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

It can't have escaped your notice that one of motoring's most famous partnerships is in danger of splitting up. And it's fair to say that, for most PHers at least, this is a hugely depressing thought. Well, good news! We can exclusively reveal that this historic alliance will be continuing, for now at least.

Why aren't more cars painted Sonic Shadow?

Yes: the jowly, fag-smoking, underling-beating horror - or, as Shed knows her, Mrs Shed - is staying.

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...

Compared to an MX-5, many think that the Mazda has the edge on steering feel and gearshift quality, but that the Toyota's 3S-GE engine has rather more character. Our SOTW isn't a Turbo, which for some will be a plus point. It sounds better, you don't need the posh petrol, and 168hp in a mid-engine format will provide more than enough bant for most. 0-60 times begin with a seven, top speed is in the high 130s, mpg is up to 40. These are good numbers on their own: together in one car they're pretty special.

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

Under the heading of 'can be a problem for any car of this age', make a note of cooling components, brake lines, handbrake cables, calipers, and any pipes bolted to the body. T-Top rubber seals perish, and the wipers don't always wipe as you might like, but these are all DIY fixes and not a cause for concern.

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's the ad.

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