Any views on the Toyota MR2 (Mk2)?

[Mr. M]

Hey guys,

I'm pondering about whether to swap my VW Mk2 GTI with a Toyota MR2 (Mk2) NA! I won't be going for a turbo as insurance is just too expensive.

I like the RWD, mid-engined stats on paper - not so excited by the engine. Does anybody have any experience with the NA in this car? Also, will the handling make the lack of power worthwhile?

M

 

[mini_cooper4]

The lack of power you are talking about results in a precise machinery - NA rules
Buy it it's a great car and it's the best fun car you can buy for this amount of money.

 

[Monster]

Hello James, welcome back !

My good friend has a stock standard NA 97 MR2 and I have ride with him for many times. From what I can tell the engine is strong enough, the car feels fast enough, the ride is a bit hard even on the tiny standard rims. Body control at low to moderate speed is good, however you can feel the mass of the engine behind you when you corner. In the dry the car has good grip, but you can still be able to generate some power over steer, but things get a bit trickier in the wet. You have to be careful because the car can snap sideways very easily at moderate speeds.

Hope this helps.

 

[330CIZHP]

If you want to buy N/A MR-2, you can get (or swap in) the JDM BEAMS 3S-GE found in the later mid-90s MR-2s. They put out 200 HP from a 2.0 Liter i4 with an 8000 rpm redline.

 

[NarutoRamen]

It's a good car, but there is one huge caveat. When I last drove the car it was twitchy. The rear kicks out TOO quickly IMO. It's a good car if you're trying to powerslide all the time, but if you want a good handler this isn't it.

 

[Levi68]

I can't say much, but I would rather get an FT-86, both for handling and drifting, it is indeed what I am getting, but badged Subaru. New, you will yet have waranty and all other advantages. Then of course we have to wait for the price.

 

[Mr. M]

Hello James, welcome back !

My good friend has a stock standard NA 97 MR2 and I have ride with him for many times. From what I can tell the engine is strong enough, the car feels fast enough, the ride is a bit hard even on the tiny standard rims. Body control at low to moderate speed is good, however you can feel the mass of the engine behind you when you corner. In the dry the car has good grip, but you can still be able to generate some power over steer, but things get a bit trickier in the wet. You have to be careful because the car can snap sideways very easily at moderate speeds.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the short passenger ride review! It certainly helps a lot. I just went to view one over the weekend and the dealer brought me on a short run. The way he drove the car with careless abandon was a bit unsettling but you can see how used he is to the handling! It was a Rev 5 I saw so it was one of the later models which I believe were less prone to snap oversteer. I'm looking for a Rev 3-5 model too as they aren't too old even today

I totally love the car, I'm pretty much sold except that it seats only two, which is a big drawback in practicality terms! Since I make most of my driving in roadtrips with friends in my car. Oh well... I guess it's a worthy sacrifice!

If you want to buy N/A MR-2, you can get (or swap in) the JDM BEAMS 3S-GE found in the later mid-90s MR-2s. They put out 200 HP from a 2.0 Liter i4 with an 8000 rpm redline.

I guess you're thinking about those in the Rev 4-5 MR2s?

It's a good car, but there is one huge caveat. When I last drove the car it was twitchy. The rear kicks out TOO quickly IMO. It's a good car if you're trying to powerslide all the time, but if you want a good handler this isn't it.

Yeah that's what I've been reading. Really don't know how that's like until I try it!

I can't say much, but I would rather get an FT-86, both for handling and drifting, it is indeed what I am getting, but badged Subaru. New, you will yet have waranty and all other advantages. Then of course we have to wait for the price.

I think that's in a whole different price range altogether. I'm looking at a late 90's MR2 mate!

 

[Guibo]

I think that's in a whole different price range altogether. I'm looking at a late 90's MR2 mate!

What price range are you looking at?
From US-market reviews, Toyota did indeed make a mid-life revision to try to reduce the skittish rear end. Seems not to be an issue in the Mk3, which might well be within your budget by now. Here's Autocar's Vicky Parrot, who recently picked up a Mk3:
Winter motoring in a Toyota MR2 - Our cars

 

[Mr. M]

What price range are you looking at?
From US-market reviews, Toyota did indeed make a mid-life revision to try to reduce the skittish rear end. Seems not to be an issue in the Mk3, which might well be within your budget by now. Here's Autocar's Vicky Parrot, who recently picked up a Mk3:
Winter motoring in a Toyota MR2 - Our cars

I live in the UK so I had a budget of GBP2k. Anyway, sorry for bringing this thread up so late, but I bought one in the end. Some first drive thoughts here (and more updates in the past couple of weeks of ownership): Notes from the first drive of the Toyota MR2 SW20 | perfectsteer

 

[Levi68]

Have fun, but be careful with throttle-lift oversteer.