Toyota MR2 GTS Revision 2

Toyota MR2 GTS Revision 2

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danjama

Original Poster:

5,728 posts

141 months

Saturday 19th April 2014
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Hi everyone, I sold my much adored Revision 3 NA one week ago after 1.5 years of ownership:

IMG_2991 by danjama, on Flickr

I actually decided to sell the car as I'd moved in to East London and my insurance rocketed. I planned to go and buy a Corolla to mooch about in, but then my insurers gave a very curious Daniel a very reasonable quote on a GTS and I couldn't resist.

Although I got a bit of dust in my eye as it drove away, I was happy with the condition of the car when it left me and I am sure the new owner is a proper enthusiast, and so I looked forward to finally picking up my own MR2 turbo! The owner was kind enough to hold the car for me without a deposit being left, and exactly one week later, true to my word, i picked it up with cash in hand.

It was not my intention to get another red '2, but I knew from the test drive that this red tintop was my turbo. Been enjoying it so far, done 250 pleasure only miles since Wednesday, including an entertaining night blasting about Essex with some friends in their Jap turbo-mobiles. I'm in love with this car.

The bodywork needs attention (paint peel on front passenger wing) but mechanically it is spot on. It has recently had the ct26 turbo reconditioned, a new clutch and new cambelt. It drives brilliantly. I can't believe the difference in power compared to my old NA. It's ballistic and quite addictive! So nothing needs doing right now, but the rear tyres are almost on their limit so I will be replacing them asap.

In terms of mods, not many. A Greddy intercooler, a Kakimoto exhaust (with bung thank god) and some tatty Sparco 16" alloys that I will have refurbished when I get sick of looking at them as they are now. The interior has the factory Recaros with the fishnet headrest, and a stylish Momo wheel and gearknob.

Only two pictures so far i'm afraid, been too busy playing! The first picture is immediately after arriving home from pickin it up. Was a late one as went down to Brighton after work.





Very fking annoyingly some fking fk scraped their stbox along my car while I was enjoying a fry up in a cafe on Good Friday. Was almost in tears when i got back to the car and saw it. No note left of course. So i spent much of yesterday afternoon trying to remove the scratch. It's much better now, but still noticeable up close. These people make me sick. I'm just glad the car already has bodywork issues. If it was my NA I would have been livid, as the bodywork was perfect.

Not wanting to end on a negative, so I will say that I am looking forward to owning this car. It's a sublime experience. I'm hoping to make a eurotrip and some cross country trips this year, and hopefully it will stay reliable and healthy. And on that note I'm taking it for a health check and a service on Tuesday. I will see you all at the May South East Gathering! beer

Thanks for reading.

Edited by danjama on Saturday 19th April 20:13

danjama

Original Poster:

5,728 posts

141 months

Monday 21st April 2014
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Well, the engine developed a blowing from the turbo area yesterday so replacing the turbo gaskets is the first job frown

Previous owner recently installed the turbo...mad

danjama

Original Poster:

5,728 posts

141 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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No interest or advice at all!? Where's all the petrolheads?

Sobored

128 posts

154 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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Blimey! It's been 1.5 years ? I remember your original thread on getting your first MR2.

Christ, time just flys by.

Oh...lovley car by the way smile

D4MJT

1,253 posts

157 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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Do you have any current pics?

Get the turbo sorted out?

I love the SW20, great looking cars.

danjama

Original Poster:

5,728 posts

141 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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Tell me about it - it really does seem like yesterday. And it seems to go faster as you get older!!

And cheers - can't wait to get the exhaust blow sorted. Probably going to fit a decat at the same time. Apparently gets the ct26 spooling a lot easier.

danjama

Original Poster:

5,728 posts

141 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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D4MJT said:
Do you have any current pics?

Get the turbo sorted out?

I love the SW20, great looking cars.
Yeah they really are one of the best looking cars imo. And the tintop look is really growing on me.

I'll get pics when I'm sorting the turbo gaskets.

Spantney

334 posts

154 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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Sad to hear you got the rid of the N/A dude, I really enjoyed your thread on it.

Still, awesome to see you've got yourself another one! If you fancy popping over to Southend sometime drop me a PM and I'll bring mine out, there's a couple of decent roads around Wakering and Chelmsford.

Ant smile

TheRealFingers99

1,996 posts

127 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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Nice car -- I prefer the tin tops and sunroofs to the targa tops. Have a Rev 1 Turbo as a daily runner myself (but the bodywork is much worse than yours!).

danjama

Original Poster:

5,728 posts

141 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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Cheers Ant I do miss my NA but once I got a quote on the turbo to match the NA the writing was on the wall. I was a bit tempted to keep it after refreshing the rad but the wheels were already in motion...

Now im like a kid who's been told he can't play with his toy, as I'm not using the car whilst it has an exhaust gasket leak!

Will give you a message about a drive then. I do enjoy Essex roads mostly. Got any pics of yours?


danjama

Original Poster:

5,728 posts

141 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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TheRealFingers99 said:
Nice car -- I prefer the tin tops and sunroofs to the targa tops. Have a Rev 1 Turbo as a daily runner myself (but the bodywork is much worse than yours!).
Cool any pics? How long have you had it?

TheRealFingers99

1,996 posts

127 months

Thursday 24th April 2014
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Here it is after I'd fitted some Rev 3 wheels (actually broken down here --ran out of electricity -- the alternator is pretty much the only thing that's failed so far, apart from the rheostat for the binnacle lights).

Here's a pic of my replacement "cancer bar"



actually jigged up (this was a pre-production one, to take a working jig from) -- on another car. Mine isn't that rusty!

It's a sweet old thing, gentle and poised until you loose the rear end, when you have to react quickly!

Thus far I've replaced the alternator, polybushed the rear end, fitted new drop links, popped on some fairly decent Konis, changed the wheels, put on a set of s/h Goodridge lines. I'm leaving the cosmetics till after I've finished the suspension rebuild.

Got it last June for £560 with a little tax and MOT!





Edited by TheRealFingers99 on Thursday 24th April 02:00

danjama

Original Poster:

5,728 posts

141 months

Thursday 24th April 2014
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Glad to hear you are looking after her and that is a great price!! Well done. My alternator went on my NA - i think they are very prone to dying from rain water.

Think I will also replace bushes. Also found one of the front dampers leaking yesterday when i had it up on a ramp, so will need to do something with the suspension soon. Don't really want coilovers to be honest. I actually quite like the ride as it is so may just replace the front two units with brand new...

Forgot to check my cancer bars so will make sure i do over the weekend.

Here is a pic of the rear end, showing off the Kakimoto single exit exhaust with bung fitted. It is extremely loud without the bung. Great around tunnels but not so fun on the A13.

I've decided I will be fitting a decat next week at the same time as replacing the turbo gaskets. Probably a Berk one as it has a built-in flexi. Apparently this gets the turbo spooling easier. driving

MR2 Turbo by danjama, on Flickr

TheRealFingers99

1,996 posts

127 months

Thursday 24th April 2014
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For quality it has to be Berk or KO -- there's some pretty dreadful looking cheap de-cat stuff out there. But there's a rumour that Berk will be stopping production soon (not so many cars left, lack of demand, etc.)

danjama

Original Poster:

5,728 posts

141 months

Friday 25th April 2014
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I would love to go for a Berk - i have until next week to persuade the girlfriend that it's a required purchase. I shall start by buying her a pair of shoes biggrin

james_gt3rs

4,816 posts

190 months

Friday 25th April 2014
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Red is definitely the best colour for MR2s! How's it drive compared to the old one?

danjama

Original Poster:

5,728 posts

141 months

Friday 25th April 2014
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The difference is night and day - i didn't believe it could be so different. Apart from all the new noises, it accelerates much more rapidly, and feels very dramatic when you put your foot down. It has new pads all round which need bedding in but they feel nice and progressive. I haven't had a chance to push it on a nice twisty B road yet, but it feels great on the 16" wheels with 45 profile tyres. Much better than the 17" 40 on my NA. Feels planted at high speed even though people say they become floaty. And the Recaros are really comfortable and hold you well. The steering has a nice weight and is pretty accurate.

One of the nice things is it will accelerate well in most situations, compared to the NA where in some situations it took a bit of time, for example in 5th at 65-70 you can accelerate to overtaking speed in a really short time thanks to the turbo.

I can't wait to sort the exhaust blow and take it to my favourite B road.

The important question is - where do I put the PH smiley which has just arrived?

danjama

Original Poster:

5,728 posts

141 months

Saturday 26th April 2014
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Here are some pics of the interior, which has the factory Recaros and a Momo Champion steering wheel:

Untitled by danjama, on Flickr

Untitled by danjama, on Flickr

Have a friend from the owners club coming over in the morning to try and trace which gasket is blowing.

danjama

Original Poster:

5,728 posts

141 months

Saturday 26th April 2014
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This is as far as I got with it today biggrin

Untitled by danjama, on Flickr

I really think the rear light clusters could do with freshening up. Any ideas how to do this? scratchchin

TheAngryDog

12,392 posts

208 months

Saturday 26th April 2014
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Quite like these, nice car Dan.