Where have all the MR2s gone?

Where have all the MR2s gone?

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Discussion

TTmonkey

20,911 posts

246 months

Friday 19th March 2021
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Brings back memories. Bought one in 1990, I think it was (or was it 89? ). . One of the very first off the boat from Japan, very first delivery (pre availability in the U.K.). Had the coupe first, then the GT about 4 months later.
Crashed the GT, took months to get it fixed as there weren’t any spare parts available.

First new car. Was 21 years old, serving with the RAF in Germany. The car turned heads big style.

IdiotRace

131 posts

185 months

Wednesday 31st March 2021
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White-Noise said:
Go on then ill get involved. I must have been 22 or 23 when I got it. Good times. Tragic that garage fire above, scary. What started it?
[url]

|https://thumbsnap.com/MPMSbGJY[/url]
That brings back memories and makes me sad, Luke did a turbo conversion on my first mr2 years ago and we became good pals. I used to hang around the garage chatting about crap and watching him work on these cars taught me so many things.

He did the engine build on my current car, as I bought the pistons and rods from him as he'd just bought a 2gr-fe to do up his. I'd always rib him that he'd never get it on the road as he was always working on mine. But I'd come up to the garage and he'd excitedly show me all the bits he'd lined up for it.

My car probably isn't to everyones tastes I guess, I have tacky fake CF wings because I spun the car off at crainers and scraped one side down a tyre wall. I may just get them sprayed body colour at some point. Also the wheels are mis matched because the Rays didn't fit over the front brakes, but they've been sold now.

When I bought it almost 10 years ago prices were so low that I could just re-shell the car with the abundance of cheap tintop chassis. By the time I ended up having a major off on track that turned out not to be the case.

I have no idea what it's worth tbh, I've had the underside treated with dinitrol and checked for any rust spots when it was resprayed. The only bad part was the boot drain which was welded with new metal.




I've kept the suspension relatively simple, as over the years I've run so many different setups with fancy coilovers etc that tbh never really make much of a difference. Just a set of uprated billstein shocks h&r springs, trd anti-rollbars and new bushings. It's a bit harsh but not enough to stop you enjoying driving on a b-road.

Part of me wants to get rid of it but, I honestly don't know what I'd replace it with. Boxster/Cayman seem like the next logical step, but to be honest they don't do anything for me and I don't think I could afford to track something like that. Elise was something else, but after doing a few passenger rides on track in them I was impressed but I knew that I would hate driving one on the road.

GT86 is another choice, but I don't know if I'd get annoyed at it being so much slower than the mr2 and end up spending a fortune on it to get more power.

TheJimi

24,860 posts

242 months

Wednesday 31st March 2021
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The thing about the Mk2 MR2 is that it feels VERY special when you're in it.

Not a lot of cars can offer that, almost regardless of price.

IdiotRace

131 posts

185 months

Wednesday 31st March 2021
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They are also very civilised in standard form too. I took mine to get MOT'ed yesterday and got stuck in a huge traffic jam and honestly aside from the overly grabby clutch it was fine. As soon as I can get the aircon sorted and maybe get a carplay headunit mine will be pretty decent on a long distance drive too.

People do like to go mental with the turbos, fitting overly harsh suspension, slamming them to the ground and wondering why they don't handle so well. Also doing engine builds for 400bhp+ and wondering why it's no longer that fun to drive on the road anymore.

The amount of times I'd read someones build thread where they threw money at the car to give it 500bhp and as soon as it was finished the car would end up getting sold or broke for parts was amazing.

Wadeski

8,132 posts

212 months

Wednesday 31st March 2021
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IdiotRace said:
Part of me wants to get rid of it but, I honestly don't know what I'd replace it with. Boxster/Cayman seem like the next logical step, but to be honest they don't do anything for me and I don't think I could afford to track something like that. Elise was something else, but after doing a few passenger rides on track in them I was impressed but I knew that I would hate driving one on the road.

GT86 is another choice, but I don't know if I'd get annoyed at it being so much slower than the mr2 and end up spending a fortune on it to get more power.
I bought a Boxster after my MR2 Turbo for the same reason. The Porsche feels more delicate, but also more planted in the corners. A Boxster is also pretty amazing at covering long distances, although the boot/frunk are smaller than the MR2. The main issue is the engine - it just lacks the drama the Toyota has. Its a little bit "too good" all around.

Maybe the later ones with the bigger engines (mine was a 986) do more. Strange suggestion - but have you considered a C5 Corvette?

IdiotRace

131 posts

185 months

Wednesday 31st March 2021
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I think we've met, I recognise your name from old forum days past.

Just personal preference tbh, looking at a Cayman makes me think it's a nice car. But it doesn't really feel like something I'd love to own. Same goes for Vettes, really not my thing.

Honestly I'd fancy importing an old S-body car like a cleanish S13 or S14, but as prices have increased I'd just be dealing with the same 30 year old car problems as before but on a different platform. Although they have a way better aftermarket. DC5 Integra would be another decent choice, especially for trackdays.

Dunno I'm just gonna stick with the SW20 for the moment and enjoy it.


paulg390

635 posts

233 months

Monday 5th April 2021
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Well I’ve still got mine... just... I bought it about 5 years ago from a lady who’d owned it from new... it’s a Rev 5 with only 45k on the clock and FSH. I love it to bits but I’m struggling for space and so sadly I can see this being the last year of the relationship.

clarki

1,312 posts

218 months

Tuesday 24th August 2021
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Just got a mk3 as a winter project;


CoolHands

18,496 posts

194 months

Tuesday 24th August 2021
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Damn so now you’ve got the slk, the mx5, and an mr2?!

clarki

1,312 posts

218 months

Tuesday 24th August 2021
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CoolHands said:
Damn so now you’ve got the slk, the mx5, and an mr2?!
Good point, doesn't sound very manly when you say it like that!! Need something macho on the drive...

Agent57

Original Poster:

1,631 posts

153 months

Tuesday 24th August 2021
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https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107145...

£17k. Wow. Nice car.

I've got mine in for a respray now. Couldn't let it go.

Wadeski

8,132 posts

212 months

Tuesday 24th August 2021
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Wow.

I remember when that would be a 2k car, or a nice shell for a turbo swap!

moorx

3,480 posts

113 months

Wednesday 25th August 2021
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clarki said:
Just got a mk3 as a winter project;

From the last year they were produced - nice.

Same colour scheme as mine.

What size wheels does it have on it?

irish boy

3,520 posts

235 months

Wednesday 25th August 2021
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I bought a 1200 mile mk1, guy bought it drove it straight onto stands in his garage only bringing it out for the odd service and mot. Took a while to get the deal done to be fair he was very attached after more than 3 decades, but knew his time with it was up as his years advanced and it began to become a burden.

clarki

1,312 posts

218 months

Thursday 26th August 2021
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moorx said:
From the last year they were produced - nice.

Same colour scheme as mine.

What size wheels does it have on it?
Thanks, it's surprising us already!! Quick intro before we get started on the to-do list;

https://youtu.be/tuIwh_mPHJU

Currently on 15s front, 16s rear. Would really prefer to get her back on the original wheels, that's on the list.

thetapeworm

11,191 posts

238 months

Thursday 26th August 2021
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Agent57 said:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107145...

£17k. Wow. Nice car.

I've got mine in for a respray now. Couldn't let it go.
£19,995 new in that spec back in 96.

It'll be interesting to see if it sells, I don't see £17k in a "base spec" UK MK2 in red, even with delivery miles but I guess it only takes one person to want it.


Agent57

Original Poster:

1,631 posts

153 months

Thursday 26th August 2021
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Yeah, highest price I've seen. But try finding another like that as the salesman might say.

Jan 1998 new price £21,995. £23,600 for T-bar.


aka_kerrly

12,415 posts

209 months

Thursday 26th August 2021
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clarki said:
Just got a mk3 as a winter project;

On a 2006 plate, must be one of the last ones sold.

I like that!

moorx

3,480 posts

113 months

Thursday 26th August 2021
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clarki said:
moorx said:
From the last year they were produced - nice.

Same colour scheme as mine.

What size wheels does it have on it?
Thanks, it's surprising us already!! Quick intro before we get started on the to-do list;

https://youtu.be/tuIwh_mPHJU

Currently on 15s front, 16s rear. Would really prefer to get her back on the original wheels, that's on the list.
At least they are staggered, then. Yes, I like the original wheels. Mine's pretty much standard.

Will you reinstate/move the badges on the rear too?

Agent57

Original Poster:

1,631 posts

153 months

Friday 3rd September 2021
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Coming soon....