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:
In This Article...
What should I look for in a used Toyota MR2 sports?
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 crash 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.
Since the MR2 is a low-slung sports car, it is more susceptible to abuse of this nature than other vehicles. However, some suspension issues have been documented.
Why is the Toyota MR2 well-known?
Toyota produced and sold the MR2 line of two-seat, mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive sports vehicles across three generations, from 1984 to 2007: W10 (19841989), W20 (19891999), and W30 (20002007). It is the first rear mid-engined production vehicle from Japan.
The MR2’s fundamental design features, which included fully independent MacPherson strut front and rear suspensions, four-wheel disc brakes, and an inline-four engine positioned transversely, were used to create a tiny, affordable, and sporty vehicle.
The abbreviation “MR2” sounds like the expletive “Merde” when spoken in French, hence the car was renamed Toyota MR in French-speaking regions. The term MR2 stands for either “mid-ship run-about 2-seater”[1] or “mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-seater”[2] .[3]
Why are MR2 prices so low?
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.
Are MR2 repairs expensive?
Typically, Toyotas are among the most cost-effective automobiles to maintain. A Toyota MR2’s annual maintenance and repair costs range from $95 to $2,650, with an average of $454, according to Your Mechanic. Fortunately, maintenance is free for the first 25,000 miles or two years after you buy the car. However, the cost rises as the mileage does.
In a similar vein, Toyota MR2 repairs are less expensive than those for other models with comparable quality. The extended car warranty is the best way to increase coverage while lowering repair costs.
You won’t be responsible for Toyota MR2 maintenance fees for the first two years. Depending on mileage, budget between $100 and $600 annually. For example, service between 30,000 and 60,000 miles will cost extra. After the initial two years of coverage, you’ll be responsible for paying for both planned and unplanned maintenance on your Toyota MR2. The planned maintenance includes all procedures Toyota advises to be completed at predetermined intervals, such as an oil change, fluid level correction, and tire rotation.
Replace systems or components that degrade over time, including brake pads and windshield wipers, as part of unforeseen maintenance. The cost breakdown for Toyota MR2 maintenance and repair is as follows:
Depending on where you take your MR2 to get mended, the price will change. Going to a Toyota dealer will definitely cost you more money than taking the car to a local mechanic. The key is to locate a store or dealer you can believe in.
What does MR2 represent?
Some people mistakenly think that MR2 stands for Mid-Engined, Rear-Drive 2 Seater instead of Mid-Ship Runabout 2 Seater (which perfectly describes the car).
The “The name “Midship Runabout 2 Seater” is taken from the original press release Toyota issued in 1984 to announce the introduction of the MR2 in Japan. You can read the press release here. It’s a great read, with Toyota really pushing the advantages of the mid-engined layout. (Needless to say, there is no mention of the mid-engined, rear-drive nature contributing to making the MR2 a potentially dangerous car, although this was generally acknowledged.)
Right after the introduction, here is the area that is important:
So MR2 is the abbreviation for, straight from the source “2-Seater Mid-Ship Runabout. However, Japanese automakers have a history of creating names that are tough to interpret, which is likely where the meaning of “Mid-Engined, Rear-Drive, 2-Seater” comes from (as it is much easier to understand and also perhaps a better description of what the MR2 actually is).
How come Toyota stopped producing the MR2?
Due to waning sales, Toyota discontinued the MR2 in 2007. There just wasn’t enough demand to support continuing manufacture because consumer preferences had shifted, particularly among the younger group where the MR2 had historically been successful in obtaining sales.
The MR2’s death coincided with Toyota beginning to reduce production of the majority of its sports and performance cars in favor of more cost-effective models like the Prius and the rising popularity of crossovers like the RAV4. Think of the Toyota lineup from the 1990s (during the “peak era of the SW20 MR2). Toyota produced vehicles like the MR2, the classic Supra MK4, and the crazy Celica GT-4. The list of fast cars kept going.
Most of Toyota’s performance models had vanished by the time the final MR2 left the assembly line due to stricter environmental regulations as well as changing market preferences that were moving toward more economical and environmentally friendly vehicles like the Prius or SUVs/crossovers.
With the MK5 Supra, Yaris GR, and upcoming Corolla GR, Toyota has just recently begun to make a significant stride back toward performance driving (the Toyota 86 being the primary exception in the interim period).
Will Toyota bring the MR2 back now that they are producing performance vehicles once more? Possibly, rumors have been around for a while. You’ll have to purchase one of the original MR2s to sate your cravings, though, for the time being. You can have a protracted wait for a replacement.
The MR2 has a buyer’s guide for each generation, as luck would have it. To find out more, click on the links below.
Is the Toyota MR2 unique?
Only 69 Toyota MR2 cars were available for purchase on Autotrader at the time of this writing. This covers all three of the vehicle’s generations: the W10, which was sold from 1984 to 1989; the W20, which was sold in the United States from 1991 to 1995; and the W30, commonly known as the MR2 Spyder, which was sold from 2000 to 2005.
Is driving the MR2 challenging?
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. Its lower price tag made it popular with young drivers. Even the most basic safety features were missing from the MR2.
Will the price of MR2 rise?
The Toyota MR2 has always had more of a cult following and less of an all-encompassing fame than the legendary Japanese sports cars of the 1990s like the Nissan Skyline and Toyota Supra.
The second-generation MR2 (chassis code SW20), a bit more of a JDM dark horse from the 1990s, has remained a relative value despite its unconventional mid-engine layout, agile handling, and distinctive style influenced by Ferrari, all of which were constructed with Toyota’s exceptional quality.
Has the ideal time to purchase a SW20 passed due to the recent explosion in the price of 90s JDM cars, or will this special car continue to be a JDM bargain?
The value of Toyota MR2s will probably continue to rise in the future, but not as much as that of more well-known Japanese automobiles like the Supra, NSX, and RX7. The SW20 MR2 is a great deal in the collector car market thanks to its reasonable price, distinctive appearance, and performance numbers.
Will the Toyota MR2 go down in history?
The W30 definitely isn’t old enough yet to score highly in this regard, but the first models are now 21 years old, so there is once again some modern classic potential here. W30 MR2Introduced in 1999 and running until 2007, the W30 probably isn’t old enough to score highly in this regard.
What is the quickest MR2 in the world?
Update (04/11/20): Nathan Freke broke his own quarter-mile record last weekend in his customized Toyota MR2, clocking an amazing 8.317 seconds and reaching a top speed of 173 mph. Watch the in-car film here and the spectator clip here.
The MR2 community has been inspired by this outcome because it represents a huge improvement of four tenths over Nathan’s previous record. In order to achieve a seven-second run, which experts had previously said was impossible for a modified Toyota MR2 with an original steel body and Toyota S-series engine, enthusiasm has thus been rekindled.
The world’s fastest all-Toyota MR2, which just won the quarter-mile record after setting a scorching 8.718 second pass at a terminal speed of 162.47 miles per hour, is owned, built, and driven by Nathan Freke. The fact that this record was set in a production-class MR2 with its original steel body, 3S-GTE engine block, and midship architectureexactly as Toyota intendedmakes it all the more amazing.
What is the background of this amazing modded Toyota MR2? To get the inside scoop, we spoke with Nathan, the owner of the worldwide racing team Century Motorsport.
What is the value of a first-generation MR2?
It is now $15,600. Over the same time period, the value of the #2-condition for a base model increased from $7200 to $12,100. Supercharged vehicles receive the greatest attention and appreciate more quickly since they are more uncommon, faster, and more attractive.