Looking for a mk3 mr2
Discussion
thanks for reading!
i am looking for a runaround mk3 mr2. No particular preference with colour. Budget 3k.
is the budget too low? I intend to use it as a daily covering around 10-15 miles a day max. Will there be much to do to get it back to good working order or 3k will be able to find a decent example?
i dont have any experience with the mr2, so any advice would be appreciated.
Specific point
1) 2001-2006, any particular year is preferable?
2) interior wise/ leather/cloth, thoughts?
3) how does the stock suspension hold up? Need aftermarkets spring or coilovers?
4) is the exhaust known to be any issue in this age of car?
i am going to view the one on AT, as this is the closest one to me.
https://www.dtmcars.co.uk/used-cars/toyota-mr2-1-8...
Many thanks again!
i am looking for a runaround mk3 mr2. No particular preference with colour. Budget 3k.
is the budget too low? I intend to use it as a daily covering around 10-15 miles a day max. Will there be much to do to get it back to good working order or 3k will be able to find a decent example?
i dont have any experience with the mr2, so any advice would be appreciated.
Specific point
1) 2001-2006, any particular year is preferable?
2) interior wise/ leather/cloth, thoughts?
3) how does the stock suspension hold up? Need aftermarkets spring or coilovers?
4) is the exhaust known to be any issue in this age of car?
i am going to view the one on AT, as this is the closest one to me.
https://www.dtmcars.co.uk/used-cars/toyota-mr2-1-8...
Many thanks again!
MR2 Roadster Owners Club Forum is a good source of advice.
https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/
I've owned my MR2 for 6 or 7 years now. I use it (along with a Celica) as my daily for a commute of 15 miles each way. I am not an expert by any means, but just my thoughts on the specific questions you have asked, although this is testing my memory a bit!
is the budget too low? I intend to use it as a daily covering around 10-15 miles a day max. Will there be much to do to get it back to good working order or 3k will be able to find a decent example?
My car cost just under £4k when I bought it, so I would think you could get a decent car for your budget. You may have to pay extra for a hard top, if you want one (I have one, and paid £500).
1) 2001-2006, any particular year is preferable?
My car is 2004. I think 2003 is when they introduced the facelift model (some of the late 52 plate cars were facelift I believe). Generally, the facelift model is regarded as better, with a more reliable engine, staggered wheel sizes and improved styling.
2) interior wise/ leather/cloth, thoughts?
Mine has a leather interior, but it's really down to personal choice.
3) how does the stock suspension hold up? Need aftermarkets spring or coilovers?
I certainly haven't changed the suspension on mine, nor have I felt the need to. It handles extremely well, and is a more comfortable ride than my Celica, which has lowered suspension (but maybe that's just a sign of me getting old!)
4) is the exhaust known to be any issue in this age of car?
Not to my knowledge. The main issues as far as I recall are crossmember corrosion and pre-cat failure. People often recommend removing the pre-cats. My OH (who is the mechanic of the household and does all the maintenance on my cars) removed mine shortly after we bought it. The other thing people complain about is a lack of storage space - it doesn't have a boot like the MX5. It has a 'frunk' (front trunk) under the bonnet, but that's where the spacesaver wheel lives. There are two storage bins behind the seats which can hold a fair bit. I've certainly used mine to do the weekly shop without too many problems. I don't have an issue with storage space, mostly it's just me and my handbag, so I don't need much!
PS - the car you have linked to is a special 'Red' edition. I don't think there is anything different mechanically, just styling. The red leather seats, red/black steering wheel, 'Red' badges on wings. But it looks like the soft top has been replaced, because the original would have been red too. You may not be bothered about that.
https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/
I've owned my MR2 for 6 or 7 years now. I use it (along with a Celica) as my daily for a commute of 15 miles each way. I am not an expert by any means, but just my thoughts on the specific questions you have asked, although this is testing my memory a bit!
is the budget too low? I intend to use it as a daily covering around 10-15 miles a day max. Will there be much to do to get it back to good working order or 3k will be able to find a decent example?
My car cost just under £4k when I bought it, so I would think you could get a decent car for your budget. You may have to pay extra for a hard top, if you want one (I have one, and paid £500).
1) 2001-2006, any particular year is preferable?
My car is 2004. I think 2003 is when they introduced the facelift model (some of the late 52 plate cars were facelift I believe). Generally, the facelift model is regarded as better, with a more reliable engine, staggered wheel sizes and improved styling.
2) interior wise/ leather/cloth, thoughts?
Mine has a leather interior, but it's really down to personal choice.
3) how does the stock suspension hold up? Need aftermarkets spring or coilovers?
I certainly haven't changed the suspension on mine, nor have I felt the need to. It handles extremely well, and is a more comfortable ride than my Celica, which has lowered suspension (but maybe that's just a sign of me getting old!)
4) is the exhaust known to be any issue in this age of car?
Not to my knowledge. The main issues as far as I recall are crossmember corrosion and pre-cat failure. People often recommend removing the pre-cats. My OH (who is the mechanic of the household and does all the maintenance on my cars) removed mine shortly after we bought it. The other thing people complain about is a lack of storage space - it doesn't have a boot like the MX5. It has a 'frunk' (front trunk) under the bonnet, but that's where the spacesaver wheel lives. There are two storage bins behind the seats which can hold a fair bit. I've certainly used mine to do the weekly shop without too many problems. I don't have an issue with storage space, mostly it's just me and my handbag, so I don't need much!
PS - the car you have linked to is a special 'Red' edition. I don't think there is anything different mechanically, just styling. The red leather seats, red/black steering wheel, 'Red' badges on wings. But it looks like the soft top has been replaced, because the original would have been red too. You may not be bothered about that.
Edited by moorx on Friday 5th June 23:03
Few other things occurred to me that might be of interest/help:
These cars sometimes throw up engine management lights. This can signify genuine (serious) engine problems, and therefore unscrupulous sellers can sometimes try to hide the EML by putting tape across it - check it lights up/goes out when you start the car.
If you do get one, buy yourself a Code Reader, so you can check if the EML does light up (I've had it happen a few times with the MR2 and the Celica). In each case with the MR2 it has been down to an Oxygen/Lambda Sensor needing to be replaced - there are 3 separate ones I think.
In terms of fuel consumption, when we worked it out on mine it was around 38 mpg.
When I bought my car, I was living in Wales and working in Bristol, so I was doing twice weekly runs of 125 miles each way. No issues with motorway journeys, it sits at just under 3,000 rpm at 70.
These cars sometimes throw up engine management lights. This can signify genuine (serious) engine problems, and therefore unscrupulous sellers can sometimes try to hide the EML by putting tape across it - check it lights up/goes out when you start the car.
If you do get one, buy yourself a Code Reader, so you can check if the EML does light up (I've had it happen a few times with the MR2 and the Celica). In each case with the MR2 it has been down to an Oxygen/Lambda Sensor needing to be replaced - there are 3 separate ones I think.
In terms of fuel consumption, when we worked it out on mine it was around 38 mpg.
When I bought my car, I was living in Wales and working in Bristol, so I was doing twice weekly runs of 125 miles each way. No issues with motorway journeys, it sits at just under 3,000 rpm at 70.
Thanks for your advice!
I have read about the pre-cat failure, i did wonder the cost/labour involved in removing it or just hope that it holds up for a little longer before the engine needs replacing in which case, a 2zz might be a desirable option.
I didnt know abt the red edition!
Hopefully the one i m gonna view is in decent order
Barry
I have read about the pre-cat failure, i did wonder the cost/labour involved in removing it or just hope that it holds up for a little longer before the engine needs replacing in which case, a 2zz might be a desirable option.
I didnt know abt the red edition!
Hopefully the one i m gonna view is in decent order
Barry
I have a beautiful MK3 MR2, garaged, and dry/weekend/summer miles only. It took me a year of looking to find mine, that’s because it’s one of the rare ones which has the hard top and the soft top underneath. Additionally it’s in the best colour.....silver! and with lovely full black leather interior (most are a naff cloth interior, and worse still a red cloth interior sometimes!)For those reasons mine was more than twice your budget 7 years ago.
My view is that for you to get a good one, you would need to up your budget if possible. I say that coz when I was looking even back then, most were pretty tatty even around the £5/6000 mark. In good condition, not used for track, and unmodded, that’s a rare car; be in no doubt about that.
I’ll be selling mine soon purely coz there’s virtually no luggage room for weekend away etc. Other than that I’d keep it. For the money there is no finer sports car. Super reliable; in 7 years I’ve only had to replace a sensor and a tyre! Case in point it just passed it’s MOT yesterday, no advisories..nothing!Get one, they are amazing, and even as a now 15 year old car it still turns heads, and leaves most other cars for dead lol.
Good luck.
Here’s my beauty:
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/aaknStB9.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/e4RMFNHE" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/e4RMFNHE.jpg)
My view is that for you to get a good one, you would need to up your budget if possible. I say that coz when I was looking even back then, most were pretty tatty even around the £5/6000 mark. In good condition, not used for track, and unmodded, that’s a rare car; be in no doubt about that.
I’ll be selling mine soon purely coz there’s virtually no luggage room for weekend away etc. Other than that I’d keep it. For the money there is no finer sports car. Super reliable; in 7 years I’ve only had to replace a sensor and a tyre! Case in point it just passed it’s MOT yesterday, no advisories..nothing!Get one, they are amazing, and even as a now 15 year old car it still turns heads, and leaves most other cars for dead lol.
Good luck.
Here’s my beauty:
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