The MR2 demonstrates Toyota’s well-deserved reputation for dependability, so there aren’t many reasons to be concerned while purchasing this mid-engined roadster. It’s still important to look for any evidence of collision damage or track day wear, such as noticeably worn-out tyre edges. The MR2 needs four high-quality tires with the same tread pattern, as mismatched tires can negatively effect handling.
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Toyota MR2s: Are they decent cars?
The Toyota MR2 is so risky that it serves as an example of why sports car manufacturers should be cautious while creating their automobiles. The MR2 was adored by its fans for its performance, but its increased speed and power increased its risk. For inexperienced drivers, the MR2 proved challenging to operate due to its speed and power.
The MR2 was designed by Toyota to be a cost-effective sports car. Young drivers favored it because of its lower cost. Even the most basic safety features were missing from the MR2.
Is the SW20 MR2 trustworthy?
I’ve had five Toyota MR2s in the past ten years, all with different levels of upkeep and customization.
All five of them were second-generation models with turbocharged engines and a handful with naturally aspirated engines (19911995 in the United States).
All repairs and maintenance, with the exception of the times one of them needed bodywork, have been completed by me.
If you live in an area where the climate permits it, the Toyota MR2 is unquestionably capable of being a very enjoyable, dependable daily driver. Considering its age, it’s safe, cozy, and dependable (after all, it’s a Toyota). Compared to current autos, maintenance costs are also rather low.
You might want to give it more thought if you live somewhere that receives a lot of snow, like I do in Central New York. Any sports car should never be driven in the snow, let alone one that appears to be increasing in value. But aside from that, it’s a terrific idea to drive an MR2 every day.
Permit me to expand on a few of these ideas now:
Does MR2 merit purchase?
The later model MR2 built by Toyota between 1997 and 2007 is known as the MR2 Spyder. The Toyota Midship Runabout 2 made its premiere in 1997 at the Tokyo Motor Show, fitting for a vehicle intended for the Japanese Domestic Market. The name MR2 wasn’t merely a strange collection of letters.
The MR2 has a traditional mid-engine design, which makes driving it superior to some other sports vehicles of the same price. You can typically buy an excellent used car for under $10,000 on the used car market. Because they are a Toyota, they require little upkeep, and repairs are frequently affordable.
They don’t have much power, with only 138 bph from the dependable 1.8L engine. Popular options for the car that can boost its power and speed include aftermarket turbochargers.
The fact that the MR2 is also available with a manual transmission, which has the same Toyota dependability and is simple to shift but increases driving enjoyment, would also be of appeal to many prospective purchasers.
Can you operate an MR2 every day?
The MR2 isn’t really a fantastic choice for a daily driver, in all honesty. It isn’t big enough to accommodate many passengers or large amounts of luggage (even a Miata would be more practical in this regard). It is not safe, especially the earlier AW11 and SW20 generations. This is especially true of JDM vehicles, which lacked airbags until rather late in the production process. These vehicles can be pricey to maintain and don’t burn through gas very efficiently because of their age and performance-focused design.
More importantly, these vehicles are now sufficiently uncommon to warrant preservation.
You are free to utilize your MR2 however you see fit, of course. But since there are fewer and fewer positive instances, it seems kind of pointless (especially when you take into account the aforementioned disadvantages) to use a car like this for daily commuting.
The MR2 is the ideal “fun car for the weekend and other non-commuting use” because to its compact size and relative price. It’s sad to see these vehicles parked in garages and never used as their designers intended, but you would also be negligent if you didn’t strive to maximize the lifespan of your potential MR2 purchase.
Please read the following MR2 buyer guidelines as well:
- The AW11 MR2 buyer’s manual
- the SW20 MR2 buyer’s manual
- W30 Buyer’s Guide for MR2/MR-S
What do you think about driving a Toyota MR2 every day? Post a remark belowespecially if you’ve driven the MR2 on a daily basiswe’d love to hear from you.
Are MR2s quick?
The Toyota Camry’s 2.2-liter inline-four engine produced 130 horsepower in the base Mk2. According to MotorTrend, customers might choose a 2.0-liter turbo engine, which is significantly more potent.
The Mk2 Turbo had a turbocharged engine authorized for racing instead of the Camry’s motor. Its 200 horsepower and 200 lb-ft of torque made it the quickest MR2 model that was offered. The Mk2 Turbo could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds when fitted with its engine. Comparatively, the standard 2.2-liter engine could reach 60 mph from 0 in 8.0 seconds.
The max speed of the Mk2 Turbo was likewise higher than that of previous MR2s. While other MR2 variants could reach speeds of 120 to 130 mph, it could reach 142 mph. Models with above 240 hp that were sold in Japan were unable to pass U.S. emissions tests, hence they were never driven on American soil.
Which MR2 is the best?
the title “Either “Mid-ship, Rear-drive, two-seater” or “Mid-engine, Rear-wheel-drive, 2-seater” are said to be the meanings of the letters MR2. Toyota made an effort with this well-liked sporty daily driver to provide a compact, inexpensive, fuel-efficient car that was nevertheless entertaining to drive. The MR2 was built by the carmaker in three generations between 1984 and 2007: the W10 from 1984 to 1989, the W20 from 1990 to 1999, and the W30 from 2000 to 2007. They are additionally known as Mk1, Mk2, and Mk3.
Most people agree that the W20, or Mk2, is the best. Japan’s driving is credited “For the second generation to be the best, there was a bubble in the economy from 1986 to 1991. Japanese automakers made significant investments during this period of economic prosperity in an effort to outperform one another. Stars like the Mazda FD RX-7, Acura NSX, and the fourth-generation Toyota Supra were born during this time.
“According to Driving, automakers were all in on outstripping one another in terms of technology, and this was clearly reflected in the fresh personality the revised MR2 presented. Because of this, Toyota started positioning the second-generation MR2 as a more upscale option rather than a cost-effective choice.” The exotic styling of the coupe, which swapped the original model’s harsh ’80s angles for windswept curves reminiscent of Italian cuisine like the Ferrari 355, mirrored this.
The quickest Toyota MR2 is the Mk2 Turbo, and the greatest model years are 1990 to 1999.
Does the value of MR2 rise?
It’s unlikely that the MR2 will suddenly become more well-known or valuable compared to other JDM cars from the same era. However, merely because of time and the market’s supply of MR2s, the value of MR2s will undoubtedly rise in comparison to their prior values.
The total quantity of MR2s for sale is decreasing as discontinued models are driven, modified, and tragically, wrecked. The MR2 was initially a low-production vehicle, so they’ll keep getting harder to find. Prices will certainly rise as a result of a lack of supply.
Already, low-mileage, all-original USDM SW20 MR2s are fetching prices that have never been this high. An all-original 1995 MR2 Turbo with 67,000 kilometers just sold for $61,750 on Bring a Trailer. Due to their incredibly low production numbers, 1995 model year MR2s have always been the most expensive in the United States.
Comparatively, in November 2021, a 1991 MR2 Turbo with 37,000 kilometers on the odometer went for $35,500.
On the non-turbo model side, a 1993 automatic model with only 9,000 kilometers on it that appeared museum-quality went for $25,500. So it might actually be too late to purchase an unmolested MR2 at a reasonable price, depending on your spending limit, objectives, and willingness to do so.
Having said all of that, the vehicles in those cases are spotless and in excellent condition. A nice non-turbo MR2 may be purchased for far under $10,000, while a modified or more averagely maintained one can be bought for between $10,000 and $15,000 for a turbo variant.
A more cost-effective choice if you want to acquire a low-mileage, largely original SW20 MR2 is to purchase an imported JDM (right-hand drive) vehicle. It is simpler to locate a RHD MR2 with fewer than 100,000 miles than a USDM model because Japan’s geography makes lower-mileage vehicles more accessible than in the United States.
A 1995 Turbo hardtop model with 80,000 miles recently sold for $17,495 at Japanese Classics LLC in Virginia, and prices are far more tolerable than those examples on Bring a Trailer.