Toyota MR2 Turbo Rev 3 - Third time lucky?

[danllama]

So, I'm hoping those who followed my previous threads will forgive me for passing around MR2's like playing cards, but I promise you I always move them on to owners with good intentions, and I do plan on keeping this one for a while.

My Rev 2 was giving me itchy feet. I'd read and heard a lot on how improved the Revision 3 was. I was set to fly up to Aberdeen for another steel mist grey beauty, but after more probing and photo requests, found much too much rust for the price it was up for. Well the Rev 2 was advertised for sale now so I had to find something. I had actually started looking at E36's and 200SX's when I realised I wasn't ready to leave the MR2 fold yet.

Then I found a Rev 3 that ticked certain boxes - it was in London, and it was well priced, and it was clean underneath. The test drive assured me that I was doing the right thing, so I placed a deposit and started counting the days.

It's not (or should I say wasn't) my cup of tea aesthetically, but with this sort of market you can't pick and choose how your car looks. From what I can tell it's a border front bumper, border rear spats, and unknown side skirts. The alloys are much too form over function Dare RS 18", but at least they are properly staggered - 8" front and 9.5" rear respectively. Offsets are et20. I am almost certain I will have no trouble shifting these on to some scene kids. I quite like the rear and sides, but the front bumper i'm not a fan of, so may swap this back to a standard bumper with an Aeroware lip. I suppose the nicest thing I can say is I hate it less than when I first saw it. That said I HATE HATE HATE the lexus style rear lights, and already have an arrangement to collect some correct lights next week.

Mechanically it is sweet! Feels nice and tight, suspension looks clean, engine and gearbox clean. The cam cover is not as clean as i'd like so i'll need to investigate that.

It has a few modifications - Huge Blitz intake, 3" JP single exit exhaust straight from the turbo, Greddy intercooler and a mechanical boost controller and a Forge bov. Also a samco hose kit to give the bay some colour. There's a nice touchscreen stereo installed, as well as a turbo timer and Momo drift steering wheel.

To the point - this thing GOES. It just takes off. Boost is almost instant and unrelenting. 1st, 2nd, 3rd gears are savage. No more waiting for boost to pick up like in my Rev 2. I quite like the eventual kick in the back the Rev 2 gives, but this is something else!

Nothing else to add at the moment. The car runs great. It's actually everything I was hoping for and more on top. I'll be updating as I go as usual and hopefully it will soon be looking closer to how Mr Toyota intended. Thanks for reading.

Here's some pictures I took at the PH Sunday Service at Brands yesterday

Pistonheads Sunday Service by Dan Jama, on Flickr

Pistonheads Sunday Service by Dan Jama, on Flickr

Pistonheads Sunday Service by Dan Jama, on Flickr

[5harp3y]

apart from the front bumper and snorkel i think tat looks quite smart!

[danllama]

Cheers! Ah I forgot about the air scoop. That will probably be going as well. Not a fan and it increases your blind spot on shoulder checks.

I'm just not into massive rims with stretched tyres...But i do concede they suit the car well and don't ride half as bad as expected.

Edited by danllama on Monday 21st September 17:16

[rb5er]

I like the car other than the oversized alloys and rear lights. Snorkel is surely a good thing?

[SonicShadow]

danllama said:

Cheers! Ah I forgot about the air scoop. That will probably be going as well. Not a fan and it increases your blind spot on shoulder checks.

For the most part they are not functional, and actually detrimental to performance. MR2's are designed to take in air from the side vents (for intake and intercooler) and general engine bay cooling air flows from underneath the car and out of the engine lid. If the scoop is not sealed to the intake, then all it's doing is creating drag and stalling air around the intake.

[danllama]

SonicShadow said:

For the most part they are not functional, and actually detrimental to performance. MR2's are designed to take in air from the side vents (for intake and intercooler) and general engine bay cooling air flows from underneath the car and out of the engine lid. If the scoop is not sealed to the intake, then all it's doing is creating drag and stalling air around the intake.

Yes mate this is exactly what i've read. I imagine it's not doing much good as it's NOT sealed to the intake. It also disrupts the nice lines of the car.

Lexus lights are a pet hate of mine, I literally had replacements arranged on the day I bought the car

[SonicShadow]

If it's not sealed to the intake, then at best it's just creating drag while looking awful. At worst, it could be causing higher intake temps as it's stalling the air around the intake. At least it's an easy thing to remove / replace. I know someone that might have a white inspection panel actually - shall I ask for you?

[danllama]

SonicShadow said:

If it's not sealed to the intake, then at best it's just creating drag while looking awful. At worst, it could be causing higher intake temps as it's stalling the air around the intake. At least it's an easy thing to remove / replace. I know someone that might have a white inspection panel actually - shall I ask for you?

Ooh yes please, definitely

[Spantney]

Hey Dan,

I was looking at Mr2 Tubbys in the classifieds the other day and I thought I saw your Rev 2 up for sale!

Must admit even with the questionable rear lights, scoop and alloys, this one looks to be a pretty tidy example Look forward to see what you have planned!

Cheers, Ant

[danllama]

Spantney said:

Hey Dan,

I was looking at Mr2 Tubbys in the classifieds the other day and I thought I saw your Rev 2 up for sale!

Must admit even with the questionable rear lights, scoop and alloys, this one looks to be a pretty tidy example Look forward to see what you have planned!

Cheers, Ant

Cheers Ant, happy to have you along for the ride again!

The paintwork looks better in pictures than it actually is, but mechanically it seems sound so far. No nasty surprises. I need to get it in the air and cleaned/protected before winter.

I've already given the rear arches a good clean as they were full of mud!!! Not sure why owners fail to clean the rear arches but it will only lead to one thing

[danllama]

Oh I forgot to mention there's an EMS boost gauge which are from the states I think, and is a digital gauge that sits in the OEM location. I love it.

Not my dash, I have white lockwood dials:



BTW does -20 vacuum sound about right on idle?

[Elesmart]

Congratulations Dan :-)

Having followed your rev 2 thread with plenty of interest (and seeing it for sale online) I'm not surprised you finally made the switch. Nice looking rev 3 you seem to have found yourself. I'm still considering a rev 3 to move on from my 2. But I just can't bring myself to get rid of mine. I enjoy it too much and it's just too clean!

It's a shame you're so far away from me. I'd offer to meet up for a drive and photo's if you were.

I will again follow this thread with interest.

Elesmart

[cirian75]

oohhh, nice

Liked the Turbo MR2.

But why the hell did Toyota not officially import them?

[kaveney]

Nice Rev 3 I miss my old one and the power

[SonicShadow]

cirian75 said:

oohhh, nice

Liked the Turbo MR2.

But why the hell did Toyota not officially import them?

Not sure, price maybe? Even the UK market cars were built in Japan at the same factory.

[cirian75]

SonicShadow said:

cirian75 said:

oohhh, nice

Liked the Turbo MR2.

But why the hell did Toyota not officially import them?

Not sure, price maybe? Even the UK market cars were built in Japan at the same factory.

It was a sub contact to Yamaha iirc? so yeah, same factory.

[danllama]

Elesmart said:

Congratulations Dan :-)

Having followed your rev 2 thread with plenty of interest (and seeing it for sale online) I'm not surprised you finally made the switch. Nice looking rev 3 you seem to have found yourself. I'm still considering a rev 3 to move on from my 2. But I just can't bring myself to get rid of mine. I enjoy it too much and it's just too clean!

It's a shame you're so far away from me. I'd offer to meet up for a drive and photo's if you were.

I will again follow this thread with interest.

Elesmart

Thanks mate. My Rev 2 was in great condition. I was in two minds but what pushed me was that my previous rev 2 tintop was modified and it would have cost me more to modify my grey one than to just buy a Rev 3. It just made sense, especially before i became too attached. I miss that colour already though, never been a fan of white. I can tell you if you feel your rev 2 lacks in any areas, the Rev 3 probably makes up for them. It's a much bigger difference than I expected.

Where are you exactly? Are you on the OC and IMOC?

cirian, although they are all imports insurance is very reasonable.

Kaveney: It was you and others going on about the bloody power that made me do it

Edited by danllama on Wednesday 23 September 15:39

[Elesmart]

Nice one Dan. I'm in South Wales and am on the IMOC but there isn't much going on in the region so I never use it.

I hope this rev 3 brings you as much happiness as the others.

Elesmart

[BuzzBravado]

danllama said:

BTW does -20 vacuum sound about right on idle?

Not sure, but its irrelevant anyway. If it were too strong (low) it would stall and if it were close to ATM then it would just idle faster. As long as it is idling then its fine.

[Shnozz]

I remember when I was in my early 20s and a mate of mine bought an Mr Tubby. The thing smoked me in my TVR and I was simply staggered at how much car you got for the money. Always had a soft spot for them afterwards - great looking bargain rapid car.