Looking to buy a 2nd gen MR2

[Sparkimus]

I know this isn't the place to look for one to buy, but I had a few questions.

Today I was at my college and in the parking lot I saw a nice 2nd gen white MR2 with t tops and a 5 speed, and I fell in love. I almost wanted to leave a note with my number and a cash offer.

Anyway, I've been looking around and I've found a few cars but most of them neeed some work, which is great because I've been lloking for a good project other than my old pickup. So how hard is it to work on/ find parts for these cars? is it worth it?

[Sparkimus]

On ebay I've actually found two gen 1 in my area, one with good body, bad motor. and the other vice versa. and the good one is a turbo! ones an 87 and one is 89, can I do what I'm thinking I can do?

[cbulen]

I own a 91na which is a real POS and a 93Turbo in absolutely beautiful condition.

Parts are sometimes a little tricky to get at Autozone/napa/shucks/kragen, etc (not impossible, but usually require ordering if dealing with the 3S-GTE turbo motor. The 5S-FE na motor is just a camry motor, so parts are easier.

Rockauto has a lot of replacement engine parts, as well as some chassis/body stuff. I get the really unusual stuff from my local toyota dealer (usually have to order, takes only a day), or I buy them used from other MR2 owners on forums like this one. this is probably the cheapest way to go.

They are sometimes hard to work on, sometimes easy. Basic maintenence is usually easy, but you will have to jack up the car for most things. There are some quirks you should be aware of before working on an MR2. For example, a very common problem with MR2 Turbo newbies is when changing the stock air cleaner, they undo the screws that hold the AFM plug in place. Do NOT do this. Instead there is a metal spring clip that holds the plug in place. IIRC, my 90 Supra Turbo (7M-GTE) had a similar deal). MR2's require a little more care when bleeding the cooling system of air. The turbos need premium ONLY, and sometimes octane booster, like my non-stock turbo needs.

If you buy a car with some miles on it, I highly recommend the basic maintenence first. Get new struts at all 4 corners (Koni's or KYB), new ball joints at each corner, change the inner and outer tie rods on the steering rack, do an ignition tune up, etc. Recommend urethane bushings in all suspension pivots, and engine mount inserts. Get new brake pads as well. The Porterfield R4S pads are great.

When everything is tight, and within factory spec, these cars have incredible grip and braking performance. The 93+ turbo cars have bigger brakes, so a lot of guys upgrade the earlier cars with the later brakes. I also recommend getting the fattest wheels and tires you can get into the fenders. I am currntly running 215/40R17 in front (17x8 rims), and 245/40R17 in back (17x9 rims). This will give you mind blowing grip. I will be changing to wider tires and rims soon. I will need the fatter rears due to the V8 swap.

These cars have incredible transient response when you have tight suspension and steering rack. My 93T has fantastic responsiveness as well. If I downshft an floor it, it takes off like a bullet fired from a gun. When I stomp on the brakes, it stops so hard my eyeballs want to pop out.

I think they are the best mid-engine sports car you can get under 10K (I see them ranging in price from $1500 to $25K) Over $25K and you would want to look at NSX's

[Sparkimus]

wow thanks for the info. I want one even more now. haha

[Sparkimus]

I'm almost 20 myself, but I take very good care of my vehicles. I just want something a little more sporty than my 89 PU, which I hand wash. haha

any insight on the ability to swap engines from a 89 to an 87 MR2?

[Ghostyman]

If either the '87 or '89 has a turbo, then it has been swapped in. First gen MR2s (85-89) came with naturally aspirated 4AGEs or supercharged 4AGZE engines. It could have a 3SGTE swapped from a gen2 MR2 or (less likely) the owner converted a 4AGZE into a 4AGTE.

Swapping engines is pretty easy if you stay in the same generation. Swapping a gen2 turbo engine into a gen1 MR2 is relatively easy and is the so-called "mk1.5" MR2.

I haven't had much trouble sourcing parts for my gen2 turbo.

You'll be happy with either a gen1 or a gen2. They're very cool cars.

I don't think I need to type more, cbulen and asjoseph really covered it.

[MR-Deuce]

I have a gen2 t-top that a picked up in oklahoma back in october. It's by far my favorite car I've ever owned. In high school my friends and I were in to The nissan 240's and the 300. fun cars but theres somethin about the mr2. I cant get bored driving it!!! My car has 136K on it now and is virtually rust free! I pretty much treat the car as well as I treat my daughter lol. My advice to anyone interested in a fun project car is that u cant beat an Mr2 for the money!!! For the most part I've been able to locate all the parts I've needed although occasionally I've had to pay top dollar to find them! I'm currently working on an engine rebuild on my 5-sfe and ebay has been the most help. Check out my project at www.cardomain.com/ride/3198270

[Sparkimus]

the 87 has a good body and a 5 speed tranny, but the engine is not running.
the 89 has a supercharger (not turbo, my bad) and a good interior.


my plan is to take the 89 engine and the ecu and put it into the 87 as well as some of the nicer interior parts.

[cbulen]

The mk1 (Mark 1, aka gen1) have go-cart handling, even compared to the mk2 (gen 2). I just like the body lines of the mk2 and I also like the larger trunk, as I use my car for work sometimes (I am a Realtor, formerly an engineer).

BTW, I was re-reading my prior post. I do not want to leave you with the impression that all 91-92's are POS's. I just happen to have a poorly cared for 91na, which is why I called it a POS, but I got it cheap so its the perfect ginea pig for the V8 swap. I have seen some very nice 91 and 92's out there.

[Sparkimus]

I'll be more than happy with either generation, but the two gen 1 cars I found seem like they will make a fun project with (hopefully) a nice product.

I'm just crossing my fingers that I won't be outbid, right now they are going for pretty cheap.

I'll let you guys know how it turns out saturday night.

[cbulen]

I discovered that its very hard to find a mk2 withOUT a T-Top. My 91na and my 93T are both T-Tops. My 91na is Red, which I recommend against getting. Toyota had a real problem with thier red oxidizing in the early 90's.

I have never seen a factory 2 tone, but I think they did offer it, with the upper greenhouse in black maybe?

A couple of years ago, 95 Turbo's with under 100K miles were going for $25K on eBay. They only imported 300 turbos in 95.

My 93T is "turquoise Pearl-Metallic" or teal to most people. I didn't like it at first (model year and condition of the car was the most important criteria at the time of purchase), but since I bought it in 2005, I have grown to like it. It really stands out in the sea of grey, silver and white cars I see everywhere. Its actually a pretty color, even if it is a "girl's" color. I bought mine from the ORIGINAL owner who was a woman. I still thank her for taking such good care of my car!

I heard that the whole import scene is on the decline in general, so it would not surprise me if MR2's took a dive along with that scene. I am actually not sorry to see them go. I am tired of the cops lumping me in with the kids with Honduuhs with fart pipes that think they are fast

________
CBulen
2nd Gen V8 MR2 engine swap
MV8R.com

Originally Posted by asjoseph

... t-tops are to die for. They no longer make automobiles with t-tops. If you have an eye for a vintage MR2, if you find one with t-tops -- especially so, a two-tone MR2 with t-tops -- I recommend you move swiftly, and decisively.

OEM two-tone MR2s with t-tops, five years or so, will be fetching 5 figures.

Though not the most collectible, best color for the MR2 is Toyota's super-white. You may not agree now. Look at MR2s as long as I have, perhaps one day you'll see what I mean...

I'll have you know, MR2s are dropping like flies. Current crop of teens and twenty-somethings, buying vintage MR2s, are shunting them, at a rate never before seen in sports car culture. Here in Southern California, vintage MR2s, excluding those we don't know about, what we can count, are being written-off at a rate of three to six, per week. Mostly all of them atritted, the second generation variant (e.g., tricky car to drive fast).

Rate we're going, MR2s are going to be moon rocks.

So you know: Never (NEVER) subject a vehicle with t-tops, to a pressure washer. Never put a car with t-tops through a car wash (e.g., automated, or otherwise). Use slow running lukewarm water. Hand-wash only. Easy does it.


best,
~ Sammy, '88 Supercharged


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[Sparkimus]

right now I'm looking at spending about $1000 for both cars, not including transportation.

[Sparkimus]

I opted out of the two cars, the prices started to get up too high for 2 undrivable cars.

but alas, I have found another!

88 MR2, 5 speed. the pictures look like it's new. it's apparently been well taken care of, the only drawback it it has 240,000 miles. not sure of any recent engine rebulilds or anything.

I'll know by midweek if I'll be able to get it, and if all goes to plan friday I'll be the owner of a new (used) MR2!

I'll post pics if anyone cares. haha

[Sparkimus]

okay, so it's been a little over 9 months since I started this thread, but yesterday my search ended.

I traded my 89 Toyota pickup for a super clean 91 MR2! Adult owned and maintained, I have all the paperwork from the day it was bought including all emission reports, service invoices from the dealer, Never been wrecked, still has the factory paint that is pretty much flawless. The guy even gave me the Toyota repair and maintenance manuals and the complete electrical diagram book. It's an awesome car. Power window, locks, mirrors, cruise control, AC, heat and everything works. Original paint and no oxidation other than a little on the mirrors. Garage kept almost it's entire life.

the only problems:
I need to replace the timing belt in 10,000 miles (no big deal), I think the starter solenoid is going out, and it shifts kinda rough into 1st and reverse.

Here's my old truck next to my new MR2

[MR2Jedi]

Nice! What are your plans for the MR2?
And, are you gonna miss your Tacoma? I couldn't live without my '95 Tacoma 4x4...