RE: Shed Of The Week: Toyota MR2 GT
Discussion
soad said:
A mini-Ferrari ? 
"Grey Japanese second-hand imports may not pass UK emissions tests. (Turbos are all grey imports)."
http://classics.honestjohn.co.uk/reviews/toyota/mr...
Is that a myth?
Complete myth."Grey Japanese second-hand imports may not pass UK emissions tests. (Turbos are all grey imports)."
http://classics.honestjohn.co.uk/reviews/toyota/mr...
Is that a myth?
EDIT: I think the potential problem that article may be skirting around is a tester might try and test it as a UK car, which is not the correct procedure. It should be tested at whatever the default values are for the year, NOT the values of the UK car as it's a different engine. If it's tested correctly, it's not a problem.
The Fiat was all about mid range. Slow off the mark due to being front wheel drive then picked right up on the way to 100.
I had a basic tuned rev 2 turbo for 5 years. It made 288bhp at the wheels and ran low 13's art Santa pod all day, usually crossing the line at 105ish
That was totally stock internals, just bolt on mods like intercooler, boost controller, piggy back ecu, ct20 turbo, exhaust and de-cat.
Gutted when I sold it, 5 years of ownership and loved every minute of it. 5 years later and, as much as I miss it, it feels pretty stone aged.
I had a basic tuned rev 2 turbo for 5 years. It made 288bhp at the wheels and ran low 13's art Santa pod all day, usually crossing the line at 105ish
That was totally stock internals, just bolt on mods like intercooler, boost controller, piggy back ecu, ct20 turbo, exhaust and de-cat.
Gutted when I sold it, 5 years of ownership and loved every minute of it. 5 years later and, as much as I miss it, it feels pretty stone aged.
J4CKO said:
5.5 to sixty for the MR2, Fiat was 6 ish, but, liek you say, that will be down to drive layout as much as anything, I had a Fiat Coupe turbo and traction could sometimes be an issue, but it was better than a 220 bhp old school turbo FWD had any right to be in that respect, think it had some kind of LSD arrangement that helped, Viscodrive was it ?
Yep, a viscous LSD, which the MR2 also had. I think the very forwards biased weight distribution on the Coupe helped traction a lot.Steamer said:
This doesn't sit too well though:
I don't agree with Shed either, the whoosh of the turbo at 3k rpm and BOV from behind you really gives the Turbo some character. Unlike dull modern turbos which try to sound and drive like N/A cars.SHED said:
Our SOTW isn't a Turbo, which for some will be a plus point. It sounds better, you don't need the posh petrol, and 168hp in a mid-engine format will provide more than enough bants for most.
Sounds better? - The Turbo has a lovely chug on tick over and sounds great when used in anger.For shed money, a Rev 1/2 Turbo at £2k would be a much more exciting proposition than an N/A at £1k with rust issues.
TheJimi said:
Will I take a bath at resale if I spend 3.5k on a decent rev 3 turbo?
Yes - I'm surprised you even have to askLast person I know to buy one of those had spent twice it's purchase price fixing it within a month too - his was 'modded' (by a blind man with no spanners I reckon) tho ;0
Edited by 405dogvan on Friday 27th March 13:21
Sonic Shadow has always been my favourite combination. Not A fan of the rev5 spoiler as they do not flow with the lines of the car as much as the rev3/4 version. This particular example looks like it needs a lot of work with shoddy sills and rusting arches. Probably best part of £1000 to sort alone.
Engines in these are generally good if not exactly characterful. In Turbo guise they are incredibly quick but the higher the revs, the coarser the engine seemed to get in my opinion.
I solved that bunging in a nice V6, so with 320 normally aspirated horsepower it can be a bit of a beast that has also been responsible for quite a few scary moments.
Soon to go to its new owner before it kills me
Engines in these are generally good if not exactly characterful. In Turbo guise they are incredibly quick but the higher the revs, the coarser the engine seemed to get in my opinion.
I solved that bunging in a nice V6, so with 320 normally aspirated horsepower it can be a bit of a beast that has also been responsible for quite a few scary moments.
Soon to go to its new owner before it kills me
soad said:
"Grey Japanese second-hand imports may not pass UK emissions tests. (Turbos are all grey imports)."
http://classics.honestjohn.co.uk/reviews/toyota/mr...
Is that a myth?
It's not a myth but it's kinda like saying "second-hand cars can have hidden issues" http://classics.honestjohn.co.uk/reviews/toyota/mr...
Is that a myth?
The 'grey imports won't pass MOTs' thing probably started with some ludicrously tuned (remember that Japan had a thing for '220hp' for a long time) and de-catted car belching unburned fuel - if it's got (intact, proper) cats, it'll almost certainly pass (if not, there are ways to resolve it for the hour it needs to be resolved for!)
Of course it's all money spending...
Note: if we're talking the SVA that might be harder but cars already UK registered have done that already
Edited by 405dogvan on Friday 27th March 13:27
TheJimi said:
What do we think is happening with turbo values?
Going up? Staying as is?
Will I take a bath at resale if I spend 3.5k on a decent rev 3 turbo?
I think values will go up as neglected ones go for parts / scrap and they become more rare - look at the values of Mk1 MR2's these days. It wasn't that long ago when £1000 would get you an OK Mk1, now that barely gets you a rust bucket. Late model NA's in good condition seem to have gone up in value a little over the past year or so too. The difficult bit is buying a good one as there's a more neglected ones than there are decent ones for sale at any given time!Going up? Staying as is?
Will I take a bath at resale if I spend 3.5k on a decent rev 3 turbo?
TheJimi said:
What do we think is happening with turbo values?
Going up? Staying as is?
Will I take a bath at resale if I spend 3.5k on a decent rev 3 turbo?
Good ones (meaning the shell) are holding value and slowly creeping up as many get ruined with body kits and crap mods.Going up? Staying as is?
Will I take a bath at resale if I spend 3.5k on a decent rev 3 turbo?
Maintain it, feed it good rubber and good geometry and they are many smiles per mile.
SonicShadow said:
I think values will go up as neglected ones go for parts / scrap and they become more rare
err, yeah, that's how it works - however there are other factors.Cars drop in value until they're worth more in bits but there has to be DEMAND for the bits and that demand can be curbed by parts which are rare and which most cars can't donate (because they're knackered or incompatible or whatever). Put simply, people only pay good money for good cars which don't need work and which parts are available for.
Furthermore, the cars reach an age where "they need everything doing to them" - once someone has embarked on serious restoration (not just a bit of sill bodging) they are throwing thousands into the car and will want SOME of that back and that drives-up prices in itself.
The idea that you can buy a car, spend nothing on it and watch it's value rise really only applies to rare and expensive metal (money makes money) - you cannot buy a cheap and slightly tired sportscar and wait for it to blossom financially, it'll never happen.
405dogvan said:
TheJimi said:
Will I take a bath at resale if I spend 3.5k on a decent rev 3 turbo?
Yes - I'm surprised you even have to askLast person I know to buy one of those had spent twice it's purchase price fixing it within a month too - his was 'modded' (by a blind man with no spanners I reckon) tho ;0
But there are lots of breakers and cheap parts around, and someone like Pacific Works will help you a great deal in getting costs down.
405dogvan said:
err, yeah, that's how it works - however there are other factors.
Cars drop in value until they're worth more in bits but there has to be DEMAND for the bits and that demand can be curbed by parts which are rare and which most cars can't donate (because they're knackered or incompatible or whatever). Put simply, people only pay good money for good cars which don't need work and which parts are available for.
Furthermore, the cars reach an age where "they need everything doing to them" - once someone has embarked on serious restoration (not just a bit of sill bodging) they are throwing thousands into the car and will want SOME of that back and that drives-up prices in itself.
The idea that you can buy a car, spend nothing on it and watch it's value rise really only applies to rare and expensive metal (money makes money) - you cannot buy a cheap and slightly tired sportscar and wait for it to blossom financially, it'll never happen.
Slow down there friendo - I didn't say you could buy one and do nothing to it - I merely said that values generally have seen a slight increase in recent years for some variants and seems to be following a similar path to the Mk1. You know, the stuff I said in the bit you removed.Cars drop in value until they're worth more in bits but there has to be DEMAND for the bits and that demand can be curbed by parts which are rare and which most cars can't donate (because they're knackered or incompatible or whatever). Put simply, people only pay good money for good cars which don't need work and which parts are available for.
Furthermore, the cars reach an age where "they need everything doing to them" - once someone has embarked on serious restoration (not just a bit of sill bodging) they are throwing thousands into the car and will want SOME of that back and that drives-up prices in itself.
The idea that you can buy a car, spend nothing on it and watch it's value rise really only applies to rare and expensive metal (money makes money) - you cannot buy a cheap and slightly tired sportscar and wait for it to blossom financially, it'll never happen.
Hi all, MR2 owner here. On my 3rd in a row now. One Rev 3 NA and two Rev 2 turbos. I'm sure they are well known on here now.
They are extremely addictive cars which offer one of the best smiles per mile factors.
THE NA does stand its own ground, but the turbos are something else entirely. I was never afraid to push my NA through the bends.
Something else to consider is that pretty soon we may have buyers from the US looking to snap up our turbos at bargain prices, due to their import laws etc. This will help resale values in the coming years
I think a tidy MR2 is a keeper but a tired/rusty example is destined for the scrap/breakers in the next 5 years.
Not sure what else to say really. They are fantastic cars and can be enjoyed in standard form or mildly modified or extremely modified.
Here are mine in the order i've owned them!
IMG_2993 by danjama, on Flickr
MR2 Turbo by danjama, on Flickr
MR2 Turbo T-bar by danjama, on Flickr
If anybody would like info/advice feel free to message me
They are extremely addictive cars which offer one of the best smiles per mile factors.
THE NA does stand its own ground, but the turbos are something else entirely. I was never afraid to push my NA through the bends.
Something else to consider is that pretty soon we may have buyers from the US looking to snap up our turbos at bargain prices, due to their import laws etc. This will help resale values in the coming years
I think a tidy MR2 is a keeper but a tired/rusty example is destined for the scrap/breakers in the next 5 years.
Not sure what else to say really. They are fantastic cars and can be enjoyed in standard form or mildly modified or extremely modified.
Here are mine in the order i've owned them!
IMG_2993 by danjama, on FlickrMR2 Turbo by danjama, on FlickrMR2 Turbo T-bar by danjama, on FlickrIf anybody would like info/advice feel free to message me
On the MOT thing -
I think it's pre 94 imports do not require a CAT to pass as the mot tester only has a basic emissions test to carry out for it. It should pass unless very unhealthy.
After that a CAT will normally be required to get through.
PS I just sold my red rev 2 turbo for 2k and it was well looked after and well modified. Just to give you an idea. Good Rev 3 add a grand on top.
I think it's pre 94 imports do not require a CAT to pass as the mot tester only has a basic emissions test to carry out for it. It should pass unless very unhealthy.
After that a CAT will normally be required to get through.
PS I just sold my red rev 2 turbo for 2k and it was well looked after and well modified. Just to give you an idea. Good Rev 3 add a grand on top.
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