Advice on buying used MR2 (current shape)
Discussion
My daughter has set her heart on an MR2 and we are going to look at one this evening. Its 51 reg with around 30K miles on. Leather interior and air con.
Apart from the usual things to look out for when buying any seconhand car are their any things specific to the MR2 we need to check.
Any help from PH'ers would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Apart from the usual things to look out for when buying any seconhand car are their any things specific to the MR2 we need to check.
Any help from PH'ers would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Not had a Mk3 myself, but nip over to the owners clubs websites listed below, they will likely have something in their guide sections.
www.mr2oc.co.uk
www.imoc.co.uk
www.mr2oc.co.uk
www.imoc.co.uk
Yes
Pre-Cats are vitally important. If they have gone or are in the stages of flaking then it could mean new engine time. Ask the seller to remove the 02 sensors from the manifold - from this you will be able to visually inspect the condition of the pre-cats from the top. The honeycomb surface should be fully intact, with no pitting or flaking. If there is ANY pitting or flaking walk away. If they are ok, take the car to a garage after purchase and have them remove the manifold and gut the pre cats for you. They aren't required in this country emissions wise (the car was designed as ULEV (Ultra low emissions) for the American market, but it isnt needed here. The ceramic material is extremely brittle and either finds its way into engines or blocks the main cat causing increased back pressure.
Both/either of these will cause the engine to drink oil at increasing intervals until engine dies. Replacement 2nd hand engine plus cat = £1200+fitting. Definitely worth checking.
Also FSH essential, and dip oil level, also ask owner about oil consumption (of course no guarantee how truthful they will be)
Check exhaust for white dust/specs in the tip of the exhaust/hold a black rag over exhaust and rev engine - white dust/particles = precat material = walk away.
More info on pre cats here
Apart from pre-cats check that it has correct tyre sizes:
185/55/15 front
205/50/15 back
and that they tyres are all the same brand and preferably not hedge-hunters. Mis-matched/mixed tyres make the car extremely tail happy, esp in the wet.
More info on tyres here
Check corners of roof, where it meets window frame rubber and check that there is no splitting, as this can be a common place for the roof to go.
Apart from this, as long as serviced properly and regularly topped up with oil (Toyota say upto 1ltr per 1000 miles is normal!
) they are great cars, brill fun to drive and a good intro to rwd.
HTH
Pre-Cats are vitally important. If they have gone or are in the stages of flaking then it could mean new engine time. Ask the seller to remove the 02 sensors from the manifold - from this you will be able to visually inspect the condition of the pre-cats from the top. The honeycomb surface should be fully intact, with no pitting or flaking. If there is ANY pitting or flaking walk away. If they are ok, take the car to a garage after purchase and have them remove the manifold and gut the pre cats for you. They aren't required in this country emissions wise (the car was designed as ULEV (Ultra low emissions) for the American market, but it isnt needed here. The ceramic material is extremely brittle and either finds its way into engines or blocks the main cat causing increased back pressure.
Both/either of these will cause the engine to drink oil at increasing intervals until engine dies. Replacement 2nd hand engine plus cat = £1200+fitting. Definitely worth checking.
Also FSH essential, and dip oil level, also ask owner about oil consumption (of course no guarantee how truthful they will be)
Check exhaust for white dust/specs in the tip of the exhaust/hold a black rag over exhaust and rev engine - white dust/particles = precat material = walk away.
More info on pre cats here
Apart from pre-cats check that it has correct tyre sizes:
185/55/15 front
205/50/15 back
and that they tyres are all the same brand and preferably not hedge-hunters. Mis-matched/mixed tyres make the car extremely tail happy, esp in the wet.
More info on tyres here
Check corners of roof, where it meets window frame rubber and check that there is no splitting, as this can be a common place for the roof to go.
Apart from this, as long as serviced properly and regularly topped up with oil (Toyota say upto 1ltr per 1000 miles is normal!
) they are great cars, brill fun to drive and a good intro to rwd. HTH
Let us know how you get on, good luck!Looked at car last night. Guy seemed really keen to sell and offered £500 more than anyone else as part ex for her current car. That started me thinking that all might not be 100%. Car drove fine and no white bits could be seen from the exhaust but he was really cagey about service history. Basically there was none. No service booklet no dealer history, he had baught it from auction and there was no documentation with the car was his story. So ended up walking away. Daughter very unhappy with me as she loved it, colour was perfect went with her hair etc etc. My view was very simple, might be a good car but with no history who knows and 12 - 18 months down the line when she wants to sell who would want it without any history.
So back to the drawing board and will head off in search again this coming weekend.
So back to the drawing board and will head off in search again this coming weekend.
Definitely a wise move. Hard to do at the time when the car looks so good but with no documented history too much of a risk 
Toyota do keep all S/H on car as well as all warranty work at dealer level, but without knowing where it was serviced, not much use.
Can always have a look here: as it is an owners club site, most cars tend to be well looked after.
Cheers
>> Edited by llamekcuf on Tuesday 21st March 12:56
Toyota do keep all S/H on car as well as all warranty work at dealer level, but without knowing where it was serviced, not much use.
Can always have a look here: as it is an owners club site, most cars tend to be well looked after.
Cheers
>> Edited by llamekcuf on Tuesday 21st March 12:56
I've a 54plate MR2 and it's been a great car, but it's very tail happy on the cold damp days when your pressing on. I don't know if i'd say it's a good intro to RWD as the @r$e will step out with little or no warning and being mid engined you've got to be on the ball to get it back in time.
Needs a bit more ummpf too, the silverstone performance turbo upgrade would be good but i doubt thats really an issue for you at the moment.
Needs a bit more ummpf too, the silverstone performance turbo upgrade would be good but i doubt thats really an issue for you at the moment.
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