RE: PH buying guide: Toyota MR2
Discussion
I have had two and really like them. I had a close friend who had a Mk2 rev something...cant remember but i think it was ~ 171hp. What was funny was the unwritten understanding that HE had that the Mk3 really wasnt a real car...it was a toy.
We finally got our chance on some twisty B-Roads near to our houses and the Mk3 was able to put distance between the two. We went down the pub later on and it wasn't discussed at all. He stuck to his belief that the Mk2 was the real car and mine was ok for peope who didnt care about driving. He was happy :-)
There could be many different reasons for the above but it illustrated the Mk2 / mk3 debate well.
mine now has a turbo on it sitting at 230 / 240 hp and various other bits so things are a little bit different but the basic cars are so good.
We finally got our chance on some twisty B-Roads near to our houses and the Mk3 was able to put distance between the two. We went down the pub later on and it wasn't discussed at all. He stuck to his belief that the Mk2 was the real car and mine was ok for peope who didnt care about driving. He was happy :-)
There could be many different reasons for the above but it illustrated the Mk2 / mk3 debate well.
mine now has a turbo on it sitting at 230 / 240 hp and various other bits so things are a little bit different but the basic cars are so good.
I looked at these when I came to replace my MK2 but without a boot it's less practical than an Elise so I bought the TF instead. I haven't driven a MK3 but like the MG I imagine it handles quite a bit better than the MK2. The MK3 has a much better driving position than the MG - whoever decided those seats have to be so high up should be made to eat them...
Personally the MK2 MR2 is my favourite as a daily, it just ran up some very big bills so had to go. How long before they are genuinely collectible?
Personally the MK2 MR2 is my favourite as a daily, it just ran up some very big bills so had to go. How long before they are genuinely collectible?
paulmaurice99 said:
These are great cars! I loved mine to bits, and as for some comments about there not being enough power etc. - well, improve your driving. When I think back to my journey to/from work (the A264 from East Grinstead to Tunbridge Wells) I honestly cannot imagine wanting to go any quicker point-to-point.
Sounds like it is you that needs to improve your driving! 
In all seriousness, I can't imagine anyone lauding the engines in one of these. Neither guts and drama of the awesome 3S-GTE engine, nor the stark, rev-mad quality you'd get from a Honda VTEC engine. That naff engine is, for me, the biggest failing of the car. Something that stops it being an all time great. Lovely handling but totally let down by that flat-as-a-pancake engine. I could just about live with the poor storage space, though it will just about do for a sandwich and a bag of crisps! 
Also, the looks on this model never sit quite right with me. In some colours and from some angles it looks great, from others (particularly around the front) it looks like a right pudding. The tiptronic box was also utter cack, and surprisingly fragile. It should never have made it's way into an MR2.
Vortrex said:
Nobody MK1???
I really want a MK1 as first car!
Mk1 is superior to either of its decendants I really want a MK1 as first car!
, brilliant unassisted steering, decent luggage capacity, 4As very tunable, GZE version torquey from stock, suspension geo fully adjustable. Loved mine to bits and will struggle to find anything to truly replace it.As a first car treat it with the utmost respect and you'll have a ball and never want anything other than mid engined!
And to correct the article further the first MR2 soft top would be this.
http://www.mr2ownersclub.com/mk1convertible/
I've been casually browsing the classifieds waiting for the right one of these to pop up. Had one, loved it. It really was just remarkably good out of the box. Handling was superb. IMO it was more fun on a circuit than my S2 Elise S. Though the Elise was more fun on the road bizarrely as the Toyota was a bit dull unless you were thrapping it. But when you did thrap it, god it was good.
There's a time-warp mk1 near my work site in west London. I'm busy sinking a lot of beer tokens into my mk2 at the moment but I'd have that any time he wanted to sell.
I did once look at a mk3 with a tidy body kit but it sold before I had a drive. I'd like to drive one but I can't claim to lust after one.
I did once look at a mk3 with a tidy body kit but it sold before I had a drive. I'd like to drive one but I can't claim to lust after one.
What did it bring new or better to the party?
And as for "Toyota didn't need to change the MR2 greatly during its production life" apart from the weak engines and gearboxes that a few people have mentioned, it could have done with a restyle, you know so it looked yes like a shoe box.
Being subject it left no mark, no successor and moved nothing on.
And as for "Toyota didn't need to change the MR2 greatly during its production life" apart from the weak engines and gearboxes that a few people have mentioned, it could have done with a restyle, you know so it looked yes like a shoe box.
Being subject it left no mark, no successor and moved nothing on.
Oddball RS said:
What did it bring new or better to the party?
And as for "Toyota didn't need to change the MR2 greatly during its production life" apart from the weak engines and gearboxes that a few people have mentioned, it could have done with a restyle, you know so it looked yes like a shoe box.
Being subject it left no mark, no successor and moved nothing on.
The mk3? It brought a return to simple light weight great handling car and they are few and far between these days.And as for "Toyota didn't need to change the MR2 greatly during its production life" apart from the weak engines and gearboxes that a few people have mentioned, it could have done with a restyle, you know so it looked yes like a shoe box.
Being subject it left no mark, no successor and moved nothing on.
MR2's in general brought affordable, reliable mid engined cars to the market.
Called MR2, Midship, Runabout Two seater. Runabout to highlight it could be used everyday unlike other mid engines cars of the time.
I use a Mr2 rev 3 tubby as a daily. Great cars. Onto my third and never have had any problems other than servicing or age related probs.
Mk3 can look canny and a better engine can be transplanted as most swaps have been done and documented. Lack of storage puts me off though. The mk2 still can get a canny shop in the boot.
Mk3 can look canny and a better engine can be transplanted as most swaps have been done and documented. Lack of storage puts me off though. The mk2 still can get a canny shop in the boot.
juansolo said:
I've been casually browsing the classifieds waiting for the right one of these to pop up. Had one, loved it. It really was just remarkably good out of the box. Handling was superb. IMO it was more fun on a circuit than my S2 Elise S. Though the Elise was more fun on the road bizarrely as the Toyota was a bit dull unless you were thrapping it. But when you did thrap it, god it was good.
What would be 'the right one'?juansolo said:
I've been casually browsing the classifieds waiting for the right one of these to pop up. Had one, loved it. It really was just remarkably good out of the box. Handling was superb. IMO it was more fun on a circuit than my S2 Elise S. Though the Elise was more fun on the road bizarrely as the Toyota was a bit dull unless you were thrapping it. But when you did thrap it, god it was good.
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