Where have all the MR2s gone?

[clarki]

simonsti said:

This is my wife's 37k mile Rev 5.
Back on the road soon after winter hibernation.

That is lovely.

Our MK3 is freshly MOT'd so we decided to take it for a spin...

https://youtu.be/FDGMRXO1FzE

[Red Devil]

My 2(p) worth.





Acquired a Mk3 a few months ago to keep Mr Khan off my back...

[TheJimi]

To answer the thread title, here's one of 'em -

[Agent57]

Hope they will all be here on Sunday:

https://mr2dc.com/events/mr2-national-day-2023/

Sunday 4th June 2023

Venue: Hatton Country World near Warwick, CV35 8XA

Members and non-Members welcome.

All MR2s are welcome, together with a selection of Celicas, Supras, GT86 & a few other interesting Toyotas.

Free event entry (£2 venue parking fee).

[Frimley111R]

[thetapeworm]

I have a real hankering for a MK3 at the moment, as a die-hard MK2 Turbo chap I was always dismissive of them despite a really fun passenger ride in one around some amazing scenery in California 20-odd years ago.

The last time I tried the drivers seat in one it wasn't very roomy but I think I missed some seat height adjustment maybe, I need to try and find one locally to see if I can get comfy in one.

Wrong time of year to buy one probably but a project would be fine.

[ucb]

Prices of MK3 seem pretty static. I haven't noticed a huge seasonal trend in the selling prices but summer does seem to attract those who have lower mileage cars to stick up a price

[Ankh87]

There's always an upturn in sales over the summer with convertibles.

Personally the prices are where they should be. The ones that were getting sold for £500-£1000 a few years ago, never should have been that price. They only were because no one wanted them. Now that all the MX5s are rust buckets that are the same age, people are moving onto the next best thing.

MK3 is actually a good car. Yes it's no hotrod but on the B roads its fairly fast. I've had plenty of faster cars try to keep up with mine and they can't. The handling is so good and feels old school which is nice.

[thetapeworm]

Ankh87 said:

There's always an upturn in sales over the summer with convertibles.

Personally the prices are where they should be. The ones that were getting sold for £500-£1000 a few years ago, never should have been that price. They only were because no one wanted them. Now that all the MX5s are rust buckets that are the same age, people are moving onto the next best thing.

MK3 is actually a good car. Yes it's no hotrod but on the B roads its fairly fast. I've had plenty of faster cars try to keep up with mine and they can't. The handling is so good and feels old school which is nice.

So my hopes of a facelift in the right colour with air con and a hardtop for £500 are optimistic then?

I've only ever been out as a passenger in them, on track and on an amazing MR2DC meet-up in California back in the early 2000s where a chap that was supposedly an ex-Nascar driver took pity on me in my rental Chevy Malibu and took me out for the day with the rest of the club. I guess it's a lot like my Puma was in that you don't have outright pace but you have handling and the ability to keep hold of speed through corners, it's nice to have to work at going faster sometimes.

I couldn't seem to get a decent position behind the wheel when I tried a MK3 for size at launch but think I might have missed some of the adjustment options available, seat height most probably, so I need to have another go if I can find one to sit in locally.

I've never owned a proper convertible and just fancy something basic I can tinker with instead of my potential money-pit Saab.

[Ankh87]

thetapeworm said:

So my hopes of a facelift in the right colour with air con and a hardtop for £500 are optimistic then?

I've only ever been out as a passenger in them, on track and on an amazing MR2DC meet-up in California back in the early 2000s where a chap that was supposedly an ex-Nascar driver took pity on me in my rental Chevy Malibu and took me out for the day with the rest of the club. I guess it's a lot like my Puma was in that you don't have outright pace but you have handling and the ability to keep hold of speed through corners, it's nice to have to work at going faster sometimes.

I couldn't seem to get a decent position behind the wheel when I tried a MK3 for size at launch but think I might have missed some of the adjustment options available, seat height most probably, so I need to have another go if I can find one to sit in locally.

I've never owned a proper convertible and just fancy something basic I can tinker with instead of my potential money-pit Saab.

First off you won't find any with a hardtop considering the hardtop alone are upwards of £1000. If you do buy the car, sell the hardtop, scrap the car and you'll be quid's in.

But yeah, the seating position for those north of 6'1" isn't great. I do not have this issue and there's still plenty of adjustment. Also might help is the change of seats. If you could find one with none Toyota seats that helps the taller people fit in the car.

As for a project, they are fairly easy to work on but anything like throttle body, inlet manifold isn't as the engine is faced into the car. Overall though the car is great. Super fun and you don't have to be driving way over the speed limit to have fun.
Where I live there's a lot of B roads and I rarely had to get to the speed limits to enjoy driving it around the bends. I definitely recommend one to those who don't need more than a duffle bag storage and want a fun car they can actually drive without breaking the law.

[TheJimi]

They have their compromises but when you consider the Mk3 provides a very high percentage of the experience of an Elise at a fraction of the cost, they make a lot of sense - imo.

[Red Devil]

TheJimi said:

They have their compromises but when you consider the Mk3 provides a very high percentage of the experience of an Elise at a fraction of the cost, they make a lot of sense - imo.

Increase the percentage. Remove the 1ZZ, replace with a 2ZZ, and you'll still have plenty left in your wallet.

[Wadeski]

Red Devil said:

TheJimi said:

They have their compromises but when you consider the Mk3 provides a very high percentage of the experience of an Elise at a fraction of the cost, they make a lot of sense - imo.

Increase the percentage. Remove the 1ZZ, replace with a 2ZZ, and you'll still have plenty left in your wallet.

What a proposition it would have been if Toyota had fit the 2ZZ as a "Sport" model.

[Fady]

Red Devil said:

TheJimi said:

They have their compromises but when you consider the Mk3 provides a very high percentage of the experience of an Elise at a fraction of the cost, they make a lot of sense - imo.

Increase the percentage. Remove the 1ZZ, replace with a 2ZZ, and you'll still have plenty left in your wallet.

People always seem to suggest this as if it isn't fraught with issues. Whilst eminently doable as has obviously been proven, it is a load work and cost and also alters the characteristics of the car as you would then need to be revving the nuts off it to engage the additional power. Probably better off looking elsewhere from the outset if you want something quicker as it's still won't be an Elise

After 6 years of ownership, I'm still very fond of mine and much the same as thetapeworm's post earlier, also owned a MK2 turbo and used to dis these.

[Ankh87]

Fady said:

Red Devil said:

TheJimi said:

They have their compromises but when you consider the Mk3 provides a very high percentage of the experience of an Elise at a fraction of the cost, they make a lot of sense - imo.

Increase the percentage. Remove the 1ZZ, replace with a 2ZZ, and you'll still have plenty left in your wallet.

People always seem to suggest this as if it isn't fraught with issues. Whilst eminently doable as has obviously been proven, it is a load work and cost and also alters the characteristics of the car as you would then need to be revving the nuts off it to engage the additional power. Probably better off looking elsewhere from the outset if you want something quicker as it's still won't be an Elise

After 6 years of ownership, I'm still very fond of mine and much the same as thetapeworm's post earlier, also owned a MK2 turbo and used to dis these.

I suggest you go in a 2zz car to see what it's like if you haven't. If you are changing to a 2zz then you could either run the celica or corolla ECU which would be cheaper, but you could get a piggy-back unit and lower when lift engages. Yes you have to still rev the nuts off it to get that extra power but you can still drive it sensibly without it.


Does it alter the cars characteristics? Not really. It's pretty much the same car still but the power is more linear. Much more controllable compared to a turbo kit. Is it really worth the swap? That's up to the person who is looking to do it. Revving the car to get performance isn't everyone's thing and most people would rather have turbo power low down.

Granted it isn't an Elise and won't be as fast. People know this when they do this modification. The reason people do it, is because it adds power but you still have the comfort and pleasantries of the car. Elise is basically not a daily driver unless you don't mind your spine rattled to bits.

[TheJimi]

Fady said:

Red Devil said:

TheJimi said:

They have their compromises but when you consider the Mk3 provides a very high percentage of the experience of an Elise at a fraction of the cost, they make a lot of sense - imo.

Increase the percentage. Remove the 1ZZ, replace with a 2ZZ, and you'll still have plenty left in your wallet.

People always seem to suggest this as if it isn't fraught with issues. Whilst eminently doable as has obviously been proven, it is a load work and cost and also alters the characteristics of the car as you would then need to be revving the nuts off it to engage the additional power. Probably better off looking elsewhere from the outset if you want something quicker as it's still won't be an Elise

After 6 years of ownership, I'm still very fond of mine and much the same as thetapeworm's post earlier, also owned a MK2 turbo and used to dis these.

My bold.

This statement genuinely baffles me. The 1ZZ is a VVT engine, and does require revs to get the best out of it.

The 2ZZ, from that perspective, doesn't change the characteristics, imo.

[Fady]

Ankh87 said:

Fady said:

Red Devil said:

TheJimi said:

They have their compromises but when you consider the Mk3 provides a very high percentage of the experience of an Elise at a fraction of the cost, they make a lot of sense - imo.

Increase the percentage. Remove the 1ZZ, replace with a 2ZZ, and you'll still have plenty left in your wallet.

People always seem to suggest this as if it isn't fraught with issues. Whilst eminently doable as has obviously been proven, it is a load work and cost and also alters the characteristics of the car as you would then need to be revving the nuts off it to engage the additional power. Probably better off looking elsewhere from the outset if you want something quicker as it's still won't be an Elise

After 6 years of ownership, I'm still very fond of mine and much the same as thetapeworm's post earlier, also owned a MK2 turbo and used to dis these.

I suggest you go in a 2zz car to see what it's like if you haven't. If you are changing to a 2zz then you could either run the celica or corolla ECU which would be cheaper, but you could get a piggy-back unit and lower when lift engages. Yes you have to still rev the nuts off it to get that extra power but you can still drive it sensibly without it.


Does it alter the cars characteristics? Not really. It's pretty much the same car still but the power is more linear. Much more controllable compared to a turbo kit. Is it really worth the swap? That's up to the person who is looking to do it. Revving the car to get performance isn't everyone's thing and most people would rather have turbo power low down.

Granted it isn't an Elise and won't be as fast. People know this when they do this modification. The reason people do it, is because it adds power but you still have the comfort and pleasantries of the car. Elise is basically not a daily driver unless you don't mind your spine rattled to bits.

Nah. As said - is always suggested and is something I did take an interest in but personally speaking, I will be putting the money towards a 'faster' sports car by the side of the Roadster. Have spent so much on keeping in shape that I'm loathed to part with it. Plus I like how much fun it is at normal road speeds. The additional power in a 2zz is never linear, it only kicks in at very high revs, so 6000+ with 'lift'. This is well documented.

[RedAndy]

1MZ conversion...? or a 2GR?!

[Ankh87]

Fady said:

Nah. As said - is always suggested and is something I did take an interest in but personally speaking, I will be putting the money towards a 'faster' sports car by the side of the Roadster. Have spent so much on keeping in shape that I'm loathed to part with it. Plus I like how much fun it is at normal road speeds. The additional power in a 2zz is never linear, it only kicks in at very high revs, so 6000+ with 'lift'. This is well documented.

I don't mean the lift part of the map. I'm talking about the torque graph and bhp/hp line until lift.

If you actually look at the 1zz and 2zz power graphs, you'll see that with the 1zz the torque is more of an n shape as peak torque for the 1zz is like 4200-4500rpm. Where as the 2zz there is a steady incline line, then it jumps (lift) at 6200rpm. I know this as I had a corolla t sport for several years and had it on a rolling road.

As for the 2zz below 6200rpm, it pretty much responds like the 1zz but is a little slower in the midrange due to less torque. What helps with the 2zz though is that if you keep it in the lift engagement then the peak torque is there followed by more power.

Overall would the general Bob notice the difference driving below 6200rpm? No they wouldn't unless driven back to back or if you knew the 1zz inside out.

Granted is spending all that money on a MR2 then doing the conversion might not be worth it to some people. I can see why, especially when say you buy a nice car at £4k plus another £4k to get someone to do the conversion. That's £8k at least on a 2000s cheap Toyota. You're then getting into the range of S2000, 350z at that price.

[Agent57]

Where have all the MR2s gone?

Here they are: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcwdM-vM4Ik

Great day out last Sunday.