Just Bought 87' MR2 LE!

[SFAcoustic]

Hello all, new to the forum. Just sold my Toyota Celica All-Trac Turbo, and decided to buy an 87' MR2, on eBay. I know with the winter coming up the timing wasn't the best, but the opportunity came up and I took it.

This is the car: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1987-...QQcmdZViewItem

The radio isn't hooked in, but he gave me a brand new in box stock head unit. I have two T-Tops he gave me, one from this car and one from another. Also another set of stock rims. The car runs really, really good. Stops good, but I haven't looked at the brakes physically. The T-tops leak, according to the owner, if you left it out you would have a wet seat, it basically drips through. I haven't confirmed this cos' it hasn't rained yet. Any thoughts on a fix for it? Any problem areas I should watch out for on this car?

This is going to be my daily driver. I have no idea when the timing belt was last changed, but it was certainly a while ago. Car has 167,000 miles on it, but it runs awesome and I've seen these cars with well over 200k miles. Rear tires are new. Any suggestions for a new owner? Any tips for getting through a Jersey winter? Comments in general? Also, what kind of gas should I be using, and what kind of oil? Finally, it is marked as a LE (limited edition). Aside from the very unique factory paint job it has, what makes it an LE? Thanks!

[toyotaspeed90]

t-top leaking.... you're screwed....

not trying to be rude, just hones.....

friends 89 t-top... (mr2_vri at other forums).... his solution: strip the interior and put plastic bags over the seats, then when the car is parked put plastic across the t-tops and close the doors on it

another friends (now sold) 87 t-top.... he got it, knowing the t-tops leaked.... we actually got t-top seals from Toyota (which is almost unheard of)... we replaced them... and it leaked worse..... so, he tried like a few things other members have said to do, and nothing.... just leaked.... he ended up selling the car because of the leak....

it's the seals on the t-tops themselves that leak.... probably why you got 2 sets... he probably tried a diff set of t-tops to hopefully make them not leak....

that's why all i have (and have had) are hardtops and a non-leaking sunroof mr2

[te51levin]

I doubt the leaking roof is terminal. You can indeed get new T-top seals from Toyota. I sell them once every couple of months or so. You can also get offset/eccentric T-top rod guides that exert a little more pressure on the seals in case your roof panels don't fit snugly enough against the seals.

Use BRAND NAME gasoline, not convenience store, Safeway, or Costco junk. You can probably survive on 87 octane in cool weather but may need 92 in the summer.

Oil - 10W40 should do it, or 20W50 in very hot weather if you're nervous about it thinning out. Again, use a name brand and try to stay with the same brand when you change the oil. I like Valvoline. There are charts online that show major oils' properties compared against each other. Everyone has an opinion about oil, everyone thinks they are right, and most people don't have a damned clue what they are talking about. It's just like religion and politics for cars, really.

There is no Limited Edition AFAIK. More than likely, at some point some dealer put wheelwell trim and tape stripes on it, slapped a Limited Edition badge on the back, and jacked the price up. "Look, folks, this one's a Limited Edition, she's got yer pinstriping and yer chrome trim, got yer reah spoilah, got the t-tops there...you know, these Limited Edition cars are hard to find! We had to pay extra to get this car here on our lot, they're really in demand..."

[SFAcoustic]

Thanks for the insight guys. Actually, he gave me two T-tops because he has a parts car, and let me take whatever I want from it. Apparently, the t-top leak is just drops, like if you leave it over night, you will have a wet seat in the morning.

Pretty weird about the limited edition thing. Was this factory paint, with all the blue accents they added? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1987-...QQcmdZViewItem

Seems to be an honest car, got it for 1500 bucks. Any other advice would be appreciated.

[te51levin]

I'm assuming it's just decals on what is probably the original paint job.

[Zz_005_zZ]

I dunno man... that car looks like it's gonna need some tlc...... the paint looks rough, the seats are aged, t-tops leaking, motor should be cleaned up..... but I guess for the money it's not a bad deal.... just alot of work..... I could buy a nicer one here in fla for the same money. Sorry for the opinion, I am happy that u are buying an mr-2, but I just don't want you to get a bad one and call it quits on the car!!@...Brian

[SFAcoustic]

I guess. I mean, the paint is definitely rough, but I'm not much into cosmetics. It's a 20 year old car after all, guys. It's never been repainted. It also has 167k miles. But it runs really well; true, the motor is dirty. Does that affect anything? I've always found that cars with squeaky clean motors may be concealing a bad deal.

[toyotaspeed90]

dirty motors don't affect anything..... in fact, a good friend (and member on other forums, mr2_vri) salvaged his mr2 from a cow pasture..... his has 189K on it, and leaks/burns oil worse than any 4age i've ever seen (other than the obvious shot rings and constant pouring out oil leaks....).. with a dirty a/f it dyno'd the highest of all the mr2's at that meet (the average was 90-100whp... he had 109whp)

[Zz_005_zZ]

my apologies, I didn't mean any offence, and I know the car is fairly old.... I just like an immaculate car thats all... So if it were me, I would have that on my mind when I go to purchase a car.Seeing as that is original paint, I would at least consider a respray, and take some brake cleaner to the engine real quick....... cost : maybe like 20 bucks tops.... (not paint). Is that the 1st year they came out with the SC or was it 88? Cause I was wondering what the Limited Edition was for... What did it come with?

[thesavage]

I'm not sure what exactly the limited edition is, but yes, supercharged MR2s are 88-89.

[SFAcoustic]

No problem 005, I want to hear honest opinions. Whenever buying a used car, there is apprehension. As long as the car mechanically doesn't break, I won't complain. That'll be my worst nightmare if I bought a crap car. But it runs good, and the guy seemed honest as the day is long. Old guy too. But we all like an immaculate car, but you pay premium for that. It is tough to clean out a dirty engine? I have no idea how to do it (aside the obvious, like remove/cover battery).

Anyway, I have an 89' GT-S Celica with brand new MICHELIN tires. Cost me 600 bucks in May. I was thinking of switching those tires over to the MR2. The Celica tires have stock rims. Either I was thinking, just put both up on cinder blocks and swap all the tires, with rims. Or, go to a mechanic and swap the rims. But would the MR2 rims work on the Celica tires? Is this a viable idea?

Thanks for you input.

[Zz_005_zZ]

I like the older mr-2's.... I mean after all it is a lotus at heart, and u can't beat the cockpit.... I think there is alot of potential in this car m8

[cantalibre]

Don't worry about drops. My friendly Toyota dealer says when they get to a certain age, seals etc perish, exacerbated by the removal/replacement of the tops. What you don't want is a deluge, but us men can withstand a few drops now and again. Good luck with it!

[te51levin]

Originally Posted by SFAcoustic

... just put both up on cinder blocks ...

Do you not actually know why this is a bad idea?