Toyota MR2 Roadster (mk3)

[Chris71]

Hi,

It seems the recent generation of MR2s is getting down to a sensible price these days. What are they like?

The impression I get is that they're rather more focused than something like an MX5? Is the handling still as 'mid-engined' as the previous models? I presume being a Toyota they're pretty reliable and the hood tends to seal!

Chris.

[Wadeski]

They are reliable, good handling....but slow. really, really slow.

[Chris71]

Really?

A friend of a friend (who I should probably be asking about this!) has one and he came out for a blast when I had my Eunos RS-LTD and my house mate in his tweaked mk2 MR2 and we left him on a couple of occasions. I assumed he was just driving more cautiously though.

[Wadeski]

in my experience, the engine is revvy but has no discernable torque, so to get any forward motion you have to be on the vvti at above 6000rpm...from personal experience MX-5s seem more tractable.

Edited by Wadeski on Wednesday 2nd January 12:28

[Wadeski]

in my experience, the engine is revvy but has no discernable torque, so to get any forward motion you have to be on the vvti at above 6000rpm...from my perspective MX-5s have felt more tractable.

Edited by Wadeski on Wednesday 2nd January 12:28

[Herman Toothrot]

do a search on precats and oval bores, oil use.

[Evil.soup]

Herman Toothrot said:

do a search on precats and oval bores, oil use.

I owned an MR2 Roadster before the scoob for about 2 years. It was a 2001 X plate and i miss it so so much. The cars are relatively bulletproof; well put together and the roof was easy to use and closed well with a good seal, but, as mentioned above, some had issues with the precats going to bits, getting into the engine and wearing the cylinders causeing oil to get in with the mix and burn off!!

Dont be put off by this though because it was only an issue on the early models, and from what i can gather was sorted after 2003?? but dont quote me on that date!

Over all the car was great, it handled well and was easy to control with the tail out. It feels far more focused and sporty than an MX5. It was economical too and in my opinion, was pretty quick. OK, its not scooby quick, but through the twisties, i think it could have a good go at a scoob or simular. The engine is really racey and needs to be pushed to get the best out of it, but it can take it easily.

There are honestly days that i really miss it and i would defo go back to one as a second Sunday Summer car, just save your money and get a newer one

[Chris71]

Hmm, might be worth a test drive then.

I've heard the handling is a little more tail happy than the MX5, is it still relatively benign? It may have been setup (or more likely dodgy JDM tyres), but my Eunos was quite dull in the dry and then went through a massive switch to laughably oversteery in the wet.

[Evil.soup]

Chris71 said:

Hmm, might be worth a test drive then.

I've heard the handling is a little more tail happy than the MX5, is it still relatively benign? It may have been setup (or more likely dodgy JDM tyres), but my Eunos was quite dull in the dry and then went through a massive switch to laughably oversteery in the wet.

Mine had serious grip in the dry but as with most RWD cars it became a little tail happy in the wet, a bit scary to tell the truth!

It was controlable though, and when you knew it was coming, it looked very impressive

I was cault out in the wet by it a couple of times and ended up facing the wrong way in London and went down a banking on a mountain once. Its not as if i was pushing hard, just cault a puddle on a corner when i was day dreaming and away it went My brother had one and lost it coming off a roundabout in the wet aswell.

Im not trying to put you off, just give you all the facts. The car needs to be treated with respect, thats all, and maybe im just a poor driver

[Wadeski]

personally I would look at a mint mk2 Turbo or BEAMS rather than a Mk3. But thats just me.

[Evil.soup]

Wadeski said:

personally I would look at a mint mk2 Turbo or BEAMS rather than a Mk3. But thats just me.

A nice car but starting to look dated now, and just doesnt handle as well as the mark 3, which to me is more disapointing than having a little less pace.

[Wadeski]

I didnt push the Mk3 I drove hard enough to figure out the handling vs a mk2...once I realised it was so slow it couldnt pull the skin off a rice pudding, I spun it round and dropped it back at the dealership.

[Chris71]

Wadeski said:

I didnt push the Mk3 I drove hard enough to figure out the handling vs a mk2...once I realised it was so slow it couldnt pull the skin off a rice pudding, I spun it round and dropped it back at the dealership.

Are you comparing that to a n/a mk2?

[Podie]

Mk3 and a chat to Silverstone Performance =

Ask Bosscerbera

[Chris71]

Podie said:

Mk3 and a chat to Silverstone Performance =

Ask Bosscerbera

True... http://www.silverstoneperformance.co.uk/

But it's almost the cost of a high mileage roaster on top of the basic price. That takes the 'package price' well into Elise territory and almost up to the cheaper S2000s and 350Zs.

[Herman Toothrot]

Wadeski said:

I didnt push the Mk3 I drove hard enough to figure out the handling vs a mk2...once I realised it was so slow it couldnt pull the skin off a rice pudding, I spun it round and dropped it back at the dealership.

Last MR2 track day I went to a few years a go the mk3 had such an advantage through the corners it was laping about the same as the guys with modified mk2 turbos.

[h4muf]

My brother bought his 51 plate mr2 back in june and i was impressed,nice to drive,good driving position,pretty good on juice.
Great hood,insulated,hardly any road noise,only criticism is it`s too quiet,nothing a nice backbox can`t sort out!
It inspired me to go out and buy a mk1 mx5 and tbh the toyota is the more civilised car,much nicer day to day(especially in winter)than the 5,but it`s less of a drivers car imo.

regards
lee

[deviant]

I fancied one for a while but then discovered that here in Australia we only get the semi-automatic version

There are lots of mods around for them though so any lack of power and noise could be dealt with....I think though that Toyota was almost heading back to the same ethos as the MK1, keep it light and make it handle well and use the parts bin to put it together to keep the price right.

I have read a couple of average reviews about the interior...to small and not nearly enough storage to make the car practical. Stereo is supposed to be average and for some reason it comes with 4 cup holders. Can anyone comment?

Edited by deviant on Thursday 3rd January 02:29

[Podie]

Chris71 said:

Podie said:

Mk3 and a chat to Silverstone Performance =

Ask Bosscerbera

True... http://www.silverstoneperformance.co.uk/

But it's almost the cost of a high mileage roaster on top of the basic price. That takes the 'package price' well into Elise territory and almost up to the cheaper S2000s and 350Zs.

Drive it. You'll be surprised. It's a hoot.

[Chris71]

Podie said:

Chris71 said:

Podie said:

Mk3 and a chat to Silverstone Performance =

Ask Bosscerbera

True... http://www.silverstoneperformance.co.uk/

But it's almost the cost of a high mileage roaster on top of the basic price. That takes the 'package price' well into Elise territory and almost up to the cheaper S2000s and 350Zs.

Drive it. You'll be surprised. It's a hoot.

I don't doubt it, but you've got to be looking at £12k+ for a tweaked one and that's nearly twice what I was planning to spend.

I hate to sound like a boy racer, but I've also seen some nice (subtle) styling tweaks on some of them too. I only hope the beefed up looking ones have similar mods under the surface!