RE: Toyota MR2: Market Watch

[paulyv]

Baked_bean said:

This article has hit at just the right time, I have had a friend offer me his mk1 mr2 for £3k.

He has owned it for three years and it has been looked after, T bar repairs, cambelt, blew bushes etc. The only issue is that it is starting to show rust on the rear valance and arch, nothing major yet but will need work soon. It also has dodgy aftermarket wheels.


Prices of these are all over the place,what should I hope to pay? I don't want insult or short change my friend but need to think of myself.

£3k seems a bit strong for something with rust in the post, but I do appreciate prices are rising. I am sure you appreciate it is rusting from the inside out, not the other way around. That said it can be managed, but will always be something you will need to keep in mind. It'll likely start breaking through on the opposing side at some point soon too. If you love the car and want it you should not feel bad about trying to get as close to £750 off that as possible. There are a few specialist MR2 breakers in the country - the forums seems to know about them, and wheels should not prove to be a problem for £40 each.

[Baked_bean]

Thanks for your answer, it is what I am thinking also.....I like it but would struggle yo see it bring worth £3k also.

I am viewing on Tuesday so will go from there.

[danllama]

I've known personally of two clean mk1's selling in the last 6 months for under £1500. Very very little rust and pampered. £3k is steep.

[Baked_bean]

Fair enough, I was hoping for about £2k as it has had work done on the whole.
How come the guides/prices advertised seem so much higher than these selling prices?

[Ilovejapcrap]

TameRacingDriver said:

Uncle John said:

Great cars, I've had a mk1 and currently a mk3 which no one wants to buy for some reason, had 1 decent nibble and that's all.

Very underrated cars which somehow do not have the following they should.

Agreed. The Mk3 in particular seems surprisingly underrated. I can only assume this is because of its somewhat cutesy looks after the first two angular cars, the fact that it is impractical, and isn't particularly quick, yet people will happily overlook that in an MX5. I've also owned a Rev 2 Turbo, which I also loved driving, but I'd definitely say the Mk3 is easily as good a steer, not as quick sure, but the handling is in a different league.

It's a car for around £2k that gives you mid-engined, RWD fun in a manner not dissimilar to an Elise, is cheap to run, easy to live with (as long as you can live without much luggage space) and gives a level of fun that is really, really difficult to achieve for that little money. In all honesty, an Elise is what I wanted, but I couldn't justify £12K+ for a good one, as a weekend toy that I may only use for 2 or 3 hours a weekend. So I spent £1800 on my MR2, a bit more on a few choice mods (springs, brace, exhaust, brake refurb) and I do not regret the decision at all as its been utterly fantastic to drive and own.

I suspect people will start waking up to how underrated they are, and prices seem rock bottom at the minute and can only go up. Unless there's a massive change in my financial circumstances then I can't see myself ever getting rid of mine, nothing else I could afford or justify would offer me more smiles than I get off this. Even the looks have grown on me massively (especially after lowering it 30mm).

Edited to add shameless photo from the weekend just gone, at Tan Hill Inn if anyone knows it.

Edited by TameRacingDriver on Monday 17th July 12:53

agreed the mk3 is ace, don't understand the lack of love

[danllama]

Baked_bean said:

Fair enough, I was hoping for about £2k as it has had work done on the whole.
How come the guides/prices advertised seem so much higher than these selling prices?

Well the two I know of were both hoping for £2k+ but ended up dropping until they sold.

I'm not saying I don't think they're worth more btw, they are in my eyes. It's just a funny market. The work done to your friends car does make it decent value at around £2k ish.

[Anjum]

race them - just like a go cart!

Inexpensive and so much fun!

[Liggle]

I've had 2x MK1's and would go for a MK3 if I wanted another MR2. They are at the perfect age vs. price point at the moment imo.

I sold my solid (but needing some light paintwork) MK1 for £1750 within a week of advertising in June. That guide seems a little over-inflated price wise, what a lot of people forget is the cars that are for sale for £3k-£4k are still for sale because no-one wants them for that money, its not a true indication of value.

[Uncle John]

Liggle said:

I've had 2x MK1's and would go for a MK3 if I wanted another MR2. They are at the perfect age vs. price point at the moment imo.

I sold my solid (but needing some light paintwork) MK1 for £1750 within a week of advertising in June. That guide seems a little over-inflated price wise, what a lot of people forget is the cars that are for sale for £3k-£4k are still for sale because no-one wants them for that money, its not a true indication of value.

Wish some bugger would buy mine, I've reduced, reduced and reduced it and still nothing.

[Luke.]

Uncle John said:

Liggle said:

I've had 2x MK1's and would go for a MK3 if I wanted another MR2. They are at the perfect age vs. price point at the moment imo.

I sold my solid (but needing some light paintwork) MK1 for £1750 within a week of advertising in June. That guide seems a little over-inflated price wise, what a lot of people forget is the cars that are for sale for £3k-£4k are still for sale because no-one wants them for that money, its not a true indication of value.

Wish some bugger would buy mine, I've reduced, reduced and reduced it and still nothing.

Got a link? Where you based?

[Uncle John]

Luke. said:

Uncle John said:

Liggle said:

I've had 2x MK1's and would go for a MK3 if I wanted another MR2. They are at the perfect age vs. price point at the moment imo.

I sold my solid (but needing some light paintwork) MK1 for £1750 within a week of advertising in June. That guide seems a little over-inflated price wise, what a lot of people forget is the cars that are for sale for £3k-£4k are still for sale because no-one wants them for that money, its not a true indication of value.

Wish some bugger would buy mine, I've reduced, reduced and reduced it and still nothing.

Got a link? Where you based?

Not sure if against rules but cheapest one in the classifieds....

[Luke.]

Uncle John said:

Not sure if against rules but cheapest one in the classifieds....

That's your problem right there, you're using PH classifieds.

So it's this one?

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

[Uncle John]

Luke. said:

Uncle John said:

Not sure if against rules but cheapest one in the classifieds....

That's your problem right there, you're using PH classifieds.

So it's this one?

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Yep!

[Luke.]

Uncle John said:

Yep!

Put it on Autro Trader at £999 and it'll be gone in a week.

[TameRacingDriver]

Uncle John said:

Wish some bugger would buy mine, I've reduced, reduced and reduced it and still nothing.

I think part of the problem with these is, they are hideously impractical. They don't really have any boot - ok they do have a 'frunk' but in most cases the spare wheel should be there, and they do have storage bins but they are pretty tiny. I think this limits its appeal. Even an Elise is slightly more practical. I've resigned myself to the fact that if / when I sell mine, I'll be giving it away (and so I probably wont bother selling it unless I really have to).

Nevertheless, GLWTS.

ETA if you're on facebook, then try joining the 'UK MR2 Roadster Owners' group and put it for sale on there.

[pti]

I've just put a (blind) deposit down on my second Rev 3 Turbo. Car is near Belfast so hard to just pop for a viewing but it looks immaculate

My first one is the car I most regret selling so this one is set to be with me for quite a while.

[danllama]

pti said:

I've just put a (blind) deposit down on my second Rev 3 Turbo. Car is near Belfast so hard to just pop for a viewing but it looks immaculate

My first one is the car I most regret selling so this one is set to be with me for quite a while.

Good boy! Is it a white one with lots of goodies?

[pti]

danllama said:

pti said:

I've just put a (blind) deposit down on my second Rev 3 Turbo. Car is near Belfast so hard to just pop for a viewing but it looks immaculate

My first one is the car I most regret selling so this one is set to be with me for quite a while.

Good boy! Is it a white one with lots of goodies?

It is indeed

[danllama]

pti said:

danllama said:

pti said:

I've just put a (blind) deposit down on my second Rev 3 Turbo. Car is near Belfast so hard to just pop for a viewing but it looks immaculate

My first one is the car I most regret selling so this one is set to be with me for quite a while.

Good boy! Is it a white one with lots of goodies?

It is indeed

I saw that and wanted it for myself, despite having a white rev 3 turbo. Get a readers ride thread up once you've settled in to it

[markcoznottz]

Mr2 turbo. Don't make small cars like that anymore. Easy to drive, great gearbox, nicely servoed brakes, very powerful under heavy braking. Extremely tight turning circle, great visibility all round, not a car to take the piss out of in the wet. Loads of touches make it feel like a mini Ferrari, pop up headlights, low slung seating position, seem to get a positive reaction from the public in general. Minuscule fuel tank that drains at an alarming rate, these like a drink.