Toyota Mr2 Turbo

Post by **CA18_Dreams** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 4:52 pm

ok ok... i now tis is a Nissan form but i just wanted some opinions on the toyota mr2 turbo... like what people think about them and that kind of thing... for some back ground... 2 seater mid engine weighing in at 2800lb's and were made from 91 till 95... they come with 200hp at 6000rpm and 200 lbs of torque at 3200rpm with a 2 liter with bore and stroke at 86mm and a 8.8:1 compresion and redlines at 7000 from the factory (US spec)... 0-60 in 6.2 seconds and runs 14.7 @ 94mph on the 1/4 mile and handles .88g's on the skid pad and does 142mph top speed... i am highly thinking about byeing one of these cars and i just wanted an outside opinion... didn't want to goto some mr2 forum and not hear a single bad thing about the car...To buy or not to buy... that is the question

Post by **Mr1der** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 4:52 pm

they're a fairly hard car to find and a very neat car as well. We had a few of them at the auto x a while back and they through down some good numbers. As far as reliability goes, I haven't heard much bad about them (about par for toyota though) and they have a lot of mod potential. The biggest flaw performance wise was probably the weight, it's kinda portly compared to the first gen cars

Post by **CA18_Dreams** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 4:52 pm

i know about the hard to find thing... but o worrys there... my good freind works at a used car dealership and can get me just about anything... and for cheap... all i'm concerned about is reliabilty and driveability... wow... i can spell... i gradumatated

Post by **krazy skwerel** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 4:52 pm

I've never heard horror stories man. I know there are quite a few mr2 or former mr2 owners on these boards. SO they will probly be of help.

Post by **Sircnay** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 4:52 pm

Awesome car. The Sr20DET responds slightly better than the 3sgte in terms of modifications. Just remember 1 thing though, for it'll save your life over and over when driving this beast to the edges... DO NOT LIFT YOUR FOOT OFF THE THROTTLE! Take it Auto-x a lot and learn it's limits, because if you don't respect her she'll kick your *** by sending you head first into a tree at 70mph. I know. I had an MR2. The MR2 and the 240sx are the last of the acutal sport compacts. Two incredibly great and awesome cars. Umm.... what else....... OH yeah, watch out for the #3 piston... it's a ***** sometimes. And stick with the stock BOV for a while... the ECU is a rich little whore who will fart out fireballs with an aftermarket BOV.

Website · Post by **TurboKA37** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 4:52 pm

too bad tomsMR2 doesnt post much anymore he could give some good information.

Post by **hadokenny** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 4:52 pm

the place that i got my sr swap done also does mr2 engines. I have sat in one with 3rd gen swap and some other minor modifications that was done by them also...puts down around 250hp at the wheel. They corner just as well as my s14 and their straight line acceleration is better than my sr s14. A lot of traction in the rear wheel during launch due to the fact that the engine is in the back. MR2 is actually my second favorite car.

Post by **UncleBen** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 4:52 pm

I say get it. They are amazing cars for being that old. If you can find one in good condition, DONT PASS IT UP. If I didn't have my 240, a mr2 would be next in line. i LOVE 2nd gens!!! Even my buddies N/A '93 is fast as hell.

Post by **krazy skwerel** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 4:52 pm

I got nothing but love for the old school mk1 mr2, still a blast to drive even N/A. Wish I could drive a mk2.

Post by **Dano** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 4:52 pm

for sure buy it.

-Dan

Post by **MasterMan** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 4:52 pm

i love MR2's my next car is gonna be a turbo 1991 MR2.. they look awsome and drive amazing.. just take care of them and u wont have any problems.. i would buy it.. thye are swwwwweeeeeeeettt and toyota makes really good cars.... and u can always do the JDM swap, it will run 13's or somthing stock.. and push u back in your seat.. and still be streetable

Post by **Bubba1** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 4:52 pm

There are good points and not-so-points to an MR2.

Good: Gocart handling, good mileage, reliable, well made, quick, very fun to drive

Not-so-good: very small, cramped, no luggage room, 2 seats only, more expensive to repair as things are not as accessible.

If you're looking at it as a fun car, or commuter, good choice. But it's not a particularly practical car if you need to haul more than a brief case or more than one friend.

Post by **CA18_Dreams** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 4:52 pm

haha bubba... did you look at my profile and see what i have now... a CRX Si... i'm not to concerned with room... plus... the more people you put in your car the slower it goes... lol... plus i work at a auto shop... i'm sure i will be able to do the repairs myself... but very good points none the less... and sircnay... do you know anything about the #3cyl thing... i've heard abou that to but not sure what it's all about... and whats so bad about fire balls... lol... thanks for all the input everyone...

Post by **Sircnay** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 4:52 pm

The #3 cylinder just likes to be a ***** sometimes. I'm not really sure why, but if something seems wrong, do a compression test. It's like the MAF on the 240sx. And what's so bad about fireballs? if your cat is sucky or there is a hole in your exhaust, your engine will catch on fire and then your gas tank will explode (which is located right under the center console) and probably kill you.

Umm... what else... T-tops get leaky, but easy fix with silicone filler. Stay with staggered tires, like 215 in the front and like 235 in the back. Maybe bigger, Once you get into the 245's and up... oooh my goodness, traction will NEVER be a problem.

Hmmm.... watch the fuel management system... it can be a real ***** sometimes. Sometimes it will be really really rich, and sometimes it'll just lean out for some obscure reason.

Post by **iliketocrash** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 4:52 pm

i remember reading something about swapping a v6 from a diff toyota into the mr2. supposedly it was more hp, better throttle response due to lack of turbo and still about the same over all weight. anyone else see this?

Post by **skydragoness** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 4:52 pm

if you do get the car, just get the Mr2 from 92 onward. (or else do a swap from a newer mr2) i heard the 91's did receive the much needed suspension work to make them less unpredictable handling-wise. other than that. great cars! i would love to own one, even if it was n/a. they're a blast to drive.

Post by **NeedCAforS13** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 4:52 pm

Yep. I had a 91 mr2, and can you say SNAP OVERSTEER! Just a side note, mr2's, rain, sharp curves, and walls don't mix well;) Like sky said, the 92 and later ones, got revised suspension components that got rid of some of the severity of the oversteer...

Sean

Post by **RobDET** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 4:52 pm

I used to have an AW11 and it was a really fun car... If you can find a SW20 Turbo with no T tops jump on it. Otherwise be ready to get wet in the rain.

Also there really is no ideal intercooling solution. I'm a big MR2 fan all the same tho

Post by **CA18_Dreams** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 4:52 pm

yeah... i heard about the early models having suspension problems... and for the intercooler thing... i've heard and seen trunk mount intercoolers that are extremely big... and who said hell no... show yourself... give me a reason... or something... thinks for all the input...

Post by **RobDET** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 4:52 pm

It was me... i said it cause i'de get (got) a 240 instead

Post by **IvoryJ30t** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 4:52 pm

CA18_Dreams wrote:ok ok... i now tis is a Nissan form but i just wanted some opinions on the toyota mr2 turbo... like what people think about them and that kind of thing... for some back ground... 2 seater mid engine weighing in at 2800lb's and were made from 91 till 95... they come with 200hp at 6000rpm and 200 lbs of torque at 3200rpm with a 2 liter with bore and stroke at 86mm and a 8.8:1 compresion and redlines at 7000 from the factory (US spec)... 0-60 in 6.2 seconds and runs 14.7 @ 94mph on the 1/4 mile and handles .88g's on the skid pad and does 142mph top speed... i am highly thinking about byeing one of these cars and i just wanted an outside opinion... didn't want to goto some mr2 forum and not hear a single bad thing about the car...

well, let me start by telling you ive owned one of those beautiful machines before. there absolutely amazing to drive, very reliable, and will get stared at all day long. [mine was super red II]the only downsides to them are a- mid-engined [only a downside if you've never driven a midengine car before, personally i see it as an upside], b- the engine bays are extremely cramped. the cost of having a mechanic work on them is unbelivable. better be prepaired for some PITA DIY.

fyi- the motor doent get pulled from the car, the car gets lifted off the motor.

as for the driving experience, under normal driving its a very well balanced dream. start pushing it, and the tail starts gettin loose. if your not used to it, and panic, the back becomes the front and your toast.personally i love them, but you gotta practice driving it before you push the hell out of it or it'll become a memory rather quickly.

Website · Post by **elbles** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 4:52 pm

As I soon hope to be the owner of a 94 MR2, I'll offer some commentary. :-)

It was said that the 92 and newer models received the updated suspension; it was actually 93 and newer models that received that upgrade, as well as a shorter shifter, and a variety of other things, such as 15" wheels instead of 14". Production went down a lot after 91, more so after 92, and way, way down after 93 . . . it's really hard to find a 94 or 95 out there.

They really are amazing cars, and are truly mini-exotics in every sense of the term . . . looks, handling, and especially cost. :-) Good luck with it man!

Post by **Sircnay** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 4:52 pm

800 were only sent to America in 95. But they came with 240hp stock with the Gen III 3sgte, good for 13.8 et stock fully loaded, on stock street tires too.

The shorter shifter is essentially a TRD thing that only came in the 93's and up. Wheels went from 14" in 91-92 to 15" that look like the S14 rims in 93+. The tailights got SEXY in 94+ and in 98 (in japan only) the rims got SUPER sexy and the foglights turned with the direction of the steering wheel. And in 98 came the Gen IV motor with 245hp thanks to a revised head.

Then there's the Beams VVTi 3sge, pretty much the holy grail engine among the MR2 owners. This sucker puts out 220hp naturally aspirated. Any MR2 equipped with this engine is a proverbial MONSTER auto-xer. Turbocharged VVTi powered 3sge's have been shown to be VERY VERY impressive.

The title of most powerful T67 powered car in the USA is owned by the MR2 crowd at a whopping 450rwhp at "only" 21psi. And yes RWHP, not flywheel. Potentially the first MR2 to get into the 10's without being stripped.

In japan, Phoenix power has a 700+ rwhp MR2 that runs 9's non-stripped. The MR2 in the right hands stock pulls a .89g on the skidpad.

All in all, it's an AWESOME car. There are some ups and downs. but overall EXCELLENT.

Toyota Mr2 Turbo

Toyota Mr2 Turbo

Re: Toyota Mr2 Turbo

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