Buying an MR2 MkII T-bar

[crazylegs]

Gazboy said:

You can have mine....

Forgive me for looking a gift horse in the mouth, but wasn't it yours that died?

[crazylegs]

Can anybody tell me the key distinctive factors of the Rev1, Rev2 etc.?

[crazylegs]

I meant visual differences but you answered both so that's fine.

The reason I ask is that I am taking your advice and avoiding the Rev1 - is the rule based on the reg plates hard and fast, or is there some overlap?

[crazylegs]

Gazboy said:

If you get a n/a (I recommend you do), get a UK car, it simply isn't worth the arse-ache owning an import, but without the turbo bolted on.

I contacted a seller recently, and the spec of his car was exactly what I am looking for, except it is an import. I informed him I was looking for a UK car and would not be interested, and he replied with this:

seller said:

can i ask why you're looking for a uk car? i went down the route of finding a UK car before i bought mine 3 years ago. then i found that the imports have much better spec equipment. e.g. full auto climate control, retractable mirrors etc etc, also it doesn't make any difference with the insurance, i'm with tesco.

So if its not the insurance, what is 'arse-ache' with owning an import?

[JohnL]

Another benefit of an import is that they tend to be rust free, as most of Japan is pretty warm and they don't put salt on the roads.

Mk2s weren't as rust prone as Mk1s mind you.

[Mr2Mike]

crazylegs said:

So if its not the insurance, what is 'arse-ache' with owning an import?

Insurance has been an major arse-ache for me, I don't think insurance companies like me much, even though I've never made a claim in my life (33YO, 7years NC, Cat 1 alarm and parked on private driveway and they want almost £1000 for a '93 Turbo). There are still plenty of insurance companies that won't touch imports.

The other problem is Toyota Dealers. Some are ok, some are don't like imports and go out of their way to be unhelpfull.

[Dakkon]

Personally, unless the import is very nice its not worth the hassle. Unless your after a turbo, in which case it has to be an import as they were never sold in this country officially.

Regarding parts though, there are always Fensport and the MR2 drivers club, cant say I had any trouble myself.

The dealership comment is very true, the one in Reading is terrible for imports, the one on the Edgware road near Hendon (Nth London) is great.

[crazylegs]

I read his information and all the information given on here, and decided perhaps an import wasn't the best thing. But seems as I am now mediating a discussion (of which I am very interested in the result) it seems only fair to provide his reply.

Seller said:

out of interest, the non turbo mk2 mr2 (like mine) is identical in every respect to the UK model with the addition of a few electrical goodies (climate control, fog lights that steer with car), i've got a standard uk exhaust on mine at the mo. absolutely identical. tesco is cheap for mr2s, i'm 23 and i pay £590 pa. 3rd party fire and theft.(1 years no claims) 10% discount online.

Obviously he's wants to sell his car, but is there any validity in what he says?