Might buy an mr2!!!

[xiao_sq]

Hey guys! i just came back from my first examination of the mr2. im checking it out again this weekend to discuss details with the guy, but before then i need some advise. I saw a couple problems during the viewing. First, the ac belt is gone...., second the engine temp gauge doesn’t work, the front bumper is in super white two not super white ... sooo either he just replaced the bumper or there was an accident, the car is also idling higher the usual. its at like 1.2k o__O. And also some normal wear and tear (shift boot . one burn sidemarker light ect.) they guy was asking 4900 for it but after looking around the pointing out some problems he was like "the lowest i can go for this car is 4000" ... so how much do you think i should pay. is this normal? what kind of stuff should i look out for on mr2s . oh its na btw haha. THANKS!

[MR2Jedi]

need more info...what year? turbo or N/A?....Mileage? body condition? rust? tire condition? any mods? how does it drive? interior condition? brakes?

[xiao_sq]

umm its a 91, na, 5sp, 100,000 miles, no rust, body looks good except for the questionable super white two bumper, tires have a good amount of thread, injen short ram intake, havent drove it yet .. guna do it this weekend, interior is CLEAN, but the ebreak bracket is like broken or somthing (still works) umm also the cold/hot lever thing is stick on cold .... the guy said it worked this morning and told me that it will be working the next time i see it.

[xiao_sq]

oh its also hard top not t-top

[MR2Jedi]

private party sale value=$2500.00 retail value=$4500.00 trade in value=$1375.00... of course those are Kelly Blue Book values.
these cars are getting rarer all the time.so they are worth more to the MR2 enthusiast.
you need to drive it first and check out if it is mechanically sound, before you can make a determination. if it runs good I would say somewhere around 3k..
alot of this depends on where you live and how available they are there. and of course and more importantly-how much is it worth to you? you gotta know that being 14 yrs old, it will need some work down the road. are you willing to fork out money in the future to keep it up and running?

[Gairloch]

The AC belt itself is no big deal, you can replace that yourself easily. Makes me wonder what kind of shape the compressor is in though.

Does he have any explanation for the bumper?

The higher than normal idle could be related to the problem with the temperature sensor but a fast idle isn't abnormal for these engines. Could be that replacing the plugs, wires, cap and rotor and running a bottle or two of Chevron Techron through will take care of it.

Did you have a chance to drive it? If so, how was the shifting? The syncros are a notorious weak point in MR2s and testing how well the clutch grabs wouldn't be a bad idea either.

The front strut mounts are a common point of failure, they crack and the bearings rust out then fall apart. If this has happened you'll hear thunking noises when the car turns. If the car still has all stock suspension components the dampers and bushings are probably pretty tired if not blown.

I would strongly suggest you take the car to a mechanic that you trust to have it put up on a lift and checked out. MR2s are extremely durable vehicles but if they aren't properly cared for they'll break down just like any other car.

I see your profile says you're in MN. You in the metro area too?

MR2s are pretty rare in the upper midwest, I had to drive to MI to get mine. If the car seems to be in good condition and your mechanic gives it a clean bill of health then I would say that $4k is a fair price for it.

[xiao_sq]

yes i am from the metro.. i live in savage by bunrsville. umm the guy is a car seller (not dealer per say) but he sells cars. the car is origionaly from missouri but he doesnt have any of the paperwork. >__< also i dont know of any mechanics being that i am only in highschool and the dude lives in st paul. do you know of any haha thanks for the heads up.