Toyota MR2 (W10) | Spotted
A new Toyota sports car is potentially in the works - time to get reacquainted with one it made earlier
Remember when the only Toyotas you could buy in the UK were dreary hatchbacks, a dinky city car and the Prius? We did at least get the Land Cruiser, and several appearances on TG helped boost the street cred of the Hilux - but the rest of its offerings during most of the '00s were about as appealing as contracting scurvy. Thank goodness then for former company president Akio Toyoda and his push for a performance car presence, which has bought us both GT and GR86s, the return of the Supra and the blockbuster GR Yaris. Although he’s no longer technically at the helm, Toyoda San continues to push for additional racy offerings and greater motorsport involvement at the board level - and long may it continue.
What we’ve yet to see from ‘Morizo’ (the pseudonym he uses when racing, as if he couldn’t get any cooler) and his expansive performance ambitions is the return of the MR2. Understandably, the Supra revival took priority when Gazoo Racing was in its infancy given the model’s cult following, but calls for an MR2 successor have grown louder in recent years because a) the Supra is pretty expensive and b) you can never have too many affordable sports cars, especially with the GR86 getting such a short life span.
It’s not like the MR2 isn’t an established name here either. We received all three generations of the mid-engined sports car, with the original W10 launching in the mid-'80s and several years before the arrival of the almighty Mazda MX-5. While the MX-5 perfected the idea of a modernised British roadster, the MR2 nailed the wedge-shaped sports car that we were all the rage in the '80s. Sure, it never came with a V8, but it did come with a pair of punchy four-cylinder engines (plus a smaller 1.5-litre motor for its home market), with the range-topping supercharged model delivering a respectable 147hp. That made it more powerful than the MX-5 at the time and, because the engine was in the middle, gave it some extra sports car kudos, too.
This example isn’t a supercharged model, so produces a little less power at 128hp, but that’s still on par with the entry-level, third-generation MR2 that was pretty popular here (all the more reason to make another, Toyota!). So why has it caught our attention, then? Well, just look at it. MR2s may not be a rare sight on UK roads, but many of them are pretty tatty these days. This clearly isn’t one of them, with its black paintwork looking just as glossy as it would have done back in '86 and with stickers that aren’t dog-eared or faded. You’d obviously need to have a good poke around to make sure it’s in as good a condition as it appears - given that corrosion can be a problem on most Japanese cars of this vintage - but the underside looks properly tidy going off the pictures.
It’s a real timewarp inside, too, with the original seats, steering wheel and gear knob all present and in tip-top condition. Even the old stereo system has been retained and looks superb stacked below the delightfully analogue heater controls. The dash is just as blocky as the exterior (it doesn’t look dissimilar to the cockpit in the new GR Yaris) and is littered with buttons and dials. Moreover, if you study the instruments, you’ll see that it’s covered a little over 31,100 miles. Who knows if there’s a better example out there, but there certainly can’t be many.
So how much will an all-original, squeaky-clean MR2 set you back? The seller’s asking £19,995 for it which, yes, is on the high side. This higher-mileage car can be had for under £9,000, while this supercharged import (albeit with an aftermarket bodykit and wheels) is going for £14,250. Not to mention the abundance of Mk3s out there, with a huge selection on offer for under £5k. But the car we have here is absolutely noteworthy and would sit nicely alongside whatever Toyota’s got up its sleeve with its FT-Se concept.
SPECIFICATION | TOYOTA MR2 (W10)
Engine: 1,587cc four-cylinder
Transmission: five-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 128@5,750rpm
Torque (lb ft): 105@5,000rpm
MPG: 29
CO2: N/A
Year registered: 1986
Recorded mileage: 32,000
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £19,995
There's a very tidy Mk1 round the corner from me that emerges from it's garage in the summer months.
A lovely thing, that should be a cheap entry into mid-engined motoring. But not in that colour or at that price.
It eventually dissolved in the upper rear arches and surrounding panels, like I think many fell foul to
MR2 in French is, of course, pronounced "emm - air - deux". Say it in a French accent and you'll see what I mean.
If that wasn't enough it has a TRD (turd) sticker on the back. Citroen realised this and rebadged their BX TRDs to DTRs for the UK.
The first was a brief love affair, rudely terminated by an MOT tester demonstrating with a screwdriver how the front wheels no longer had any meaningful connection to the rears. Bought for £640 and sold for the same to a breaker 2 days before MoT expiry!
Via a 200SX, I found my perfect one a few years later. One owner car, 100k miles but cherished and garaged. In metallic gunmetal grey, it was an absolutely stunning car. I refurbished the suspension with Koni adjustable dampers and a smattering of poly bushes. Lack of ABS and power steering taught me a few important lessons.
I loved how that car turned every mundane drive into an event. TVIS opening up, ringing out the revs, dancing on skinny tyres. Just a joyous little thing.
I sold it after a couple of years for £1,700. It's changed hands a couple of times since and is MOTd but barely turns a wheel. A car I truly miss.
My sale ad. Photobucket has murdered the pics.
http://www.mr2mk1club.com/showthread.php?7766-SOLD...
Found it rotting away in all the usual places and spent a not insubstantial amount of time and money making it right. I really enjoyed my time with my first proper sportscar. Lifting the roof off was, on reflection, a bit of a hassle but the car was such fun once the glass panels were tucked behind the seats. Handled really well, although I never got near the limits. I later did track days in my Z4 coupe and wondered if something like the MR2 wouldn't be more fun on a twisty track. It had a terrific engine. My memory is hazy but am I right in understanding it had some similarities to a popular Cosworth engine?
Not much else reeks of the 80's quite as much as an attainable mid-engined car in red.
I believe my old car is no longer MOT'd which is a real shame as there are not that many of them about.
If that wasn't enough it has a TRD (turd) sticker on the back. Citroen realised this and rebadged their BX TRDs to DTRs for the UK.
E-tron (étron) also means turd in french BTW.
Surprisingly comfortable ride and a good long distance companion despite the short gearing.
Not fast in outright terms but always eager, great throttle response.
Rot sadly killed most off eventually, including mine. Once it gets to a certain point you’re chasing your tail, short of doing a full restoration.
They may be rare now, but as much as I’d love another, it wouldn’t be at this price.
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