Would you buy a car that has been sat for five years?

[Integroo]

Considering Mk2 MR2s. There is one nearby. Advert:

Toyota MR2 Rev 3 G Limited
1995 imported 2006, MOt'd Jan 2019 Tintop, NON TURBO
New sills professionally fitted, rest of car rust free
New battery
New calipers front and back
New clutch
New fuel pump
Black Bilstein Dampers
TRD Single outlet exhaust system
Magnecor 8mm plug leads
Electric folding mirrors
Good wheels and tyres
All fluids recently changed


However, MOT history shows it failed on the following in 2012 - then apparently sat for five years - before passing in 2018 with no advisories.

Reason(s) for failure
Nearside Headlamp aim too low and too far to the left. (1.8)
Offside Headlamp aim too low and too far to the left. (1.8)
Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)
Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)
Rear registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct height (6.3.4a)
Rear registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct stroke width (6.3.4a)
Offside Rear rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)
rear brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)
Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Advisory notice item(s)
Nearside Front Macpherson strut has slight play in the sliding bush or gland (2.5.B.1b)

Chap has receipts for parts of the above work but all fitted himself. No service book or history otherwise.

So, car that has been fixed and needs for nothing, or one that someone spend some money on and couldn't get right and is now looking to get rid?

[strath44]

the big question is where has it been sat? outside in the rain or indoors (even that isn't always good if its damp).

I bought a car that had been sat in a very dry underground carpark for over 10 years, it was in remarkable condition.

[steveo3002]

id look for one that hasnt needed new sills ...cars are pretty much spent when they need that much work

[Integroo]

steveo3002 said:

id look for one that hasnt needed new sills ...cars are pretty much spent when they need that much work

I'm not sure you'll find many 90s Jap cars without corrosion though - and surely it is better that the work has been done than hasn't!

[J4CKO]

Integroo said:

steveo3002 said:

id look for one that hasnt needed new sills ...cars are pretty much spent when they need that much work

I'm not sure you'll find many 90s Jap cars without corrosion though - and surely it is better that the work has been done than hasn't!

Entirely down to whether is been done properly, old metal cut out and new metal let in to match the original design with properly penetrating welds and then loads of protection, or a pattern sill welded over the rotten one with black stone chip lashed over the top.

[Integroo]

J4CKO said:

Integroo said:

steveo3002 said:

id look for one that hasnt needed new sills ...cars are pretty much spent when they need that much work

I'm not sure you'll find many 90s Jap cars without corrosion though - and surely it is better that the work has been done than hasn't!

Entirely down to whether is been done properly, old metal cut out and new metal let in to match the original design with properly penetrating welds and then loads of protection, or a pattern sill welded over the rotten one with black stone chip lashed over the top.

How does one check - just by getting underneath and looking at how bodged it looks?

[ChilliWhizz]

Do you know what was done to rectify the emissions failures? Seems like the only potential biggy in the list of fails.... Could have just been dodgy sensors though... Personally I'd get an MR2 specialist to inspect it...

[Brynjaminjones]

steveo3002 said:

id look for one that hasnt needed new sills ...cars are pretty much spent when they need that much work

Couldn't disagree more. We had the sills professionally replaced on one of our cars, which is now an excellent example without a spot of rust.

[Integroo]

ChilliWhizz said:

Do you know what was done to rectify the emissions failures? Seems like the only potential biggy in the list of fails.... Could have just been dodgy sensors though... Personally I'd get an MR2 specialist to inspect it...

Nope. I did ask on a Facebook group whether anyone had one for sale and someone recommended this one as being very tidy unprompted (but who knows, might be his mate). Wonder if I can find a local specialist to give it a once over for 100 quid.

[steveo3002]

yeah youre right....seek out rotten cars that have new sills , always the best way to go and better than a car thats never been rotten

then tell everyone its great

[Integroo]

steveo3002 said:

yeah youre right....seek out rotten cars that have new sills , always the best way to go and better than a car thats never been rotten

then tell everyone its great

If he has a receipt for the sill work and I get underneath and poke around and nothing falls apart ...

[Scootersp]

Integroo said:

Considering Mk2 MR2s. There is one nearby. Advert:


Chap has receipts for parts of the above work but all fitted himself. No service book or history otherwise.

So, car that has been fixed and needs for nothing, or one that someone spend some money on and couldn't get right and is now looking to get rid?

Ok my take is the chap never gave up on it, considered it worth putting his time into (probably a lot of money if done by a garage) in the first place, even if he got it dirt cheap because it needed it all.

It wouldn't put me off, lots of bits that age have been replaced, the guy will probably give a honest appraisal of anything else on the short to medium term to do list (bits he decided were good enough/not yet needed)

It wouldn't put me off especially as its local so you can view and get a vibe from the guy without it causing you major hassles/travels.

[Integroo]

Scootersp said:

Integroo said:

Considering Mk2 MR2s. There is one nearby. Advert:


Chap has receipts for parts of the above work but all fitted himself. No service book or history otherwise.

So, car that has been fixed and needs for nothing, or one that someone spend some money on and couldn't get right and is now looking to get rid?

Ok my take is the chap never gave up on it, considered it worth putting his time into (probably a lot of money if done by a garage) in the first place, even if he got it dirt cheap because it needed it all.

It wouldn't put me off, lots of bits that age have been replaced, the guy will probably give a honest appraisal of anything else on the short to medium term to do list (bits he decided were good enough/not yet needed)

It wouldn't put me off especially as its local so you can view and get a vibe from the guy without it causing you major hassles/travels.

It's local, I am going to go view. It appears that the guy is into his classic cars and probably got it cheap, sorted it up and looking to make a bit of money on it. I asked re. cambelt and he said it looks alright but might be worth changing for peace of mind, which seems honest.

[rallycross]

You are far better off buying a mk3 MR2 you get a much newer car, plenty of rust free Mk3's available, much sweeter handling car (I have owned and raced mk1/mk2 and Mk3 MR2's).

[cj2013]

Do those 5 years show any mileage change?


It may have been a track car, at which point is an MOT necessary? (I was thinking no, but don't know for sure?)

[Integroo]

rallycross said:

You are far better off buying a mk3 MR2 you get a much newer car, plenty of rust free Mk3's available, much sweeter handling car (I have owned and raced mk1/mk2 and Mk3 MR2's).

Really two reasons for buying a mk2: (i) looks cooler, (ii) more practical - it would be my only car and the mk3 has no luggage space whatsoever.

cj2013 said:

Do those 5 years show any mileage change?


It may have been a track car, at which point is an MOT necessary? (I was thinking no, but don't know for sure?)

Only 22 miles, so not worried about this. Just looks like it failed its MOT, was stored, and then this guy picked it up cheap to sort.

[TooMany2cvs]

Integroo said:

However, MOT history shows it failed on the following in 2012 - then apparently sat for five years - before passing in 2018 with no advisories.

Reason(s) for failure
Nearside Headlamp aim too low and too far to the left. (1.8)
Offside Headlamp aim too low and too far to the left. (1.8)
Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)
Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)
Rear registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct height (6.3.4a)
Rear registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct stroke width (6.3.4a)
Offside Rear rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)
rear brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)
Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

That's all just a bunch of trivialities. Nothing at all to worry about there.

Integroo said:

Advisory notice item(s)
Nearside Front Macpherson strut has slight play in the sliding bush or gland (2.5.B.1b)

And there's parts receipts for that?

I really wouldn't worry about the "sitting" - it'll show poor storage glaringly, but decent dry storage won't be an issue. Look at tyre ages, and give it a damn good service.

Those saying "Oooh, but it's had the sills done" are probably not cut out for owning a quarter-century-old vehicle, especially one that does rot.

[Mr2Mike]

steveo3002 said:

yeah youre right....seek out rotten cars that have new sills , always the best way to go and better than a car thats never been rotten

then tell everyone its great

Best of luck finding an original Mk2 MR2 without any rust on it.

[Integroo]

Mr2Mike said:

steveo3002 said:

yeah youre right....seek out rotten cars that have new sills , always the best way to go and better than a car thats never been rotten

then tell everyone its great

Best of luck finding an original Mk2 MR2 without any rust on it.

Indeed - if it truly is rust free, then it might be a steal at that price, as a lot of others are fairly rough.

[Yipper]

As always, it depends on the price.

Very cheap = yes.
Expensive = no.