture frame in mine.

[Leebo310]

OpulentBob said:

Nah, a Christmas Tree is easy peasy. Sunroof out, tree in. I got a 4 foot x 3 foot picture frame in mine.

It was more the fact that he had a passenger in there as well! Sunroof out is cheating too

Drum kit was actually fairly easy. Cymbal bag in passenger footwell with seat slid as far forwards yet recline fully back. Bass drum and floor tom then on the passenger seat wedged in.
Hardware bag in the boot, with snare and small tom on top. Then gently close boot praying to not hear the sound of wooden shells being crushed...

[ChalkOutline]

gofasterrosssco said:

Ahh, the high-level spoiler mod - good for downforces.. :-)

Ps.- Hope that was a walk / stumble away one or I'll feel bad..

Yes it was, though the marshals were surprised. Sore neck for a few days. Bent the floor! Hate to think what would have happened if I'd gone in forwards. HANS device has since been purchased.

[TSpark]

Meths said:

I drove one today!

Someone was selling a 1991 mr2 in gold, a wee bit tatty but he only wanted £400 for it. He had dealers insurance and talked me into a test-drive.

The wipers were woefully slow, the exhaust made a tremendous noise, the whole thing had condensation on the inside of the window, the sunroof was leaking on to my head, the hand brake was wrapped in electrical tape. But I had a big smile on my face

I want one now. Just in better condition

Would'nt happen to have been local to Wakefield was it?

[LukeSi]

Got bored so went to look at a cheap rev 1 tubby. Dog is an understatement. Dealer couldnt even find they keys. Wouldnt buy a rev 1 anyway, certainly not a tubby on 14 inch wheels.

[Mr2Mike]

LukeSi said:

Got bored so went to look at a cheap rev 1 tubby. Dog is an understatement. Dealer couldnt even find they keys. Wouldnt buy a rev 1 anyway, certainly not a tubby on 14 inch wheels.

Please, not the silly 't' word 'Turbo' has the same number of letters and doesn't sound retarded.

[Meths]

gofasterrosssco said:

The 3S-GE produced a more than respectible ~170bhp from a 2.0L NA engine designed in the late 80's / early 90's, and isn't optimised for low-end grunt, hence they can feel a bit sluggish in the lower RPM range compared to other engine designs.

It did make quite alot of noise though.

I would have liked to have the chance to give it some welly on faster roads, but was restricted to city centre streets.

TSpark said:

Would'nt happen to have been local to Wakefield was it?

Was in Glasgow

[Turbo B]

Never a great fan of this model - bit bloated and too 'medallion mannish' for my liking. Really liked the final roadster version though - prices of those are becoming temptingly reasonable. Mk1's look amazing but you've more chance of plaiting fog than finding a decent one for shed money!!!