RE: SOTW: Mk2 Toyota MR2
RE: SOTW: Mk2 Toyota MR2
Friday 17th September 2010

SOTW: Mk2 Toyota MR2

Mid-mounted engine, pretty curves, and all for Shed money. What's not to like?



Last time a Mk2 Toyota MR2 graced the Shed stage, it was a rather ratty but mechanically solid MR2 that we actually bought, complete with matt white paint and free mould, for the princely sum of 500 quid.

It was also an early car, known to the MR2 cognoscenti as the Revision 1 (inexplicably, since it was the first version out), and to many an over-exuberant driver (and the motoring press) as a car that would have you facing the wrong way on a wet roundabout if you so much as spoke harshly to it.

That was sorted within a couple of years by tweaking the suspension geometry (creating the Revision 2) and, by the time this today's SOTW rolled out of a UK Toyota dealership for the first time in 1994, the MR2 was on to Revision 3.


By this time the always-pretty coupe had become a stable handler, and power was now up to 177bhp, from 153bhp. It still wasn't the agile B-road terrier that the first-generation MR2 had, been, but it had finally become the car it ought to have been from the outset.

As a result, later Mk2 MR2s are somewhat more desirable than earlier ones, particularly UK-spec cars (as with many Japanese cars of the 90s there is a plethora of imports scurrying around).

So although it's hardly difficult to find an MR2 for Shed money, finding a Revision 3 car - and a UK one at that - below a grand is a pretty rare event.


That it also has low-ish mileage, a claimed full service history, and an MOT until next June is a pleasant bonus. The only obvious black marks are an absence of tax (thus pushing, at £999, the rules of SOTW) and some chin scuffs on its front bumper.

Oh, and there's also the odd fact that the advert title suggests the car is a 2001 vintage, and has done 70,600 rather than the 113,00 miles suggested elsewhere, but we'd be prepared to bet that's user error rather than anything untoward.

Even so, if this car's West Yorkshire location hadn't been so far from PH Towers, it might well have found its way into the Riggers Shed stable, alongside the 328i Touring...


Advert is reproduced below...

94 L-Reg MR2 REV 3 GTi UK Car (2001)
70,600 miles, £999

1994 L-Reg
TOYOTA MR2 GTi
2.0L Petrol - 16V

2 Door Coupe,
Dark GREEN,
5 Speed Manual,
(UK CAR)

MOT- JUNE 2011,
TAX - Expired but Offered,



Mileage - 113,000 Miles,
Genuine miles with All Previous MOT Certificates,
Service History, Bills & receipts.

Usual MR2 GTi Refinements,
Rev-3 Facelift Spec,
ABS, Powersteering,
Electrics, Glass Sunroof,
Alloys,
Sports Interior,
Twin Exit Exhuast,
Cd player,
Good Condition for Age,

Taken in PX, 
All Px Stock to Clear,
Hence Price

£999 oVno.
(CASH Price - NO PX)


Call for full details

07989 216 027
Shipley, West Yorkshire,

BD18 Postcode.

View By Appointment.

Please note:
This is a USED car, not a Brand New 2010 plate car,
So therefore there will be a few stone chips and age related minor marks.


First Come First Serve

All vehicles are held on a minimum £100 Deposit.
All Deposits are Non-Refundable.

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Author
Discussion

Faust66

Original Poster:

2,308 posts

182 months

Friday 17th September 2010
quotequote all
That is a nice looking car... I'm constantly amazed at what you can pick up for a grand these days.

Even though I'm a die hard Ford fan, I'm almost tempted by this; good job I'm skint!

MGZRod

8,126 posts

193 months

Friday 17th September 2010
quotequote all
That looks fantastic, original looking too! I'm 18 at the moment but plan to get a MK2 MR2 of some type in future years, just hope they are in good nick when I can afford one!

Herman Toothrot

6,702 posts

215 months

Friday 17th September 2010
quotequote all
Great track slag once stripped for someone smile I picked one up about 3 years ago for £1500 with MOT, TAX, badboy stereo, tinted windows, 17" chrome wheels, plastic tyres - and promptly took it to combe for a days traking within 9 hours of buying it, didn't even get round to stripping it. Had boys in stripped 325i's suddenly interested as I was going quicker than they were. Good times biggrin

SDxsi

2,747 posts

189 months

Friday 17th September 2010
quotequote all
I do actually quite like that! Shame I've just spent similar money on a manifold and exhaust for my not working car frown

speedtwelve

3,529 posts

290 months

Friday 17th September 2010
quotequote all
Always an under-rated car. I had a Rev2 Turbo for a few years. Genuinely rapid on-boost, decent steering feel & feedback, excellent brakes, LSD. Having engine noise coming from behind your head was a novelty, the driving position was great, sitting on the floor with left arm along the tunnel ready to palm the stubby wrist-flick gearshift, storage cubbyhole for CDs between the (in mine, cloth Recaro) seats next to your head.

Endless "Someone's nicked your engine, mate" hilarity every time you opened the bonnet. That one never got stale... smash Solidly built, too; mine had no rust whatsoever 13 years after it was made.

The Mk1 MR2 was more manic to drive, all revvy top-end 16v action that encouraged you to kick the st out of the engine, but the Mk2 Turbo was hugely fast in comparison, and a more capable sports/GT car. And, for all of the Mk1 MX5's superior steering and adjustability, I found the MR2T more of an occasion and an adrenaline rush to drive, having owned both.

SlowStig

894 posts

188 months

Friday 17th September 2010
quotequote all
Is it just me or is the bonnet a different colour to the rest of the car?

speedtwelve

3,529 posts

290 months

Friday 17th September 2010
quotequote all
SlowStig said:
Is it just me or is the bonnet a different colour to the rest of the car?
I agree, but for under a grand I'm happy that it even has a bonnet.

R4PID

1,060 posts

262 months

Friday 17th September 2010
quotequote all
I went from a boxster to one of these to wean off the mid-engine buzz. It didn't disappoint. Not super quick but still good fun. Bright red too. Got more looks from folks doing the usual is it a ferrari double take than any car I've owned. Even took it to local town car show when trying to flog it. I'd have another if I could find a decent one.

thirsty

726 posts

281 months

Friday 17th September 2010
quotequote all
Frightful looking seats and not crazy about the green. This is a great SOTW otherwise. Buy it, thrash it then trash it. Good for a couple years IMO.

HowardB

152 posts

192 months

Friday 17th September 2010
quotequote all
better still, buy it, thrash it, do lots of work, and then convert it to one like this,..

http://pistonheads.com/sales/2049395.htm


Papa Hotel

12,760 posts

199 months

Friday 17th September 2010
quotequote all
I like it a lot, I'm probably the only one but I find the mk2 much more attractive than the mk1. That's a good buy.

How frigging late does poor Riggers have to work?? SOTW up about 1am? Garlick, have a word with yourself, you'll run the poor chap into the ground.

plfrench

3,795 posts

285 months

Friday 17th September 2010
quotequote all
HowardB said:
better still, buy it, thrash it, do lots of work, and then convert it to one like this,..

http://pistonheads.com/sales/2049395.htm
Or perhaps not...

MarJay

2,178 posts

192 months

Friday 17th September 2010
quotequote all
Could this be the most PH shed so far perhaps? Either way if its genuine its a freaking awesome shed!!!

Top work PHers!

Riggers

1,859 posts

195 months

Friday 17th September 2010
quotequote all
HowardB said:
better still, buy it, thrash it, do lots of work, and then convert it to one like this,..

http://pistonheads.com/sales/2049395.htm
I was wondering how long it would be before one of these ^ slipped into the thread. Really not my bag i'm afraid ...vomit...

TheRoadWarrior

1,241 posts

195 months

Friday 17th September 2010
quotequote all
Same colour as the one I had, Dark Green Mica (Although I think on the UK cars it was called Goodwood Green). Lovely colour that looks almost purple at an angle in strong sunlight.

No denying its a bargain at £999, but the turbo (Import only) is definately the one to go for, as someone else said its a very capable allrounder.

Pic of mine in its prime for nostalgia;


mr2rev3

3,057 posts

182 months

Friday 17th September 2010
quotequote all
triffic car, but do yourself a big favour and put some decent rubber on the back, or you might be seeing the trees coming at you... ( as i did three weeks ago in mine, five hours after i insured it. Guess what i was planning on buying the very next day...)

TheRoadWarrior

1,241 posts

195 months

Friday 17th September 2010
quotequote all
mr2rev3 said:
triffic car, but do yourself a big favour and put some decent rubber on the back, or you might be seeing the trees coming at you... ( as i did three weeks ago in mine, five hours after i insured it. Guess what i was planning on buying the very next day...)
Who was that directed at?

OlberJ

14,101 posts

250 months

Friday 17th September 2010
quotequote all
It's no Mk1 but still....biggrin

Excellent choice and colour too. If only they made these later coloured ones in proper tintop like the early Rev1 imports.

Papa Hotel

12,760 posts

199 months

Friday 17th September 2010
quotequote all
TheRoadWarrior said:
mr2rev3 said:
triffic car, but do yourself a big favour and put some decent rubber on the back, or you might be seeing the trees coming at you... ( as i did three weeks ago in mine, five hours after i insured it. Guess what i was planning on buying the very next day...)
Who was that directed at?
I don't think he really aimed it at anyone in particular, more a sort of wistful look back in time with a dose of "learn from my mistakes".

mr2rev3

3,057 posts

182 months

Friday 17th September 2010
quotequote all
just to anyone considering buying one... Or maybe just be very very careful of wet shiny roundabouts! Even at 30mph! it was a big roundabout as well :-(