RE: Supra and MR2 could return, says Toyota

[MikeyMike]

I won't be happy unless their arrival is heralded with promotional videos as cheesy/magnificant as this one... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTpdWBNC48c

[Vladimir]

Fingers crossed.

The mk3 MR2 was utterly brilliant - a bit more power and it would have been an all time classic. Still one of the sweetest handling RWD cars I've driven (and YES I have driven an Elise - a 111R) but with reliability as standard too.

Supra was a beast in it's day - a replacement would have to be rather naughty. Maybe a GT-R basher but without the dimensions of the USS Nimitz?

[Melvin Udall]

The MKIII needed the 190 from the Delica, to be honest. 138 BHP was not enough at all. The 3S-GTE conversions are quite nutty.

[Vladimir]

Melvin Udall said:

The MKIII needed the 190 from the Delica, to be honest. 138 BHP was not enough at all. The 3S-GTE conversions are quite nutty.

Delica? I assume you mean Celica, not the rather odd 4x4 crossover camper thing?!

Indeed - assuming the sizes were the same, why didn't they fit it?! 3.o conversions sound great as long as they don't upset that perfect handling.

[kambites]

I think the question of why they didn't fit the 190bhp version of the engine is one we'll probably never know the answer to. It was a great little car as it was, but the extra 50ish bhp would have made it appeal to the acceleration freaks as well as the handling ones.

[Melvin Udall]

Vladimir said:

Delica? I assume you mean Celica, not the rather odd 4x4 crossover camper thing?!

Indeed - assuming the sizes were the same, why didn't they fit it?! 3.o conversions sound great as long as they don't upset that perfect handling.

Yeah, I've typed Delica on the iPad, and it learns words... Hence it changing it! (Delica is equally fun as it happens!). No idea why they didn't fit it.

[Morningside]

There must be a demand for Ferrari kits

Actually, I loved the MR2 turbo and thought it was quite a fun car. As for the Roadster...did not really appeal to me. Maybe it was the lack of the turbo engine?

[cptsideways]

Hellbound said:

So in theory you could have a trio of Toyota sports cars gracing your garage.

usually about 1000bhp worth of Toyota's at any one time! (Yes I have a tyre fetish)

[squareflops]

Very interesting thread

Having not seen the GT 86 in the flesh yet I do think it's a real shame it looks how it looks, I see a little FTO in it, a little Hyundai coupe, and as been said, wheels straight out of Halfords.

Exciting to think that Toyota could be having a renaissance. Lets hope legislation et al doesn't get in the way too much.

[wst]

A new MR2 would have to be bloody good, unlike the AE86 there's no Initial D tax on Mk1 and Mk2 MR2's (Mk3 is for hairdressers), why get a £25k+ new MR2 when you could have 3 "VGC" Mk1 (incredibly good cond. ones) or 3 Mk2's and another £10k for fuel 'n insurance...

[Silver Smudger]

ellisd82 said:

Will it follow the design of the Best looking MR2 or the new shape, not so good looking? Important aspect!

Will it follow the design ethos of lightweight, focussed, drivers' car or a slightly more lardy mini-GT? Important aspect!

[Vladimir]

Silver Smudger said:

Will it follow the design ethos of lightweight, focussed, drivers' car or a slightly more lardy mini-GT? Important aspect!

+1

mk3 runs rings around the mk2 where it matters - i.e in how it drives.

I know the MR2 Turbo is loved by many PHers but a mk3 is a zillion times more accomplished in the chassis department, even if it doesn't do that "Ferrari in a hot wash" look quite so well (which I think looks contrived anyway).

[Melvin Udall]

http://www.750mc.co.uk/RaceResults-mr2.php

[Baryonyx]

wst said:

A new MR2 would have to be bloody good, unlike the AE86 there's no Initial D tax on Mk1 and Mk2 MR2's (Mk3 is for hairdressers), why get a £25k+ new MR2 when you could have 3 "VGC" Mk1 (incredibly good cond. ones) or 3 Mk2's and another £10k for fuel 'n insurance...

People would indeed buy it, I'm sure. New MX5's still sell well, despite the fact you can get one of the best ones (early mk2's, for my money) for peanuts.

As for the mk3 MR2, it's mechanical weaknesses aside I just don't think it delivers on the key aspect on which these cars should be considered: driver enjoyment. It's a good car, no doubt, but it does not feel special, it impresses but it does not 'wow'. The mk2 does. It's got the comfort of a GT, a better engine and exquisite handling if you're willing to exploit it. It's not as easy to mk3 to drive, the mk2 rewards a skilled hand with dividends. Especially the Turbo model, which has to be the best bang:buck you can get when buying a used car. Where else can you get a turbo powered, mid-engined sports car?

The Mk3 is by no means a bad car, but compared to the mk2 it's a real let down. Mind you, many people will shy away from the mk2 because it's

1) old

2) often awfully modded

3) has a reputation for frightening the driver

[ellisd82]

Silver Smudger said:

ellisd82 said:

Will it follow the design of the Best looking MR2 or the new shape, not so good looking? Important aspect!

Will it follow the design ethos of lightweight, focussed, drivers' car or a slightly more lardy mini-GT? Important aspect!

Yes that aspect as well

[Hellbound]

Meldonte said:

Hellbound said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedd...

They all look soooo happy....

fk me if that ends up being the future I am going to put my head in a teleporter and press 'go.'

Why did the car in second place end up winning the race - was RoboHamilton bestowed a virtual penalty infront of him or something?

Well from what I saw the car in front crashed into the 'virtual barrier' and was therefore declared out of the race.

A few people hated that video and Toyotas version of the future, but I loved it.

[Hellbound]

cptsideways said:

usually about 1000bhp worth of Toyota's at any one time! (Yes I have a tyre fetish)

You should lend me one of those standard cars, it's only fair. Don't be so damned selfish!

[carl0s]

delays said:

This image impelled me to have a look at the classifieds - lusted after one of these when I was younger.

Shame they've all been modified to hell - it's a mission to find one that looks OEM!

Slightly O/T.

They are a fabulous car. I've only ever driven the auto, and a 5spd non-turbo briefly (owned two twin-turbo autos. a UK car, and a facelift grey-import).
I would have another gunmetal-grey facelift car right away.
Amazing autobox, amazing reliability, good looks, great driving position, great feel to drive. I'd have one with a stock body, stock exhaust, and nice set of modern 18" Volk 2-piece rims.

The manual box of the turbo car of course has a reputation for being almost indestructible (Getrag v160/v161), but it also has a reputation for being tractor-like, and there is a hefty price premium on used cars for it. I'd have the auto unless I had plans to modify to 500bhp or more.

[Hellbound]

ellisd82 said:

Silver Smudger said:

ellisd82 said:

Will it follow the design of the Best looking MR2 or the new shape, not so good looking? Important aspect!

Will it follow the design ethos of lightweight, focussed, drivers' car or a slightly more lardy mini-GT? Important aspect!

Yes that aspect as well

I preferred the Mk2 Turbo simply because the handling was slightly screwed up That's not to say the mk3 is bad car. It's a good car and great value right now.

[Mr2Mike]

Baryonyx said:

The Mk3 is by no means a bad car, but compared to the mk2 it's a real let down. Mind you, many people will shy away from the mk2 because it's

1) old

2) often awfully modded

3) has a reputation for frightening the driver

There are also simmilar differences between the Mk1 and the Mk2. The Mk2 is certainly quick with the 3SGTE engine, but handling wise they are heavy and ponderous in comparison to the lower powered Mk1, which makes the older design more of a drivers car IMO.