Tell me about MR2s

Where's Gregg when you need him?

 

hahahahahahahaha

 

I had an '01 MR2 Spyder. fun little car, positioned between Miata and S2000. I think eventually they'll be collectible to some degree but I think the MkII MR2 turbo is the real MVP of the MR2 lineup

they're 20 years old so I'd say 5 years from becoming collectible? but they're so cheap now it's not a huge risk.

IIRC the TRD Sportivo pack was strut tower brace, bigger roll bars and shocks, so probably adds a bit of value.

 

First Generation are the 'most pure', direct hand of Lotus design, now rather rare but RUST is a huge issue. Think of them as a more reliable X19

Second Generation are the most valued (turbo variants in particular). Fun cars but finding a clean/factory model is now rare. They can be a bit 'snappy' even at lower speeds.

This lead to Toyota making a much milder (speed,handling,twitchy-ness) 3rd generation. Very slow in a straight line, low torque, but VERY light and tossable, just not trying to actively kill you if your a novice. Among the tuner and import crowd, Gen3 are not as desirable.

 

@ATSAaron you are needed on Aisle 3

 

did she get blinker fluid too?



I don't recall it being a $10k option, unless that was some hose job "dealer install" package

 

Did she buy the Jeep cherokee "limited" for a premium too?

 

I used to see one or two moded ver 3 show up at the track. They were compared to an elise too heavy and slow, the money spent on them couldnt show the results.
In period the Toyota guys had made noise about a pure sports car, so less tires and engine for that pure machine feeling/balance. I think ver 3 failed to exite in the same way the Gt86 Tyobaru ver 1 failed. Nice handling car, let down but not enough motor and grip given where the competition is, but a pure drive..

Perosonaly I love the ver 3 looks, its a mini boxter, a cool convertible, probably really fun on the backroads and the design has not really dated at all.

While the ver2 may have perfomance if you dont mind turbo lag, its melted bar of soap too look at. Ver 1 witht he supercharger had something.

Are these seminal cars? Sorta maybe not really.

Collectable inexpesive Japanaese seminal cars, ver1 Miata is at the top of the list, and really few if any low mileage great ones. Maybe ver1.0 MR2 and Ver 3.0.
Collectable is a ver1 RX7 and seminal a Ver 3 Rx7. IMo ver 3 Rx7 probably the best Japanese sportscar but somewhat fragile and those complex rotaries a question mark. Supra gets all the love even though it heavyish and is no looker, cause you can amp them up to 800hp, but then its moded and not collectable.

R32 Skyline is the daddy, but theyre expesive and hardley any unmolested ones exist. . R36s should be inexpesive now, and thats truly seminal as it blew away everything for years, there was not a magazine performance test which ti did not win, and were not likely to see its like again.
Lat gen 300zx is a Japanese 928 possibly better eginered, still not too expensive and collectable already.

The iron Block Mitsubihi evo is another daddy, but try fine a good one.

Not overpriced yet and sure future Japanese collectable
Ver 1 Miata
Ver 3 RX7
300ZZ
R36.

 

that's a good analogy

MR2 Spyder was a fun autocross car but not a fun track car. another 50-60 bhp needed to make it great.

there were some turbo or supercharger kits (maybe both) but at that point just buy an S2k or Boxster

still, don't underestimate the power of nostalgia.

 

Version 1 of MR2 seems to be lifting off by BaT standards. You see dry AZ and CA cars show up every now and then and they seem to pull a high price.

 

2zz Slowtus swap is common, as mine currently is.

After I finish the chassis phase I plan on Impala/Monte SS LS4 destroked to under 4L possibly flat plane since I need a custom crank, using a MR6/F40 transmission from G6/Saab applications.

Honda K series is the popular drop in swap. Especially if you are going F/I. Full kits and harnesses are available.

 

we need pics!

 

Ok, here's what's left of my 3rd gen mr spyder

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Cage
APR wide body
15x10 949 up wheels
245 maxxis
JDM Celica 2ZZ
c160 6 speed w/lsd
Soft top delete
OEM JDM hard top ( the hardtop was on the cover of superstreet way back when this the green color)
a bunch of other bits and bobs

 

Get an original NSX!



Matt

 

you could get 10 MR2 Spyders for one original NSX

 

But, very interestingly, maintenance costs are very similar.



Matt

 

That's the best part of MRs, they're a Corolla built backwards, $30 brake rotors, $500 used engines, drive shafts for $100, it's the cheapest, lightest, and reliable midengined car ever built.

1st and 2nd gen turbos are the only thing worth collecting, but you can have a ton of fun in the other models for pennies.

 

Can you really get an MR2 Mk2 Twin Turbo for $6k?

Matt

 

He said spyder in his post aka Mk3

 

less, if this hasn't been done!


.

 

The first and second gen MR2's are my wheel house. Mostly engine modifications. I own ATS Racing in Texas. We specialize in MR2's (plus 70's/80's Ferrari and Lotus). I've owned over 100 of them, but only two of the third gen version. It's a nice driving car, but not very attractive. You can buy a first gen boxster for the same money. It's better looking, and more daily drive able (two trunks, versus zero trunks).

Aaron