Shed Of The Week: Toyota MR2 GT
You'll have to go to Hull and back for this MR2 but it might just be worth the trip
Why aren't more cars painted Sonic Shadow?
Despite his wife's remarkable, not to say disturbing, physical resemblance to Jeremy Clarkson, Shed is persevering with the relationship. In fact, he is working on it, starting with a lovely driving trip to Beachy Head this weekend with his beloved spouse at the wheel. As we speak, he is tuning up the handbrake cable by substantially lightening it and installing a quick-release passenger seat belt.
The last time Shed made this trip with his missus was back in 1999, when he was the proud owner of a battered Rev 3 Toyota MR2. It was nowhere near as nice as the SOTW you see here, a worthy example of the much-favoured Revision 5 model. That means it's got the better interior, the leather wheel and the rather fetching (as they go) adjustable rear spoiler. It's a T-Bar too, so you've got detachable roof panels. And the Sonic Shadow paint scheme is regarded by those in the know as one of the best on offer for this model.
Most of the rust has been tended to...
The suspension mods brought in by Toyota on the Rev 2/3 were designed to cater for 'drivers whose reflexes were not those of Formula 1 drivers'. They tamed the MR2's snap oversteer and gave it a more benign understeery quality, but it's all relative: at the end of the day this is a rear-driven, mid-engined sportster, so it'll still blow your skirt up whenever you ask it to. And its wet-weather manners are impeccable. The Toyota beats the Mazda on comfort too: quite long gearing makes these MR2s surprisingly usable and comfy as long distance tourers.
The list of headaches is gratifyingly short. Doors rust behind the cards: put that down to leaky window seals. Sills crumble: blame muck-retaining undertrays and blocked drain plugs. Alternators are a bit susceptible to water damage. The cambelt change is not quick or easy, but UK MR2 owners are blessed by the presence of many excellent specialists who'll do this job, and many others like clutch replacement (simultaneous skim or replacement of flywheel recommended) for three-fifths of naff all.
Superb 20th century engineering. And the Humber
The owner of this MR2 is clearly an enthusiast. He presents a long-term car on which nearly all the work has been done up to and including the sills but not including some wheelarch tidying. Well, hopefully that's all it is. Mechanically, MR2s of this vintage take the miles really well. This car's 120K leaves you plenty of headroom to have some fun and still be able to sell it on with a sensible number on the odo.
Shed was seriously considering it for his Beachy Head trip, but he couldn't face the prospect of seeing it lying in a thousand pieces at the bottom of the cliff.
Here we have my Rev 5 Sonic Shadow the only reason I'm selling is the offer of a company car. I was keeping it for the long term so have spent a reasonable amount on the car recently witha view to keep starting with the mechanicals first.
Having three rev fives in the family we have good experience with these and all the major pitfalls with them have been covered with this car. The only thing that lets this car down is the right rear arch needs filling and spraying , wheels need respraying and there is a scuff on the rear right bumper, smart repair or spray.
There is good service history with the car with purchase docs from toyota, book pack and toyota stamped history and a long list of others.
Recent parts,
Battery 7/12/14
Full ehaust stripped and and new gaskets fitted/ new brackets and bolts welded in comon problem with these / sills re welded in commom again 27/10/14
New rear tyres 27/9/14
Alternator and belts 21/2/14
New radiator 14/8/13
Brakes striped parts replaced28/8/12
recipts for above
Loads more history there after and book stamped, mechanically very goo and pulls very well better than my previous motegi prelude 200bhp.
Would be asking for mre if it wasnt for the cosmetics, no time wasters stupid offers
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It kept up with much more powerful metal in ye olde best motoring vids. My evidence ends there.
Video evidence here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFEi-0Rx6J0
I know nothing about the perils and perks of these but judged purely on an aesthetic level, I'm happy with this weeks shed selection.
I'm looking forward to learning some more about them as the day goes on....
This one needs some bodywork, its at that point where its a cheap bit of fun till the MOT man calls time or you have to throw a few quid at it to get it nice again and I think realistically, not being a turbo, it is the former.
;)With the mention of well known TV presenter and journalist in the write up, him being a big man, but he's in bad shape and he no longer does that for a living and the location of this week's shed, I think this would have to be playing during the trip to collect it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoa3OTJfWIY
This doesn't sit too well though:
Also - can someone quantify a 'bant' for me? Is that metric or imperial.
As standard they're OK - meh - performance on par with a 16v Golf so a bit slow for me.
With a Turbo engine though, as mine now has, they're properly quick and becoming sought after.
Sill and rear arch rust is the thing to look for - mine is in fine fettle and goes like stink.
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