Low Mileage Toyota MR2 MK2.

[MattsCar]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Mission accomplished.



A set of recently refurbished and immaculate (bar the lip which needs a little polish with some AutoSol) Work Equip 05's with centre caps (not shown) and a free set of tyres as I don't think the very nice seller could remove them. They were left partially on to prevent any scratches. I won't be using them and will buy something a bit better, but will stick them on Facebook and see what I get for them.

As you can see, the centre has been front mounted on the lip, I plan to rear mount as I don't think it looks right will also push the wheel out into the arch more.

The gunmetal grey actually looks real nice...but...I may spray them red to match the car, but as said, they are perfect with not a single mark on them, so we shall see.

[MattsCar]

Oh and Gav, I will stand by what I said but will add that I was talking about cars in standard tune.

Obviously an MR2 Turbo with a power hike and other fancy additions, coilovers, brakes etc may be a different story.

I just don't think the MR2 MK2, which is a 30 year old design could stand a chance against a considerably more modern Clio 200 Cup, which is essentially a track focused car out of the box, designed specifically for track driving.

Happy to be called a fool and proved wrong though, if anyone disagrees let me know!

[TwigtheWonderkid]

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

[gavsdavs]

MattsCar said:

Oh and Gav, I will stand by what I said but will add that I was talking about cars in standard tune.

Obviously an MR2 Turbo with a power hike and other fancy additions, coilovers, brakes etc may be a different story.

I just don't think the MR2 MK2, which is a 30 year old design could stand a chance against a considerably more modern Clio 200 Cup, which is essentially a track focused car out of the box, designed specifically for track driving.

Happy to be called a fool and proved wrong though, if anyone disagrees let me know!

An N/A mr2 is a fun car to drive but as you know it's not what you'd call fast compared to modern cars. I'm sure you're finding out the fun is in the experience more than the speed. Yes, my comment was more around what MR2s can be like when you have done some fancy additions, they have fairly light weight, good power to weight and traction on their side. The N/A can be thrown around and is not likely to bite, the more powerful ones might do but can be pretty quick in a good drivers' hands.

[gavsdavs]

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.

I think the general feeling is that a) the OEM wheels though classic, are a little dull, and b) it's getting difficult to get a decent selection of tyres for those sizes. I wish i still had mine as the big profile gives a comfy ride.

[SonicShadow]

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.

Nothing wrong with being wrong

[TwigtheWonderkid]

gavsdavs said:

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.

I think the general feeling is that a) the OEM wheels though classic, are a little dull, and b) it's getting difficult to get a decent selection of tyres for those sizes. I wish i still had mine as the big profile gives a comfy ride.

I wasn't aware of the tyre issue. If you can't get decent tyres to fit the originals, that's a fair point. But for aesthetic reasons....just no.

[MStroud80]

I've owned 2x MKII MR2's since 2003. A black Rev3 UK T-Bar and a P reg 10th Anniversary in silver. Both lovely cars. I think the wheels standard to the Rev 3 and 4 suit the car best, as well as the one piece wing that came with the same Rev's. The Rev 5 wheels where nice but i dont think, combined with the 'adjustable' wing, they suited the cars smooth lines so well.

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. The black Rev3? Written off in 2005 when rear ended by a Volvo doing 50 mph whilst it was stationary.. the day after the guy bought it from me! Engine broke off the mountings and entered the cabin apparently.

I dont think it will be my last. I'd take a vgc, standard, black Rev 3 or 4 UK T-Bar in a heartbeat if the price and mileage was right...

[Varelco]

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.

Still doing this are we?


Give it a rest it's getting boring. We get it you don't do aftermarket wheels, move on.

[MattsCar]

Gav, unfortunately I can't tell you about the driving experience as I've only driven it for 20 minutes down the A5 in a straight line! I will be able to see what it's like once I've serviced it and changed the cambelt and have it on the road, but, yes, the N/A I am guessing is more about the experience than out and out speed.

MStroud, I would be very interested to see pictures of that nut and bolt restore!

With regards wheels...it's personal preference, but I think I've chosen wisely and I think they will look great (which is what matters), more so now that they will be rear faced and polished up nicely as such...



The dual action polisher came in handy once again and Meguiars metal polish seemed to work well. I actually really like the gunmetal grey so that will be staying.

Once I've done them all, I'll take them down to a wheel refurb place to give them the once over and get them built back up.

[SonicShadow]

Very nice, getting hard to find those in that condition.

[Hellbound]

I've had two NA cars, one was a JDM Rev 2 T-bar with mods (chip, air filter, exhaust) and the other a late Rev 3 JDM tin top in standard guise. The modified Rev 2 felt quick but that was back in 1999 - it wasn't really an old car back then as it was still in production albeit about to end. The second car came to me a few years ago and felt its age despite being quite a clean example with low miles. Having an EP3 Civic Type R move away at considerable speed from standstill was enough for me to realise these are comparatively slow cars. The turbo is a much livelier and worthwhile pursuit and if I were to buy another to keep it would have to be one of those.

Clio 200's are creeping lower in price so why the change?

I have a JDM OEM cup holder that fits into the spare DIN. It's a bit flimsy though. Might put it up on ebay. Does your car also come with the rubber mat in the boot? There are two types, one is actual rubber and the other is a thinner bendy material you can roll up.

Edited by Hellbound on Tuesday 10th September 22:48

[fuchsiasteve]

Hellbound said:

I've had two NA cars, one was a JDM Rev 2 T-bar with mods (chip, air filter, exhaust) and the other a late Rev 3 JDM tin top in standard guise. The modified Rev 2 felt quick but that was back in 1999 - it wasn't really an old car back then as it was still in production albeit about to end. The second car came to me a few years ago and felt its age despite being quite a clean example with low miles. Having an EP3 Civic Type R move away at considerable speed from standstill was enough for me to realise these are comparatively slow cars. The turbo is a much livelier and worthwhile pursuit and if I were to buy another to keep it would have to be one of those.

Clio 200's are creeping lower in price so why the change?

Edited by Hellbound on Tuesday 10th September 22:48

For uk B roads JDM mr2s aren’t great. I currently own a uk rev 1 mk2 mr2 and an early Honda 2000. The MR2 is so at home driving bumpy twisty B roads. Stock everything apart from the exhaust and filter. The car is a pure delight, plenty of travel in the suspension and nice soft walled 14 inch small alloys. You get the weight transition feel under braking and acceleration the car yawing about beautifully telling you loads of detail what is going on. No power steering with loads of feel.

You have to remember that Toyota sent engineers over to the uk to specifically develop what suspension suited British Roads which are totally different to Japan before the Mk2 was officially launched.

By contrast I used to own a revision 3 JDM turbo. This car was rapid on smooth roads, dual carriageways and race tracks but was hopeless on great bumpy B roads. It had the stock black bilsteins on. I tried the yellow bilsteins with Eiback springs but this was even stiffer so I eventually sold the car.

The s2000 is on stock suspension and is fun on B roads but the steering doesn’t have the same feel the MR2 has, there isn’t all that lovely weight transfer during driving like the mr2 and the ride is skittish through the corners and firmer.

The S2000 doesn’t feel that much quicker in all honesty than the mr2.

[SonicShadow]

fuchsiasteve said:

For uk B roads JDM mr2s aren’t great. I currently own a uk rev 1 mk2 mr2 and an early Honda 2000. The MR2 is so at home driving bumpy twisty B roads. Stock everything apart from the exhaust and filter. The car is a pure delight, plenty of travel in the suspension and nice soft walled 14 inch small alloys. You get the weight transition feel under braking and acceleration the car yawing about beautifully telling you loads of detail what is going on. No power steering with loads of feel.

You have to remember that Toyota sent engineers over to the uk to specifically develop what suspension suited British Roads which are totally different to Japan before the Mk2 was officially launched.

By contrast I used to own a revision 3 JDM turbo. This car was rapid on smooth roads, dual carriageways and race tracks but was hopeless on great bumpy B roads. It had the stock black bilsteins on. I tried the yellow bilsteins with Eiback springs but this was even stiffer so I eventually sold the car.

The s2000 is on stock suspension and is fun on B roads but the steering doesn’t have the same feel the MR2 has, there isn’t all that lovely weight transfer during driving like the mr2 and the ride is skittish through the corners and firmer.

The S2000 doesn’t feel that much quicker in all honesty than the mr2.

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.

[danllama]

Well I was about to share a photo of my old rev 2 turbo with enkeis on, but then read the rest of the thread and saw you picked up some Works. They are lovely, and actually a bit of a kick in the nads for me as i've been searching for some nice 16's for ages! Where did you find them?

Anyway here's the photo

MR2 Turbo T-bar by Dan J, on Flickr

As for twigthekid, MR2's should only ever be on aftermarket wheels IMO. Here's my latest MR2, bought a few days ago. The wheels are Sterns i believe.

V6 MR2 by Dan J, on Flickr

And my turbo has the classic Enkei RP01's

IMG_20190902_164327 by Dan J, on Flickr

Anyway OP, your car looks stunning and you are doing a great service with it, hopefully see you around in it

[DaveCWK]

Looks like a really nice example. I miss my rev3 Turbo
Don't stop at removing that foam; inject the area all along the sill with cavity wax.

[fuchsiasteve]

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.

[MadRob6]

fuchsiasteve said:

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.

I had a mk2 rev 1 with a non PAS rack and it was great to drive but the rack was sooooo slow. I got out of it and into a modern car after not driving one for a while and almost drove it straight into a kerb!

[fuchsiasteve]

MadRob6 said:

I had a mk2 rev 1 with a non PAS rack and it was great to drive but the rack was sooooo slow. I got out of it and into a modern car after not driving one for a while and almost drove it straight into a kerb!

Haha yes the rack is much longer than modern cars. It’s ace on drift days (at oulton park) as the car is so challenging to drift (and a real workout!). Letting go of the wheel to self centre it quick is ace fun. The S2000 by comparison was so easy on the steering (very short lock to lock) it took minutes to master it. Getting just one lap in the mr2 drifted properly was a sense of achievement!

[Hellbound]

fuchsiasteve said:

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.

Is suspension/chassis set up enough of a reason to discount the entire car? Cars of this age should really have an entire suspension refresh anyway as it’ll probably be tired.