RE: SOTW: Toyota MR2

[wackojacko]

Guvernator said:

Keep considering one of these as a track toy. Seems to have the perfect recipe to be a decent one. Mid engined, relatively light and compact (especially compared to modern machinery) and engines seem to be pretty reliable. Has anyone used one as such?

The turbo's are more powerful but the NA's might be more predictable. I've heard of NA Beams versions which push out over 200bhp?? Are these any good and how rare are they? Can't help thinking a "mini Ferrari" would be great fun on track.

Take a look at my readers rides thread : http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...


Great track cars, N/a's are next to bullet proof if looked after and the Cambelt is within it's time.

Turbos are/can be miles faster but less reliable, we are looking at power options for ours in V6 or supercharger or both or a turbo transplant. Yes the beams engine is awesome but fking rare and expensive for another 20 or so bhp.

They're pretty decent on track an make a welcome alternative to the normal MX5 or E36 route.

[gofasterrosssco]

Alfa159Ti said:

Guvernator said:

Keep considering one of these as a track toy. Seems to have the perfect recipe to be a decent one. Mid engined, relatively light and compact (especially compared to modern machinery) and engines seem to be pretty reliable. Has anyone used one as such?

The turbo's are more powerful but the NA's might be more predictable. I've heard of NA Beams versions which push out over 200bhp?? Are these any good and how rare are they? Can't help thinking a "mini Ferrari" would be great fun on track.

Now that the cars are getting as bit long in the tooth finding a BEAMS is almost impossible. They have near mythical status within the community. Revvy 200bhp yamaha unit if I recall. No spiky turbo delivery, but significantly quicker than the standard NA. Check out some of the vids on Youtube, the BEAMS sounds lovely.

All 3S-GE's (2.0L N/A engine) were worked on by Yamaha - you will often seen Yamaha on the cam pulley cover. The 'BEAMS' variant is a better all round version of the same engine. Not massively quicker, and needs to be pushed, but generally all-round improved. Its about right (power / torque and delivery wise) for the standard chassis, and the LSD in the final versions (most Rev 5's) makes an appreciable difference. As you say, very rare, and definetly not shed material..

[rowey200]

Great cars in my opinion Don't think you can do much better if you want a sporty drive on a budget, although as others have said, you could do better than the featured example. Mid engine, rear wheel drive, awesome driving position and a t-bar roof to boot....I love mine I'm on my second now, and can only report good things. Also, it's a great car if you are happy to tinker when things needs replacing, which they hardly ever do. Over both cars i've about 50k miles without any significant issues.

My one piece of advice, buy the best rubber you can and keep it in check (there is a reason why I am on my second one )

Any rate, as we're doing pictures

Edited by rowey200 on Friday 15th February 16:35

[grumpy52]

At least its not a mx5 !
Quite fun the mr2,but I collect my new shed in the morn, an Alpha 145 -1.8 twin spark

[Mr2Mike]

OpulentBob said:

Fair comment. Maybe more noticable on a Turbo but my N/A gave me nothing but absolute confidence in the bends

Without a doubt the N/A is easier to drive hard through the bends, though I had a similar level of confidence in my Turbo after I learned to use the throttle and could predict turbo lag etc. In the dry you really have to provoke them pretty hard to get them to unstick, and you can make swift progress without any drama at all.

In the wet I found mine was a slightly less tame animal that needed a bit more respect, though it wasn't exactly a death machine intent on killing you. If you did get the back end moving through clumsy use of the throttle mid bend, you did have to be pretty quick to catch it neatly though.

Pic of my Rev 2:


Pic of my Rev 2 after the heater pipes had fractured and allowed the coolant to leak out (quite a common fault, and a nasty job to fix). Unfortunately the subsequent overheating took out the headgasket, so it was engine out for a strip down and rebuild.

Edited by Mr2Mike on Friday 15th February 14:05

[danjama]

I absolutely adore mine. I feel horrible having it sit out in the rain.

It's not just a car.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/danjamafotos/83577821...

Edited by danjama on Friday 15th February 14:27

[Zircon]

I adore mine.

It is 20 years old this year and I have owned it for 10.....couldn't countenance selling it.....



Used to be an N/A which I ran a special ECU on - took it from 158 to 171 bhp with other mods.

I then transplanted a Rev3 Turbo at 270bhp into it - what an immense car it became then - still scares me how fast it goes.

The whole Turbo twitchiness thing is only relevant if you don't know how to drive appropriately to the road conditions. In everyone elses experience they are rapid on both straights and bends.

Such a bargain car - really want another just to give one a good home.

[yorkshireegg]

It's only been a little over a month since I p/x'd mine. Oh how I miss it. I feel I never really appreciated how quick it was until I got rid.

[ij!]

This was mine:



Due to the weak price they go for mine was better in bits so I broke it.

Best cheap motoring I have ever had, use a specialist and rather than your local garage and they are supremely economical to run.

With the aftermarket sidelights and headlamps fitted the style of the car is far from dated!

[mr2j]

Zircon said:

I adore mine.

It is 20 years old this year and I have owned it for 10.....couldn't countenance selling it.....



Used to be an N/A which I ran a special ECU on - took it from 158 to 171 bhp with other mods.

I then transplanted a Rev3 Turbo at 270bhp into it - what an immense car it became then - still scares me how fast it goes.

The whole Turbo twitchiness thing is only relevant if you don't know how to drive appropriately to the road conditions. In everyone elses experience they are rapid on both straights and bends.

Such a bargain car - really want another just to give one a good home.

Hi, had a bit of deja vu then realised I recognised your car from that thread on the OC about sill repair. Actually called up PBCM the other day on the strength of the photos you put up. Tad pricey though so will have to wait for now. Small world, nice motor

[M@1975]

One of the few Jap Sports cars of an era that I've never owned and con't quite work out why it never happened, MR2 and Supra are the real notable gaps in my history of ownership...

[Ej74]

I run my MR2 N/A as a trackday toy (6 successful days last year)
No running issues and started first time everytime and its road legal

Work in progress hence different coloured body panels ! Running braided lines, Toyo 888's, ARB's, Buckets, adjustable suspension, weighs under 1100 with fuel and t-bar glass

It will be sale very soon as soon as i have MOT work done !

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/Type-R74/20...
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/Type-R74/20...
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/Type-R74/25...

[Crunchy Nutter]

"157k motorway miles"? Blatant bullshirt.

[redroadster]

Really can,t believe that no car maker is making anything like this any more,surely there is a market for a car like this sub £20,000 come on dacia you can do it..............

[mjb1]

gofasterrosssco said:

All 3S-GE's (2.0L N/A engine) were worked on by Yamaha - you will often seen Yamaha on the cam pulley cover. The 'BEAMS' variant is a better all round version of the same engine. Not massively quicker, and needs to be pushed, but generally all-round improved. Its about right (power / torque and delivery wise) for the standard chassis, and the LSD in the final versions (most Rev 5's) makes an appreciable difference. As you say, very rare, and definetly not shed material..

Yes, the BEAMS engine is a bit special. My Altezza has one (they are probably a good, cheap source of black tops if they can be rearranged to mount transverse). It's a bit Jekyll and Hyde though - two engines in one. Up to 4k revs it drives just like any 'regular' 2l engine, then there's a flat spot from 4 to 5k, where it feels like it's all over. Past 5k it comes back to life again, and pulls really hard right to the red line (and feels like it wants to keep going - first time I hit the rev limiter it quite surprised me). I think they deliberately mapped the vvti to feel like that, I can't see why else they would make it so it feels flat and then you give a shove like a turbo coming in. You do need to keep the revs up to get the most of out it - it's rather mediocre below 5k, very different to the older 3s-ge engines. But it must be a hoot in a lighter car like the MR2.

There's a bloke somewhere in mainland europe that made a Caterham style kit car with a black top beams, which could be a good combination.

[ukzz4iroc]

These pictures of some of your MR2's has made me like them more and more. Fiercely handsome beasts and not dated a jot.

[Zircon]

mr2j said:

Hi, had a bit of deja vu then realised I recognised your car from that thread on the OC about sill repair. Actually called up PBCM the other day on the strength of the photos you put up. Tad pricey though so will have to wait for now. Small world, nice motor

Indeed it was I!

Cheers - yeah PBCM are pricey but do an awesome job....

[Itsallicanafford]

grumpy52 said:

At least its not a mx5 !
Quite fun the mr2,but I collect my new shed in the morn, an Alpha 145 -1.8 twin spark

....make sure you take a low loader with you....



Only joking...enjoy!

[Amirhussain]

willfinch36 said:

Had mine coming up to 4 years now... Only use it about once a week, but can't bare to part with it...
Running about 285bhp (Turbo of course)

Very nice, always been a fan of this shape MR2, and love the pop up headlights as well.

[Lemonyfresh]

Couldn't resist! Here's (was) mine!



Ahhhhhg! Never should have sold it! Awesome cars.
(Bad parking thread candidate? :P)
Edit: heres a better parked one!

Pic whoring yes, shameless....... Yes.

Edited by Lemonyfresh on Friday 15th February 17:49