RE: Toyota MR2: Market Watch

[Heaveho]

I bought an AW11 last year. I hadn't driven one since I worked for a Toyota dealer in the early 90s. I drove it home around the M25 back to where I then lived in Southampton, and I can remember thinking then that it's one of the best 1st drives home of any car I've owned.

After a bit of a scrub up, it turns out it's a really nice car, that rare miracle, a low mileage completely standard AW11 with history, every MOT from new , waxoiled from new, with no rust or previous repairs. I'm smitten. I was recently offered twice what I payed for it. No sale! There's a tear in the leather in the drivers side bolster, a leaking oil seal in the distributor, and it's due a 60k mile service. I won't begrudge it a penny.

Edited by Heaveho on Sunday 16th July 22:58

[BFleming]

Wow it's like MR2 appreciation day. https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-japanesecars/t...

[danllama]

Heaveho said:

I bought an AW11 last year. I hadn't driven one since I worked for a Toyota dealer in the early 90s. I drove it home around the M25 back to where I then lived in Southampton, and I can remember thinking then that it's one of the best 1st drives home of any car I've owned.

After a bit of a scrub up, it turns out it's a really nice car, that rare miracle, a low mileage completely standard AW11 with history, every MOT from new , waxoiled from new, with no rust or previous repairs. I'm smitten. I was recently offered twice what I payed for it. No sale! There's a tear in the leather in the drivers side bolster, a leaking oil seal in the distributor, and it's due a 60k mile service. I won't begrudge it a penny.

Edited by Heaveho on Sunday 16th July 22:58

Good man

[405dogvan]

If we're doing MR2 facts - I'm told there are balljoint connectors on the REAR hubs of the Mk1?

The rear suspension is apparently the front suspension from another Toyota (not sure which?) - so it has somewhere to mount the balljoints for the steering arms

[Fattyfat]

405dogvan said:

If we're doing MR2 facts - I'm told there are balljoint connectors on the REAR hubs of the Mk1?

The rear suspension is apparently the front suspension from another Toyota (not sure which?) - so it has somewhere to mount the balljoints for the steering arms

Was that not the MG F?

I had a mk3 roadster, great car although I prefer the mx5. I think one with the 190 celica unit could be a giggle

[Wadeski]

I had a mk2 Turbo, and very few cars could touch it for feeling like an "event". Certainly not Evos / WRXs which, although fun when ragging it, bely their economy car routes when driving day to day.

What the MR2 did so well was hide its humble Corolla and Celica gubbins - literally - behind you. The MR layout gave you a true sportscar cockpit with one of the best driving positions out there, a great view forward over the pop-up lights, and fantastic turbo and induction sound right behind your head. Surprisingly roomy boots, too. I went on a camping trip to Le Mans in one!

I went with upgraded turbos, charge cooler, fancy fueling and ECU and it made 350bhp on the stock engine. It was very, very quick out of corners and in a straight line, but to be honest I enjoyed mine best with just minor breathing mods and ~280bhp. Larger turbos raise the boost threshold meaning a less flexible power band and the perception of lag.

The main downside was a small tendency to try and kill you into small pieces on damp roads, the snap-back oversteer being quite eye opening even after you have managed to catch a few slides.

I also drove a mk1 with the 3SGTE mk2 turbo motor in it and it was utterly batsh*t insane....i would have one of those in a heartbeat. Quite keen to try the USDM supercharged mk1 as well.

[AW111]

405dogvan said:

If we're doing MR2 facts - I'm told there are balljoint connectors on the REAR hubs of the Mk1?

The rear suspension is apparently the front suspension from another Toyota (not sure which?) - so it has somewhere to mount the balljoints for the steering arms

The rear suspension is mac. strut, similar to a FWD front suspension, but it is not shared with any other model.

I have an 86 Japanese import AW11 (mk1a) : I fitted the 20 valve, quad throttle body 1600 and six speed lsd gearbox from a JDM Corolla when the original gearbox got tired (at 250,000 km)

It won't match a modern quick hatchback for acceleration, but it's light (970 kg), revvy (8,300 rpm) and nimble, and a lot of fun to drive.
I use it every day.

[jason61c]

so much more exciting than any mx5.

[generationx]

I drove a couple of Mk1s in the 90s. Great fun but, for 6'3" me, too small.

[gavsdavs]

I'm also biased. I drive a Triggers-broom of a rev2 with a 2gr-fe and a gearbox from an Auris with an expensive LSD. I've had it 18 years.

It's been on numerous long distance camping trips (Le Mans this year), hauls christmas trees, ladders, foldable chairs from ikea and the shopping every week.

Driving position and visibility is excellent though the cabin is a bit cramped compared to *anything* with back seats. In any case, i'm 6 foot 4 and 'powerfully built' so I'm at the upper end of what fits into most cars comfortably.

Still a great occasion/experience, still quick on b-roads and with 2 added cylinders on tracks, A roads and motorways too. Even though the rev 2 is the lardier of the three it feels nimble and accurate to steer, Yes, the wayward rear will school you if you abuse it though mine's only left the road backwards from a track.

Edited by gavsdavs on Monday 17th July 19:21

[Wayoftheflower]

Wadeski said:

I also drove a mk1 with the 3SGTE mk2 turbo motor in it and it was utterly batsh*t insane....i would have one of those in a heartbeat. Quite keen to try the USDM supercharged mk1 as well.

Owned both a Mk1.5 (tweaked 3SGTE gen 3 swap + ST205 brakes) and an stock AW11sc. The Mk1.5 was as you say completely psycho and I get something in my eye thinking about it and that I will likely never have another.

The sc wasn't quick quick but great fun and a demon at TLGPs due to low weight, mega traction and plenty of instant torque.

Always thought the AW11 had pretty good luggage capacity if you ditched the spare wheel from the froot.

Such a shame Toyota is letting its legacy of the affordable exotic wither.

[Sillyhatday]

Already on the MK1 train. Mid engine chassis, skinny tyres, twin can engine, low weight and adequate power. Exotic layout for the poor man, low speed fun. Best antidote for modern driving.

Enough space for a weekend camping for two people.

Lots of people stop me if I'm getting in or out of it. Asking questions or just to comment on how much they like it. Seems many people have an affinity for these that's forgotten, until they see one.

Toyota MR2 by Dan Simpson, on Flickr

Edited by Sillyhatday on Monday 17th July 10:11

[Wait Here Until Green Light Shows]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

98elise said:

Always wanted a MK1. My first car was a Fiat X1/9 and the MK1 MR2 was a very similar car in many ways, and pretty much picked up where it left off.

I had an X1/9. The Mk1 MR2 was what the X1/9 could have been if it had been designed and built by people that actually cared. .

Yeah I went from an X1/9 to a MK1 MR2...what a difference!! The MR2 was just better in every possible way.
I've now got a MK3 MR2, but the MK1 always felt like it had a stiffer chassis what with the T-Bar. I still prefer the MK1 but finding one in good condition now would be a challenge I think.

[sanguinary]

Sillyhatday said:

Already on the MK1 train. Mid engine chassis, skinny tyres, twin can engine, low weight and adequate power. Exotic layout for the poor man, low speed fun. Best antidote for modern driving.

I'm sure I recognise that one. Did it herald from the North West per chance?

I spent most of the early 2000s into my Mark 1s and 2s. Started out with a Mark 1 heap which taught me a lot about motor cars. Moved onto a pristine Mark 1 t-bar, then found a rebuilt perfect example that used to do well at the shows. Sold the t-bar for a JDM SC. Fitted a big pulley and extracted 180 hp from the 1.6.
Sold the SC, bought a shell and fitted the 3-sgte. Crashed that.... and refitted the engine into another two over the years - one car lovingly known as the Supernail. Then also ended up with a Rev 2 Mark 2 turbo and a mark iii Supra 2.5 ttr. It used to be a hard choice what to drive when leaving the house.

I used to love the weekend car shows and track days. Spent a lot of time with the Mark 1 club and IMOC.

.... and then I got a little older and had a family.

Supercharger at the original Anglesey:



Mark 1 t-bar working hard:



Original Mark 1.5 (3 sgte) :-(



First 1.5 rebuild (for track only)



A tight fit!



Final rebuild for road use:





Rev 2 Turbo:



Tough choices:

Edited by sanguinary on Monday 17th July 10:53

[SonicShadow]

405dogvan said:

If we're doing MR2 facts - I'm told there are balljoint connectors on the REAR hubs of the Mk1?

The rear suspension is apparently the front suspension from another Toyota (not sure which?) - so it has somewhere to mount the balljoints for the steering arms

The rear tie rod still has a tie rod end with ball joint:



On the SW20 it's a similar layout but they changed that part to a spherical bearing on the hub end.

While there are similarities to the front end of some FF Toyota's there's no cross platform compatibility AFAIK.

[Elesmart]

I am absolutely smitten with my SW20. Had it for a little over 2 years and I can't see myself getting rid of it anytime soon. It's my weekend car and it has a real sense of occasion even when you get in it.

Then, once out on the road, the turbo whistling away inches behind your left ear makes my smile every single time.

The MR2's seem to be seriously underrated in comparison to other Japanese metal of that era. Apart from the NSX am I right in saying that the MR2 was the only MR layout to come out of Japan?

Here's mine:

[SonicShadow]

Elesmart said:

The MR2's seem to be seriously underrated in comparison to other Japanese metal of that era. Apart from the NSX am I right in saying that the MR2 was the only MR layout to come out of Japan?

There's a few others that are rear mid like Honda Beat, Tommy Kaira ZZ. There's kei cars / vans like the Suzuki Carry where there engine is pretty much under the driver seat, depends on how far into 'front mid' you want to go really!

No doubt there's some more obscure stuff as well... road version of the Nissan R390 for example.

[Elesmart]

SonicShadow said:

There's a few others that are rear mid like Honda Beat, Tommy Kaira ZZ. There's kei cars / vans like the Suzuki Carry where there engine is pretty much under the driver seat, depends on how far into 'front mid' you want to go really!

No doubt there's some more obscure stuff as well... road version of the Nissan R390 for example.

Ah! I forgot all about the Kei cars.

Your SW20 is rather special Sonic Shadow. Would love to see it sometime but alas I believe I'm the complete opposite end of the UK to you :-(

Elesmart

[Shaoxter]

I have a Mk2 Rev3 Turbo in the fastest colour (yellow), ridiculously fun car.
Don't think I'll ever sell it, in terms of smiles per £ there's really nothing that can compete.

[SonicShadow]

Elesmart said:

Ah! I forgot all about the Kei cars.

Your SW20 is rather special Sonic Shadow. Would love to see it sometime but alas I believe I'm the complete opposite end of the UK to you :-(

Elesmart

Thanks man, it needs some work, the photos are being taken from gradually further away... More stone chips than paint on the front end now, but 70k miles daily usage will do that Sills are the next big one to do.