Low Mileage Toyota MR2 MK2.

[SonicShadow]

fuchsiasteve said:

SonicShadow said:

The other chap didn't say if the two he owned were NA or Turbo, but the NA suspension on Japan market cars (apart from the Bilstein special edition) is exactly the same as the UK/Euro and North American NA's. Its only the turbos that had the OEM Bilstein shocks and different springs.

I remember where I read it now in a book called Toyota MR2 coupes and spyders where it explains that when the mk2 Rev 1 was launched because “the UK was the second biggest export market outside the USA such was the importance of the British isles that Toyota engineers had descended on the UK with two prototypes in 1989 to fine tune the suspension and steering to better suit British taste. It was ultimately decided not to offer the EHPS (power steering), give the manual rack a 20.5.1 ratio (3.7 turns lock to lock) and specify a 17 mm (0.67 in.) diameter anti roll bar for the front, with an 18 mm (0.71 in.) one at the back. Also in view of the higher speeds of European roads, the twin pot front brake callipers from the Japanese turbocharged model were adopted minus the abs system.”

My Rev 1 is a dream on B roads for the reason above. My Rev 3 turbo was just way too stiff and would want to get airborne over any rises and crests which was very frustrating (as the car had bags of power). The turbo looked great though with its Ferrari back lights, colour coded sills, front splitter etc but the I’d take my Rev 1 everytime over it.

Sounds like it was probably written by an American from an American POV. UK NA brakes and Japan market NA brakes are exactly the same, the calipers / discs etc are the same on the turbo too, though the turbo does have a different master cylinder and proportioning valve. All European and Japan models got the larger brake setup at the same time as the other Revision 2 changes for 1992. It was only the US market NA's that got the neutered chassis spec.

Sounds like the Turbo did not have standard suspension, or needed replacing. My Rev5 with coilovers and TRD ARB's doesn't behave like that. Its only left the road vertically once, and that was entirely my fault!

[Slopez]

Lovely looking MR2, almost ended up buying one of as I was frustrated at not being able to find a red Toyota Celica st165 and these (with your eyes squinted) sort of look similar But I found one last month and it arrived this week!

I'll be keeping my eye on this thread, purely as motivation to get mine as mint and as this shiney as this.

[MattsCar]

Thanks again for all the nice comments.

Hellbound, exactly as you said, the Clio 200's are dropping in price, I had my fun with it and simply thought it best to sell.

Danllama, lovely wheels, I recognised that picture having googled "Enkei MR2 MK2" recently when i was looking for wheels.

So, I haven't actually done much to the car this week, but the weekend is here so I will be cracking. I have however polished all the wheels and they look great!

But....I have messed up. lol.

Wheels that I believed to be mid +30 offset have turned out to be +15 offset once the face is rear mounted. With the face front mounted, they would fit, but...I was advised today when I took them to be checked over that they are not designed to be mounted like this. I assume they are correct when they say this, if anyone knows any different, let me know!

If I was to rear mount the centres, then the wheels would stick out a further 42.5mm (this includes offset/wheel diameter increase) into the arch, which is way too much.

All is not lost, the wheels are in fact very good shape and I think I might even turn a profit on them once photographed nicely and posted on Facebook.

[Red Devil]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

I haven't seen a single pic in this whole thread of aftermarket wheels that look even 10% as good as the originals.

We got the message the first time you posted.

TwigtheWonderkid said:

I guess it's all down to personal preference.

Exactly. What a boring world it would be if everyone thought the same way.

MattsCar said:

Here are some Enkei wheels I noticed advertised today, with polished lip with matching to the paintwork centres, might look ok! Would be very much a Gran Turismo on the PS1 look.

As kuro said those are Enkei Racing S wheels. I have a staggered set of 16" Enkei Racing Peaks which look very similar but are 5 spoke rather than 7.

MattsCar said:

You can also probably spot something that is really bugging me...an all singing, all dancing Pioneer stereo, which does not look right. It's actually quite a high end model, so this will be sold and with the money, I will look at sourcing a period CD player from Alpine. I do have the original stereo, but it is cassette only...

Something like this would be perfect.

Or how about one of these? Genuine Toyota radio, tape, cd player.



Pic of one in situ. Not 100% period as these were fitted to early/mid 2000s Hilux and Camry models but I reckon it blends in pretty well.



They can be had for peanuts - https://www.shpock.com/en-gb/i/WLL6KS5Ik9Uci0Wa/to...

You've got a lovely car there Matt. Liking what you're doing with it.

[MattsCar]

Thanks for the comment Red Devil and the heads up on the Headunit, that does fit in rather well and is a 6 disc changer as well I notice.

Today, I finished off the wheels...the wheels to be...so sad that they don't fit as they look utterly gorgeous.

Obviously I know what I paid for them, but...any idea of what they would be worth in an unbuilt state and in not quite perfect (I.e new) but very good condition? The prices on eBay USA seem astronomical, even for badly tarnished sets in need of a full rebuild.

Please don't think this is a for sale advert, I'm just looking for a ball park figure, so I don't price them too low when I list them.





Finally, something completely off topic. Someone contacted me about a clutch I have for sale on Facebook and I couldn't resist this reply...

[SonicShadow]

There is the custom lip / barrel route if you want to keep the wheels... Not cheap though!

[B'stard Child]

SonicShadow said:

There is the custom lip / barrel route if you want to keep the wheels... Not cheap though!

They are two piece splits aren't they - custom lip / barrel option is only viable for 3 piece splits surely?

[SonicShadow]

B'stard Child said:

SonicShadow said:

There is the custom lip / barrel route if you want to keep the wheels... Not cheap though!

They are two piece splits aren't they - custom lip / barrel option is only viable for 3 piece splits surely?

Equip 05's are 3 piece. You can see the band here where the lip and barrel separates:

https://www.jdmdistro.com/shop/wheels/work-equip-p...

[Red Devil]

MattsCar said:

Obviously I know what I paid for them, but...any idea of what they would be worth in an unbuilt state and in not quite perfect (I.e new) but very good condition? The prices on eBay USA seem astronomical, even for badly tarnished sets in need of a full rebuild.

This may give you some indication - CLICKY
Built/unbuilt shouldn't make an appreciable difference to the value.
As a buyer, in the latter case it depends whether or not you put a figure on your time.

Btw, you'll need to establish the correct offset figures if/when you list them.

[B'stard Child]

SonicShadow said:

B'stard Child said:

SonicShadow said:

There is the custom lip / barrel route if you want to keep the wheels... Not cheap though!

They are two piece splits aren't they - custom lip / barrel option is only viable for 3 piece splits surely?

Equip 05's are 3 piece. You can see the band here where the lip and barrel separates:

https://www.jdmdistro.com/shop/wheels/work-equip-p...

Thanks I didn't know that and the pictures provided made them look like 2 piece

If I found a wheel I like and it just need different barrels to be right I'd be doing exactly that

The bit I don't understand is that visually they don't look that different to the Offset of the std wheel which are fairly flat face and have most of the width inside the mounting face

[Red Devil]

MStroud80 said:

I've owned 2x MKII MR2's since 2003. A black Rev3 UK T-Bar and a P reg 10th Anniversary in silver.

Im not sure if he's on this forum but the Anniversary (P171 DTN i think) was sold to a guy around 2013. He nut and bolt restored it inside, under and out and the pictures ive seen since are truly wonderful.

P171 DTN is #155/250. It was advertised on Gumtree (in late 2013/early 2014 IIRC) and the seller was in Chandlers Ford, Hampshire.

B'stard Child said:

The bit I don't understand is that visually they don't look that different to the Offset of the std wheel which are fairly flat face and have most of the width inside the mounting face

Visual appearance alone doesn't cut it. The numbers are key.

You may find these links helpful.
https://www.performancealloys.com/alloy-wheels-off...
https://www.moderntiredealer.com/article/312133/an...

ET on stock 15" Mk2 wheels is 45 all round.
See here for tried and tested aftermarket options.

[MattsCar]

Thanks for the advice guys.

They are 3 piece but I haven't gone to the extent of separating as i'd have to rebuild and reseal etc.

Custom barrels are not really an option due to cost.

Thanks for the link Red Devil, I have listed them on Facebook at a fair price, with the correct offset listed, which is +15.

B'Child, there is a fair bit of depth in the rear piece that faces the hub and they are not as flat faced as the original alloys. On the original alloys, the centre of the wheel on the outside actually sticks out further than the lip.

On another note, I polished the exhaust tips inside and out today and got some good results.

Used a drill with a polishing buffer with Meguairs metal polish and then did the rest with my hands.

Went from this sort of thing...



to this...





Makes a massive difference to the rear end I think.

[Rich135]

Looking good Matt! That is really shining now. Go out and enjoy the last weekend of sunshine!! I have just been out in mine :-)

Rich

[AndrewGP]

Matt, just read the whole thread from start to finish. I’ll be honest, I’ve never really had much interest in MR2s, no rational reason why, they’ve just never been in my radar! But that is stunning and the work you’ve done is amazing, a real credit to you and the car. Looking forward to reading future updates

[MattsCar]

Andrew, thanks for taking the time to read and the kind comment, to be honest I'd never even considered one before as I mentioned at the start of this thread.

Rich, it's currently SORN I am afraid, I still haven't driven it. plan is to give it a major service and then go out and use it. Glad you're having a good time in yours though!


Been struggling to find time lately, but there wasn't a cloud in the sky today, no work and got up very early to press on with things...



…and I have now finished the paint on the outside.






I think it is so red it confuses my phone camera.


I have also tarted up the mudflaps with forever black, going from this...




to this...




On another note, I've seen a Hurley Engineering engine for sale with throttle bodies which puts out about 210BHP. Bet that would sound lovely and make for a more interesting turn of speed.

[danllama]

Is the forever black stuff easy to use? Would really tidy up some bits on my mr2's.

The car looks absolutely perfect. If you want 200+hp go for a V6

[MattsCar]

Dead easy to use, just brush it on and allow it to dry.

I have seen a few vids of the V6 engine cars and they look fun, but like with the Hurley Engineering engine, it's just me grazing online when i'm bored lol This will be kept stock.

[danllama]

haha yep we all do it, 3 hours later researching ridiculous things. Stock is best, as Toyota intended.

[MattsCar]

https://racecarsdirect.com/Advert/Details/102706/t...

That is the advert for the Hurley RE engine. Silly cheap for what it is.

[MattsCar]

So... I am going to put my hands up and say I have been rather stupid regarding the work equip wheels.

The faces/centres aren't supposed to be rear mounted, i.e behind the barrel, they are supposed to be sandwiched in between the lip and the barrel. I am rather embarrassed that this hadn't crossed my mind previously.

On a positive note, this increases the offset and I've worked out that the wheels will stick out about 25mm in comparison to the standard wheels, which will actually see them sitting nice and flush, without causing issues.