RE: SOTW: Mk1 Toyota MR2

[Noisy]

I had one of these a few years back, great fun little car, went rather well and was comparable to the MX5 my friend had bought at a similar time. Mine was killed by the rust, the MOT man said don't bother bringing it back next year, it's not worth it.

Going up a little in price, I only paid £250 for mine with a bit of MOT and clean arches, the sills do rot behind the body kit so worth looking out for.

Do prefer the MX5, but these are great for the money.

[Riggers]

A little digging our end has turned up some info: The car has sadly been sold yesterday (well, happily for the seller), but for less than £500.

Looks like somebody's bagged a bit of a bargain...

[RobM77]

I'd probably have paid £1000 for that.

I had one of the last mk1 MR2s made - mine was in Mica Blue I absolutely loved it.

[clarksonisawilly]

Riggers said:

A little digging our end has turned up some info: The car has sadly been sold yesterday (well, happily for the seller), but for less than £500.

Looks like somebody's bagged a bit of a bargain...

bks. I wanted it!

[pSyCoSiS]

Quite a quirky car - wouldn't mind having one for a messing around on a track

[varsas]

Always wondered what these were like, yet another car I haven't got round to owning yet...7k+ rpm must have blown peoples minds back in '84?

Top 10 SOTW ever, maybe even top 5...

Edited by varsas on Friday 30th July 11:21

[Kentish]

I have owned a couple of these which are somewhat larger but a similar design.

These too are great cars but have a galvanised powder coated chassis and plastic body panels ....no rust!

In fact many websites says it is a copy of the MR2

[sunsurfer]

Bernard80 said:

YAY great SOTW.

I love my shed, I have a blue MK1, it is unmolested and well after a bit of brake work has passed its MOT.



I do love it, great drive, the pop up lights never stop entertaining me I love the Tbar roof, I love the engine noise, I love the handling, I love everything

It also never fails to impress mostly ten year old boys, I have been yelled at from groups of kids what a cool car it is, always gets attention. I just wished they made this car still so I could have a new version with P/S.

I've had three of these over the past 6 years. My current one is just like yours (see above). These are fantastic sports cars that ride, handle and perform beautifully. For a 25 year old car they are strangely totally reliable. Mine cost £700 and generally doesn't cost anything every year except servicing, MOT and occasional welding. My T-bar doesn't leak so it is possible to get a non leaking one. You will also be surprised at just how much you can fit into the 2 boots (although yes you do need a low maintenance girlfriend).

Toyota did exactly what they should have done by reverting to the MR2 MK1 template when they designed the MR2 MK3.

[RobM77]

sunsurfer said:

Toyota did exactly what they should have done by reverting to the MR2 MK1 template when they designed the MR2 MK3.

The on paper stats are spookily similar - same weight, same suspension design, similar power etc.

After seeing this thread I'm really tempted to buy one It's the one car I regret selling the most. I've waved goodbye to other cars I've loved such as my Celica, my Caterham, my 328i sport coupe, but I was genuinely upset when my mk1 MR2 was driven off into the sunset. I was convinced into selling it by my parents If G519 OGT is still out there I'll have it back off you straight away!

[TheYeti]

I have had a couple of these in the past, the first one being one of the first hundred shipped to this country (verified). Was a red B-reg with the original hexagonal alloys and I loved it, but I had it for no more than 3 months and the big ends went! Then, after a new engine, I changed the shocks to KYB's and then hit an oil patch in the rain at 25mph and suddenly found out how old mid-engined cars handled.....instant write-off as I hit the armco the other side of the road....gutted.....

So, went and bought a G reg T-bar in blue and never had a problem. Bomb proof, no leaks, rust was fixed and WaxOil-ed to within an inch of its life and only really got rid due the ownership prospect of a MkIII Roadster, which I still own (via a "Millenium Edition" Lotus Elise along the way....)

Miss the old wedge even in to this day...was revvy, mechanically sound, went more than well enough, had a lovely sound, handled well, in an old fashioned rolly poly way, electrics were safe, the gearchange was really, really sweet (even more so than my MkIII actually) and although I love my MkIII, I would happily have one of these again as a Sunday runabout....the Supercharger would be my weapon of choice now though....if you can find one.

LOVE these little things......ahhhhh.....happy memories.......

[Bernard80]

sunsurfer said:

Bernard80 said:

YAY great SOTW.

I love my shed, I have a blue MK1, it is unmolested and well after a bit of brake work has passed its MOT.



I do love it, great drive, the pop up lights never stop entertaining me I love the Tbar roof, I love the engine noise, I love the handling, I love everything

It also never fails to impress mostly ten year old boys, I have been yelled at from groups of kids what a cool car it is, always gets attention. I just wished they made this car still so I could have a new version with P/S.

I've had three of these over the past 6 years. My current one is just like yours (see above). These are fantastic sports cars that ride, handle and perform beautifully. For a 25 year old car they are strangely totally reliable. Mine cost £700 and generally doesn't cost anything every year except servicing, MOT and occasional welding. My T-bar doesn't leak so it is possible to get a non leaking one. You will also be surprised at just how much you can fit into the 2 boots (although yes you do need a low maintenance girlfriend).

Toyota did exactly what they should have done by reverting to the MR2 MK1 template when they designed the MR2 MK3.

Nope mine doesnt leak either and I have been away camping with tent and equipment in mine, I must be a fairly low maintenance female though. :laughing:

I do love all the MKs though but the MK 3 does'nt have pop up head lights. Very very important feature IMO.

[snotrag]

QuattroTom on this forum has a really nice one, a black hardtop with a Woodsport 3s-GTe (the Mk2 turbo engine) conversion, I think it must be about 240bhp. Fun car.

Seriously considering changing my MX5- for one of these.

[Stevesh]

RobM77 said:

If G519 OGT is still out there I'll have it back off you straight away!

The enquiry is complete

The vehicle details for G519 OGT are:

Date of Liability 01 09 2010
Date of First Registration 14 02 1990
Year of Manufacture 1990
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1587CC
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type Petrol
Export Marker Not Applicable
Vehicle Status Licence Not Due
Vehicle Colour BLUE
Vehicle Type Approval

Vehicle Excise Duty Rate for vehicle
6 Months Rate £112.75
12 Months Rate £205.00


Looks like it is still alive!

Steve

[schmokin1]

now contemplating life after my Mr2 as I hace decided that I need to retire it at the next MOT. Got a chim for weekend thrills but I will my my everyday midship runabout!

BTW if anyone needs a good 105k engine/box (no fifth gear issues) plus other bits (new handbrake cables, font shocks, good interior, good tyres on mk3 alloys) as a drive away package to break, get in touch!

[RobM77]

Stevesh said:

RobM77 said:

If G519 OGT is still out there I'll have it back off you straight away!

The enquiry is complete

The vehicle details for G519 OGT are:

Date of Liability 01 09 2010
Date of First Registration 14 02 1990
Year of Manufacture 1990
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1587CC
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type Petrol
Export Marker Not Applicable
Vehicle Status Licence Not Due
Vehicle Colour BLUE
Vehicle Type Approval

Vehicle Excise Duty Rate for vehicle
6 Months Rate £112.75
12 Months Rate £205.00


Looks like it is still alive!

Steve

Thanks Hopefully this will show up on Google searches now. I am completely serious about finding it again If it's still in good condition (it was mint when I sold it - almost showroom condition), I'll buy it straight away.

[OlberJ]

Absolute rust buckets. Completely underpowered engines and are just far too ugly.





Good god do i miss it. The Mk3 is miles ahead in handling but the Mk1 was just so raw. Brilliant fun.

[Philbar]

Great SOTW... Long time reader, rare poster, but a good chance to post a piccy of mine, had it 9 years, done almost 50k since getting it, only repairs are routine, servicing, drop links ball joints etc, and offside front wing after a delightful Stagecoach bus driver decided to belt it and promptly drive off! Unburstable engine, fantastic handling, everything a middle aged man needs!

Been around Europe in it, 2 and 3 weeks packed wisely is easily do-able, only drawback when touring is the piss poor tiny tank... 250 -300 mile range..

[dbdb]

They're not my kind of car at all - I'm a big car man, but I do still like these. They have real character rather than being bland but efficient, and as a Japanese car that makes them almost unique.

[OlberJ]

Philbar said:

Great SOTW... Long time reader, rare poster, but a good chance to post a piccy of mine, had it 9 years, done almost 50k since getting it, only repairs are routine, servicing, drop links ball joints etc, and offside front wing after a delightful Stagecoach bus driver decided to belt it and promptly drive off! Unburstable engine, fantastic handling, everything a middle aged man needs!

Been around Europe in it, 2 and 3 weeks packed wisely is easily do-able, only drawback when touring is the piss poor tiny tank... 250 -300 mile range..

Nice choice.

[J4CKO]

Funny how in the day these were seen as a bit of a girls car, blokes generally would be seen dead in them except for the ones that would probably drive Minis now.

Amusing how when they get a bit ratty, rusty and old the Petrolheads kind of adopt them and they become acceptable.

I have always quite liked them but I knew a lad who had one at the time (about 88), I had a Mk1 Golf GTI and viewed his choice as suspect for a Heterosexual male, in fact the Golf wasnt quite there, a 2.8i Capri was what was required back then to convey your hairy chested manliness.

White ones do have a hint of some Morphy Richards heritage though.