Everyone here either owns a toyota or loves them enough to be in this forum. Seriously thinking about it, why do you guys choose toyota? I know there is other good manufucturers but honestly, why toyota? I guess im curious to see how many responses im going to get.
I'll be the first because I'm awake. Soon not to be.
I've never had any great love for Oriental cars of any sort; they mostly being tiny, tinny, underpowerd messes waiting to rust into heaps in the driveway, especially under the assault of Road Salt we get in the North East.
But I have an MR2 because it impressed me. The 4AGE is an appropriately chosen power plant for a car weighing under a ton. It is also very durable and long-lived and easy to obtain parts for; admirable traits in a sports car motor. Plus, the entire car layout is unconventional. You get the looks of people who see you loading cargo under the hood and they actually say things like "I've never seen a car that runs on groceries" (yes she was blonde). The car is fun to drive, unique, pretty to look at, powerful enough, economical to operate, easy to park, can carry a surprising amout of stuff for a vehicle the size of a tennis shoe, and is an unending topic for conversation.
Toyota as a brand is enduring if nothing else. There cars at least seem to be as well, when the don't rust. (someone I know has one of those little HiLux pickups with the 2.0 litre engine. I think it has 225,000 miles and he only plans to be rid of it at 300,000. I'll wager it's still running at that point.) My mechanic informs me they almost never fail emissions. (160,000+ mile Toyota with blown wiggle pipe passes MA inspection w/flying colors; Nissan of equal mileage and younger vintage fails with a PINHOLE in the cat'!)
Lastly, with all the "Ricer" modification of Asian cars, there is something appealing about having one that's NOT got huge rims, a ground effects kit, more neon than Times Square, and an exhaust so loud you NEED those 20" subs to overcome it.
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The only time I "Asked someone about their Toyota", I ended up owning it.
I'm not particularly a "Toyota" fan. I'm an avid MR2 fan.
Why? Because there is simply no other vehicle that I am aware of that can do what the MR2 does and looks so good doing it.
oh, one other reason:
Original stock engine with 200,000+ miles held up to 440 rwhp @ 22 psi, took as much as 28 psi boost, over 140 quarter-mile runs, 7+ hillclimbs, half-dozen autocrosses and 30+ dyno pulls .... and just a bit of abusive street driving
Why Toyota?; everybody problably has there own reasons.
Having been a car nut for a long time: grew up in the Muscle Car Sixties, built hot rods, did drag racing, graduated to pit crew on oval track jalopies then SCCA sports cars and, over this time, I have developed what I call a pedigree that a car has to meet to excite me. My evolved pedigree for a car is: inline engine, double overhead cams, 5-speed, 4-wheel disk brakes, fully independent suspension all corners. Except for the solid rear axle, this pedigree was initially filled by Alfa Romeo's (I've owned many, currently have two: a '66 Giulia Sprint GT and a '68 GT Junior) but they are getting pretty rare; now that pedigree is best filled by Toyotas: in particular, Supra (I've owned 3, currently have an '86), the MR2 (currently have an '86) and the Cressida (on my third, currently have a '91 that I'm converting to a 5-speed).
Did I also mention reliability? (that's another reason the Alfa has fallen by the wayside). My '82 Supra was at 172K when stolen, '83 Supra died of rust at 213K, my '83 Cressida died of rust at 156K, my '89 Cressida was at 238K when it blew a head gasket while in the possesion of my son (would have fixed it except for rust; did I mention I live in Michigan?), my '86 Supra is at 152K (and rusting!) and my '86 MR2 (California original, no rust!) is at 189K.
Pedigree, fun to drive, sexy, well built and reliable; what else you looking for in a car?
For one, build quality. My two 91 MR2s have less squeaks and rattles than some new cars today. That's saying something. Fit and finish is excellent. We also have a 00 Corolla, a 00 Camry, and a 05 Tacoma, and they are also top notch.
Secondly, reliability. Each of our Toyotas have consistently been driven over 150k miles without any problems. The engines, alternators, power steering pumps, everything just keeps on running. The only reason one of my alternators failed prematurely on my red MR2 was because of a nasty oil leak. It was at 170k miles, so it was no big deal anyway.
While I'm not a fan of the Corolla or Camry, I absolutely love the MR2. Its driving dynamics are nearly perfect for me. It handles well, and is reliable when taken care of. It was my first car, and I fell in love with it. Its looks, its capabilities, and its rarity. Toyota made an awesome car, and it shows.
On a good day, I only see about 2 MR2s in my area.
when i was just a kid, my uncle had an mk2 supra that i thought was the coolest thing in the world...now that i'm all grown up i'm carrying on the tradition in my MR2...my dream car is the MK4 supra, but ever since I picked it up last year...i love my 91 NA just as much...
the way things are going with toyota now though (no sports cars)...once i get my MK4 i don't think i'll be getting another one
its an attraction that everyone has towards a different cars we like our mr's and you might like ford, dodge, honda, ect.. everyone has their own and mine was the MK1 mr2
i own two toyotas: 91n/a --> 2.1L stroker 3SGTE swap and my '06 Tacoma.
both vehicles are very well suited to the activities i use them for. track days and autox for the MR2 and rock crawling/off roading with the Taco. they're very reliable, have good styling inside and out, are enjoyable to drive, comfortable, and have character. i love 'em.
-Mike
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1991 MR2 Turbo 2.1L stroker
2006 Tacoma D-cab 4x4 Auto TRD Off Road
as far as toyota's go, i had a camry back in the day that finally departed at 560k, still running strong but i couldn't weld any more floorboards in it. had a celica that 400~k. had a tercel that i crashed at 124k (stupid), driving a 91 tercel at the moment as my daily driver with 377km on it and it just passed emissions with flying colors again. right now im fixing an 88 MR2 sc that should be running again by next friday. its the "i finally have a nice car to show off that i busted my a$$ for" unlike the kids who drive their moms crapalier and put a CAI on it and say its theirs
i guess the point is im a toyota fan cuz they're cheap to maintain, good on gas, and they just dont fail
I have had quite a few toyotas in the past two years. I love the looks of the older onesand with them being RWD and the ability to get parts is still there is a plus.
I have had an 83' celica hatch still do 202853 an 84' hatch 173k an 85' coup 196k an 85 MR2 175k still have it, too a 95' T-100 104k and a 04 Tundra 43k.
The funny part is only one of those ran when i bought them and that was the 04 but with all the parts out there i was able to make some money buying and fixing them to resell.
I have worked on just about every car brand out there from a Peugeot to a porsche to your everyday chevy ford dodge america stuff and the easiest so far has been Toyota and being a mechanic I want the easiest car to work on in my Garage. Plus any car that can almost be completely dismantled with a carryalong toolbox is good for me.
I agree mostly with Hyde!
I am not a big toyota fan so to say even though the other cars that they put out are well built i am am just all for the MR2.
when i first drove my buddies 91 NA 5 year ago i had 89 mustang that had been played with and after driving that car and it being stock i feel in love instantly and looked for over a year to find the right MR2. Now i have a 5sfe block 3sge head and custom turbo setup with pistons and rods and i am able to run 28psi. When i took the motor in to get the rods and pistons installed and have them turn the crank the car was at 144k and they didnt even need to turn the crank the guy said he felt bad for taking the engine apart because it looked almost new and just polished the crank! Toyota Built! As well with the MR2 it is set perfectly for raceing with a 50/50 weight distribution nad a mid engine rear wheel set up the rear tires dont come lose! and most of all my 93 is stock on the outside but when i drive around town the girls watch me go buy and ask what kind of car it is and then when they find out its a 93 they are like no it isnt soo i mean honestly outside of all the expensive exotics the MR2 is the way to go for anything!!
What greater joy can you get when you beat the hell out of a V8 with a inline 4 and to see their faces when they see that its a 4 cylinder!
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Forum for every generation Toyota MR2. Including the AW11 and SW20.
i love 'em.
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