It looks like 4k will get me a nice MR2

taximike · 12 Feb 2010 at 06:55

I read something about the MR2 being great value for money and it seems they are great! Would actually be a perfect car for me at the moment while living at home and I just need something for the daily commute or to zip over to a friends house and if I need more seats I still have other cars I can use!

So with a budget of 4k I'd hope for leather and AC (they seem to be about the only options!!!) 2001 ish with about 60-80k?

Who here owns one? Are they decent? My only worry is that I'm 185cm with long legs and (relative to my height) short arms. So I tend to find that I need to have the seat really far back and so I can never pull the steering wheel close enough to me. Is the driving position fairly adjustable in the newer MR2s?

SimonCHere · 12 Feb 2010 at 11:22

Can I pimp another site?
http://www.mr2roc.org is all about the MR2 roadster.
Just use the search first or you may get flamed!

Hardtop is another option, but you can add it later if you like (~£600)

I've got one which had been turbo'd but the stock car is fine if a little underpowered.
There isn't a lot of adjustment, the wheel goes up and down only. The seat has an up down adjustment which helps. There are plenty of tall people in MR2's someone even took the door handle off to get a good fit.
Best bet is to try one.

Things to look out for in the earlier models are engine failure due to oval bores, pre cat's breaking up and blocking the exhaust system. The signs are using oil and not revving above 4k. Get decent matching tyres as well, it's quite sensitive to mismatched front/rear.

The facelift (2003 onwards) had some worthwhile mods if you can stretch a little more.

Storage space is limited, but with fancy packing you can fit enough clothes for a decent trip in one. You can also get racks for the rear to hold luggage, although they do get a little toasty!

jellybeard999 · 12 Feb 2010 at 11:46

Be a man and get a Mk 2 Turbo

L0rdMike · 12 Feb 2010 at 11:48

4K should get you a Rev3 Turbo which will have aircon and climate control standard.

fonzee · 12 Feb 2010 at 11:57

had to be done etc etc.

get a rev3.

SimonCHere · 12 Feb 2010 at 12:06

Did they make many Mk2 rev 3's in 2001?

@fonzee ah that's an American one, they included a hair dryer in that version!

Dogbreath · 12 Feb 2010 at 12:12

fonzee said:

Fail. It's called a Roadster in the UK. It's no more gay than any other convertible.

fonzee · 12 Feb 2010 at 12:12

ayeeeeeeee. Rev3 finished in 2000 iirc.

dogbreath, we know

and its very gay. fact.

PapaLazaru · 12 Feb 2010 at 12:19

Dogbreath said:
Fail. It's called a Roadster in the UK. It's no more gay than any other convertible.

Agreed. They are all equally totally gay.

L0rdMike · 12 Feb 2010 at 12:32

fonzee said:
ayeeeeeeee. Rev3 finished in 2000 iirc.

dogbreath, we know and its very gay. fact.

Lol what Rev3 finished in 95/96

The Running Man · 12 Feb 2010 at 12:34

handling is superior to the earlier models.. the MR-S is noted as a very capable car - but toyota didnt 2zz it up for being too competative with lotus i believe...

Dogbreath · 12 Feb 2010 at 12:38

PapaLazaru said:
Agreed. They are all equally totally gay.

I didn't want to go as far as that

sovietspybob · 12 Feb 2010 at 12:50

Nickg said:
handling is superior to the earlier models.. the MR-S is noted as a very capable car - but toyota didnt 2zz it up for being too competative with lotus i believe...

Yeah i'd heard that, quite a few people have put the 2zz engine in and it's meant to transform it into the car it always should have been

fonzee · 12 Feb 2010 at 12:53

L0rdMike said:
Lol what Rev3 finished in 95/96

oops ment mk2. guess rev4 was 96-00 then?

SimonCHere · 12 Feb 2010 at 13:06

There are various things you can do for more power.
2zz engine swap
v6 engine swap
Turbo (mine is quite mild with 225bhp)
Supercharger
NA tuning if that's more your thing but not massive gains for lots of money.

Mk3 was
End of 1999 - 2003 (pre facelift)
and 2003 - 2006 (post facelift obviously)

Turbo-G · 12 Feb 2010 at 13:28

fonzee said:
oops ment mk2. guess rev4 was 96-00 then?

Nope, the MK2 went out of production in its 5th revision.

Buttons · 19 Feb 2010 at 22:51

I'm 6'5" and love my Mr2 Mk3 bought in 2008 for 4.5k. It's a load of fun to drive and second the mr2roc.org link, when I suffered from the infamous engine failure, various members got me on the road again for a lot less than Toyota wanted. Replacement engine, labour, clutch, exhaust and manifold for under 1k!

Great community and loads of spares and upgrades available.

PM if you want more info

(It's a 2000 plate by the way) If you have the money get a 2003+

ganesh · 19 Feb 2010 at 23:18

Buy a mk2 turbo, 4k will get you a pristine rev3 with mods or a decent rev4.

OpenToSuggestions · 19 Feb 2010 at 23:21

Dogbreath said:
Fail. It's called a Roadster in the UK. It's no more gay than any other convertible.

Unless you are loaded and use it as a Sunday car in August, you would be a complete retard to buy a convertible in the UK. A hardtop I can understand the logic behind.

It does not matter if it is no gayer than any other convertible...........it is still gay.

RedvGreen · 20 Feb 2010 at 00:03

mglover070588 said:
Unless you are loaded and use it as a Sunday car in August, you would be a complete retard to buy a convertible in the UK. A hardtop I can understand the logic behind.

It does not matter if it is no gayer than any other convertible...........it is still gay.

Why are you challenged by convertibles?
Also, for the record, several gay and lesbian colleagues drive coupés and hot hatches, none infact own softtops. Surely that means all coupé and hot hatches are gay vehicles too?!