MR2 owners - How many have you owned?
Discussion
toxo said:
L174YVV was my blue MK2 rev3 turbo, I was the first UK owner and had it for 6 years.
Up for sale - http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...Red Devil said:
Up for sale - http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...
280bhp+, MR car with LSD for £3600. Really can't argue with that value for money.
3 and a half years without a mr2 the itch never left me, settled for a little 1992 NA T Bar instead of a turbo this time. Such a hoot to drive and with only 156bhp they don't feel that slow even after jumping out of a 330ci auto. Had to many issues with the BM so touch wood I should look forward to some jap reliability.
Plans would be a air scoop and induction kit only problem is these have the catayalic converter and if removed is very difficult to pass the emission test without you'd be talking an extra 6 bhp I've read like the JDM rev2. Any ideas would a dummy cat be good enough for mot?
I've only had the one, but i've had it for nearly 16 years.
Great cabin, sense of occasion, grip.
Can still catch out the careless driver (meaning me) on a track, both on entry to and exit from corners.
rev2s are really a GT car, quite a chunk heavier than the rev1 or rev3.
I have the 2gr engine which is simply amazing in the sw20 chassis. Think of the evora engine and gearbox in a 25 year old car. It's a hoot
Great cabin, sense of occasion, grip.
Can still catch out the careless driver (meaning me) on a track, both on entry to and exit from corners.
rev2s are really a GT car, quite a chunk heavier than the rev1 or rev3.
I have the 2gr engine which is simply amazing in the sw20 chassis. Think of the evora engine and gearbox in a 25 year old car. It's a hoot
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkfVnkFzeZk
2GR MR2 on smoking tire but your man cant drive! I read that the rev2 weight is 1180kg add the t bar is an extra 12kg no air con, air bag or abs on mine, these engines certainly don't lose much bhp after all the years feels light and responsive.
2GR MR2 on smoking tire but your man cant drive! I read that the rev2 weight is 1180kg add the t bar is an extra 12kg no air con, air bag or abs on mine, these engines certainly don't lose much bhp after all the years feels light and responsive.
Edited by dufunk on Tuesday 23 June 10:29
dufunk said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkfVnkFzeZk
2GR MR2 on smoking tire but your man cant drive! I read that the rev2 weight is 1180kg add the t bar is an extra 12kg no air con, air bag or abs on mine, these engines certainly don't lose much bhp after all the years feels light and responsive.
Check this one - it's Gouky's track 2gr on an AEM ECU. 2GR MR2 on smoking tire but your man cant drive! I read that the rev2 weight is 1180kg add the t bar is an extra 12kg no air con, air bag or abs on mine, these engines certainly don't lose much bhp after all the years feels light and responsive.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTQHleR0O0A
(skip to 1 minute to avoid the dyno noise making session)
Quite a rocket ship.
The majority of the converted 2gr cars still use the original Toyota (sienna/highlander) ECU and as such aren't optimally tuned for their use in an MR2 (meaning improved intake, free-er exhaust and lightened fly).
Edited by gavsdavs on Tuesday 23 June 18:26
That's proper quick more suited to SW20 chassis than 3SGTE you would think the more progressive power helps. How come you don't see any conversions with the 2GRFSE out of IS350 hard to get? 305bhp is it due to direct injection and different headers/ecu?
Edited by dufunk on Tuesday 23 June 16:42
dufunk said:
That's proper quick more suited to SW20 chassis than 3SGTE you would think the more progressive power helps. How come you don't see any conversions with the 2GRFSE out of IS350 hard to get? 305bhp is it due to direct injection and different headers/ecu?
Different bellhousing pattern. 2GR-FSE is usually longtitudinal mount (I think).Edited by dufunk on Tuesday 23 June 16:42
I have a 1987 Mk 1 to which I fitted the engine, 6-speed box & helical lsd from a Levin BZR.
That was the final evolution of the 1.6 engine : 20 valves and individual throttle bodies.
It's no 2GR, but it revs to 8300 rpm, and 165 hp in less than a ton is enough for fun.
At 60 mph you have a choice of 4 gears
One very minor issue : the factory cruise control is comically badly calibrated for the new engine/ITB's and gearing.
If you hit a rise in 6th below about 65 mph, the cruise doesn't open the throttles wide enough, fast enough. This means you lose speed until the butterflies are well open, by which time you are usually over the crest and heading for licence losing speeds, while it slowly winds off the throttle again.
That was the final evolution of the 1.6 engine : 20 valves and individual throttle bodies.
It's no 2GR, but it revs to 8300 rpm, and 165 hp in less than a ton is enough for fun.
At 60 mph you have a choice of 4 gears
One very minor issue : the factory cruise control is comically badly calibrated for the new engine/ITB's and gearing.
If you hit a rise in 6th below about 65 mph, the cruise doesn't open the throttles wide enough, fast enough. This means you lose speed until the butterflies are well open, by which time you are usually over the crest and heading for licence losing speeds, while it slowly winds off the throttle again.
AW111 said:
I have a 1987 Mk 1 to which I fitted the engine, 6-speed box & helical lsd from a Levin BZR.
That was the final evolution of the 1.6 engine : 20 valves and individual throttle bodies.
It's no 2GR, but it revs to 8300 rpm, and 165 hp in less than a ton is enough for fun.
That must be quite lively - nice upgrade...That was the final evolution of the 1.6 engine : 20 valves and individual throttle bodies.
It's no 2GR, but it revs to 8300 rpm, and 165 hp in less than a ton is enough for fun.
Keeping the engine to a factory 1600 makes registration and insurance so much easier here in Aus , and it is now quite nippy.
Traffic lights are definitely not it's forte - peak torque is at 5,600 rpm, so you need a lot of clutch slip or wheelspin to get off the line quickly.
I actually started out looking for a six-speed, because the standard box has a hole between 2nd and 3rd : it's ok when pressing on, but cruising through the mountains it was annoying.
Then (as you do), I decided if I had to get a box ex-Japan, why not get an engine as well? In fact, why not 1/2 a car?
I am fortunate to be part of the classic rally fraternity, so the only expensive bit was importing the half-cut from Japan.
I did most of the spannering, but fabricating mounts etc. was done at mate's rates by a couple of friends.
The only tricky bit of the conversion is modifying the gearbox to bring the selector shaft out the front. With the help of a very friendly (US) dealership, I managed to use some selector components from a celica box so I only had to modify the case.
, and it is now quite nippy.Traffic lights are definitely not it's forte - peak torque is at 5,600 rpm, so you need a lot of clutch slip or wheelspin to get off the line quickly.
I actually started out looking for a six-speed, because the standard box has a hole between 2nd and 3rd : it's ok when pressing on, but cruising through the mountains it was annoying.
Then (as you do), I decided if I had to get a box ex-Japan, why not get an engine as well? In fact, why not 1/2 a car?
I am fortunate to be part of the classic rally fraternity, so the only expensive bit was importing the half-cut from Japan.
I did most of the spannering, but fabricating mounts etc. was done at mate's rates by a couple of friends.
The only tricky bit of the conversion is modifying the gearbox to bring the selector shaft out the front. With the help of a very friendly (US) dealership, I managed to use some selector components from a celica box so I only had to modify the case.
Mine is going into the garage at somepoint this week for a load of work. Think I've cracked a ringland so an engine rebuild, keeping it on standard internals though. Got a Garrett GT2876R to go on it though so will hopefully make a nice amount of power.
Also getting the sills done as the passenger one is completely rotten and the drivers one is cracked (first lowered car, too quick over a speedbump when I first got it). Got a load of goodies too like Man in Dandism mats (the striped ones) and cloth seats.
Also getting the sills done as the passenger one is completely rotten and the drivers one is cracked (first lowered car, too quick over a speedbump when I first got it). Got a load of goodies too like Man in Dandism mats (the striped ones) and cloth seats.
hygt2 said:
Is it just the time of the year or do I find the value of decent MR2 Rev 2 on the rise? There also seems to be less MR2 Rev 2 for sale.
They're probably a bit seasonal, but there are fewer and fewer good cars out there - more have hidden gremlins and history you wouldn't want. They're still pretty damn cheap for an average one.dufunk said:
4age 20v is up there with the best sounding 4 cyl engines even better it singing behind your ear! MK2's are on the rise maybe 5 years ago you seen a good few about but not anymore, they just don't design cars like them anymore so eye catching.
There's a guy in NZ who is/was making "9AGE" kits. Pistons, rods and crank to fit a modified 7AFE block, keep the 4AGE head, easy 190+ hp from 1.9 l, more if boosted.One day...
I love coming back to this thread. The one thing that perplexes me about values, is how cheap they are in relation to other cars which are nowhere near as interesting/fun/reliable etc (subjective stuff i guess).
I think this is partly down to having two seats and also being harder to drift. (Yes you guessed it, i'm thinking of GTST's, S14's etc which can be silly money).
Anyway, here is my 3rd MR2, a Rev 2 Turbo in steel mist grey, as it stands now and after a good polish yesterday.
Not sure how long i will keep this one. If i had a garage id leave it in there until values rise. As i don't have a garage it's my only car and I drive it hard and regularly.
MR2 Turbo T-bar by Dan Jama, on Flickr
I think this is partly down to having two seats and also being harder to drift. (Yes you guessed it, i'm thinking of GTST's, S14's etc which can be silly money).
Anyway, here is my 3rd MR2, a Rev 2 Turbo in steel mist grey, as it stands now and after a good polish yesterday.
Not sure how long i will keep this one. If i had a garage id leave it in there until values rise. As i don't have a garage it's my only car and I drive it hard and regularly.
MR2 Turbo T-bar by Dan Jama, on FlickrGassing Station | Japanese Chat | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff