...A few months ago - I was having problems with a car that I had purchased. I owned ( and still have it sat on my drive at the moment ) an 'X' reg Alfa Romeo 166. I had been having problems with this car for a while, and happened to notice a few cars I was interested in at a local garage when driving past one day.
I stopped, and looked around at the cars that I had previously seen, including a Subaru Impresa, and a few others.
My friend then pointed out this little Silver Convertible tucked away at the back of the forecourt.
As I walked slowly over, I realised that this was a Toyota MR-2 Roadster. It was immaculate, a really clean and tidy, looked after car. The garage was actually closed when I was looking around, and I thought that I would go and check it out the following day. The actual design of the car is subtle - its...
projectneon
08.01.2006 ·Read review
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Review of Toyota MR2 Roadster
Advantages: When it works and the road is bone dry it handles well. Disadvantages: If a rabbit so much as pees in your path, expect to crash. Engine trouble!!
...Well where do I even begin with this car? Let me first beg you...please don't bother.
I have had my MR2 Roadster now for precisely 2 weeks and 4 days and my experience of this vehicle so far has been....heavy rainfall 3 days after i bought the car caused it to spin round on a roundabout in Cumbria - yes the 'thing' spun at 25 miles per hour - very embarrassing but i soon forgave it as in the dry i have to admit it does handle like a go-cart.
Then last week it snowed...in reality snow fell for about 20 minutes while i was on my way to work. The MR2 cannot handle snow: it cannot handle snow at all; as I lightly touched the brakes to attempt to manouver this pathetic car into the carpark it fishtailed uncontrollably all over the road, thankfully gaining some sort of grip about a second before i ploughed into the central reservation. In...
jamidomobilio
13.03.2008 ·Read review
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Review of Toyota MR2 Roadster
Advantages: Handling developbed by Lotus, stuning looks, perfect reliability. A1 examples still under £5,000. Disadvantages: Rust kills most of them, lots of very rough examples out there - especialy T-Bars.
...Why the Mark 1 Toyota MR2? (1985-1990)
Firstly and fore mostly; they are seriously fun to drive! Just ask any Mk1 owner, and watch as a massive cheesy grin appears across their face. It will happen! :)
80?s rocket ship styling
Removable glass roof (T-Bar model)
Very light weight
Engine revs up to 8,000 RPM
True sports car handling ? refined by Lotus
Toyota reliability
Toyota build quality
Lots of electrical toys ? EW, CL, EA, EM, etc?
Light steering ? Mid Engined
Excellent value for money
Excellent investment
Cheap Tax (£180 a year)
Very cheap to insure, even on a standard policy
Qualifies for ?classic car insurance?
Stands out from the crowd ? a 80?s Classic
So, what?s the not so good stuff about these cars?
Rust ? that?s what kills most of them:
Wheel arches + wings front and back...
gafr21
15.10.2009 ·Read review
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Review of Toyota MR2 MK1
Advantages: Pin sharp handling, stylish looks, soft top good mpg for car Disadvantages: expensive to crash, alloys corrode, requires attention to detail/
Advantages: Good fun, stands out in the crowd Disadvantages: Very low to the road, job to get hold of a manual
...We bought our MR2 two years ago. It was up for sale outside our local and I fell in love with the shape. To cut a long story short, we bought it for £2,000. The last owner was a mechanic so it had been well looked after. We were told that the engine was very noisy as it is a mid-engined car (believe it or not, that's what the MR stands for - mid range). However, after a couple of journeys, we didn't notice any noise whatsoever. This particular car was an import - G Limited basically means this. It is a term Japan uses which is similar to our 'Limited Edition' etc.
The main problem we had was the fact that a handbook was impossible to buy - you can download them in Japanese, but that isn't really much help! Also, you have to fall into the car and climb out, especially if parked next to a pavement. The boot at the back is not...
Advantages: Great looks, fast car, amazing handling and cheap to purchase Disadvantages: common t-bar seals leaking but these can be replaced
...I originally had a mk1 Toyota MR2 which had reliability issues with trouble starting and rust build up etc. In January 2009 I decided to part with her and buy a nice red 1997 Toyota MR2 mk2 T-bar.
Not only did it look like a baby Ferrari with its gleamiong red paintwork, pop up lights and twin exhasut system, it performed like one aswell!
Not so common on the roads now you can't help notice people turning there heads for a look and i'm sure at first glance they think it's a Ferrari :)
I have had no reliablility issues with my car as of yet, Ive had the car serviced at Toyota by very helpful staff. I have only replaced the engine struts underneath the engine and purchased some nice black and red rim 17" alloys with look a treat on the car.
I recommend to keep away from the turbo version as my brother previously owned one...
Advantages: Quick, Cheap, Reliable, Great looking car Disadvantages: Like all cars of its age rust is a problem
...I Love my Toyota MR2 mk1 T-BAR 1988.
For its age it feels and looks better than anything I see on the roads nowadays.
The styling of older cars was retro with all the cool vents and square shapes etc. Now u just get curves and all new cars look the same and are all about comfort and safety.
I bought my MR2 in February for a measly £700. It needed work so I got all rust off and a complete respray for £450 from my local garage in Alrewas, he was very helpful and if anybody wants his contact number please get in touch with me.
Very nippy 1.6 Engine, Great styling and classic car insurance.
What more could you want. Great fun :)
Being a Toyota it is also easy to get the parts despite the age. I would not recommend going direct to Toyota as the parts are a small fortune, try internet searches and local garages etc. i found toyota...
bengear8
10.06.2008 ·Read review
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Review of Toyota MR2 MK1
Advantages: GREAT LOOKS,SOLID TOYOTA RELIABLITY,COMFORTABLE INTERIOR Disadvantages: DOESNT LIKE WET WEATHER,SPARE PARTS COSTS,HARD SUSPENSION,INTERIOR NOISE
...i got my car 2 years ago freshly imported from the land of the rising sun i paid £4000 for it and it came with about 51000 on the clock and was a auction grade 4 which is a good grade, the car interior body work overall condition was great alot better than the uk versions i had been to see for the same money.
well..what do you want to know ..ill tell you
the car itself has great looks alot better than the previous model and the new mr-s shape, the interior although like most toyota cars is a little dark and drab but the seats are fully adjustable and the driving position again are fully adjustable as well as all the little buttons switches air con,stereo are very easy to reach and adjust without having to take your eyes off the road.mine come with a tbar and ive seen mr2s with sun roofs but they dont look the part compared to the t...
Advantages: 2 seats, fast, roof comes off. Disadvantages: Leaks water a little. Drinks fuel.
...A year ago to the day I was out driving in my then love of my life, my Audi GT Coupe which I had owned for five years, when suddenly, there at the side of the road outside a small dodgey-looking garage I spotted a beautiful, white, MR2 T-Bar with five-spoke alloy wheels. I had always wanted one of these since I was a kid and couldn't resist pulling over and having a look. At the time, I was more than happy with the car I had which incidentally I have written an opinion about, but was completely drawn to this real looker of a sports car.
It was priced at £3,700 which I thought was a little steep but not much for my childhood dream car. I had a good look round it and then approached the garage office to confront the owner. He handed me the keys and told me that if I was generally interested in the car, I should not listen to him try...
evil-Ken-evil
03.11.2001 ·Read review
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Review of Toyota MR2 T-Bar
Advantages: Sports Car for the money of a hatchback Disadvantages: You will spin out at some point
...Plodding up and down the M1 is never fun. A round trip for me from Folkestsone to Leed was a few miles shy of 600... The car that I used for this mega trip was a bog standard Vectra 1.6. Underpowered and Sales Exec-tastic it did the job. When the need to travel this distance was no longer required neither was the Vectra.
What could I buy to replace such a car... The decision was a tough one but in the end I knew the basic direction I had to go. Japanese!
The Celica looks nice but a bit girly. The Honda CRX was out as I could not fit it it, likewise for the Hyundai Coupe.
The search led me to the MR2. A car that was a leader of its time and still has a lot to offer as the first sports car of my car history.
Driving - Great. It is not mind blowingly fast but that is good. This is an entry level sports car. Buy one of these to...
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