Toyota MR2 Mk3 - Possible to get a decent one for £2k?
Discussion
As above really, I'm fairly sure I'm going to get rid of my moneypit 172 for something more reliable (hopefully), but still fun, and I've not had a MR2 Mk3 before - I have driven one and I liked it but the one I test drove was smoking.
I've heard the earlier cars can suffer from pre-cat failure which can kill the engine, and the earlier versions of that engine can also suffer from other problems?
On the plus side, mid-engined, RWD, economical, cheap to insure etc....
Of course if its not possible to run one on the cheap then its looking like a Ford Puma or Micra or some crap like that
I've heard the earlier cars can suffer from pre-cat failure which can kill the engine, and the earlier versions of that engine can also suffer from other problems?
On the plus side, mid-engined, RWD, economical, cheap to insure etc....
Of course if its not possible to run one on the cheap then its looking like a Ford Puma or Micra or some crap like that
OlberJ said:
With your luck chief, i wouldn't.
Unless you keep a grand to the side for an emergency engine fund.
Get another Mk2, much more solid.
The top line says it all really Unless you keep a grand to the side for an emergency engine fund.
Get another Mk2, much more solid.
There's a 2004 one for £3,500 near me, from a dealer though, but it doesn't have much info.
TBH I'd rather pay more upfront if it negates the risk...
Mk2 I would do but its hard to find a good one (standard) that's been looked after.
The issue with dealer cars is that folk have issues, get them temp fixed/bodged and then trade them in against another car.
The dealer just gets a 10min look at the car before they offer some mid range offer and the seller jumps on it.
If i was buying one with a standard engine i'd get onto the forums and look for one with current owner history. Still no guarantee.
The dealer just gets a 10min look at the car before they offer some mid range offer and the seller jumps on it.
If i was buying one with a standard engine i'd get onto the forums and look for one with current owner history. Still no guarantee.
kambites said:
As far as I'm aware, they're pretty reliable once the pre-cats have been removed.
Personally, I wouldn't even consider a mk2 if the mk3 is in budget. The mk3 is everything that the mk2 should have been but wasn't in terms of handling.
I've seen one advertised that claims to have the pre-cats replaced with an aftermarket manifold.Personally, I wouldn't even consider a mk2 if the mk3 is in budget. The mk3 is everything that the mk2 should have been but wasn't in terms of handling.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4195281.htm
You don't actually need a different manifold, you can just remove the cats from the existing one.
http://www.mr2roc.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=3507
Never done it, but it doesn't look like a difficult DIY job.
http://www.mr2roc.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=3507
Never done it, but it doesn't look like a difficult DIY job.
The pre-cats aren't really the issue. Maybe in a small percentage.
As per all the other threads they have oval bores and chocolate cranks.
500miles to a litre of oil in the book. Due to the people that buy them, they don't look after them right. Hence all the blown engines in them.
Get a post 2004 if you really must but Mk2 will suit you better chief. You'll pick up a V6 for £2-3k.
As per all the other threads they have oval bores and chocolate cranks.
500miles to a litre of oil in the book. Due to the people that buy them, they don't look after them right. Hence all the blown engines in them.
Get a post 2004 if you really must but Mk2 will suit you better chief. You'll pick up a V6 for £2-3k.
Captain Muppet said:
kambites said:
The mk3 is everything that the mk2 should have been but wasn't in terms of handling.
Yeah, but the mk3 has a homosexual roof.If only they had done a coupe I'd have bought one years ago.
OlberJ said:
The pre-cats aren't really the issue. Maybe in a small percentage.
As per all the other threads they have oval bores and chocolate cranks.
500miles to a litre of oil in the book. Due to the people that buy them, they don't look after them right. Hence all the blown engines in them.
Get a post 2004 if you really must but Mk2 will suit you better chief. You'll pick up a V6 for £2-3k.
How easy is the 2ZZ conversion (and how easy is a 2ZZ to get hold of?)? Does anyone do turnkey conversions?As per all the other threads they have oval bores and chocolate cranks.
500miles to a litre of oil in the book. Due to the people that buy them, they don't look after them right. Hence all the blown engines in them.
Get a post 2004 if you really must but Mk2 will suit you better chief. You'll pick up a V6 for £2-3k.
Going by your post, the Mk3 MR2 has echos of the RX8....
kambites said:
Captain Muppet said:
kambites said:
The mk3 is everything that the mk2 should have been but wasn't in terms of handling.
Yeah, but the mk3 has a homosexual roof.If only they had done a coupe I'd have bought one years ago.
Adding a third convertible to the fleet would be silly and even harder to justify.
doogz said:
Morning.
I bought mine in June for £1800, unseen off eBay. Bit of an accident, I placed a bid, but didn’t think it was going to go that cheap, and no-one else bid on it.
Went and picked it up, and it was in surprisingly good condition. Test drove the s
t out of it, and everything seemed fine, then a week later, the clutch started slipping. Cheapest clutch kit I’ve ever bought, less than £100 for a blueprint kit.
I’ve since spent some money on it in other places, put 4 new tyres on it, although the 4 that were there were legal, just not great tyres, replaced the brakes all round, was going to do some track driving, so new discs all round, £30 for some rear brembo pads, £140 for some front 1144’s :s
It needs a new electric aerial motor, I’m keeping my eyes peeled for one, other than that, seems to be in great shape. Everything’s nice and solid underneath, I removed the manifold precats the week after I bought it. A snapped stud meant it was off the road for a few days, not a big deal. I’ve serviced it, and it went for its MOT 2 weeks ago and passed with not a single advisory. The roof is in good shape, no leaks or tears.
Despite what people on PH that haven’t owned one will tell you, mine is averaging 40-42mpg on the work run, which is mostly motorway.
Loving it so far, good bit cheaper to use for work than the Impreza, and I’ve never had anything mid engined, rear wheel drive (other than a couple of Shoguns) or soft top before, thoroughly enjoying it.
Your story is almost identical to when I bought mine 2.5 years ago. Clutch, tyres, brakes and aerial needed sorting pretty quickly.I bought mine in June for £1800, unseen off eBay. Bit of an accident, I placed a bid, but didn’t think it was going to go that cheap, and no-one else bid on it.
Went and picked it up, and it was in surprisingly good condition. Test drove the s
t out of it, and everything seemed fine, then a week later, the clutch started slipping. Cheapest clutch kit I’ve ever bought, less than £100 for a blueprint kit.I’ve since spent some money on it in other places, put 4 new tyres on it, although the 4 that were there were legal, just not great tyres, replaced the brakes all round, was going to do some track driving, so new discs all round, £30 for some rear brembo pads, £140 for some front 1144’s :s
It needs a new electric aerial motor, I’m keeping my eyes peeled for one, other than that, seems to be in great shape. Everything’s nice and solid underneath, I removed the manifold precats the week after I bought it. A snapped stud meant it was off the road for a few days, not a big deal. I’ve serviced it, and it went for its MOT 2 weeks ago and passed with not a single advisory. The roof is in good shape, no leaks or tears.
Despite what people on PH that haven’t owned one will tell you, mine is averaging 40-42mpg on the work run, which is mostly motorway.
Loving it so far, good bit cheaper to use for work than the Impreza, and I’ve never had anything mid engined, rear wheel drive (other than a couple of Shoguns) or soft top before, thoroughly enjoying it.
Edited by doogz on Tuesday 4th September 11:21
OP: Have a look on mr2roc.co.uk. It's a very useful site with loads and loads of knowledge.
kambites said:
You don't actually need a different manifold, you can just remove the cats from the existing one.
http://www.mr2roc.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=3507
Never done it, but it doesn't look like a difficult DIY job.
I did it and yes it's a relatively simple job as long as all the nuts come off easily. If they don't, it can be a bit annoying as you have to grind them off.http://www.mr2roc.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=3507
Never done it, but it doesn't look like a difficult DIY job.
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