Toyota MR2 | PH Private Area
One day, surely, the MR2 will be prized - it can remain a bargain until then...
Credit where it’s due to Toyota, it’s really been trying hard to create proper enthusiast-focused cars of late. As the commitment of other makers to genuinely fun cars appears to have wavered, so Toyota and the Gazoo Racing performance offshoot has doubled down on its pledge to make great fast cars. Then race them, to make better fast cars for the road. There’s been a combination of new ideas (think GR Yaris and Corolla) with some old school fun as well (86s and Supra) to breathe life back into Toyota’s enthusiast credentials.
For a long time now, there have been suggestions that a few more famous old badges could return, most notably MR2 and Celica. Names are trademarked, technology is patented and hints are dropped at motor shows, without a full commitment ever being announced. The recent FT:SE concept, along with the Yaris powered by a mid-mounted 2.0-litre, have been the most obvious clues that Toyota is keen to resurrect the two-seat sports car with an engine behind the driver. But, once again, there hasn’t been a firm pledge to make it. They have to, right? Until that point, we’ll have to remain occupied with the old guard, and specifically this time the Mk3 MR2, the last ones of which were sold here 20 years ago come 2026
As seemingly just about everything from the 90s and 2000s appreciates, including older MR2s, so these stay conspicuously affordable. Basically no luggage space was always the Toyota’s main demerit from a usability perspective, though that’s far less of an issue if it’s being saved for summer sojourns - as this one has been. And some might want a spicier powertrain than the 140hp 1.8-litre 1ZZ that powered all these cars if it’s being kept for best, but then there’s very little MR2 to shove along. And the 190hp, 8,000rpm 2ZZ can be swapped in if so desired…
That would seem a little drastic for a Mister Two as nice as this one, though. It’s a 2004 car, meaning it benefits from the facelift that introduced the six-speed, a sturdier manual than the five-speed of the earlier models. There’s just 67,000 miles on it, too, which really isn’t many for a car that celebrates turning 21 this year. It’s totally unmodified, and the current owner (who’s had it for five years) has only used it in the summer, garaged it the rest of the time, and serviced it with Toyota. The underside has been treated to Dinitrol as well. Everything you love to see, basically, when contemplating a modern classic sports car. The tyres are new, for those wary of a mid-engined layout and old rubber. Tick, tick, tick.
In a world where S2000s continue to soar value-wise, rust-free MX-5s are pounced on and even mid-engined MGs are starting to become collectible, an MR2 with this sort of provenance sounds like it might cost a pretty penny. But as they continue to fly under the radar, prices are low: this one’s for sale at £3,650. When Shed money is now £2,000, that’s very little.
Hard to imagine good six-speed MR2s ever being worth much less than that, surely, as a reliable, fun, easy to maintain throwback to the days when mid-engined, rear-drive roadsters were a viable production prospect. And you never know; if Toyota decides they are once again, then owning the previous MR2 might turn out to be a canny move after all.
Both were awesome cars to drive, rewarded being revved out, and felt alive cornering. In some ways with the weigh balance and the steering setup you needed to remember to steer in later than in other cars, as it would turn so instantly, if you did it too soon to preempt the corner like others you'd be in the field.
That roof in the folded picture needs some attention, there should be some straps in the corners, which have probably popped off.. they pull the corners in tidily when attached.
I was very sad to see the first one go when it did, the second one less so as it had started leaking when left in the rain.
I had a fully stripped and caged one I tracked for a few years.
They’re great, a really good, fun road car.
Very capable and not too fast to enjoy on the public road.
Aftermarket tuning parts are virtually non existent, compared to an mx5 where you can get everything.
These rust, later cars are worse for some reason. Check steering rack mounts & rear subframes for rot.
Rear calipers are a terrible design and very rarely work.
They sit too high as standard, but with springs (probably shocks as the originals will be knackered) and brakes refreshed they are very confidence Inspiring to drive.
The management light will be on and it will
99% be an 02 sensor.
Rear 1/4 panels are removable too.
Go to j Spec who is the main guy for mk3 mr2 parts
I went S2000 instead.
Then I met my gf and she had one.... she drove mine and didn't like it and I drove hers and bloody loved it!
As a first experience of a mid engine'd and a proper lightweight thing, it rode and handled beautifully...
She has since moved on to an ND RF..and loves that very much...but still misses her MR2.
One of those cars that if you know, you know....
mechanically its great, doesnt rust as much as the old NB MX-5 i had, definitely felt quicker too and handles like its on rails. drove 9k miles within a year, through sun, rain and snow. didnt even miss a beat (once i got good quality Avons). hell i even moved out of my parents house in it. would not recommend XD
these are genuinely insanely good value cars tbh. parts are insanely cheap as they share a lot with the Corolla and Yaris of its time (got yaris spec M-Tec discs for £150 all round!) insanely easy to work on thanks to every panel being removable as well as the lack of rear boot gives instant access to the engine when removing the rear bumper
only big issue i had was surface rust and the handbrake cables and rear calipers being made of melted chocolate
and the whole snap oversteer myth isnt valid for this as toyota went to great lengths to fix this handling (and many MR2 owners will say the MK3 is the best handling. helps its nearly 250kg less than a MK2)
sadly my cars currently SORN due to the rare but not impossible case of my 1zz burning so much oil it blew its rod bearings, and im planning on 2zzing it.
but while im doing a 2zz, its actually a smarter choice to swap the 1.8t VAG engine and get 250bhp almost immediately.
p.s if you want to replace a roof, theres this chap called raymond in swansea who will do it for £400 all in. very high quality and any MR2 spyder owner will happily recommend him for a roof (although the wait list is INSANELY LONG)
no damage thankfully, but she was wary of it after that.slighty damp, off camber corner, driving with intent....and then hello grassy bank.
Also do you mean Jack Smith in Swansea or is Raymond a new entry into the economical and good soft top replacement market?
we both used Jack.... a very ...errr...right wing gentleman...
no damage thankfully, but she was wary of it after that.slighty damp, off camber corner, driving with intent....and then hello grassy bank.
Also do you mean Jack Smith in Swansea or is Raymond a new entry into the economical and good soft top replacement market?
we both used Jack.... a very ...errr...right wing gentleman...
Luckily i havent dealt with his political opinions but i feel as a young brown person, i dont think we wouldve come to any agreement
Also regarding your gf, shame she managed to send it off a bank, but they are a car that still requires a bit of caution. No TCS and a light MR layout can cause disaster if the car is not properly set up (tires, tracking, camber etc)
I had a MK2 in the last 90's / early 00s and went out as a passenger in a MK3 in California at an MR2 meet I went to, it kept up with cars with more than twice the power around the hills off the Pacific Coast Highway and with the roof down you just got that "extra" level of sensation at low or high speeds.
I forgot all about them until fairly recently when, tired and slightly miserable, I found myself on eBay and clicking "buy it now" at midnight on one hours away. Thankfully it's not a complete shed but it's been fun tinkering with a car and having an excuse to just drive again. I've even got used to the weird TTE spoiler
With so many of them being collected by breakers on a weekly basis they are getting rarer but used parts are increasingly easy to come by when new ones aren't, I'd recommend owning one to anyone, even if it's just for a short period of time.
I had a MK2 in the last 90's / early 00s and went out as a passenger in a MK3 in California at an MR2 meet I went to, it kept up with cars with more than twice the power around the hills off the Pacific Coast Highway and with the roof down you just got that "extra" level of sensation at low or high speeds.
I forgot all about them until fairly recently when, tired and slightly miserable, I found myself on eBay and clicking "buy it now" at midnight on one hours away. Thankfully it's not a complete shed but it's been fun tinkering with a car and having an excuse to just drive again. I've even got used to the weird TTE spoiler
With so many of them being collected by breakers on a weekly basis they are getting rarer but used parts are increasingly easy to come by when new ones aren't, I'd recommend owning one to anyone, even if it's just for a short period of time.
It was red with the factory TTE bodykit. Had been garaged it's whole life. Had 1500 miles on the clock from memory and was in 'new' condition. I genuinely couldn't find a scratch or stone chip on it.
It was being sold through an MG dealership in Kent for around £8-9K from memory. I think it had been owned by an old guy who never drove it and his wife had asked the garage to sell it for her as a favor.
I was gutted when I test drove it. I drove to see it in my daily Suzuki Ignis Sport (which are usually underrated, very raw and a LOT of fun to drive).
The MR2 felt slower than the ignis (which is surprisingly fast for what it is but is obviously not a 'fast' car). I did think the ridiculously low miles on the engine could have been to blame. That it might be much better with a good few more miles to loosen it up a bit. It was a big MIGHT though.
It was a cold day so we drove with the top up and the cabin warmed up very very quickly without the heater on. The engine was effectively right behind you being mid engined. After around 15 mins of driving it felt like heat from the engine was soaking through into the cabin which was surprising. Given the fact that this was going to be a daily for me this was a bit of a deal breaker (I am one of those people that gets too warm all the time so it would get really annoying, especially on longer journeys).
I did think that it would potentially be a good investment or that I could at least sell it for similar money if I needed to. However, at that point in time I didnt actually have the money so it would have meant a loan and it didnt feel sensible as I wasnt convinced on the car.
To make things work I was going to have to part exchange the ignis too and the garage was only willing to give me pocket change for it.
I walked away and it sold within 24 hours. I have wondered if I made the right decision when I see these out and about.
I have since driven an NC (drove to see this in an Ignis sport too!) and my conclusion was that even stock it was a better drive. I now own a modified NC and am happy that even if I had modified the MR2 it would not match the NC I now own.
Ultimately I changed virtually everything. Complete suspension and brake rebuild, 2006 facelift headlights and panels on it, removed the soft top and ran it with a hard top as a coupe or Spyder. Had TTE strut braces, some chassis stiffening... Honestly I forget as the lost was so long.
It was an excellent car, it did numerous track days and several trips to the Nurburgring and back. Very cost effective to run on track with little tyre and brake wear and a whole lot of fun in lift and getting it to rotate though bends.
Still alive today and on the mr2 owners group on Facebook!
A great platform for an engine swap as they just thrive on a bit more power, and the fwd corolla drivetrain transposed to the middle of the car allows for a lot of donors to fit.
I had a MK2 in the last 90's / early 00s and went out as a passenger in a MK3 in California at an MR2 meet I went to, it kept up with cars with more than twice the power around the hills off the Pacific Coast Highway and with the roof down you just got that "extra" level of sensation at low or high speeds.
I forgot all about them until fairly recently when, tired and slightly miserable, I found myself on eBay and clicking "buy it now" at midnight on one hours away. Thankfully it's not a complete shed but it's been fun tinkering with a car and having an excuse to just drive again. I've even got used to the weird TTE spoiler
With so many of them being collected by breakers on a weekly basis they are getting rarer but used parts are increasingly easy to come by when new ones aren't, I'd recommend owning one to anyone, even if it's just for a short period of time.
I should have held out for the colour I really wanted (the one you have) and a hardtop in hindsight but I'm happy for what I paid.
It's the factory body kit, the front spats are in the garage, the previous owner didn't fit those for some some reason so I had to buy a set but they need painting and the fit isn't the best (fibreglass copies rather than polyurethane originals).
Red leather seats too, it's a proper tart-mobile midlife crisis car but I like it.
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