Pre Cats Query

[Magpie2121]

Hi, I'm thrilled to join this very interesting and informative community.

I have read the thread regarding the pre cats and I must say I am very impressed, especially at the sub thread which informs of garages that will take care of the pre cats for you.

I have just laid my deposit down for an MR-S and will be looking to pick it up tomorrow.

The picture of the engine shows a bit of rust or something around the area that seems to be where the pre cats are.

Would appreciate any advice before I purchase this vehicle. Thanks

Vehicle details:

2002 52 Reg TOYOTA MR-S 1.8 vvti Roadster ( jap import)

42000 miles

£5500

[GIDDLEPIN]

Hi and welcome to the club

The rusty bits you can see there are only the securing bolts for the heat shield that covers the precats and the only problem they will cause is if you want to remove the shield for painting. ;)

A full service history is the most important thing I would be looking for as well as the usual checks for unusual engine noises or oil burning, as you would with all cars.

Good luck with your purchase and enjoy the experience

Les

[Magpie2121]

Hi and welcome to the club

The rusty bits you can see there are only the securing bolts for the heat shield that covers the precats and the only problem they will cause is if you want to remove the shield for painting. ;)

A full service history is the most important thing I would be looking for as well as the usual checks for unusual engine noises or oil burning, as you would with all cars.

Good luck with your purchase and enjoy the experience

Les

Thanks for your reply Les.

I'm totally new to cars and have asked the dealer whether a full service history is available but he says it is not due to the car being a Japanese import. Can this be correct?

[GIDDLEPIN]

I would think a service history on a Jap import would be hard to get if not impossible :(

[curriedb]

Welcome to the club Magpie.

There is a risk buying a car without a service history...as you can't: "read between the lines" on the car's usage. Now I'm no expert but the X bracing strut** in the engine bay looks like a special "beefed-up" version...which to a layman like me would suggest that the car MAY have spent some time on a track or in competitive eventing. PLEASE feel free to shoot me down if I'm wrong Les...but 'Buyer Beware' is always the best policy when buying any car...

** I popped out to look at my 2003 (bought new)and it is different

[GIDDLEPIN]

Yep....A TRD strut brace ;)

Stiffens up suspension (Could have been an old lady who didn't want to spill the milk when going out shopping? )

[Magpie2121]

Thanks again for your informative replies. I'll bear these factors in mind when considering the purchase of this vehicle.

Just one more thing...I've been looking all over the internet for a description of what the difference is between a standard MR2 Roadster and an MR-S Roadster.

Your responses are much appreciated

[GIDDLEPIN]

MR-S (usually imports) don't have the LSD (Limited Slip Differential) like UK versions, they are more expensive to insure and Toyota dealers don't have a lot of interest in them when any faults develop to be honest.

So..............Get yourself a UK model if possible, there are loads out there at reasonable prices and as long as you have a bit of savvy you should be ok ;)

Whatever your decision, even though the MR2 Roadster is not the fastest car in the world its handling and sheer driving pleasure makes it all worth while

Les

[Magpie2121]

MR-S (usually imports) don't have the LSD (Limited Slip Differential) like UK versions, they are more expensive to insure and Toyota dealers don't have a lot of interest in them when any faults develop to be honest.

So..............Get yourself a UK model if possible, there are loads out there at reasonable prices and as long as you have a bit of savvy you should be ok ;)

Whatever your decision, even though the MR2 Roadster is not the fastest car in the world its handling and sheer driving pleasure makes it all worth while

Les

Do you mean to say that the MR-S is a much faster car? And does it have the same handling as the MR2?

I've taken back my deposit for the MR-S (whose engine pic I've posted above) and have been looking around for both MR2's and MR-S's.

I've seen another MR-S which looks very good and is also a Japanese import. The thing putting me off it is the fact that it states it has done only 14000 miles (we're talking about a 52 reg) and it's also a semi-automatic.

Have assumed that the cost of a repair to the gearbox on a semi-automatic will be quite high if something goes wrong, especially considering it's an import. Would you agree with this?