toyota mr2

[Karlb1]

Probably gonna get a lot of negative comments on this, but what do people think of mk2 mr2s? Not turbo, just na. Anybody know what to look out for when buying one other than rust?

[swampy]

Yeah hope the clutch cable doesn't go it's a real ball ache to do even on a set of ramps

[Mr_P]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Mk2+Normally+Aspirated+Buyers+Guide


:hug:

[Cam]

They slow man vts is quicker, old mans got a Turbo :D

[MiniGibbo]

Never seen the appeal..

Buy an mx5 of you want a hairdressers car.

[Karlb1]

Cam I tested one a few months ago and felt on par with my 16v tbh, just better built and nicer to be in lol

[Cam]

Cam I tested one a few months ago and felt on par with my 16v tbh, just better built and nicer to be in lol

They got the torque and a nice mid-range, make sure you get a t-bar and a g-limited if you can :D

[Cam]

Yeah hope the clutch cable doesn't go it's a real ball ache to do even on a set of ramps

They don't have cable's, they are hydraulic clutches.

[saxova]

Used to drive one of these regularly at 17.. I LOVED IT.

There're really revvy and sound great.. Scared me quite a few times though!

Driving position is perfect - feel so low to the floor.

[link_heroz]

I was looking at one, tested a convertible too. Highly in impractical though. If your total luggage is 1 shopping bag then you'll be fine lol.

[Dom]

Didn't realise you become a right bender Karl.

[Cam]

If you do get one i got a de-cat manifold and loads of little bits as we not long stripped one :y:

[Karlb1]

Yeah luggage isn't an issue lol.
I am indeed dom, be careful around me ;)
I don't know a lot about these, guessing the cat is in the manifold if you have a decat mani? Hoping to get a pre 1994 one so decat will be on the plans if it isn't already

[Carl-h]

I love em. Tempted myself in about 4 months.

[Dom]

You're going from a 2000 reg car with slight problems, to a Pre 1994? Hmm..

[Karlb1]

Yeah well I'm hopefully breaking the saxo over easter time and when my next year of ncb is up middle of may ill get a new car

[Cam]

Well the cats in the down pipe but they like to snap when taken apart lol.

[CarlosVT]

I've always loved mk2 mr2's. My ex's brother used to have a t-bar. Lovely car but I'd get a turbo if I was going to buy one.

[Prickle]

You're going from a 2000 reg car with slight problems, to a Pre 1994? Hmm..

Its ok. Ive hummed and harrred myself but its his choice.

A older car could have less issues or moar. OR the saxo has less issues then hes making out. ;)

[Tommo87]

You're going from a 2000 reg car with slight problems, to a Pre 1994? Hmm..

Not always a bad thing, I'd rather an old well looked after mr2 with no problems than any 2000+ plate car with a few problems.

I went from a 53 plate ATR with a very minor issue to a 92 civic which in 2 years of daily use excluding service parts has cost me less than £100 (new trailing arm bushes and a new coil) and that's it.

And plus you'll spend less time fixing an mr2 than a Saxo.

[Karlb1]

From what ivehesrd they're very reliable cars, and dom that old mk3 fiesta and the xr2i we had were reliable and went wrong less than this saxophone. And with the money I'm gonna be getting from breaking this and my wages and holiday pay coming up soon I'll have enough for a clean example with service history.
I've noticed one thing though, I got an insurance quote on a gti tbar, fair price, got a quote on another that's turbo as standard but it came up as a normal gt sports...so same price...doing go for it or doing tell the insurance they have itwrong?

[Carl-h]

I'm pretty sure the only standard turbo models are imports.

[Nik_L]

All MR2 Turbo's were imports. If its coming up as a GTi-16 or whatever, then that will be due to the importer registering it as that. Probably for insurance purposes.

I had a Mk2 Rev2 2.0 16v N/A not that long ago. Was a brilliant car. I only sold it because it was getting on a bit and needed a few bits done to the bodywork. I would deffo have another but in the summer time when i would have more time to spend messing with it, cleaning it up etc.

Rev2 has 158bhp and Rev3+ has 170bhp, but the Rev3 is slightly heavier and the extra bhp is mostly up the top end. They aren't slow either. On way home from a RR day, i had a play with a mates FN2 Civic that had just made 220bhp, and my wee brothers EP3. The FN2 got put in its place, and there was nothing in it with the EP3. But you do need to keep the revs up as they are quite flat below 4500rpm where the power comes in. You can feel it and the engine note changes. Mines only had exhaust system with de-cat, and an open cone filter, sounded awesome.

They are getting on a bit so make sure you have a good look around them and make sure it hasn't been smashed.

They aren't that hard to work on either. Some say changing the alternator is an engine out job, i had 1 removed within 30mins with the engine in place.

They drive good too, good feeling knowing the engine is only 2ft behind you're head, and with an aftermarket exhaust, it can get pretty loud in the cabin. Space isn't that much of an issue as the boot is suprisingly big, and you also have the front trunk. Plenty room for shopping etc.

I would also try and get a Rev3+ as they look soo much better and not as dated as the Rev1/2.

Heres my old Super Red Rev2....best colour for them imo, gives them that classic sports car look.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c257/turbo_nik/SDC11806.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c257/turbo_nik/SDC11808.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c257/turbo_nik/SDC11812.jpg

[johnr32]

Heres my old Super Red Rev2....best colour for them imo, gives them that classic sports car look.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c257/turbo_nik/SDC11806.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c257/turbo_nik/SDC11808.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c257/turbo_nik/SDC11812.jpg

Looks like a rev 3+ to me, anyhow that looks absoloutely spotless!

[Karlb1]

Nik that looks gorgeous, that's the exact one I've been looking at, I know about the rev 1,2 and 3 being slightly different due to the rev 1 having less power but shorter gearing, rev 2 being lightest with more power and rev 3 being heavier etc, but you're does look absolutely stunning example and that's the kind of one I'll be looking out for.

[Jazz]

Get a Turbo!

Good little cars, impressive power/weight and therefore strong performers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9fVsH0TH4o

[Karlb1]

Trust me, if I can get a turbo that's been imported and registered as a gt etc then ill be getting it, but insurance is the only issue, I can get very decent quotes on a gt sport and gt t-bar etc but as soon as its mentioned as an imported turbo then they won't even touch me as I'm only 19 and have had my license 2 years and only 1 ncb

[VTRelite]

3S-GE awesome engine.

You will not be disappointed if you get an NA.

Things to watch for are calipers seizing and if its a rear caliper you're talking £300+ to replace one caliper.
T-Bars are generally quite leaky, I would never recommend someone to get one over a solid roof.
General bodywork on an old Japanese car
They are a pain to do something like a cambelt on
There are 4 cable releases (boot, bonnet, fuel flap, engine cover) they can sometimes seize up and are a pain to work on

[Karlb1]

3S-GE awesome engine.

You will not be disappointed if you get an NA.

Things to watch for are calipers seizing and if its a rear caliper you're talking £300+ to replace one caliper.
T-Bars are generally quite leaky, I would never recommend someone to get one over a solid roof.
General bodywork on an old Japanese car
They are a pain to do something like a cambelt on
There are 4 cable releases (boot, bonnet, fuel flap, engine cover) they can sometimes seize up and are a pain to work on

Yeah the tbar and calipers are something I'm aware of. Also apparently something likes to leak oil sometimes? Can't remember what it is..
I've got my eye on a couple that have had the cambelt done in the last few thousand miles and have proof of it

[Reechard]

Never had a problem with my t bar, nor did the 6 mates who had them. Might get a drip when opening the door after extremely heavy rain but thats due to drainage.

Cambelt is a must, took my friend who is a mechanic about 27 hours. He struggled with the pulleys because of acces, although he didnt drop then engine as couldnt be arsed.

Seized calipers, radiator leaks are a pain.

NAs are awesome but nothing compared to the turbo. They can drift pretty well, but you need to be aware of the snap and not to provoke them in the wet. Also decent tyres are a must, especially on the earlier rev1/2s.

Id reccommend joining mr2oc and imoc clubs. 2 biggest mr2 ones. Also check out TBDevelopments. Tim is a brilliant bloke for them.
Theres a guy who breaks them not far from you aswell. Used to visit him for parts quite often.

[WILLIE-SAXOVTS]

i had 1 and it cost me a bomb petrol wise ..... wouldnt go near it again

vts is much cheaper to run so driving that:y:

[Nik_L]

Looks like a rev 3+ to me, anyhow that looks absoloutely spotless!

It was a Rev2. I spotted a Super Red Rev3 local to me for sale for £500. Had no tax or MOT and was a G-limited import. I got it for £300, took all the kit off for mine (as i needed a back bumper) then broke the car and made over £500 from simple parts and weighing the rest in.

[Nik_L]

Heres what mine looking like when i bought it.......
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c257/turbo_nik/94805821.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c257/turbo_nik/94805741.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c257/turbo_nik/94805793.jpg


Took me about a week all in to get the stickers off, was a cunt of a job and took some of the paint off. Mainly the Taco Bell 1 on the rear bumper, took all the paint with it.

Previous owner used it for a road rally. Madness2Monaco iirc. Spent a load of cash on it to make sure it would be reliable, new calipers, new turbo alternator etc and quite a few other parts. Done the rally and had no use for it so sold it on. I only paid £425 for it.

Looked good from a distance, or in pictures, but up close it needed a full hit with a spray gun. Was a fantastic car to drive. They just feel like a proper sports car with the low seating position and R/R layout.

I found mine cheap enough to run and insure and have always said to get a cleaner example in the summer time.

[Karlb1]

Heres what mine looking like when i bought it.......
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c257/turbo_nik/94805821.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c257/turbo_nik/94805741.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c257/turbo_nik/94805793.jpg


Took me about a week all in to get the stickers off, was a cunt of a job and took some of the paint off. Mainly the Taco Bell 1 on the rear bumper, took all the paint with it.

Previous owner used it for a road rally. Madness2Monaco iirc. Spent a load of cash on it to make sure it would be reliable, new calipers, new turbo alternator etc and quite a few other parts. Done the rally and had no use for it so sold it on. I only paid £425 for it.

Looked good from a distance, or in pictures, but up close it needed a full hit with a spray gun. Was a fantastic car to drive. They just feel like a proper sports car with the low seating position and R/R layout.

I found mine cheap enough to run and insure and have always said to get a cleaner example in the summer time.
I remember this! Didn't do too bad getting rid of them, shame about the paint damage though.
Yeah insurance will be the same as I paid for my furio at the start of the year, since ill be getting this mid may when I've had my license for 2 years.

[LouisUK]

I've been wanting one for a year now but only just started to have spare cash. Going to get one just for weekend toy really and keep saxo as a daily.

What model should i look out for? Turbo rev 2/3? and what's a good price for one?

[Cam]

If you ever look at a Turbo listen carefully from cold start as they like to knock out their big end bearings, it will knock for about 3-4 seconds till the oil takes up the clearence. Also rev 3's like to crack blocks under high boost.

[johnr32]

Also rev 3's like to crack blocks under high boost.

hmmm.was it just the rev 3? what boost and what turbo we talking here? the block isnt really an issue, have only heard of it cracking at very high power.

[Cam]

hmmm.was it just the rev 3? what boost and what turbo we talking here? the block isnt really an issue, have only heard of it cracking at very high power.

3 4 and 5 are known for it from running to much boost.

[Karlb1]

Annoying thing is there are quite a few clean examples for sale right now on autotrader, ebay and a few on pistonheads and also one on mr2oc, but I won't have the money until may :'(