I Think I'm Going To Get An Mr2 Turbo

[TOYMOTA]

Hi guys, just need a bit of buying advice.

I've got massive withdrawl symptoms now, as I haven't driven a sporty Toyota since a lorry got in my way in my old Corolla GTI back last September. I have to get another fast Toyota.

I've been looking at MR2 Turbo's, but there seems to be loads of different types of MR2 (REV 1, 2, 3 and Twin Intake). What's the difference? Which is the worst and beste version?

Do you know what the BHP, top MPH, MPG ragging it and taking it easy, etc?

When I go to look at some cars, what should I keep an eye out for and avoid like the plague?

Do they rust anywhere in particular? My old Rolla was a notoriously rust prone car! Maybe Toyota managed to sort this problem out tho?

What should I look for before I start her up, after I've started her, when driving and after its been driven?

Are there problems with the Turbo's? Do I need to look out for a coloured smoke?

Whats the right sort of price to pay? I saw one advertised by a trader. It was a '94 plate, Red, Twin Intake Turbo with 64k on the clock (miles not kilometers) for £2695. Is that under or above or just about right for the price?

Lastly, are all the Turbo models imports? If so what the insurnace likely to be considering i'm 26 with 5 years protected no claims, live in a low crime area and i'm with Adrian Flux.

Thanks in advance guys!!!

[dathoma]

Hi, I purchased my MR2 Turbo in April 2005 to which I never thought of buying but had advice from colleagues and its a stunner to drive. I have a 2 points that may help as I was in the same boat as you with the age and the insurance.

* Check the coolant, I've yet to nip my car down to the garage to get a particular pipe replaced/sleeved which runs from the front to the back of the car. Look out for this as it aparently costs £600 to fit a brand new one and £130 to be sleeved :( .

* Inside the spark plug bays to make sure the rocker cover gasket is still sealed.

Other than that I'm still learning about the motor but I will say that the price does not sound bad.

[KiwiMR2]

I've been looking at MR2 Turbo's, but there seems to be loads of different types of MR2 (REV 1, 2, 3 and Twin Intake). What's the difference? Which is the worst and beste version?

Depends on who you talk to, Gen I & II are very similar....Gen III is the major jump whith the most changes....look here:

http://toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.p...wtopic=6915&hl=

The engine doesn't change from Gen III up but there are a few minor changes.

Personally I'd only go gen III, I've had a Gen I and the difference is like night and day.

When I go to look at some cars, what should I keep an eye out for and avoid like the plague?

I'd be wary of any that have a shudder at 100 odd.....keep a good look out for repairs on body work it in the FRONT end, the suspension set up in the front is quite sensitive I've come across some that have had minor prangs & repairs and that shudder and bad tyre wear will never go away.

What should I look for before I start her up, after I've started her, when driving and after its been driven?

Listen for ticking LOUD on start up, not good....and obviously you don'y want BLUE smoke at any stage, some black on wot is ok as they run quite rich from the factory.

IMO turbos are the best...but personal prefrence really.

Cheers

KiwiMR2

[TOYMOTA]

So what years were the different Gens/Revs made in?

Whats their MPG like?

I should have about £3k, so what sort will I get for that kind of money? I don't want to go above 70k miles when I do buy one!

[Fizz]

£3k should get you a nice rev 2 turbo.. check the sticky threads at the top of the MR2 section.. and there is all the info you will need to know..

[Gibbo_20]

£3k should get you a nice rev 2 turbo.. check the sticky threads at the top of the MR2 section.. and there is all the info you will need to know.. 

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Hi im also looking at the gen 111 turbo.Could someone tell me how realiable these cars are?? I know japanese tend to be very well built but how realiable are the turbos?? how long do they last?? When do they need changing??etc:!

Also im going to be buying froma japanese import specialist and ive notcied that all there cars tend to have very low mileage. IE:the one i like is the gen 111 turbo which is a 1993 with only 63k miles.Is that normal??

Cheers

Big help if all questions could eb answered. ;)

[ricomr2]

Its normal for an import to have low miles, they dont get used much in japan because of the high traffic volume.

The turbo itself will last most of the cars life depending on how its looked after, if the car is driven hard from cold and not cooled down after a hard run, this will shorten its life. same as driving the car hard every time your in it.

regular oil changes will help it to last longer (every 3k miles)

[jaxx]

dont buy one and think

'yay quick toyota' and give it some lead foot

if the last one you drove was a rolla gti with the engine in the front and the fronts driving, its a bit of a shock when the engines behind your tabs and the rear wheels are putting the power down

its very easy to make mistakes!

not trying to put you off just trying raise awareness to the gloomy side.... as such

[Gibbo_20]

Ok thanks for the help guy's yeah im going to take it very steady as ive never drove a rear wheel drive before this will also be my first toyota.

Im taking it for a test drive tonight.

Thanks again.

[ricomr2]

Good luck mate, another thing to check is the colour of any smoke from the exhaust, black is ok but anything else like blue or white, walk away!

[Gibbo_20]

Good luck mate, another thing to check is the colour of any smoke from the exhaust, black is ok but anything else like blue or white, walk away!

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Will do bud thanks again. :D

[Fizz]

£3k should get you a nice rev 2 turbo.. check the sticky threads at the top of the MR2 section.. and there is all the info you will need to know.. 

←

Hi im also looking at the gen 111 turbo.Could someone tell me how realiable these cars are?? I know japanese tend to be very well built but how realiable are the turbos?? how long do they last?? When do they need changing??etc:!

Also im going to be buying froma japanese import specialist and ive notcied that all there cars tend to have very low mileage. IE:the one i like is the gen 111 turbo which is a 1993 with only 63k miles.Is that normal??

Cheers

Big help if all questions could eb answered. ;)

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Tut Tut Rico and Rob for not spotting this one..

The Gen 3 only started in 1994.. so that 1993 has to be a Rev 2 mate.. be sure to check...

[ricomr2]

Well spotted Fizz, i hang my head in shame

[KiwiMR2]

Damn....did everyone just skip my post or something

So what years were the different Gens/Revs made in?

another thing to check is the colour of any smoke from the exhaust, black is ok but anything else like blue or white, walk away!

and obviously you don'y want BLUE smoke at any stage, some black on wot is ok as they run quite rich from the factory.

Tut Tut Rico and Rob for not spotting this one..

The Gen 3 only started in 1994.. so that 1993 has to be a Rev 2 mate.. be sure to check...

Tut Tut....Gen III started in OCTOBER 1993, I have a December 1993 Gen III so while it's unlikely it is indeed quite possible.

Cheers

KiwiMR2

[GiJoe90]

Tut Tut Rico and Rob for not spotting this one..

The Gen 3 only started in 1994.. so that 1993 has to be a Rev 2 mate.. be sure to check...

Tut Tut....Gen III started in OCTOBER 1993, I have a December 1993 Gen III so while it's unlikely it is indeed quite possible.

Cheers

KiwiMR2

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Mines a 1993 rev 3 also

Joe

[jaxx]

man was registered in jan i think in 94 aswell

as far as i can make out anyway

[Fizz]

Tut Tut Rico and Rob for not spotting this one..

The Gen 3 only started in 1994.. so that 1993 has to be a Rev 2 mate.. be sure to check...

Tut Tut....Gen III started in OCTOBER 1993, I have a December 1993 Gen III so while it's unlikely it is indeed quite possible.

Cheers

KiwiMR2

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Mines a 1993 rev 3 also

Joe

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now i stand corrected.. but then its easy if you know the answer..

[KiwiMR2]

now i stand corrected.. but then its easy if you know the answer..

:P

Cheers

KiwiMR2

[Rash@R.A.Motors]

Be sure to drive a couple of MR2's especially Turbo's - You then have something to compare against and should hopefully be able to distinguish the drive of a good/bad one.

With regards to mileages - some may say all imports are low mileage, Others will say the clocks tend to loose a few thousand miles when the cars are in transit or getting converted from km to mph

Just take each car on face value: Condition: in/out, state of the engine bay, the sound of the car when starting up from cold/warm and when its idling..! And finally the drive of it.

Rash.

p.s. Did i mention I have GEN III MR2 Turbo in the For Sale section :D

[Fizz]

p.s. Did i mention I have GEN III MR2 Turbo in the For Sale section  :D

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And drives sweet as a nut.. .. B)

[Gibbo_20]

Rash I will check your mr2 out mate.

OMG how fast are these mr2's i know im going from a 1.2 corsa but ***** they can shift.even the non turbo can shift.I was impressed deffo getting a mr2.

[TOYMOTA]

dont buy one and think

'yay quick toyota' and give it some lead foot

if the last one you drove was a rolla gti with the engine in the front and the fronts driving, its a bit of a shock when the engines behind your tabs and the rear wheels are putting the power down

its very easy to make mistakes!

not trying to put you off just trying raise awareness to the gloomy side.... as such

←

That is one of my worries. Taking one out for the first time and rapping it round a tree or something!

The back end isn't that light though is it?? I've driven my mates old 2.0ltr Sport Capri before. Obviously that'll be heavier than an MR2 but being rear wheel drive, it can't be too dis-similar?

[dj_davo]

Whats the right sort of price to pay? I saw one advertised by a trader. It was a '94 plate, Red, Twin Intake Turbo with 64k on the clock (miles not kilometers) for £2695. Is that under or above or just about right for the price?

dirt cheap fella. thats either a late rev2 like mine or an early rev3 - eitherway, cheap as chips.

if its good condition and not dodgy i would snap it up.

[KiwiMR2]

The back end isn't that light though is it??

It's not so much the back end being light but the front being light and back heavier....especially on the Gen I & II prior to the suspension revisions they have a tendancy to come around of you in certian circumstances. You will learn the limits as long as you respect if for a while, take some time to get a feel for what they can do....things light if your hard cornering and you feel it letting go a bit at the back, DON'T let of the gas as the back will swap places with the front. Just a different style of driving when your going for it.

Cheers

KiwiMR2

[TOYMOTA]

I saw one advertised by a trader. It was a '94 plate, Red, Twin Intake Turbo with 64k on the clock (miles not kilometers) for £2695. Is that under or above or just about right for the price?

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It's gone!!!!!! :ffs: :ffs: I don't believe it was a Turbo (even though the ad said it was). Judging by the prices i've seen elsewhere it must have been a GTI.

The back end isn't that light though is it??

It's not so much the back end being light but the front being light and back heavier....especially on the Gen I & II prior to the suspension revisions they have a tendancy to come around of you in certian circumstances. You will learn the limits as long as you respect if for a while, take some time to get a feel for what they can do....things light if your hard cornering and you feel it letting go a bit at the back, DON'T let of the gas as the back will swap places with the front. Just a different style of driving when your going for it.

Cheers

KiwiMR2

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Of course the back end is heavier and front end lighter (god i'm thick sometimes).

Are you saying that if I let off the gas, the back end will skid out on me? If so, my old Rolla GTI used to do that going fast round rounderbouts in the wet. I used to quite enjoy it, trying to hold the slide (wouldn't call it a power slide). I only ever tried it when the coast was clear though! Apart from the very first time during rush hour once. The back end slipped out in heavy traffic, but luckily I was in the left hand lane, so had room for manouver.

It will certainly be a car that will deserve alot of respect when I first get in it. But over time, I'll learn to show her who's boss.

Judging by the prices, it looks like I may have to go for a REV 2 instead of a 3. Unless I save for another 4-6 months on top of the 2 months saving I have left to do. I'm not sure I have the patience to wait THAT long!!! I've read the info at the top of the MR2 board about the REV1, 2, 3. Is the 2 as tunable as the 3? From what I can gather theh 2 is 220bhp and the 3 is 240-245bhp, is 250bhp achievable in the REV 2 for a budget??

Cheers guys!!